Weekending

Ya'll, this weekend was seriously SO much fun! As you know (because I've mentioned it 50 times out of excitement) we had our annual girls reunion trip. We spent the weekend in our college town and hit all of our favorite spots plus some new ones as well. Friday night we got dolled up and had a fabulous dinner before hitting the town. We were all doing ok until we got to Metro (one of our fav bars) and the DJ started playing EVERY popular song from the 2005-2009 era...basically making it feel like we never left college. It was perfect! And then we shut down the bar.....yup, that happened.

Saturday we recovered and lounged by the pool while being served mixed drinks and I have to say it was pretty darn fabulous. I even took a nap - yup, hashtag parent life. We got dolled up again and had the best dinner overlooking the city and the Roanoke star and literally ate so much good food and wine. The chef was spoiling us with dishes to try and the wine was perfection. We had wine sent up to the room and actually stayed in that night. (I know, so old) It was fun to be in pajamas, sipping wine and lounging on the fluffy beds while having movies on in the background though. 

Sunday we got up and made a loop around our campus one last time before heading out. Next year we're all thinking Florida and hopefully more of us will be able to make it. If you want to do something similar - pick a weekend and a guestlist and tell the girls that the weekend will always stay the same no matter what but the location will change each year to accommodate everyone in the group. It has really worked out for us between weddings, babies and life in general. Girl time is seriously good for the soul!

Linking up with Biana & Meghan today for weekending 

WHW

Hey ya'll! Happy half way mark and welcome to another What's Hap-'Pinning' link up with Jenn and little ole' me - I"m still coming back to reality from a wonderful long weekend away at the bay and its making it hard to focus on end of the month reports and travel at work....today it my Friday though - bless! (and hubs did get to join for a night over the weekend!) We really did have a blast and the weather was absolutely perfect. Andi is such a beach bum like her Mama and the dynamic was great since she had other children to play with this time. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge just how darn grown up she looked though! Ya'll - that ponytail and those long legs? Where in the world is my tiny baby girl? AH!

Andi starts swim lessons tomorrow so pray for us ya'll! June is so crazy hectic for us because I'm also getting packed and mentally prepared for my annual girls reunion trip this weekend. We leave for Roanoke on Friday and I'm seriously so excited for some pampering, girl time and cocktails. I also have something planned for the last two weekends (Chicken festival, Summer Garden Opera and Miss VA pageant which takes me back to Roanoke for a 2nd trip) which means we never get a weekend home this month...whew!

With that said, meal planning has been a little more on the forefront lately just because we're all so busy - we need to make sure we eat! I've been thinking freezer meals and summer crockpot meals lately so that there is less prep and cleanup. Here are some that I have been pinning lately. Send me your favorite summer weeknight go-to dinners if you don't mind! (Lord knows I need any and all suggestions haha)

30 Amazing Summer crockpot dinners

Via

Friday 5

Hey ya'll and happy Friday! Cheers to the weekend for sure! We're leaving for the bay house this afternoon and staying through Monday and I seriously cannot wait. Our friends Erika, Jason and their twin girls are joining us so Andi will have some playmates her age. Also, can we just state how random it is for my hubs to take off work to go to the bay and relax? ( Sike! He got pulled and his schedule was rearranged...thanks Railroad) So I might not actually be at the bay this afternoon. We'll just have to see! If not, I'm sure we'll spend the weekend at the pool getting Miss A prepped for her swim lessons next week.

Since I have the bay on my mind, I'm sharing 5 of my current summer favs. Enjoy your weekend and I'll catch ya back here next week - Linking up with April, Karli, Andrea & Amanda so grab the buttons and join in on the fun! 

I just scored these two swimsuits for Miss A for less than 5 bucks each. The pink and green one is currently getting a big ole' green monogram and then it will be complete!

The perfect summer cocktail - I do believe we'll be creating some this weekend!

via

And how about the perfect snack to go with it? Julie over at Just the Joys has a great recipe for this - love her and love this dip! (Julie's here and image recipe here)

Everything about this! 

Designated 'Happy Weekend' Andi pic! Have a great one ya'll!

WHW: Currently

Hey ya'll and happy Wednesday - What's Hap-'pinning' Wednesday that is! Today I'm catching up on all things that have been going on lately since I've been sort of MIA in the blogging world. This summer, thus far, has been SO busy and it literally doesn't slow down until around July or August. This weekend we are headed to the bay with some friends for a mini-vacay and then I have my girls reunion trip followed by the Miss VA pageant so June is swamped!

Memorial Day was fantastic and while honoring the servicemen and women of our country, we also celebrated with a fun cookout, lots of food and a trip to the pool. We just joined (my high school) pool and Andi starts official swim lessons there next week so we are trying to go as much as possible to get her acclimated. She did excellent on her first day and it was so much fun! Send me all of your Mama swim lesson tips. She;s doing private lessons twice a week for 8 sessions and I'm just praying its not a total disaster. Afterwards, we hosted a little cookout and got to use our new umbrella with the solar lights I mentioned a week or so ago. (also, best new discovery, fiesta ranch packet in your hamburger is the best thing ever. Total game changer. We've always used regular ranch but the Fiesta one was incredible!) We also purchased our FIRST king bed, bed sheet and new sheets and I am SO excited. We've always had a queen but I felt like it was time to upgrade. We are supposed to be picking out a new mattress next week and then the set will be complete!

Just need to add large monogram to pillowcases & we're good to go!

We also splurged on these cooling (almost like under armour) sheets from Sheex - they feel amazing! Check them out here


I hope ya'll had a fabulous long weekend and can't wait to hear about it! Grab our button and link up below to join in on What's Hap-Pinning Wednesday

WHW: Currently

Hey ya'll! We have been so busy here around these parts so I figured today I would update what's been happening lately with some pictures. Last weekend we had birthday parties all weekend and I never thought I'd say it, but we are partied out for awhile! Whew! We had so much fun though and even had a Mommy/Daughter road trip out of it. Miss A is the best little traveler and makes fun wherever she goes so everything we do together is an absolute joy!

Yesterday my office was closed so that was a huge relief after going and doing so much all weekend. I had Lillie all day (the little one I used to keep full time until I started back to work) and Hubs and I relaxed with the girls and even planted flowers in the pots on the front porch. It looks so good, I just love having ferns and vincas everywhere! For the back patio, we ordered a new umbrella with solar lights under it (so fun) and we're currently in search of a high bistro set for the new little porch. I mastered the grill last weekend all by myself like a big girl so now I'm hooked ya'll! I see lots of grilling parties in our future - wait, I'm supposed to be partied out right? (ha!)

Grab our button and link up with us below for What's Hap-'pinning' Wednesday!

Party one & party two:

Friday 5

Hey ya'll and happy Friday! This week went super fast and I'm really ok with that. However, summer temps finally hit - I'm talking 90's - ugh! Last week we had this random low drop to 50's and if ya'll know me, then you know I love some leggings and a sweatshirt .... WELL THROW EM AWAY because its hotter than a June bride in a feather bed!

This weekend is PACKED with birthday parties. We have a 2nd birthday on Saturday and a first birthday on Sunday out of town but luckily work is closed on Monday so the day off will be well worth it. Here are 5 things from this week that I just can't get enough of.  Linking up with April, Karli, Andrea & Amanda so grab the buttons and join in on the fun! 

Just booked my second stay for this month with the Hotel Roanoke and I am beyond excited. We have our annual girls reunion trip coming up in a few weeks and we decided on Roanoke (since that's where we went to college) and then I head back there for Miss Virginia at the end of June. Bring on the champagne! 

This lemonade - need I say more? Cucumber Basil Sparkling Lemonade

This cute craft we did for Mother's Day turned out so precious that I want her to make another one for our fridge! We made it for Nana last weekend!

These shorts from J. Crew: Find them here

And lastly, how about this little cutie rocking her Jessi's Design bow! We celebrate her first birthday this Sunday and I am so excited to squeeze her and her Mama!