mom + daughters get-away [part two]

We headed back up the shore talking about where we should have dinner. We decided on Ray's Shanty located on Chincoteague Road.

We made a great choice!!!

Me and Julie shared the hot crab dip app...

Mom and Julie got fish (fresh tuna and mako) and I got the broiled scallops...oh my!

After dinner, we checked in at the Refuge Inn and settled in for the night. Lots of pics to go through for IG and blog posts (and FB too for Julie). :O) 

side note: Pretty much all summer I've been dealing with iPad issues. I am super frustrated as it is difficult to even post an IG story or blog post. I love having an Apple device for many reasons, especially because Peter has an iPhone and we use Facetime while he is away at work. That app and others has been erroring the past two weeks even losing all of my pics (they came back thank goodness!!). I still use my desk top for blogging and picture editing, but love my iPad too..butttt....I really need to upgrade ASAP!! 

Julie was asleep super early...(((and up super early!!))) and we had coffee on the deck.

We got ready, had a little breakfast downstairs, the headed out for the day....but not before pictures! LOL

(Mom goes along with all of our pic taking!! LOL)

Another rainy day, but we didn't mind! We grabbed frappes and sweet tea at McDs
(where we left Rock #3)

We browsed in a few more shops then went to lunch at Ropewalk.

I got the Salad w/ mango dressing and the Cream of Crab Soup...everything was yummy but the soup was super spicy!!!!!

Rock #4 left at Ropewalk!

(I saw this one posted as found on IG after we got home!)

We stopped back at The Refuge Inn to see the horses and get a few pictures.

The last rock was left at the Refuge!

LOL!! This guy was not in the picture taking mood! 

We headed back up the shore and spent an hour with Kamry and Lindsey before Julie took us to the boat. What an awesome end to our fun Mother/Daughter get-away!!! Can't wait until our next one!!!

mom + daughters get-away [part one]

After trying for several weeks to work around our schedules and bad weather, we finally took our annual Mom and Daughters Trip on Thursday 10/12 & Friday 10/13. The forecast was calling for rain, but we decided to take our chances and go have FUN anyway!! 

Julie picked us up at the boat, then we headed down the shore--->ESVA! 

Our first stop was for an early lunch at CrossRoads Coffee Shop in Onley. I had heard great things about this place so we gave it a try. It most definitely did not disappoint! The atmosphere is awesome and the food is DELISH! We did lunch with coffee to go! CrossRoads Coffee Shop is on FB and IG...go check them and definitely give them a try if you are on the shore! 

I got the Shrimp Salad over Salad :O) Yummm!!! Mom and Julie got paninis. Everyone was happy with their selections!

I got (of course) a Pumpkin Spice Iced Coffee to go!

Mom and Derek had been doing some rock painting earlier in the week, so Mom brought 5 with her to hide during our travels....

Rock #1 was left in Onley at CrossRoads....and Julie posted clues on #esvarocks on FB & IG.

The Lighthouse Ministries Thrift Store was right next door so we walked over to see if we could find any goodies. We were happy to bump into sis-in-law Gina who was there working. We all three found a few things before leaving.

Next, we headed further down the shore, stopping at Blue Crab Bay Co.  in Melfa. What a neat store...I bought several different spice packets and seasonings. Can't wait to try! :O) 

We had to stop at the Blue Crow....the 2nd largest antique mall in VA!

And yes, it is a huge antique store...(although I only spent $3 here!!) 

Next stop, Shore Creations in Painter....a really nice gift shop! 

We bought Simply Southern tees, fall decor @40% off, and some other cute stuff here! :O)

This place is also on FB!

Out front was the prettiest fall display....great photo op (especially since the rain had stopped at the moment)...

Next stop: Cape Charles....

By now we were ready for something sweet. Mom said Brown Dog Ice Cream got great reviews, so I was excited to try the coffee ice cream there! womp...womp....it was CLOSED! 

source: tripadvisor

So, we were on the hunt for something sweet....we asked a passerby and she said the only thing we would find was the coffee shop.....ok!

#coffeecoffeecoffee

They weren't too happy to see us as we didn't realize it was 5 minutes to closing (2:30 p.m.).

Julie got coffee, me and Mom just got a soda. 

We strolled through the shops that were open....

Mom left Rock #2 here....

When in Cape Charles......

you must get a pic here!!

Virginia is for Lovers - LOVE signs! This is only my second love sign photo op,

my first being this one in Chincoteague.....

August 2015

Mom's friend, Jenny, has a second home in Cape Charles, so we took our chances to see if she was on the shore. She was, so we got to see her house and have a little visit. Mom has stayed with her several times, along with their other friend, Carolyn. Jenny has a beautiful home there!

As I sat there, I realized I had NEVER been to Cape Charles...never in my 52 years...LOL...I've passed the turn off numerous times as we headed south, but never actually stopped in. Hopefully, I'll get to go back during the tourist season next time, as many things were closed that day and the weather wasn't nice enough to walk the beach. What a cute little town!

[part two coming up!!]

[seasons of life]

"To everything there is a season..." Ecclesiastes 3

I've been reading a lot lately about the seasons of our lives, and I am absolutely loving the season I am in right now! Enjoying my grown children, not just my two boys, but having two daughters now as well. And being a Nana, what an amazing blessing that is!! Kamry's face lights up when she sees me (even if it's been a couple of weeks since I last visited) I love her laughter, her hugs & kisses, climbing up in my lap to look at books or play, and when she says "Nana" my heart melts!  And yet another blessing, our new grandson Rowen, how precious he is! I can literally stare at that sweet face for hours- watching the little expressions he makes and getting some good "smells" and snuggles!  I love them all so so much! Thank you Lord for the seasons of my life and for blessing me so much more than I deserve!

The Rae Dunn Craze Continues!

Rae Dunn Craziness....

If you love the farmhouse look, have a thing for white dishes, or just love cute coffee mugs, then you are probably hooked on Rae Dunn pottery like me! I haven't been lucky enough to find many Rae Dunn pieces at my local TJMaxx, Home Goods, and Marshalls, but I have a fellow friend who sells her stuff at a decent price and my most recent favorite place to find not-too-overpriced Rae Dunn stuff is MERCARI. It's very similar to eBay, but I actually like it better. 

I don't have a huge collection, mostly mugs, and some seasonal pieces that I've bought over the years, or gotten as gifts from my BFF, but I do love checking out the stores whenever I'm in the area just to see if I can find any hidden gems! 

My most recent shopping trip was a bust (as usual)!! I only hit two stores- Marshalls and Home Goods, but both stores were completely wiped out!! Marshalls had a few pet food bowls, and since I had never come across the cat bowls before, I ended up picking up one for Jaxson and Weasley. 

I almost skipped Home Goods completely but you always have that hope that this might be your lucky day---NOT! I walked all over the store checking every shelf and found NOTHING!! Nothing! not one measly piece. I decided to make one last swoop around the store when I came across this lone mug, just randomly sitting there, and even though I much prefer the LL (long letter) font I grabbed it up. Kayla has started collecting too, so I thought it might add to her collection. 

Of course, I asked the person on the floor at both places if there was any in the store and I always get the same NO response. And then I get to the cashier (again both places) and ask even more questions about Rae Dunn deliveries, what type of stuff they get in, when is the best time to find some, do people leave their number, do people hoard it and clear off the shelves? I get the same vague answers, almost like it's been rehearsed, almost like "please don't ask about Rae Dunn...I don't want to talk about" , a really sketchy, kind of secretive topic and obviously I'm not in the loop!

I've posted my thoughts on the Rae Dunn Craze before {HERE}, and I still feel pretty much the same and think the same thing is still going on. I've been told in the past that yes, people do leave their numbers, and yes, they do give them a heads up on Rae Dunn deliveries, and yes, they do know that people are clearing the shelves and reselling it for a ridiculous amount of money!! I haven't personally been told or know for a fact that employees are doing anything like this, but have heard many stories about it being done. 

I will still continue to hunt for Rae Dunn when I'm at the stores, and hopefully get super lucky someday, but in the meantime, I'll be shopping on mercari for the pieces I'm loving.

The top item on my wish list right now is this Red Truck Christmas Plate!!! <3 I love it!! I'm searching for a deal (some are already listing them for as high as $100 ---yikes!!) (or better yet, get super-duper lucky and stumble on one during my next store visit).....yea right! LOL

source: google

Hopefully, I'll have one by December to add to my coffee center!!

weekend catch-up

Last weekend started out awesome! I had my first babysitting time with Rowen. Kayla & Nathan went to the TVFD Dinner on Saturday night, so I got to watch him. I got there at 6:30, just as he got done feeding and he fell asleep even before they left! And he slept....and slept.....and slept....and was still asleep when they walked in the door at 10:00!!!! I still had the best Saturday night, even if it was watching him sleep for 3 hours!! :O) He is adorable!! I've already volunteered to watch him again for their next night out! <3<3<3

 

My first SUNDAY home since May!!!!!! I really love my seasonal job, but working EVERY Sunday, is the downfall! I was so excited to get back to church and just be home or free to finally do things on the weekend.
church.lazyday.orderout.church

Logan, Lindsey, & Kamry took a little family trip to PA to see Peppa Live in Hershey and a couple of days touring Lancaster. They had the best time!!

menu plan monday: breakfast & lunch

A couple of years ago, I shared a series of posts on meal planning which included breakfast and lunch ideas. I went with the [eat the same thing all week] plan, which really worked out great plus saved a lot of money on groceries since I only had to buy a few items for those meals for the week.

BREAKFAST

We aren't big breakfast eaters, or lunch either for that matter, so starting my day with a good, healthy breakfast had to be a good thing! This week, I started back on this plan and thought I'd share it again.

-EGGS-

Eggs are probably my favorite breakfast food, and while there are a gazillion ways to fix eggs, my fave is an "Egg in a Basket"

how to make: melt a little butter in a hot skillet, butter one side of a slice of bread then cut out a hole with a biscuit cutter. Put unbuttered side down in the pan and break an egg into the hole. Salt and pepper to taste. Flip toast and cook until done (I don't like runny eggs, so I make sure it's cooked through). And there you have it....an egg in basket! Mmmmm! Don't forget to throw the little piece you cut out in the pan too....I love how the bread gets nice and toasted.

GROCERY LIST

eggs

bread

juice

fruit (used for lunches too)

* items on hand: butter, coffee

These items covered breakfast all week.

LUNCH

Lunch was easy too...pita pizzas or pita w/tuna, fruit and/or baked chips + soda (still haven't kicked that habit! I did give up diet Coke, but regular Pepsi is my drink of choice at the moment! What is it with me and cola!!!)

how to make: super easy....top one pita with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese, and sprinkle with oregano. Microwave about 1 minute or until cheese melts. Add fruit or chips on the side and there you go!

For tuna- just mix it the way you like it (I add mayo, dry oinon sometimes add relish too), serve in half a pita w/lettuce, pickles or whatever you like with tuna.

GROCERY LIST

pita bread

pizza sauce

mozzarella cheese

tuna

baked chips

soda

*items on hand: mayo, dry onion, relish, pickles, lettuce

Not a bad list for a week's worth of breakfast and lunch!