Every so often I publish an “Out of the Kitchen” post to share life beyond our recipes and photos. Ryan and I still cook and bake for fun, so you’ll usually see a few kitchen snapshots, but these posts are a chance to share travel, family time, and small moments that make the months memorable.
As summer wound down, I wanted to recap what Ryan and I have been up to these past few months. In May we visited family in Minnesota and indulged in plenty of ice cream. We also started a little tradition we call Fancy Friday — our excuse to make something special or do something out of the ordinary. I spent several late nights in the lab with Ryan and showed him how to make our favorite out-of-the-pan triple berry pie. In June my mom and nephew came to town while Ryan attended a week-long conference. July included a short getaway to St. Louis where we took a Segway tour and visited the zoo, plus a weekend with my dad when we swapped college stories. Along the way we made lots of popsicles, ate fresh blueberries, and enjoyed coffee ice cream at our favorite spots.
Here is a snapshot of summer 2014 — memories from family visits, quick trips, and the little celebrations that made the season special.
Three-way FaceTime with my siblings — a simple way to stay close even when we’re apart.
Spotted: the world’s largest Culver’s on a road trip through Wisconsin.
Enjoying summer weddings and outdoor games — croquet at a friend’s celebration.
Baking for family: the out-of-the-pan triple berry pie I made when we visited in May.
Ryan learning to make the same pie — one of our favorite kitchen projects together.
A Fancy Friday milestone: Ryan’s first time popping a bottle of champagne to celebrate.
Late nights in the lab with my favorite chemist — a mix of work, conversation, and snacks.
Fresh-baked muffins — a crowd-pleasing treat for busy mornings and lab nights alike.
Showing my mom and nephew our favorite local ice cream spot during their visit.
Finger painting with the little ones I nanny — messy, colorful, and perfect summer fun.
Strolling the neighborhood with ice cream cones in hand — simple pleasures of summer.
A bacon-heavy meal that everyone enjoyed — because summer weekends call for indulgence sometimes.
Channeling a bit of whimsy — a visit to a place that made me feel a little bit like I was off to Hogwarts.
Segway touring around St. Louis — a fun, fast way to see the city and its sights.
Working on our tennis game between other summer activities — keeping active and laughing at our mistakes.
Proof that I love donuts — because no summer recap is complete without a sweet treat.
Looking back, the best parts of this summer were the ordinary moments turned special: cooking with family, quick city escapes, late nights working together, and small traditions like Fancy Friday. I’m grateful for the balance of travel, family visits, and time at home that filled these months. Thanks for letting me share a few snapshots — I’ll be back with more in the next Out of the Kitchen post.