Friday Favorites (Back to School 2024 Edition)

 

Hi Friends and Happy Friday!  Yeah!!  Today's Friday Favorites post is actually going to be full of ONE FAVE...and I am focusing on Back To School...my girls went back on Wednesday!  So here we go...first I laid breakfast out but neither girl was very hungry so they only took a few bites...the nerves were kickin!

 

Diana's Protein Balls and Fruit Cup

 

 

Eva's "Decorated" Pancakes and Fruit Cup

 

Eva started 5th grade at a new school- Center School. It is our Upper Elementary School and houses 5th and 6th grade.  Much smaller and more manageable then GBS for sure!

 

 

 

She insisted that Remi get in some pics with her :)

 

She's excited to have three teachers this year and loves switching classes for different subjects.  She also got to enjoy lunch and recess with her besties :)

Diana started her Junior Year and I can not believe I am typing these words....I just can't believe we are here...the most important year of high school...not too much pressure right?  Ha!

 

She has an intense schedule this year in school- her course load includes an AP Government class and an Honors World Lit class so she is getting down to business immediately.  She even had work that she powered through over the summer.

 My Girls!

 After pics, I waited at the bus stop with Eva- it was supposed to be across the street but the bus driver told me it is easier for her to stop right at our driveway- ok twist my arm! ;)

Then Diana got picked up by a friend.  She is still testing and hopefully will have her license at some point this month!  

Then Mama needed to hit Revitalize so I had the zap to get through work!

After the day of work and school, Remi and I waited for Eva's bus...I enjoyed getting some lovins' ;)

 

 Hi Sissy!  I missed you!!

Then we dished...LOVED hearing all about their days...the after school snack of choice?  Leftover Crumbl of course

After Eva did some reading and Mama did some more work, we headed up to the high school to pick Diana up from cheer practice and hear all about her day too. So fun!

 

After homework and changing into comfy clothes, we enjoyed our "Taco Bout Going Back to School Dinner"...just the girls since Daddy was traveling for business :)  Diana killed me.  She made me light my new Pumpkin Cupcake candle and put on Hocus Pocus- mind you it was 84 degrees...sigh....

 

 

It was an awesome first day for my girls and I am grateful and this is why it is my only FRIDAY FAVE :)

Monthly Musings: End of Summer and Back To School Edition

 

Hi Friends!  Patty and I are so glad you are here!  It is time for Monthly Musings and this month we are talking End of Summer and Back to School!  We are answering these questions...

So here we go....

1. Do you Meal Plan?  Any family friendly recipes to share?

Oh yes- it truly helps me to stay more organized all year long and definitely reduces weekday stress!

A few of our family faves include

Chicken, Broccoli and Ziti

Find my recipe HERE

Frito Pie

Find the recipe HERE

 

and Chicken Salads made with Popcorn Chicken

You can find the chicken recipe HERE

 

2. What are your Back to School traditions?

We pick out special outfits- we have a fun back to school dinner and we take our obligatory photos on the front steps

3. Where do you do your best shopping for kids clothes and school supplies?

I would say it is a toss up between Target, Old Navy and Amazon!  We only needed a few supplies this year as Diana is going to be a Junior and we bought the supply kit for Eva through the PTA.  I got some cute outfits for Eva from Target and Old Navy and a few things for Diana on Amazon.

 

4. How Do You Transition Your Wardrobe for Fall?

 

I add layers- light jackets- vests.  I also definitely add back in LEATHER :) Sometimes it is really chilly here in the mornings and then it warms right up in the afternoons so you have to be flexible for sure!

 

 

 5. Any end of summer trips planned?

 

Nope...school started back yesterday and Diana has cheer all weekend...we will be celebrating my birthday around home and that is fine by me! :)

 

6. Do schools in your area start before or after Labor Day?

Here it is before...they started yesterday.  When I was growing up, it was always after and I love that.  I wish NH would go back to that...sigh...

 

7. What are your Labor Day plans?

We will be celebrating my brother's and my birthdays here on Saturday.  Heading to the beach with Cass on Sunday and dinner at her house Sunday night and who knows what Monday will bring...I am excited for a long weekend for sure!

8. What after Labor Day?  Yes or No?

I say you do you but I won't wear white shoes after Labor Day.  Maybe white pants/jeans from time to time but usually not

9. Pumpkin Spice...as soon as it comes out or wait until real Fall?

Well...since I am already sipping Pumpkin Spice coffee right now I would say "as soon as it comes out." Don't tell Rob I said that though- ha!

 

10. Best life hacks for Back To School

Meal Plan- Set outfits out the night before- get homework done ASAP each day- if you are a work-from-home mom then plan your calls and meetings for when the kids are out of the house- it is like heaven to be able to focus in the quiet!

Wishing you all a wonderful school year and fall!

What's Up Wednesday: August 2024

 

This post is bittersweet for sure!  It is my favorite linkup of the month BUT it also signifies the end of summer....feeling the pain in my heart.

 

My girls start school today- wishing them a wonderful school year!  Right now we are racing around so you know the drill...

What We're Eating This Week

Monday- Party Leftovers- Smoked BBQ Chicken- Baked Beans- Salad

Tuesday 8/27/24- Popcorn Chicken, Roasted Potatoes, Zucchini

Wednesday 8/28/24- Let’s Taco About Going Back To School- we did this a few years ago too and it went over well :)

Thursday 8/29/24- Breakfast for Dinner- Eggs, Turkey Bacon, Pancakes and Strawberries

Friday 8/30/24- Pizza Night!

What I'm Reminiscing About

Our Simple and Wonderful Summer...the beautiful weather...the walks on the rail trail...the rides with the top down...the teas...the lake...the beach...the quality time with family and friends...a summer I was dreading turned out to be one of the best ones yet...my heart is full 

What I'm Loving

This mystery...I am obsessing but loving this time for Diana...so much fun!

What We've Been Up To

Living our annual crazy August for sure...

We loved watching the girls have a blast at theater camp at Derryfield and got to enjoy seeing Eva as Cruella de Vil in 101 Dalmatians and Diana as Margot in Legally Blonde

We enjoyed some of our favorite teas while going around town doing some Blackout work :)

We snuck in some Sylvie snuggles

Rob and I loved seeing Jeff jammin' with his band

We hosted some friends for pizza and Olympics watching when our golf plans got rained out

We loved seeing Daddy and his band Pop Roks at our town's "Concerts in the Park" series- Sylvie made a cameo too ;)

 

The girls helped a few of us committee members to put together our Blackout Bulletin Board in a local school

We enjoyed an Olympics themed wine group at BA's

and my BFFs and I enjoyed the NKOTB show up in Gilford despite the crazy rain!

Rob and I loved the movie "It Ends With Us" based on Colleen Hoover's novel

We loved participating in the Martorana Strong Wiffle Ball Tournament- our team this year was called "Wild Pitches" 

We celebrated our 20th Wedding Anniversary with a night up at the beach with our girls

 

and an overnight in Boston...yeah!

and Papa took us out for dinner to celebrate as well

We celebrated Papa Pete's Birthday with an amazing Italian Dinner by Mimi

Diana made WHS Varsity Cheer after working her tail off all summer! 

There has been much time on the rail trail...

 

and plenty of teas from Revitalize!

Mama loved book club at Dawna's- we read "What I Should've Said" by Max Monroe-such a great book!

Someone rocked hockey camp!

 

and she is loving her new haircut as our we!

and we celebrated BIG for Diana's Sweet 16!

A Belly Piercing

 

Fun with a Family Dinner and "stunting" ha!

A breakfast with Zach and Zoe

 

A Birthday Tea at Revitalize

A Fun Birthday Date

and a successful surprise party to cap it off!

 

What I'm Dreading

Nothing at the moment!

What I'm Working On

Recruiting- Real Estate- Managing the Fam and Blackout

What I'm Excited About

Friday Night Lights...not the one on tv...the real life ones that we will get to enjoy again...ahhhh!!!

What I'm Watching/Reading

I watched the new Laci Peterson documentary- very good and just heartbreaking all over again

and we started binging Friday Night Lights again...I think this means Time #5...we and especially I AM excited about Windham Football games- yeah!

and my two books for August were

What I Should've Said by Max Monroe (Book Club Read)

 

 When grumpy, muscled-up artist Bennett Bishop bothers to speak, it’s usually to say something you’re not ready to hear.

When he first speaks to Norah Ellis, a rambling runaway bride who hitchhikes a ride from him, it’s to tell her to get out of his truck and walk because she’s a pain in the a-s-s.

By appearance, Norah Ellis is a fancy fashionista who’s spent the last several years living the good life in the city—expensive apartments, highbrow events, and a fiancé with wealth and good looks. The only problem is that she didn’t choose any of it for herself.

On the day of her July wedding, thanks to a letter from a stranger, Norah’s world turns upside down. She runs for the hills of Vermont to start a new life, but what’s waiting for her, between her estranged sister, the townspeople, and bad-boy Bennett Bishop himself, is way more than she bargained for.

Enemies turn to lovers, strangers become friends, dark secrets bust open like cans of worms, and most of all…Summer will never be the same.

LOVED this book- perfect mix of romance- Hallmarkiness and heartbreak

and "What Have You Done" by Shari Lapena

Nothing ever happens in sleepy little Fairhill, Vermont. But this morning that will change. And one innocent question could be deadly. What have you done?

The teenagers get their kicks telling ghost stories in the old graveyard. The parents trust their kids will arrive home safe from school. Everyone knows everyone. Curtains rarely twitch. Front doors are left unlocked.

But Diana Brewer isn’t lying safely in her bed where she belongs. Instead she lies in a hayfield, circled by vultures, discovered by a local farmer.  

How quickly a girl becomes a ghost. How quickly a town of friendly, familiar faces becomes a town of suspects, a place of fear and paranoia.

Someone in Fairhill did this. Everyone wants answers.

Oh she did it again friends- I flew through this- she is one of the best suspense writers I swear!

 

What I'm Listening To

Well yesterday/last night was all about the playlist I slaved over for Diana's Party

What I'm Wearing

Some business- some casual- some workout clothes- the usual and still haven't gotten good at capturing pics of my outfits- sigh- hope to start getting better at that this fall!

What I'm Doing This Weekend

One more weekend of celebrations...celebrating my birthday with my family and friends and getting some beach time in...Diana will be at cheer choreography all weekend so I am looking forward to quality time and decompressing!

 

 

What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month

 

Watching these girls CHEER

 

What Else Is New?

 

I think I covered it!

 

Fave Recent Amazon Purchase?

 

This stool HERE

 

  This will help me reach the high shelves in my closet!

What are you all up to?