Sponsored by Zappos

We’re nearly a month into the summer months here in the Northern Hemisphere and we’re finally getting a hang of our days and evenings. While we’ve been spending more time at home the past few months, each season and month still feels a little different from the last. The summer heat tends to mold and shape our days and this year feels no different. With Ace being a lot bigger than he was this time last year (do you remember those sweet baby cheeks last year?), we’re enjoying a new activity that we’ve recently built into our evening routines — family bike rides! Before I get too far into this post, though, I wanted to share that I’m thrilled to be partnering with Zappos and Baggallini today! I’ve been a long-time Zappos customer and always love getting the chance to share my favorite one-stop-shop website and some of their amazing retailers. Don’t forget – Zappos also offers fast, two-day free shipping with a Zappos Rewards account (scoot on over after you finish reading this post to sign up)! Most recently, I picked up the Baggallini Soho Backpack to take with us on our sunset rides, because you never know when we’re going to need a drink of water, a little snack or your favorite sing-along book during a quick stop ( 😉 err, for your kids that is!).

Lately, our summer evening routine has looked a little like this:

6pm – Have dinner as a family

7:15pm – Grab our bikes (helmets included!) and head out on a mile and a half ride

7:45pm – Peddle back into the driveway and park our bikes for evening

8pm – Give the grandparents hugs and kisses (we live next door to my parents!)

8:15pm – In the bath for a quick dip, splash around and playtime with Ace’s favorite water toys

8:30pm: Time for pajamas, teeth brushing and cuddles with Ace

9pm: Ace is usually fast asleep (he tends to be night owl, but we’ve been getting lucky lately with early bedtimes)

After Ace is asleep, Scott and I will usually have some dessert and watch a few episodes of our current series or a movie (right now we’re watching Sweet Magnolias on Netflix — it’s super cheesy and gives off Gilmore Girls and Hart of Dixie Vibes). I usually find myself doing a ten minute pick-up right before we go to bed because I love waking up to a tidy house — anyone else there with me?

If your summer routine is looking a little like ours or you’re in need of a catch-all type of bag, the Baggallini Soho Backpack is lightweight, made out of water-resistant nylon (perfect for our upcoming monsoon season) and has a top-handle and backpack straps (again, perfect for bike rides, trips back and forth to the office or traveling when those days come again). Twenty five years ago, Baggallini’s female founders set out to design the kind of bag they needed for their own busy lifestyles and in turn created styles that are a fit for all of life’s different journeys — which is something I think we all need and can enjoy!

-Chels xo