One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also m I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also my lips are never chapped, so there’s that. 😂 And this is only one of my refill stashes. When I was in middle school, I had literally THE WORST chapped lips ever. Like a complete red ring around my top and bottom lips. I don’t think that’s where my lip balm obsession started, but it certainly didn’t help. Jersey winters are no joke (or our hot summers), so don’t mind me while I just add to my collection. What’s your fave?
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Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Summer, Swimming, and S’Mores

July 6, 2012 · Narrative

Summer Fun
There are so many things to love about summer.  Mostly, though, I love that our day-to-day living gets slightly more relaxed.  Dinner time is less rigid.  As is bedtime.  And there is the teensiest bit of exhaling.  Juggling summer camp and babysitter challenges notwithstanding, of course.

Because, man, that is totally not relaxing in the least.

But let’s all let out a deep breath and exhale.  While we can.

One of our Summer Bucket List items was swimming lessons for Madeline.  Over the last few years, as I’ve watched how she approaches water, it is much like her personality in general.

swimming - ready to dive

swimming - dive 1

swimming - dive 2

swimming - dive 3

swimming - dive 4

swimming - dive 5

swimming - dive 6

The last three times we went to Hershey Park, she stood on the side of the pool, at the five foot marker, and jumped in.  Without waiting to make sure someone was there to catch her.  Without looking around to see where I was.  Without hesitation.

That’s exactly how she approaches life.  Dives.right.in.

And that’s exactly why she’s in swimming lessons.  Because she’s going to give me a heart attack without them.

Her brother, Nick, and his approach to water and life, is completely different.  He’ll hang on to me until the very last second.  Look all around.  Go over the scenario in his mind.  Ask questions.  Look for reassurances.  And then slightly edge his way towards the water.

Much how he is with life in general.

Over the past few years, he has definitely spread his wings a bit more.  Diving from The Ex’s hands into the lake.  Soaring deep down to the sandy bottom to look for shells.  Holding his breath under water. (The below sequence is Nick swimming under water)

nick

nick - swimming

nick swimming

nick swimming

nick swimming 4

nick swimming 5

One of them is completely fearless with everything.  The other is much more cautious.

swimming - high fives

It always fascinates me how different siblings can be from each other.  Two kids, raised under the same household, same parents, same rules.  Could not be more different.  It’s the same way with my sister and I.  And I’m sure many of you.

If summer time means swimming, it also means s’mores.  Nick had a scout sleepover a few weeks ago, and s’mores at the campfire were a given.  And Madeline had her first camp sleepover too (tagging along for Nick’s outing).  I do believe she was most excited about peeing in the woods.  And if you know her in real life, you’re not surprised by this.  Talk about embracing life.

I didn’t stay for the sleepover (The Ex is the camping parent, as the kids are fond of saying), so I missed the s’mores.  Luckily for me, Nick and Madeline are fond of making them at home.  Nick has perfected his microwave technique.  You know, since we don’t have a campfire in the backyard.  It is his go-to pick-me-up when he knows I don’t feel well.  What?  S’mores are not the magic cure-all for a migraine or summer sinus infection?  I beg to differ.

My Bite

The folks at Hershey’s have come up with a new campaign, HERSHEY’S CAMP BONDFIRE, inspired to get families together to create their own summer memories … of swimming, seasonal activities, fun ideas, stories, and, of course, s’mores.  You can check out their facebook page right here for fun ideas to get you motivated (and share your own summer fun ideas as well).

This post is part of my participation in the HERSHEY’S CAMP BONDFIRE campaign.  All opinions expressed are my own.  But you guys know that already.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: camping, HERSHEY'S CAMP BONDFIRE, S'mores, Summer bucket list, swimming lessons

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    July 7, 2012 at 5:19 am

    All of my siblings and I are EXTREMELY different. My sister is more the Madeline type while Daniel is definitely Nick to the extreme. I like to think I’m somewhere in the middle. :)

    S’mores are the perfect way to get in some of that summer fun!
    Joanne recently posted..Recipe: White Balsamic Custard Tart with Fresh Berry Topping

    Reply
  2. Nerissa says

    July 7, 2012 at 10:24 pm

    Hi Cate :) You may remember me as Deetsa from so very long ago. I’ve drifted away from the blogging world but I’m back. :) With a new blog. I dropped by your place and was stunned to see how long it HAS been considering the kids are all growing up! You are so totally right about siblings. My sister and I are quite different in our approach to life. Same with my partner and his brother. Like night and day those two. I always thought the differences where a nod in the direction of reincarnation, if you believe in that kind of thing. The s’mores part of this post makes me want to try it. Can you believe I have NEVER had a s’more in my life?? Umpteen toasted marshmallows, bedaubed by coal ashes and crispy sides, but not a single s’more. And me a chocolate lover, too. C’mon, push me in that direction. You know it will be an easy fall for me ;-)

    Reply
  3. Ramona says

    July 9, 2012 at 10:01 am

    Some food just has magical healing powers

    Reply
  4. Meg says

    July 9, 2012 at 4:09 pm

    I wonder if the caution/fearlessness is an older sibling/younger sibling thing? I’m definitely the Nick in this scenario — and the oldest sister. My little sister is the Madeline — just jumping without fear of what she’ll find below. My sister and I often talk about how we envy those traits in the other . . . she wishes she thought things through sometimes; I wish I could be a little more adventurous. It’s funny.
    Meg recently posted..A summery week in photos

    Reply
  5. patsy says

    July 9, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    Both of my boys are opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to personality and facing life head-on! It always amazes me that they came from the same set of parents!
    patsy recently posted..Simple Bruschetta for a Summer Evening (Recipe)

    Reply

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One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛

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One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also m I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also my lips are never chapped, so there’s that. 😂 And this is only one of my refill stashes. When I was in middle school, I had literally THE WORST chapped lips ever. Like a complete red ring around my top and bottom lips. I don’t think that’s where my lip balm obsession started, but it certainly didn’t help. Jersey winters are no joke (or our hot summers), so don’t mind me while I just add to my collection. What’s your fave?

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