Ladies Who Link: Back to School Tips Edition

Once a month, I join my friends Allie, Tara, Lisa, Trina and Sara for our fun linkup called "Ladies Who Link."  This month, we are talking Back To School Tips.

If you wrote about your tips, please link up with us!  Would love to get your suggestions and you will find the linkup at the bottom of this post!

So...here are a few tips....

Clothing Sales

I do most of our shopping online as always and I keep an eye out for the sales, even as early as July.  I don't want to be stressed out with tons of shopping to do in August.  So, I make a practice of shopping the sales, doing a little at a time and slowly preparing.  We do love the outlets and have already made a stop this year to the Old Navy outlet. We hope to hit up the outlets in Merrimack which are only about 20 minutes away.  I would like to get into Gap and Gymboree to finish out our shopping.

  

School Supplies

So this year, I followed my gut and ordered the 4th grade supply kit through our PTA.  I am so glad I did.  I ended up saving money and now we just have to pick it up during "Meet The Teacher Day".  It saved us from making the trip to Target in our combat attire ;)

Meal Planning

This one was a big one last year.  Meal Planning helped me to stay organized for most of the school year last year.  I say most because I got lazy about it during the last two months of school.  I will tell you though that when I was meal planning, we all stayed more organized, we saved more on groceries and we eliminated the guessing game and fast-food stops.

Once school starts, I am going back to the calendar I had set up last year:

Monday- Meatless Monday

Tuesday- Taco Tuesday

Wednesday- Pasta Worthy Wednesday

Thursday- Anything Thursday

Friday- Friday Night Pizza Night

We also have a chalkboard on our kitchen wall where we write out our meals for the week :)

(Exhibit A)

That's a wrap!  Again, can't wait to get your tips!  You will find the linkup below :)

Thanks for stopping by! 

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Ladies Who Link: Travel Tips Edition

I am joining my favorite blogger friends for our monthly linkup- Ladies Who Link!  This month we are talking Travel Tips and Favorite Destinations.  Don't forget to link up with us.  You will find the link at the bottom of this post! You can check out my blogger friends as follows.....Allie and Tara and Lisa and Trina and Sara

First, My Tips

I learned pretty early on that sometimes luggage gets lost or sometimes your bags may not make it to your hotel room as fast as you need them to.  So, something I have made a practice of doing is packing a bathing suit and an extra outfit in my carry-on.  That way, I always have something to wear, no matter where I am.  I highly recommend this if you are traveling to someplace that has a beach or a pool.  That way, you can swim and do whatever, as soon as you get to your destination and you don't have to wait for your beloved luggage!

Next, when traveling with kids, I highly suggest packing two things: activities AND snacks.  Both help to keep them occupied and less restless and fussy!

We are big fans of the iPads with headphones, coloring books and sticker fun along with Goldfish, Crackers and Cheese and Pretzels.  We call this "survival mode" and it truly is ;)

Planning- I do this for both schedule/excursion purposes as well as outfit planning- I know I get obsessive about outfits but I love having options.  I try to pack light always but I always seem to want to have three options for every day and the "packing light" thing goes out the window!  Nevertheless, I find when I do some planning, I tend to enjoy our trips more.  I highly recommend both! 

Sample Schedule and Outfits For You:

Monday (Beach Day)- Black Swimsuit, Tee and Pant Coverup, Flip Flops

Tuesday (Boat Cruise Day)- Navy and White Striped Top, White Capris, Navy and White Flip Flops

Wednesday (Shopping and Sightseeing Day)- Lilly Lemonade Marlowe Tee Dress, White Flip Flops)

Thursday (Pool Day)- Navy Swimsuit, Lilly Coverup, Flip Flops

Friday (Travel Day)- Black Cold Shoulder Top, Cuff Jeans, Sneakers

Now, My Favorite Destinations

Disney (we went as a family in both 2012 and last year in 2016)

I was never one of those people who planned a Disney vacation months and years in advance.  I always try and keep things simple and do what we can without getting stressed out.  During our last trip, we took it day by day and got to see so much and enjoy so many different experiences.

 We enjoyed Magic Kingdom two days, Epcot one day and then Universal Studios one day.  We got to share this special trip with both family and friends too which was really unique.

We enjoyed so many different rides and attractions and got to eat in some of the best restaurants around.

The highlights for me were: Ariel's Grotto Ride, Pirates of the Carribean Ride, Dole Whip, Girls' Night Dinner at The Boat House, Drinks at The Polynesian, Visiting all of the countries in Epcot, Family Dinner at The Contemporary and downtime at our hotel pool!

The Bahamas (we went in 2012)

I have said it before but it truly was one of my favorite trips of all time- it was beautiful- the weather was perfect and it was just RELAXING!  We stayed at Atlantis and the only downfall is that it is very pricey but we got creative and ventured off the property for some more cost-effective meals...and they all ended up being spectacular!  My favorite part of the trip were the pools...Diana and Zach had a ball! 

Last and certainly not least

New England Beaches (Every Year!)

I will scream this from the mountains- there is nothing better than New England Beaches.  Sorry friends- I am partial.  I was born and bred here.  I don't think any coast line in the world can compare.  Nothing brings me more peace.  I highly recommend Seabrook, Hampton and Rye NH beaches as well as Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester MA and Ogunquit Beach in Ogunquit ME. 

Can't wait to read all of your recommendations!



 

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Ladies Who Link: Summer Plans Edition

It's time for our fun monthly linkup!  This month we are talking about our Summer Plans and Summer Fun.  If you are blogging about your summer plans, don't forget to link up with us at the bottom of this post!  I am looking forward to getting inspired by all of your plans and ideas!

Also...I am announcing the winner of my 10 Year Blogaversary prize!  It is a $25 Nordstroms Gift Card- woot woot!

BUT FIRST....

Here is what we will be up to this Summer......

Camps

Diana will be at Triple Threat Theater Camp for 3 Weeks and then Math Camp for 1 week.  She will also have a couple of Cheer Camps that are three days here and there.  I talked about how I keep my kiddos busy over the summer in yesterday's post.  Check that out HERE

Golf

Mama and Daddy plan on playing in a few of the Couples Golf Tournaments again this season at the Windham Country Club.  Our favorite one is the "Lobstah Trap" one and this year, we pulled our friends Heath and Tracy in for that fun.  Can't wait!

Mama also enjoys golf with the ladies on some Wednesday nights and plans on doing so through the Fall this year!

Family Trips

So we have some fun little getaways planned.  As I always say, New England is the BEST place to be in the summer, so we never travel very far.  We try and soak up every piece of sunshine and ocean and lake and outdoor fun as we can every summer and most of that happens within an hour of our home!  This year, we are venturing a little further away, but you will see why....

Portland, Maine

We are heading up to Portland over the 4th of July Weekend with Mimi and Papa and we are SO EXCITED...can't wait for beach time and lobster and browsing in the little shops...Mimi and Mama have their "planning session" all scheduled for the night of the 22nd.  We always plan our activities, meals and of course our outfits ;)

Laurel's Lake House- Laconia

 We were invited to Laurel's last Summer during Memorial Day Weekend.  The kids had so much fun and we really enjoyed cruising around Lake Winnipesaukee in Laurel and Tom's boat.  This year, we are headed up for a weekend in July!

New Jersey

So...My Best Friend from High School Dawn came up over the winter.  It was the first time she met Eva and the first time I met her kids and boyfriend Jeff.  We had such a great time and it was one of those random, whacky warm winter weekends.  It was actually warmer than most of our spring up here in New England- crazy!  Anyway, we  made a pact to see each other a couple of times/year.  Our kids LOVE each other now so there is no excuse and we missed each other too much.

Dawn and Jeff bought a house on a lake in NJ and invited us and we are going for a weekend in July- the girls CANNOT WAIT!  Some more boat time and more importantly QT with friends.  So this is why we are venturing outside of New England this summer :)

(Here she is in her glory!)

Storyland and Santa's Village

So last summer, we made the trek up North (only about an hour) to Storyland and Santa's Village with our friends The Grahams.  The kids had so much fun and the adults did too!  We drove straight up to Storyland and spent the first day there and then we grabbed dinner at one of Jill's favorite places- so good and super kid friendly- the kids actually sat in a separate room to play and watch a movie (for the most part). After dinner, we made the drive to our hotel near Santa's Village- about an hour away.  We stayed at the Mountainview Grand and it was incredible- just beautiful- awesome accommodations and so much fun.  The service could've been better in the restaurants, especially for what you pay to stay there but it was still great.  We then spent the 2nd day around the resort and then headed to Santa's Village after 3.  If you check in after 3, you get the next day free.  Despite the rain, we had some fun and the kids had an absolute ball.

We are changing things up a bit this year.  Even though we tried to stay at Mountainview Grand again, there was not enough room, and I see this as a blessing in disguise.  We are completely reversing our trip this year and staying near Storyland at the Attitash Summit Hotel.  (and the winner is really that we are spending HALF of what we would have at the MV Grand- really- FTW)

So the first day, we will be driving straight to Santa's Village and doing the day there.  Then we will make the hour drive to our hotel and do some swimming and grab dinner.  On the 2nd day, we will probably do some more swimming and hanging out and then we will head to Storyland after 3 so we can get the 2nd day there free!  We can't wait!

Other Summer Fun

I am excited for all of the "other summer fun" too!  I have two cousins getting married this summer so Rob and I have two date nights!  I LOVE weddings...actually I'm kinda obsessed with them always have been.  We have a few nights out planned with friends, our Annual Hot Dog Hoe Down with the Grahams and Beans, Jill's 40th Birthday Celebration and as many days at the beach that we can squeeze in!

Summer is really my favorite time of year!

Don't forget to link up with us below-can't wait to read all about your summer plans! :)

and the winner of the $25 Nordy's Gift Card is.....
Tara at Mommy In A Nutshell!  Oh Yeah Tara- so happy for you!  Email me your address and I will send your card along!

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