While I’m getting ready for our next activity, bonfire & s’mores, Chloe’s reading outside the tent,

and Shane’s inside on his iPod.

Roasting marshmallows and hot dogs.

It was so much fun! Happy birthday my sweet Shane!

And we all slept in the tent…

We are celebrating Shane’s 8th birthday and we are having a camping party in the backyard. 🙂 My sweet boy didn’t even ask for a party and even though we didn’t do anything special on his birthday, he just thought that was it. So when we surprised him with our little “camping trip” in the backyard today, he was thrilled!

Chloe’s an awesome sister. She bought him walkie talkies with her own money, wrapped beautifully with a card and gave it to him on his birthday. Shane said it’s “the best gift ever”, and they’ve been communicating through it all week. Andrew got him a brand new bike but who cares about that . ;P Actually he’s been riding it a lot and he’s very happy to ride a big boy’s bike.

Chloe’s praying for the meal.

My mom made Kalbi and Japchae. So yummy!

To the best 8 year old boy Shane,

Sweet, smart, kind, athletic, funny and bright. That’s you!

I am so proud that you are my son. I hope I tell you that often enough. I love how when you wake up in the morning (only during school week) all tired and needy and have to come to find me in the kitchen to sit on my lap hugging me for a while before you start your day.  When you outgrow my lap I’ll be really sad. I love how you randomly call me to say you love me throughout the day. You are a sweet sweet soul… You have so much love to give and I hope you love your God the father the most before anything else in life. I love you with all the love I can imagine…my son.

At 8 years old:

1. Your favorite color is black.

2. You want to become a football quarter back player when you grow up.

3. You’re going to live next door to us and be our neighbor when you get older but you’re also going to have a house in Bar Harbor.

4. You love to play basketball, football, baseball, soccer, basically all sports and you’re so good at all of them.

5. You find your sister Chloe to be the funniest comedian on earth and you are her biggest fan.

6. You still like to sleep in our bed every chance you get.

7. If we threaten you to take away your video game time on weekends, we can pretty much have you do anything we want…

8. You discovered U2 early this year and it was your favorite band for months. Now you found out about Z100 music station and love everything they play. You’re a music lover.

My parents came back from their little getaway and we planned a surprise brunch for my mom’s birthday. Chloe helped with most of the food preparation and keeping my parents from coming to the kitchen 😉

Chloe praying for the meal.

Happy birthday! We love you so much~~

The Planner, bride, host & maid of honor.

Congratulations SJ!

I had the honor of planning my friend’s bridal shower.

I cut some flowers from my garden, found a branch and voila!
Super easy to put together and makes a beautiful backdrop.

We’re having our friends over for a BBQ today!

Flowers from our garden

Today’s cocktail: Lillet rosé

Guac and chips

Corn on the cob, sprinkled with chili powder, cotija cheese, cilantro and lime juice.

Watermelon salad with mint

Farro salad with red cabbage topped with feta and pomegranate seeds

My juicy burgers

Rosemary garlic chicken

Grilled pineapples

My besties from NY…though one is moving to Cali…

Kids are having water fights

Chloe got all the boys!

Our backyard is about to turn into a pond…

then onto destroying the basement…

What a fun day we had! Thank you for coming over!

I was asked to plan a very simple baby shower for a colleague at work so this is what I did. 

I love those giant balloons. 🙂

For dinner I made bruschetta with homemade herbed ricotta cheese (no picture), 

Roasted beet salad with truffle goat cheese,

Truffle tagliatelle pasta

Porcini mushroom and rosemary crusted beef tenderloin with port wine sauce

Another fantastic time with friends!

For appetizers, I had sliced salami, cheese, fig jam and crackers in one plate and dates & gorgonzola cheese drizzled with honey on the other.

Roasted butternut squash salad with warm cider vinaigrette

Cowboy rubbed rib eye with chocolate stout pan sauce

The rub recipe was amazing.

penne cauliflower and cheese

8 adults, 4 bottles of wine… I say we had a good time. 🙂

I’m getting ready to host a dinner party tomorrow. When I’m planning a party the first thing I do is buy fresh flowers and set the tables. Nothing transforms the room and gets me in the mood for party like beautiful floral arrangements.