July Fourth Celebration

One of my all American Favorites, Patrick, 8 months

I'm curious what everyone has planned for the 4th. We have some friends that have invited us to come over, pitch a tent Sunday afternoon and stay till the sunrise morning for a camp-out in their yard. Everyone is just bringing a variety of food and kids to contribute to the potluck and chaos.

So, what food are you planning to prep for your celebrations? I was thinking Calico beans and Georgia Caviar. And some really cute picnic ant parade cupcakes made out of choc covered peanuts and pretend/candy food hoisted on top of their backs from my new cupcake book book.

Does anyone have any cool, yummy, traditional, celebratory ideas they can offer? I'd love to hear some recipe ideas and also what your plans are to celebrate with your family on this truly American holiday.

A new take on Tuna Salad

I really like tuna salad but was looking for a way to dress it up and make it a little less plain (and preferably without mayo) so we could take it on our picnic to the Telluride Bluegrass festival yesterday. After looking for several recipes, I managed to come up with a mixture that was pretty darn good. You may want to tweak the measurements to your liking.

Mediterranean Tuna Salad

Dressing:

1/8 cup olive oil

1/8 cup lemon juice

2 Tbsp spicy mustard

Mix well with a fork until blended.

Combine:

3 cans albacore tuna, drained mostly but not squeezed

(don't bother with chunk lite, it will make a huge difference.)

1/8 cup sun dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped

1/8 cup calamata olives (I found these pitted, quartered and in a jar)

1/4 cup parmesean cheese

2 Tbsp fresh basil, chopped

Spike Seasoning (or season salt) to taste

Fresh cracked pepper

Mix all this together and toss with dressing. Fill a tortilla with mixed greens, slices of tomato and spoonfuls of tuna salad. Roll it up, cut in half and serve!

Sweet Inspiration

I was recently gifted the book "What's New Cupcake" which is ridiculously inspiring.

And the other day I happend upon the blog for Bakerella who has created and mastered the art of what she calls "cake balls."

photo courtesy Bakerella

And between the two of them, I'm beside myself with sweet inspiration. Now who can help me figure out an excuse to make some. The next birthday outside of my own in our immediate family is 5 months away!!!

The River Why

I read this book years ago at my husband's bidding. After having lived in Montana for two years relishing in God's great testimony of his existence in his unsurprising beauty of the wilderness, I always equate the book to some of my experiences there. We just returned from a trek back north and back through some of the secluded wilderness of the Rockies and it's silver threads of rivers and streams that bring life to their sandy and rocky banks, and I find myself with this book in hand once again, pouring through it; devouring it; reliving it.

If you love the outdoors, you'll love it. If you love fishing, you'll love it. And if you can appreciate the quest of finding meaning to life and wrestling with such in the life of a person setting out on his own, then you'll love it. (I'm certain we've all been here at some point in life and know even more friends either wrestling with the same things now or in the past.) It's laugh out loud funny at times to boot. Take a look and perhaps join me in reading The River Why by David James Duncan this summer.

Orchestra Training

photo courtesy of The San Juan Symphony

We took P to the San Juan Symphony recently which was a blast. We saw many familiar faces. There were several people from our church performing and several from the Fort as well which was all that much more exciting for P. It was fun to point out all the different instruments, especially the more uncommon ones like the contra bassoon.

The whole experience reminded me that around the time Patrick was 3 years old, I ran across a website that was pivotal in exposing him to the instruments of the orchestra. Below are two very good sites that allow you to hear each instrument and to see what they look like. I even went so far as to print out flash cards for P to learn the instruments by.

I have found that it's hard to remember what it was I was doing with P as A gets older. I find myself in the rut of always thinking that he is younger and thus does less than P. So I was so happy that our Symphony concert reminded me of this. Visit the following sites, with the kids in your lap. It's a ton of fun and you never know how that little bit of exposure will effect the kids later in life. Also, if anyone is interested, I've already compiled a bunch of instruments to print out into flash cards. Just email me if you want them.

The Dallas Symphony

The San Fransico Symphony

baby weight be gone meals

So, I've started to make meals that are diet friendly, and thought I would share a few with you.

We made this one last night, and I used ground turkey instead of beef, but I think it would be good with venison or just vegetarian. Low carb, low fat and definitely doesn't taste like it. Even Garrett and Greenlee approved.

CAULI-RICE BLACK BEAN CASSEROLE from Mindika Moments






I am planing on making this one this weekend.
Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp and Goat Cheese from Cara's Cravings

Bangs

I've been considering getting bangs forever. I think I have been too afraid to do it because I was sort of a mullet child until like 1995.

But I've noticed my monsty forehead more and more in pictures of myself and was thinking that bangs could be great, although i'm wondering if summer might be the worst time to give them a try considering i'll be doing a lot out doors and getting sweaty regularly (hopefully....unless i have a job,  i guess).

so. i was wondering your thoughts on bangs, those of you who have tried them in your adulthood.

the before and after pictures of Dana from MADE are what inspired me to seriously consider getting mine chopped:

thoughts/suggestions, ladies?