Five on Friday

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We are loving this combo for light lunches these days. So good! I had it at the Kentucky Derby yearrrrrrrs ago and it's been a favorite ever since!

two

We grill year round BUT the minute I can get delicious sweet corn I like to put this recipe on the menu. I emailed a bunch of friends just over a year ago for recipe inspiration/favorites and it was such a great jump start for me. I've continued swapped emails with several of these gals as we find new "favorites" but this still tops my "favorite of the favorites" list. 

three

We have the best system with a couple of our friends. We go for looooong hot walks every week (sometimes after a quick breakfast too!) and then let the kiddos down to play for awhile at a park or our backyards, etc.  This past week it was hot hot hot but that didn't stop these turkeys from having a good time together. 

(This is on our walk back to the cars from the playground. We don't normally double up on our walks. Ha!)

four

We're still loving lip sync battle in our house. If you haven't seen the Hough siblings episode yet it's worth a watch. Our favorite episode so far...for the shock value and the amazing talent they both have!

five

This is BG's idol these days and I can't say that I mind. The dads went to their monthly whiskey tasting together so we girls took the boys out for an adventure. I still can't imagine BG ever being this big but I know it's just around the corner. 

Five on Friday

Thought I'd squeak a post out before it's officially Saturday.

one

On Saturday we took BG to his very first symphony. I had been looking forward to it for months because I just knew that my little music man would be captivated. The Charlotte Symphony had Peter and the Wolf as their final Lollipops concert for the season and it was perfect!  The first portion of the concert was a compilation of well known pieces featuring animals. The second portion of the concert featured a narrator telling the story of Peter and the Wolf as the orchestra played. Such a fantastic first experience that he continues to talk about. At one point during the concert he whispered to Nate "This is wonderful."  Cue all the mom tears. 

two

Saturday night we had a little date to see Pitch Perfect 2 and then sushi for dinner. My husband is a HUGE PP fan so we were so relieved when the sequel was just as fantastic as the original.  I actually went to see it again the next night with some girlfriends. I laughed hysterically both times. Aca-awesome. 

three

Hide and Seek. Such a fun game to play at home...but BG found it just thrilling to do at the luggage store. Can you spot him? "Where'd BG go, mama?"

four

This week I bought a flat of berries at the farm. I've experimented with so many new to us recipes. Hoping to share our favorites with you soon! (cough strawberry bruschetta cough)

We dropped some off to our neighbors too!

five

Our week has been full of weed picking in the garden and deep-end swimming. 

Summer, I love you. 

Tuesday Tips - Strangers

I had a fantastic experience today with BG and it got me thinking I needed to sit down and write a tip to all of you. 

Talk to strangers.*

Crazy, right? Stick with me here. 

I was walking into the grocery store and I noticed an elderly gentleman sitting in his car in the handicapped spot. He had the windows down, an oxygen tube across his nose and was working on a crossword puzzle. As I approached his car I saw that his license plate paid homage to Toledo. I just couldn't help myself.

"Excuse me sir, I don't mean to bother you but are you from Toledo,Ohio?"

Twenty minutes later his "sweetheart" as he referred to her had returned wih their groceries and BG and I had made two new friends. Not only were these perfect strangers from Toledo but they had graduated from the very same high school that MY sweetheart and I graduated from many decades ago. They attended the same church that my hubby was raised in. And they too have a deep fondness for our very favorite pizza spot in Perrysburg. 

Talk to strangers. 

Strike up a conversation with someone walking by who's dress you like. Maybe they got a steal deal on it and you'll be able to score one too! Or maybe you'll just make their day with that compliment. 

Tell another mom at the park how you adore her son or daughters curly hair. Maybe they'll want to meet again for a park play date so you can continue chatting while the kiddos play. 

Exchange pleasantries with an elderly person at the store. They usually havean interesting story or two to tell...and maybe their lives will have crossed paths with yours before!

*this goes without saying but please don't talk to the scary or unnerving strangers that you encounter - if your intuition tells you to be alarmed then listen to it and just keep walking. 

Five on Friday

I wanted to take a moment to relax after a crazy week and what better way to do that than with a quick blog post?

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Nate made reservations for Mothers Day brunch uptown. Gorgeous views, delicious food and no dishes make this mama one happy girl!

two

We have THE BEST neighbors, seriously, we do! Our back door neighbors opened their pool and we've been getting in daily despite BGs attempts at wearing his floatie as a hat. (If you have a little swimmer I can't recommend a Puddle Jumper enough. BGs been in one since last summer and is so independent in the pool because of it. I spied them at Costco for under $15 this week if you need one!)

three

BG was so lucky this week to have a couple play "days" with one of his buddies. We were all exhausted after each full day together - so much fun to hear these little stinkers loving on each other...I have a new admiration for mothers of multiples!!!

four

My girlfriend and I were craving more fresh strawberries so off to the farm we went to pick. It was a beautiful day for picking and chatting with some of my favorite Michiganders. 

five

Nina was THE best and brought a piece of her chocolate Nutella cake so Nate and I could have a treat tonight. Wellll I also made strawberry hand pies. Lots of treats in our house this weekend...whole30 what??

Five on Friday

one

Lip Sync Battle. Please tell me you're watching this amazingness on Spike as well. Although Emma Stone live on The Tonight Show will forever be my favorite, this show is quite entertaining! 

two

We went to our favorite bagel place last weekend and somebody was extremely excited. He ate this whole bagel! Having gymnastics beforehand combined with not having Bagel Bin in awhile a hungry boy does make!  

three

Nate's been in Chicago all week for work and he sent me pictures one night of drinks he was having with coworkers. How amazing is this drink presentation?

four

We've been going to our local strawberry farm weekly for berries. I've already made lots of jam, crisp and other tasty eats. We love strawberrry season but we secretly can't WAIT to go and pick blueberries!!

five

We've had the best week with friends. The weather has been perfect. The invitations to play have been plentiful. It does this mamas heart good. 

*I try to host friends for dinner when their hubbies are also working late/out of town. This week Allie came for Mexican and her sweet as pie Scottie would not stop tackling and wrestling BG. It was absolutely hysterical and we did nothing to intervene...in fact I'm pretty sure we just egged it on. 

**BG is obsessed with playing in the back of our suv when we finish walking with his buddy on the greenway. It's a bit of a tradition now and those two little stinkers just love pushing, poking and prodding all of the buttons in the back.