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Weekend Recap

| The Bee Life

Let the busy and booked weekends commence!  This past weekend was the start of a series of busy weekends, because you can only be busy if you’re consistently busy week after week, right? Apparently…

We had a fun weekend visiting my parents, they had a little engagement party for us with everyone back home. It was great visiting, and seeing everyone because it’s always so piece-mailed throughout the year – or jammed into holiday celebrations with the masses.

Friday night we got into my parents a little after 7 – and enjoyed a haddock fish fry. My parent’s local fish fry’s is seriously one of THE BEST I’ve ever had. I still haven’t found anything comparable around us.

Saturday AM we woke up and enjoyed coffee and banana bread.  B and I then hit the country roads and clocked 5-miles.  We haven’t gone on a run together in a long time, and it was nice having him by my side again, we both pushed each other, having started off with the intent of running at least 4. It was nice running back where I grew up, and where I first started running – and it’s all viewed with a little different perspective now.

Saturday night was the engagement party! We had a taco bar and endless drinks. Kates and Travis were among the many guests, and it was great seeing and spending time with them! Although it’s never long enough. My brother and sister-in-law, aunt, cousins, Katie’s parents, and my second sister also came to celebrate.  We luckily only told the engagement story ONCE, because we made everyone gather around, before we had to open presents in front of everyone – practice for what’s to come I supposed (although, if I have it my way I won’t be doing that at any of my showers!!) The gifts were awesome, and unexpected it was so sweet to have extra love from everyone.

We of course stayed up way later than we would at home, so that loss of an hour really caught up to me yesterday! Hope everyone has a great week!

Fitness Friday

| The Bee Life

This week’s Fitness Friday is all about partners. When you’re in need of some motivation, having someone there to encourage and push you is sometimes the best solution.

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Fitness Friday – The Bee Life http://www.emilyboylan.com

 

1. Join a Group Class – I was always nervous to join group classes, it was intimidating to walk into a class where there was groups of girls or the regulars who knew everyone and what to expect.  I got over that quickly, because I loved my instructors and the motivation they gave to me, not to mention they helped me refine my technique.  I don’t think I’ll ever get over the nervousness or intimidation walking into a new place, but having tested the waters with a few different class types (spinning, boot camp, etc.) I’m a little more prepared and excited to have someone tell me exactly what to do!

2. Find a Running Buddy – Whether it’s a spouse, coworker, or friend, find someone who will want to stay on track as much as you do. I tend to run better because we push each other to run a little farther or faster when we’re slowing down. This is especially helpful when you’re running in a race.

3. Regular Check-In’s – In the same vein as finding a running buddy, having someone to have somewhat regular check-in’s, will help hold you accountable and encourage you to get that workout in you might be more inclined to skip for one reason or the other.  Being honest is the most important part if you want to have success.

4. Find Inspiration on Social – You may be surprised by how many free workouts and free motivation are available right on your Instagram feed.  Short videos show workouts for you to replicate at home in a comfortable setting and quotes can inspire you to kick butt on your workout that day. Here are a few of my favorites:
@alexajeanfitness – short workout videos and her healthy lifestyle
@harnesscycle – a local spot that sends out sweet motivation
@nickhounslow – a stud as seen on E!s Hollywood Cycle;

If you don’t have a strong support system, whether it’s at your gym or fitness class or at home or friends – it’s important to try and find some.  The more motivation you have and people checking in on you the more likely you’ll be to finish the workout.

TGIF!

 

Throwback Thursday – Christmas

| The Bee Life

Since we’re just about at that week away point for Christmas, I wanted to share a little TBT of past Christmas’ a look back at the memories and traditions, and oh how I’ve changed over the years!

What I love about the holidays is making cut out cookies with my mom on Christmas Eve, listening to Christmas music non-stop and still having the same reaction whenever Mariah Carey’s – All I Want For Christmas comes on (which is getting so excited and belting it out!) I love getting excited to walk down the stairs in the morning to see all the presents (Yes, Santa is real). I love our big family parties we have (always after Christmas) – I love going home to see my family and dear friends and I love getting dressed up for Church and singing at the evening mass. I love the waffles and bacon my parents make for brunch on Christmas morning, now with mimosas! I love eating cut out cookies as soon as we go downstairs before any present opening commences. I love opening our stockings! I love when there is a fresh coating of snow on Christmas morning. I love the new traditions that’re being created, and I love remembering the old!

The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com
The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com
The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com
The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com
The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com
The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com
The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com
The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com
The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com
The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com
The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com
The Bee Life – Christmas TBT http://www.emilyboylan.com

Let the countdown commence!

Wednesday Reminders – Thankful

| The Bee Life

On the eve of Thanksgiving it’s nice to be reflective and going into the day overlooking the typical superficial parts of the holiday like family drama , worrying about eating too much, the travel and running around.

So I wanted to list a few things that I am thankful for;

  • My loving and supportive parents
  • My patient (sometimes) and best teammate, B for nearly 5-years
  • Our adorable puggle – Moz; she has our hearts
  • Strong and trusted friendships (especially all the awesome women in my life)
  • Having great “in-laws”
  • Our beautiful house and all we’ve been able to do this past year

It’s the people in my life that truly make it special and bring true joy, without them I would be living a very different life.  I wish all of you and your families a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving!

football & brunch

| The Bee Life

Yesterday was the perfect day for football & brunch so we hosted a “Brown’s Brunch” for the game yesterday – although it was an eclectic group of football fans, we had some Steeler’s and Packer’s fans thrown into the mix, but it was all in good fun. The focal point of the day was the food, amazing weather, and of course the game – that we ended up winning! Yay!!

Main Course
The Bar
Brunch Snacks
Brunch Sweets

Also, since it turned out to be a gorgeous day, we were able to pull some strings and got an outdoor screen and projector so we could watch the game in the garage and enjoy the sunshine! We also borrowed a corn hole board for the occasion  – it was absolutely perfect.

The fan favorite seemed to be the Mini Apple Pies, I will share the recipe on a future post, I used a combination of two recipes, and they came out so adorably perfect! The breakfast souffle and chili seemed to be a hit too, we have so many left overs … except champagne…mimosas were popular; I definitely got my daily dose of Vitamin C yesterday!  With my meal plan. a lot of the prep was done on Saturday; so there was little prep or fuss on Sunday, it was great, because I was able to enjoy the company of our friends and neighbors!

It was definitely a successful Sunday Funday!

Seven Clam Bake’s

| The Bee Life

This past weekend marked my Aunts’ 15-annual clam bake – and it’s been a tradition for me for the last 7-years; I wouldn’t miss it for the world! So in honor of the 15th year, I decided to compile as many pictures as I could find of the last 7 clam bakes.  It’s funny looking back at how everyone has changed, how new friends and family have come over the years and how some things just never change, i.e. the booze, great food, laughs and good times. It seriously is one of my favorite day’s of the year, and something I always look forward too! This year there was 80-people who attended and we had probably the worst weather I can remember, rain all day, and just cold! Luckily the rain did break for some time in the evening.  But it was another year full of laughs and good times.

Enjoy this look back…

2009 – My First Clam Bake

2010 – Last year was fun, let’s do it again!

2011 – B’s First Clam Bake!

2012 – M&K’s first Clam Bake!

2013 – The Year We Got Moz! (at the Clam Bake)

2014 – Perfect weather, family + friends!!

2015 – 15th Anniversary!

There have been a lot of good times at these clam bakes, as this small sampling of all the pictures shows! I can’t wait to see what next year unfolds!

Until then,

#weekendhangover

| The Bee Life

What a weekend! It was so busy, and so much fun – so many awesome things happened.

The big focal point around the weekend, was celebrating my aunts’ wedding – yes you read that correctly aunts, plural.  They decided to get married last month, just 2-weeks after the big Supreme Court decision.  So finally on Saturday we got to celebrate their marriage with family and friends.  Family started pouring in for the weekend Friday night with festivities starting early Saturday!

I was the designated photographer for my aunts, so I was busy popping around to all 170 guests making sure everyone was photographed, not to mention the group shots and cake cutting!  The cake cutting was about the only ‘wedding reception-esq’ thing that happened, besides an open bar with endless drinks.

The night ended over at our house, with some more drinks and a smaller crowd of the family – I was happy to host everyone around our dining room table.

Saturday also was a big day for B’s family, his brother and sister-in-law welcomed their first little girl, Avery into the world. She is the first grandchild, so it was a big deal!  We went to the hospital Sunday afternoon to meet her and see the new mom and dad!

The weekend was full of close family, good friends, lots of laughs and more memories to add to the books.  Moz even got to meet her new cousin, Findley (my aunt’s new puppy).  It was a nonstop weekend full of fun. I definitely have a weekend hangover to start this Monday off.

Ten Things

| The Bee Life

Here are ten senseless distractions; and a quick read to get to know a little more about me!  I saw this idea in another blog I like to read; Centsational Girl and loved this idea and thought it would be the perfect distraction for my afternoon. It was hard just picking one answer for each, but I tried my best.

1. If money was no object, what’s something you’d buy right now.  My own personal gym.

2. Spring vs. Fall ? Fall – clam bakes, sweaters, pumpkins, coffee, jeans, scarfs, cool runs… shall I continue?
3. What’s on your nightstand?  Pictures of me and B and my glasses.

4. What’s your favorite room in your house?  Our sunroom! 5. If you could have lunch with anyone in the world, who would it be?  Too many choices…. it’s a toss up between Derek Jeter and Katy Perry

6. Name one thing on your bucket list.  Sky dive with B

7. What’s the best vacation you’ve taken?  Jackson Hole w/ B and my parents! The company makes all the difference.
8. Congratulations, you just won an all expenses paid trip to Ireland and Germany!

9. Backyard BBQ or Formal Dinner?  Formal dinner – I love getting dressed up, and sitting around the table sharing stories, good laughs and a bottle of wine.
10. What advice would you give your teen self?   There is a much bigger world out there; explore it as much as possible, and even if you break away – there is still a bigger world beyond that.

Weekend Update

| The Bee Life

WA day late. This past weekend was a busy one! But well rounded and full of people I love.  The weekend started with some PTO and hitting the road to Upstate NY.  Road-trip back home to see the parents/brother and go wedding dress shopping with my HS BFF – plus it was Father’s Day!

Friday night, Moz and I arrived to my parents ate some pizza, had some drinks and played some Yahtzee – I ended up beating my mom, which rarely happens!

Saturday morning, I went over to the bride-to-be’s house so that we could ride together to the first stop! This was my first time out wedding dress shopping, so I had no idea what to expect (except what I’ve seen on TLC’s Say Yes To the Dress). I thought that I was going to cry at every dress I saw Katie in, I only got teared up on one.  It was also Katie’s first time out dress shopping, so she had to figure out what she liked compared to what she thought she would like.  It was pretty intense! She brought 6 of us along too so there were a lot of opinions and voices to listen too! There were two contenders when we left the first appointment.  At the second appointment there was one that she loved, but as soon as she put on the next dress she knew it was her’s.  It’s absolutely beautiful, plus Katie’s sister and I might have picked it out. *smiles*  I was so glad to be apart of this day with Katie – the first of many before she gets married. We also got to chat a lot in the car and catch up, it felt like old times when we used to go all over the place together.

My lame attempt at a selfie
The crew minus Lori
Bestie!

Saturday night, we got to enjoy a family dinner. My brother came over, so it was just the four of us, I can’t recall the last time that happened! Sunday was Father’s Day, so we started the morning with church and then brunch at a local diner in my hometown.  I had to go with the chocolate chip pancakes, one of my favorites!

CLE Whiskey – the perfect Father’s Day gift.
Selfie with Dad!
With Nate

After the drive back home; we got to celebrate little Moz’s 2nd birthday.  Of course with a mammoth cookie that she was beyond excited about.  Plus she got a few new squeaky toys! I can’t believe she is two already, she’s just so little. B and I love her to death.

Moz turns 2!
Moz turns 2!
Moz turns 2!

It was a fun weekend, away. B stayed back home to do Father’s Day festivities with his family. This upcoming weekend we will be gone again, just wait till you see what we’re getting ourselves into… again.