Your kids won't say they're bored

School's out and summer is here!

Unfortunately for many, it's just a re-shuffling of where to send the kid during the day BUT perhaps it's time to expand what to do this summer?

1) The beach! Which one? ANY! We have so many options here in NH. From the Seacoast to Lake Winnipesaukee to Newfound Lake to so many more. You can make a true day out of a beach trip.

2) North Conway/Kancamagus Highway. From the 32 mile highway with breathtaking rest stops and incredible turns, it's a great way to kick off or end your day! Once in North Conway, there are some phenomenal restaurants (looking at you, Delaney's Hole in the Wall) and the outlets with NH's tax-free shopping. From North Conway, you're a short trip to so many phenomenal attractions in Northern NH - Diana's Bath, Cathedral Ledge and Arethusa Falls are a small handful of stops to make nearby.

3) Storyland and Santa's Village. Both located near North Conway, it's a great way to make a long weekend with an overnight stay at my personal favorite motel, North Colony Motel and Cottages. Storyland offers a LOT of extras to make your visit memorable while Santa's Village hits both notes of a water park and amusement park in 1 trip.

4) Andres Institute of Art. Located in Brookline right on Rte 13, it's a walking trail/park with sculptures. I personally haven't been but seems like a great way to spend a few hours outside.

5) Heading back North, Mount Washington is a phenomenon. There are 3 ways to experience the mountain: hike it, Mount Washington Auto Road and The Cog. I personally prefer The Cog as the road was scary to me but the Auto Road allows you to explore at your pace.

6) I'm going to make this one a bit more all-encompassing: The Seacoast. From Hampton Beach/Rye to Odiorne Point (skip the Seacoast Science Center though) and Water Country, there's plenty of ways to spend a day or three out this way. Don't forget that Hampton Beach has fireworks every Wednesday night too!

7) Prescott Park Arts Festival. Prescott Park is right off Downtown Portsmouth with plenty of amazing food options nearby. Also nearby is Strawberry Banke. But the biggest draw about Prescott Park is what they offer. Nearly every Thursday - Sunday they're putting on a play for free. This year's performance is Beauty and the Beast. Past years have been Suessical, Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, and quite a few more. I strongly recommend getting there 2-3 hours before hand and bringing food, blanket and/or chairs.

I'm sure as I think of more once I hit "publish" but this is a great start to keep your kids entertained through the first week of July and beyond! If you have any to add, I would love to see your comments below!

Thirty. Four.

01.02

It's not just a day on the calendar - it's my birthday.

So, yes this post is a day late but that's me.

This year I turned 34 and for some reason that hit me hard. I can no longer claim I'm in my early-thirties. 34 is officially mid-thirties.

It was really hard to look at the mirror - I see a lot of grays, I see wrinkles. I see my overweight body. I see a lot of flaws. I may not have my own home, or a brand new car. I may not be my dream weight. However, I have the best husband ever. The most amazing kids known to me. I have nieces and nephews that I adore. My friends have my back and many who adore my kids. My job keeps me happy (for the most part).

I have things to be thankful for and that is what I am going to concentrate on for year 34.

Best Boys Haircut in NH

If you're like me, when you're in the mood for a new haircut/style, you search Pinterest and then hit up your stylist for an estimate/time and go.

If you're like me with a son, you overthink and overwork the thought of the haircut to death. To spare you some stress, here are some tips/barber shop opinions for you to look through.

1) Search Facebook for a local moms group and get barber recommendations. Heck, search the barber shops on FB and check out the reviews! The ladies in the group pointed me to 3 local barbers who have had the chance to cut Brody's hair. I got an idea of pricing and what to expect from them as well.

2) Know your numbers - or at least the hairstyle you want. I know, it sounds silly but barbers are efficient folks. They're not a stylist who has time set aside for you. They're the kind to give you a good haircut as quickly as they can before moving on to the next.
*Numbers, for those who are unfamiliar, are the clipper size.

3) If your kid has any sensory issues, give the barber a heads-up! Let them know it's a first haircut or if they need to use scissors due to the noise. Equip them with whatever tools you can to help make the haircut a smooth one.

If you're in the Concord/Manchester area of New Hampshire, here are 3 pretty decent barber shops we've had good luck with:

1) Modern Man Barbershop & Shave Parlor - Hooksett, NH

I have amazing things to say about this place. Very roomy (it's a newer location to them), very clean and nice. They have an Xbox/Playstation, pool table and pinball for those waiting. There is a small kids table with some toys to help distract as well. This is the only barbershop I've been too where the kids have their own seat (a fire truck with a tray for an iPad) and the kids also get to wear a fire jacket.

2) Handsome Devils - Hooksett/Manchester line, NH

Brody's first haircut was here, but we haven't been back since. They did have a fantastic waiting area for kids with tons of toys and books to keep them entertained. The barber we had one was incredible - very friendly, immediately saved a lock of hair without me asking. The one aspect I didn't like was that Brody's seat was just some booster-style pads. There was nothing to restrain him if he moved/lost balance.

3) Lucky's - Concord, NH

Lucky's was our most recent barber visit. I loved the old time feeling I got walking in. The guys were all dressed in slacks and button down shirts, some were with vests. They had the canvas-type of apron on as well. The place is a bit small and there's no real space between the barbers so I felt like I was in the way the whole time. Their kids seat is a small "bench" that fits across the seat bars so once again, the kid isn't fully restrained. But our barber did a great job - worked fast, was gentle and kept asking if Brody was good.

If you have a barbershop we should check out, definitely let me know!

On Your Third Birthday

Dear Brody,

Today you woke up as a 3 year old.

It feels like just yesterday I walked in to a hospital room at 5:15 AM to prep for a c-section.

It's a bit weird to think of how much we've seen you grow this year. We went from random words here and there to sentences (that year-plus of therapy finally paid off!) You stopped sleeping in a crib and went straight to a twin bunk bed. You've continued to fit seamlessly in to our family.

We were introduced to the world of IEPs as you are just ONE day away from starting Preschool. It feels a bit weird since your sister didn't start school until she was 5 and here you are, starting at 3. On our two visits to the Preschool you were so at home and excited to be in that classroom. You'll do amazingly, as you always do.

I honestly can't wait to see what 2019 brings for you! Keep growing, little Bro-Bro.


Love,
Mom

Time Flies

Life's been...a roller coaster lately.

I keep having ideas and not doing a thing.

My "To Write" list in my planner? Tons of blog titles.

Yet, at the end of the day when everything's been checked off, powering up the computer is one of the last things I want to do.

I want to write, share my thoughts and ideas. I live in an amazing state that I want to show off. I have a family so my ideas of "things to do on a budget" might help someone else get out and make memories... But it's tough. I spend so much time and effort giving others so much that while writing a blog post may not seem like a lot, it is.

In the mean time, I'll make a deal to post once a week and hope others enjoy it.

Why I Did Boudoir (Even though I'm fat)

Last Fall/Winter, a local photographer was offering $99 Mini Sessions.

Normally, you wouldn't think twice about seeing this type of special. But this special? This was a BIG DEAL.

Kelli Marie Photography was offering $99 Boudoir Mini Sessions, For those of you who might be unfamiliar with boudoir, it's intimate poses - robe, lingerie, naked in a bathroom or bedroom. It's incredibly sexy and often empowering.

I have wanted to do them for a while. First was to be a wedding gift to Marc, but at 24, it wasn't a priority. Then came job loss, one kid, weight gain, the hum drum of a normal marriage. Then it was a reward - a boudoir shoot once weight was lost. A temporary separation, a second kid.

And poof. Kelli was here with the opportunity.

Even though I am fat. Even though I have had NO experience posing as sexy, I booked my shoot. I wish I had counted how many times I started an email to Kelli requesting to cancel my appointment. The nerves I had while trying to shop for something that would hide the weight I've gained, the stretch marks my body has earned.

With a bit of help from my friend, I settled on an outfit. Woke up early on a Sunday to shower and do my makeup, and I snuck out of my house to meet a woman who would *hopefully* be able to make a vixen out of me. There I was - a 31 year old mother of two in yoga pants/leggings, a hoodie, and boots parking a family car, walking into a studio with lingerie that I never would have imagined myself wearing.

Meeting Kelli was like running into your best friend in Dunkins' and you haven't seen her in forever. There was a story of her attempts at a Christmas gift for her grandmother, there was chatting about me and my husband. Her looking at what I was wearing, offering suggestions, allowing me to quickly raid her closet for that last piece that would help pull it all together.

Once she started shooting, it was clear that Kelli is incredible. While I felt awkward and silly, and silently thinking "WTF? How will THIS look sexy?" I realized something. I'm still the same me - the confident, headstrong woman. Even though I'm much heavier then when we met, I knew my husband would love these photos. That even if he didn't, I would. Because while he is important, I am more. I am more than a wife of 7 years, More than a mom of two kids, more than a worker. Before I was all of these things, I was Shaun. And while everything could always be improved, I knew what made me special. I'm a rarity - dark hair, light eyes. I have pretty lips. I am headstrong. I am stubborn, and loyal. I am me.

When I picked up my pictures, it was incredible to see what Kelli had transformed. While she didn't go take my arm off or remove 30 pounds, she highlighted me. Her words during the shoot of "That's it" validated my experience even more. To see her use my photo, to share my photo on social media and the feedback of online friends made me think "Damn, it feels good to be me."



So ladies, if you're thinking about doing boudoir - take the wise words of Nike and "Just do it."

Why, Hello There.

So I guess it's about time I introduce myself, huh?

I'm Shaun, the chick in white

I am a thirty-something year old daughter/sister/wife/mother/friend who's spent 99% of my life in NH...that 1% spent in Maine.

The guy in the tux who thinks he won the lottery? That's Marc, the husband of the house. We've been together since high school, almost half of our lives. He's pretty awesome and I think I'll keep him til it's time to upgrade to a newer model.

Meet Paige. She was born in May 2010 and has introduced us to the wonderful world of being parents. She is incredible. And I know many parents say that but she truly is. She just finished Kindergarten and is so excited to move on to 1st grade. She's a social butterfly and does soccer, basketball, teeball, dance.

This little handsome dude? Born on New Year's Eve 2015, Brody's kept us on our toes since day one - with a transfer to Dartmouth Hospital where he spent 6 days in the ICN up there. He's completed our family in ways I didn't know we were lacking.

So this is us, A small family of 4 figuring life out in good ole New Hampshire. We're nothing special, but our life is beautiful, wonderful, and mostly chaotic.

Thanks for checking out the blog...look forward to sharing more with you all!