Life Lately

We've been in Boston for just a few days now and we've already managed to squeeze in quite a few fun activities and a lot of necessary ones! Here's a rundown of what we've been up to!

On Monday we

stopped by Marshall's to pick up some bathroom essentials and hair clippers for AJ
split a Tom Brady sandwich from DeLuca's on the Charles River Esplanade
grocery shopped at CVS
lifted weights at the gym among far too many meatheads
ate pasta, salad, and chocolate chip froyo from Richardson's for dinner while catching up on Dateline

On Tuesday we

went back to the gym (earlier to avoid the crowd)
tried to blowout my hair and failed miserably
grocery shopped at Trader Joe's and accidentally bought cashew butter (what?)
(I) got school mandated blood work done to prove I am immune to the chicken pox. AJ got to wait for me and listen to me whine all morning
took the T and bus to South Boston—new for me—so AJ could go to his new workplace for a drug screening. He peed in a cup, I waited for him at the beach
ate deliciously marinated chicken and undercooked sweet potatoes for dinner

Today I want to soak up the sun by sitting on the roof with a good book. There are only so many days left to tan before the cold sets in up here in New England! Also, I have to go back to Trader Joe's to return the cashew butter and buy olive oil. And more sweet potatoes. I could eat those for every meal.

On Thursday I have my grad school orientation! The nerves set in back in June but I'm looking forward to getting started and seeing what this is all about.

A Successful Day Off

Wednesdays are my day off from babysitting. I like to take advantage of them and fit in as many fun things and activities possible.

Yesterday I started the day early, drinking coffee with my mom on the porch. At 9:30, I met my cousin Maria for a Zumba class which completely exhausted both of us and made us feel sadly out of shape.

From there, we drove to Orange to a store called Plato's closet. They buy and sell clothes and I had a suitcase full of clothes I've been wanting to try to sell for months. We dropped off the clothes and headed to the nearest Whole Foods for an early lunch which happened to be one of the yummiest lunches I've had in a while.

I take the girls I babysit to Whole Foods once a week, usually, and I tend to stick to the salad bar because there are so many options, I get overwhelmed and fall back on the familiar. This Whole Foods, though, was a bit more spread out and it was pretty empty so I didn't feel rushed to pick something. We took our time walking around, looking at the options before deciding what to get. Also, this has got be the cleanest and most well kept Whole Foods I've been to. Usually, the hot food bar and salad bar get messy and aren't correctly labeled and such but this store had so many more options than I've seen before and each section was filled and looked fresh.

I gravitated towards the hot food bar and filled my container with a little spring greens salad with walnuts and goat cheese, then I added a piece of herbed chicken along with steamed broccoli, summer squash, and zucchini. On the side, I had to add the grilled pineapple and grilled peaches (something else I've never seen at the Whole Foods closer to me) and it was all delicious! It was a bit pricey for lunch but it kept me very full for a long time and it all tasted great.

We went back to Plato's Closet and the store only took 4 out of my many, many items but they gave me $18. Not much, but better than nothing!

From there, we drove to New Canaan to visit my mom at her volunteer job at the thrift store and we ended up shopping more than we meant to! I got a cute Lilly Pulitzer dress for around $30 among other things. They have such great steals! The sale special for that day was one bag of clothes for $25!

I ended the night at the beach in Norwalk with my mom and some family, looking out at the water and listening to the ABBA tribute band that was performing. The weather was beautiful all day and night, it was perfect for an evening at the beach.

Today, I'm back to babysitting and the Westport Library and Farmers' Market are on our schedule for the day!

Sometimes I Babysit At The Beach

I've been babysitting for close to 10 years now. I enjoy the job because I find playing with kids to be fun! There's a lot you can do with them and most of the time, it does not feel like work. I'm so lucky that I found a great family to babysit for out here, although, with them we don't call it babysitting. The girls are older, 11 and 9, and don't need a babysitter as much as a play pal and chauffeur, so we call it hanging out. Living and babysitting in a beach town has many perks and yesterday we took advantage of them!

I picked the girls up at their house to take them to breakfast at this cute little bakery on the main road in Westport. I had a delicious fruit cup and the girls got croissants, almond and chocolate. We sat at a table outside for a while and then decided it was time to go to the beach.

We set up camp near the water, covered ourselves in sun screen, and got into the water as quickly as possible. It was freezing, but the girls were brave and ducked their heads under right away and I'd been wanting to get into that salt water for a while now. We played in the water for a good chunk of time and the girls practiced their swimming before we headed back to the towels, laid in the sun, and ate our way through half a bag of baby carrots.

One of my favorite parts of this job is that the girls are so chatty and mature so we can hold long, adult conversations and I really enjoy that. They're smart girls with good, kind, and attentive parents and you can really tell how well they are being raised.

The girls got hungry after a while so we walked to the other end of the beach to the little food place that's there. It is crazy expensive, especially for beach food, but since it's the only place to buy food at the beach, they can charge whatever they want and people will buy it! The girls got fries, ate some, and decided it was time to hit the water again.

We walked all the way down the length of the beach where there were hardly any people because the tide was out and the girls could walk out far and the water was still really shallow and warm. I was on left-over french fry duty, carrying them and protecting them from seagulls. The girls walked through the water all the way back to the other end, where our towels were, and I walked along the shore line, waving at them and watching them have a blast!

I didn't even sneak one fry! We stayed at the beach as long as we could but had to be home in time for their next babysitter to take over watching them. I have so much fun with these girls and I'm glad it's my summer job for the next few weeks until school starts. The back seat of my car is now filled with sand but that's what summer is about!

Weekend Recap

This weekend was busier than most and that has left me with no scheduled posts for this week! But no worries. This way I'll be certain to write a bit each day. Plus, the weekend was well worth it!

On Thursday evening, AJ and I headed to the facility where our reception will be held to do a tasting for the menu. We tried a huge variety of hors d'oeuvres, a pasta dish, some appetizers, three entrees, a few wines, and we ended the meal with some desserts and espressos. The food was so delicious and we went a little crazy—our waiter and the general manager kept saying, "You guys are good eaters." You put good Italian food in front of us, it will be eaten. Sorry! Anyway, we both feel confident that if everything else at our wedding goes wrong, at least the food will leave everyone full and happy.

Friday I spent the holiday with AJ and our cousins having a cook out. It was fun, a little messy and rainy, but it was the exact way I like to spend the holidays, with family.

Saturday morning, AJ and I drove to New Canaan and picked up lunch and iced coffees for ourselves and my grandmother, a thank you for watching my little dog over night. We had lunch at my grandmother's house, stole some of her fresh figs, and brought my dog, Tessi, back home. We watched a little soccer before heading to 4 o' clock mass and then came back home where AJ studied a bit and then we watched Dateline, our typical weekend night!

Sunday was a relaxing day. I had a nice, long workout on the treadmill while watching trashy TV because that's the only way to do cardio. In the evening, my mom, my godmother, AJ, and myself picked up salads and drove to the beach and ate dinner and drank wine while sitting in the sand. The waves were pretty big for the Long Island Sound because of the weekend storms and the beach was packed with people who were still enjoying the end of the holiday weekend. Having dinner at the beach is such a treat! It really makes it feel like summer and I'm going to try to keep doing it as often as possible before this beautiful season starts to fade.

Like I said, this week I'm a bit on the thin side for posts but make sure to check back! I have some posts about author interviews planned!

Happy Monday, all!

Keeping Up

No, not with the Kardashians. With myself. I'm really proud of the writing I did in June. I love looking at the listed archives and seeing my number of posts grow each day. I love that I greatly increased the number of posts I published from May to June. The number almost doubled and I'm so proud of that!

That's why I don't want to fall back in July. I want to keep up with June. It reminds me of being college. If I made Dean's List one semester, I felt that I had to make it the following semester and so on because if I didn't, it would mean that I had slacked or failed from past performances. It's not necessarily sane, but it's motivating!

So, that's my goal. To write more than the 27 posts I wrote last month while still keeping up the quality of the content. I imagine that this goal will stick as I continue this blogging journey.

What about you? Do you have any goals—blogging or otherwise—for July? I hope your July is off to a great start!

Hiking at Devil's Den

On Friday, we had beautiful weather. The sun was out but there was a cool breeze. AJ and I have been wanting to go to Devil's Den in Weston to hike for months now and I can't believe we finally got around to it. We had high expectations and planned to walk miles and miles and miles.

We did walk miles, but maybe not as many as we had hoped. The trails themselves were fun and not difficult which is good because we are not experienced hikers. There were rocks to climb over, hills to scale, and fallen tree limbs to dodge. There were also plenty of bridges and logs to walk across small streams and make it feel like a real adventure. 

 We had a lot of fun, but it got hot and buggy fast. This photo was taken at the very beginning and I did not look like that upon the end of our hike. The bugs were relentless and kind of put a damper on the hike. We were not thinking of that and I didn't plan for it so we didn't bring bug spray. We won't make that mistake again.

It was so beautiful and really fun, especially because it's something new for us! We want to do it again but we have to remember buy spray next time. I'm covered in bites! AJ took this photo from a bridge we were on, it reminds me of Pocahontas. 

Here's a photo to prove AJ was there! This, too, was taken early in our walk. By the end, we were gross, sweaty, covered in bugs, and hangry (hungry-angry). I had to ask AJ if we could turn around and head back because the route we were on was too long and I didn't want to deal with more flies. 

We really do want to go back, though! But we have to bring bug spray. I also want to try other hiking trails in Pound Ridge and where ever else we can go!

Once we got home and got a little something in our stomachs, I fell asleep while AJ watched soccer. We continued our day of being outside by getting take-out salads and eating them at Compo Beach. I love taking advantage of the gorgeous weather this summer is giving us. 

Vacation Roundup

It's always annoying when fun and relaxing family vacations have to end. There is something about Cape Cod that, the minute I drive over the bridge, I know I'm on vacation and that it will be a wonderful time. Every year is great in it's own way and after 22 years of visiting Chatham, I know I will never tire of the small, sweet beach town. 

 Our last few days in Chatham were spent playing no less than 20 rounds of competitive Scrabble, soaking up the sun on the deck, taking long walks around the neighborhood and to the beach, and walking through town and shopping occasionally.

 I love getting to share this family tradition with AJ now. I can't wait until we have our own family to make even more memories with in Chatham.

 Our last dinner was eaten at home and shared with my mom and godmother. It consisted of Trader Joe's crackers, a variety of cheese, carrots, hummus, and delicious fruit salad. This was eaten between rounds of Scrabble and was followed up with rich chocolate from Chatham Candy Manor.

 AJ drove the whole trip home today. It took us just about 4 hours and I only nodded off for 10 minutes. We left around 10 am after sharing bagels and coffee while sitting on a towel at Hardings Beach, another one of our bagel traditions.

 Tessi rode home with us, too. She slept the entire way in her bed on my lap. It's always a funky feeling, getting back into the groove of regular life after being on a vacation for a while so I'm trying to throw myself back into life rather than ease into it. I already did some unpacking, I have my second load of laundry going, and I'm heading off to Zumba in an hour.

Tomorrow I have to restock the kitchen and get some writing done!

In Chatham

We made it to the Cape! Pre Cana class was awesome and so important, plus our wonderful group leaders decided to power through the scheduled class breaks and lunch break so that we could be done early because the weather today is wonderful up and down the coast. We were out of class by 12:50 and cruising down 95 by 1. 

AJ drove the first leg of the trip while I ate my Trader Joe's salad and we shared trail mix. We hit just a few spots of traffic around New Haven but the rest of the trip went fast and I took over driving the last hour. We got here just before 4:30. I was so happy when we got on route 6 and took the exit to Chatham. As soon as we turned off Main Street we rolled the windows down to feel the sweet, salty sea breeze. 

My godmother and grandpa had just arrived at the house so we all unpacked. Then AJ and I took a quick walk to the beach across the street, Hardings Beach, to snap some photos. 

For dinner, AJ, my godmother, and I went to one of our favorite restaurants, Pate's, and we all had seafood because it's the Cape. We did some grocery shopping for the house and now we are happily sitting in the living room, sipping wine and anticipating the gorgeous day we will have tomorrow! 

AJ and I plan to go to mass in the morning and to spend the rest of the day relaxing in the sun. I'll be sure to share photos! 

Summer Reading List As Seen On Collective Lifestyle

Good morning everyone! This morning I am off to Bridgeport with AJ for our first Pre Cana marriage class. Class runs from 9-3 and then we are immediately getting in the Jeep and driving off to Cape Cod! 

I hope to keep blogging whenever I get the chance while we're in Chatham, but it's a relatively shorter trip this year so I hope to keep my days packed with fun things to do, like all the things I wrote about here!

I do have two scheduled Book Review posts that will go up while I'm in Chatham so keep an eye out for those! 

And in case that's not enough book talk for you, here's an article I wrote over at collectivelifestyle.com about books that everyone should check out this summer! For your reading pleasure, I've included the article below or you can read it at the original source here. 

That's all for now as I head out but I'll be in touch from Chatham!

Summer Reading List

Is there a better place to read than the beach on a nice summer’s day? If you’re looking to get a few good reads in this summer, check out the list below of six books that are sure to complement a day at the beach!

Euphoria by Lily King: Featured on Amazon.com’s Summer Reading Picks list, this novel centers on three anthropologists in the 1930s. The anthropologists are real people, but their lives and love stories are fictionalized as they travel together in Papua, New Guinea studying indigenous tribes. As with any juicy story, an unavoidable love triangle forms and jealousy, rivalry, and inspiration play big roles in this complex story. The rich prose invites readers to weave through the setting along with these impossibly interesting characters.

My Salinger Year by Joanna Rakoff: Since the death of reclusive author, J.D. Salinger, biographies and secrets about him have been coming forth in print and on the big screen. My only nonfiction pic on the list, this is a memoir about a young woman in the late nineties who is tasked with the responding of fan mail meant to reach the hands of Salinger himself. The young Rakoff uses Salinger’s voice to find her own, making this a truly unique story that is more influenced by Salinger than it is actually focused on his life. For this reason, you do not need to be a fan of his to enjoy this memoir, but a fan of letters, language, and the possibilities of one’s own voice.

Funny Once: Stories by Atonya Nelson: A collection of short stories is perfect for beach going because it allows you to start and stop reading with ease. This collection is comprised of nine stories and a novella that are delightfully captivating. Despite the deep emotions and personal issues the characters are faced with, Nelson’s wit and comedic streak offer lighter moments among the dark. Because of the depth of characters and plotlines, each reader will undoubtedly find a reflection of his or herself in these stories.

The Vacationers: A Novel by Emma Straub: The title alone qualifies this book as a must read for the summer. Set in the beautiful and ideal summer vacation destination of Mallorca, Spain, this book follows a family trip full of secrets, betrayals, and love. The matriarch, a writer, plans the trip for herself, her husband who recently had an affair, their adult son and his even older girlfriend, and their heartbroken teenage daughter. This is not the typical tale of a family vacation. The language and wit set this story apart and will have its readers brimming with the love that is infused into every page.

The One and Only by Emily Griffin: For those who are looking for a romantic story to keep them company this summer, this novel covers every type of human love possible. Set in a small town with small town themes and characters who have trouble leaving, this story is filled with nostalgia and familiarity. The relatable characters and excellent story telling set this novel apart from romance novels and make it a truly enjoyable and engrossing read. The emotions are tangible and familiar while the story is unique enough to be fully entertained.

The Lobster Kings: A Novel by Alexi Zentner: The dreamy setting of this novel is the first quality that will grab the reader’s attention. The second is the family history and family curse of the Kings, the fictitious family framed in this novel. Set on Loosewood Island, where the Kings family has lived for three hundred years, their many blessings are faulted by the family curse: the death of each firstborn son. Cordelia Kings is set to inherit it all but she must first salvage the lobster fishing town from wrongdoers while taming family rivalries. This novel has a mythical, fairytale feel but is filled with the realities of our world. 

A Wedding and Breakfast

June is off to a great start! I spent the last day of May with AJ, celebrating the marriage of our friends, Tyler and Melissa. It was a beautiful wedding and a beautiful day.

We danced and shared a delicious meal with their family and friends. It was touching to see such a loving and devoted couple to be surrounded by all of their loved ones. You could truly see how happy everyone is for them and how supportive and hopeful everyone is for their marriage.

They are a lovely couple who have a blessed future ahead of them! We were so fortunate to be able to share the day with them.

The wedding reception was over by 9 (the happy couple had to be up at 3 am for their honeymoon flight!) so AJ and I went to bed early to rise early on June 1st.

We went to 7:30 mass in the morning at a church in Saugatuck that overlooks the water. After church we swung by Dunkin Donuts. I got a bagel with strawberry cream cheese and an iced French Vanilla coffee—black. AJ got a Coolatta and chicken salad on a croissant. The man loves chicken salad.

I love spending time on the beach, it's such a luxury to have the shore and the Long Island Sound just a five minute drive away. It was before 9 o' clock when we got there so it was still quiet.

We ate and talked about the wedding the night before and about our upcoming wedding. It was a wonderful way to start the day and a great way to start June.

It was an ideal example of what I talked about in yesterday's post. If this morning was any inclination of what June and the rest of the summer holds, I can't wait.