This Week's Menu

John and I simultaneously said it: we want more all-veggie nights for dinner.  I was making our menu and was about to ask him if he was ok with 2-3 veggie nights every week, but before I said anything he asked if we could have 2-3 veggie nights every week.  Talk about match-made-in-heaven.  Veggies, we're coming for you!

Ribs, chips & paleo spinach dip

Veggie night (steamed carrots, broccoli, acorn squash, thyme corn)

Steamed shrimp, pesto pea & spinach salad

Veggie night (sweet potato fries, roasted aparagus, black eyed peas, bacon brussel sprouts)

Dairy-free butternut squash soup
Ham, tomato, spinach, & swiss quiche

My Green Smoothie

To take a day from great to amazingly stellar, I like to drink one of these tall boys for breakfast.  

Frozen Strawberries

Two Super-Ripe Bananas

Bunch Of Raw Spinach
Almond Milk

Apple Juice

Decorating Direction & Inspiration

Can I offer a little decorating advice?  Advice might be the wrong word, how about if I say that I want to share something that I've picked up along the way of learning my style.  It all started when I was registering for my wedding.  My matron of honor went with me, and she's a stellar decorator and ahead of me in the homemaking game.  I was scanning away and she finally said, "Stop! I can't figure out your style. We need to talk." She pointed out that I was liking a lot of different stuff across the board and making weird decisions.  

Right there in Pier 1 I learned about styling.  I learned that I should probably pick a style (to which there are several) and stick with it.  She wasn't trying to box me in to something rigid.  I wasn't registering for ivy painted plates, then going for deep red velour curtains, then choosing a sailor inspired tissue box (wait, I did have one of those at some point in my life).  And she certainly wasn't making me pick a theme like that.  It was more of a direction than anything.

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That's when I got it.  I've learned over the years that I like a lot of different styles, but there is an underlying theme that is really me.  I've picked three pictures that are my all time favorites.  So much of what I want to be and where I want to grow are in these pictures.  When I think about changing up a wall decor or making some pillows or just dreaming what I would like to do in the future, I think about these pictures.  They're me and I love them and they have different things about each of them that I want.

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If you're interested, then here's what I learned: plants in our home is a must, that it's good to mix unexpected patterns and colors together (I'm looking at you, sage and aqua), pictures of cool colored nature scenes are a household favorite, and I love balance and clean lines.

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I've heard decorating advice that says, "just pick what you like and it will all work."  The people who say that have the gift of being eclectic and chic, and that's just not all of us.  It's certainly not me.  While I'm all about trying new things and taking some chances, I know that there are certain things that I'm always drawn to.  I still come back to a few basic feelings and direction that I know to be what I love.  These pictures here, I love so many things about them.  They provide direction and inspiration and serve as a tool to help me find more of my personal style. These days, anything that helps me find my own decorating style is fine by me!

Please, if you want to pin any of these pictures, please go to the source and pin from there.  I've put the source under each picture and made it larger as to encourage checking out their homes.

Birthday Party Weekend

The theme from this past weekend was Birthday Parties.  We had four celebrations go down in two days and it was epic.  We had Burl's party, brothers/sister goings on for Joseph's 30th, James' (Burl's little buddy) party, and Joseph's family party.  It.was.big. Here's how we partied for Burl:

Burl told me he wanted a red firefighter party.  Everyone teased me because red and I don't get along, but we set aside our differences for the sake of Burlito.  Look at me in that red sweater, Mama dresses for the occasion.  Basically, we had some snacks, cake, and a couple of firefighter games for a few of his friends.  With the kids, parents, and family, we might have had 40 people here.  Ya know, just a small little shindig.  

The first of the two games was an obstacle course.  Everyone but Burl got the concept (we may have had a little meltdown with him) right away.  Eventually he got it.  Here's how it went: drive Burl's firetruck (aka red tractor) down the sidewalk, get off and put on a firefighter hat, step through the ladder (with the help of my niece), climb an upright ladder, rescue Curious George, and come back down.  The kids did great!

Next up, we had Pretend that cardboard house is on fire and we have to put it out but we aren't using a hose, we're using hard to pop water balloons game.  It was a hit, no pun intended.  People got wet.  Fun was had.  It was great.

These were the last three boys standing.  They were fighting over the un-popped balloons, getting wet in the process.  Muy exciting.

Next up, we went in for some food.  I made several little sandwiches, bought some goldfish, served juice, and they ate it up.  I wasn't in there the whole time, but apparently it was quiet because they were enjoying their food.  Play hard, eat hard.  

Look at that firefighter cake.  I didn't make it, but I ordered it.  These little scenes on top of cakes things is awesome and tacky to me-two things that go well together, like wine and cheese.  Also, it really provides for toddler hype.  This boy was excited about his cake!

We paused for a brief family picture.  

Before I go any further, I would like to say a little note about hosting kids birthday parties.  I have seen a handful of crazy moms out there who yell, direct, and control their way through their kids parties and basically it's awkward and weird and fun is not had.  I don't want to be that way.  Right before the party started I was tying up a few loose ends and apparently I was anything but laid back.  John had a talk with me about how the house looks great and I don't have to be stressed and yadiyadiyada.  Good stuff to say to me, but I was being weird.  He took the kids to play in Burl's room.  I stopped what I was doing, left a few imperfections out for everyone to see, poured a cup of coffee and joined them.  {Hint: my new thing is leave a few imperfections before a party starts to help me let go of my grip on perfection.  Dishes in the sink, partly dead flower, it's how I roll these days.} I met John and he talked to me some more, and I apologized for the past 20 minutes.  Then, the party arrived.  I didn't feel frantic during the party.  I felt excited.  When Burl had his little meltdown, I wasn't thrown too off course.  Things don't go perfectly, especially with toddlers.  

Thank goodness I let go of cleanliness and perfection, because my brothers started a mini food fight with Burl, based off of Hook, to which they love to expose Burl. Bangarang! 

One of my highlights of the party, was having Lauren and her family join us.  I've mentioned Lauren before, and it's no secret that we're pretty close.  Like sisters.  Having her there felt like my family was complete.  She lingered after everyone left and we took some time to take pictures.

I like to call the above picture, Best Friends, Like Sisters, Future In-laws.  Our kids' marriages have already been arranged.  It's a no brainer. 

We closed the weekend with a trip to Joseph's restaurant of choice.  It was one of those restaurants where they cook the food in front of you.  Fire? Definitely.  I think it was a great ending to the firefighter birthday weekend.  

Happy Birthday to Burl, James, and especially to my younger brother Joseph.
Joseph, I hope 30s treat you well!