Weekly wrap up ♥ goodbye summer, hello fall : )

 

 

Last Sunday we had the most beautiful beach day.  I knew it would be our last of the season. 

 

We parked it right in this very spot and enjoyed the sound of the waves and smell of the ocean air.

 

I put my toes in the sand and felt grateful for having such a nice summer ♥

 

 

 

 

For it's time to say goodbye to beach days.  As much as I've loved you, it's time to move on. 

 

Seasons are changing ♥

 

 

On Monday John and I had a busy day.  School shopping and a doctor's appointment. 

 

School starts Wednesday and I hadn't done a single thing. 

 

Time to get busy!

 

(me and every other mom in Wal-Mart...we all had our checklists : )

 

 

 

 Notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, folders, protractor, ruler, calculator, lunchbox, backpack, sneakers. 

 

And then there's uniform pants, shirts, gym clothes, socks, underwear, belt....and so on and so and so on. 

 

So much STUFF!

 

Our cart was full and I only missed a few items that I'll pick up this weekend.  Anyone know where I can get a metric ruler???

 

 

 

 

 I'm happy to report his physical went great.  He's grown 3 inches this year!!! 

 

He did have to get 2 shots, which were not fun, but he was brave and shook it off like a champ! ♥

 

 

 

 

 

That deserved Subway for lunch :)

 

 

 

 

 

And then this happened! ♥

 

(well, technically it IS still summer after all!)

 

 

 

 

 

So there you are.  All ready for grade 6!!!  His Incredibles backpack is loaded up and organized with all his supplies.  He's excited for Wednesday and looking forward to seeing all his friends. 

 

As for me, this weekend I'm officially getting out of Summer mode and into Fall mode because...

 

 

 

 

 

Yes indeed!  The time has come! 

 

No matter what the calendar or nasty thermometer says, to me September IS Fall ♥

 

Happy Friday everyone!  Enjoy this last day of August.  Tomorrow let's all have PSL's and celebrate!

 

xoxo

Frozen pineapple treat ♥ (tastes like a Dole Whip!)

Hello Friends!

 

 I hope you had a lovely week.  I can't believe it's almost Labor Day and the summer is coming to an end.  John has one more week left of summer vacation before returning back to school.  I know some of your little ones have already gone back.  Every where I look there is a back to school sale. And I've even seen Halloween candy in the grocery stores. It seems like the summer has just started and all of sudden we are at the end.  We've had a great summer.  Once again, gone by too fast ♥

 

 I can feel the shift in the air.  We had some cooler days this past week that really made it feel like fall. We shut off the air conditioners and opened the windows.  Ahh, that fresh air.  Smells so good!

 

 I actually just stepped outside and it's cool out! My phone said 69 degrees!  

 

(It's Saturday night, 11:30 pm).  Why did I step outside you ask? 

 

To take this.....

 

So beautiful, right?! 

 

 

 

 

I wasn't going to let that go by without a proper picture ♥

 

Anyway.....:)

 

 

The temperatures are rising again and we are due for another hot spell over the next few days.  We are  planning on going to the beach tomorrow morning.  It will be our last beach day this summer.  One last hurrar! ♥

 

 

 I intend on getting one last week of summer out of my system before I officially turn the page to fall.  Once John goes back to school it's on! Pumpkin spice and everything nice : )

 

So since I've still got a little bit of  summer left in me, here's a treat I've been enjoying lately that I thought I would share with you today. 

 

 

 

All you do is take some vanilla ice cream, some frozen pineapple chunks, and a splash of either pineapple juice or orange juice, and whirl it around in the blender until it's smooth.

Pour into a glass and top with a dollop of whip cream.  It's so good! ♥

 

If you've ever been to Disney World and had a Dole Whip...it taste just like it! : )

Enjoy!

 On Monday I'm taking John for his annual physical and then we are going back to school shopping.  School supplies, clothes, new shoes, the works. This time of the year always brings a mix of emotions.  A sadness that summer vacation is ending, but also excitement and anticipation of starting something new.  

 

I'm going to try to live in the moment this week and make every day count.  Who's with me?! ♥

 

 

 

Wednesday thoughts ♥

Hello!

I came across this the other day and it hit home...... 

This is me. All the time

Anyone else?


I guess in my mind I still think it's 1995 and all my favorite sweaters are still tucked away in my drawer.  I better not tell myself I wouldn't be able to fit in them even if they were there! HA!

Happy Wednesday, friends! It's rainy here today, but guess what?  I'm wearing a cardigan!!!
(those I will never part with : )

Yup, cardigan season is back! At least for now anyway....

Have a great day! xo

Happy 11th Birthday, John! ♥

Hello Friends!

 

This past week John celebrated his 11th birthday.  When I look at him I can hardly believe my baby boy is 11! This is the boy I would carry around in my arms and now I can barley lift him.....and he can lift me!  When did we switch places? 

We had two family dinners to celebrate John (one with my parents on Thursday and then again today with Rob's side).  Saturday he had some school friends over for a party.  Yup, I'm exhausted!  It's been a week long celebration, but he deserves every minute of it ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So how do we celebrate?

 

 

Well, first we need a cake.  Funfetti was requested.

 

 

 

 

Add some snacks and balloons. 

 

 

 

 

The fixings for sundaes….

 

 

 

 

And of course, the boys!

 

They had a ball eating and telling funny stories!  This is one great group of friends : )

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that we went outside and I learned what a "face plant" is....because John did one with his sundae!

 

 

 

 

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

 

(he wasn't the only one, trust me!:)

 

It's ok though, because right after that it was time for water balloons and a full on water war!

 

 

 

 

Luckily Saturday was a hot August day, so this "war" was very refreshing!

 

 

 

Absolutely drenched but happy!

 

(note the Golden Girls shirt on John! LOL : )

 

 

 

Our family gatherings were a little more low key, but still very fun.  There was cake. There was cousins. There was ice cream. I had coffee. He was happy : )

What more do we need?

 

 

Another one of John's birthday's has come and gone and I'm so grateful to our generous family and friends who helped us celebrate!  John had a wonderful time! ♥

 

 And now we rest.  At least I do.... :)

 

 

Happy new week, friends! 

Can you believe we are mid way through August?

 It's time to cram in all the summer we can before it's over. We've only got 2 and a half weeks to go before John goes back to school.  I'm excited for Fall but sad to see the summer coming to an end.  And I've only had 1 s'more all season!  I've got a lot of catching up to do in the next 2 weeks! ♥

 

 

Lemon noodles (again) ♥

Hello Friends!

 

You may be thinking you've seen this recipe on my blog before, and you would be right! I've posted this one before, but it's so good that I thought it deserved a repost. 

 

I was scrolling through my recipes tonight trying to decide what to make for dinner tomorrow night (as you are reading this, it's tonight :) and I came across this one.  YUM! And just by luck I have all the ingredients on hand.  Don't you love when that happens? 

 

I've been so bad at meal planning lately.  I'm basically following the "winging it" method this summer.  Depending on how hot it is, how tired I am, and what kind of leftovers we have hanging around, are all factors in the "winging it" method.  It's August (which in New England is the hottest month of summer!) so I'm giving myself a free pass with some easy suppers.  In just a few weeks it will be September (yay!) and back to school time, which means chicken pot pies, minestrone soup, pot roasts in the crock pot, and all the other yummy comfort foods that come with that time of year! I can't wait! ♥

 

But we aren't there yet, and on an off chance that it's not too hot to break out the pots and pans, here is an easy peasy recipe for lemon noodles.  It's a Susan Branch recipe so you know it's going to be a good one.  I make this every summer.

 

In fact... I'm making it tonight....and you can too : )

 

 

(honestly, I wouldn't post it on this blog so many times if it wasn't absolutely delicious!!) 

Recipe adapted from Susan Branch's Vineyard Seasons

1 lb spaghetti
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup ricotta cheese **
juice of 1 lemon
1 tsp grated lemon peel
freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup minced parsley
Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cook the noodles in boiling water; drain and put in baking dish.  Melt butter in a small saucepan; remove from heat.  Stir in ricotta cheese, lemon juice, and lemon peel.  Pour over pasta, toss and bake for 20-25 minutes. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remove from oven and sprinkle with lots of freshly ground pepper, parsley, and Parmesan cheese. 

Toss and eat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

** Susan's recipe calls for 1 pt of sour cream. I always use ricotta cheese instead and it comes out delicious, but feel free to use the sour cream if you have it on hand **

 

 

 

 

 

I like to serve lemon chicken tenders over this pasta  ♥

You could also leave out the meat and just add veggies. It's delicious!

Some variations I've tossed in are chopped tomatoes and spinach / peas/ and grilled summer veggies. 

Use whatever you like and Enjoy! ♥ 

 

 

Have a happy and sunny day, my friends!

 

If you need me I'll be by the air conditioner, waiting for September to arrive.

(not really, but....really ♥)

 

 

Bye~

 

xoxo

 

Weekly wrap up ♥

Hello Friends ♥

One of the best parts of having a blog is being able to look back at things I've done.  It's like a scrapbook that I've been keeping since 2011.  In a few weeks I'll be coming up on the 1 year anniversary of moving and I've been feeling nostalgic for my old house.  Scrolling back, I'm so grateful for all of my posts.  I have so many pictures of every room in that house.  Pictures of my kitchen window and the nightstand next to my bed.  Little mundane things like making breakfast or playing checkers at the kitchen table, are all there.  So many meals made in that kitchen.  I do miss my flat top stove! : )
 

(they changed the mailbox, mine was green)

  

I've driven by it a few times and it's the weirdest feeling.  It's a house that I lived in for 19 years. Rob and I built the house and designed every detail.  All of a sudden I can't go in.  I don't live there anymore.  I wonder what it looks like now and I'm so tempted to knock on the door, although I never would have the nerve.

Don't mind me, I just have trouble with change.  Like, it takes me forever.  And ever.  Rob says I'm too sentimental, but I don't think anyone can be too sentimental. 

Seems impossible ♥

 

 

 

Anyhow, it's a new day and life moves on.  That's just something that was on my mind this week ♥

 Here are a few random pictures of other bits and bobs from the week:  

 

Still loving the morning light.  The weather here has been incredibly hot and humid.  The mornings are steamy and feel more like Florida than Massachusetts. Sometimes the windows are all fogged up : )

 

 

 

We are overindulging in fresh fruit this season. 

 

Currently cherries!

 

 

 

 

 

Always searching for the perfect one.  Come to find out...they're all perfect! ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

My secret weapon for a perfect pedicure: a sparkly topcoat. 

 

It hides all the chips and imperfections, while still looking pretty! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When snapchat filters actually match your real life clothes...

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is me killing time while waiting for John to brush his teeth.

 

And I would totally wear these earrings if I had them! They match my shirt perfectly!  : )

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another secret of mine.... my go to late night snack. 

 

Cheerios with chocolate chips!  Don't knock it till you try it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Flowers in my mom's kitchen, at night.

 

Still pretty ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

My new butterfly bracelet makes me smile ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

We saw Christopher Robin yesterday.  It was a beautiful film that I highly recommend. 

 

Bring tissues.  You'll need them! (at least I did ♥)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don't you just love Pooh? ♥

 

 

Have a happy and blessed Sunday, my friends!  Enjoy the day!

 

xoxox

 

Family weekend in New Hampshire ♥

Hello, my friends! It's been too long since my last post! Where have I been?

Well, I'll tell you... 

We went away for a mini vacation up to New Hampshire!  It was a wonderful 4 days in the mountains!  This was our view from the rental house we had in North Conway.  

The house was absolutely lovely and slept all of us very comfortably.  All 23 of us!!! 

It had all the comforts of home.  There's Rob doing his crossword puzzle : ) 

The kitchen....where all the good food lives.

And John on the balcony.  

Our room, where Rob brought me coffee every morning. 

I needed it before facing 22 other humans first thing in the morning....just saying... :) 

The house had a pool which was wonderful for the kids!  Especially since it was in the 90's all weekend! 

Cousins!  

Under the kissing bridge! ♥

We went on some adventures while we were there! 

Polar Caves 

(Notice that John and I have matching Disney shirts : ) 

Our weekend away with family was a lot of fun! I wish we could have stayed longer.  Something about that mountain air.....

It's taken us a few days to recover and get back into the swing of things.  And now we are unpacked and all the laundry is done. I went back to work yesterday and daily life has resumed. 

We are enjoying slow August afternoons, in the a/c, away from the brutal heat.  

(The coolness of September is going to be a welcome change.  I can't wait!)

 

Now that I'm home I'll be back to my regular blogging! Thank you for visiting me today.  I've missed this place! 

There's no place like home! 

Happy August! xoxo