Hey Cuties,
Happy Labor Day to ya. I’ve been soaking up this long weekend by doing a lot of nothing. The Manchild completed his first week of 8th grade and LittleCuteLips starts Kindergarten on Wednesday. I picked up some last minute school supplies and today is wash day. I shared a lot of post about the dope things we did this summer. There are some things I didn’t quite include.
These are dope moments from the summer that didn’t warrant a full on blog post.
Chick-fil-A Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich & Frosted Lemonade
I’m was already a Chick-fil-A lover, but this summer they added the Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich to the menu and it was Bae. Standard, it comes with a grilled chicken breast, but Baby if you switch that thang out for the Crispy chicken breast it will take your taste buds to heightened levels. This was my love drug several days a week. I would also pair it with a Frost Lemonade. I’m sad to report that the Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich is no longer on the menu. I hope it returns next summer.
Girl’s Trip
Girl’s Trip was the hit movie of the summer. I’m talking to the tune of 120.3 million dollars. I laughed until my stomach hurt; I’m anxiously awaiting the DVD because so freaking funny. If you live under a rock and you’ve not heard of the movie than you missed an instant classic comedy. It was directed by Malcolm D. Lee, produced by Will Packer and starred Jada Pinkett-Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish and Larenz Tate.
Movie on the Big Screen
Every Sunday during the summer the National Harbor host movies on the Potomac. My bestie and I took our girls to watch Annie. They love that movie (I do too.) and even though they know all the words and chatted most of the movie they had a good time.
Bestie: Cousin: Mi
My Bestie celebrated her 39th Birthday on a boat and it was epic. It was a small evening time boat ride that sailed around the Potomac River, passing all of the Washington, DC monuments and giving us a beautiful view of the night’s sunset. Even better was the DJ, we did line dances (wobble) and then belted out Whitney Houston’s, I Wanna Dance with Somebody at the top of our lungs.
Solar Eclipse
Just like the rest of the world, I was watching the Solar Eclipse. The kids and I got glasses back in May at the University of Maryland event and held on to them. In the DC area, we only had about 80% coverage but it was really cool to see.
LittleCuteLips Garden
On Earth Day LittleCuteLips planted her Urban Garden. At Maryland Day she got this tomato plant and in true fashion, the tomatoes took over everything. Matter fact they are still growing like crazy.
The Harvest
We were elated to see the “Fruits of her Labor”, she picks a few at a time and eats them. The first go around we shared them. I showed her how to eat them the “country” way with salt, pepper, and vinegar and she loved them. Growing up we ate them that way with cucumbers. We will grow cucumbers next year too. We had gone to great lengths to take care of her garden. To be honest, we have been spending so much time in our garden this summer that we have decided to invest in some composite decking so that we can spend even more time in the sunshine from the safety of our backyard. We have been meaning to give our old decking an upgrade for some time now and since my daughter is enjoying spending more time in our garden now feels like the right time to get our latest home improvement project underway. I was thinking something like a stone veneer might breathe some new life into the space. I was speaking to a friend of mine who lives in Australia about my plans just the other day. She has recently had her decking repaired after reaching out to one of the best decking services melbourne has to offer and so I am using some photos of her decking as inspiration for my own decking plans! She has had her old decking painted and treated with decking oil and some of the panels have also been replaced so it looks as good as new. I cannot wait to see how our decking turns out in the end! My daughter really does love tending to her crops so it will make everything so much nicer for her. In fact, while on vacation for five days I sent my Mom to the house to water her plants. WHAT KIND OF PARENT HAVE I BECOME. Ugh!
Date Night: MGM, National Harbor
While the kids were vacationing Babe and I took advantage of the parent free time and went on a few dates. On our list of places to check out was the massive MGM Hotel and Casino at the National Harbor. We knew it would be the perfect place to enjoy some time without our children. Of course, they are our lives and we love them more than words can say but there are just some things that you can’t do with your kids. And visiting the MGM Hotel and Casino was one of them. We weren’t too bothered if we didn’t have time to check out the casino though, as we have access to these casino bonuses that can be used online, and whenever we want. It’s always good to win some extra money after all, so regardless of whether we play some physical or online games, this opportunity had presented itself. But there were just so many other things to fit in, I struggled to know how we’d do it. Near the Sarah Jessica Parker shoe store was this gorgeous shoe. I had to snap a picture of her glory.
Chick & Ruth’s Delly
Another Date Night Babe and I finally went to Chick & Ruth’s Delly in Annapolis, Maryland. This old fashion diner has been on my list for years. It was featured on Man vs. Food for its colossal milk shakes and 3lb burgers. We are the home of the blue crab so I had a crab cake sandwich. It was delicious, I also had a milkshake.
Twinning
We made a lot of great memories this summer and I tried to capture them along the way. This cute father daughter moment was captured as LittleCuteLips came out of gymnastics class. She had hair like dad and she thought it was hilarious.
What were some of your favorite summer moments? Chat with me in the comments below or FB, IG, and Twitter.
Awww this was too cute. That picture of you and your two friends was beautiful! Girls Trip was too funny. Glad you two got to enjoy a few date nights.
Thanks, Sheena. Those are my girls.
YASSS!!!! I love your tomatoes are growing like crazy. Go little cute lips.
Thanks, Aisha. she just picked a few more today.
Looks like an awesome time and great food, as usual, lol. Your family and friends are just gorgeous as you are!
Thanks, LaQuisha.
Sounds like u guys had a fun filled summer. Wasn’t Girl’s Trip EVERYTHING? Needs to become a classic
We did, Girl’s Trip was the perfect summer movie.
Looks like you soaked up all of the summer goodness!!! Love the shots and I felt like I experienced some of them with you since I am always reading the blog and seeing your pics on social media!
Hahhaha, thanks Carissa.
Girls Trip was so good! I’ve been wanting to try that chicken sandwich but haven’t yet. I think I may go there to try it today with the crispy chicken. Thanks for that tip and love the recap!
xoxo,
Bianca Dottin
It really was Bianca. Let me know what you think of the crispy chicken.
These outtakes are so cute! I love seeing her with her dad. Chic-Fil-A is always a great choice for the summer!
Thanks, Stacie. Watching her with her Dad is one of my favorite things to do.
Great idea for a post. Real life out takes…love it!
Funny how chick-fil-a is number one because I’ve never had it but hear people rave all the time.
Thanks, EG. Life isn’t always perfect staged.
OMG you need to experience it.
It looks and sounds like you and your family had an incredibly fun summer! I too love me some Chick fil A! I didn’t even know they had a smokehouse sandwich. I’m boring, and always get the same thing, without ever glancing at the menu. Love her grin at her daddy, with their hair the same! I can only imagine the joy that came from that laughter.
OMG Joanna, you totally missed out. I’m a creature of habit as well but someone else told me about it.
Thanks, I love to see them adore one another.
I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend! Looks like you had a summer well-spend – here’s to an awesome Fall season!
Thanks, Lisa. I’m making fall plans for us already. I want to get all into the spirit.
I love the idea of a birthday cruise … how fun! Unfortunately, my birthday is in January, which doesn’t leave me with may options.
Oh yeah, Cherri I totally get it. I have a fall birthday which isn’t terrible but it is hurricane season so I’m not going anywhere.
This Summer was all about road trips. We logged nearly 5,000 miles on the road and enjoyed every single one of them. Looks like you had a banner Summer also.
Oh wow, Tomi I love that. Maybe I should try that for us next summer. We need a road trip, I also need to go visit my grandma.
I love this post! It is nice seeing so many snapshots from your summer. We did a tiny garden this year – took it easy – less work but loved every little tomato we got from our harvest!
That frosted lemonade looks SO good!
That is so cool, next summer I hope to grow more veggies.
I got to try the Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich and it was so delicious. I want to go this week to have one for lunch. A girls trip would be amazing. I will have to plan one before winter hits.
Yes, Claudia. My mouth is watering at the thought of the sandwich.
Seeing the pictures, it looks like you had a fantastic summer! It’s good to just spend the summer with family and enjoy the things that you normally can’t when there’s school! I enjoyed looking at the pictures!
Yes, the school year will puts a big cramp on things.
I love all of your summer outtakes and like you, I hope that sandwich returns to CFA s next summer!! YUM!!
Right, it was such a winner. It would be sad if they didn’t bring it back.
Sounds like you had a wonderful summer. I heard Girls Trip is really good. I want to see it.
I did have a good time. You must see Girls Trip, it was hilarious.
Sounds like you had a great summer. I’m loving all these photos. I love that shoe. That is so neat!
The shoe was so freaking cool.
Looks like you had a fabulous foodie summer! I can’t eat it but that crab cake sandwich looks mighty fine (lol).
You know a foodie summer is always in the plans. It was incredible.
You had a great summer! Good food, good people and good times. Looks like you created great memories for your children.
I did Ty, thanks a bunch.
It’s awesome when you can grow your own tomatoes and harvest them. We only watch the solar eclipse on TV.
It is Rose, I’m so proud of her.
It was cool to see for myself, but I also watched it on TV because I wanted to see a total eclipse.
I want some Chick fil a now. It has been so long since I have had their food. I will have to try the frozen lemonade, I have heard great things about it.
They are my love drug. The frozen lemonade is legendary.
Looks like your summer was filled with fun, friends, and memories. My summer was fun-filled too but the one thing I do regret is not travelling more.
Diana, I can’t ever seem to travel enough. This year the kids did more traveling than me.
Looks like you had a great Labor Day weekend! You have a lovely family.
Thanks, Gisele.
What a fun blog post. I liked seeing all the moments that weren’t big enough for their own post. And that ombre lip color in the 3rd(ish) pic.. LOVE IT!!
Thanks, I love a good lipstick.