Author: Nichole S.

This is for sure one of my favorite little getaways with the boys ever.  We do lots of one night trips whenever possible and a quick trip to Mystic, CT has been one of our annual overnights.  This year we went for two nights and did much more than usual.  So, lucky you, you get to look forward to a 2nd post all about the Mystic Seaport tomorrow…but, for now…the Mystic Aquarium is a must see for families with young kids.

They simply do everything right.

Call me a hypocrite if you’d like.  I get the whole “wild animals don’t belong in captivity” argument…and what’s more, I typically agree.  I will never take the boys to go see a circus and I will not visit zoos or aquariums that do not have adequate habitats for their animals.  That having been said, if the animals are clearly well-cared for and the habitats are gorgeous…and even more importantly, the facility has a reputation and clear mission for conservation and animal aid, then I am ok.

In my humble opinion, the Mystic Aquarium does all of that and more.  It is a fantastic place for young children to learn and laugh and is an incredible facility on many levels.

Please read all about it HERE!  MYSTIC AQUARIUM

One of the boys’ favorite things to do is help feed the critters.  Finn, in particular, always seems to bond on a whole new level.

I have been following this group on Facebook for a few years now and I LOVE what they do!  Yesterday was the first time that I was able to see one of their gorgeous pieces of art in person.

Totally cool!

Check out the Washed Ashore Project HERE and read all about the great things they are doing!

Pick #1    Another Block Party!

If you haven’t done a block party yet this summer, you’d better not miss this one!

Pick #2  Gloucester’s Annual Waterfront Festival

Saturday, August 15, 2015 ~ Sunday, August 16, 2015

Gloucester Waterfront Festival

Stage Fort Park

A collection of over 175 juried Artists and Craftsmen from throughout the U.S. will display their unique creations, live music, plus delicious ethnic foods including a pancake breakfast (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Gloucester) on Saturday to help kick off this picture perfect seaport event!

Free live “family style” entertainment includes Celtic, Ragtime Bands, Country and Folk Music and Just Like Newman from 1:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday. Additionally, North Shore Old Car Club will display over 75 Antique Autos on Sunday.

The Gloucester Waterfront Festival runs from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm each day. Handicap Accessible and friendly pets, on a leash, are welcome. Admission is FREE and the event will be rain or shine!

Read all about it HERE

Pick #3  Peach Festival at Connors Farm

Saturday, August 15, 2015 – 9am to 6pm (Rain date Sunday, August 16, 2015)

$7.95 Admission per Person (A Portion of the Proceeds Benefit The Breast Cancer Foundation)

Activities Included with $7.95 admission: Hayrides, Barnyard Animals, Black Mamba, Cow Train, Duck Races,  Giant Rocking Chair, Giant Tires, Grain Train,  Hayrides, Horse Swings, Jumping Pillows, Lincoln Logs, Music, Mechanical Bull, Pedal Carts, Hop Along Rodeo, Sandbox, Spider Web, Trikes.

Additional charge for: Food, Face Painting, Gemstone Mining, Peach Picking. Pony rides

Read all about it HERE!

For a more comprehensive list of family activities visit our friends at North Shore Kid

So, this happened a few weeks ago at The Studio.

And it was delicious.

I’ve been looking into camping trips to take with the boys.  I actually have no problem roughing it in an actual tent…although the thought of renting a cute little river or lake front cabin is just as appealing.  For me location and camp site amenities are more important than accommodations.  I’d like canoeing or kayaking, a nice fire pit for sitting around at night, a decent bathroom would be nice.  As far as where we sleep at the end of a long day….well, I’m not too picky.  Tent is fine, totally rustic little cabin is ok, a pop-up camper would be fun…

“Not too picky” that was….until I saw this….

and now I want one.

A couple of weeks ago we took a fantastic day trip to Peaks Island, Maine.

Such a great day!

We left home at about 7:15, made a pit stop in Danvers to meet up with my sister and nephew, and then drove on to Portland, Maine.  A quick, easy drive.  We arrived there in plenty of time to find a parking spot in one of the easily accessible and inexpensive lots, and take a quick walk to the 10:15 ferry.

The ferry ride to the island took about 20 minutes and was lovely.  At less than $8 for adults and under $4 for kids….it also didn’t hurt the wallet much.

The second we arrived I was smitten.  Totally charming, low key, welcoming, and picturesque.

We began our day by grabbing a bagel and coffee at Peaks Cafe before heading right next door to pick up our golf cart rental at Mike’s Carts. We called ahead to reserve our cart and paid just $50 for a three-hour rental. My sister and I sat upfront and took turns driving around the island while the three boys sat rear facing on the back seat.  They were stoked and thought it was totally cool to get to sit like that and it was a fantastic way to see the island.  We stopped at three little beachy areas to swim, collect shells and sea glass, and build rock sculptures…which is evidently something that you do when visiting Peaks Island.

After having toured the island by golf cart until satisfied, we returned it and walked right across the street to pick up our kayak rentals.  It was kind of a snotty day on the water and the boys are only 6, 7, and 8 years old…so we kayaked pretty close to the shore for only 30 minutes.  Because of the water conditions, the gentleman in charge of kayak rentals was willing to let us rent for less than the hourly rate so we paid $40 for three kayaks for 1/2 an hour.  A great deal.  We rented from the Peaks Island House.

Having worked up an appetite and a thirst, we walked across the street in a different direction (getting the idea of how close and easy everything is!?) and had a phenomenal little lunch and a delicious blueberry cocktail (because we were in Maine after all) outside at the Inn on Peaks Island.  While eating lunch I checked out the prices to book a hotel reservation for the evening and it was totally reasonable.  I should note that the 20 minute ferry ride for a mere $8 makes it worth while to stay on the island if you are visiting Portland because, for the most part, reserving a room in Portland was significantly more expensive.  Just a thought.

After lunch, we walked a bit, went into two super cute little shops, and the boys got ice cream.  We hopped on an afternoon ferry, grabbed an ice coffee for the ride home, found our car, stopped again in Danvers, and were still home by 6:30 in the evening.

A day trip that is fun, full of outdoor activity, and inexpensive!

Read more about the island HERE

Check out the ferry schedule HERE

Last night’s fireworks were fantastic!  Thanks to all who made the display possible!

1/2 way through

The concert line-up is pretty strong at Fenway Park this summer!

Here are some photos and a video clip of last night’s James Taylor concert…with special guest Bonnie Raitt!

Angels of Fenway was written for the Boston fans…watch the video below.

Here are some pics!  I will say that, while the EMC club is fantastic for a ball game, the stage is not super close when taking in a concert.  Bygones.  A great show nonetheless. And…to boot, there is no better venue if you ask me than the iconic Fenway Park. As always, I was giddy just to be in the ballpark.

Until someone can tell me how to effectively squeeze 30 hours of accomplishment into a 24 hour day, I am routing big time for this fantastic new business.

Whether you simply don’t have time to get everything done or you have certain things on your To-Do list that are out of your particular skill set, Cape Ann Concierge is a brilliant solution.

“PERSONAL ASSISTANT, ORGANIZATION & EVENT PLANNING SERVICES

LET US HELP YOU GET ALL OF YOUR BOATS IN A ROW!”

Have you ever wished you had a Personal Assistant for just an hour or a few hours per week or month?

At Cape Ann Concierge we offer several services to assist you in making your life run smoothly.  We will get you organized in no time – or if you prefer, keep you organized on an ongoing basis.

Offering personal assistance and organization, book keeping, office needs, event planning, vacation home management, and so much more, Cape Ann Concierge seems to be the ticket to remove the weight of the daunting or the undone To-Do off of your shoulders. I can’t think of a better time to enlist the help of some professionals to free your schedule for some R&R than summertime on Cape Ann.  Well, other than maybe during the Holidays!

Check out their website HERE and see the long list of services they offer…and then maybe pack for a day at the beach!

Cape Ann Concierge    www.capeannconcierge.com

It is during treasured minutes just like these that I would like to stop the clock so that my children may continue to relish in the sweetest of moments, of a blessed childhood, enjoying this heaven we are incredibly fortunate to call “home.”  May this sweet summer, and evenings with friends, never, ever, end.

We are absolutely loving the new breakwater in Rockport!  A part of my affection probably stems from having watched it being constructed slowly, day by day and massive stone by massive stone, all winter long.  Maybe even more so because of the fact that it was one of the worst winters in our history.

Finn and I walk to its end once each week or so to watch as Thatcher sails past in his Opti during lessons from the Sandy Bay Yacht Club.

We have been enjoying how each and every stone has a different pattern, shape, color, and “personality.”  Not surprisingly, Finn has named a few of them. Oreo, zebra, camo (as in camouflage), whale, fishy, etc.

It is really, truly a piece of art and I look forward to watching the boys grow as they continue to navigate its surface over the next several years.  I see lots of photos in its future.

We spied this graffiti on a rock on Straitsmouth Island while hauling lobster traps the other day.

I’m feeling kind of torn about it.  While the sentiment is sweet (right?)….it’s still legitimate vandalism isn’t it…kind of sour?  Or is it just innocent fun?  Maybe it will wash away soon? Or is it there forever…or at least a really, really long time?

I remember judging how far we were in our weekly trips to my grandparents’ house when I was little and living “up the line” by the familiar graffiti on the rocks along Route 128.  Certainly graffiti has its place in our culture, but is a beautiful island sanctuary the right place?

I don’t know.  Thoughts?

I am admittedly not a cake fan, but I’ll take one of these little pieces of heaven from Rockin’ Cupcakes any day!

It has become our tradition to get 6 for each of our birthdays.  At any given time they probably 15 varieties of scrumptious cupcakes!

Make a point to stop in next time you’re walking around Bearskin Neck in Rockport….or, for the record, they are worth a special trip! Located conveniently near Top Dog, Roy Moore Lobster Co., The Blue Lobster Grille and many more awesome eateries, you really can’t go wrong.

have you seen this little number out in Gloucester Harbor right now?

Private, not chartered.  A quick google search just told me that the yacht belongs to Mark Cuban.  As in the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and Shark Tank fame. I love that he has a basketball hoop on board!

Check it out HERE.  Top 100 Yachts by Forbes Magazine

I was fortunate to be able to witness the retirement of Pedro Martinez’s #45 last night at Fenway Park.

My Modus Operandi when photographing big events at Fenway is to try to get decent photos while living in the moment, breathing in the awesomeness that is the iconic ballpark, and (importantly) staying out of the way.

Special events at Fenway are no joke.  It takes a massive team of headset wearing personnel to execute events such as ring ceremonies, Opening Days, and, yesterday, the retiring of a number.  The staff operate like little parts of an incredibly well-oiled machine and getting in the way of a seamless execution is simply not an option.  So, I hang back, I enjoy, I relish a bit, and then I hope that I was able to capture some of the magic.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again…if those walls could talk.  There is always a tangible history living and breathing inside that park. But, last night, you could almost see the green walls buckling as excellence blanketed the infield.

As if having Pedro back in the house and mere inches away from his mound wasn’t special enough, the list of legends that came to help him celebrate formed a little field of dreams.

Ben Cherington, Larry and Stacey Lucchino, John Henry and his wife Linda Pizzuti, and Tom Werner sat in attendance along with Pedro’s family. Joe Castiglione emceed the ceremony and the first to join Pedro on the field was Ralph Avila, the scout who first discovered him. Then came his manager from his time with the Expos, Felipe Alou and his brother, Jesus Alou, who runs the Red Sox Dominican Academy. Former teammates Jim Corsi and Lou Merloni delivered a blue grandstand seat, #45 of course, and Tim Wakefield delivered a check for, of course, $45,000 to be given to one of the charities that Pedro supports. Trot Nixon, Orlando Cabrera and Curt Schilling carried a large wrapped gift that contained a laptop fully loaded with video and highlights from Pedro’s time with the Sox.  Red Sox Hall of Famers, Tommy Harper, Dwight Evans, and Luis Tiant gifted a tile from the Green Monster scoreboard, that’s right #45. They were followed by Dennis Eckersley, Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk, Carl Yastrzemski who unveiled a gilded impression of Pedro’s “remarkable hands and unusually long fingers” bronzed and covered in gold. Nomar Garciaparra filmed a video message that was played during the ceremony.  David Ortiz rightfully was a big part of the ceremony and then Jason Varitek, “The Captain”, made an albeit early, appearance to catch Pedro’s first pitch.  When Pedro realized that he had invited Varitek onto the field too early he said, “Hey, this is Pedro.  This is my parade.”

Last night will go down as one of “the nights” that I am glad I didn’t miss and certainly helped remind me just how much, and why, I love this team.

If you missed the ceremony,

You can see it in its entirety HERE

The Red Sox have a great video clip to view HERE

Live blogging from Fenway and the retirement of the one and only #45!

Soon to be 9 retired numbers posted high above Right Field!

Can you name who they all belong to?