Friday Favorites (July 29, 2016)

It is Friday!  It was a crazy week!  We are going to have an even crazier weekend at cheer camp but I need a few minutes to catch up on our favorite blog day of the week!

As always, linking up with Erika, Narci and Andrea HERE

Here are my Friday Faves for this week!

Cheer Cheer Yeah Yeah!

The 2016 season started for us this week and I love my girls!  What a great group- they work hard, listen (for the most part) and love it!  It makes it so much more fun with a group like this

The Famous Nordstrom Anniversary Sale!  

It seems like every blogger I follow is posting her great finds.  The sale is still going on and you can shop it until August 8th.  Here are a few things I have been eyeing for Christmas gifts (and maybe a few for myself) ;)

My little Diva (as always) 

Really enjoyed her theater debut this week

What makes it so rewarding is that she was very nervous about this theater camp.  For months leading up to it, she had anxiety.  Well, she ended up having the time of her life and cried for an hour at bedtime last night because it was over- a part of me knew that in the end she would feel this way...warms my heart

My Little Pidge's new word/words 

"Bando" or "Bandi" for a Band Aid

I could just squish her!

Summer Eats!

Salads, Salads, Salads

Fruit, Fruit, Fruit

Fresh Fresh Fresh....Enough Said

I have a friend in town who is also a Health Coach- she has been awesome with sharing suggestions and recipes with me

I asked her for some fresh salad dressing ideas and boy did she come through- I don't think I will ever eat bottle dressing again

BLUEBERRIES!

Wow am I on a blueberry kick.  Blueberries are at their peak in New England.

I have been exploring Pinterest for more savory blueberry recipes and I have hit the jackpot!

Last week my friend Brenda had a few of us over.  I decided to try this Balsamic Baked Blueberry Brie with Bacon- it was delish!  The only thing I would change is that I would not cut off the rind of the brie as it spread out a bit on the plate and made it less pretty but it was a definite crowd pleaser

You can find the recipe HERE

and I had lunch with one of my favorite candidates of all time.  I am actually going to miss her now that the placement process is over. We have agreed to stay in touch because we really clicked!
We had a wonderful lobster roll lunch at Bill's Original Kitchen in Kittery (Maine).  You should check it out!  Find Bill HERE

 and she brought me to tears when she brought me a special gift- these beautiful pearl earrings from a jewelry shop right in Portland where she lives and where my client is!

Hope you all had an amazing week!  Looking forward to our cheer camp this weekend but more looking forward to decompressing after with our friends from France!

Diana's 1st Triple Threat Theater Camp Performance!

Well she did it!  She got through her first full TTC Summer Camp Program and performed as an Oompa Loompa in Willy Wonka, The Musical.  

We were so proud of her!

TTC or Triple Threat Theater Camp is a wonderful three week summer camp program put on by Barbara Mullen and her Londonderry School of Ballet.

The kids learn how to act, sing and dance and they prepare for their big production.  They also enjoy swimming, games and crafts.  It is less than 10 minutes from our house so with all of this combined, we were won over quickly!

The camp puts on a summer production each year and they do excerpts from Broadway Musicals.  Last nights' show includes Hamilton, Willy Wonka, Hairspray, Cats and Rent and it was AMAZING friends.

Not only were we proud of Diana.  We could see all of the fun she had of course.  We were also so impressed with the quality of the show and how much talent surrounds us.  We captured a few pics.

Here is her head shot in the lobby :)

and a few pics from Willy Wonka- Diana as an Oompa Loompa

and then, after the show, we took some pics with Diana's fan club and then enjoyed a "Make Your Own Sundae Party" back at home.  

Thank you to all of our wonderful friends and family who came to support Diana.  We appreciated it more than words and Diana was thrilled that you were all there!

What's Up Wednesday! (July 2016)

It's that time of the month!  It is time to catch up on "What's Up!"

As always linking up with Mel, Shay and Sheaffer HERE

What We're Eating This Week

We are trying to grab hold of and enjoy every last piece of fresh fruit and fresh veggies of the season.  Also, our garden starts to bloom in August.  We could get veggies earlier if we planted earlier, but we are in New England and really have to be careful with frost.  This year, we even had a frost after we planted Memorial Day Weekend SO that is why our veggies are late in the season!

I am looking forward to Rob's homemade pickles and zucchini on the grill.  

As far as this week, it is a CRAZY busy week so we are keeping it simple with grilled meats and salads. 

Here are a couple of favorites that I am including this week!

The Pioneer Woman's Chicken Salad with Blueberries, Feta and Corn
Find the Recipe HERE

and one of our old standbys

Barley and Corn Salad with Arugula and Green Beans
Find the Recipe HERE 

  
and I need to share this new snack we tried- we love Skinny Pop and really enjoyed this new Jalapeno flavor-delish!

What I'm Reminiscing About
 My theater performances- mostly in college but even further back to elementary school.
With Diana being in acting camp and being bitten by the "bug", we have been talking about a lot of shows.  I have been thinking back and have realized that theater has always been a beautiful part of my life.  It is so fun to share the magic with Diana now!
This was from my favorite show of all time- Guys and Dolls.  I played Adelaide during my Senior Year in College- 1995.  I always wanted that part and I was blessed with it before I graduated :)

   What I'm Loving
Time outside and more specifically, all of the exercise I am getting outside between running, walking and golf.  I will never forget this summer.  It is the summer that I decided to leave my comfort zone and try things that have always inspired me- I just did it and had a blast.  When I look back on some of the best times of my life, they have started with me doing something I was nervous about.  Isn't that funny?

and being welcomed in by these lovely ladies has been the icing on the cake!

and the weather has been amazing!  It reminds me of the Summer of 2010

  What We've Been Up To

We had a great 4th of July Weekend!
 We hosted an awesome bash and then spent quality family time and ended the weekend with a 5K (for Mama) and a day in Rockport- perfect New England weekend- there is no better place to be in the summer than home!

and Mama has been doing lots of running/jogging with Greer and the girls

Diana had a GREAT day with Auntie Mar!

 
and there has also been Wednesday Night Golf and the associated shenanigans thing for Mama ;)

  
We had our 2nd Annual Hot Dog Hoe Down with the Grahams and Beans
Read about it HERE  

and that night Diana and Alice had their first sleepover!

 
Daddy, Zach and Papa went to the Red Sox Game- Check it out- 3 Generations!

and while the boys were at Fenway, Lea and I took the girls to see The Secret Life of Pets- It was Eva's first time at the movies and she did so well!

We have slowly been working on potty training- Eva is 2- a little early I guess- but she is showing interest slowly but surely!

We have been hitting the beach!

 

 Daddy worked with Pidge in the yard- softball drills! 

We celebrated Mary's 50th!

Diana has been working hard on her cheer skills- she attended Edge Cheer Camp in Nashua and she has been working consistently with Coach Nicole at ECE- Check it out!

  
and one of Diana's ECE coaches posted these old videos- hard to believe it is only two years ago- she looks like such a baby!

and she is also working hard at Acting Camp- we can't wait for the show-she is playing an Oompa Loompa in Willy Wonka, The Musical
Check out the hair ;)

  
We spent a wonderful day with our cousins at their pool

Some slow-mo jumping action for you here :)

 and speaking of pools, Diana has been in them every week (at theater camp) and every weekend (at friends' houses!)  She really lives the life :)

 We made a little gift for our favorite police officer- Officer Matt (thank you Pinterest!)

We lost a tree in a micro burst last week and Daddy worked hard to cut down the branches and get everything cleared up- thank God for safety and no damage

Mama has enjoyed some quality time with girlfriends.
Thank God for the girls- priceless therapy!

  
and we make trips every week to our favorite little coffee shop in town- The Village Bean- here are two of my favorite girls of all time (both graduated with Zach and both are still local)

  
We enjoyed the Fisher Cats game with friends- the kiddos had an absolute blast!

 It was Super Heroes night and Batman was MC'ing- Rob was pumped ;)

and in typical NH fashion, we literally had a "skunk delay" not even kidding

  
and we wrapped up last weekend with another Couples Golf Tourney at WCC.  This one was called "Lobstah Trap" and it was just that.  We had an awesome night of golf- awesome weather- lots of laughs and wrapped up the night with an amazing Lobster dinner- Rob and I golfed with Lea and Mike :)

   
and cheer started this week!  Can you believe it!  Ahhh how time flies...our first week of practice was awesome- I am so impressed with these girls already- what a passionate, fun and hard working group- love them!

 
What I'm Dreading

Back to School
I guess this is an ambiguous answer however.
I am looking forward to back to school but at the same time dreading it- I don't want to think about homework and routines, etc etc.  We are having such a wonderful summer- I wish it could last forever!
   We already got the supply list too :(

  
 What I'm Working On
Well, as you have probably already figured out, running and golf
Golf will be an ongoing battle of course
My next running goal is to run the entire 5K
After that is accomplished, I will begin training for a 10k
Can't Stop- Won't Stop!
I am also putting together our cheer practice schedules and formats.  I can't believe we started this week already!  It is so much fun with these little nuggets and I am working to make sure they have the best season ever!

What I'm Excited About

Diana's Show!
Can't wait to see her in her first play ever!  It is going to be fun.  After the show, we are hosting our family and friends for a Make Your Own Sundae Night!

 What I'm Watching/Reading

We have been watching Ally McBeal on Netflix.  We are up to Season 3 and we both love it- many laughs!

  
and I, along with several friends, have been enjoying Odd Mom Out on Bravo- HYSTERICAL!

  
Two movies I have really enjoyed lately have included
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2

  
and Miracles from Heaven (gut wrenching-inspirational and a true story!)

  
and I recently wrapped up two great books by two of my favorite authors!

Who Do You Love by Jennifer Weiner and Beautiful Day by Elin Hilderbrand

  
Next up is The Rumor also by Elin Hilderbrand- I especially love reading her novels in the summer since they are all set in Nantucket

What I'm Listening To

For running, my mix includes: My Life Would Suck Without you (Glee Mix), Black Balloon (Goo Goo Dolls), Brave (Sara Bareilles), Chandelier (Sia), Drag Me Down (One Direction) and more

   
For golf, we have been listening to Pandora's Bachelorette Party Channel- it includes songs by Madonna, Kool and the Gang, Spice Girls, Usher and more- so fun!

What I'm Wearing

Lilly!  Oh yes and Lilly for Target! 

 
 What I'm Doing This Weekend

UCA Cheer Camp- ALL WEEKEND LONG
It is going to be intense.  It is going to be a lot of work and it is going to be fun!
The prize at the end of the weekend will be having Sharon and Maya there to watch our performance and then they will be coming back to the house so we can catch up and celebrate!

 What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month

Pearl Jam at Fenway with Laurel and Tom- Woohoo!

and Storyland and Santa's Village with the Grahams

  
What Else is New?

Between all of this fun, we have been working hard and we are very grateful to have the jobs we do- always grateful for the balance, the business and enjoying what we do

  

Bonus Question of the Month
“What was your favorite part about summer?”.
 I would have to say time spent at the beach.  For me, there is nothing like sitting in my beach chair, on wet sand, at low tide, and smelling the salt water, getting sprayed by waves and getting warmed by the sun.  While on the NH coast, I love looking left and seeing my favorite home and hearing seagulls (when they are in the distance of course).  It is the most peaceful feeling for me and my true happy place :)
Here is my favorite home at the beach

 
I look forward to reading all that you have been up to!