Friday Favorites (Let The Summer Begin Edition!)

Last week of school....hollllaaaahhhh!  Ha ha!!!

Great year...great year...but bring on summah!!

Linking up with the lovely ladies HERE for another edition of Friday Favorites!

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

My Pidge (Eva) and her playing hockey!

My Monkey (Diana)

Then.....

and now....

8th Great Academic Recognition Night

My Favorite PTA Event of the Year- we announce the winners of our essay contest- I enjoyed it as always!

Fave MEMEs of the Week!

 

and I guess we will put this one in the MEME category too- another priceless School Board Selfie- hysterical! (at 8th Grade Graduation)

Last Day of School!


Oh friends...we got here!!!  Yeah!
Don't get me wrong- I love school- Diana loves school but we are wiped!  We are ready for a more laid back pace and less running around...and you know the drill!  

We did our obligatory pictures on the front steps of course....

So proud of our monkey- she grew so much this year- she worked really hard on her math and came so far and more importantly she grew as a person- her teacher and we have noticed so many changes and I am grateful- I am praying that she now has the courage to make some new friends and put herself out there...in time, I believe she will show she can!


After school, we continued the annual tradition of going to Cass's- the kids got off the bus there and had so much fun and the moms enjoyed a lovely lunch out on the deck- Cass outdid herself once again- it was a relaxing and great day to celebrate the end of the school year!

and because it was both National Wear Your Lilly Day AND National Selfie Day...the moms obliged in one shot!  #NWYLD FTW!

Then last night, we headed to a party Diana was invited too with some softball friends and enjoyed an outdoor movie night- so fun!

That's a wrap!  Back to work today then we will make sure we get our summer list completed tonight!  Woohoo!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Gratitude and National Wear Your Lilly Day

I am thankful for......

The willpower...the stamina

These ages

Being present

My Love...his health

My tribe

Clarity

Forgiveness

 My Guardian Angels

Hope

The work

The ocean

Outdoor time

 and because it is National Wear Your Lilly Day....this one is for all of you ladies with the passion for Lilly...as she once said, "Happiness Never Goes Out Of Style"

Hope you wear your Lilly today! #NWYLD #SUMMERINLILLY #LILLYPULITZER

Strawberry Caprese Salad

Summertime is the perfect time to make use of fresh fruit and especially berries. Though I am partial to blueberries (would bathe myself in them if I could)....I really love strawberries..especially this time of year.

I wanted to share this recipe with you today because it has been a big hit in different crowds over the last month or so and it was requested again for an upcoming cookout so I will be dicing my little heart away!  Maybe you will too?  You won't regret it- so refreshing and yummo.

Ingredients:

2 pints strawberries, chopped

1 log of fresh mozzarella, chopped

2 tablespoons basil, chopped

2 tablespoons mint, chopped

Balsamic Glaze

Salt, Pepper AND maybe you want to give the Trader Joe's Everything But The Bagel Seasoning a shot- I did and it was the perfect seasoning!

Instructions:

 Chop your strawberries

Chop your mozzarella

Chop your basil

Chop your mint

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl

Season with salt, pepper and that magic seasoning if you wish

Drizzle with balsamic syrup- very eye appealing AND delish!

Enjoy....preferably outside on a deck with the sound of a sprinkler in the background and someone mowing their lawn next door..you get the picture :)

Tuesday Talk: Summer Plans Edition

Hi friends!  I love the Tuesday Talk linkup!  It is the one linkup where we can talk about anything we want, thanks to Ashley and Erika.  Linking up with the lovely ladies HERE

In May, I talked, "Memorial Day Weekend Ideas" HERE 

In April, I talked, "25 Random Facts About Me," HERE

In March, I talked, "Girl's Getaway Trip to Fort Lauderdale" HERE 

 In February, I talked, "Let's Talk Spring Edition," HERE

and 

In January, I talked, "Going To The Movies," HERE

Today I decided to talk "Summer Plans" because seriously what is more fun?  I love thinking about our summer...dreaming of beach time and getting excited for our little road trips and my daughter's theater camp...besides, Summer is my favorite time of year so just putting our plans in writing makes me giddy :)  Here goes nothing....

 Triple Threat Theater Camp

My daughter Diana LOVES every minute of this camp.  She gets to sing, dance, act and even swim and play.  During the three weeks there, the kids all prepare for a show and it is just amazing to see what they put together at the end of three weeks- it is Broadway quality- no joke!  Diana is also getting in an extra week of fun this year.  The week leading up to Triple Threat she is partaking in a 1 week "Audition Intensive" camp where she will learn how to prepare for auditions- I am jealous! :)

4th Of July Weekend/Portsmouth

It is no secret that my favorite town in America is Portsmouth, NH.  I love everything about it.  The fact that it is right on the ocean...that is has the quaintest downtown with shops...coffee shops and amazing restaurants...and then at the same time, it is a city...it has something for everyone.  Well, typically, over 4th of July weekend we go away for a few nights with my parents.  This year, we decided, to go back to one of our faves and that is Portsmouth. It is only 45 minutes from home and still feels like a lifetime away.  We can't wait for some fun in the sun and quality family time!  Since 4th of July is smack dab in the middle of the week, we are going the weekend before.  On the 4th (my favorite holiday all year), we will be spending some QT with besties AND ensuring we catch some fireworks 

Laurel and Tom's Lake House

Our friends, Laurel and Tom, are always so generous and have our family up for a weekend each summer.  I never liked the lake until I got to theirs.  It is on Lake Winnipesaukee and it is incredible- waterfront- perfectly decorated and always so much fun.  They always take us out on the boat too and that is my favorite part- cruising in the sun- jumping in the lake (but I don't get my hair wet of course- ha ha!) and the kids have SOOO MUCH FUN!  This year, she has invited us for even more time up and we can't wait- we are looking forward to family time and girls- only time which should be a hoot!

Book Club at The Beach

So our next book club meeting is in the beginning of August and our friend Karin is hosting us at her beach house-we cannot wait!  She picked a nice easy read, "The Undomestic Goddess" by Sophie Kinsella.  We are so excited for our special group to get together up at the beach in York Maine- woohoo! 

Concerts

Well this will probably go down as the summer that I attended the most concerts in my life- it just worked out that way and Thank God for a great year at work is all I can say :)  I am excited for the shows but more excited about the quality time with my people.

Cass and I are going to see Shania Twain like we used to do in our 20's :)  She is coming to the Boston Garden

Then Lea, Debbie and I are taking the girls to Taylor Swift in Mansfield..so excited for Diana to have this experience and a BIG THANK YOU to Debbie for orchestrating this and including us- we can't wait!

and the show that has everyone going crazy is Journey- Def Leopard - and Cheap Trick.  There are 8 of us going to this one is at Fenway...most can't wait for Def Leopard but I am squealing over Journey (I will just close my eyes and pretend it is Steve Perry) ;) 

and lastly, Rob always likes to celebrate our anniversary by taking me to a show and Peter Cetera is playing outside at Boardinghouse Park in Lowell.  It is where we saw Toad The Wet Sprocket a few years back for our anniversary- it is such a chill atmosphere and I am probably most excited about this one...to be with my love XO 

Road Trip

This summer, we may be able to join daddy on a work trip and spend a few days having some fun too down in PA- Mama is busy researching Amish Country so we shall see....we may try to sneak in our annual Storyland Trip too but I have a feeling that this summer it may just be too tight and may have to wait until next year again 

The Favorites

In addition to the bigger things, we will take part in our favorites of the season too of course...that means LOTS of beach time, golfing, other camps, consuming as much seafood AND blueberries as possible and time in the yard (this year with Sea Wee Dolls!) and plenty of time on Robby B's new "backyard oasis"

What will you be up to this summer?