We’re slowly sprucing up the backyard with new planters and getting ready to host s’mores nights around a DIY fire pit — all while wearing the cutest summer dresses and sandals!
Life Update with a Dog
This summer we finally added a puppy to the family. After years of our girls asking for a puppy, we decided this year was the right time and brought home an adorable Cavapoo. Our daughters are 12 and 8, which is a great stage for learning responsibility while we supervise — and they’ve done an amazing job helping out.
Our little pup is a mix of Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle. She’s hypoallergenic and non-shedding, and she’ll stay small-to-medium as she grows. In short, she’s just the perfect fit for our household and our lifestyle.
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Her name is Winnie and she’s about 15 weeks old now. From the moment she came home she slept well in her crate, and potty training has been progressing nicely — slow and steady wins the race. We’re being consistent with routines, taking her out regularly, and rewarding good behavior, which has helped a lot.
Backyard Updates
I did a lot of research before getting a puppy, but I didn’t fully anticipate how much time I’d spend outside during this potty-training season. It’s been a lot of backyard time — and a lot of laughs, too.
One of the first changes we made was removing the old trampoline that the girls had outgrown. Without it, we avoided creating a muddy play area for the pup, and the open space turned out to be the perfect spot for a fire pit. We’ve sketched out a simple, kid-friendly DIY fire pit area and will share a full tutorial once everything is in place.
In the meantime, we’re ready for s’mores nights — in cute dresses, naturally. We’ve added planters along the retaining wall and tucked a few around the yard to hide utility items and add greenery. As the budget allows, we’ll add more seating and string lights to finish the space. One project at a time, and already it feels cozier.
Summer Outfits for the Girls
My girls are getting pickier as they get older, but this season I found several pieces they both love. We shopped at Walmart for the selection and affordable prices; their Wonder Nation line has quickly become a favorite for my daughters because it’s cute, durable, and budget-friendly.
My older daughter (almost a teen) fell in love with a classic white eyelet dress that’s popular with her friends — it’s light, feminine, and perfect for summer church or any warm-weather event. The pink sandals we paired with it keep the look casual but add a playful pop of color.
My younger daughter prefers styles that look a little more grown-up, so she was thrilled with a striped one-shoulder dress. She’s been so excited about a whole pile of new summer pieces from Walmart’s girls section that I ended up bringing home several favorites — and she happily modeled them during our backyard photo shoot.
I also picked up a comfortable maxi dress for myself — it fits true to size, has wide straps and pockets, and comes in several colors. It’s become a fast favorite for easy summer days when I want something relaxed but put together.
Below I shared a collage of the girls’ haul — lots of mix-and-match pieces that work for swim meets, casual outings, and our new backyard hangouts.
The Rest of Our Summer
Most of our summer has been spent at the pool or the lake. Both girls are on the swim team, so we’re at the pool nearly every day — between practices, meets, and family swim time, it’s been a busy, fun season. We’re planning to finish the fire pit project once the new chairs arrive and we find a free afternoon to set them up. We’ll string lights over the seating area to make the evenings extra cozy.
I’m excited to share more updates soon, from the completed fire pit to puppy milestones and yard progress. Thanks for following along!
How’s your summer going?