Pink Lady: Summer

Hi Friends! It is time for Hodgepodge again with Joyce ...let's answer her fun questions...

1. What was the last thing you celebrated?

Another grad party this past weekend...I am loving this grad party circuit...it is an excuse to socialize with my favorite Senior Mamas and also get to witness these kids embarking on such exciting adventures. We have one more weekend to celebrate then one by one, these kids are heading off to their respective colleges and next adventures...such a bittersweet time!

2. July 29th is International Day of the Tiger. Besides the wild animal itself, when you hear the word tiger what's the first person-place-thing-whatever that comes to mind?

Tiger Woods= Golf and that infamous voicemail..."Hey...it's Tiger..." ha ha!!

3. The expression 'eye of the tiger' describes someone with intense focus, determination, and the drive to succeed. What area of your life are you currently bringing that kind of energy to?

Work...always...whether it is recruiting or client relationships...I am always pushing for more...yes out of necessity but I have always had that internal drive to succeed and do more!

4. What was the last meal you cooked?

I am writing this first thing Monday morning so it was dinner last night (Sunday) and it was Steak Bites, Tomato and Spinach Pasta and BBQ Green Beans. It was delish and the whole fam loved it which is a win in my book!

5. Describe your July using exactly five words.

Fun- Hot- Emotional- Celebratory- Melancholy

6. Insert your own random thought here.

Still looking for recommendations on blog designers for a blog refresh. I have some initial meetings set up but I am looking for a couple of more comparisons. Who do you know? Who would you recommend?

Thank you friends!

Hi Friends and Happy Wednesday! It is time for my favorite linkup of the month with Shay and Sheaffer! I am not happy about it this month, however. I "dislike greatly" that we are through another month of summer...my favorite season...and that much closer to Diana moving to school...eek...slow down for the love of God! Anyway...here is what is up with us...

What We're Eating This Week

Monday- Girls Eating at Mimi and Papa's During Their Sleepover Adventure :) M&D out at Windham Restaurant after the Blackout Meeting for Cocktails and Apps- Monday Night Date Night? Why Not!

Tuesday 7/28/26- Pulled Chicken Sliders with Cole Slaw and Corn on the Cob

Wednesday 7/29/26- Cheesy Meatballs, Pastina and Broccoli

Thursday 7/30/26- Chicken Fries and Veggie Fried Rice

Friday 7/31/26- Pizza Night!

What I'm Reminiscing About

Eva as Matilda in 2023

and Diana as Matilda in 2019

Since we just enjoyed the girls' return to TTTC, I am reminiscing about past shows and all of the magic!

What I'm Loving

I am loving Tiktok and constantly learning about what kind of content "hits." I am loving working with Eva on videos and ideas. I jumped on the train of sharing what I think is worth the spend/splurge and I did a Southern NH edition. One of the things I said that was worth it is the Chicken Milanese at Dreo in Salem. Lea and I made that happen last week and agreed it is to die for. If you are local, hit them up and try the Milanese-you won't regret it!

What We've Been Up To

Eva had a blast at TTFC- Triple Threat Film Camp

We filmed our 2026 Blackout Tee Shirt Sale Video

We Made Our Summer List

Diana won Athlete of the Week for CHaD 2026!

We have been loving the new Blackstone to cook dinner on!

The Rail Trail is still bringing me JOY

We have been buying the essentials and getting organized for Diana's big move to college- I am not ready and I just keep putting one foot in front of the other :/

We LOVED watching Diana cheer at the CHaD game!

4th of July Weekend at the Lake was Incredible thanks to our Bestie Hosts- Tom and Laurel

We Celebrated Sylvie Turning 3!

and my girls loved every day of TTTC (Triple Threat Theater Camp)...they are BACK!

We enjoyed a Date Lunch...it is good to be able to spend more time together again

There was so much softball for Pidge in July and I am not complaining one bit!

The girls really enjoyed their night of filming with TTTC- they made a Thriller video and it came out fabulously...can't wait to share it here when we get the link!

We love when Nancy is our server- she just loves our Diana!

Loved snapping this pic of Tom and Keith's Patriotic Hey Dudes

Check out the Strawberry Galette I made- couldn't believe I could pull this off AND it became great Tiktok content

Speaking of Tiktok! My Channel is up and I am having fun creating content with my editor Eva B! Our first goal is 200 followers- then 500 then 1,000 which will then enable me to become an affiliate which is the goal- woohoo! Follow along if you are on Tiktok at "Holly Helps Mamas"

My Tiktok Shop Video got over 9,000 views! That is the most successful one yet :)

You can check it out here on Youtube

There has been more rail trail...

More TTTC!

I scored the free Parke Tumblers at Dunks for my Girls- that was a fun day!

and I ran an open house for my real estate boss

Robby B also has a 2nd job...necessary evil for both of us right now- hoping to not have to do this for much longer- just need the job market to keep moving in the right direction...anyway, I digress...

He loved that several friends came out to his gig one recent Friday night!

We got lost in the woods one warm Saturday morning...love that we have this funny story...and I am determined to keep trying new trails! He will begrudgingly go along with my antics ;)

and Diana and I tried a new coffee shop...I have been dreaming about my iced latte ever since!

We have been enjoying the grad party circuit...for me, it's an extra excuse to hang out with my favorite Senior Mamas

and we enjoyed Eva's last softball tourney of the season

Hot Yoga is another fave..even in the summer

and we experienced so much JOY watching our girls do what they love at the TTTC Performance- Diana played Dawn in Waitress

and Eva played Alice in Bye Bye Birdie

Eva and Olivia started their Dirty Soda Business!

and the grad parties keep on comin'!

Rob, Eva and I enjoyed Summer S'mores on Sunday Night while Robby B made his Tiktok debut ;)

and Diana was thrilled to experience Ariana Grande at the Boston Garden with her two BFFs :)

What I'm Dreading

I am trying to stay positive and there is no dread...just mixed emotions...as you can imagine

What I'm Working On

Several Things...and I am excited about it right now...for Recruiting I am working on some great new roles...for Real Estate I am trying to get some new buyers and ideally a seller! For Blackout, I am working on sponsorships and all of a sudden they are coming in...if you build it they will come! At home, I am working on enjoying this summer with my girls as much as possible but we have all been going in different directions. I am hoping the next few weeks will allow us some pool time together...a trip to the beach and some blueberry picking...Can I just get one more day like in the pic above? My heart :/

What I'm Excited About

Seeing Diana cheer at Merrimack! Can't wait for some college football games #GOMACK

What I'm Watching/Reading

Friends? I will say it again. Go watch "Toxic Love Story" -the documentary on Netflix then come back here and tell me what you think...I am watching it a 2nd time as Rob watches it for the first time...just crazy!

That's it for now outside of the news.

I actually squeezed in two books for the month of July.

First was another thriller by Frieda McFadden called "The Divorce"...I couldn't stop reading. SOOO good...one of her better ones I think...you just can't help to feel frustrated constantly and then of course, it had not one but two twists which she is famous for!

Naomi was living the quintessential love story. Boy meets girl. They fall in love, get married, buy a dream house, start a family...

Then—he kicks her out, hires the city’s best divorce lawyers, drains their accounts, and takes up with a 20-something.

It’s a brutal end to the story. Naomi should accept defeat: move into a dingy apartment, get back into the workforce, and piece together the shattered remains of her life.

Except, why should she?

Instead, Naomi fixates on her husband’s new girlfriend. What begins as cynical curiosity soon twists into obsession—and then into something far darker. As Naomi uncovers secrets she never imagined, she realizes her own life may be in danger.

But if it keeps her perfect family intact, isn’t it worth it?

Next was Emily Giffin's new novel

"Love You More"

A Love Story I just couldn't quit...oh this is one of her best ever too!

Billie has built the perfect life. Her medical practice in New York City is thriving, and she’s finally found the right partner in Dean after years spent trying to move on from her high-school sweetheart, Mick. Their young love had been intense and true, but distance and ambition pulled them apart when she left Wisconsin for medical school.

Then one morning, just after she’s accepted Dean’s romantic marriage proposal, Billie’s phone rings. It’s Mick—calling for the first time in nearly a decade. His news is urgent and in a moment, everything changes.

As Billie boards a plane back to Wisconsin, her past comes rushing in—her hometown friendships, the love she and Mick shared, and the choices that shaped them all. What awaits her is a reckoning with what she’s lost, what she’s built, and what she still wants.

What I'm Listening To

Our Summer 2026 Playlist

It has songs like: Chicken Fried (Zac Brown Band), These Are My People (Rodney Atkins), Pound The Alarm (Nicki Minaj), I Knew It I Knew You (Taylor Swift- from the Toy Story Movie), Fever Dream (Alex Warren), and Choosin' Texas (Ella Langley)

What I'm Wearing

Little Business