Friday, April 28, 2017

Friday Favorites (April 28, 2017)




It's Friday again! Praise the Lord!  It has been a busy busy week- lots of work and kids on spring break so juggling juggling...excited for a bit of fun and relaxation this weekend!
Linking up, as always, with Erika, Narci and Andrea HERE

Here are some favorites from this week....



Niagara!  
Oh what fun we had and I especially loved our little family bonding time- so special- will remember it forever


 








Celebrating Eva!

Eva turned 3 on Monday and we wrapped up our little family vaca with a cookout dinner on the deck topped off with a little Birthday Cake...she was all smiles! Can't wait to share a Birthday Party post with you next week!







Melissa Etheridge!

Lea, Coleen and I  saw Melissa Etheridge on Wednesday night at Tupelo Music Hall- right in our backyard!  We hit Coach Stop first for cocktails and apps and then headed over for a rockin' night!  (We missed Tracey- she got so ill and could not join us) :(

A few cute pics


 
and a few clips of  her amazingness!


















Favorite Memes of the Week!












Favorite Outfit of the Week!



 (Top- Gap Outlet; Jeans- Kut From The Kloth at Nordstrom's; Sandals Tory Burch Via Ebay; Necklace Kendra Scott Via Ebay)


That's a wrap!  Hope you have an amazing weekend!  We are looking forward to Beauty and the Beast with our besties and Eva's big birthday party with our family and friends!
 









Thursday, April 27, 2017

Antipasto Chicken Salad


It's "Try It Thursday" and I am linking up with Allie HERE

I have been dying to share this recipe with you because it is so delicious and SO EASY!

I made it one night the Batsons came over and we all gobbled it up so fast- it was a big hit!

Here is what you will need:

Ingredients
For The Salad:
  • 4-6 cups roughly chopped lettuce
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped roasted red peppers
  • 1 cup roughly chopped cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup sliced red onion
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped pepperoni 
  • 1/2 cup roughly chopped salami
  • 3/4 pounds cooked chicken (I used rotisserie, the original recipe calls for grilled chicken)
  • 1 cup cubed fresh mozzarella cheese 
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • fresh basil leaves for garnish
For The Basil Balsamic Dressing:
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions

For The Salad:
  1. Arrange the salad: divide the lettuce between two plates. Top with peppers, tomatoes, onions, pepperoni, salami, chicken, and optional fresh mozzarella.
  2. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning on top and garnish with fresh basil.
For The Basil Balsamic Dressing:
  1. Whisk together the dressing ingredients.
  2. Pour over the salad and serve immediately. 
     
    I guaranty Love At First Bite! 

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

What's Up Wednesday (April 2017)





It is time for my one of my favorite blog posts every month- we get to catch up on all of our whereabouts.  I love writing these posts and looking back on our memories AND I love reading all of the posts of my blog friends- so fun.
As always, linking up with Mel, Sheaffer and Shay HERE

Here we go!

WHAT WE'RE EATING THIS WEEK

Monday- Cheddar and Onion Burgers on Whole Wheat Rolls, Corn on the Cob and Watermelon
(This was Eva's actual birthday and we stopped to do our grocery shopping on the way back from Niagara Falls.  We decided to cap out our awesome family weekend with our first outside dinner of the season.  Rob set up our deck furniture and fired up the grill.  It was awesome.  We wrapped up the night with a little birthday cake and Eva was extremely pleased)




Tuesday- Grilled Chicken Thighs with Poppy Seed Marinate, Broccoli Rice and Salad

Wednesday- Grilled Pork Chops with BBQ Marinade, Sweet Potato Noodles and Salad

Thursday- Grilled Chicken with Garlic Marinade, Squash Noodles and Salads

Friday- TBD

As you can see, it is a grill theme- once Spring hits, we find as many excuses as we can to grill AND eat outside! 

WHAT I'M REMINISCING ABOUT


My trip to Niagara Falls with my family, when I was a child.  Being up there this past weekend, brought back so many memories.  We always took the best little road trips.  I had a great childhood and so many times I wish I could go back to being a kid and being protected by my parents.  Do you ever feel that way?

WHAT I'M LOVING

Spring!

I am loving the buds on the trees, the flowers blooming in our yard, the grass turning green, eating outside, being back on the golf course....longer days....sunshine!!!  Ahhh....coming into my favorite time of year!

WHAT WE'VE BEEN UP TO

 Mama has been working on lots of fun programs in here spare time with her PTA friends...oh yeah and we got tickets for a concert in the fall because we decided we need to hang out personally too!

 We enjoyed ECE Cheer Comps with our Best Friends



 Mama enjoyed celebrating Lea's Birthday...alll...week...long...ha ha!!

Grammy came home from the hospital!

 We enjoyed our first annual Neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt!

 Mama was psyched to get back on the golf course!  (87 degrees FTW)


 We enjoyed a beautiful Easter Weekend with our Family and Friends including baking with Mimi, the Breast Cancer Fashion Show, Saturday night Chilling with the Batsons and lots of QT on Easter Day with the fam :)


We had a blast in Niagara as our little fam of four!

and we celebrated Eva on her third Birthday (her big bday party complete with Princess Jasmine this Saturday- stay tuned for a separate post!)

 WHAT I'M DREADING

Nothing at this moment....really!


 WHAT I'M WORKING ON

Besides this blog post?  ha ha!!!

My full time job AND YES I am in the zone and it is crazy busy and sometimes nothing makes me happier!

Eva's birthday party!


Our PTA Educator of the Year Night

Our pre-season work for Wolverines

 Woosh...I think that is enough for now!


 WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT

Going to see Melissa Etheridge tomorrow night with some Gal Pals- can't wait!  She rocked Portsmouth last year when I went to see her with Tracey and this year she is coming even closer- next town over- can't wait!

WHAT I'M WATCHING/READING

Most of my favorites including Jane The Virgin, Dancing With The Stars, American Housewife, Scandal, Greys, and Life...In Pieces



I am missing This Is Us, Dance Moms and The Affair since they wrapped up for the season


and it is almost time for some other faves to return like Vice Principals and Odd Mom Out 

My FAVORITE FAVORITE show that I have seen recently is Big Little Lies on HBO
As Lea and I call it, "Windham On The Ocean." One series, based on the novel by Liane Moriarty.  Watch it- now! I started watching it again!

A recent funny movie we watched was "Why Him?"
My parents recommended it- hysterical- watch it if you need a laugh!

I just finished my April book,
Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand
She is one of my favorite authors and didn't disappoint.  The ending, though, could have been stronger.  It left so many unanswered questions but since I have been reading her for so long, I kind of expect that now.

I already dove into my May book too.  It is "The Rumor" also my Elin Hilderbrand.  

I think I will be reading her books through the summer since they pick me up and place me right on a beach- my happy place.

My daily devotionals continue.  The three I read passages from every day are "Jesus Always" by Sarah Young, "Trusting God Day By Day" by Joyce Meyer and "Jesus Today" by Sarah Young.

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO

The Trolls soundtrack is still on repeat in these parts

and some new faves have me all kinds of crazy- haven't been this excited about music in a bit....

Cold by Maroon 5

Rockabye by Clean Bandit, Sean Paul & Anne Marie

Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran

and Chained To The Rhthym by Katy Perry featuring Skip Marley

 


WHAT I'M WEARING

Well having just returned from our little vaca, I have a few options to share with you from the trip.

I always have Lilly pieces, you can bet on that.  These items are old but I am sure you can still find them on Ebay- my go to!



and prior to vaca and always....ruffles....ruffles all day!

Top (J Crew Factory- Sold Out)

Top  (Loft- Sold Out)

 WHAT I'M DOING THIS WEEKEND

Eva's Big Birthday Party is on Saturday- woohoo!
Princess Jasmine from Aladdin will be joining us for all sorts of fun!


 WHAT I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT MONTH

Getting back to the beach, hitting the Red Sox with our besties, Zach's College Graduation, Planting our Garden and just being outside!

 WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

The snow is finally gone, the trees are budding and flowers are blooming in our yard...it is Mama's happy place!

BONUS QUESTION OF THE MONTH:
WHAT IS MY FAVORITE SPRING/SUMMER PAIR OF SHOES?

I would have to say my gold espadrilles- I wear them with all of my Lilly dresses and they are SO COMFORTABLE.  I talked awhile back about how I am on my second pair.  They are Aldo shoes and they were a design from 2012.  I bought a 2nd pair on Ebay and now I can't find them.  I did buy another pair of gold espadrilles and they are ok...I just wish I could find the Aldo ones again.  This pic was from 2012.  You can kind of see them but know I LOVE them :)



That's a wrap!  Can't wait to see what you've been up to!