Happy Friday of Memorial Day weekend everybody!  This weekend always makes it feel like summer has officially started.  Growing up on Cape Cod, the population would increase so much from Memorial Day to Labor Day and while those visitors were our bread and butter, it sure made the bridge traffic unbearable.  I love living on this side of the bridge now, in a beautiful coastal town where we can afford to raise our family.  I still love to visit the Cape though :) I also love to visit Newport, Rhode Island and that's what we did for our anniversary date on Friday.  It ..read more

OK, so I casually mentioned in my last post that my wedding dress cost $99 and you guys made me feel like it was such a beautiful dress and wanted more details.  More details, I have them.   I want to preface this by saying...please don't think any less of me. Back in March 2001, a young Colleen (Senior at Franciscan) was home for Spring Break on Cape Cod while her boyfriend Phil (Junior at Franciscan) was home in Maryland on the same break.  Phil had very recently given Colleen a white rose (story here) and they had been dating for just over a year and knew they wanted t ..read more

Happy Friday y'all!  Today is our 22nd Anniversary! Who lets babies get married?  Look at how young and naive we were.  As much as we were in love back then, it's amazing how deep love can grow over the years, especially when you both are working so hard to provide for and raise a family.  They say marriage isn't easy, but it sure seems easy with you, Phil.  Love you forever. My $99 David's Bridal dress When I was looking through our wedding album last night with the littles, I found a copy of our program I had tucked away in there.  I remember wri ..read more

 Ahhhh Mother's Day.  It was wonderful.  I realize that I am in a very perfect stage of motherhood right now.  Not only do I still get to celebrate my own wonderful mother, but I have seven pretty independent children with unique personalities who all love to call me Mom.  Doubly blessed. We went out to breakfast on Saturday morning all together, knowing we couldn't all go on Sunday morning due to Mass times and DRE duties.  We went to a restaurant I have always wanted to go to, and it was delicious.  I had the pesto omelette with tomatoes and mozzarella, so ..read more

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