June 17, 2018 - ReCap of Gianna's Graduation and Father's Day in LA

Elisa's Daily Scoop
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​MEAN GIRLS ON BROADWAY

ReCap of Graduation Day & USA Today Picks for Best NY Beaches

Good day and I'm back!!
What a day yesterday was and to be perfectly honest, it still hasn't sunk in that my first-born daughter is off to high school in the Fall.

The day started off early with an absolutely lovely breakfast at the Cherry Valley Country Club in Garden City.  Weather-wise, we could not have asked for a more GORGEOUS day!

Ready to leave for Graduation breakfast (c) travelincousins.com

Since this gathering was a parent and child ONLY event, Gianna and I headed out, leaving Kelsey to relax and be ready by 11am to head over to the church for the Graduation ceremony.

All the girls were required to wear white and wow, did one look more pretty than the next - and oh, so grown up!

Gianna and fellow girl graduates (c) travelincousins.com

With the backdrop of the beautifully manicured golf course, the sun shining in and illuminating the room, the kids made their entrance, as all the parents watched from their tables.  ​

Welcomed by the school principal, Brian Colomban, the event was kicked off with a morning prayer by Monsignor Swaider of St. Joseph Church.  Both heartfelt and touching, Mr. Colomban's address was inspirational as he reminded the kids that the origin of Goodbye was "God be with you," a superb way of saying, this is only the beginning!

Awards were given out and my Gianna received numerous - 
* The Women in Science Award for outstanding performance in Math
*The President's Education Awards Program Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement (signed by President Donald J. Trump)

As well as certificates of Achievement for her participation in Cheerleading, The Scribe (school newspaper), Drama Club, Band and Respect Life

​So proud of my girl!

(c) travelincousins.com

Slide presentation of photos of the kids through the years (c) travelincousins.com

The kids weren't the only ones who received something - each graduate presented their parents with a lovely folder filled with memories from throughout their years at St. Joseph School.  I dare not look at this until I got home, for fear of losing it and crying!!

A slide presentation will hundreds of photos of the Class of 2018 ran for the duration of the breakfast, which absolutely adorable, filled with pictures of the kids from the time there were pre-schoolers to the present.

(c) travelincousins.com

Book of memories of Gianna's years at St. Joseph School (c) travelincousins.com

Off to the Graduation ceremony at the church, and me and Gianna were joined by Kelsey and Grandma and friend Andrea, for a mass and recognition service. 

It could not have gone off more perfectly, with the graduates participating in every aspect.  I held out pretty much through the whole event, with no tears.  I watched as all the kids were awarded once again for academic achievement and my Gianna garnered the Spanish award!

Then finally, the moving of the tassels to officially indicate that they were graduates...

At commencement, tassels are traditionally worn on the right side of the cap and then moved to the left once graduates receive their diplomas.

Moving her tassel (c) travelincousins.com

Did you know...
The origins of academic dress including hats, tassels, gowns and hoods date back to the 12th century when universities first began to organize. Oxford and Cambridge colleges in England instituted dress rules for academic ceremonies when Henry VIII ruled. While European universities vary in the traditions they use, American schools follow a uniform costume code established by Gardner Cotrell Leonard in 1893.

Leaving the church - now a graduate (c) travelincousins.com

Of course, as the procession began for the kids to exit the church, diploma in hand, accompanied by Pomp & Circumstance, I did finally lose it!! 

My baby was not a baby anymore and as happy as I was, I was sad.  Sad, that the years had gone by; for all the events of her past nine years at this amazing school were only memories; and that she was off on a new journey, that would lead her towards adulthood. 

​I know I'm still not done shedding tears as it feels like yesterday that I held this little girl in my arms minutes after she was born and now she is a beautiful young lady, beginning a whole new chapter of her life.  

The mood outside the church was upbeat as the sun made everything cheery and students, families and friends snapped away and wished each other congratulations!

Here are a few of the moments captured:

Me and my girls (c) travelincousins.com

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Gianna & Grandma (c) travelincousins.com

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Looking towards the future (c) travelincousins.com

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Throwing of the caps!! (c) travelincousins.com

It could not have been a more perfect day!!!

We went for an intimate lunch, joined by Gianna's teacher, Mrs. Mott and then Gianna was off again with all her friends for a graduation party at her friend Bella's.

I think I'm going to leave things at that for today folks.  I'm beat, emotionally drained and going to spend a relaxing day with the girls!

Have a fabulous Sunday!!
-E
xoxo

Tanya's Daily Scoop​​
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Father's Day in LA

Hello everyone! And Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there.

Today will be my third consecutive day heading up to LA (which has meant sitting in lots of traffic).

Since Dave C is the dad around here, I had asked him weeks ago what he wanted to do on Father's Day and where he wanted to go. I finally got an answer out of him and it was his wish that we visit to the Getty Center, which is a beautiful campus of the Getty Museums.

The Getty Center (c)travelincousins.com

The Center branch of the Museum features pre-20th-century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, and decorative arts; and photographs from the 1830s through present day from all over the world.

Visiting the Getty Center on Father's Day 2015 (c)travelincousins.com

​In addition, the Museum’s collection at the Center includes outdoor sculpture displayed on terraces and in gardens and the large Central Garden designed by Robert Irwin. Among the artworks on display is the Vincent Van Gogh painting Irises. Credit: Wiki

The Getty Center (c)travelincousins.com

Of course you know that I'm bringing the cameras along and will be snapping plenty of pics for tomorrows Daily Scoop. 

After our time at the Getty, the plan is to have lunch and then go to the Pasadena Chalk Festival - which I'm totally looking forward to!

2016 Pasadena Chalk Festival (c)travelincousins.com

Later on tonight we are trying to coordinate along with Jet, Andrew and Chaplin to go see The Incredibles...
A sequel that I've been looking forward to for the past 14 years! Advanced tickets are a MUST.
More on all the fun we have today in tomorrows Daily Scoop.

Now for yesterdays scoop...
Saturday was set aside for a visit to see Dave's ailing mom up in Agoura Hills (which is a minimum of 2 hours away without traffic).

We drove up to Beverly Hills for an all plant based Mexican style Brunch at Gracias Madre before continuing on the rest of the drive.

Gracias Madre (c)travelincousins.com

Coliflor Frito (c)travelincousins.com

We shared an order of Coliflor Frito - cauliflower, cashew nacho cheese, lemon - which I think was my favorite dish of the morning!

Quesadillas de Calabaza (c)travelincousins.com

We also shared an order of Quesadillas de Calabaza - butternut squash, caramelized onion, cashew nacho cheese, pumpkin seed salsa - which to me where more like fat little tacos. Quite tasty indeed!

And then my entree of the Traditional Mexican soup Pozole (of course made quite untraditionally and 100% plant based). I'm a soup girl and although this was on the spicy side I still thoroughly enjoy every last drop!

Dave who is an Enchilada guy had the Enchiladas con Mole Negro - fried plantains, cashew crema, black beans, sautéed greens - which although I HATE Mole sauce I still was curious enough to try a bite. My bad. While he loved it and I really didn't care for it much at all. 
He's no where near as picky as I am, but I just find it so funny how some people just have such different tastes. 

Once we wrapped up Brunch, we got back on the road and the next stop was Agoura Hill and a visit with Dave's mom Billie.

Dave and his mom (c)travelincousins.com

While sitting there visiting, you'd never guess it but I got hungry!!
I attribute this to most of the meal I ate was kinda being on the light side and the fact that I skipped dinner the night before. 

So once the visit was over, I desperately needed a snack and off we went to the Follow Your Heart store. The only thing is that it was too late.

It wasn't too late to shop, just too late to please me!
Remember me mentioning just how picky I am...
Well when I am hungry that multiplies!!

I browsed aisle after aisle of foods that I normally enjoy, but not during this visit. I picked up a few things for the house, but when searching for something to munch on right then and there I couldn't find a single thing and was getting incredibly aggravated. This is never a good thing to let happen.
Because the next stage is walking out of the store without a single thing and just leaving my cart behind. 

Luckily it didn't get to this point and we made the household purchases. The only problem was that I was still starving!!

Well it wouldn't be until we got back to Orange County and picked up the kids to go grab dinner at Loving Hut - about 2-3 hours later. 

​After dinner our gang went to yet another movie -

It was based on a true story and boy was it funny!

And there you have it - that was my Saturday.

Now it's time for us to experience Sunday. I hope that whatever your plans are for the day, that you have a great one!

See ya tomorrow,
-Travelin' Tanya