I took small joys in updating my iPhone, iPad and computer's wardrobe. Courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer, my "technology" is currently rocking 'summer classics' as their lock screen:
And 'you gotta regatta' as their home screen:
One computer is rocking 'garden by the sea' as its desktop background:
Thank you, Lilly Pulitzer. Update your technology's wardrobe (it's fun!):
{For those who need a little help! Click on the above links to bring up the print of your choice. On Apple products, press on the image to select 'Save Image' and on your desktop, right click to save and update away in your wallpaper and background settings. Enjoy!}
Tuesday night was fun. I tried a new experience... Flower arranging! The English Garden hosts classes each month, and this month was creating a garden arrangement. The four of us ladies enjoyed wine, cheese and lots of pretty flowers including roses and peonies.
Once we walked in, stations were set up with various flowers. Then we chose our vase and whether we wanted to work with scissors or a knife. After trying the knife, it seemed a bit risky, so I kept it safe with scissors. We went step by step talking about height, where to draw an arrangement's focus, how to use stock, etc. Everyone's final piece turned out different but lovely. You'll see my finished arrangement above - I was most pleased.
Afterwards, the four of us headed to the Angus Barn's Wild Turkey Lounge for snacks, wedges and drinks. I couldn't stop myself from ordering a Root Beer Float. Great night!
The beauty of a long weekend... I kicked off Memorial Day weekend by filling a craving for dinner at The Pit with Hank. It's perfectly southern, reasonably priced and delicious. I enjoyed a super healthy ; ) veggie platter of sweet potato fries, collard greens, fried okra and mac n cheese. The Carolina Style Ribs Hank ordered are always a favorite, and I think it has a lot to do with the fact that they have "more fat, more flavor!" Their fried green tomatoes as a starter are always a gem. Dinner was great, and we grabbed our check just in time for a raging bachelor party to be seated next to us. They couldn't read their menus and the only words the one could say was, "I've got the mustaches and cigarettes."
Saturday it was onward to the lake! We enjoyed sitting on the dock visiting with neighbors, lots of boat rides, some sunshine and watching Bentley swim. My favorite beers of summer that I'm enjoying above are SweetWater Blue (blueberry beer) and Leinenkugel's Summer Shandy (lemonade beer). Mom was the hostess with the mostess serving us Bloody Marys, smoking a delicious dinner of chicken, ribs and pork as well as making one of my favorite of her gourmet burgers, Pear & Brie. Note prettiest Monkey Bread I've ever made above.
Bulldogs can't swim? Maybe not, but Bentley certainly was amazing at it with his life jacket on. Bentley loves boating, swimming where he can touch and floating, lots of floating. Dad played the part of an awesome captain, and my favorite moments of the weekend were tubing and being anchored in the middle of the lake to relax without a care in the world.
Wednesday's good deed for the day: There were about 25 of us ladies ready for Zumba. We had a sub, which I was happy about because I am all for a new routine. But... we were all ready to go, and the stereo would not work! What is Zumba without music? We couldn't cancel class... We all needed Zumba that night. I was dressed in black, and I stealth mode slipped out of class, flew to my house, grabbed my SoundDock, came back, plugged it in, the instructor placed her iPhone upon it and Boom Boom... In the house! The music was pumping. I even got a round of applause and lots of thank yous at the end of the night!
All of this to say, remember to do good, and the Bose SoundDock is amazing. It's one of my favorite things. I bring it everywhere! It's great for around the house as it's portable. I enjoy it at the lake, and I bring it to the beach. I use it at concerts, on our July 4th parade floats, and it even provided the music at the wedding rehearsal I coordinated. It's sleek, simple and loud. The instructor looked doubtful when I walked up with it, oh typical iPhone speaker, but it brought the house down (and sounded incredible). I'm all for sharing a great product that comes with fantastic customer service (definitely a past birthday gift to remember)!
P.S. We did squats and kicks to this song at Zumba, and I could not stop workout smiling.
This weekend was perfectly relaxing, and sometimes, that's what a weekend is meant to be.
My goal was to not leave the pool, but with an unplanned & awkward sunburn on Saturday (due to one floppy hat), I found another way to relax on Sunday - reading Fifty Shades of Grey. I just finished this book yesterday, and it was captivating - I'm already onto the next. I watched the movie The Vow, and I loved it. It's right up there with We Bought a Zoo as recent greats. Bentley and I ran some errands (note him driving), and I continue to enjoy my birthday zeebs candy jar. It's from Furbish Studio, and it's filled with gold Hershey's nuggets (with toffee and almonds) and pink ribbon. The highlight of my weekend was sparkling in my glitter pumps & clutch at Wicked with the fam. We dined at Alivia's prior to the show, and it was delicious. We enjoyed one order of Salt & Pepper Calamari, and we had to order another because it was so good. Another highlight? Sliding down the pool slide with Hank!
... for summer themed dinners. I was so excited for this meal after Zumba last night. Grilled steak kabobs, sweet corn on the cob and baked beans are three summer staples I love.
This past weekend was so much fun as there was lots to celebrate between my birthday, my sister-in-love's college graduation and Mother's Day. The peak of my birthday was Hank making me a jungle cake, being extra loved by family and friends and lots of dancing.
*Please note my Buzz Lightyear balloon from Hank in the top left - Loved this surprise.
The peak of my sister-in-love, Laura's, college graduation was the moment when she stood up to receive the highest academic scholastic award in her College of Humanities and Social Sciences at North Carolina State University - She worked hard for that 4.o. Congrats!
Then there's Mother's Day which is always a sweet, sweet holiday. I was actually born on Mother's Day. I'm so thankful for how I was raised and all that my mother has given to me. She is still teaching me something valuable every single day. Hank and I share fantastic mothers, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Happy Mother's Day to the best of the best.
My mother said to me - "If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk, you'll end up as the pope." Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.
Once we returned from our trip it was Cindo de Mayo. We celebrated Bentley's first birthday, and then friends invited us out to celebrate and hear about our trip... So sweet!
We dined at Jibarra, Modern Mexican & Tequila Lounge, which offers four different types of guacamole, tasty margaritas and really great burritos. The next day we had family over for Cindo de Mayo Part Dos with chicken enchiladas. If you are what you eat, I'm Mexican.
During our stay in Punta Cana, we were introduced to the drink that is Mama Juana.
This drink is local to the Dominican Republic, and it is delicious. It's 60 percent red wine, 30 percent rum and 10 percent honey. The art of this drink is that it is soaked in a bottle with tree bark and herbs, also known as Mama Jauna. If you travel to the D.R., enjoy a glass!
Hank and I vacationed in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic to celebrate our first anniversary. We stayed at the Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro, and it was pure bliss and then some.
I'll never forget the excitement I felt as we pulled up to our resort. The grounds were beautiful, complete with flamingos. We were greeted with cold towels and your choice of champagne or a pina colada. Welcome to Fantasyland. Each day was filled with swimming, floating, soaking up the sun, cabana naps, beach walks, massages and general relaxation.
There was always the option to join in on yoga, water aerobics, archery and scuba. The dining was fantastic and the drinks were delicious - especially the mojitos. Each night there was a show, and after the show, you could dance the night away below deck on a boat.
Some favorite memories... The cab was coming to pick us up at 4:40AM, and at 4:20AM, Hank said, "Babe, do you know where my passport is?" We commenced to reenacting the opening scene from Home Alone when the McAllister's were running around their house, and unlike leaving Kevin behind, the passport was found, quite happily! | I loved floating up to the swim-up bar on a raft - that was the best. | I had so much fun getting ready for dinner every night. One night, Hank and I were dining in the gourmet restaurant, Le Tourbillon, when Hank said, I'm pretty sure Antonio Banderas just walked in. I turned around, and it was Marc Anthony! Commence to singing, I need to know, I need to know, tell me baby girl because I need to know... You'll see my paparazzi photo above (bottom left). | This vacation truly was paradise... "Toes in the water... not a worry in the world... life is good today."
