Labor Day Weekend!

It was an amazing, wonderful, incredible Labor Day Weekend!

Not sure how else to describe a weekend filled with family and friends and the ocean...oh yeah and my Birthday...ha ha!!!

Friday

Janie and I met for our annual birthday lunch.  We met at her fave, Legal C Bar in Lynnfield.  It was awesome...just to catch up personally (we do here and there but most of the time we are talking work when we are in the office so it is nice to be able to decompress together.)  She spoiled me rotten...she is one of the kindest and most generous souls I know..so glad we were brought together

and this is one of the little treasures she surprised me with...perfection

Saturday

While I was sipping my coffee, I finished a presentation for work.  While I was doing that, my father in law came up and surprised me with a bday gift from him and my mother in law.  They are pink golf balls and not just any golf balls.  He had them monogrammed so my name is on them and when I hit them into the woods, I will be able to find them easily ;) (hysterical!)

After that, my besties and I hit the beach.  We went to Wallis Sands in Rye which is a beautiful little beach on my favorite coastline...NH.  We all packed yummy snacks and wine and had a ball.  The lifeguard actually liked us and gave us tips on how to keep the seagulls away...he didn't seem to mind that we were sipping on wine.  He actually was even so good that he took our picture for us!

(First this is the lovely young man that saw the birthday crown on me that Lea got me and insisted I wear.  He asked me if I was 28...AND THEN he gave us free parking because of my birthday...loved him!  Doesn't he look like a Gap model?)

(and the Birthday Crown- Exhibit A)

Bestie Beach Time!

(oh BA...you kill me!)

Saturday Night

We headed over to our hotel in Portsmouth to check in and get ready for dinner.  Our hubbies met us there and we all walked over to Rudi's which was a quick walk away.  Our friends Joe and Jess snagged a private room for our group (at no additional charge) and we lived it up...great food and so many laughs...happy place!

(1st there is nothing more beautiful than the coast up in Rye NH...this was the view on the way to the hotel)

and later at Rudi's :)

  

After dinner, we headed out to a few different places.  My favorite of all time, Martingale Wharf and then the group started to split....a couple friends and I hit a club called Latchkey and the band was awesome...we got some dancing in before calling it a night!

Random shots after dinner...

 Such a fun time!

Sunday

We headed out and went to my parents.  They had the girls for us overnight and of course, spoiled them rotten!  They got the girls Build a Bears and my mom snapped a few pics...so glad I have them....

When we got there, we all enjoyed my mom's ravioli and homemade gravy (us Italians in the Boston area called red sauce "gravy").  Then the big dessert...we ordered the cake especially for the day...one of our favorites...Sugar and Spice Bakery in Salem has a specialty cake.  Layers of chocolate and vanilla cake with buttercream and raspberry preserves topped off with a chocolate ganache drizzle...insane doesn't even begin to describe it!

Although my brother is three years younger than me, his birthday is the day before mine, so we always celebrate together :)

 So stuffed....and so happy!

Monday

Lea and I decided on another beach day and this time with the entire fams...Ally even joined us and it ended up being the perfect day....it actually felt hot again...Praise the Lord!  The kids dug and played for hours...we worshipped the sun and reminisced about the perfect weekend.  We topped it all off with a quick trip to Markey's for steamers before heading home.  (We went to Markey's because Brown's had a fire and they are closed right now)

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Friday Favorites (September 1, 2017)

Wait...what?  When did September 1st happen?

Insert sad face here...waaahhhh....

Anyway....if you have been following the blog for awhile you know that I will extend summer as long as I can....linking up for Friday Faves with Andrea, Narci and Erika HERE

Here are some faves from this past week.....

Papa Pete (My Dad's Birthday Celebration)

My mom had a beautiful dinner outside and then we headed inside for cake and silliness...captured the moments as best as I could...we had a great family night!

All The Back To School Fun

I love all of the excitement and the obligatory pictures and the moms celebrating and such :)

My Girls and Their Passions

Cheer, Dance and Theater for Diana

and Skating and Gymnastics for Eva

 (this is her looking up at some of her idols- girl hockey players- my heart)

Lilly Pulitzer After Party Sale

Did you shop it?  How did you do?  What did you get?  I snagged a couple of fun new dresses and some popovers and leggings for my girls.  I also got my Mom a couple of Christmas gifts.  Then I snagged a couple of items that I feel are great investments but don't look like your typical Lilly things.

First, this sweater

 Ferrara Sweater in Heathered Grey

and then this coverup

Finsbury Coverup in Resort White

Lastly, but no pic, I snagged a popover in Heathered Camel and I know I will wear it all year!

Halo Top

and thanks to many blogger friends, we finally discovered the magic and deliciousness of Halo Top Ice Cream- low in fat and sugar and so wonderful!  They come in so many different flavors too!  Thanks for the tip! 

Wolverines Thank You Party

For the first year, we held a party to thank all of our Board Members and Coaches.  After the fun we had, I wish we had been doing this in years past.  We enjoyed lots of laughs, mingling and cocktails and apps- it was a great night at Old School Bar and Grill!

Our Fearless Leader John

Coleen's Chicken Jan- long story- but everyone who knows me knows I hate birds and she tortured me with this pic and with Jan stories ;)

That's a wrap!  I am so excited for Labor Day Weekend.  Although it truly marks the end of summer, it is another chance to get back to the ocean.  We are looking forward to a fun weekend with friends and family.  Have a great one!