Morning at Fort Williams

I had to work yesterday, so I wanted to do something fun in the morning. We left early and headed to the Cookie Jar for coffee and donuts and brought them to Fort Williams. We ate, we sipped and we walked around. It was the perfect morning:)

Joe on the way there!

Eating his donut with daddy!

View from our parking spot. No big deal:)

We saw this boat out lobstering!

What a view:)

My turn!

A day like this always makes me feel so fortunate to live in Maine:) How breathtaking is this view?!

A lighthouse way off in the distance! I thought it looked incredibly cool surrounded by fog. 

Joey was tuckered right out! Fell asleep on the ride home. 

Check out Beach Book Bonanza for my guest blogger!

Bloggin about the Bestie

Tomorrow my best friend is guest posting for Beach Book Bonanza! I wanted to give you a little background of our dear friendship:)

When you grow up as close with your family as mine, most of your friends are  cousins and siblings!  Not to say I didn't have friends, but the long lasting ones have always been family.  I have always felt very blessed about that.  But I do indeed have a long lasting, like a sister, best friend in the world.  I met Gulia Muca our sophomore year of high school when she transferred from Massachusetts.  We didn't become friends immediately.  Gulia played soccer (barf) and I played field hockey so our paths didn't cross at first.  Not until I was moved in to her Geometry class and was serendipitously seated next to her that our friendship was forged.  I like to think it was because we both had friendly, outgoing personalities and we weren't afraid to be  silly and let's face it, weird.  We also both had big families and our siblings were all similar in age!  Even our moms became friends.  We both played lacrosse and led our team in lots of shenanigans.  We both were in similar clubs and led the school in numerous pep rallies.  We made up our own songs, created havoc and played practical jokes.  Our motto in high school was "People either love us or they hate us, but it's only because they want to be us."  Seriously, how horribly obnoxious were we?! But honestly I think our friendship became stronger and more significant after we graduated high school.  Even though I went to St. Joe's and Gulia went to Providence we were still as close as ever.  There was no one that ever took Gulia's place . We still talked often and visited each other frequently!   I sometimes considered PC like my second college, because there were times that I visited so often I felt like I belonged there.  We had some super crazy fun times in college.  Gulia and I haven't lived in the same state in about 10 years, yet we remain as close as ever.  She was a bridesmaid at my wedding and Joey will certainly call her Aunt Gulia.  We have a special bond I know is life lasting.  We never fight, we never judge each other and I think the most important thing about our friendship is we never compare ourselves to one another.  There has never been any sort of jealousy in our relationship.  We both have our own strengths and we have always celebrated each others' positive attributes without envy.  With both of our busy lives, we can go long periods of time without talking and then pick up right where we left off.  I feel lucky to have a friend who is loyal, and kind, who gives me sound advice and also allows me to live vicariously through her exciting and crazy life!  And we have had more of our fair share of boulvard walk life chats! I gained a whole second family when I met Gulia and feel lucky to know the Mucas:)

Here are some pics of Gulia and I through the years.  These are all post high school!  We were heinous in high school, I can't believe our mothers let us out of the house!

This is my all time favorite picture of Gulia and me!! It basically sums up our friendship, laughing our butts off!

Be sure to check out Paladino Picks tomorrow for Guls's recommendation!

Weekend Wrap-up

We had a straight up cray cray weekend! At 3:00 on Friday afternoon, Andrew started his second and last week of vacation for the summer! We ordered pizza and celebrated:)

We then took this little munchkin outside to play. He loves pushing this wagon up and down the street. He's a little speed demon. 

This is Joey Saturday morning impatiently waiting for his waffle to pop out of the toaster! Please ignore his mitched matched pjs! 

It was such a beautiful morning Andrew and I decided to head to the Old Port for coffee and breakfast! Here's Joe playing with a handheld Nintendo device he stole from my little brother. And so it starts!

It's Saturday, it's sunny and I am drinking  my favorite coffee with my boys! Life is good:)

What a lucky gal:)

Seriously BEST breakfast sandwich I have ever had, every darn time!! Love! Port Bean on Commercial St. So yummy!

How gorg is this view?! I seriously love living in Maine!

Fam pic, Joey wasn't having it!!

Andrew and I had another wedding on Saturday afternoon of his college roomie.

Here's the adorable couple! She looked stunning!

St. Joe's crew back in action

We sat at the 18th hole! Love how sweet this centerpiece idea was!

Sitting with the cutie preggo lady!! Her due date was that day! Bless her little heart! 

Andrew actually made a normal face for a pic, I was psyched!

Cheers!

Me and the tiny little beautiful bride!

Cake! My favorite!

While we were at the wedding I got a call from my mom. Joey was in the emergency room with a dislocated elbow! They popped it back in place and he was fine but we scooted right over! They showed us how to pop it back in if it happens again. I will NEVER be doing that. Makes me shudder just thinking about it!

Here's the little patient playing with a box of tissues! Definitely won't be this little monster's last visit to the ER I am sure. 

He survived!! And I gave him a nice bath when he got home...

...and a nice cold glass of milk. We even let him watch a little Bubble Guppies before we put him to bed! 

He woke up the next morning being his normal crazy little self. Making messes...

...and climbing on tables! See another trip to the ER is definitely in our future!

My mom bought him a new chair and he was content to sit and flip through the channels:) what a little character!! He also got another present from my Auntie. It is an unwritten rule in my family that when a child has to visit the emergency room, they get a present! Yes, Joey is still in his pjs! It was such a lazy, gloomy day.  He stayed in them all day until 5:00 when we went to mass. We woke up late in the morning and then I had to work all day so we ended up going to church on Sunday evening.  

Then we ended the night with a yummy dinner!! Click here for the recipe:) Aren't we classy eating off paper plates?? A mama's gotta do...

Another crazy weekend in the books:)

Rainy Day

All ready for a rainy day with my favorite boy:) 

Check out my Friday Favorites!! Click here.

Happy weekend!

Baby Joey's Must Haves!

Wanna know my must have newborn necessities?!  The things that helped me out big time when Joey was just a new little bundle of joy?? Head over to Paladino Picks and find out!  Click here for my top three picks.

Wanna a little hint?!  Here are some pics of baby Joey with the my "newborn necessities."

Snoozing like a babe

Look at his comfy pjs

My little old man

What are my must have items?! Head over to Paladino Picks to find out!

The simple things

I love enjoying the simple things in my life:

-my first cup of coffee in the morning

-Joey patiently impatiently waiting by the toaster for his waffle to pop up

-nap time, I love the kid, but oh sweet relief:)

-taking walks at bug light

-iced cold water after a long run

-sister nights

-my everyday lunch (peanut butter and jelly sandwich, pretzels and an apple)

-sipping a seltzer water

-Joey's laugh

-sandy feet and slightly crispy skin after a day at the beach

-evening cribbage tournaments with the hubs

-DVR

-Sunday morning mass with my sweet boys

-falling into my cozy bed after a long day

Happiness comes from appreciating the little things in life!

Did you read yesterday's post? You should! It's all about the hubs:) Click here.

Meet Andrew

I met Andrew during my senior year of college.  He was only a baby sophomore.  I know I am a cougar, huh;)  I had heard talk of this "Dino" character, but I had never met him.  Until a fateful Thursday night.  To say it was love at first sight, is super crazy corny, but there was something about him that genuinely peaked my interest!  We chatted and later in the night a dance-off ensued.  I know, shocking right??  At the time, I had a boyfriend so nothing really became of it.  I had a class with him, Phenomenology with Dr. Ludwig, and I would give him the wink in class.  We would see each other out and about on campus and flirt up a storm.  He was a completely unkempt almost grungy-like college guy with longish hair and totally not my typical style, but there was something utterly adorable about him.  When I was finally a single lady, I made my move.  Yes, I made the move.  Andrew is much better at hard to get than me.  I see something I want, and I have to have it;)  And the rest, as they say, is history:)

This is from the first night we met, post dance off, hence the sweaty faces:)

 

Things to know about Andrew

 

-He likes to think he is a "thug" but he is really a big softie.  Also, boys who wear polo shirts are not thugs.

-He is a great present giver.  For my college graduation he got me a diamond necklace! We had only been dating for two months, that's when I knew he was a keeper:)  For our first Christmas he got me a Coach purse and a Tiffany's bracelet.  I had never mentioned wanting either one of these things!! Over the years he has always surprised me with sweet, thoughtful gifts! 

-He is an amazing cook! Lucky gal, right?!  He makes homemade pasta sauce and meatballs! He also makes the best sandwiches!

-He is THE grill master.  Best burgers, steaks and chicken ever!  They come out to perfection, every darn time!

-He thinks he is a great dancer. Sorry babe, I mean you ARE a great dancer:)

-He is an incredibly hard worker, one of the things I admire most about him!

-He is super competitive! He NEVER loses.  Well sometimes he does:) I mean come on, he has me as a wife.

-He loves to golf

-He loves weird shows on the History Channel and the Discovery Channel (yawn)

-He is a big fan of spreadsheets.  BIG fan! Not just at work either. He makes spreadsheets at home.

-He is an awesome dad!

 

He is basically a big sweetheart!  I thank God every day for putting him in my life.   My life could have gone a totally different direction, and I am so blessed to have found Andrew:)

Weekend Wrap-Up

We had a busy little weekend as Andrew and I had a wedding on Saturday.  Tis the season for weddings! We have another next weekend:)  Goood thing I have a hubby that loves to dance as much as I do.  We love a good wedding:)

We woke up Saturday morning to this 16 month old little boo bear!  He is getting so big, he's like a little boy now!

Andrew and I all gussied up for the wedding:) We clean up nicely, wouldn't you say?? 

Here's my friend,  Laura, walking down the aisle with her dad (whom I taught with at Holy Cross!)  I have known Laura since we were little kids going to Holy Cross.  She is such a dear friend and she made the most beautiful bride!!

Mr. & Mrs. Tyson!

The beautiful venue

Our table companions.  What a good looking couple!

Well if it isn't another good looking couple;)

My pretty place setting! And YES our wedding favors were one of Bill's whoopie pies!! I was beyond excited.  And yes I hid my from view in fear somebody might try to steal it!!

I heart me some flowers.  Really digging this arrangement.

Really like the swanky look of my placecard!

Uh oh Andrew is running out of ammunition.  He needs food and dancing ASAP!

I just thought this made for a pretty picture:)

Father/Daughter dance!  Gets me everytime.  I love dads!

Ok, now it's time for us to get our dance on!

We had such a fun evening out, but I was really happy to wake up to this little pint size perfection:)

I had to work from 11-3! Andrew and Joey dropped me at work so I wouldn't have to find a parking spot. My boss refers to this luxury as "princess parking". This is Joey giving me the cutest look on the way!

Andrew's good buddy from New Hampshire came over for dinner and we had a grilling feast!! Buffalo chicken, steak tips, burgers, dogs, baked potatoes and beans! And I made some triple chocolate brownies for dessert! De-lish I tell you!

Our feast of feasts

We love Dave:)

Here's Joey visiting with Uncle Dave!

Here's me loving on my baby love. Another weekend has come and gone! Happiness:)

Beach Book Bonanza is in full force today at Paladino Picks!