When they tell you that the days are long but the years are short, they aren't kidding... JP is currently driving home from college as I type, and I have all the feels.  He is not walking in graduation (which was his choice) mostly because his friends are all graduating next year, but also because The Ice Cream Cottage opens tomorrow, and we need Andrew and him to start working.  My motherly guilt is strong and I don't want JP to go unrecognized for this incredible accomplishment, so I'm gonna brag a little here.  We are so, so, so proud of him and all of his hard work.  ..read more

Our last Martin family First Communion took place yesterday, and it was beautiful.  Brendan Joseph, at the wee age of seven and a bit on the smaller side, borrowed a suit from one of Declan's friends that he had worn to his First Communion.  He looked very sharp and was so excited to receive Jesus!! Phil is the Director of Religious Ed at our parish, and had one of the parents take these professional photos, which was such a great addition. Brendan did the second reading and Eamon was serving the Mass (along with Xander and Declan) and making sure the readers got up on the ste ..read more

Happy 1st Friday in May!  This month is always a rollercoaster filled with social events, graduations, sacraments, anniversaries, the return of the college students and the opening of The Ice Cream Cottage.  It's all good stuff and I feel so grateful to be included in the celebrations and milestones of my family...but sometimes I deeply empathize with her: Heehee. True story, after the very social weekend we had, Phil and I went to a workout class at the gym on Monday night while Brendan had swim team practice.  While in the car en route, I was telling Phil that I was excite ..read more

Amazon Gift Card - always appreciated! Fresh Flower Bouquet - or plant a bush or tree outside Laneige Lip Gloss - my daughter and I love this lip gloss Kate Spade Wristlet - I have this for special events Owala Water Bottle - all the rage now, Stanley who? Rosemary Mint Scalp Oil - my hairdresser told me to use 5 drops of this with my shampoo Travel Jewelry Box - better than the ziploc situation I currently employ Veggie Chopper - our old one broke and I miss it! Essential Oil Diffuser - we have this exact one in our bedroom and it lasts all night ..read more

Happy LAST FRIDAY OF APRIL!!  Before we know it, Let's play the name game, shall we?  Do you know who's who in the Martin Family? 1. Somebody had his college Senior Formal on Friday night... 2. Someone was evaluated and excited to make the spring swim team and get some jammers like his big brother... 3. Someone had a two day volleyball tournament in Rhode Island this past weekend (and lost every game but honestly played well) ... 4. Someone has run the 400m in a few track meets, and realizes that volleyball is her sport... 5. Someone found everyone ..read more

Another rainy April day here, but it's FRIDAY!! My dad, who was a builder and an ice cream shop owner, built us this box to keep our waffle cones in down at The Ice Cream Cottage.  A lightbulb goes inside at the top and keeps them fresh and crisp.  In the humid summer months, the issue with waffle cones is that they get soft and nobody wants a soggy waffle...that's actually how I learned the order of North, East, South, West when I was a kid: "Never Eat Soggy Waffles"  #tellmeyougrewupinanicecreamshopwithouttellingmeyougrewupinanicecreamshop   We are so lucky to ..read more

These last two weeks of working out have been a little bit, as the french say, all over the place.  We traveled down to Maryland for Easter and then found out we would need Mohs surgery (and subsequent rest from strenuous exercise) so we are trying to quickly complete our EPIC III program a week earlier than the planned ten weeks.  As of this morning, we only have 4 workouts left!  I'm proud of us for stepping out of our comfort zone, working out with heavy weights at home and early in the morning before work.  We definitely feel stronger but I must admit that I miss gettin ..read more

Hello April!   And with April comes showers.   And with showers come May flowers.   And with Mayflowers come pilgrims.   Gotta love a New England joke :)   This week was a little short because we drove home from Maryland on Monday so the week didn't really start until Tuesday.  I like my weeks like I like my baby's births - short and uneventful.   Guess the Feet Before we left for our Easter trip, Maggie and I had mani/pedis as is our annual tradition: Maggie has always had "finger toes" that she can control like finger ..read more

We headed down to Maryland on Good Friday, in order to spend Easter weekend with Phil's side of the family and also to celebrate my niece who had her Bridal Shower on Holy Saturday.  How are we old enough to have nieces and nephews that are getting married??  Time is wild.  This is the only photo I have from the shower ~ Maggie holding her littlest cousin: JP and Andrew stayed on campus at Franciscan to celebrate at the awesome Easter Vigil and late night Resurrection Party that occurs after.  We did get photos sent to us (without even having to ask!  An Easter Mira ..read more

Wrapping up this week on Holy Thursday because hopefully I will be offline tomorrow on Good Friday.   When I got my van back from the alternator repair, it was making a flappy kind of noise.  Back into the shop it went, and the mechanic said a rag was left in it by accident.  Ummmm okay.  It reminds me of those surgeries with forgetful surgeons: Anyone seen my scissors?  I know I just had them somewhere... Unbeknownst to him, JP called in the middle of the van drama to tell us that the car the boys have out at college needed new breaks.  So I guess c ..read more