Greg's Summer Picks

Lucky for me, the three day weekend meant that my husband Greg had time to take a trip to Williams Sonoma. I thought I would share what he picked up!

The Jade Sichuan Peanut Sauce is our FAVORITE! Greg grills chicken, onions and yellow & red peppers and then mixes it with ziti pasta. Its an amazing entree or side dish in the summer. Everyone who has ever had it has raved. Try it, its so yummy.

Jackson's favorite weekend treat is waffles. This waffle mix from WS is the BEST.

Last night I had chicken and rice with the Miso Sauce. It was delicious.

Greg is obsessed with buying and making his own meat and veggie rubs. We like this Smoke house one shown here and below are the ones he made himself a few years ago. We packaged them in Mason Jars and added a HPD sticker and gave them to family and friends.

A sauce/rub or two make a good summer hostess gift!

BTW - he also came back with a sno cone machine and syrups. Cant wait to use that at the block party this weekend!

Let the Summer of 2012 Begin

Well, Memorial Day Weekend is almost upon us and with is comes the official start of Summer 2012. I cant wait to see what the summer has in store for us this year. We are already thrilled with the opening of our favorite farmer's markets which we have been waiting patiently to open so we could get our fix of Betty's Chips and Salsa.  Please take caution in reading this blog further in that these chips and salsa are AMAZING. Seriously to die for good. We have been sharing them at our neighborhood get together's and our friends are in agreement they are yummy and addictive. Its like when I introduced a few friends to Pinterest and they couldn't stop pinning and they said I should have warned them. So, I am warning you, try at your own risk but if you do you will see what everyone is raving about. Check out Betty's web site to see where she is going to be locally in the NOVA area or you can order on line!

Enjoy. 

Oh Yes I Did!

I went to lunch with a friend of mine about 6 months ago. It was pooring rain but she looked amazing after having a Keratin treatment done on her hair. So finally I worked up enough courage to have it done and WOW love the staight shiny hair today! I took this pic this morning w. my iphone so not a great shot.....

How Can You Mend A Broken Heart?

I'm was seriously heart broken to learn that my beloved Robin Gibb passed away yesterday. I consider myself the Bee Gees #1 Fan -not in a Kathy Bates, Misery way- but in one that has loved them for years, even decades. Their song are timeless and the lyrics so beautifully written. Favorite Song? How Deep is Your Love which they wrote for Andy. Best Line.... The third.

Coincidentally, it's this same song that haunted my dad and I for years as we could never figure out the words to the one part which are "you know the door to my very soul" hmm I thought it was you know the note to every song.

Thanks to everyone for all the condolence emails and texts - you know me so well!

RIP dear Robin. We will miss you.

How Deep Is Your Love

I know your eyes in the morning sun I feel you touch me in the pouring rain And the moment that you wander far from me I wanna feel you in my arms again

And you come to me on a summer breeze Keep me warm in your love and then softly leave And it's me you need to show How Deep Is Your Love How deep is your love, How deep is your love I really need to learn 'Cause we're living in a world of fools Breaking us down When they all should let us be We belong to you and me

I believe in you You know the door to my very soul You're the light in my deepest darkest hour You're my saviour when I fall And you may not think I care for you When you know down inside That I really do And it's me you need to show How Deep Is Your Love

How deep is your love, How deep is your love I really need to learn 'Cause we're living in a world of fools Breaking us down When they all should let us be We belong to you and me

And you come to me on a summer breeze Keep me warm in your love and then softly leave And it's me you need to show How Deep Is Your Love How deep is your love, How deep is your love I really need to learn 'Cause we're living in a world of fools Breaking us down When they all should let us be We belong to you and me

Meet the Class of 2025

It was a bittersweet day a few weeks ago when I had to take my younger son, Jackson, to the local elementary school for Kindergarten orientation. I cant believe my baby is going to be going to school next year. They grow up so fast, I wish I could just stop time. The excitement on Jackson's face was priceless, as you may know for earlier blogs, "Kindergarten is his dream"! They gave the kids a tour of the school, showing them the gym, art and music room and kindergarten pod and of course ended with a bus ride.

The parents were lectured on on how to prepare our youngsters for this next phase. A friend of mine was sitting next to me and pointed to one of the documents that said "CLASS OF 2025" and it just struck me as so funny. I hadn't thought about it that way, so engrossed in this moment and not thinking about it will eventually lead to him graduating in the year 2025!!! Seems so far off but I know it will be here before I know it.

While the Principal and teachers continued speaking my mind when crazy planning... you guessed it another back to school party. You may recall we did a big back to school celebration last year for Thomas so I had to think of something different and then it came to me...."Meet the Class of 2025" is the perfect theme!!! I will plan to use our grad cap and scroll and think a ice cream social in September will be a great way to mark this huge milestone. Ohhh I cant wait to get my hands on all those school supplies in Aug!

Jackson on the far right and 2 of his friends. If you know me from when I was in elementary school in Queensbury, NY you may get a kick out of Jackson's RL shirt that says "Lake George" on it!

I see T-Shirts with this image  that Say "Class of 2025" on the back.

Thomas' Pool Party Revealed

Remember the birthday parties you had when you were a kid? The most important things were that all your friends were there to help you celebrate and your mom baked you your favorite cake. Well, we decided this year to scale down a bit on Thomas' birthday party and keep it simple. We managed to do that ( I admit I have a few moments where I started spinning out of control with the ideas...) and wow what a great time was had by all (incuding me). We have a few last minute things to get ready on Saturday morning but by 12:00 we were finished with 4 hours to spare so we relaxed by the pool and waited for our guests to arrive. We couldn't have asked for a more perfect day 82 and sunny and no humidity. I think this might have been Thomas's favorite party so far!!

The kids went swimming, relaxed in the hot tub (so spoiled kids today!!), ate burgers and then we had cake and an ice cream sundae bar. Then, you guessed it, back to the pool!!!

Love these goodie baskets. I included a beach towel, legos, big box of candy and of course Shark Bait (bubble gum!)

Fresh flowers....tried to look for boysih colors, not always easy!

Thomas contemplating his wish. You should have heard the oohhhhs and ahhhs from the kids about his cake. They where overwhelmed by all those Kit Kat's and M&Ms. The cake idea is from Made in Melissa's Kitchen

Little Brother Jackson steps in to help blow out the candles.

Hmmm wonder what that wish was.....

This brings a smile to my face - a table full of goodie baskets for the kids. They flipped when they saw them. One little girl thought the baskets were better than what the Easter Bunny delivered.

I used HPD postcards for the tags. A quick whole punch and ribbon and tada - they were a great size.

Little thank you note from Thomas on the back of the Post Cards. Loved these beach towels I found at Target. They were super soft and a great price.



Close up of goodie baskets. Loved these towels that had Lobsters on them from Target.

Close up of Shark Bait!

This is the debut of our new style for invitations.  I added a gift enclosure with important information about the party!

WOW- 9!!!!

My last minute idea... Shark Bait. Little glassine bags filled with Gum.

Adhering to our home made theme - Thomas wrote the "Welcome" sign

Jackson and Thomas prepare the cake. Sundae Bar supplies in the background.

"More M&Ms" they said!

Jackson wrote a "to do" list for us for Saturday.  Pretty good writing and spelling for age 5!

I had these fill in thank you notes printed a head of time so we could get started on them right away. I should have just had "LEGO'S" preprinted as that is what he received from almost everyone. I guess they know what Thomas likes!

Do you want to re-create this party? We are happy to help! Here is where we purchased the supplies. Send us a note so we can assist you!

Hampton Paper Invitations

Hampton Paper Gift Enclosures

Hampton Paper Post Cards

Hampton Paper Square Dot Solid Stickers

Hampton Paper Fill in Thank you Notes

Baskets Michaels

Lego's Lego Store

Candy Target

Beach Towels Target

Items are available on Etsy and our web site.

Recipe for a Great Weekend!

New Food Network Magazine + SUN + Chaise Lounges + Lemonade by the Pool = A GREAT WEEKEND!