Wisconsin Training

Y’all—I’m at my second full weekend of SeneSister time in two weeks!

Yes, I went outside my comfort zone AGAIN and am attended a Wisconsin team training (at a stunning mansion right on Lake Michigan) with a bunch of ladies (none of whom I’d met before)! The main event is a personal training from Joni (again, the second time in two weeks!).

I felt very awkward (of course) because everyone knew everyone else, but we played some games and got to know each other and I tried to not be anxious.

I did have a roommate this time, so that helped!

Fab Squad Retreat Day 4: Heading home

Since Lin only lives an hour away, she came and picked me up so we could hang out before heading to the airport! We went to Disney Springs where we wandered, shopped, and had lunch!

They were closed the first time we walked by and then the line was too long on our way out…but I got a pic anyway!

Then I ran into a SeneSister at the airport!

And it was good to get home to everyone…

Fab Squad Retreat Day 3

Group training today…

After lunch it was out to the pool for the next session! We each had to write down the thing(s) that were in our life that if we could just get rid of, our life would be better.

And then they were mixed up and redistributed and we each read someone else’s card out loud. Lesson? Every single person has something stressful/heart breaking/anxiety-inducing going on even when it looks like we have our lives together and we are not alone. It was really eye-opening and emotional.

Then we had small group sessions in which we had to all say something nice about everyone else in our group. Lesson? It’s easy to discuss all the bad things about ourselves but it’s much harder to talk about and hear about the good things about ourselves. And it was hard hearing people tell us how awesome we were.

Compilation of ladies enjoying the waterslide:

Impromptu training by Abby!

And what Joni posted on Facebook…

Fab Squad Retreat Day 2

Showered, made up, and ready for a few hours of training from our CEO!! My Twister room is crazy, y’all!

Training with Joni started bright and early at 9!

At lunch, it was time for a surprise 40th birthday party for Jenna…

and margaritas!

And two of my SeneBesties.

And then group photo time!

And my first photo with Joni!!

And then finally pool time!

A bunch of ladies did karaoke. They had a blast…

But it’s not really my jam so I watched for a bit and then ended up grabbing a friend and chatting/brainstorming in my room for like two hours!

Fab Squad Retreat!

I earned my spot at 50%! I would have made 75% if that was an option!
Travel makeup!
At my gate!

Our Airbnb was INSANE. Check out their promo video:

This is what you see when you walk in—Owen would have loved it!

This is Jenna, the one who adopted me into her group. I love her so, so much.

My Twister-themed room:

I had to FaceTime Katie to show her. She was totally jealous!

Here’s a great pic of the room with Jenna!
A random cool chair.
Funhouse mirror in the stairwell.

If you were a hidden lottery ticket, where would you be? (We never found it.)

Did someone say charcuterie dinner for 45?

I was honestly overwhelmed once everyone arrived. There were like 45 of us staying in the house, and I had only met like 15 of them previously (and really only knew less than a handful of them) so I was a bit anxious…but I’m apparently good at faking it. I did tend to stick to the people I knew better but did go outside my comfort zone a bit.

I normally would have been sharing a bedroom with someone, but as it happened to work out, I was by myself. That was good because I don’t mind being by myself and having a place to escape, but it was bad because having a roommate helps get me out of my box and gives me someone else to talk to and get to know.

Getting to know each other

The end of a loooong day that started at 5:30am cst and ended at 11:30pm est.

Marshall Point & Owl’s Head Lighthouses

Today’s adventure in Maine…So happy it was sunny today! We started at Marshall Point Lighthouse in Point Clyde, ME. This is where the Forrest Gump scene of Tom Hanks running was filmed.

Back to our lobster place to get a few more for dinner!
Sharing a $1 beer!

Read the book? Check!
Visited the lighthouse? Check!

Friday Fave: fresh lobster

I’m in Maine so that means FRESH LOBSTER!

There’s a dock just a few miles from where we’re staying that we visit every other day. If you saw my reel yesterday, that’s the place.

Honestly if I had my choice I’d probably choose a lobster roll, but there’s something about cracking open your own personal lobster!

Lesson learned and Pemaquid Point

Last night we had asked Owen to take out the lobster waste and set the bucket inside the garbage bins (because it was too dark to go too the beach and dump in the water—but it couldn’t stay in the house or be left out where animals could get it.

Never underestimate the non-listening power of a teen brain. This is what we found in the morning. He somehow missed that we said to put the lobster shells IN the garbage bin and just left it on the porch. So then he got the glorious job of cleaning it all up! We all had a good laugh.

Exploring on our beach again!

Then it was off on another adventure—to my mom’s favorite spot: Pemaquid Point!

When we got home, Katie wanted to swim but it was a little too chilly.
Us girls had a nice time catching up on the beach.
Of course, lobster for dinner!

You’ve seen the lobster dinner, now see our dessert! Everyone loves strawberry shortcake!

Lobster, lobster, lobster!

When in Rome…

When vacationing in Maine, fresh lobsters straight from the dock are mandatory. You’re looking at nine lobsters coming in at 18-ish pounds!

Yesterday’s leftover lobster getting made into lobster rolls for lunch!
Katie loved exploring on the beach and looking for sea glass. She’d send us pictures when she found things!
Beth and Kath flew in today for the long weekend!
We dared Katie to touch a lobster again.
Grauntie Rose offering to take Katie’s share of lobster.
Mmmmmmmmm.

Our beach, Mount Battie & food!

Our view to the left.
Our view to the right.

There were LOTS of rocks between us and the beach.

Heading back up to the house to get ready for the day’s adventure!

On top of Mount Battie.

Then it was off to the surprise for the kids—Uncle Willy’s Candy Shoppe. They each got $10 to spend there ($5 from Grauntie Rose and $5 from me) and Katie spent all of it plus some of her own while Owen didn’t spend a penny and saved it instead.

This was one of the things she got—fruit flavored if you were wondering.

And this was what I got—it was interesting.

Then we went to mom’s favorite place for dinner—The Happy Clam. And of course I had to try their infamous Blueberry margarita!

Katie was enthralled with the old school playground so she spent most of her time out there! After dinner we took pictures!

Then Owen got involved!

Maine, I am in you.

My mom said this was probably going to be their last trip to Maine—so I took both kids out of school for a week and off we went!

And with my mom, the reason for the vacation!

Looking up at the beach cottage from the fire pit.

Two-pound lobsters for dinner? Yes, please! Katie hated it (color me not surprised) and Owen liked it. Tomorrow we’ll have lobster rolls.

Katie wasn’t thrilled with any of it.

Owen tried everything—from cracking to eating.

After dinner they surprised me with a birthday cake—complete with 50 candles!

Michigan State game day!

Owen has mentioned more than once he’d like to attend MSU and today he said he really liked it (but to be fair, it’s the first real campus he’s been on and he didn’t see much of it). I then asked if he wanted a pic on the campus of his future alma mater…and he obliged. Unbelievably it’s just 3.5 years away.

We got free tickets from Vettix and Grannie went with us!

We got some souvenirs—and Tom got a Sparty Party beer!

We had a cool view.

Right in front of the scoreboard!

This cute little one was in front of us!

Unfortunately they didn’t play too well and lost so that was a bummer. But we still had a good time!

And on the way back to the hotel, we took a mini detour and drove by the capitol.

Avoid Chicago September 15-16

TIP OF THE YEAR: Avoid Chicago on September 15-16.

Tonight we got stuck in Chicago trying to get out of town after the show (it took an hour to go like four blocks).

Turns out it was the start of Mexican independence day (it’s actually 9/16 but the celebrating starts the day before) and the traffic was freaking insane!

Apparently the thing to do is drive around with passengers hanging outside the car (through the window or sunroof or both), honk your horn like a madman while waving huge flags, and cause traffic jams. And there’s lots of cops out…not doing anything.

Consider yourself warned.

Agate Day 4

Lunch prep!
They all pottied!
Tom’s project—fixing and refinishing the gliding bench! Which I found out was a wedding present!
Annual mini golf outing while Anna and I shopped!

ESRAY PARK OUTING — The kids love coming here—climbing the rocks, playing in the water, finding creatures…

We didn’t match them up for an exact redo but we’re just happy they’re all in it and smiling!
After our dinner out!

Friday Fave: Thimbleberry margaritas

This is something I only get one week a year — and ONLY if we pass through Calumet while Carmelita’s is open!

Thimbleberry Margaritas

The thimbleberry is a berry unique to certain areas of the US — and the upper peninsula is one of them. And they’ve gone and turned it into a delicious drink! (They also make jam but give me the margarita!)

If you’re ever in the area, please stop by and try one! We even get two pitchers to go to enjoy throughout the week since it’s an hour round trip to get them!