Welcome to the heart of summer! How are you doing?
People tend to approach summer in one of two ways: carefree and free-scheduled, or scrambling to keep routines while still working. Which camp are you in? I’d love to know.
I almost skipped a Friday Thoughts post this week, but after meeting a couple of readers at a wedding who said they enjoy these updates, I decided to share a little roundup of what’s been happening here.
This post is a casual catch-up—a chance to imagine us gathered in my kitchen, talking over cookies and swapping stories.
If you’re here for recipes, don’t worry: I have a light, delicious dinner recipe coming Monday that I’ve been making on repeat.
Homecoming + Cold Plunge
We welcomed our son Walker home after his two-year church mission in the Philippines. Seeing him at the airport after so long felt surreal—such a joyful, quiet moment for our family. While waiting for luggage we even video-called his brothers in Utah and New Zealand so we could all be there, in a way.
Right after he arrived we escaped to the mountains for a few days. We relaxed, listened to music by the fire, enjoyed good food, paddleboarded, and watched the kids surf and fish. The Airbnb had a sauna, so one morning we tried a sauna-to-cold-plunge challenge. My dad, age 72, joined in and my mom recorded it. I imagined a graceful dash into the lake—reality was a lot more comical. Middle-age humility won that round.
Walker is thrilled to be back enjoying favorite home-cooked foods. He’s hoping to bulk up, and I’ve happily taken on the role of making him hearty meals. It’s been fun finding favorites to make after his time away.
Some of his top-requested recipes I’ve made:
- Cinnamon rolls
- Homemade pizza rolls
- Rollup pancakes
- Crispy baked shrimp tacos
- Bagel bread (a big hit)
- Egg roll skillet meal
- Freezer bean burritos
- Divine breadsticks
- Homemade pizza dough
- Hawaiian haystacks
Games + Puzzles We Are Loving
We keep several games on the kitchen table all summer so they’re easy to grab. Rotating them keeps the selection fresh and encourages more play than if everything were tucked away.
- Brian and our daughter have been playing a clever two-player strategy game nonstop; they also enjoy classic Mastermind.
- We’ve added a quick, easy-to-learn game that’s great for two players and more—simple, fun, and sometimes delightfully frustrating.
- My parents have kept a tactile puzzle-game on their coffee table for years; it’s entertaining to fidget with while chatting, and we finally got one for our house.
- An active, outdoor game I bought for a couple of nephews was an instant hit—perfect for long summer afternoons outdoors.
- I always keep a jigsaw puzzle going through the season. We enjoy Spaghetti Tree puzzles, and a patriotic-themed 1000-piece one was especially fun.
Any game recommendations? I’d love to hear what you’re playing—please share in the comments.
AI and Blogging
AI is reshaping how people find information online, and that includes food blogs. While I use AI tools in my own workflow, the broader shift to instant AI-generated answers and untested recipes has had a real impact on search traffic for established recipe sites.
Historically, search engines have driven readers to tested, trusted recipes on blogs like mine. Now, AI chat responses often give answers directly without sending people to the original sites. Fewer clicks can mean less revenue, and that matters because blogging here is a full-time business with real operating costs. It also helps support my family while my husband grows his own business.
I don’t have a crystal-ball answer about the future. I hope people continue to value human voices, tested recipes, and the trust that comes with real experience, and that the balance shifts back toward supporting creators. Until then, the landscape feels uncertain.
On the bright side, I’m deeply grateful for readers who comment, click through to recipes, leave reviews, subscribe to email updates, and tell me when a recipe worked for them. Those human interactions matter more than ever and keep this project meaningful.
I’ve been blogging for nearly 20 years and have seen many changes. While AI is a new kind of disruption, I remain hopeful there will be a sustainable path forward so I can keep sharing tested, reliable recipes with you.
Thank you for being here—your support means a great deal to me.
A Few Extra Things
A few lighter updates and favorites from recent weeks:
- Jennifer Garner mentioned a favorite food blogger on a recent podcast and my name came up. It was flattering and a fun moment to share with family—who, predictably, weren’t that impressed. Humbling and funny!
- I used sturdy, colorful ice cream scoops to serve hundreds of sundaes at a wedding reception—simple tools can make big events easier.
- I found a lightweight, striped button-up shirt I love; I sized up for comfort but it’s perfect for summer.
- When homemade granola doesn’t cooperate, a dark chocolate coconut granola has become a pantry favorite. I’ve also been enjoying a Dubai-flavored variety I stumbled on.
- I’m gathering items to send with Walker when he heads to college this fall and printing a cooking basics packet to tuck into his box. I’ll share what works and what doesn’t as we prepare.
- I’ve eaten my favorite overnight chia oats every morning for months. I portion them into individual containers for grab-and-go breakfasts. My usual single-serving mix: 45 g rolled oats, 22 g chia seeds (or a chia/basil seed mix), one scoop protein powder, a pinch of salt, and just under 1 cup almond milk.
I’ve been recipe testing a lot on spare days this summer and I’m excited about the new recipes that will appear on the blog in the coming months.
That’s a wrap for now. Our summer is mostly low-key—just a quick trip to Utah for a niece’s wedding and then settling in at home. School starts in less than four weeks!
I hope you’re having a lovely summer. I’d love to hear anything you want to share below. Thank you so much for being here.
I love this picture above: my oldest son with his two grandmothers. I feel blessed to have them in our lives.