First week of Summer

 I've got to be honest. I go back and forth on what to do with this blog. I love writing and sharing things I love and use but I also just love sharing our everyday life to keep family and friends up to date. For now, a mix of the two will have to do....

It's a hot one today so after a dip in the pool I'm now inside in the AC. Although, we've spent a whole lot of time outside this past week. From 2 weeks ago to today the weather is drastically different! We went from pants and sweatshirts to 95 degrees quick! Today was my first time in the pool, ever. Yes, ever. Last year Mike and the kids begged and begged and begged me for an above ground pool and when I finally gave in, I was at the tail end of my pregnancy and while the weather definitely suggested a swim would be appropriate, I wasn't going to try to get up and over that ladder 9 months pregnant, no way! And then on July 16th I ended up having a c-section so I couldn't use it because I was recovering from surgery the remainder of the summer. I don't really like to swim at all but today was about as hot as it gets here, which means the pool was nice and warm comfortable, so I went in.

Archie usually won't keep hats on his head, but he did with this cute bucket hat.

That's the look he will forever give me to get anything he wants.

Kensington and Tenley are complete fish! They love to swim and are great swimmers!

My 7th child, Duke. He really does think he's one of the kids and he would do anything to go into that pool. He hopped right up here on Logan's chair like he was going to give his two cents on the conversation we were all having. I keep telling Mike he needs a dog friend, maybe then he might realize he's a dog and not a human.

Archer's first swim. 

I took this screenshot from a video. He wasn't sure what to think. Give it time Archie, you're going to love it.

Mama and Kam in the pool today. I wonder if/when I'll get back in. LOL!

I really really pushed back and didn't want this pool. I'm not going to lie. It took a lot of convincing. But it truly was the best thing we did. The kids use it every single day and it's great for them to get some exercise in. Mike loves to jump in after a hot day at work and it's a good way to keep the kids busy and keep us outside and off of electronics. Dare I say I love it? Mike and I are getting the hang of it maintenance wise and I won't lie it makes me want a bigger pool. Maybe someday!

Amazon Lately

 Hello! It’s our first Monday of the summer, and we’re just about settled in. These slow-paced mornings, watering my flowers, sipping iced coffee, and the long sunny days with my kids as they jump in and out of the pool (no less than 20 times a day!) have my whole heart.

I’ve always been a firm believer in choosing to slow down in a world that moves so fast. The hustle and go go go lifestyle has never been my thing, and for a long time, I felt alone in that. But lately, my Instagram algorithm has been spot-on, reminding me that I’m not alone. There are so many others who, like me, crave simplicity, who love being at home and embracing a slower, more intentional pace of life. I swear I could move to a 200-acre property an hour away from the closest grocery store tomorrow and be content. 

Being home feels like a giant sigh of relief to me. For years, I’ve been made to feel lazy for choosing this kind of lifestyle, but that’s just not what it is. I’m not avoiding life, I’m savoring it. Soaking up every single second of what I consider to be the best days of my life, raising my kids. We don't do camps, we don't put our kids in 10 activities each, we don't fill our schedule with errands and play dates. We spend majority of our free time together, as a family and truth be told, even if sometimes they get under each other's skin, the kids really do love it. I've always craved and chosen to work hard to find a slower pace, even if I’m not sure I’ll fully find it here in Massachusetts. Still, I’m going to try my darndest. Who knows maybe a vegetable garden and sourdough are in my future. 

For today I'm going to share some things we've bought on Amazon lately. You know now that I think of it, with how much I order Amazon that may prove to be tough living in the middle of nowhere.... Ah well, here's Amazon Lately...

I shared THIS SKIRT on Instagram, and it was a big hit. One question I got was: does it ride up? I asked both Kensington and Mike, Kensington when we walked out to the bus stop and she was behind me and Mike when we were out for our nightly walk and they both said no. So, I consider that a win!! And I have some junk in the trunk, so I think it's safe to say if it was going to ride up, it would've happened to me. Kamryn also complimented me about 15 times and when your teenage daughter compliments your skirt you know it looks cute! I found this skirt to be true to size.

I also got THESE FLIP FLOPS and 10/10 recommend. I've been wearing them nonstop since they came and they are SO comfortable! I even wore them twice on walks around the neighborhood! I think I'm going to order another color because these are perfect. As I always do with sandals, I bought these in a half size up and they fit great. 

I am officially a "throw my hair up in a clip" girl. THESE are super cute and a nice change from the typical claw clip. My hair is really really thick and these still hold my hair up, although they look a little getting used to. 

SUNCREEN! With all the time we've been spending in the sun and 6 kids with very fair skin it's no surprise on this list is sunscreen.

First of all, these smell fantastic! We use the Sun Bum on our bodies and the Hawaiian Tropical Mineral one on our faces. 

The mineral one can be used all over, but I really like it for our faces. It's translucent so I put it right over my make up (if I'm wearing any) and you can't see it at all. Kensington and Tenley feel like big girls wearing makeup and love when I apply it. No more tears rubbing in sunscreen or spraying little faces. It's a love for me!

I'm being very brave and posting a picture of myself in a bathing suit. I have exactly one picture of myself in this suit and yes, its heavily filtered (I was messing with filters and then my phone decided to not want to save any of the other ones to my phone so I gave up), my tan lines are baaaad but listen, this is huge for me as a mom of 6 posting this! I don't even like being in a bathing suit in front of my family if I'm being honest. If I don't post this one picture, I'll never post any. So, we're dealing it.... :) 

THIS SUIT is so flattering; the price is great. I love this color (medium brown); it comes in a bunch of colors though. I've purchased from this brand many times and I've loved them all! I always wear my true size medium in this brand.

Well, that's it for today! I'm slightly mortified by that last picture, but this is for the moms! You're welcome!! 

Happy priming friends!!

Last Day Of School 2025

 We did it! We survived another school year, and the kids did great! 

Kamryn 9th grade

First day and Last day

Logan 7th grade

First day and Last day

Kensington 4th grade

First day and Last day

Tenley 3rd grade

First day and Last day

I mentioned it before but this year the last days were all different. At the high school they always finish up a day early due to finals, middle school got out on our regular scheduled last day, and our elementary school had one extra day due to an unexpected day off a few weeks ago. I will say it was fun for Kamryn and Logan to get before the girls. So fun in fact that Logan had time to think up a fun surprise for the girls!

Yup, that's Logan and you guessed it Alice Cooper on repeat on that speaker! It was a riot!! 

Kamryn, Smith, Archie and I had to go outside to watch. It was the perfect way to kick off summer. All the kids on the bus loved it, the bus driver loved it. We all just laughed and laughed while the kids screamed with joy on the bus. So. Much. Fun. Nice job Logan!! I made a reel so make sure to pop over to my Instagram and watch it all unfold! It was great!

Our mornings started early this year and with 3 schools, 3 buses and 3 different start times (a 5-year-old and a new baby) I was busy, but I loved it. I loved every single second of it. These are the days I dreamed of when I convinced Mike that we should have a big family. The days that make me the happiest are just our boring, normal days. I always think I'm in my favorite season of parenting and then I get into a new season and love that one even more. Guess it's true what they day, it just keeps getting better!

Archie and Kam waiting for the bus to pull up so they can see Logan do his thing!!

That hair just cracks us up!!!!

And messy faced Smith....who will be on that bus next year!! 

Summer 2025 here we go!!! Today we are waiting for that sun to come out and the weather to warm up and we will be out in the pool all day! As much as I really enjoyed this school year, I'm very much looking forward to this summer. It's been chilly here these past few days, but the next week looks like it's going to be HOT, so we are grateful we have our pool to cool off. 

Life Lately

Hello! Happy Monday! It's a big week here for the Sasses. Kamryn's last day of school is today, she's got two finals and then she's done. Logan's got today and a 1/2 day tomorrow and then he's done, and Kensington and Tenley have today, and then two 1/2 days tomorrow and Wednesday and then they are done. This is the first year all the last days are staggered like this. Kensington and Tenley would've gotten out tomorrow, but they had a random day off because of a water issue at their school so they need to go for one more 1/2 day Wednesday. We are SO ready for summer! We've got a lot of fun things planned but most of all I'm looking forward to those mundane days home with my kids. In a world where it seems like everyone else is go go go go, we tend to like to just be home together swimming in the pool and chilling out. 

Here's a look at life lately....

The pool is still freezing but Mike and the kids are BRAVE! 

They've taken a little dip every day since we opened it.

I don't know why but these two pictures below of Archie are some of my favorites!

Kensington did her first research project and had an expo that Smith, Archie and I went to. She chose her favorite animal, hedgehogs, and did a fabulous job.

Archie slept the entire time! It cracked me up. We got a special visitor, and Tenley came down to see her sister's project too! 

My girls are so talented when it comes to their artistic abilities. This artwork that Kensington is holding was chosen by her art teacher to be showcased at our school committee's main office.

Saturday, we took the RV up to Quincy for the Flag Day parade. My sister in laws dad has 2 RV's and one of them Zack and Nicole use quite frequently. Some of you might remember when they were building their house they lived in this RV in our driveway for a few months.

It was Archie's first ride, and he did great. Once Uncle Zacky put that RV in drive Archie was asleep and slept the whole time there and back! LOL!

The parade also celebrated the 400th year of Quincy. It was really cool! The floats were all done as the history of the city and there were some really good marching bands. The kids had a blast!

And one last snap of Kensington and I on the way home!

Well, that's what we've been up to lately. 

I hope you all have a fabulous Monday! 

xoxo, Kristen

Kristen's Top 10 - My Favorite TV Shows

Hey friends! Happy Thursday! I decided I'm going to start a new series here on my blog. Kristen's Top 10! Where I share my top ten favorite things in a variety of subjects. For example, today I'm sharing my top 10 tv shows! I'm thinking I'll do movies, songs, stores, grocery store finds, foods, items from target, kids' stuff, maybe a guest post from Mike or the kids and their favorites on something, etc etc. Always fun and always random.

Let's get started.... 

10. Hart of Dixie - It's always been my dream to move to a tiny little town down South and this show is just that. A New York doctor who moves to a small tightknit town in Alabama and has to learn to adjust to this totally new way of life. 

9. Younger - This show is so underrated. It's quick episodes, quirky and so so good. I binged it so fast and loved every single episode. 

8. Real Housewives of Orange County - Where it all began. I'll never forget many many many years ago when my stepdad asked me if I had seen this show about rich women who live in a gated community in Orange County. The rest is history. I don't watch the newer episodes but, in my world, there's nothing better than an old episode of Real Housewives.

7. The Summer I Turned Pretty - The preview for the new season dropped last night and I cannot wait. Is this show geared towards teenagers? Probably. But me, my sister and my friends are all hooked! Even though, I still feel odd that Belly jumps between brothers. Friends would make more sense to me and be less weird but brothers? I don't know. But it's fine...it's fine. I'm still watching.

6. Virgin River - Another small tightknit town but this one is based in Northern California. It's filmed in Canada, I believe, but the scenery is GORGEOUS! Same premise as Hart of Dixie but totally different vibe. This last season wasn't my favorite, anyone else? But I'll keep watching. I can forgive for one flop of a season and hope they come back stronger next season.

5. Sweet Magnolias - Everyone wishes to have their very own "magnolias". This show is super cheesy but you guessed it.. I love it. Another small Southern town (are we sensing a pattern here?), 3 best friends who are all very different but always there for each other, and all the small-town drama one could expect. 

4. Real Housewives of New Jersey - If you know me, you know I am a die-hard Jersey fan. DIE. HARD. I love some of the housewives, hate some of them, miss the OG's. It's a whole thing. The RHONJ ladies have my heart, forever and ever. I rewatch the old episodes all the time. Like all. the. time.

3. Gilmore Girls - I don't even think I need to go any further. Gilmore Girls is the best. THE. BEST. It was so hard to rate my top 3 shows. I love them all equally. Kamryn and I rewatched Gilmore Girls and it was such a great bonding experience for us. It made me love the show even more.

2. One Tree Hill - Nathan Scott, enough said. One Tree Hill is my comfort show. If I'm going through something I plop it on and instantly feel less anxious. Kamryn and I are watching it now and she loves it just as much as me. 

1. Friday Night Lights - Best show of all time. So underrated. If you haven't watched it, you must. A small Texas town based all around football but a lot more to it than just football. It is SO good! It's so well written, the acting is amazing, you really feel like you're getting a peak into what life is like in Texas. I wish I could go back and rewatch it all over again for the first time. It's that good.

A few honorable mentions: Southern Charm, Summer House, Parenthood, 90210, Friends, Ransom Canyon, Nobody Wants This, Bridgerton and of course any and all true crime!

What did I miss? Tell me your favorite tv shows in the comments! That was fun! I'll be looking forward to doing this series again.

Well, I'm off to enjoy this gorgeous day with my little boys. The big kids will be home before we know it and then it's pool time!

I'll see you next time!

xoxo, Kristen

Happy.

 I try so hard to be a positive person. I think those who know me will agree my nature is pretty predictable. If you were to call me any day of the week you will get the same person 9 times out of 10. Shes happy and pleasant, by choice. Every once in a while, I'm frazzled or grumpy but honestly that's very rare. I make an effort ever single day to not let things get to me, because to me it's just not worth it. Do I get angry at things or sad? Of course I do. I just don't stuff things down and ignore how I'm feeling. I let myself feel those emotions and I move on. As I've gotten older, I've become almost phobic of drama and negativity. I don't want anything to do with it. I'd much rather be happy; it takes too much energy to be miserable and concentrate on negative things. It's not rocket science but it's part of what makes me, me. Being happy is a choice. Why not implement some things into your everyday to intentionally make yourself happy.

So here are some ways I make my days happier. 

1. I get enough sleep. My days start early so I always make sure to go to bed early. If I don't get enough sleep I wake up feeling hungover, whether I've drank or not. I hate that feeling and that makes for a miserable Kristen, so sleep is super important to me.

2. Coffee. Ohhhh how I love my coffee. I've tried to cut back but coffee just makes me happy. So, screw it! Sometimes I even look forward to my morning cup when I'm going to bed at night. I usually have 2 cups in the morning and 1 cup in the afternoon. 

3. I do something "active" every single day. Lately that's a walk outside but I've been known to change this up. Sometimes it's a ride on my peloton, sometimes it's lifting weights, sometimes it's just running around with my kids, but I always make sure to move my body in some way that's more than my everyday stuff.

4. I get out of my pjs, wash my face, put on a little make up and get dressed. I don't care if I'm just putting on leggings and a sweatshirt. If I sit around in my pajamas all day, I feel so icky. I've always done this. I get myself up and put myself together. I'm so much more productive this way and it makes me happy being productive.

5. I light a candle. Goodness, I don't know that anything brings me as much joy as smelling candles and lighting one. My house smells so good and there's something just so cozy about having a candle lit on my kitchen counter.

6. I step away from social media when necessary. Lately social media has been making me very anxious. Whether it's what I post or what someone else posts or even just the world we're living in today, it can become a lot for me. So, I put my phone down. It's amazing how much happier I feel almost instantly.

7. I sit down and eat dinner with my family every single night. I take back what I said about the candles, this brings me more joy than that. I love sitting with Mike and the kids after a long day and all eating dinner together. I love listening to the kids banter back and forth. I love when they get silly doing something I don't understand. Even when they are driving me crazy, I just love it all. Being together always makes me happy. 

8. I make time for alone time with my husband. Whether it's an afternoon coffee or a walk with the dog, most days we do both, this alone time helps me regroup and brings me so much happiness. 

9. When I'm doing my chores around the house I turn on a tv show or a movie I've seen a million times. If I'm watching a new show or movie, I need to be locked in but when it's something I've seen, I can just listen. The predictability brings me peace. In an odd way it makes for "me time", even though I'm cleaning or doing laundry but it really does make those tasks much more bearable. 

10. Music! I love music. Honest to God it was always my dream to work in the music industry. I think Mike is the only person I've ever admitted that to. I love all genres of music. It makes me happy, so I take time every day to turn it up and enjoy it! 

I could go on and on for days but there's just a few ways I'm implement happiness into my every day. But 10 seems like a good number.

Tell me in the comments, what's something you do every day to make you happy?!

I hope you have the HAPPIEST day!! xoxo

Grace.

Happy Saturday! First, I want to thank all of you for visiting my little corner of the internet. It means the world to me when I click on and see how many of you took time out of your day to come here and read what I have to share. I by no means am this big-time blogger, I consider myself a baby blogger and as those numbers slowly creep up for how many readers have been here, I cannot help but smile. It's odd because while my social media numbers are pretty stagnant the blog continues to grow. 

I’ve always wanted this blog (and my social media) to be a happy place, somewhere I can share my personal growth, life experiences and maybe help a person or two along the way. But whenever I share vulnerable and deeper posts, I can't help but feel anxious about what other people think of it and/or if it's being taken the wrong way.

I guess that’s part of what comes with sharing real-life experiences publicly. Still, it leaves me wondering: should I keep things light and happy, steering clear of anything too personal? Or should I keep being honest, even if it means I might get made fun of and ruffles some feathers along the way?

As an empath and someone who cares deeply what others think of me, that second option feels scary, and I'm not sure what to do with it. I've grown so much over the past few years and worked really hard on myself. Recognizing my shortcomings, where I made big mistakes and through that also realizing my worth. 

This all comes down to grace. Grace is something we all need, because none of us go through life without making mistakes. I need grace. Others need grace from me. And it's only by the grace of God that I'm still here today and have everything He's blessed me with. 

It's been a journey to accept this truth. I've carried lots of self-judgement and insecurity for a long time. But as God continues to show me my worth and teach me to extend grace to myself. Even when others don't want to give me forgiveness, God always will. 

So, as I move forward, I’m choosing to lean into grace, God’s grace, grace for others, and grace for myself. I know that sometimes when I share more personal parts of my journey on social media, it might make some people uncomfortable or even upset. But I also know that vulnerability is part of healing and part of helping others heal too. I won’t always get it right; I will never be perfect and that’s okay. I'm just Kristen. Imperfect, honest, emotional, sometimes insecure Kristen. What matters is that I keep growing, keep seeking truth, and keep showing up, flaws and all. If you’re on a similar journey, I hope you know you’re not alone. 

Will I keep posting about how far I've come in my personal life? I'm not sure. I'm trying to find my footing and see where I fit in within this big giant internet world. I do know every day I'm becoming more comfortable in my own skin and with that maybe just sharing what makes me Kristen and things I love will be enough. I guess time will tell. But again, thank you for being here. This coming week I have 2 or 3 posts lined up that are happy, full of fluff, not deep and summer filled fun! I do know one thing, those posts feel safe. 

I'll leave you with this cute picture of the kids. They had their first swim in the pool on Thursday and while the water was ice cold, they had a blast!

We'll see you in a couple days! xoxo