Happy Wednesday, lovebugs! It’s a busy day of home-school and laundry around here. Little Miss has her first day of remote school…and Mr. College is prepping to move back.
Here’s a little nugget of wisdom I just discovered the hard way….wash their bedding the moment they move back home! Don’t leave it packed up all summer. Let’s just say thank goodness for Tyler’s Glam Wash!
The summer break wasn’t exactly what we’d planned, so weekends at the lake were even more special. It’s been a special place for our family since I was in college, but we gained a whole new appreciation for it this summer! Every time we’re there, I want to just freeze time! Games, paddle boarding, late-night movie marathons, belly laughs…it’s always perfect!
Patagonia Pink & Orange Swimsuit | Patagonia Tee | Billabong Floral Swimsuit
As with every outdoor and active adventure, we get our gear from Backcountry! They have everything we need for hiking and paddle boarding, to biking and camping…and everything in between.
Their expert Gearheads are incredibly helpful and knowledgable when it comes to the vast selection of essential outdoor gear and clothes, plus they offer 24/7 customer service and fast, free shipping. We have a garage full of gear to prove it!
Sale Alert: Backcountry is having their Semi-Annual Sale, with up to 50% off apparel and more…including top brands like Patagonia and Sorel. And if you’re a first-time Backcountry shopper, save 15% off your full-price order with code SUGARPLUM15 at Backcountry.com (some exclusions apply).
Billabong Floral Swimsuit | Billabong Board Shorts
The cell service is bad and the wifi is sketchy at the lake, so phones are at a minimum…and outside time a maximum. I’m more of an ocean girl, but I love all the water sports the lake offers.
I love to paddle board around sunset, when the sky glows pink and everything is quiet. These pull-on shorts are perfect for running, hiking, or on the water. They dry almost instantly and don’t chafe. Plus, they’re super cute!
Fit Tip: I’m in a small for a relaxed fit. They have a drawstring waist and pockets.
Brixton Hat | Swim Top | Patagonia Board Shorts
Little Miss is the fisher of the group, and she’ll sit for hours pulling up catfish. I fish with her, but only with the understanding she has to take mine off the hook, too! Ha! (We throw them all back!)
Patagonia Pink & Orange Swimsuit | Patagonia Tee | Billabong Floral Swimsuit
When it comes to the water, this guy is up for anything and everything! He is, however, fussy about his swim trunks, so shops Backcountry almost exclusively for the styles and brands he likes.
Straw Hat | Billabong Board Shorts
On Her: Patagonia Tee | Patagonia Shorts
On Him: Billabong Tee | Billabong Board Shorts
This is my first Patagonia swimsuit and I’m super impressed! It’s so well-made, comfortable, and dries so fast! It has an adjustable tie and built-in cups for coverage and support. It’s also on sale!
Fit Tip: I’m wearing a small
Straw Hat | Sunglasses | Yeti Cup
Straw Hat | Patagonia Swimsuit | Patagonia Board Shorts
On Her: Patagonia Tee | Patagonia Shorts | Chaco Water Shoes
On Him: Billabong Tee | Billabong Board Shorts| Chaco Water Shoes
Even though it’s only about 90-minutes outside of the city, it feels like a world away. A lot of memories have been made here over the years, and I love adding to them with my own family now.
How are you closing out the summer? Do you have a place that’s special to your family?
Don’t forget the huge Backcountry Semi-Annual Sale, with tons of great deals! Here are a few that caught my eye:
*Photos taken by us on an iPhone. This post is created in collaboration with Backcountry and ShopStyle, but all product selections, styling, and back-flip attempts are my own. Thank you for supporting Hi Sugarplum sponsors!*
I’m not sure if you are aware, but the pandemic is country wide. So what that means is no one’s summer , or spring for that matter, was as they had planned. You are not unique. Many families have children going back to school and college. Again, you aren’t unique in that. You are unique in that you have taken many trips and gone a lot of places this summer…yet you still complain. I honestly am not sure why I continue to read your blog when the first 2 paragraphs are often complaints about poor “little miss and mr college” ***HUGE eyeroll*** on what they are missing out on…as if they are the only ones. YOu really should be grateful about all the places you get to go and stop complaining.
I agree, Cookie, that my situation is not unique. This pandemic has impacted every single person, some harder than others. But what I love most about this space is the sense of community and camaraderie, and expressing what we’re all going through is helpful in knowing we’re not alone. If you misinterpret that as complaining, and you no longer find joy here, I also agree that it’s probably best for your mental health, and mine, if you no longer follow. Much love to you and your family. xo. C
Whoa!!! Cookie must not be aware that there are thousands of media outlets for her rant, and this is MY place to relax and relate! Cookie can’t take that away from me 😂! I definitely don’t see complaining here, but do feel like Cassie is a real person with her own sets of things to deal with. To be honest maybe Cookie needs a day trip to the lake, it’s free and freeing, she could grab some all weather bangles and maybe a cute inexpensive amazon find and put her toes in the sand and forget all this hate! Much love to you Cassie, you brighten this long boring Covid dominated social media space! Why do I want cookies now?
You are not a nice person, Cookie! I don’t see Cassie ever complain. She tries to relate to everyone else and obviously has deep love and concern for her children and compassion for all of her followers. She was a lot nicer in her response than I would be. Buzz off lady!
Thanks for always sending a little sunshine and positive authentic prospective our way!
You really have a beautiful family and that lake looks amazing! This summer has turned for the worse for me so I’m trying my best to try and enjoy whatever I can now (I’m a summer person through and through so finding the little joys in the warm weather is easy). I’ll be going to my aunt’s cottage next weekend (on the same lake where she had a spot in a campground during my childhood so it’s still filled with memories). I’ll soak up some family time with them and enjoy early morning coffees looking at the mirrored lake. I wish you a good transition to the school year (whatever it might look like) and stay safe!
That sounds dreamy, Caroline!! Have a great time! xo. C
Little Miss SP in high school already?? Blink and they’ll be gone! : (
Excuse me, I need to be alone w/the Backcountry site right now……….
Some of our best memories are of the vacations we took when our daughter was growing up. She is all grown up now – a college professor, PhD, married with two young daughters – and we still talk about our great family vacations. She brought home her laundry from college most weekends (she had a boyfriend at the time that was going to college locally). Well, after the first two years of college, I told her to do her laundry at school – and at the end of the spring term get a rental unit near the university, and have her college friends help take all those things she didn’t need at home during the summer and deposit them there. She drove home with literally just her clothes and a ton of cosmetics (including a bucket full of shampoos and conditioners all wet and drippy – ah, a tale for another day!).
To the lady above that complained about your site – we are all experiencing quite a time during this pandemic, and I am sure that Cassie has had her share of anxiety as well; however, it is so refreshing to hear her messages of positivity instead of some of the blogs where people have to air all their woes and personal information to the world. We are all responsible for making our own happiness in our lives. Some of us are just more adept at making our way through this thing called “life”. Best wishes to you, Cassie and to all our fellow Sugarplumers!
Your blog is such a BRIGHT spot Cassie in a dark time!
Please keep it up!
THANK YOU!!!
Thanks so much, LouAnn! xo. C
Hi Cassie!
I am not one to leave comments, but I was so taken aback by Cookie B.’s rant that I felt compelled to reach out to you. After reading her comment, I had to go back and reread your post. I just didn’t see what this lady is talking about! Thank you for sharing your life and family with us. Yes, these have been trying times, but I’ve never read one of your posts and felt like you were complaining. Thank you for being you and keeping it real. And kudos for your kind response to such a hateful comment from someone who is clearly unhappy. You are a class act!
Thanks so much, Michelle! It’s a trying time for everyone, I have to remind myself that we all have bad days! xo. C
My college gal questioned me when I told her to wash her bedding when she moved home! I bet it doesn’t smell great after being in storage for 5 months. Better get it out to rewash…
Good point…we’d be washing it again after 5 months in the attic! good luck to your girl! xo. C
Hi! Just wondering if you would share which lake you visited. We are looking for a little family get away and this looks amazing.
Sure! It’s Cedar Creek Lake…east of Dallas. xo. C
Cassie, I am a long-time reader, and I’ve always enjoyed your upbeat and cheerful personality. It is unfortunate that someone used your fun blog to use keyboard courage and small manners to vent about the pandemic. Your graceful comment is a model for all of us. I’ll continue to be a loyal reader, and thank you so much for being a class act!
Thanks so much, Rebecca…I’m thrilled you love coming here! xo. C
I never comment either but I live your blog. My whole family teases me, “what does Cassie tell you about today?” And my youngest watches your stories with me and tells me what I should get. And when we get a package they all say, this was on the Cassie Sugarplum show’. It’s soo funny, you are a big part of our everyday.
LOL, I love it…thanks so much, Lori! xo. C
I love your blog! You are always more than generous with the amount of personal information you share, and everyone (except Cookie) enjoys. You are always positive and genuinely bring a smile.
I am actually troubled by her comment and not entirely sure what would prompt someone to say such hurtful things unless she is completely miserable in her own life. You handled it 10x better than I would. Personally, I would have suggested the old, stale, dried out cookie would meet me in a dark alley. Just kidddddding.
PS love your haircut Cassie
I literally bought that same Patagonia swimsuit at Marshall’s this week for…. $12!! It was on clearance marked down from $20. 😀 Only mine is lavender and peach rather than pink and orange.
Score!!! I love the fit and material of it!