I never really have anything on my Christmas list.
It’s all about the kids these days.
BUT, I really want this:
Or this:
Can’t decide ~ RED or YELLOW?
But, it’s another {thing} to take up space.
Another gadget.
More “stuff”.
Why can’t I just be happy with my Costco Mr. Coffee maker and my cute Krups espresso maker?
It’s an unnecessary purchase, right?
But, what it makes is OH so necessary.
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Hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving weekend!
Our friends {and neighbors} from our old ‘hood in Nor Cal passed through Santa Clarita on their way to San Diego this morning.
They’re coffeeholics like us and we always meet for a cuppa Joe before they hit the road…
Today we changed it up a bit and met at Peet’s instead of ‘Bucks.
I was reunited with a drink that I’d like to think I {invented}, but could be totally wrong…the only reason I say that is because every time I order it they say, “Oooh, that sounds good!”
It’s an Almond White Mocha.
Starbucks no longer has the almond syrup, but Peet’s does!
It was bbbbrrrrr {42*} this morning when we set out…I know, I know…So Cal girl talkin’ here…
My AWM hit the spot.
I also LOVE the Almond Mocha Joy from Seattle’s Best. They use both almond & coconut syrups. YUM!
Might I suggest this beverage if you’re an almond & coconut lover like me.
Now to track these down so I can make them at home…
{via}
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I hope your Wednesday is full of mochas, lattes, cappuccinos, hot chocolates or whatever it is that gets you through the day!
Enjoy!
The concert in the park series has come to a close.
Last night we thoroughly enjoyed the Journey cover band, Don’t Stop Believin’.
They’re WAY 80’s cool…
EVERY song was awesome.
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I’ve mentioned this little libation before, but wanted to remind you of it:
This is what we bring to the concerts.
LOTS of ice in the pitcher, 1 can defrosted pink lemonade {don’t add water}, the empty can full of vodka and 3 beers of choice.
As you can see, cheap vodka and store brand lemonade work just fine.
They all blend together and form a refreshing, citrusy beverage.
It’s called the Hop, Skip & Go Naked.
But we can just call it the “Hop Skip” for now since, from my last post “Edible Thongs” and a “Hop, Skip & Go Naked” all in one weekend, I don’t want you all to get the wrong idea about where this blog might be headed! 😉
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The salty sweet combination of a coconut Dum Dum and a tortilla chip:
The purple girlies:
Lots and lots of “Believers”:
The place was PACKED.
The “no nap” thing lately is kicking in for earlier bed times:
This was a great way to start winding down our summer fun.
Next weekend we’re looking forward to going to San Diego for Labor Day and celebrating my Mom’s Happy Day.
Then I will officially be in Fall mode…
Cozy crock pot meals, pumpkins, autumn scented candles, falling leaves, nip in the air, lots of football…
MY time of year!
Have a beautiful, blessed Sunday.
XOXO
I made this Pineapple Limeade for Holden’s birthday back in February.
D-lish.
Thinking about revamping our lemonade stand into a limeade stand with a tropical twist!
Stay tuned…..
Read a little blurb in the July issue of Real Simple…
“Slurpee turns 44 this month”
Well, according to Wikipedia, Slurpee was born in 1967 and if I’m doing the math correctly, that makes it 43….just sayin’.
I guess it’s Real Simple vs. Wiki.
I’m sure Slurpee would enjoy being a year younger anyway…
All age discrepancies aside, July 11 is “7-11 day” in the US and apparently they are giving away FREE 7.11 ounce slurpees this Sunday.
The flavor combos have come quite a way since I was a kid.
Back in the day it was either Coke or Cherry.
I always did half and half since I couldn’t decide!
{SlushinessX2…Google Images}
So, in an attempt to cross off “Get a 7-11 Slurpee” on our summer list, we will head to the nearest convenience store and fill up a cup with some wild concoction this Sunday.
Get your brain freeze on this weekend!
Kickin’ off the weekend with “The Blueberry Tart”…a cocktail I discovered on the blog of Shawn Rabideau, Event Planner/Designer Extraordinaire.
For those of you who haven’t gotten hooked on Bravo’s new series “Bethenny’s Getting Married?”, good for you. I, on the other hand, am a faithful RHofNYC fan and am enjoying the spin-off starring “Skinnygirl” Bethenny and celebrating her entrance into married life and parenthood. I am in love with her wedding/event planner, Shawn. Can’t wait to see the “wedding of the year” this Thursday night.
Ahhhh, summer TV!
I’m loving this libation ~ light, refreshing, not-too-sweet, not-too-tart & super summery!
If you love all things blueberry, you must mix up one of these.
Would be lovely with Stoli Razberi, too!
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…have a lemonade stand!
{Tartness…Google Images}
How cute is this one?
You can find the full cuteness here!
I would certainly stop at this stand for some ice cold lemony goodness on the rocks. And I would certainly stay awhile for some refills.
Darling!
Elliott and her girlfriend, Emilie, have been talking about a lemonade stand for weeks.
It’s time.
Perhaps some confections or baked goods to go along?
Researching now!
Coconut Creme Coffee-mate:
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Flip flop Nutter Butters:
{favorsinthecity.com}
You KNOW I’ll be attempting to make these before summer’s end!
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Paul Frank beach cruiser:
{amazon.com}
I’ve always wanted a girlie beach cruiser ever since my college days of living in Pacific Beach. A girl can still dream.
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Miss Trish of Capri flops:
{target.com}
Saw them at Target for Elliott, passed, went back to get them in her size and they were gone.
Why haven’t I learned my lesson? You can always buy them and return, but if you don’t buy them they will be gone!
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Extra ice americanos with Splenda & a splash of half & half:
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Concerts in the park:
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Fun straw hats:
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Kaftans & Big Glasses:
{polyvore.com}
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A rainbow of Havs:
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Filling many punch cards here:
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Spending lots of time in any body of water:
Simple. Sweet. Silly. Sweaty. Sunny. Starry. Sticky. Suntanned. Slurpee-filled. Swimmy. Splashy.
SUMMER.
Only 11 more days.
{All photos courtesy of Google Images unless otherwise noted}
What a weekend…
Today we ventured to the pool. For me, Memorial Day should include some pool or beach time.
It felt great to be out under the cloudless blue, getting some real color for the first time in months. A rainbow of flip flops lining the edge of the pool and at the sides of lounge chairs. The sound of little ones squealing and splashing. Mommies and Daddies getting caught up with their friends while keeping one eye on their little swimmers. Plastic tumblers holding “prohibited” beverages. Orange stained Dorito fingers and towels showing the same. Grilled hot dogs & cheeseburgers, macaroni & potato salads, chips & dips and brownies & cupcakes!
Dive sticks. Boogie boards. Floaties. Goggles. Wet towels piled up on the warm cement. Funny tan lines already emerging and peeling crying kids away from the water promising them another trip to the pool SOON.
Kids that fall asleep on the 3-minute car ride home and still look like this after 2 hours:
And little newly turned 5-year olds that say, “I had SO much fun!”
Now, that’s a good day.
*****
This 3-day weekend was also full of all sorts of summer fare.
On Saturday evening, I made Carolina BBQ Pork again. Along with Down Home Baked Beans. And some Blue Cheese Coleslaw.
I don’t normally get excited about coleslaw, but this stuff is GOOD. Thanks to Hollie for planting the seed by mentioning this to me a few weeks ago!
Note: I only used 1/2 cup mayo as the bag of angel hair cabbage mix was only 10 oz. (and well, because frankly NOTHING should contain 1 cup of mayo). I also used Craisins in place of the grapes and they worked well with the blue. If you need a slaw recipe for your summer, you’ve got to check this one out.
We used some of the BBQ pork and baked beans for some Southern Skillet Nachos on the grill. I layered chips, chopped pork, baked beans and cheese in a cast iron skilled and Jay put it on the grill for about 10 minutes (until the cheese melted).
Traditional deviled eggs were a must this weekend, too.
Jay wanted to do some carne asada this evening…
Time was running out so I just went to Trader Joe’s and picked up some of theirs. It was very lean and super flavorful. We grilled some onions and peppers and made some mini burritos:
We washed it all down with these margaritas:
{Keepin’ it classy with the Keystone Light!}
I would say that we definitely had a well-balanced holiday weekend.
Dance class. Birthday celebration. Hollywood. Pool time. BBQ. A visit from Gramma & Popsi. Games of Twister. Laundry.
Yes, well-balanced!
About a week and a half to exhale and then we have a visit from Lolo & Lola, a preschool graduation and a Mardi Gras themed dance recital.
I have a feeling it’s going to be a summer to remember!
Nighty Night!
Our Dearest Elliott…
You had so many adventures on your way to THREE! Spent a lot of time at the local amusement park Bonfante/Gilroy Gardens. Summer concerts. Garlic Festival. Your first gymnastics class with some friends from the neighborhood. You visited Grunc at “Camp Duke” in Yosemite for the first time. More apple picking. Lots of trips to Happy Hollow Zoo with Charlotte. Halloween in South Carolina. Shared Holden’s First Thanksgiving and Christmas. Visited Popsi in Seattle for Easter. Started dance class with your friend, Maya. Enjoyed MANY playdates and visits from family and friends. You celebrated your 3rd birthday with an Afternoon Tea Party with tea sandwiches, Ina Garten’s Herbal Iced Tea and again, your favorite, piggies in a blanket!
On your way to FOUR you continued to amaze us and make us proud. More trips to Gilroy Gardens. Dance classes. Became potty trained and celebrated with Wall-E at the movie theater. More Summer concerts. A day at the local Lake. A trip to the Oregon Coast for cousin Kim’s wedding. A visit to San Diego for Mommy’s 20th high school reunion! Lots of story times at Barnes & Noble. Dim Sum at our favorite China Town restaurant in SF. More apple picking. Annual visit to the Pumpkin Patch with the Coronas. You were a beautiful butterfly for Halloween. A move to Southern Cal in mid-November. Turkey Day in San Diego. The family’s maiden voyage to Disneyland! Celebrated a beautiful Holiday Season in our new house. Met your first friends in Valencia. Started preschool in January. A trip to the Bay Area to visit family and friends. A visit to The Getty. Your first fundraiser walk for Autism Speaks at The Rose Bowl. Again, many playdates with good friends and visits from family! You celebrated turning Four with an Ice Cream Social. We had mini sloppy joe’s, Ranch potato salad, piggies in a blanket, and a build your own ice cream sundae station with sprinkles, mini marshmallows, Fruit Loops, graham cracker crumbs, chocolate syrup and whipped cream EVERYWHERE! It was fabulous!
Your girlfriends and you decided to play dress up at your party and you changed into your cheerleader Halloween costume from 2 years prior!
Your FORTH year also continued to be full of fun and new experiences. A trip to San Diego to help Cousin Dorothy celebrate her 100th birthday. A darling end-of-the-year program at school. A wonderful trip to Wawona, Yosemite with the family to visit Grunc & Jill. Swim lessons. Awesome concerts in the park. Swim play dates. A weekend in San Diego and your first trip to The Corvette Diner. Visiting Mommy and Daddy’s friends in Newport Beach. A road trip with Mommy and Holden to the Bay Area over Labor Day weekend to celebrate two very special birthdays (Charlotte & Baby Finley) and visit cousins Izzy and Samantha. Trips to Santa Monica. The Pumpkin Patch in 100* weather. Your first UCLA football game. You started your last year of preschool with your new teacher Miss Linda. LA Zoo with Lolo & Lola. Second annual family Disneyland trip to kick off the holiday season. San Diego for Turkey Day. Vegas for Daddy’s 40th. The best Christmas Season ever. Karaoke on New Year’s Eve. Viewed Rose Parade Floats. Started dance class again. Second Autism Speaks walk. Miniature golf. Bumper boats. Nature hikes and SO much more.
You love life and enjoy everything you do. You get such nice feedback from Miss Linda and your dance teacher, Miss Vanessa. You are a good friend and a caring sister. You are crafty, smart, curious, funny, silly, spirited, fearless, sensitive, full of energy and we can’t wait to see what adventures you will uncover as you celebrate your way to SIX.
But first…..
tomorrow is YOUR big day!
Guaranteed to be full of tumbles, leaps, cartwheels and jumps as you celebrate turning FIVE!
We love you Miss Elliott,
Mommy, Daddy, Holdy, Riggs & Rassy