A Message to Diana as She Graduates High School

 

Wasn’t it yesterday that you were yelling “Mama!?” from way beyond…

You were always such a precocious little girl…or sassy as people said…but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We knew, from day one, that you were a survivor.  You fought so much sickness during your first year…it broke my heart that you were in so much pain.  You know what though?  You fought through it and you learned to battle early. A survivor then as now.

 

I thought I would just throw some thoughts on paper as you get ready to graduate high school.  The things that come to my mind when I think of you; the words; the phrases; the memories.  There are just so many and I have written many in the book of advice I gifted you.

 

When you visit my blog in the future, I hope you will find posts like this one and hear my voice encouraging you- believing in you- reminding you just how strong you are and most importantly how much you are loved.

 

So…these are the words I think of when someone asks me about Diana Mary

Frower

Bouwll

My Baby Bumble Bee

Diana…Diana Mary…Mama’s Pretty Girl

Monk- The Monk- Monkey

Acid Reflux

Endless Energy

 

My Broadway Baby

Clara

ADHD

Bahamas

Disney 

 

Punta Cana

The Lake

The Beach

Mommy Daughter Boogie Board Day

Starbucks Dates

Aruba

Chipotle

 

Chic Fil A

Caesar Salad (no chicken!)

Ham and Swiss Croissant

Makeup Artist

Fashionista

My Dancer

My Tumbler

Cheerleader

Charlie Brown

The Spelling Bee

Mamma Mia

Les Miserables

Miss Diana- Our Future Teacher

Church Lover

Stubborn

Deserves To Be Loved

Saturday Night Live

Vanderpump  Rules

Aromas

 

Getting you on the bus to head to your first day of Kindgarten was challenging- I was sad- you were worried and already getting embarrassed by Dad and me waving to you.

 

I blinked.

 

Now we walk to the football field and get ready for the Pomp and Circumstance- I got my waterproof eyeliner, waterproof mascara and plenty of tissues.  Between the tears, I hope I smile and feel all the joy of this moment because I could not be more proud of the young woman you have become.  It has never been easy but you did it and did it with pure faith and grit.

 

We love you so much Diana.  Go get ‘em! XOXO

Wednesday Hodgepodge

 

 

Hi Friends!  Happy Hodgepodge!  As always, I am joining Joyce for her fun linkup...answering these great questions...

 

 

 

1.  How would you define 'the good life'? 

 

 Good Life

 

 

I always think it is being able to provide for our family and when I say provide I mean a warm home, food, hobbies and fun family times.  I often think of the song "Good Life" when we are making memories together and I never take our times together for granted.

 

2.  What's the most used app on your phone (and are you proud of that)? 

 

 Email- mostly for business and some personal.  No I am not proud of it.  I know I spend too much time on my phone but it is a guilty pleasure.

 

 

3. 'Every rose has it's thorn', 'everything's coming up roses', 'looking through rose-colored glasses', 'it's no bed of roses' or 'stop and smell the roses'...which rose idiom best relates to something in your life currently. Explain. 

 

 I'm trying to remember to stop and smell the roses right now as we are heading towards graduation and then college.  I will never forget the mixed emotions I am feeling right now...the music that I keep hearing...the weather..the smells and how this was the end but also a beautiful new beginning.

 

 

4. How do you feel about floral flavorings in food or drink (rose, hibiscus, Elderflower, lavender)? 

 

 

 Actually not really a fan outside of an occasional cocktail with Elderflower in it.  Have you tried a Hugo Spritz?  It's like an Aperol Spritz but you subsitute the Elderflower for the Aperol- it is yummy.  You can check out a recipe HERE

 

 

5. Over the course of your life what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else?

 

 Business-Careers- Money

 

 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

 

13 Years Ago, we were celebrating Zach's graduation from WHS...oh how the time has flown...I remember the way I felt that day...such mixed emotions...I cried a lot..I remember telling everyone that Zach was the life of our home and I was going to miss him so much...right back to feeling the same way again with Miss Thing a.k.a Diana Mary....ahhh...

 

 

 

 

 

Sweet Potato Burger Bowls

 

Hi Friends!  I want to preface this post and recipe by saying this is the most flexible recipe to work with.  You can add or omit anything you want...seriously.  This is a protein-packed and easy meal for you or the fam.

 

I tweaked it when making it for mine and I will explain.

 

I have seen variations of this recipe on Pinterest and TikTok.  One of my favorite TikTokers Alycia H was making a similar bowl one night and I felt inspired and it was sooo yum!  I wanted to share it with you AND share a recipe because it has been a minute since I have shared one here...anyway,  I digress...here is what I used to make four bowls

 

1 lb. ground beef

1 vidalia onion

2 sweet potatoes (or 1 sweet potato and 2 cups of rice)

1 avocado

2 cups cottage cheese (we like Good Culture brand)

 

Various toppings: Everything But The Bagel Seasoning, Pickled Onions, Truffle Hot Sauce 

 

 Wash your sweet potatoes/potato.  Rub with olive oil and salt. Then cook your sweet potato in the air fryer. It took approximately 30 minutes for 1 large potato.

 

Heat skillet, drizzle with olive oil.  Cook your vidalia onion until caramelized. Add in your ground beef.  Season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until browned.

 

Assemble your bowls.

 

Cut sweet potato in half and mash each half in individual bowls. My girls do not like sweet potatoes so I substituted white rice in their bowls- cooked two cups so they would have 1 cup each.

 

Top the potatoes or rice with 1/4 of ground beef mixture. 

 

Slice avocado and spread between the four bowls.

 

Put 1/2 cup of cottage cheese on each bowl. 

 

Top with your toppings of choice - I did Everything But The Bagel Seasoning, Pickled Onions and Truffle Hot Sauce

 

It was DELISH!

 

Hello Monday and Hello Senior Week! (June 8, 2026)

 

Hi Friends and Happy Monday!  I am here with Sarah and we are chatting about our weekends.  Hope you will join us!

 

We are entering senior week....ahh...this was Friday...last day of classes for Diana

 

 

 

and check out the then and now...again...how did we get here?  Cliche I know...but I don't care ;)

 

This week she has some graduation rehearsals and housekeeping items to check off but other than that, it is fun stuff all week leading up to graduation next weekend.  Last night was the Senor Boat Cruise in Boston Harbor.

 

 

 

Anyway...here is a little recap

 

Backing up to Thursday Night...Janie and I represented Willmott at a local networking event for an HR Leadership group.  Time with Janie is precious to me...I soak it up any chance I can get! So glad she will be with us to celebrate the big graduation next weekend...couldn't do it without her!

 

 

 

 

Friday 

 

 Diana headed to school for her last day of classes AND she actually had food poisoning but she pushed herself to go...she had one more final AND she gets FOMO...doesn't like to miss out on anything...who does she remind you of? ;) ha ha!!

 

I headed to Windham Country Club as I took the day off to play in the Windham Jaguars Football Golf Tournament.  It was a beautiful day and we had an absolute blast!  We all had great shots which meant it was a true team effort...and...we even won an award....

 

Yep!  Worst golfers- ha ha!!  We actually won prizes...so fun... a bag full of treats and a free golf lesson so that is our excuse to get together again for some more fun on the course.

 

That night, I crashed early...we all did...Eva had some friends over to swim and enjoy our Friday Night pizza night but we still crashed pretty early.

 

 

Saturday

 

Starbucks first thing to catch up with my "senior." :)

 

 

 Then softball all weekend!  Eva and her team crushed the opponents!

 

 

That night, I made us a great dinner- 
Grilled Chicken, Mexican Street Corn, Baked Mac and Cheese with Broccoli and Daddy made ribs on the grill!  Papa joined us and it was a great way to unwind.

 

I even whipped up strawberry shortcake for dessert- ladies and gents it is finally Summah in New England!

 

Sunday

 

Dressing...easy like Sunday Morning!

 

 

 First stop- Nutrition Corner

 

Have you watched "Off Campus" on Prime yet?  We loved it!  Watch it now!  Anyway, they were doing some "Off Campus" themed teas and we took full advantage!

After a ride around with the top down, we picked up Diana's car from her friend's house and headed home.  We worked on some more party prep and I "stopped to smell the roses"....seriously the flowers in our yard are in full bloom and I just needed to appreciate them for a minute.

 

 

Then it was time for some more softball.

 

Eva and her team won the first game then lost the second game.  I went for the first game and then came home to help Diana get ready for the Senior Boat Cruise in Boston Harbor.  Loved her dress that we found on line!

 

 

 

 The girls met up at Maddy's house to snap some pics together and travel to the high school together to grab their buses to Boston.  They are truly living their best lives :)

 

They had a blast.  I had a blast with my Senior Mama friends catching up and consoling each other at Red's.

 We let Diana have her friends over for a bit after the cruise so we fell asleep pretty late but grateful that she has found her people.

 

What were you all up to this weekend?

 

 

 

 

 

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