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Week in Rewind Volume 121

Week In Rewind

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Welcome to Volume 121 of the Week in Rewind with Midwest Life and Style. In each recap, I’ll share my most recent posts, favorite finds, and a collection of ideas, tips, and inspiration from other bloggers around the web.

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Week in Rewind Volume 121

Happy weekend to you!

I hope you’re staying cool wherever you are. It’s been an absolute scorcher here in the Midwest, but thankfully it looks like we’ll get a bit of a reprieve next week.

It’s been a fun couple of weeks since we last chatted, filled with family, friends, and a few summer adventures. Plus, I’m sharing a few of my favorite zucchini recipes to help use up your garden bounty, along with some of my top finds and current sales.

So grab something cold to drink, get cozy, and join me for the latest week in rewind!

Table of Contents

  • Week in Rewind Volume 121
  • Tidbits from Home
  • What I’m Loving This Week
  • Recently on the Blog
  • Coming Soon to MWLS
  • Wrapping Up: The Week in Rewind Volume 121
  • Did you enjoy this post? PIN it for later!

Tidbits from Home

Our Dining Room Has Officially Been Taken Over

If you’re a current (or former) parent of a college student, you’ve probably heard of the “dorm corner.” Well…our dorm corner has officially exploded and taken over almost the entire dining room. Instead of a dining room, it looks more like an Amazon warehouse!

College dorm room supplies and decor stacked in the dining room before move-in day.
The dorm room haul
College dorm decor and organization supplies ready to be packed for move-in day.
A closer look, including her DIY bulletin board

My husband likes to razz me about all the stuff, but in my defense, Peyton will be living in more of an apartment-style dorm, and as of now she’ll have a single. So yes…she needs all the things. (Or at least that’s what I keep telling him.)

It’s definitely a step up (okay, a LOT of steps up) from the cinder block shoebox I called home my freshman year of college.

College student assembling dorm room furniture while wearing headphones at the dining room table.

Our to-buy list is slowly dwindling, and before long we’ll be packing everything up for move-in next month. I still can’t believe we’re already at this stage.

Soaking Up Summer

Beyond all the college prep, we’ve been trying our best to soak up the last little bits of summer break, and we’ve packed a lot into the past couple of weeks.

Last weekend, Kirk’s dad and stepmom came to visit. One night we grabbed dinner at our favorite burger spot. If you’re local, then you know Honest Abe’s is a must for a great (and unique) burger.

Family enjoying coffee and cinnamon rolls together at an outdoor patio during a summer farmer's market

The next day, we spent the morning wandering the farmers market. We hadn’t been in so long that I’d almost forgotten how much we love going. I couldn’t leave without a cinnamon roll from my favorite Amish baker, and of course we brought home some fresh Nebraska sweet corn for dinner.

And while they were here, Kirk and his dad also mounted a TV in our garage. Needless to say, Kirk is in seventh heaven and can hardly wait for football season to start.

Dancers performing in sparkly silver costumes during a summer parade.
Dancer posing with her dance instructor after a parade performance.

Last Sunday, one of Harper’s dance classes also performed at a neighborhood celebration near her dance studio. It was incredibly hot, but it was so much fun to watch her perform again. As an added bonus, the event had another farmers market, so we wandered through that one too, and I picked up a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers to bring home.

A Backyard BBQ with Friends

Earlier this week, we hosted some longtime family friends for a BBQ. We’ve known them for years through club volleyball, and Peyton and their daughter, Ellie, have become close friends over the years. They also have a Harper who’s almost the same age as ours (what are the odds?), so it’s been fun watching the girls grow up together.

We really didn’t get to see them much this spring since Peyton was injured and wasn’t playing, so it was nice to catch up and celebrate both of the older girls before they head off to college in just a few weeks.

Of course I forgot to get any photos, but it reminded me how much I truly love having people over, and I’m hoping as our schedules become a little less hectic that we can host a little more often.

Summer Staycation

We had hoped to squeeze in a bigger family vacation this summer, but it just wasn’t in the cards. So, we decided to make the most of everything there is to do close to home and planned a little staycation instead.

Family selfie during a summer visit to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.

Yesterday we spent the day at the Omaha Henry Doorly Zoo. It had been a few years since our last visit, and we loved seeing all of the updates, new exhibits, and animals that have been added. Five hours and 13,000 steps later, we were all hot, sweaty, and totally exhausted, but we made some special memories.

Two sisters posing beside a giant stone head sculpture inside the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha.
Giraffes grazing together in the African habitat at the Henry Doorly Zoo.
Two girls watching colorful jellyfish swim inside an aquarium exhibit.

We still have a few more staycation adventures on the calendar, including a round of mini golf at Prehistoric Putt and one more trip to the farmers market before move-in day gets here.

Two sisters smiling beside a western lowland gorilla at the zoo exhibit.

With Peyton leaving for college in less than three weeks, I’m soaking up every chance we have to spend time together as a family of four.

On a Personal Note

On the personal side, I’ve been meeting weekly with my dear friend Missy from Sonata Home Design. It’s been such a nice excuse to get out of the house, and we’ve been having fun checking out all the cute little local coffee shops around town.

What started as a blogging friendship has turned into something so much more, and I feel really lucky to have a creative partner locally who I can talk shop with and who has become a genuine friend.

Last year, we hosted a holiday open house together that was a big hit, and we are already cooking up something fun for the holiday season this year.

Let’s just say there may be a little something extra exciting coming next week for Christmas in July…stay tuned to your inboxes for more details!

What I’m Loving This Week

When you shop through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It truly means so much and helps support this little corner of the internet. Thank you for being here and trusting me with your shopping inspiration.

Christmas in July Favorites

It may seem early, but Christmas favorites have a way of selling out fast! If something catches your eye, tap the images below to shop before they’re gone.


  • I bought these for Peyton’s dorm room, but now I’m wondering why I didn’t order a set for my home office too.
  • We just ordered one of these for my husband’s new garage TV, and he is super excited!
  • This is one of my favorite new purchases and is perfect for desks, nightstands, craft rooms, or anywhere you always seem to be short on outlets.
  • This makeup had been on my wishlist forever, so I finally grabbed both the foundation and this primer a few weeks ago. They’re absolutely worth the hype, and right now the foundation is on a HUGE sale!
  • If you’re back to school shopping, this matching set has been one of my favorite finds for each of my girls so far. Super cute and so comfy!
  • Let’s just say my healthy eating habits have taken a bit of a vacation this summer. I’m hoping this helps me get back into a better routine.
  • It’s been sooo HOT here! My hair has been up almost every day, so these are currently sitting in my shopping cart.
  • These were just delivered for Peyton as an early “move-in” day gift. I love them so much, they’re going on my early Christmas wish list! And they’re currently over 35% off!

Shop the Collections

Looking to browse a little? I’ve rounded up all my favorite finds, seasonal decor, entertaining essentials, and everyday favorites in one place, so it’s easy to shop by category.

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For more great finds, you can also shop with me on the LiketoKnowIt app.

Recently on the Blog

‘Tis the season for an abundance of zucchini! If you’re looking for a few recipes to try, I have some favorites to share

mini loaf of zucchini bread sliced and displayed on a wooden cutting board

This zucchini bread recipe was handed down from my grandma and is truly the best. If you’re looking for an easy way to use up all that zucchini, this is the one to try!

chocolate chip zucchini muffins with a bite taken out of it

Chocolate chips make everything better, and these zucchini muffins with a streusel topping are proof! They’re perfect for a quick breakfast or an after-school snack as back-to-school season gets underway.

Coming Soon to MWLS

I’ve been slacking on posts lately between graduation, summer break, and getting a kiddo ready for college, but I promise I’ll be back to a more regular posting schedule soon.

Until then, thank you for being so patient with me, and keep your eyes peeled for some fun Christmas in July content next week!


Wrapping Up: The Week in Rewind Volume 121

As always, thanks for following along! If you enjoy these posts, you can find past Week In Rewind posts here.

And… If you are catching up on blog posts you may have missed, be sure to subscribe to become part of the MWLS community and be the first to get all of the latest recipes, DIYs, decor tips, and more sent straight to your inbox.

Xo,

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July 18, 2026 · Leave a Comment

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Hi, I’m Jen, an entertaining pro sharing simple ideas and inspiration to help you host with ease. From tips for setting a beautiful table to easy recipes, seasonal decorating ideas, and DIYs, you’ll find everything you need to make every gathering and celebration feel special.

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