Cassie Bustamante

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My Summer Oath

June 20, 2016 by Cassie 30 Comments

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It’s been a while since I’ve gotten too personal here, so bear with me as I share my Summer oath with you today, a vow I am making in an effort to make this the best Summer as I also change my old habits.IMG_0006Tomorrow marks the official start to Summer 2016, and I am ready.  We’ve made it through another school year and Sawyer’s completed his entire elementary school education and will be moving on to middle school.  How that much time has already passed is beyond me.

As many of you might know, my kids are close in age, just 17 months apart.  We didn’t plan to have our kids back to back, but that’s how it happened.  As you can imagine, life was utter chaos for a little while with two babies in diapers on differing nap schedules; I pushed through just surviving each day.  I feel like I lost so many of the milestones and memories because I was busy getting through life.

When we moved out to the country, we slowed our pace down and it felt great.  But as is my nature, I took on more and looked for more opportunities to grow my business, grow my blog, and be an active member of school activities.

This past year we ran into so many bumps on the road at Sweet Clover, and my family supported me and my kids rolled with the punches, often taking the backseat in my mind.  Everything at work has been so much better, but we’ve still felt too busy.  We’ve decided to hire help to do some of the tasks that drain us, and already a load has been lifted and creativity is once again sparked.

And now Summer is here, my kids are home, and I am feeling like I want less and less… no more trying to grow my blog, no more saying yes to every opportunity, no more of the things that take me away from the people who matter most to be in this world.  (If you’re worrying about my business, I do still plan to continue building that, but grow it in a smarter way that doesn’t burn me out!) Instead, I want more of the simple things and special moments.  I don’t want to capture goals, but capture memories.

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Emmy and her bestie reading under her outdoor canopy

I have mentioned a desire to slow down before, but clearly, I have a hard time changing my ways.  It’s always slow down, and then eventually speed right back up again until I am back to feeling like I need to slow down.  So this time, I am making a promise to my kids.  I want them to look back on their childhood and recall the moments when I colored with them, taught them how to make a clover chain, or choked out the last page of Old Yeller with tears in my eyes as they, too, cried.  Don’t get me wrong- I will still be working! I just want to work to make all of the other times less chaotic and more memorable.

My Summer Oath

I promise to read more books with you, rather than telling you to read for 30 minutes.

I promise that this is the summer we make homemade ice cream and experiment with all the toppings you want to try.

I promise not to let you watch too much TV or play too many video games, because you’ll be too busy spending time with me and each other.

I promise to take you on more local adventures, as well as back yard adventures.  Let’s see the wonder that exists right around us.

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baby bunny in our garden

I promise to not only let you stay up late to watch a movie, but even try to stay awake long enough to watch it with you.

I promise we will finally have the Bustamante kitchen episode of Chopped, Jr.

I promise to teach you life skills rather than feeling stressed about doing all of the chores myself.  This summer, you will learn to do your own laundry.

I promise to get creative with you… let’s paint, color, sew, glue, build!

I promise to teach you about life and growing your own food as we work together in the garden, herb garden, and begin our chicken raising journey.

I promise more pajama days where we eat breakfast for every meal and play board games all day.

I promise that I will try my hardest at each and every one of these, because you deserve to have a childhood reel full of happy memories and I want to be the best supporting actress, always there to help you shine.

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Let’s all make this the best summer ever!

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Filed Under: Kids, Summer

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Comments

  1. [email protected] says

    June 20, 2016 at 8:11 am

    Love this Cassie! Summer started a few weeks ago for us and I still haven’t figured out how to manage things. The house is a disaster, we have no laundry clean, I haven’t hit my blogging schedule yet we’ve swam almost everyday and had playdates. It’s so hard to get caught up in keeping up to realize that what we are doing is living. Anyways, as usual… you seem to speak directly to my heart. Keep us updated on how the kids do with the laundry! Mine is 6 so I guess I have a few more years to go. lol

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 21, 2016 at 9:42 am

      aaaw, ashley thanks so much. let’s just be wonderful mommies and mediocre bloggers and accept it for what it is! 😉

      Reply
  2. Eddie says

    June 20, 2016 at 8:46 am

    Cassie, I just LOVE this post. Love it!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 21, 2016 at 9:41 am

      thank you, eddie!

      Reply
  3. [email protected] says

    June 20, 2016 at 8:52 am

    Sounds like a wonderful plan and I’m with you 😉 I can’t wait to spend hours on the beach with Lilly next week to catch critters and built castles 🙂

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 21, 2016 at 9:41 am

      thank you, julia! XOXO

      Reply
  4. [email protected] says

    June 20, 2016 at 9:29 am

    I love summer! (if only it weren’t so HOT)….sounds like you’re gearing up for an amazing one! (I think we passed right by you on our way home from our trip a few days ago; I realized it a little too late; next time I’ll plan ahead and maybe we can meet up somewhere!)

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 21, 2016 at 9:39 am

      oh yes, next time let me know!

      Reply
  5. Catherine says

    June 20, 2016 at 9:39 am

    I’m moving to your house this summer! It sounds absolutely perfect 🙂 You have some lucky kiddos. I’m sure they will look back on these memories so fondly and be inspired to recreate them when they start a family.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 21, 2016 at 9:38 am

      aaaw, thank you so much, catherine! come on over- we would love to have you live with us!

      Reply
  6. Jaime Costiglio says

    June 20, 2016 at 5:09 pm

    Cassie I couldn’t agree more. It’s truly a mindset we have to harness and it’s really hard because our inner desire is to be a productive human. We’re on day 1 of summer break and I’m not going to lie it’s a struggle for me to slow down but I’m so glad to hear you’re feeling the same. Cheers to less is more and all the memories.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 21, 2016 at 9:38 am

      let’s do this, jaime!

      Reply
  7. laura janning says

    June 20, 2016 at 8:03 pm

    I love your oath and not only am i holding you to it, but hold myself to it as well….for the sake of those wonderful memories we will be creating.
    happy summer!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 21, 2016 at 9:37 am

      let’s do this, laura! happy summer!

      Reply
  8. Michelle says

    June 21, 2016 at 8:00 am

    Love it! Happy Summer!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 21, 2016 at 9:36 am

      thanks, michelle! it can be hard when your mind is creative as you know- we tend to keep on pushing. i have to make it a point to just slow it down.

      Reply
  9. Heidi @ Decor & More says

    June 21, 2016 at 9:02 am

    Oh goodness, i will be cheering you on, Cassie!! Enjoy these precious days (and nights) — I’ll be sending my youngest off to college in a few short weeks and treasure the times I’ve had with him. Bravo, my dear!
    xo Heidi

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 21, 2016 at 9:35 am

      thank you, heidi!

      Reply
  10. Darrielle Tennenbaum says

    June 21, 2016 at 9:59 am

    Love this Cassie-I trying the same here too! I am going to let my blog be way down on the list and my daughter at the top with fun and mellow summer things. I have not signed her up for anything other then Jr Life guards at the Beach which she has done since she was 6 and is so much fun. Just family time and some trips!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 28, 2016 at 1:36 pm

      thank you so much, darrielle! it sounds perfect for you, too- let’s enjoy our kiddos and give them great childhoods!

      Reply
  11. Laurie @lauriejones home says

    June 21, 2016 at 12:43 pm

    It’s a great plan and you won’t regret it. I’m sending Sloan off to college in a few months and we’ve been doing a lot of memory talking and its the moments we’ve spent together that usually cost no money that are the ones she cherishes the most! Just being in the moment and there are all they really want! Have a great summer friend!! (:

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 28, 2016 at 1:35 pm

      thank you so much, laurie!!! that sounds so sweet!!!!

      Reply
  12. Lisa | Shine Your Light says

    June 21, 2016 at 5:27 pm

    You’re an awesome mama!!!!

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 28, 2016 at 1:35 pm

      coming from you, that means a lot!

      Reply
  13. Carol @ CAD INTERIORS says

    June 21, 2016 at 10:55 pm

    Sounds absolutely perfect! Our families/children above all else. 🙂

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 28, 2016 at 1:34 pm

      thank you, carol!

      Reply
  14. Shelley | Crazy Wonderful says

    June 26, 2016 at 9:14 am

    These kiddos are blessed to have you as their momma 🙂

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 28, 2016 at 9:17 am

      thank you- i am pretty luck to have them. most of the time. 😉

      Reply
  15. [email protected] says

    June 26, 2016 at 10:24 pm

    Cassie – this is just beautiful! You are such a wonderful mom. Can’t wait to read more about all your summer adventures.

    Reply
    • Cassie says

      June 28, 2016 at 9:16 am

      i am trying to be so i figure there is some success in the trying. but i definitely have my failure moments, too!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Cassie!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot of money to live a beautiful life and be your best self.  Here you will find budget friendly ideas to live happily, healthily, sustainably, and most importantly authentically.  We all get one chance at this life, and this ordinary girl plans to make hers extraordinary. How about you? Read more...
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Hi! I'm Cassie.

Mother, wife, shop owner, blogger, writer, incurable diy-er, furniture painter, coffee and wine drinker, friend. Seeking happiness and passing it on. Read More…

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