I'm back...

...but I don't know if I'm happy about that. Yes, happy to be blogging again, but not happy to be back in the office. I shouldn't complain. I had one of the bestvacationseverrrrr! The weather was to die for, the beer was cold, the burgers were always on the grill and the pool was a comfy 82 degrees. Plus, I was able to spend 9 days with my family, best bud - Nate and the Mister.

I left you all off mid-week of my vacation... so here we go: Wednesday was spent with my girlfriends, going over Bridal shower plans, bachelorette parties and 30th birthday details - productive yet, uneventful. But Thursday, I packed up the car, picked up my Mom and we heading to the Lake for the day/night. We started our day aboard the MS Mt Washington - taking a 2.5 hour cruise around the lake. We enjoyed cocktails and a light lunch while checking out the sights. After 30 years of spending summers at the Lake, we never went on that darn boat - until Thursday. What a bunch of tourist we are! Afterwards, we checked into our lake front room, packed up a cooler with wine, cheese & crackers and a few beers and heading to the beach bar. We spent hours swimming, eating and enjoying drinks together. Around 6-7pm we finally headed up to the room to shower for dinner. Dinner - not so much. We ended up sitting on the balcony until 9pm chatting, I think crying at one point and just reminiscing about old times. We ended up back at the beach bar for a snack - but in my opinion, so worth it.

Friday morning we woke up, had a great breakfast at a local diner, took a walk and visited our old camp ground - that we had spent years camping at. Walked the boardwalk, took pictures in one of those old photo booths (which I remember them being $1. Yeah, not anymore...INFLATION. They were $3 for ONE photo. What a rip) After a little shopping, we packed up the car and headed home. Stew was able to sneak out of work early on Friday as well, so we all hung out by the pool...again.

Saturday, Stew and I attended an 18th birthday/Graduation party for one of our friends at the Lake...not the same Lake, but actually a Lake that Stew's parents used to live on. Anyways, we were amoung great people, great food and Stew even busted out the ski...and took a lap at sunset. {His arms are still a little sore --- shhhh!}

I'm also happy to report things are going great with Stew's new company and he's loving the whole process. They are shooting for a Grand Opening of August 1st. Which is right around the corner...where did the Summer go? And amazingly, we are booked every weekend until September 25th. That date changed because our first free weekend was Sept 18th, but now... THE DISHNERS ARE COMING!!! (yes, I'm a little excited). Matt and Kerry are coming to NH to spend their 1 year anniversary with us! We can't wait.

So there you have it - what I did on my SUMMER VACATION. I hope you all are getting back into the swing of things a bit better than I. (today is getting a little better, still wish I were by the pool) It was an amazing vacation spent with my favorite people and it's good to have so many wonderful things to look forward to in the coming months.

Until next time...enjoy your week.

WAIT...No pictures?!?!?!? 

I couldn't leave you all without pictures. Here they are - same order as above. ENJOY!

{Mom & I - ready to board the ship}

*excuse the quality - this is a camera phone photo of a photo*

{lining up to board the boat}

{Lake Winnipesaukee}

{I love how my sunglasses are SO much bigger than hers - HA!}

{Having wine at the NASWA}

{Mother & Daughter - if you couldn't tell}

:: a little FYI about the above photo - that outfit: including bracelets, earrings and dress are all from WalMart for a total of $16.00 - I mean, I'm just sayin ::

{early morning walk - we were a little tired and very HOT}

{view from the campground}

{I'm not sure who that thing could save}

{boardwalk}

{we had to stop in the arcade}

{that's my Husband - sunset ski}

{after his ski run}

Have a great week!

What I did on my summer vacation - so far.

For the record, I'm still on vacation, but I'm posting because I don't want you all {and myself } to be over loaded with pictures and stories. The fourth of July twenty-ten has passed and this was a record breaking year...weather-wise. I mentioned that "they" {who are they by the way?} were predicting temps in the 90s for the first time in my summer vacation history! For the past four days - here in New England, we've been in the midst of heat wave. You know, scorching temperatures, people complaining and our local Home Depot reporting that they are out of air conditioners. You'd think that by now, everyone would have an air conditioner, right? Anyways, I was lying out by the pool today and heard a PSA, telling the "ole' folks" to drinks lot of water. Really?! 

We had a great loooong weekend. We spent it by the pool - grilling, drinking, a lot of sun and probably not enough water consumption. By last night, I felt water logging {from my brother-in-law repeatedly flipping me in the deep end} and overstuffed from all the beer and food we had. We went to my Uncle BBQ on Monday - temps reaching the high end of 90. My poor father was deep frying a turkey. My Mom had gravy and homemade stuffing going - in 90+ degree temps. It was rough, but a great turn out and a fun time. My Uncle has a pool - and at one point my Mom said "why don't you go for a swim?" I said "Mom, my 15 year old cousin is in the pool with about 8 of his friends, am I supposed to throw on my bikini and jump in?" Yeah...not happening. My sister, BIL and parents all ended up back at my parents house - poolside within a few hours, so all in all - a great day.

I have a busy vacation week ahead - stay tuned. Until then, here are some photos from the past few days.

{getting ready for the 4th}

{he looks like McGruff - the crime dog}

This is exciting...I made a special trip to Old Navy and bought my share of $1 sandals. This was the little treat I gave to my Mom...some flip flops.

{Cuatro de Julio weekend}

{beatin' the heat}

{fourth drinks}

This is funny - only because we were sitting on the neighbors swing/porch - [they went to Canada for the weekend] We were wondering what their perspective/view was of my parents pool. Strange, I know.

{us by the pool}

Nate saying: "Chauffeur. Chauffeur. I'd like the air turned up."

{@ my Uncles BBQ - TC, Mom and Me}

{Thanks for the photo - love you, shishter}

These next few pictures are from my Uncle backyard. I owe all the "eye" and credit to my Dad who said "why don't you go shoot the backyard"... Thanks, Dad.

Finally, I noticed this little beaut this morning. My first Morning Glory!!! I love it and can't wait until it's all in full bloom.

Have a great week! Be back with my vacation wrap up later this week. 

Carpe Vacationum

I have been the worst blogger this week. I'm in a funk - a bad funk. But I plan on snapping out of it
A-SAP...because my Annual Summer Vacation starts in less than 48 hours - and we're going to WALLY WORLD! {ha, I kid} I'm super excited that for the first time in about 8 years, the weather for my week off is going to be PERFECT - in the 90s all week.

Stew and I, along with my entire family will be attending my Uncles 4th of July BBQ. Tons of food - including a deep fried turkey that my Dad is making, Moms stuffing and gravy, baked beans, corn, BEER and we're bringing something like this...

The rest of my week will consist of laying by the pool, a hair appointment, more laying by the pool, lots of quality time with Nate, shopping (eyemuffs, Stew), and a girls day with my Mom. Her and I are doing a day cruise aboard the MS Mount Washington...

Then we plan on hitting up the boardwalk, lunch and drinks - lakeside {or FRIED DOUGH and greasy PIZZA}. I'd love to stop into some those cheap little jewelry shops, take Mom on the bumper cars {ha}, or spend some time at the beach. Whatever we do after our cruise, will be fine with me! I cannot wait.

{Weirs Beach}

{the Boardwalk at Weirs Beach}

I'm hoping that Stew and I can catch the FIREWORKS in the Capital too. We'll see where our long weekend takes us. He did say that he might be able to sneak out one day and spend it by the pool with me. I hope that turns out to be true. By the end of my vacation, we have one last BBQ/Party at the Lake to cap it all off.

Other than all that, I'm excited to have some time to get things done around the house, relax and spend time with my favs. I hope you all have a great Holiday Weekend - And because I have been a slacker this week...I wanted to share a coupon I received today. Feel free to print it out and use it this weekend {if you haven't already received one}.  How can you refuse $1 flip flops?! Enjoy.

Have a SAFE and HAPPY Holiday WEEKEND!!!

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity - Let's Go Racin'

Happy Monday!!!  We had a jam-packed weekend, so bare with me. Lot's of pictures to share.

First up: FRIDAY NIGHT - Stew finished his last day at work, so I made sure that we had some celebratory cocktails: Raspberry Mojito's!

{he was happy}

On Saturday morning, Stew did some things at the new shop. I stayed home, did cleaning and laundry (exciting, I know). Nate and I hung out and waited for Stew to get home (just in time for the US game). I just so happen to have the camera out when he pulled in.

{Awww - he's so sweet}

And what you didn't see was 1/2 an Italian sub that he brought home for me too. Yum. And, after watching the US lose to Ghana, we let Nate run around with his new toy.

And finally, on Sunday we went RACIN' at New Hampshire Motor Speedway.

{I love me some Jeff Gordon}

{the fly-over}

{the ride home}

That's our weekend wrap-up! I'm looking forward to getting through this week, then my VACATION begins at 5:00 on Friday. Enjoy your week.