Saturday Snapshot

Saturday Snapshot: Day Out in Boston!

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My husband and I love to do a trip when the kids are away at sleepaway camp. This year we did a mini staycation and went to Boston (we live only 45 minutes away).

I think when you live near a great city (like Boston), you can take it for granted. It’s always just “there”. We go to the museums a few times a year, we go in to see shows, we go to Faneuil Hall and the Aquarium with the kids. Occasionally, we head into the North End (the Italian section for those who don’t live here) and go to the restaurant where we had our first date (Antiquo Forno). When I first moved here in 1989 I did all the tourist spots. So it was a special treat to just go to Boston and walk around. We walked part of the Freedom Trail, we walked to the North End, we walked around Boston Common (Boston’s Central Park), we had dinner, we got caught up in a street festival celebrating St. Aggripina, and we had an overnight in a sweet little boutique hotel that was once known as “Boston’s SkyScraper” in 1889 (the Ames – now owned by Hilton, so we used points and stayed for free).

a beautiful day at Quincy Market!
Ben Franklin in the shade
Paul Revere with North Church in twilight

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at awebofstories.com.

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Saturday Snapshot: Cruise to Bermuda

/ drbethnolan / 4 Comments

Each summer my family likes to decompress from the stress of school and welcome summer by taking a special vacation. This year we cruised from Boston to Bermuda on the Norwegian Gem. We love to cruise and our two favorite lines are Norwegian and Disney.

Our family cabin was beautiful!


the kids room with bunk pulldown (and their own bath)

family area w/kitchen (to the right)

Master Bath
our area

We cruised in comfort!

Bermuda itself was amazingly beautiful and warm and relaxing!

The Naval Dockyard
Cruising
Me and the hubs looking relaxed!

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at A Web of Stories (http://www.awebofstories.com). See her site for full participation details!

Saturday Snapshot: Hawaii, the Big Island

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If you know us, you know we love to go to Hawaii! This year we went to the Big Island and enjoyed the sun and sand.

Here are a few pictures:

 

The Big Island is so unique with all it’s dark lava rocks! We were on the other side from the volcano and didn’t see it. It was a great week!

 

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at Westmetromommyreads.com.

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Saturday Snapshot: a few costumes from the Met

/ drbethnolan / 3 Comments

When we were in NYC, we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, one of my very favorite places! One of my top choices there is to see what’s in the basement area – the costume collection. They were having a special exhibit of vestments and clothing from different Popes and no one could take pictures of it (not sure why). However, I came across two other intriguing “costumes” in an exhibition of visitors to Versailles. With my obsession with history, I love reading about Versailles and the opulent life there. I took a picture of a ladies dress from a visitor (not only magnificent, but amazingly well preserved!):

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I also took a picture of one of Ben Franklin’s suits. What struck me was that every picture or interpretation I’ve seen of Ben Franklin as an adult has him about 250-300 pounds (with the exception of his large statue at the Franklin Institute in Philly). While his suit was certainly a bit larger than those of his peers in the display, it really wasn’t very large at all (well, by American standards!): (no flash was allowed – sorry!)

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I found these two costumes memorable!

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at Westmetromommyreads.com.

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addendum: I just found online (if that’s to be trusted!) that the real Ben Franklin was 5’9 and 220 pounds.

Saturday Snapshot: St. Pat’s Cathedral

/ drbethnolan / 4 Comments

If you know me, you know we like to go to NYC. When we do, we attend Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. I never tire of looking at the beautiful intricacies of the architecture there, the statues, the windows, the light.

Here are a few photos I took last weekend when we were there:

 

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Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at westmetromommyreads.com. Stop by her site for specifics on participating!

CHRISTMAS AT WDW (a Saturday Snapshot)

/ drbethnolan / 1 Comment

 

As a family, we LOVE going to Walt Disney World, and this year we went the week before Xmas (less people than the week afterward!). To be honest, I rarely took my phone into the park (I like to roam free with just my Magic Band) but we love, love, love the Grand Floridian and enjoyed taking pictures there of the beautiful decorations that they have out for Christmas. And yes – that is a full size real gingerbread house made with gingerbread with adults working inside it! The top right has the tree from the Polynesian, which we love to visit as we love all things Hawaiian. Top right shows the castle from Mickey’s Holiday Party — it was fantastic. It also “snowed” on Main Street, which maybe would have been more exciting if I didn’t live in New England!

 

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at westmetromommyreads.com

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Saturday Snapshot — More from NYC!

/ drbethnolan / 7 Comments

Following up on last week’s post, I wanted to add some shots from St. Pat’s Cathedral and also show the two shows we saw: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime and Waitress. We really enjoyed both of them!

I’ve added a picture of the cute little apple pies they were selling at intermission at Waitress!

One morning my husband had to make a business call, so I went out and about and ended up in the Today Show crowd on tv! Now I wish I had a picture of that!! 🙂

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at westmetromommyreads.com. See her site for full participation details!

 

Saturday Snapshot: NYC!

/ drbethnolan / 4 Comments

So last week we dropped the kids off at summer camp and went to NYC for a few days. As always, we love the Big Apple and had a great time!

Here are a few pictures from Central Park and the Met’s fashion exhibit. I will post more pictures next week.

Saturday Snapshot is hosted by Melinda at westmetromommyreads.com. See her site for full participation details.