May is the month that straddles spring and summer. It’s definitely the spring season, but all about prepping for summer. Now that I am officially off work until mid-August, I am hoping to enjoy a few more quiet moments. Although realistically, I think summer will primarily involve shuttling the kids from one activity to the next. Here’s a little look at our life lately May 2026 at what we’ve been up to lately.
Books I’ve Read
- The General of Izril by pirateaba– Erin Solstice becomes a key figure in Izril by uniting unlikely allies, defending her inn during escalating wars, supporting Goblins despite widespread hatred toward them, and influencing major political and military events across the continent. 4/5
- Rains of Liscor by pirateaba– Erin Solstice faces the fallout of growing tensions in Liscor as conflicts between species intensify, powerful new allies and enemies emerge, and the city is pushed toward chaos and war. 4/5
- Blood of Liscor by pirateaba– The aftermath of war leaves Liscor divided and vulnerable as Goblins, Antinium, and the city’s leaders struggle with loss, political unrest, and the growing threat of enemies gathering across Izril. 4/5
- Tears of Liscor by pirateaba– The people of Liscor deal with grief, recovery, and major changes after devastating battles while new dangers, friendships, and political tensions continue to reshape the city and its future. 4/5
- Review- Honestly this series keeps surprising me. Considering how fantasy-based it is, I really like it. It deals with issues like discrimination, prejudices, trauma, grief, ethics, and more all while still having funny, heartwarming moments. The narrator is absolutely fantastic which helps, too.
Recipes I’ve Made
- Sheet Pan Chicken Pitas – We all loved these! The chicken dried out a bit in the oven. When I make them again, I will sauté them.
- Beefy Garlic Butter Bowl– Delicious! Needed a bit of extra seasoning and the cheese sauce was tricky. I added cornstarch dissolved in water to help it all come together. Matt especially liked this.
- Amaretto Brownies– Very similar to the mint brownies I make, but with an almond flavor. I loved them, but thought they were a bit too sweet. I would skip pouring amaretto over the brownies to cut down on the sweetness in the future.
- Greek Meatballs in Lemon Sauce– I thought these were delicious and I loved the bright lemon flavor. The sauce was fairly runny so in the future I will add more cornstarch. I served it over egg noodles.
Currently
- Enjoying- I just love this point in spring when my flowers start to bloom and I can enjoy a bouquet of them in our kitchen. Right now I have a vase of irises, catmint, and hosta leaves on our table. Last week it was peonies.
- Wearing- I got some adorable nautical themed items and other cute spring pieces from Shein that I have been wearing nonstop. They are the perfect mix of comfort, trendiness, while still being work appropriate.
- Watching- Now that RHOBH is done, Matt and I have been watching Running Point. I also watched Remarkably Bright Creatures (definitely teared up during that one) and want to watch Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris (looks so funny!).
- Listening to- Unfortunately we have a nest right outside our window. Every morning starting around 5am we get to listen to a lot of chirping.
- Buying- Not very exciting, but we need to buy an air conditioner this month. We knew we needed it late last summer, but put it off until this year.
- Family Update
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- Avie- Avie got to have a date with dad when he took her to a school dance this month. During our end of season swim banquet she was recognized as one of the top 10 point earners for the team and the youngest to earn the IMR award (swimmers complete a series of five specific events at shorter distances to earn a score and a club ranking).
- Claire– Claire finished her first track season. She competed in the conference meet in the shot put, 1 mile, and 800m. Claire was especially proud of her best time in the mile by 10 seconds. She is close to some regional swim times, too.
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- Me- Unfortunately I developed IT Band syndrome which has limited my running. It’s slowly getting better. We all met up with family over Memorial Day weekend to spend a few days in Wisconsin relaxing and having fun. The cousins loved their time together! We went to a drive through zoo where the kids fed the animals through the car windows. The llamas were hilarious.
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- Matt- Even though Matt has a cat allergy, this sweet guy agreed to start looking at cats to possibly adopt this month. It’s been just over 6 months since our cat of 19 years passed away, and I am finally feeling ready. Fingers crossed we are able to find one he doesn’t react to much.
May Goals Recap
- Donate items– Didn’t get to this.
- Finish Yellowstone trip photo album- While I have made progress, it isn’t completed yet.
- Book hotels for summer trip- Done! I’m really looking forward to this trip.
- Plan Girl Scout end of year party– Done! It should be a fun time.
June Goals
- Get tree planted- We had a Blue Spruce tree cut down in our backyard last year and need to plant a tree in the spot.
- Get quotes for window replacement- Our home is just over 30 years old and we need new windows. I’m hoping to get the south facing ones done this year depending on the cost.
- Replace AC– We’ve replaced both furnaces and 1 AC unit. Our upstairs one really needs replacement and we put it off until this summer.
- Schedule a few blog posts for vacation– Normally life happens and I don’t get a chance to pre-schedule blog posts, but I’m hoping I have time to write a couple of posts for when we are traveling.
Favorite May Posts
How to Build a Travel Capsule Wardrobe
Affordable Summer Date Night Outfits
I always enjoy putting together these life lately posts because they end up capturing so many little moments that might otherwise get forgotten in the busyness of everyday life. Life lately May 2026 was filled with family milestones, good books, recipe successes, and a lot of looking ahead to summer. I’d love to hear what you’ve been up to lately, too!
LINKING UP WITH WHAT’S UP WEDNESDAY, Currently
