Cruising 2017

Our summer family vacation is in the books. And it was wonderful. I am so thankful our children are each other's best friends, and enjoy spending time together with their old Mom and Dad. We enjoyed a week together aboard The Carnival Pride, a beautiful ship in their line, and sailed from Baltimore to the Bahamas and back, with stops at three beautiful islands. Below are way too many photos of our trip. I apologize for subjecting you to our online scrapbook! Kinda of like the agony of watching a slideshow of your neighbor's summer vacation, right?!

Ready to go!

Reunited with her Nicolas...

A special surprise waiting in the stateroom for our graduate...

Checking out the arcade...

And an ice cold daiquiri while we departed.

On stage with the comedy club's hysterical comedian...

Pictures during our first dinner in the Dining Room...

With dancing too!

Pictures...

Pictures...

And more pictures!

Daddy and his girl loved swimming on board the ship...

And had even more fun playing in the splash zone.

(Throw in a mommy who is forever grateful her husband does all the swimming!)

Afternoon naps.

Because vacation.

And late nights.

Snorkeling...

And Beanbag Toss Tournaments.

Winning!

A day spent at Carnival's beautiful, private island, Half Moon Cay...

And back to find sweet touches waiting for our girl...

Fancy dinners meant getting dressed up...

And taking pictures with a wait staff that quickly became like family...

Alan, who always served with a smile and kind, inspiring words...

And who can really dance...

John, who made sure my little girl had a plastic cup of milk with a straw every single night.

And who has the biggest heart ever...

And Sanjib, who brought Flynn her chicken with fresh broccoli every night without fail.

And who always made us laugh.

The table artist kept us guessing too.

Selfies...

And pictures with Mom...

Watching the ocean go by in the evening...

And in the early morning too.

Did I mention the food???

We loved spending time together...

Away from it all...

With nothing but time and food and drinks and conversation.

And an 80's Dance Party.

With an awesome fluorescent t-shirt that a certain mom got for participating in a competition.

Enough said.

Except that it involved a big screen and Michael Jackson music.

It was hard to say goodbye.

But maybe it isn't goodbye forever.

Maybe it is goodbye. For now.

A cruise is a wonderful way to relax with your people.

To spend time together.

Without technology.

Without anything.

Just you.

Together.

Making memories that will last a lifetime.

What I Wore...Embarkation Day, Cruise 2017

Hello, my friends! We are back from our cruise, and it was wonderful! I am sorting through and editing pictures, so in the meantime I am sharing a fashion post with you. Crazy, right? Because if there is one thing I am most uncomfortable with...it's fashion. But my Madison snapped some pictures of me the day we set off on our adventure, and encouraged me to put a post together. So here we go...

I do like to dress nicely on travel days. 

I have found that if I dress better, I tend to feel better.

That being said, I strive to keep it real here, so I must admit, I chose this dress mainly because it is so comfy! I wore the shoes because they are hard to pack, and easy to slip off in the car! : )

The dress can be worn up on the shoulders too.

But I figured, when else would I wear them off the shoulders if not on a cruise?!?!

I love this bag!

It is big enough to carry all my travel necessities, but not bulky at all.

What was inside?

I didn't take a purse, so I had a wristlet with my driver's license and credit cards inside.

I also put some hand wipes, mints, a small makeup bag, my book, our travel documents, my phone and charger, and tissues inside.

You know, all the essentials.

And there you go...

Another fashion post from someone who really has no business doing one. : )

Dress: Tommy Hilfiger from Macy's

Size: Large

(On Sale now for  $34.93!!!)

Shoes: Loft 

Bag: Vintage Addiction from Zulily

Sunglasses: T. J. Maxx

Awkward Pose: Free

Father's Day Weekend Plans

Before we begin our regularly scheduled post, I have a brief message from Peyton. She asked me to be sure to thank you all so very much for the kind comments regarding her high school graduation. She read each and every one, and was very thankful and touched. And I thank you for caring so much about my children. : )

Now, on to the weekend! Friday night we are celebrating my dear friend Heather's birthday! We are having dinner and then Peyton is making Heather's choice for dessert...Strawberry Shortcake Bars. Steve found some beautiful strawberries, so they should be delicious!

Saturday will be a busy day around here...Steve will (hopefully) be mowing outside, and we will be organizing and sorting and packing for our trip on Sunday! More on that later. Then we have late afternoon Mass, followed by a quick and easy dinner...sloppy joes?...and a little Father's Day celebration for Steve with gifts and his choice of dessert...Scotcharoos! Then more packing and an early bedtime. Or a Lifetime movie and a later bedtime!

Sunday we are heading out on our annual family vacation! This year we are going on a cruise, and are very excited to spend some time together making sunny memories, eating too much food, swimming in crystal clear waters, snorkeling in said waters...some...reading books under a beach umbrella...me...and simply being together. All six of us. Plus our favorite Danish boyfriend, who is meeting us on the ship! Shoutout to my sister and her hubby and my mom who are staying here taking care of my puppies and my house. : )

I will not be around here in Blogland next week, my friends. I will return with memories and photos to share, and will be looking forward to catching up with all of you. Before I go, let's take a look at the past week in our country home...

Me and my girl...

A quick selfie before Mass last weekend...

And some beautiful flowers Marian brought me.

Because she said they made her happy. : )

We are enjoying mornings on the porch with coffee, tea, and puppies...

After my little Flynn enjoys her favorite new breakfast!

Run to your nearest Walmart, folks!

Mornings are my favorite.

And this is why.

My Madison and my Mother...

At our coffee date at the cutest little cafe downtown.

I opted for a raspberry smoothie.

Since it was about 1000 degrees.

And lastly, I took a little Jeep ride all by myself to visit my dad for Father's Day.

These were his favorite snacks, so I took some along for myself while I sat and talked and laughed and cried. I know some people may think this is odd...

But I actually enjoy spending time in cemeteries.

There is something about the peace and serenity and knowledge that these people were just like me at one time. 

They lived and worked and celebrated Christmas and Halloween.

They birthed babies and buried loved ones.

They laughed and cried and took walks on summer days.

And then they passed.

But they should not be forgotten.

Because they lived.

Just like us.

Have a wonderful. cozy, summer week, my friends.

I look forward to visiting with you when I return.

Thanks so much for visiting!

I am always glad you do. : )

Bon Voyage!

Easy As Chocolate Chip Pie

Peyton made this amazing pie for me on Mother's Day this year. And it was delicious. This is not a "cookie pizza "dessert. It is a "yummy piece of pie to end a good meal" dessert. Plus, it is super easy! The recipe is from verybestbaking.com. She followed the recipe, except used a Pillsbury pie crust, and left out the nuts. Because. Nuts.

Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Pie

Ingredients:

• 1  unbaked 9-inch (4-cup volume) deep-dish pie shell *
• 2 large  eggs
• 1/2 cup  all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup  granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup  packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks)  butter, softened
• 1 cup (6 oz.)  NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
• 1 cup  chopped nuts
• Sweetened whipped cream or ice cream (optional)

Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 325° F.

BEAT eggs in large mixer bowl on high speed until foamy. Beat in flour, granulated sugar and brown sugar. Beat in butter. Stir in morsels and nuts. Spoon into pie shell.

BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between edge and center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack. Serve warm with whipped cream, if desired.

* If using frozen pie shell, use deep-dish style, thawed completely. Bake on baking sheet; increase baking time slightly.

Enjoy, my friends!