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Weekending + This Week's Menu

Tuesday, October 23, 2018


Happy Tuesday, friends! This post is coming to you late because, as I shared last week, it's been so tough to get a Monday post up lately. And yesterday was the Mondayest of Mondays. 

First, I just wanted to thank you all for your amazing support of last week's post about Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. The post had more views within a couple of hours of posting than any of my other posts and is one of my most-viewed posts ever. What that says to me is that 1. You all appreciate and resonate with the "real" posts -- about life, loss, challenge, triumph. And I love that about you. 2. You are such a supportive group and wish to help and do good in the world. You are my people! 

How was your weekend? Ours was a busy but good one. We spent Saturday morning at a birthday party for one of my best friend's little girls. It was C & H's first time at Chuck E. Cheese and they had a great time! It was so much nicer than I remember -- I think they've upped their game over the last couple of decades. ;) And I'm just going to put this out there... their pizza is delicious. No denying that.



After we got home, Hadley went down for a nap and that evening after dinner we carved our jack-o-lantern! C chose a "spooky" face -- it looks like it's wearing eyeliner but, hey, we gave it our best effort. After pumpkin carving (it was the perfect cool evening for it with a bright moon) was bath and bedtime for the girls! After they were in bed, I got to work packing and preparing for our road trip the next day.



Sunday we took a day trip to Long Island, NY. Fun fact: I was born there! My mom and my dad grew up there, met there, married there, and I still have family on both sides that live there. We had a chance to visit with some of my dad's side of the family on Sunday (thanks to my Aunt Mia and Uncle Henry for hosting at their house!) and it was so much fun. We don't get to see them often (in fact, they hadn't met Hadley yet!), so spending a whole day together was really special. They are so warm, fun, loving and close. 


While we were there, some old photo albums came out. I could've flipped through them for hours! Here are some gems I snapped pictures of; the first photo is of my grandma, Aurora (my dad's mom). She was a talented seamstress, devoted mom of seven, loving and generous grandmother, and so much more. She called me "mi chiquita" (my little girl) or "chickie" for short and always offered us a ham sandwich within minutes of arriving at her house. When I was very little I would convince her into trying to talk my mom into letting me get my ears pierced. She always sent us home with money shoved into our pockets. I loved to sit next to her on the couch and just hold her hand -- she was always a good shoulder to lean on. She passed in 2007 and I think of her all the time.


Below are my grandmother and grandfather with their four oldest children in Cuba. The year was 1951, about one year before my dad was born. The little girl on the right is my godmother.


And this one is my family: my mom, dad, brother, and me. My little face reminds me SO much of Hadley, it's uncanny!




On to this week's menu:

Monday - Rotisserie chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans

Tuesday - Kielbasa, macaroni and cheese, roasted brussels

Wednesday - Chili in the crockpot with corn muffins

Thursday - Leftovers

Friday - Pesto pasta with a side salad

Saturday - Out (maybe pizza delivery?)


Anything that requires a recipe is linked! I'm really excited to try the dumpling soup on Sunday and hoping its leftovers take us into Monday. ;) 

Have a great Tuesday! 


12 comments:

  1. We went to a birthday part at our local Chuckee Cheese and it scared me. It was sooo dirty and awful. I hope they clean ours up. But your pictures look like it was way better and cleaner there. I can't wait to hear how the instant pot meal is. Love the old throwback photos. I love going through old family photo albums.

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    1. Oh no, that's terrible! And honestly, that was my fear haha. I brought allll of the hand sanitizer. ;) But it was surprisingly clean and nice there! And the kids had a blast. I love love love going through old photos, too. I could spend so much time flipping through. Hope your week is off to a good start!

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  2. It really was! You can't beat seeing lots of people you love within the span of two days. :) Hope yours was great too!

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  3. What a great weekend! I love your jack o'lantern! And the old photos are priceless. I love looking back at old photos - my dad is so good bout keeping them and knowing the story behind even really old ones. Its a good reminder that I need to be better about printing out our family photos.

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    1. Thanks so much, Elizabeth! I love it, too. And you're so right -- sometimes taking pictures feels vain or pointless, but when you can go back through them with people generations younger, you realize how special it is! I am TERRIBLE with printing pictures and need to do the same!

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  4. I've got to back into meal planning! Thanks for the motivation!

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    1. It has been SO helpful for us, and I actually look forward to it now! I like to do it on Saturday morning usually with my cup of coffee -- it's become a little "me time" ritual. ;) Happy Wednesday!

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  5. Chuck E. Cheese really has stepped their game up and thankfully made changes for the better. What a great time visiting with family. I love looking through old pictures! That quote you have a picture of at the end is great too. I always enjoy some inspiration and thinking about things from a different perspective. Sierra Beautifully Candid

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    1. They really have! It wasn't what I remembered, that's for sure. It was wonderful to see the family and to reminisce. Hope you have a great rest of the week, lady!

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  6. What a STUNNING family! Aurora is a beautiful name for a beautiful lady. Your recollections of her made me think of my own passed family members. What an achievement as a Mum of 7 - wow! I am SO GLAD your pregnancy and infant loss article got so well read - you have obviously resonated with so many and this can only mean you've provided support and comfort - thank you again xx

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    1. Thank YOU, friend, for always being so open and honest and supportive. That's what makes this community so special. And thank you for your sweet words about my grandma -- she was the most loving woman and her family was her entire world. <3 She loved life immensely. xo

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