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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Friday Favorites (April 10, 2026)

 

Hi Friends and Happy Friday!  Yeah!  We made it!  As always, sharing  a few faves from our week...

Sylvie Lynn

 

Marshall sent me the cutest video of her with Diana's Fat Head...check it out...hysterical!

 

 

Senior Supplies

 

For Prom...For Graduation...We Are In The Zone!

 

 

Prom Pjs Have Come In and Have Been Steamed, Gift Wrapped and Delivered To The Besties- Even Daddy Got In On The Action :)

 

 

 

Grad Cap Design- this will be the base and it will be blinged up of course :) 

Mini Clothespins To String Pics of Diana Growing Up- for her Grad Party- I Got Some Free Pallets From a Nice Family in Town and I am painting them and nailing twine on them and will string the pics from the twine with these pins

 

Paper Products For The Big Shindig

Easel To Display A Canvas of Diana Welcoming Everyone To Her Grad Celebration

We are doing some sentimental gifts for Diana for graduation too.  We are having a very emotional and sentimental video made by the lovely Amber.  We collected photos and videos from her entire life and picked sentimental songs that will mean something to her.  We are going to show her the video one night leading up to graduation and during that same night, we will give her, her gifts.  I put together one book for her that I found on TikTok.  It's for her from  me.  It is a book filled with advice on different situations and I have included photos of us from her entire life as well.

 

 

The second book is another TikTok find.  It is one that we are filling with gift cards and cash for when she has different needs and cravings while at school.  I am having fun filling this one up!

 

 

Tulips

 

They are back in the rotation and bring me JOY

 

 

My Sidekick

 

Who also brings me JOY during my work day :)

 

 

It is Almost Taco Time!

 

Can't wait for our Real Estate Appreciation Party Again!

 

 

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

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

Hi Friends!  It is time for Hodgepodge with Joyce so let's get to her fun questions!

 

1. Egg on your face, putting all your eggs in one basket, a good egg, walk on eggshells, nest egg, or a tough egg to crack...which eggy idiom currently applies to your life in some way? Explain

 

 None of the above really...Easter decor got put away so the artificial eggs in our lives are disappearing for the year...I do always tell my girls, "don't put all of your eggs in one basket...keep those options open." So there's that 

 

2. April 7th is National Beer Day...are you a beer drinker? If so do you have a favorite? Beer battered fish, beer bread, beer can chicken, beer brats...which one sounds good to you? Have you made any of these? 

 

 

 I love beer!  I am looking forward to visiting Cisco Brewers for the first time on Nantucket when I go with my besties one weekend this May.  Love a good draft and I am also a big fan of the blueberry beers out there, Sam Summer and Blue Moon Belgian White Ale.

All of those beer recipes sound good to me.  I have actually added beer to chili when I followed Jimmy Fallon's Crockpot Chili recipe- it is very good!

 

3. Do you have siblings? What's the best thing about being your sibling? If you don't have siblings, what would you say are the pros and cons of being an only child? 

 

 

 I have one younger brother.  Best thing about being my sibling?  Not sure- he would struggle to find an answer too I'm sure ;) Probably the nieces I gave him?

 

My husband is an only child and always yearned for siblings.  We have created our extended family from the wonderful friends we have made who are often times closer than family and the ones who are there when you truly need them.

 

4. How do you feel about floral scents in products? Do you have a favorite?

 

 

 I love floral scents in my perfumes.  Estee Lauder Pleasures is my favorite springtime scent and reminds me of spring flowers.

 

 

5. What's one thing in your home that begins with the letter G that you would say is a keeper, something you'll hold on to? Tell us why. 

 

 

Generator.  Life saver during power outages- ensures our pipes don't freeze- ensures our food in our fridge doesn't spoil- keeps the heat running and less important but still so nice, keeps the tvs and computers running for entertainment purposes.  We can thank my Father In Law for buying us one and recently replacing it when the original one bit the dust.   

 

6. Insert your own random thought here.

 

 I have such mixed emotions and mixed feelings right now.  I am so excited about spring arriving- warmer weather- longer days- windows open- buds- blooms- more GREEN- and all of the spring events...but at the same time, my heart hurts because we are that much closer to graduation for Diana...that much closer to our family dynamic changing...and that makes me sad...so proud of her...so happy for her...so excited for all of the celebrations...and at the same time...sad...melancholy...wondering...where did all of those years go?  The Saturday morning Starbucks dates...the drives to school together....the dance lessons....the cheer comps...the theater performances...the Friday Night Lights...where?  What happened?