Friday Favorites (April 17, 2026)

 

Hi Friends and Happy Friday!  Yeah!  My favorite day of the week!  Without further ado, here are a few faves from our week...

 

 

All The Dresses

Expensive time of year for sure...in addition two prom gowns, we have secured the dresses for Graduation and her Grad Party as well as her Senior Boat Cruise  (not pictured) and Senior Sports Banquet (not pictured)...so surreal :/

 

All The Senior Things

 

 

Another celebration for us to look forward to!

 

 

Rail Trail

 

 

It has been FIRE this week as the kids say ;)

 

 

and I snapped this pic especially for you...I know you see all of my rail trail shots...even the ones where I am the only one on the trail in the dead of winter...never thought I would be that brave...anyhow I digress...this was on Wednesday...it was so busy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Panera Salad Stuffer

 

Have you tried one yet?  It was so delish!  They have a variety of kinds to choose from.  They essentially take a sub roll and scoop out most of the bread; just leaving the shell. Then they stuff the shell with various salads.  I tried the Chicken Caesar one and it was fab!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Memories

 

 

In my feels during this season for sure...

 

 

This was one is more like 27 years ago- eek!

 

 

and this is my father in law (on the right) and his brother who owned Ideal Food Stores in the Lowell area for many years- they were famous for their homemade chicken pot pies and banana fritters!

 

 

 

 

 

 Supplements

 

 

These are the bad boys I am taking currently

 

 

 

 

 Book Club #42

 

 

and I hosted.  My choice was  "Their Last Days of Summer" by Maria Frankland 

 

Most people dread turning fifty. Not me. I’ve been counting down the weeks to our luxury holiday in Aruba – seven sun-soaked days to celebrate not just my own fiftieth birthday, but those of three lifelong friends.

Two of them are just as excited as I am. The fourth? She took some persuading.

With our partners in tow, we arrive at our lavish villa, bubbling with excitement and Prosecco. We’re here to relax, reconnect, and make memories.

But in the heat and haze of paradise, inhibitions slip – and secrets spill.

It all starts with a harmless game of Two Truths and a Lie. But what’s revealed that night cracks our friendship wide open. And the fallout is far worse than any of us could have imagined.

The countdown to celebration has turned into a countdown to escape.

Because someone isn’t making it home.

 This was a quick and fun read!  Part tropical paradise...part suspense...a who done it type read.  It was a hit around here!

 

 For the spread, I made a margarita punch and a veggie tray and then I let Red's do the rest- Meatball Crocks, Fruit and Cheese Tray and Dessert Platter- they were all hits!

 

 

Love These Ladies!

 

Meanwhile in San Francisco...

 

 

 Rob has been at a medical conference meeting candidates (doctors) all week and getting to catch some important sites!

 

 

 That's a wrap!  Have a wonderful weekend friends!

 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

 Hi Friends and Happy Hodgepodge Day!  I am joining Joyce as always for her fun questions so let's get to it!

 

 

 

1. Big week in the US of A...do you do your own taxes? What's something you've found 'taxing' lately?

 

 

 

 

We go to a wonderful accountant at H&R Block and I am so happy they are done for this year.  Taxing?  Keeping Diana on track for the rest of her final year in high school...these Senior Slides are no joke...eek...ha ha!!

 

 

2. When it comes to travel are you a last minute packer or a lay it all out a week in advance type? Do you struggle to pack light? Share a packing tip that has worked for you. 

 

 

 

 Oh I plan wayyy in advance...it is half the fun for me...putting together outfits...trying everything on...deciding on the perfect shoes...getting all organized! Packing cubes have been very helpful for sure!

 

 

3. April is National Grilled Cheese Month. Hmmm...who knew it got its own month? Do you like a grilled cheese sandwich? What ingredient do you add to take yours to the next level? 

 

 

 I do BUT my hubby LOVES Grilled Cheese.  He has ideas for a "Grilled Cheese Retirement Plan." The girls always love when he makes them a grilled cheese too :) For me, I prefer a Gourmet Grilled Cheese with a white cheddar, fig jam and arugula...I know fancy ;)

 

 

 

4. There's a well known quote that says-

'A ship in the harbor is safe, but that's not what ships are built for." John A. Shedd  

Is constant growth necessary or do you think it's more important to prioritize stability and peace in your life? 

 

 

What a great question!  I am all about growth...making yourself uncomfortable...moving towards change even when you don't want to.  I hate change but I force myself all the time to keep changing and growing and moving...so important in life. 

 

 

 

5. Let's wrap this up with a fun spring this or that-

daffodils or tulips
lemonade or iced tea
gardening or hiking
ladybugs or butterflies 
umbrella or raincoat
floral patterns or polka dots
 
 

 
  Tulips

Iced Tea

Tough One- I would say Hiking but I want to get better at Gardening 

Butterflies

Umbrella because the hair-duh ;)

Floral Patterns 

  

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

 Reminiscing a lot nowadays...especially as I go through pictures for all of the upcoming graduation things...anyway, I found an envelope of pictures in my night table and gasped when I saw what they were from.  The summer after I graduated from high school, I went on a mission trip with my church.  My mom and I thought it would be a great time to do something like this before I headed off to college.  Friends?  I am so glad I did.  It was one of the best experiences of my life.  Together, with a group of kids and adults including our favorite priest, made the trek down to West Virginia in a van.  I think it was like a 16 hour trip when all was said and done.  I don't remember anything being rough or miserable- I enjoyed every part of the adventure.  When we got there, we stayed in the rectory next to the community parish and where some sisters resided.  We camped out in our sleeping bags in the basement.  We made our meals together there and attended mass daily there. Then we got to work.  We ran a program for kids for the week.  We also went on hikes.  Then we helped to rebuild a home for a family who had a disabled Dad.  I learned how to use a hammer and nails for the first time.  

 

Lots of the experiences this week were eye-opening.  One of the things that happened was that we were coughing up black matter.  No joke.  When we blew our noses, not to be gross, there would be black stuff all over our tissues.  This was because we were in the mountains and very close to the coal mines- so scary and uncomfortable. I remember thinking and asking myself, how can these people live here in these conditions but alas, you realize, how lucky you truly are when you are not forced to be somewhere so threatening to your health.

 

Regardless, I felt so grateful on our way home- for the experiences- the people we met and spent time with and for the ability to serve others all week.  I even got depressed when I came home.  I didn't want to think about myself and my trivial problems.  I wanted to serve others.  I remember begging my mom to let me go somewhere and volunteer for the summer.  That wasn't in the cards though.  I kept going to my job at McDonald's- spending time with friends and then heading off to college in August- kicking and screaming by the way.  It did end up being four of the best years of my life so there's that ;)

 

It was so wonderful to look at these photos and remember this very special time- I still treasure it today.

 

(I am the one with the very big...frizzy...curly hair...in case you were wondering)

 

 

 

Hello Monday (April 13, 2026)

 

Hi Friends and Happy Monday!  Sarah and I are so glad you stopped by!  If you blogged about your weekend, grab our graphic above and link back up with us below!

 

Here is what our "springy" weekend looked like here in New England

 

 

Friday Night

 

On the weather was beautiful... I sat outside on our steps to wait for Rob to get home...just enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air in my fave spot

 

Diana headed to her first cheer practice for the ChADD football game that will happen at the end of June.  Eva was getting ready to head to a friend's house for the night. 

 

When Rob got home, we dropped Eva off at her friend's and headed to dinner at Tuscan Market.  We had a gift card and that was our excuse for a Friday Night Date Night.  It was SO GOOD- I was craving red meat and my meal did not disappoint.  I even had some nice leftovers for the weekend!

 

 Fit For Dinner

 

 We crashed when we got home while watching the re-entry and landing of Artemis 2!

 

 

Diana came to chat with us (and Remi) before heading out to her friends' for a bonfire.

 

Saturday

 

We were up bright and early!   I hit the rail trail and it felt SO GOOD!  Now that all of the snow and ice is gone, I felt like I was flying and did an easy three miles.

 

 After that, I grabbed a tea and headed home to get to work.  Rob and Eva went up north to help clean up some softball fields then they were home around the same time too.

 

The rest of the day was so productive.  I hit up Home Depot for some mulch and a few plants for now.  We may still get a frost but I want some flowers planted for upcoming prom pics.

 

While Rob started spreading the mulch and planting the few plants for me, I got working on a special graduation project that included manual labor ;)

 

I headed to a quick appointment and got working as soon as I got back home again. 

 

We were both outside working most of the day.  I did take the girls and Eva's friend to Taco Bell for a quick lunch and of course we brought Daddy back some too.  Other than that, it was work all day!

 

While we were working, I had one of my Temu orders arrive.  We were joking because we never thought the prices would actually be real and that the products would be delivered but so far so good! Check out this folding table!  Guess how much it cost me????  $11.69- kid you not!  We will use it for a gift table or the candy bar table at Diana's Grad Party :)

 

 That night, we crashed early and hard except for Diana who had friends over.

 

 

Sunday

 

Up bright and early again!  Rob and Eva headed to softball up north.  I headed to mass then Diana and I headed up to Amherst NH for a cheer meeting for the upcoming Shrine game in August.  It was also picture day for the girls who were chosen!

 

 

 

 

 Later on, I went grocery shopping while Rob finished mulching up the yard.  Then got everything unpacked and put away and threw together a salad.  Lynn and John had us over for dinner with another fam as John smoked a turkey for the first time- it was fabulous!

 

 

and this was my fit for dinner- trying to bring out the spring colors!

 

 

 It was a fab weekend- what were you all up to?

 

 

 

 

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