What's Up Wednesday: August 2025

 

Hi Friends!   I can't believe the end of August is already here....BOO...anyway...it's time to dish...so let's get to it....

 

 

What We're Eating This Week

 

Monday- Party Leftovers- Various Pasta Dishes and Salad

Tuesday- Crockpot, Cheesy Chicken Tacos with Guac and Chips

Wednesday- Lasagna and Salad 

Thursday- Asian Beef and Broccoli

You can find the recipe HERE 

Friday- Pizza Night! 

What I'm Reminiscing About

 

I have been reminiscing about Diana's Junior Year quite a bit...all of the highs and lows...it was an exciting and exhilarating year as well as stressful and heartbreaking and I am proud of my girl for riding all of the crazy waves

 

 

 What I'm Loving

 

All of the Senior Year Traditions for Diana- The Kick Off Cheer Dinner- Senior Sashes- Senior Mom Buttons and then Dresses on the First Day of School...Senior Sunrise...a real HOCO this year with the big game AND dance happening in October...so much fun!

 

Oh and check out this modeling shot for iCheer Cookies- just love it!

 

 

 What We've Been Up To

 

A Whole Lot!  I guess I didn't realize how crazy our August was until I sat down to write this post...eek...tired just typing it all up.....

 

Diana and I toured URI and she attended her first College Cheer Clinic! 

 

 

 Blackout Work is Dialing Up

 We loved seeing Eva star as Charlie in her DRT Show- "The Most Epic Birthday Party Ever"

 We made a road trip to Vermont and really enjoyed seeing Diana cheer at the 72nd Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Game!

There has been more time spent on the Rail Trail

Eva and I made a trip to a nearby farm for some incredible baked goods!

Mama has been busy with some real estate work

Diana and Cat enjoyed an afternoon on Newbury St in Boston- so posh- ha!

There has been more time spent on the Rail Trail...

and we had Diana's Senior Pictures done by the wonderful Amber DiPrima!

 

Eva had a blast at her hockey's team party on a lake

 

Diana and I enjoyed a morning on the beach until I was attacked by a seagull- no joke-worst nightmare

but I didn't let the seagull win and hit the beach the very next day with my girls to accomplish our Annual Mommy Daughter Boogie Boarding Day!

 

There were some Playa Bowls Dates with Besties 

and more time at the Rail Trail

We went Back To School Shopping

and celebrated 21 years of marriage!

 

 

We continued to work on "Project Homecoming" as we purge and clean our garage in preparation for Diana's Senior HOCO :) 

 

We started putting together Diana's Senior Year Cheer Collage and the throw back pics are killing me!

 

We took Eva and Cora to Canobie- they had a blast

Remi is still keeping us on our toes!

There has been more real estate work for Mama

and Blackout work of course!

The girls and I enjoyed a breakfast date before they had back to school

Eva got a Back To School Haircut- she looks so old :(

We celebrated Papa Pete and Diana's Bdays

We had a blast at the softball party with our new GSE team/family

Zach and Zoe spoiled Diana with a birthday breakfast and gifts while they were home

and we hosted the WHS Cheer Kickoff Dinner and had a blast- check out our Seniors!

What I'm Dreading

 

Nothing at the Moment!

 

 

What I'm Working On

 

The Usual....Recruiting...Real Estate...Blackout...Managing Our Home

 

 

 What I'm Excited About

 

The 1st football game of the season is less than 2 weeks away!  Can I get a what what?  ;)

 

 

 What I'm Watching/Reading

 

 

Speaking of FNL...FNL ;)

 

 

The Summer I Turned Pretty- Season 3- Duh 

 

 

 

and my book for August was

 

Murder At The High School Reunion by Lee Hollis (Book 3 in Series)

 

 After all these years, Maya and Sandra have mixed feelings about seeing their high school classmates, but in one sense the evening promises to be something of a red carpet event. A shy wallflower in school, Alyssa Turner has blossomed into an Oscar-nominated actress—and she’s coming to the reunion.

To their surprise, before the event, Alyssa contacts Maya and Sandra. She’s going to be playing a private eye and would like to hear about their experiences. When they meet, she confides she was bullied in school by cheerleader Tawny Bryce and her mean girls’ clique while also having a huge crush on Tawny’s boyfriend, the star quarterback.

When Tawny’s body is discovered the night of the reunion behind the bleachers, the spotlight is on Alyssa. She turns to Maya and Sandra to find the real killer. But is she as innocent as she seems—or turning in another Oscar-worthy performance?

 

 

Loved it!  This series is light, fun and keeps you guessing! 

 

 What I'm Listening To

 

The Beginning of Diana's Senior Year Play List which includes hits by The Weekend, Drake and Benson Boone to name a few

 

 

 What I'm Wearing

 

Workout Clothes- Business Clothes and Fun Outfits on the Weekends

 

 

What I'm Doing This Weekend

 

 

It's Labor Day Weekend and the Unofficial Close of Summer...sigh....

 

We are heading out to see Jaws on Friday night for the 50th anniversary with our best friends- since it is Cass and Rob's absolute fave of all time, we are kinda making a big deal about it

 

Then Saturday we are heading up to Maine with my family to go to dinner on the water to celebrate my brother's and my birthdays

Sunday we are going to grill with some friends

 

Monday we will spend around home...maybe swimming for the last time...Rail Trail....grilling....getting organized for the week!

 

 

 

 What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month

 

Have I mentioned FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS? ;)

 

 

Favorite Recent Amazon Purchase

 

Locker Decor for Eva

 

She is SO EXCITED to have her first locker this year! 

 

 

 

 What Else Is New?

 

Come back tomorrow as Patty and I will be hosting Monthly Musings and answering the questions below...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's Up Wednesday: July 2025

 

Hi Friends!  It is time for my favorite linkup of the month!  I am ready to dish about what's up with us here and can't wait to read about what's up with YOU!  The only downside to this post today is that it means it is the end of July, one of my favorite months...that means one less month of summer left...going to try to enjoy it as much as possible...anyway, I digress...

 

Let's get to it!

 

 

What We're Eating This Week

 

Monday- One Pot Lemon Feta Chicken Orzo

Find The Recipe  HERE

 

 

 

Tuesday- Walking Tacos

Find The Recipe  HERE

 

 Wednesday- Grilled Cheese and Leftovers at Home- Mama and Diana eating in RI after URI tour

Thursday- Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken with Peach Salad and Rice on the Side

Find the Chicken Recipe HERE 

 Friday- Pizza Night!

 

 

 What I'm Reminiscing About

 

Diana Mary

 

 

 

What I'm Loving

 

My new Oyster...can't get enough of it and its meaning

What We've Been Up To

We filmed the 2025 Blackout Tee Shirt Video

We enjoyed QT and dinner with Zach and Zoe when they were in town

Mama enjoyed a night with the Fab Four- sparkling rose and Indian food FTW

Eva had a blast at Triple Threat Film Camp

 

There has been lots of time spent on the rail trail- Praise God :)

 

Mama loved catching up with Dance Mom Besties

 

Eva wrapped up another amazing softball season

Mama and Cass loved trying the new Figaro's in town

 

We loved spending 4th of July Weekend at Laurel and Tom's lake house- we lived it up for some special reasons

We celebrated Sylvie Lynn turning 2!

Eva and Mama got fancy with besties and enjoyed a dinner out at Dreo

 

Diana and Mama enjoyed trying the cutest coffee shop- Flamingo's 

 

Mama has been busy with some real estate work on the weekends

 

Mama and Daddy had a great time with friends when we saw Barenaked Ladies up in Gilford

Sylvie Lynn loved hanging in our pool especially on the peacock float :)

 

Mama and Daddy had a blast golfing with Matt and Beth Ann

There has been more time spent at the rail trail

 

Mama said goodbye to "Big T" :(

We loved watching Daddy's band "Pop Roks" one night at Griffin Park

Mimi and Mama enjoyed a night at Figaro's

Diana loved kicking off her senior year cheer season with some of her favorite people

We loved seeing Eva as Grandpa Joe in Willy Wonka Jr at DRT

We all LOVED Merrimack College!

Caden "slayed" in Anastasia at Derryfield Mainstage

 

 We LOVED seeing Shania Twain in Gilford!

and supporting besties at this year's TTC show

 Diana had a blast at Choreo Day to prepare for this year's annual Shrine Football Game (she was chosen to cheer at the big game next weekend!)

 

 and we have been loving our time at the rail trail 

 

 

 What I'm Dreading

 

Nothing at the moment!

 

 

What I'm Working On

 

So so much- Recruiting- Trying To Generate Business- Real Estate-Blackout- Managing Our Family and Household

 

 

What I'm Excited About

 

All of Diana's Special Senior Year Moments and Activities- honored to be a witness :)

 

 

 What I'm Watching/Reading

 

 

There have been so many great series this summer!

 

We Were Liars

Liked this one better than the book!

 

 

 

The Summer I Turned Pretty (Final Season)

 

 

 

And Just Like That (Season 3)

 

 

Amy Bradley is Missing

Riveting Documentary- do you think she is still out there?

 

 

The Hunting Wives

 

 

 

The Better Sister

 

 

 

 

 and my book for July was

"The Summer We Started Over" by Nancy Thayer

 Eddie Grant is happy with her life and her work as a personal assistant to Dinah Lavender, one of the most famous and renowned romance authors in the business. But being a spectator to notoriety and glamour isn’t as fulfilling as she once thought. Thankfully, Eddie has the perfect excuse for a vacation: Her hardworking younger sister, Barrett, is opening her gift shop on Memorial Day weekend, and could use all the help she can get. 

But going home to the beautiful island of Nantucket means facing the family’s difficult past. Shortly after the death of Eddie and Barrett’s brother, their mother left them and their father made the spontaneous decision to buy a small farm. Eddie stayed there for only a year before her family’s grief threatened to consume her as well, and had been living in Manhattan ever since. Now that she is back, Eddie must face all she left behind: her father’s increased eccentricities, which has led to a house bursting at the seams with books; her sister’s resentment over Eddie’s escape; and a past love connection, one that is still undeniable and complicated, all these years later. But the Grant sisters are nothing if not resilient and capable, opening a used bookstore in their father’s abandoned barn to manage his hoarding, and navigating the discovery of a long-buried family secret that will change all of them forever. 

 

 It was the perfect summer beach read- another great one by Nancy Thayer...of course it was set on Nantucket too which makes for a wonderful backdrop 

 

 

What I'm Listening To

 

A mix of all of our playlists and we just started Diana's Senior Year Playlist...surreal for sure....we have a few songs on it thus far...

 

 What I'm Wearing

 

Since this is one of my favorite months of the year, I am surprised that I didn't do a better job of documenting my outfits- eek

 

Anyway, it is the usual mix of business attire, workout clothes and cute dresses and outfits for nights out...always with a splash of Lilly here and there...seems like I have been more attracted to orange this summer too as evidenced in a couple of dresses I have worn which double up as professional attire and appropriate for nights out too :)

 

As Zach Bryan once put it..."there is something in the orange"....maybe because it is the color of Aperol?  Ha!  Who knows ;)

 

What I'm Doing This Weekend

 

 

Friday Night, along with the grandparents, I am headed to see Eva in her second and final show for DRT this summer "The Epic Birthday Party" where she will be playing Charlie.  Rob is playing in a golf tournament with his company.

 

On Saturday, we are making the long drive up to Castleton VT to see Diana cheer in the 2025 Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl Football Game!

 

Sunday will be the day for relaxing and organizing and probably some real estate. 

 

 

 What I'm Looking Forward To Next Month

 

Diana's Senior Photo Session...The Kick Off Dinner for Cheer...and I can't believe I am writing this but BACK TO SCHOOL....eeeekkkkk...looking forward to it and afraid of it all at once :/

 

 What Else Is New?

 

Patty and I are hosting Monthly Musings tomorrow and hope you will join us we talk "How We Summer" and answer the questions below

 

 

 Fave Recent Amazon Purchase

 

Sandals for Eva- they look like Berks without the crazy price tag!

 

 

So...that's a wrap...what's up with YOU my friends?