Gettin' By

Finally Friday.

Whew - it's been a week of the dreaded "post-vacation catch up" where I try to tackle things that have been postponed, delayed and otherwise ignored for the all-hallowed Spring Break. And let's just say I'm rejoicing that it's finally Friday, after five days of attempting to get myself and the [just slightly crabby] family past the vacation hangover and back into a somewhat regular routine. So, can I have a beer yet?

We spent spring break with friends in one of our favorite tropical destinations in Mexico. To say it was truly heavenly might be an understatement. There's nothing quite like a sandy beach, crystal blue water, and limited cell service to melt your troubles and stress away. And a few Dos Equis never hurt, either.

So naturally, the vacay centered around lots of quality beach time:

As well as underwater adventures to check out the local wildlife.

And, of course, you can't take a trip to the beach without burying someone in the sand!

To balance out all the action, we made sure to include lots of leisurely swings in the beach hammocks...

 

...and partake in more than a few afternoon siestas on the sand.

Many hours were spent reading (Mike & I finished five books between us!)

For the daily happy hour, we convened at a favorite watering hole, La Buena Vida.

The swing bar was a perfect spot to rehash the day's activities and enjoy a cold drink.

There was way too much Fanta consumed by the kiddos...

and Riely proved she could be a spokemodel for the brand. Muy delicioso!

And you can't forget the chips, fresh salsa and guacamole (with plenty of margaritas to wash it all down!)

The time spent near the ocean never fails to awe, inspire, rejuvenate, and relax!

We flew back into Denver just in time for a snow storm to hit, making our memories of the beach that much sweeter. There's nothing quite as depressing as trading your flip flops in for a pair of Sorels.

Here's hoping your Friday is sunny, happy and stress-free!

Party Time! Excellent!

Yes, I just quoted Wayne's World in my blog title. Not exactly eloquent, but I'll blame it on the fact that my brain (and liver) were witness to one pretty great little shindig last weekend:

So for a few months now, my sister-in-law Ali and I have been planning a surprise party for our twin husbands' fortieth birthday milestone. It all started with a plan to pull off the impossible: two girls who are not-so-good at lying trying to surprise two boys who are very good at noticing everything.

The plan was to send them out for a round of golf while we gathered friends and family back at the clubhouse for a post-round celebration. We secretly emailed invitations to guests:

and then coordinated food, decorations and favors in secret meetings while they were at work. I didn't get too many photos pre-party (there was too much anxiety and stress to shoot photos!), so most of these are after the fact, but you get the idea!

Each table was decorated with party and aging-theme quotes (cut with my trusty Silhouette!)

The centerpieces were tin buckets of golf balls, with polka dot ballons tied to the handle. We also scattered imprinted golf tees around:

And for entertainment, I created faux-polaroids of the boys spanning the past 40 years, and spread them around on all the tables. They provided plenty of fodder for jokes about Flock of Seagulls haircuts the whole evening!

And after Ali recently discovered the most delicious cupcake bakery, we had to include a delectable cupcake tower:

So at 1:00 on Saturday afternoon, we sent this crew out to the links:

The twins' older brother, Ben and college friend, Jess were in on the surprise and had strict instructions to keep them on the course until 5:30. They sent us text updates throughout the afternoon and it soon became apparent that the round of golf was going to finish faster than we expected.

Like 45 minutes before the guests were even due to arrive - ack!

So Ali and I took matters into our own hands, highjacking a golf cart (me driving while Ali tried to keep an entire tray of tequila shots from spilling while we drove) and meeting the guys at the 17th hole in hopes of stalling them for as long as possible.

Ultimately, our plan worked. We parked our carts just as the last guests gathered and enthusiastically welcomed the boys to the party:

 

The lack of reaction can only be attributed to shock, right?!

Much revelry, laughter, story-telling and of course, drinking ensued. We had rented a photobooth to capture some of the festivities and looking through the photos later was proof of the good time that was had:

A definite highlight of the evening was the slide show that Ali put together, highlighting some of the amazing moments from the last 40 years. There weren't many dry eyes left in the house after this tape rolled:

Yeah, it took lots of sneaky planning, much anxiety, a few little white lies, and the inevitable tequila shot to give these two an unforgettable birthday evening, but we managed to get it done. And it was small gesture compared to the unforgettable moments they've given us.

Partytime excellent, indeed.

Around here lately...

he:

-is learning all about gourmet gecko diets -  all while trying to keep the crickets & mealworms far, far away from his squeamish mama.

-can play an incredibly beautiful rendition of Musette on his trumpet.

-is often seen sporting stylish fedoras and most recently a newsboy cap, thanks to gifts from his Uncle Ben.

-had us cracking up over the Bad Lip Reading channel and this NFL clip. "Orange Peanut? I accept you!"

she:

-has become my little kitchen apprentice, doing everything from chopping to measuring to polishing copper. Now I just have to convince her that ironing is fun and I'll be home free.

-grudglingly practices her math flash cards before bed each night.

-is currently writing a story about two second-grade girls named Jenna & Kaley that largely focuses on what they wear to school each day.

-loves showing us all the new moves she learns at her hip hop dance class (and delighting in the fact that she's the only Dickinson with any sense of rhythm.)

he:

-is on a mission to get fit for our spring break trip to Mexico and has been doing P90X every night. Which is slightly different from my regimine of consuming margaritas and tacos.

-is headed to D.C. for a few days to hang with some lobbyists in his stylin' new suit, where he's sure to win friends and influence people. Or at least look hot doing it.

-has decided that it's more calorie-conscious to sip whiskey rather than drink beer.

she:

-thinks that whiskey smells a lot like kerosene. And calories be damned, still loves beer.

-has resolved to snap more photos with her DSLR this month, after the realization that no photos makes scrapbooking very difficult.

-is almost finished with her December Daily album. Alert the folks at Guinness!

 

And what's up with you these days?

When Cold Weather Rolls In.

We got a little taste of winter this past weekend when temperatures dropped below freezing, the winds blew in, and every so often a single white flake would come tumbling to the earth. For me, this type of weather is a sign to dig out the warm clothes and boots - it's officially sweater weather! and hunker down with a big pot of coffee for some scrap time. For Mike, it means it's time to go golf.

So after the kids and I had gotten settled in for a cozy weekend (cocoa and marshmallows? check! movies from RedBox? check! no reason to venture outside? check!) Mike bundled up in every layer of fleece he owns to chase a small white ball around the links. Not exactly what I would want to do on a frosty day, but then again, even in warm weather, golf is my personal idea of hell. The only elements of the sport I find redeeming are Bogey - because who doesn't love Casablanca? - and the beer cart. Because sports are always better with beer. Duh.

Needless to say, we all enjoyed our respective weekend activities. The kids and I spent a bit of time being lazy and watching E.T. (I can't believe we waited this long to watch the classic!), and then I went all Martha and completely cleaned and organized the pantry while the kids did homework and chores. We also welcomed these two new guests to the household for fall:

Of course, I snuck in a little scrap time too, and will be sharing the full projects later this week. Here's peek of my project for the Jenni Bowlin Inspiration Blog, where all month the design team will be showcasing vintage creations:

And here's a shot of a page-in-progress for the Lily Bee blog hop this Friday (be sure and stop by - there will be prizes!):

 

We wrapped up the chilly weekend with a family dinner at Rock Bottom on Sunday night. Because regardless of weather, we can all agree that fabulous food, football, and fun are a great way to wrap up a weekend. And the beer never hurts, either.

Finishing the Refinishing.

The past two weekends I've been knee-deep in elbow grease trying to finish up some projects for Riely's room. You may remember that I began the process of decorating her room, um, about two years ago?? (This is the main reason that, my daydream delusion of one day starring in my own HGTV show will never come to fruition. Because when it comes to decorating, I am painfully slow, ridiculously indecisive, and easily distracted by other HGTV shows.)

But despite the prolonged time frame, I am finally getting the little missy's room together. One of the final projects was to repaint and distress her dresser (which I found at a flea market shortly after she was born) and her make-up table/vanity (which used to belong to me, and my mom before that.) I realize that this post would have much more impact if I'd had the wherewithall to snap some "before" photos. But because my painting process began after the consumption of several beers on a Friday night, no photos were taken. So you will just have to trust me on the fact that both of these pieces look SO MUCH BETTER NOW.  Really. And that's not just the beer talking.

The dresser and vanity both started life with different (read: kinda icky) colors. The dresser had been painted black and the vanity was stained a medium brown. Because Riely's room is pretty small and dark furniture only makes it look smaller, I opted to paint both pieces white (I used a white latex paint in an eggshell finish applied with a small foam roller). To better match her antique iron bed, I also wanted to add distressing to give them a little bit of age and patina.

Here's the finished vanity and matching chair:

It took two coats of paint and then I added distressing by lightly sanding the areas (with medium-grit sandpaper) that would normally be exposed to wear.

I also repainted a round mirror that will eventually hang above the vanity.

The big red flower (found at Hobby Lobby) has a date with my glue gun and will soon be adorning the edge of the mirror.

I lined the drawer with wrapping paper from Target (applied with spray adhesive) and added a new ceramic drawer pull (also from Hobby Lobby.)

As I mentioned above, the dresser was painted black when I originally bought it. The drawers were super musty and smelly so the whole thing got a coat of KILZ Primer (inside & out!) before I painted it.  After two coats of white paint, it was ready to distress.  I used Mike's power sander for this job, because getting through all the layers of paint with hand-sanding was beyond my patience level.  Plus, I rather enjoy using power tools (especially ones can't potentially dismember me.)  Here's the final dresser:

I also lined these drawers with the same wrapping paper (yes, contact paper would have been easier but the designs I found were hideous!) and mis-matched ceramic knobs from Hobby Lobby:

To finish both pieces and make them somewhat kid-proof, I used Paste Finishing Wax to seal the surface.  It's applied much like car wax - you rub it on and then buff it off - and it gives a smooth satin-y finish that isn't too glossy. I love it for distressed furniture project because it gives an instant patina to the piece that other sealers don't. And it's so easy to use, you can even do it while drinking beer. (Have you identified the critical component in my DIY projects yet??)

So with these two projects done, the room is almost complete. I've got a few tissue flowers to assemble today and some art projects to frame and then I'm hoping to share Riely's finished room with y'all.  It will only be the second fully-finished room in our house (the mud room being the first). Yes, I know we've lived here for more than five years. But I've had a buttload of HGTV to watch over that five year span, people!

Stay tuned to more home decorating adventures...and have a great Monday!

 

Five on Friday.

Today's list is five things I will miss about summer!

1. Bridgeport Summer Squeeze ($6.49).  This is a girly girl beer - a light crisp ale, with hints of lemon grass and yuzu fruit (which has to be a totally made up fruit just for marketing purposes, no?) and this girly-girl loves it.

2. Smith Serpico Aviators ($118.00).  I may have listed these before on a Five on Friday, but my minty green shades deserve the repeat attention. I love that Smith makes a smaller-sized aviator for those of who don't want to endure Top Gun jokes every time we wear shades. The aqua hue makes them definitively summery, but I love these specs year round!

3.  Crayola 3D Sidewalk Chalk ($19.99). There is nothing better than seeing a huge span of concrete driveway covered in artistic masterpieces. And when you can pop on 3D glasses and have them come to life, it's even better. Seeing a driveway covered in snow (that um, needs to be shoveled!) is just not the same (though it doesn't require 3D glasses).

4.  Havaianas Top Flip Flops ($18.99).  When summer says goodbye, so do my beloved black flip-flops. Though I guess that means I can stop worrying about pedicures, since my tootsies will soon be covered in wool socks, right?!?

5.  J Vineyards Pinot Gris ($19.99).  Yes, there's two alcoholic beverages on today's list. (Do you know me AT ALL, dear readers??!)  I will miss the slightly fruity (with hints of tangerine, Margarita lime and Tahitian vanilla) and always refreshing flavors of this perfect warm-weather wine when autumn rolls in.

Enjoy your dwindling summer!

A recipe of mine that doesn't suck.

I'm not exactly known for my phenomenal cooking skills (a no-sugar carrot cake with faux cream cheese frosting I made for Hayden's first birthday comes to mind) but I do have a few tried-and-true recipes that I've perfected over the years. I recently posted a pic of one of my faves on Instagram and got several requested for the recipe.  It's simple, with easy-to-find ingredients, doesn't require any fancy appliances or equipment and you can totally drink a margarita while you put it together.  Which pretty much means it's my ideal recipe.

 

Black Bean & Corn Salad

2 - 15oz. cans black beans, drained & rinsed
2 lb. bag of frozen corn (you can also use fresh corn)
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium red onion, chopped
1 jalepeno, diced (or two, if you like it spicy)
3/4 c. chopped cilantro
juice from 2 limes
1/4 c. plain greek yogurt (or sour cream)
1/2 c. red salsa (I like Blue Moose salsa)
1 T cumin
1 T chili powder
salt & pepper to taste

Mix everything together in a big bowl. Cover tightly with saran wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Ideally, make this the night before you want to eat it. It gets better with a bit a of time to "marinate" in the frig! (During which time, you should totally drink margaritas.)

Serve over lettuce and/or corn chips and top with crumbled queso fresco. If you want to bump up the protein content, you can also add in edmame (I threw some in the last batch I made and it was tasty), garbanzo beans, or avocados. It's also a nice salad to serve with grilled chicken or steaks. And a margarita, natch.

Enjoy!

P.S.  I'd be remiss if I didn't direct you to my favorite margarita recipe right here, now wouldn't I?!?  Cheers!

 

Weekend Summary: No Pants. No Margaritas.

And if that blog title doesn't increase hits, I just don't know what will.

Our weekend wasn't lacking in the celebration department. With three birthday parties, two family gatherings, two BBQs, National Scrapbook Day, and of course, Cinco de Mayo, how could it be? Sadly, none of these events involved margaritas.  

(Those of you that know me well are saying WHA?!?!?  I know, I know. As your Queen of Gratuitous Imbibement, I've let you down)

But it did involve wishing a very cute pantless nephew happy birthday:

Apparently when you're three, it's totally your perogative to celebrate the big day by refusing to don pants. And scowl at your Aunt Pete for taking photographic proof.

But a birthday cake and crazy relatives singing off-key can always improve your mood:

And just so you know, tonight (after our last volleyball game of the season) I'll be heading out for margaritas with the girls. I've got a reputation to uphold, after all.

Five on Friday.

Today's list features some items that are helping me cope with the end of Spring Break! (sniff!)

1.  Kona Brewing Company's Koko Brown Ale ($15.99/12-pack).  There's nothing quite like the taste (and smell!) of coconut to remind you of the islands. The Kona Brewery says "the delicious heart of this island treasure has a nutty, toffee flavor and aroma that sends you straight to the beaches of Paradise."  And while I can't really say my dirty house and piles of laundry equal paradise, this beer helps me overlook them for the time being.

2.  Sunless Strip Self-Tanner ($26.00).  With my Bahamas Beach tan fading daily, I'm supplementing my glow with this natural self-tanner.  It doesn't have that characteristic self-tanner stench and won't leave you looking like an extra from Jersey Shore (bonus!)

3.  Cinquain Sweetie Heel ($97.99) Shoe shopping is a sure funk-buster for me, and with a wedding to attend next month, I'm looking for a new pair of heels to make me smile.  And these fun loving striped mary janes from Poetic License are doing just that!

4.  Unforgettably Fashionable Ring ($9.99). Another way to get rid of the post-vacation blues? Add a cheap but fun little bauble to your hand!  I love this sweet bow ring in a lovely aqua hue that just so happens to look fabulous against sun-kissed skin.

5.  Gazela Vinho Verde ($11.00).  The worst thing about returning home from a beach vacation? The fact that you can no longer parade around in your bikini and drink fruity tropical drinks for breakfast. (Hmph.)  To ease the pain, I'm keeping some of this fresh, fruity, and slightly effervescent white wine around for happy hour.  And drinking it with a paper umbrella in the glass makes it taste even better.

Hope your Friday (and weekend!) are fabulous, my lovelies!

 

Did someone say chocolate?

It's Valentine's Day, which isn't a holiday I typically get too gung-ho about. Oh sure, it's the day I perform my annual karaoke rendition of You've Lost That Loving Feeling, much to my family's chagrin and embarrasment, but beyond that, we don't do much in the way of celebrating. But lately I've been hearing rumors that Valentine's Day may include chocolate?  And wine?  (Yeah, and something about love, but hey - you had me at chocolate.)

So this year, I'm doing my best to get into the spirit. I've spruced up our decor with some loving sentiments:

Assembled some flowery Valentine's with Riely for her classmates:

Designed a humorous Valentine for Hayden (thanks to Daddy for the bowtie, suspenders, and nerdy eyewear necessary for the photoshoot!)

Purchased treats for the teachers of the above-referenced children (because, goodness knows, if anyone deserves chocolate today - it's the teachers!)

I also prepared today's sack lunches with a bit of Valentine's flair:

 

 and wrapped up some sugary treats for the kiddos:

Of course, there's a love note awaiting my honey when he leaves for work (along with several packs of sugarless gum. He's not a chocolate guy. And that, my friends, is is why our relationship works so well.)

 

And last, but most certainly not least, I've got a little Valentine's treat just for me:

Because a little chocolate and wine just might help improve this year's karaoke performance. You never close your eyes anymore when I kiss your lips...

Enjoy your Valentine's Day, lovelies!