summer FUN has begun

The boys have finished school and will be entering 6th and 8th grade this fall.  And with that, summer fun has begun!  Their schedules are pretty full, to include PreAP summer homework {which they are both dreading, of course, but this Momma doesn't mind that the learning continues over break}. 

It started with a few games of Mexican train this weekend.

Then there was date night for JP and I at one of our favorite sushi stops in Uptown.

The Minneapolis Farmers' Market early on Sunday morning for some veggies for the week.

A swing past Theodore Wirth Park and we spotted this creature making a morning swim.  We used to swim here as kids, but after walking out on a newly installed dock to take a picture of this guy, I wouldn't let my kids swim in the lake.  In my opinion, I think it's only good for fishing these days.

There was also the commissioning of the kids going off on Mission Trips at church this month.  Henry is going on his first mission trip with the junior high group next week.

The weekend ended with my folks joining us {for an early Father's Day} for homemade pizza.  It was supposed to be made on the grill, but with 90+ degree weather, we opted for inside instead.  It was scrumptious, with fresh vegetables and basil from the market.  A perfect way to end the weekend!

yes, indeed.

summer is in FULL swing.

Weekend Catch-Up!

Sometimes I wonder how I manage to cram so much into a weekend?  But it is always possible.

Picked up the puppies from the DaySpa (aka PetSmart) on my way home from work Friday. 

My girlfriend, Cheryl, came over and enjoyed dinner with us.  Afterward, we went to see the AHS performance of School House Rock.  Lots of energy, color and a fun night of reiminsicing about sitting in front of the television as a kid!

Saturday morning was spent at the Community Center once again watching the boys playoff games.  Two more weekends to go!  Happy to report that both teams won.

Saturday evening we had Ginny & Troy over for dinner.  An absolutely scrumptious evening menu was planned:  bacon-wrapped scallops, salad, brussel sprouts, twice-baked sweet potatoes, homemade olive bread, red wine and chocolate mousse with strawberries & chocolate shavings.  Yeah, you can bet I saved up my caloric intake for dinner!

Sunday was another morning at church, rehearsal for Oliver (Mother's Day musical coming up), and a meeting for LAX in the evening. 

In between, I found time to start a new book, and a got addicted to a new game app (Draw Something free).  Unfortunately, I didn't make time to work out.  I hope to rectify that next weekend.

Bring on Spring and the warmer weather this week...  looking forward to it!

Making Santa Buttons

A friend of mine makes these sweet treats every year for a party... 
I just had to give it a try this year!

Ingredients:  Round pretzels, Hershey's kisses and Mint M&M's.

Step One:  

Place round pretzels in cookie sheet, single layer. 
Begin to fill centers with unwrapped kisses.

Step Two:  Try not to eat more kisses than you're putting into the pretzel rounds.

For variety, I used dark chocolate and milk chocolate with almonds.

Step Three:  Melt for 2 minutes in a 250* oven.  The kisses will NOT appear to melt.

Step Four:  Press mint M&M into the center of each button.
Note to self, center may not "center" if you're using kisses with nuts!

Extra special when shared with friends!

Ta-dah: Santa's buttons for a sweet & salty treat!

Tomorrow:  Making Jerry's fudge with Mom

food, glorious food

 

 

by george, I think he's got it!

the pizza crust

the toppings

the yummy, ooey-gooey- goodness!

Well done, JP, well done!

Once Upon a Time...

I knew this wonderful, amazing & inspiring designer, named Jeffrey. He changed the way I look at the world, in more ways than one. His design style is what I like to call eclectic, full of color and mixes in a little bit of old world with the new.

Last night I enjoyed dinner with a friend of mine at a new restaurant in town called the BLVD.  I have yet to find a website for the place but there are plenty of reviews to be found.  What struck me first and foremost, however, was the wall of antlers above a fireplace.

 

Immediately I knew that this trend had to have been inspired by my friend, Jeffrey.  Notice the similarity?  Interesting and stunning.  In the restaurant, however, it was just about the only thing (besides a bunch of mirrors tilted from the wall...   vanity much?) that spoke of design.  Oh, well, there were also the bathrooms that had a few design elements, but I'll let you discover those for yourself.

So, for my two cents on the restaurant itself, I agree with other reviewers, for the most part.  A tad disappointed that if you wanted bread, you were charged for it.  In Minnesota, at least, we are used to complimentary warm bread at the table.  The yummy looking loaves were displayed just outside the open kitchen and as we watched the manager of the restaurant cut off a piece and taste it, it felt just a little bit like a tease.  I'd also suggest you go early.  It was PACKED by 5 pm on a Thursday.  The food is rather pricey for local fare, but the flatbread (pizza) was very good for $10. The bottled water was actually tap water, but the waitress made sure to express that it was filtered when I joked about it out loud.  It ended up looking like a "swell place to hang out" or a pick-up joint  for the older crowd (LOL!) after a while.  Interesting mix of "momma's kitchen meets eclectic".  Definitely worth a try.  Once.

Oh, and I think between waitstaff and chefs, there were at least a dozen bald men...  stopped counting after a while and that doesn't even count the ones who were there as patrons!

Breakfast. It's what's for dinner.

Day Three without Dad.  Many think I can't cook, but that's just a rouse.  My husband cooks, therefore, I do not.  Why should I worry about taking away something that he's so passionate about?  and lately, we've cut out a lot of the sugars and he's been making very healthy meals.  I love it.  I admit it, I am spoiled.

So people thought that we might starve this week while he's in Denver.  Or God forbid, eat fish sticks for seven nights in a row.  Well, it hasn't happened yet.  In fact, I've lost a pound this week, but I'm pretty sure it's not due to lack of eating.

Tonight's dinner was very good, if I do say so myself.  And it's one of their faves.  Henry was creative in his plating and VOILA! dinner is served.   

Cooks of Crocus Hill

Pignoli

 Enjoying some good wine, great food and wonderful times in Sanibel...

Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.

Psalm 33:3

They're magically delicious!

I am a kid at heart! I also love the occasional designed for kids, sugar cereal. Come on, admit it, you occasionally indulge in your childhood favorite, right? So I opened a new box of Lucky Charms this morning ~ yum! After pouring the milk on my cereal, I noticed the back of the box ~ it had your usual fun colors and something for the kids to stare at while they eat - but wait, it had a claim for me too! "The Hourglass Charm has the power to stop time * speed up time * reverse time!" Well, I'll be jigs and a bunch of bullfrogs (to use a common phrase my grandfather used to say), where have you been, Lucky the Leprechan, I could have used you this past month? LOL!!

Monday Ramblings

GHOST TOWN
The parking lot is still mostly empty at work... it's going to be a long 4-day work week, I tell ya! It's so quiet around here you can hear the coffee pot screaming for visitors. Guess I'll find something to clean up, out and catch up on filing this week.



My perennial garden is coming back!! I'm so happy that the hail storm didn't completely destroy the plants and they are coming back to greet us now that summer has arrived. Click on photo to enlarge and see it in all its splendor.




and my beautiful window boxes... JP keeps complimenting on how beautiful they are this year. Can you believe these are from Kmart's parking lot garden? They are my favorite too!





And I just have share a photo of a scrumptious frittata that JP made for dinner on Friday night... yummy!!