What's happenin?

July 30, 2009

Had a great time playing in a golf tournament...went to Chicago, but never made it out of the airport area (my next trip to Chicago will be for pleasure...I love that city)...dodged tornadoes...and finished a book, so here is the review...

I've adored Jennifer Weiner's past books (Little Earthquakes, Good In Bed, Good Night Nobody, etc) and was super excited when mom brought me her newest one. Jennifer is a very witty writter who really hits home runs with real life stories, but I can't strongly recommend Best Friends Forever...writing is good, but the main story line is unbelievable. It was an easy read with a fun twist at the end, but still didn't feel satisfied with the story. If you've read the story...let me know your thoughts.

Sweet Nothings...

July 26, 2009
This weekend was filled with nothing...sweet nothings. Stayed up late reading and surfing my favorite Internet sites/blogs...slept late both days. Hit golf balls. Weeded the flower bed. Got to hang out with a friends sweet children while they went to a concert. Had fun in the kitchen this afternoon...I'm always reading recipes and marking the ones I want to try...so tonight Ray, mom, dad and Molly were my taste testers...what a delicious summer dinner we enjoyed...skirt steak (we loved it Aunt Sherry!), Smoked Gouda grits, stuffed zucchini, tomato bread and frozen key lime tart. Everything was super quick and easy. However, per the pastry chef at the Fresh Market, it is better to use fresh key limes, so I had to squeeze for 30 minutes to get a 3/4 cup, but it was worth it! Will definitely add these recipes to my favorites...well except for the stuffed zucchini...I like the zucchini custard bake I make much better.

Congratulations...

July 25, 2009
to Kembree and Tony! After 9 years of dating, Tony popped the question and Kembree said yes. Gorgeous ring! Had a great time out Thursday night with Kembree and the girls celebrating with manis and pedis followed by a delicious dinner at Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen. If you haven't been, go now. Such a quaint location with absolutely the best, fresh ingredients (most is grown in the back yard and if not it is purchased from local farms). I started with the Caprise salad and had the small Ricotta Cavatelli as my entree...paired with a tasty red wine. Michael sent us each a shortbread cookie for dessert. Devine. I want to go back tonight!

Too many...

July 22, 2009

cute pictures. A good time was had by all at Lily's first birthday party...

Shout out to Caleb...

July 17, 2009

Em and Lil...Dinner...Tomorrow Night...be here...

Happy Birthday

July 15, 2009

Happy 1st Birthday to Lily! Happy Birthday Aunt Sherry! Lily and Aunt Sherry share their special day. Aunt Sherry and my cousin Shannon flew in from Miami today and we celebrated with a birthday dinner party at our house. Lily loved her baby stroller!

We all enjoyed Aunt Sherry's strawberry cake...

Lily wasn't too sure about her bear cake that Nonna and Molly made her...it is the same bear cake pan that mom made for Molly's 1st birthday!

I'm off tomorrow and plan to spend the day with the girls (hopefully at the pool). Lily's party is Sunday night, so here's to a great weekend with family and friends.

You Have New Picture Mail!

July 13, 2009

I love to hear this message, because 9 times out of 10 it is from Emily and is a picture of Lily. As Monday morning was creeping by at work...I got this one titled 'Practicing her typing skills'

My response back: 'Already a workaholic just like her aunt!'

Reviews...

July 13, 2009
Friday night while I made dinner, Ray went to the Redbox and came home with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. I was very upset as I thought it was a sad movie, but I was totally wrong...it is a beautiful movie about unconditional love. I gave the very long movie '2 eyes wide open'. On the other hand, on Saturday night I gave Gran Torino '2 eyes shut within 15 minutes'!
Ray really enjoyed this movie, but I might have been tired, because I stayed up way late Friday night finishing Dedication. I started Dedication before we left for the beach, but didn't take it with me, because I thought it to be too complex for a beach read (plus I borrowed it from Jennifer and I'm known for dropping books in water). I picked it back up and had to start over, but I ended up really enjoying this book. It is about seeking closure while holding a place in your heart for your first love and in the end...was it all worth it...

While at the beach, I read Life's a Beach. At first I didn't like that the 40 year old had moved into an apartment over her crazy parents garage and her workaholic sister was absolutely annoying, but Molly recommended this book (which is a big deal as it takes a very special book to hold Molly's attention). I was surprised how the book turned around and it was a rare gem that as I was reading along I found myself feeling as one of the characters. Super easy read, so if you are a day dreamer like me, you can read a page and drift off and pick right back up where you left off. Happy Reading!

More sad than Michael's death...

July 8, 2009

I love the Memphis zoo and believe I have posted twice about their pregnant elephant. I was so amazed that they carry their babies for 1 year and 9 months, so excited about getting to see a baby elephant and even planned to enter the naming competition. Well on Monday night at 10:23 pm, the calf was born and today at 10 am the calf died. You can read the details here...http://memphiszoo.org/elephantblog.

Asali drinking out of the pool at our recent trip to the zoo...

Happy 4th of July!

July 4, 2009

Went with mom, Emily and Lily to visit Grandma Deen at her new home. It is an assisted living facility in Searcy...it's a new place that is managed by the hospital and it's top notch! Almost felt like a ski lodge (without the slopes)! Everyone was super nice. She has one bedroom, a large living room and a huge bathroom. I really think she is going to like it. Their afternoon activity was a 4th of July parade and watermelon. It was simple, but super cute.
Grandma took us on a tour before the parade...I think my favorite room is the old fashion soda shop, where they have an ice cream social once a week.

Lily was really a hit with the ladies!

This is Mr. Willis, he and his wife eat each meal at Grandma's table. They decorated everything with wheels for the parade...he has the water hose holder...they also had fertilizer buckets, etc...

This is Baily, my cousin Jason's daughter, she looked super cute riding her scooter in the parade!

Lily decided she wanted to join the parade too!

Hmmm...watermelon.

Fruit Pizza

July 2, 2009

My Grandma Mullen use to make delicious fruit pizza, so every summer when the fruit gets ripe...I make one and then Ray request another one about every week! I made one tonight and it was fantastic and looked kinda patriotic, so I thought I would share the recipe. Gma Mullen used a sugar cookie crust, but I use chocolate chip!

1 roll of chocolate chip cookie dough

1/4 cup sugar

8 oz cream cheese (softened)

3/4 cup powdered sugar

2 t vanilla

8 oz cool whip

Assorted fruit - I like to use blueberries, strawberries and peaches

Preheat oven to 350

Spray cookie sheet with cooking spray, press cookie dough into pan (I've learned that if you wet your fingers the dough smooths out best). Cook 10 minutes on 350.

Mix sugar, cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla until well blended. Add cool whip. Spread over cooled cookies and decorate with fruit. Enjoy!

A Day at the Beach...

June 30, 2009

begins around 9 am after we have had our coffee with coconut cream and blueberry donut (or in Kendall's case chocolate with sprinkles) from the Donut Hole. We cover ourselves with sunscreen and head out with all our stuff. Once the tent is set up and Lily's pool is filled, we jump some waves and Molly gets Lil to sleep. We settle ourselves in our lounge chair. I love the ones you rent, Em loves the ones that you buy at Walmart that set low to the ground and lie all the way down and Molly's favorite is the old fashion lay out chair. Kendall plays in the sand and rides the waves on her boogie board while the rest of us people watch, read, talk and join Kendall in the ocean. Lily wakes up after a 2 hour nap and plays in her pool for an hour or so. Around noon few people head to the pool and as we start getting hungry we go up for lunch. After lunch we relax on the beach and discuss where we are going to dinner. Whenever we feel we have had enough sun for the day (or it starts raining) we head up and get ready for dinner...really could you think of a better way to spend a day?

Happy Birthday Molly!

June 27, 2009

Happy 23rd to you...here's to a great night of celebrating. We love you!

Life's a Beach...

June 20-25, 2009
well, when you are at the Beach...HA! Such a great time on 30A for our annual girls beach trip. It was absolutely wonderful to be on the beach and such a treat to get to spend a week with my mom, sisters, niece and Ms Donna & Kendall. I'm so lucky and thankful to have such a wonderful family/friends who get along so well. Destin is just too crowded these days and 30A has so much character and beach charm. We stayed at the Inn on Blue Mountain Beach and it was fantastic...really a home away from home. Lily was an absolute delight to be around and it is such a joy to spend time with Kendall, she has grown up so much since our first beach trip 4 years ago! I'm going to break this post up...will talk about our time on the beach, all the wonderful seafood and the amazing sweets over the next few days, but for now...a few pictures to tied you over. I'll spare you all 333 that I took and spent 8 hours uploading to Shutterfly!
Lily's 1st dip in the ocean. She loves the beach just as much as her mom, Nonna and aunts do!