memorial day Archives | with a Side of Sneakers

Memorial Deja Vu

While most people like to commemorate the remembrance of the sacrifices so many have made for our country with a Memorial Day cookout, around here we’ve made it a tradition to attend a wedding. This might be the 5th Memorial Day in a row {minus 1 maybe?} that we’ve celebrated a marriage over the holiday weekend.

This year we stayed local and watched a mutual college friend marry her sweetheart.

We dropped the bub off at Grandma’s for the day and headed out for some mommy & daddy fun time- only the 2nd or 3rd time we’ve done something sans baby in the past 5 months, and definitely the longest we’ve spent away from him at the same time. I’m happy to report we all survived.

Seeing as it was a mid afternoon wedding on the first 90+ degree day of the year {yes, in MAY} and I was wearing a black dress, I figured it was a good time to test out some new deodorant I’d received from Dove.

In addition to keeping you so fresh and so clean, clean, it’s supposed to help with the tone of your underarms. Officially, Dove ClearTone “visibly reduces dark marks and evens tone with regular use over time, while providing 24-hour odor and wetness protection.” Seriously, that’s a thing? I don’t think I can critique that part of it, but it did it’s job well and it didn’t get all over my dress or feel sticky and icky.

I am not one of those women who “glow”. I did not glow during pregnancy and I do not glow when I sweat. I just get sweaty and nasty. Most of the stronger deodorants are goopy and gross, or burn like crazy. Luckily the Dove Clinical Strength was comfortable and non-pain inducing.

On to the wedding. After a beautiful ceremony, there was a couple hours of down time before the reception started. I did all the normal between-wedding-things, like pumping in the car behind the church and “borrowing” some ice from the hotel since I forgot my cooler.

After relaxing and catching up with fellow wedding guests and another round of pumping, it was time for the reception. The highlight of the food was a made-to-order pasta bar with a chef who didn’t blink when I said I wanted everything! And the cake of course. Delicious!

I did my best, but after two nights in a row of staying up past my {9pm} bedtime {rehearsal dinner the night before}, I had to call it a night before the celebrations came to a close.

It was a great way to celebrate the weekend and it made me feel slightly human again to get out and enjoy some good old fashioned fun with the husband. I’m still catching up on sleep. {Catching up on sleep?! Who am I kidding?}

The weekend out was well-timed to mark the one year anniversary of our journey into this crazy insane life known as parenthood.

Memorial Day weekend last year we were at another wedding, this time a beach wedding. I had only found out I was pregnant four days before we boarded the plane for the trip. It was fun spilling the news once we arrived to our hotel-mates for the weekend and keeping it a secret from everyone else at the shindig, bride and groom included.

Busted. I’m wearing the same dress to both weddings. Fashionista I am not.

P.S. Several pictures stolen from FB. Thanks friends Smile Click pictures for source links.

*Disclaimer: As part of the DailyBuzz Healthy Living Program, I received free Clear Tone Deodorant from Dove. Opinions are my own of course!

An Early Taste of Summer

Travel

Despite an unfortunate hiccup in the wedding plans, the weekend went on as scheduled. Up first on the agenda: beach time!

First up, a drink for the birthday girl, Ashley. Nothing like a glass of rum punch to make it feel like a tropical retreat.

I thought May in Connecticut would still be a little chilly…pleasant enough to sit on the beach, but not warm enough for bathing suits or swimming. I was wrong.

It was sunny and HOT!

The water, however, was freezing. But it was too hot not to jump in.

The hotel we’re staying in doesn’t have a gym, and with 5 people crammed in a tiny room, there wasn’t much space for fitting in any exercise. We were able to sneak it in anyway when we saw a little island in the distance…

When we thought we could see people on the island, we had to find out for ourselves how they got there. So we started walking…and walking…and walking… The water never got deeper than our waists before we made it to the island. My legs were completely numb from the freezing cold water, but it was a great way to sneak in some exercise without getting hot. Winking smile

Before we knew it, beach time was over and it was time to get ready for a seaside wedding…

A Wedding Scene Not to Be Seen

Travel

How would you feel if you walked up to your wedding ceremony site the weekend of your wedding and instead of the luscious green grass and beautiful wooden gazebo with the calming background of the ocean you remembered now looked like this:

Devastated? Yeah, that’s what the bride felt.

But let me back up.

Memorial Day is the unofficial start to summer– who knew we’d travel six states north to really get our first taste of summer. {Tip: buy new sunscreen every year. It definitely expires.}

For the last three years, the husband and I have spent Memorial Day weekend at a wedding. This year was no different, except that it landed us in a small town in Connecticut with not much more than a beachside resort, a rehab center, and two Dunkin Donuts.

After a full day of traveling, the husband, myself, and a group of friends finally made it to the site of the wedding.

What we found waiting for us was a beautiful resort backing up to the ocean. {Ok, technically it was a sound. But I prefer saying I spent Memorial Day weekend at the ocean. It makes me feel all high class and fancy-like. If you use your imagination and superhero-like vision, you can almost make out the Hamptons across the sound.}

While we found a nice summer retreat, we also found a dismayed bride {and a not-a-care-in-the-world groom}.The resort hadn’t even given them the slightest indication that since they last saw the ceremony site, the construction for a giant suite of seaside villas had begun.

With so many guests coming from out of town, some even there before the bride and groom, cancelling wasn’t an option, although 2 of the 4 brides of the weekend apparently did.

We did our best to distract and cheer up the bride by sitting outside on the resort patio listening to a band and catching up with each other before the big day.