Sunday Recap #10: Birthday Week, New Beginnings & One Last Taste of Summer

A busy work week, a little extra time off, Lucy's daycare adventure, a new read, and the start of a very special birthday week.

Welcome to my end-of-week wrap-up! I'm linking up with the Sunday Post hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer and the Sunday Salon hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

♡

Hi friends,

Last week seemed to disappear almost as quickly as it started. Work was especially busy, but with Labor Day weekend here, I treated myself to an extra-long weekend and took Friday off. It turned out to be exactly what I needed.

And somehow we've made it to Sunday Recap #10! Ten has always been my favorite number, so this one feels especially fitting. My birthday is September 10, we were married on October 10—and we were actually in our tenth year together when we got married. Apparently 10 really is my number!

♡ A Little From My Week

We had our Advisory Board dinner this week, and I'm happy to say everything went really well. The restaurant also went out of its way to accommodate my gluten intolerance, even offering dishes they could prepare that weren't on the regular menu.

And then there was dessert—a flourless chocolate cake that was so creamy it reminded me more of chocolate fudge mousse. I couldn't finish it, so the rest came home with me. Definitely not a bad way to end a work dinner.

Chocolate Sin Cake from Ruth's Chris Steak House

We also managed a few mall walks this week, but our biggest adventure involved Lucy. With our vacation getting close, we took her to the boarding facility, which also has doggy daycare, so she could start getting familiar with the people and surroundings before we leave her there.

Well, now I know what it feels like to get the call from school that your child isn't having a good day! I think all the stimulation was simply too much for her. Several dogs tried to make friends, but Lucy wasn't interested in socializing—she preferred staying close to the staff. Thankfully, they gave her lots of attention and love. We're going to try again Sunday and a few more times next week so she can hopefully become more comfortable before we leave for the North Carolina mountains next Sunday.

Making Room

Having Friday off also gave me time to tackle something I've been putting off—my closet. I have clothes in so many different sizes, including plenty I know I'll never wear again. It felt good to finally start sorting through everything.

Some will be donated to people who can use them, and I'm bringing a few things to work to see if any of the staff would like them. There's something very satisfying about clearing out what you no longer need and knowing someone else may actually enjoy it.

A Beautiful End to the Day

One of our walks took us near the state park, where we caught a beautiful sunset. It was one of those peaceful views that makes you slow down for a minute and enjoy where you are—a pretty relaxing ending to a busy day.

A beautiful late-summer sunset near the state park.

📖 New on the Blog This Week

It was a lighter posting week with three new posts:

• Easy Grilled Salmon with Garlic Herb Butter — A simple grilled salmon recipe finished with plenty of garlic herb butter for an easy dinner that doesn't need a lot of fuss.
• Felicity's Eloquent Earl by Maeve Greyson | Book Review — My thoughts on Felicity's story and the historical romance I recently finished.
• Book Blogger Hop: What Book Deserves More Love but Flies Under the Radar? — This week's question had me thinking about those books we love that somehow never seem to get the attention they deserve.

This Week's Spotlight

This week's spotlight goes to my Easy Grilled Salmon with Garlic Herb Butter. It's the kind of recipe I especially appreciate on busy weeks—simple ingredients, plenty of flavor, and a dinner that doesn't require spending the entire evening in the kitchen.

📌 Popular on Pinterest

A couple of pins catching readers' attention this week:

• Saddle Up, Romance Reader: Cowboy Love Stories for Your TBR — Cowboy romance was getting some love on Pinterest this week, so if small towns, rugged heroes, and a little Western charm are your thing, this one's for you.
• Fresh Cucumber, Cherry Tomato & Mint Salad — A fresh way to enjoy the last of those summer vegetables before we officially start craving all things fall.

📚 From the Archives

A couple of older posts worth another look this week:

Pinterest Best Practices for Book Bloggers (What Actually Matters Now) — If you're a fellow book blogger using Pinterest, I shared some of the posting practices and tips I've found most useful.

Takes My Breath Away #7: Romantic Quotes That Speak of Love, Light, and Timeless Promises — This one comes from my Takes My Breath Away series, where I capture quotes that catch my attention while I'm reading a book or watching a movie and share them here.

I'm always looking for new ones, too. If you have a favorite quote from a book or movie, I'd love for you to share it with me. You just might inspire a future Takes My Breath Away post.

📚 What I'm Reading

I've just started Midnight by Sharon Sala, the second book in the Crossroads series. At first, I wasn't sure what to make of the opening. I felt a little like I'd been dropped into something that was already in motion, and I was trying to figure out where the story was going.

But I'm taking back that first impression. What initially felt a little confusing turned out to be a descriptive lead-in that sets up the beginning of the story. Once I realized what Sala was doing, it made much more sense—and now I'm curious to see where it goes.

Down the Family-History Rabbit Hole

I also found myself back on Ancestry this week after a gentleman from Italy reached out to see whether there might be a connection between our families. That sent me digging through records again and trying to fill in a few of the gaps in my family tree. One search always seems to lead to another, and before I know it, hours have disappeared.

🍽️ This Week's Pairing

With Labor Day weekend marking that unofficial turn from summer toward fall, this week's pairing feels just right: The Summer That Shaped Us by Lori Wilde with my Old-School Baked Mac & Cheese.

The book gives us one last taste of summer, while baked mac and cheese is one of those comforting dishes that works just as well on a holiday table or at a potluck as it does for a cozy dinner at home. A little summer and a little comfort food feels about right for this weekend.

🔖 Coming Up Next Week

Next week is going to be another full one. At work, we'll be celebrating the ribbon cutting for a 3,000-square-foot office renovation that I've been leading. Seeing the before-and-after difference is pretty amazing, but the best part has been hearing how happy the staff are with their new working space.

Thursday is also my birthday! I don't have any big plans yet, but I'm taking Friday off to officially start my vacation. Then next Sunday we'll be heading for the North Carolina mountains for a much-needed getaway.

Here on the blog, I'll have more books and bites to share before I go, along with another Book Blogger Hop.

Let's Chat

Are you holding onto the last little bit of summer, or are you already ready for fall?

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