well hello there, vacation

we just got back for a miniature, whirlwind vacation.  sometimes it just takes leaving for a little bit to recharge!  and we're certainly recharged.  we started the weekend off with a little love note over lunch::

then we went to a family reunion at my dad's house and had a chance to just relax, catch up with people with love, and of course i got a chance to eat my niece's face off, to i was a happy camper::

yesterday morning, we got up early and hit the road.  we headed up the coast and hit all of our favorite spots.  we started in newburyport, and treated ourselves to our most favorite bagels, and we actually got a table in the outside dining area.  then we walked over to the farmer's market, listened to some music, and got ourselves some drink treats (apple/cran/ginger iced tea and a blueberry smoothie) and some cinnamon sugar donuts for the kids.  we got back in the car, and drove further up the coast looking for a parking spot so we could go to the beach.  evidently, everyone else in the world also wanted to go to the beach, and everyone was looking for a spot, too!  we ended up at rye state park, which was very rocky and kind of secluded, and there were only a handful of people there.  it ended up being the perfect spot and we spent hours lounging in the sun, catching crabs, eating chips, and dipping our toes in the freezing cold water!

when we finally got up to portsmouth, we spent our time walking around and eating!  we went to our favorite spot, flatbread pizza company, and ate so much it was ridiculous.  i was very happy to have a nice big glass of their rootbeer on tap!  lulu was happy to misbehave and watch the man working the huge brick oven.  she was his #1 fan.  later on in the night (after we found out our hotel pool was drained and empty!), i took the older kids out for gelato and actually got to talk to them and enjoy it!  we got some fudge and a decaf latte for johnny to make up for having him sit in the hotel room with our overtired little girl (who passed out and hogged a whole bed).  i had the pleasure of splitting a full sized bed with grace and joey (lucky me!) but was rewarded in the morning by an awesome breakfast at our favorite spot, the friendly toast.  believe it or not, our waiter was actually friendly, and we didn't spend $100!  after breakfast we rushed back home to get rusty.  we all missed our puppy very much.  then it was a day full of camps and library events and general crankiness and re-entry!  overall, an awesome getaway.

green juice ridonkulousness

want to try a ridonkulously refreshing and delicious green juice recipe?  we made this the other day and it lasted a couple of minutes before it was all gone.  it made enough for me, johnny, and lulu (i had a couple of glasses, on ice)

knock your socks off "special treat" juice::

* 1.5 cups of diced fresh pineapple (doesn't need to be exact---add more or less to your taste)
*  3 large handfuls of baby kale (we use olivia's organics)
* 1/2 bunch of cilantro
*  one whole english cucumber, scrubbed, with skin on
*  one lime, with skin taken off

getting back on the juicing wagon feels (and tastes) amazing!

finding magic in nothing

this summer has been so hot!  and  beautiful.  the days are flying by and i can't believe that august is right around the corner.  we have a couple of mini escapes planned----one to portsmouth (and various coastal favorite spots) this weekend, and then a trip to watertown, NY and ithaca, NY in two weeks.  john has five days off this week, and then almost twelve days off at the beginning of august.  which is such a blessing, because he's been working so much, and away lots of nights during the week. i have lots of little people keeping me company----my three kids, their friends in and out, neighbors and friends over almost every day----but there's something about having johnny home that just makes life better.

what every day looks like around here....

i'm heading out of the first trimester, and feeling my energy return.  although, i've felt pretty fantastic all along.  i'm still in awe of the whole process---and how i expected things to be physically difficult, and then getting cut such a break from the universe.  i feel fantastic.  i'm sporting a basketball tummy and pretty much live in my bathing suit, and just periodically dip myself in the pool to cool off.  it's been too hot to cook, which has been a fantastic excuse to make everyone eat cereal for dinner, or to get takeout (yay, takeout!). 

(this was a couple of weeks ago.  i'm much more basketball-y now)

my car is filled with wet, sandy towels and beach chairs.  our deck is strewn with discarded clothes.  we all sleep together every night in my air conditioned bedroom (it broke last night though...plan B?).  we go to the beach every day, meet up with friends, share granola bars and cherries.  we rent movies and eat nachos and i wear john's underwear around like shorts.  i get stacks of teen magazines from the library and we all lay around and read them and gossip about justin beiber.  nothing major ever happens, but i'm hoping the magic is in the little moments for the kids.  because that's where i find my magic.  in the everyday moments, just being together.

strawberry and cherry picking!

town beach swim lessons girl!

first ice cream/go kart/batting cages trip this summer

district champions!  go windham wildcats! (we've spent LOTS of time on the field this summer...)

clean!

if any of my connections out there are interested in signing up for this amazing class 'clean' by makenna johnston, you can use my affiliate code NINA5 to get an additional $5 off.  today is the last day for the $65 pricing, so act fast!  you won't be disappointed.  i can't wait to expand my knowledge of holistic living!