Who doesn't remember the ice cream truck!!!???? I bet any kid and/or adult anywhere in the USA at any moment could hear the "tinkle, tinkle" music coming from an ice cream truck and not only know exactly what that sound is.... but will start to drool and want an ice cream too!
I was driving through the neighborhood the other day and heard that distinct tinkle, tinkle music and instantly starting craning my neck to see where the ice cream truck was! Then.... on another day I was sitting poolside reading when I heard the ice cream truck music and seriously thought about running into the house, grabbing some change and waiting curbside for a malted milkshake cup! I'm sure before summer is over I will have added... waited curbside for the ice cream truck... to my list of 'things I did this summer'!
When I was growing up, nothing made you smile quicker or set your heart racing faster than hearing that special ice cream truck music! Me, my brother, and my cousins would instantly dash off to find the nearest and closest adult to beg quarters or dollars from so we could all get an ice cream. We would sometimes even separate from the pack trying to find more than one adult to contribute to our quest.... and sometimes we would just bombard a single adult and not give in until they had to relent a dollar or two. We were fortunate to get these special treats often enough to feel like any typical neighborhood child, yet infrequent enough to appreciate what a special treat it was. And the funny thing is.... we could have had the exact same popsicles in our freezer... but they just taste different coming from the ice cream truck!
When my girls were growing up, I remembered my childhood days of treats from the ice cream truck and tried to always have some spare change on hand during the summer so that they too could experience the pure joy of the ice cream truck. I couldn't always say yes.... and often I KNEW I was going to say yes, but wanted to let them also enjoy the ritual of having to beg please, please, PAH-LEASE!!!! before digging up the change they needed. And.... can a child grab ice cream truck change quick enough before they literally go "poof" in front of your eyes as they dash out to the curbside and all is left is a cloud of smoke because they ran so fast out the door like in cartoons!?!?
And of course I always had to give them extra change so they could 'get one for Momma too'! Me, the girls, and the neighborhood kids would all sit around the 10 minutes it took us to devour our treats.... slurping, licking, yumming.... until the last bits were gobbled up and gone. Then.... like a tornado that hits and then is gone, off run the younguns back to whatever they were previously playing before they heard that tinkle tinkle ice cream truck music.
I hope I never stop hearing that special tinkle tinkle music of the ice cream truck... and I hope I ALWAYS buy an ice cream from the truck at least once each summer.... if for no other reason than to remember it only comes in the summertime and everything in the summertime is special!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Skinny Dipping Under the Full Moon
I just love the heat of summer... stickiness of the humidity and all.... bring it on! I have been waiting for months just to be outside as much as I can, because in the winter I avoid being outside as much as possible! I find myself these days wandering out the door just to stand in the sunshine and soak it up, and I am blessed with having a pool in my backyard, which definitely helps spending lots of time in the heat of summer.
The other night I was sitting on the back patio alone while Joe was working in his study. The sun was going down and I could see the full moon rising. I must have sat there watching the transition from sun to moon for an hour with my feet dangling in the pool. It was such a quiet moment of sheer beauty that I didn't even realize it had been an hour that I sat there.
By the time the sun had completely gone down and the moon had risen, I decided I wanted to take a dip in the pool before bedtime. I had a sun dress on and I was sitting on a towel.... but I would have had to get up and go inside to put my suit on first and I just thought that would spoil the moment.... so..... knowing no one could possible ever see me.... I just yanked off my sundress and slipped right into the cool water...... then I started giggling like a kindergartner!!!
I have to say..... it felt sooooo good and refreshing..... however.... the giggles were from feeling so naughty! Why is skinny dipping considered such a dare devil naughty thing to do? In complete privacy it is the same as taking a bath in your bathroom. Any hoo...... I had a ball doing a few laps around the pool under the full moon.
I now must admit.... that since that first time.... I've been taking a nightly skinny dip in the moonlight before bed. I go to bed feeling sooo refreshed and feeling secretly just a bit naughty..... the getting away with it kind of naughty! I hope to NEVER get caught, that would definitely be the worst..... but.... since it is always after 10:00pm and our patio is very private, I doubt I will get caught.
If any of you get the opportunity to experience this bit of naughtiness, I bet you too would enjoy it immensely! Personally I would NOT skinny dip in any water that I can't see the bottom in! I can't see myself skinny dipping in lakes or ponds or oceans where there are critters that can swim by and or nibble any of my bare parts!!! I don't know which would be worse.... having to deal with the pain of nibbled on parts or explaining my injuries to others!
Give it a try and a splash!!! It's SUMMERTIME!!!!
The other night I was sitting on the back patio alone while Joe was working in his study. The sun was going down and I could see the full moon rising. I must have sat there watching the transition from sun to moon for an hour with my feet dangling in the pool. It was such a quiet moment of sheer beauty that I didn't even realize it had been an hour that I sat there.
By the time the sun had completely gone down and the moon had risen, I decided I wanted to take a dip in the pool before bedtime. I had a sun dress on and I was sitting on a towel.... but I would have had to get up and go inside to put my suit on first and I just thought that would spoil the moment.... so..... knowing no one could possible ever see me.... I just yanked off my sundress and slipped right into the cool water...... then I started giggling like a kindergartner!!!
I have to say..... it felt sooooo good and refreshing..... however.... the giggles were from feeling so naughty! Why is skinny dipping considered such a dare devil naughty thing to do? In complete privacy it is the same as taking a bath in your bathroom. Any hoo...... I had a ball doing a few laps around the pool under the full moon.
I now must admit.... that since that first time.... I've been taking a nightly skinny dip in the moonlight before bed. I go to bed feeling sooo refreshed and feeling secretly just a bit naughty..... the getting away with it kind of naughty! I hope to NEVER get caught, that would definitely be the worst..... but.... since it is always after 10:00pm and our patio is very private, I doubt I will get caught.
If any of you get the opportunity to experience this bit of naughtiness, I bet you too would enjoy it immensely! Personally I would NOT skinny dip in any water that I can't see the bottom in! I can't see myself skinny dipping in lakes or ponds or oceans where there are critters that can swim by and or nibble any of my bare parts!!! I don't know which would be worse.... having to deal with the pain of nibbled on parts or explaining my injuries to others!
Give it a try and a splash!!! It's SUMMERTIME!!!!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Summertime
Ahhhhh Sumertime has finally arrived!!! Yes... I'm aware that officially "Summer" begins June 20th..... however..... we all know that summer REALLY begins the day school lets out! And even tho Summer isn't really over til Sept 21st...... we all know Summer is over the day school starts!
Today I had to drive to Lexington to fetch my daughter Amber, whose car broke down here in Cincinnati on Sunday.... parts had to be ordered.... NOT an easy or cheap break.... any hoo.... as I was driving down I-75 with my convertible top down.... my hair flying.... the radio blaring.... and all I can see ahead of me is this BEAUTIFUL blue, blue, blue sky with these HUMONGOUS puffy whtie clouds..... it just felt like the perfect summer day and all these childhood memories came flooding back.... it was such a nice drive!
I remember getting up at dawn and playing outside all day until we were literally dragged inside the house to eat some lunch.... then back out all day playing again (usually barefoot) until we were once again literally dragged inside to eat dinner.... then back outside to catch fireflies and play hide-n-go-seek until once again we were dragged back inside to bathe and go to bed. I remember falling asleep quickly, not moving an inch all night, but having the sweetest dreams too. The next day.... we picked up right where we left off when we were dragged inside for baths and continued on each day like this all summer long. Ahhhh those truly were the days!
When my girls were growing up they too would get up early, eat a bowl of cereal and then head outside as fast as they could. They would ride bikes.... play on the swingset, swim, and/or play dolls/kitchen/family all day long..... I too had to drag them inside for meals and bath time.... and they too slept sound each night and this was how we spent our summer breaks. The only time we went on trips was to go home to Louisville for family visits.
Now that Joe and I are empty nesters (again!)... it's soooo sweet to drive down the road and see neighborhood kids riding their bikes, playing on their swingsets, swimming in their pools.... and all the giggles and chatter that goes along with each activity reminds me of those precious memories of both my childhood and my childrens childhoods.
Summertime is such a happy time! I am truly happiest when the sun is shining and I'm outside with the sun on my face and the breeze blowing in my hair.... and best of all.... the wonderful smell of suntan lotion! I make it a point each year to buy a bottle of "Coppertone" suntan lotion because... it IS the smell of summer! Even tho I have to be extra careful now when I drive through the neighborhood with all the kids out of school for the summer...... I still love hearing all the summertime voices of the kids as they giggle, whisper, shout and chatter as they are making their childhood memories.
The sun is shining, the temperature is quite HOT and the pool is luring me with the clear sparkle of the water.... I'm grabbing my Coppertone and towel and out the door I go to enjoy my summertime afternoon poolside with my daughter Amber.
Today I had to drive to Lexington to fetch my daughter Amber, whose car broke down here in Cincinnati on Sunday.... parts had to be ordered.... NOT an easy or cheap break.... any hoo.... as I was driving down I-75 with my convertible top down.... my hair flying.... the radio blaring.... and all I can see ahead of me is this BEAUTIFUL blue, blue, blue sky with these HUMONGOUS puffy whtie clouds..... it just felt like the perfect summer day and all these childhood memories came flooding back.... it was such a nice drive!
I remember getting up at dawn and playing outside all day until we were literally dragged inside the house to eat some lunch.... then back out all day playing again (usually barefoot) until we were once again literally dragged inside to eat dinner.... then back outside to catch fireflies and play hide-n-go-seek until once again we were dragged back inside to bathe and go to bed. I remember falling asleep quickly, not moving an inch all night, but having the sweetest dreams too. The next day.... we picked up right where we left off when we were dragged inside for baths and continued on each day like this all summer long. Ahhhh those truly were the days!
When my girls were growing up they too would get up early, eat a bowl of cereal and then head outside as fast as they could. They would ride bikes.... play on the swingset, swim, and/or play dolls/kitchen/family all day long..... I too had to drag them inside for meals and bath time.... and they too slept sound each night and this was how we spent our summer breaks. The only time we went on trips was to go home to Louisville for family visits.
Now that Joe and I are empty nesters (again!)... it's soooo sweet to drive down the road and see neighborhood kids riding their bikes, playing on their swingsets, swimming in their pools.... and all the giggles and chatter that goes along with each activity reminds me of those precious memories of both my childhood and my childrens childhoods.
Summertime is such a happy time! I am truly happiest when the sun is shining and I'm outside with the sun on my face and the breeze blowing in my hair.... and best of all.... the wonderful smell of suntan lotion! I make it a point each year to buy a bottle of "Coppertone" suntan lotion because... it IS the smell of summer! Even tho I have to be extra careful now when I drive through the neighborhood with all the kids out of school for the summer...... I still love hearing all the summertime voices of the kids as they giggle, whisper, shout and chatter as they are making their childhood memories.
The sun is shining, the temperature is quite HOT and the pool is luring me with the clear sparkle of the water.... I'm grabbing my Coppertone and towel and out the door I go to enjoy my summertime afternoon poolside with my daughter Amber.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Blast From The Past Girls Weekend
This past weekend the girls and I all loaded up and did a big road trip to Nashville TN for a childhood friend's wedding. The wedding and the Bride were both GORGEOUS! We girls had a MAH-VAH-LOUS time!!! The four of us women trekked to our old home town to visit with all the neighbors and friends the girls grew up with...... it's been 18 years since we moved away and all the children have grown into amazing adults! WOW!!!!
The girls and I left Friday afternoon (4:00ish) after they all got off work. We stopped in Louisville to visit with my Mom and Grandma. It was a really nice visit, but..... it gets harder and harder to see my sweet little Grandma's health continue to decline by the day..... but I'm grateful for each day she is with us and each time I get to see her and get a hug from her!
We finally arrived in Nashville around 9:00 our time, but.... only 8:00 Nashville time. We deposited our luggage in the room and then hit the streets to find a bite to eat. It was very quiet on the streets, and a very warm night, so we walked about a 1/2 mile to this beer bistro that was recommended to us by the Hotel Staff, we sat outside and had the nicest late dinner. After dinner we walked back to the hotel and hit the bed exhausted.
Saturday morning our dear friend Liesa picked us up from the hotel and took us to lunch at another really cool bistro. We all had DELISH salads and chatted all through lunch.... and of course we kept stopping random people to take our photo every chance we got. After lunch we went to this AMAZING nail salon..... they had 32 pedi chairs and 16 mani stations!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!! We all were able to sit with each other as we had our pedi's done.... it felt very pampering! After our mani/pedi's we had time to squeeze in a bit of shopping. Amber needed a pair of shoes to go with her dress for the wedding that night. Liesa dropped us back at the hotel by 4:00.... we had another round of photo taking and long hugs goodbye! It was such a perfect day..... and we hadn't even started with the wedding yet.
Our hotel was 3 blocks from the church, so we walked to the church in our painfully high heels.... but it was such another nice warm night.... it was quite enjoyable. We arrived at the church moments after our dear friends and neighbors arrived and the greetings were near ear splitting! We ducked in to see the bride quickly before being seated..... which almost made the bride ruin her makeup with tears.... but she gathered herself together and was soooo happy to see all of us..... but especially to see Amber, who is her best friend from childhood. The wedding was wonderful.... her music selection was classically beautiful.... and Kristyn walked down the aisle with both her Dad and her Step-Father.
The reception was a blast!!! We sat and chatted with our dear friends who we haven't seen for years and only got to see 3-4 times in all those 18 years we have been gone! Us adults just couldn't believe our babies were soooo grown up and had turned into these amazing young adults!! We re-told all of 'those growing up' stories.... laughed til we cried and hugged until we absolutely had to part! They are still the sweetest, nicest people we have ever known! We all had a fabulous time!!!
Sunday we slept in, packed up and hit the road looking for the first Waffle House we could find for a late breakfast. Our server was this little Grandma woman.... whose name tag said "Granny"! TOO CUTE!!! But also heartbreaking that Granny was working at Waffle House! We stopped again in Louisville for a visit, but this time to visit with Joe's parents.... who are both dealing with health issues and healing, but first we stopped by Kroger and picked up some dinner to take to them. Again.... it was such a nice visit. We finally arrived home around 7:00pm.... tired, road weary, but happy that we went and happy to be home again. We ordered out Chinese take out.... ate together and recounted our trip to the fellas... then Amber hit the road for the last hour drive she had to make to Lexington, Lauren and Kevin snuggled up on the couch and us old folks (Joe and I) hit the bed early..... we were both snoring by 9:30!
Wonderful, wonderful weekend...... nothing like seeing old and dear friends after many years... and picking up right where you left off each time you see them..... we are all still the same... just older!
The girls and I left Friday afternoon (4:00ish) after they all got off work. We stopped in Louisville to visit with my Mom and Grandma. It was a really nice visit, but..... it gets harder and harder to see my sweet little Grandma's health continue to decline by the day..... but I'm grateful for each day she is with us and each time I get to see her and get a hug from her!
We finally arrived in Nashville around 9:00 our time, but.... only 8:00 Nashville time. We deposited our luggage in the room and then hit the streets to find a bite to eat. It was very quiet on the streets, and a very warm night, so we walked about a 1/2 mile to this beer bistro that was recommended to us by the Hotel Staff, we sat outside and had the nicest late dinner. After dinner we walked back to the hotel and hit the bed exhausted.
Saturday morning our dear friend Liesa picked us up from the hotel and took us to lunch at another really cool bistro. We all had DELISH salads and chatted all through lunch.... and of course we kept stopping random people to take our photo every chance we got. After lunch we went to this AMAZING nail salon..... they had 32 pedi chairs and 16 mani stations!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!! We all were able to sit with each other as we had our pedi's done.... it felt very pampering! After our mani/pedi's we had time to squeeze in a bit of shopping. Amber needed a pair of shoes to go with her dress for the wedding that night. Liesa dropped us back at the hotel by 4:00.... we had another round of photo taking and long hugs goodbye! It was such a perfect day..... and we hadn't even started with the wedding yet.
Our hotel was 3 blocks from the church, so we walked to the church in our painfully high heels.... but it was such another nice warm night.... it was quite enjoyable. We arrived at the church moments after our dear friends and neighbors arrived and the greetings were near ear splitting! We ducked in to see the bride quickly before being seated..... which almost made the bride ruin her makeup with tears.... but she gathered herself together and was soooo happy to see all of us..... but especially to see Amber, who is her best friend from childhood. The wedding was wonderful.... her music selection was classically beautiful.... and Kristyn walked down the aisle with both her Dad and her Step-Father.
The reception was a blast!!! We sat and chatted with our dear friends who we haven't seen for years and only got to see 3-4 times in all those 18 years we have been gone! Us adults just couldn't believe our babies were soooo grown up and had turned into these amazing young adults!! We re-told all of 'those growing up' stories.... laughed til we cried and hugged until we absolutely had to part! They are still the sweetest, nicest people we have ever known! We all had a fabulous time!!!
Sunday we slept in, packed up and hit the road looking for the first Waffle House we could find for a late breakfast. Our server was this little Grandma woman.... whose name tag said "Granny"! TOO CUTE!!! But also heartbreaking that Granny was working at Waffle House! We stopped again in Louisville for a visit, but this time to visit with Joe's parents.... who are both dealing with health issues and healing, but first we stopped by Kroger and picked up some dinner to take to them. Again.... it was such a nice visit. We finally arrived home around 7:00pm.... tired, road weary, but happy that we went and happy to be home again. We ordered out Chinese take out.... ate together and recounted our trip to the fellas... then Amber hit the road for the last hour drive she had to make to Lexington, Lauren and Kevin snuggled up on the couch and us old folks (Joe and I) hit the bed early..... we were both snoring by 9:30!
Wonderful, wonderful weekend...... nothing like seeing old and dear friends after many years... and picking up right where you left off each time you see them..... we are all still the same... just older!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Menu Tasting
Yesterday Joe, Lauren and I went to her menu tasting for her reception. YUMMY!! It was like dejavu from when we did the menu tasting for Jessica just 2 short years ago. The reception site hosts the menu tasting as if you were the most important clients they have ever had.... they lead you to a private room that is gorgeous.... fully set up as if it were a reception table.... and they serve 3 choices of each course.
The first choice for us to make was napking folding. Each place setting had a completely different fold for the napkin. That was pretty cool.... it's the little details I didn't even think about. Then the white gloved waiter offers a tasting of red or white wine and a variety of bread choices.
Next comes the salad selections.... the three for us to choose from was "Greek", "Baby Butterlettuce", and "Mesclun Fig/Cheese". The Greek salad was definitely the most colorful and quite delish.... however, it was mostly all tomatoes with a couple of cubes of feta cheese and a couple of olives on top, with a balsamic dressing drizzled over top. It was really really really good..... but.... if someone didn't like tomatoes they would be unhappy to sit through the salad course without enjoying eating it.
The "Baby Butterlettuce" salad was our hands down favorite from first bite (before we tried the weird salad)... it had candied walnuts and thinnly sliced green apple mixed in with it and drizzled with a lemon vingarette dressing..... it was really yummy and a definite crowd pleaser.
We saved the weird salad for last..... none of us thinking we would like it..... but.... what a surprise and treasure it turned out to be! It got a WOWZERS two thumbs up from all of us and we instantly decided it was the salad of choice. It had this teeny tiny bruchetta like triangle underneath a mound of micro mesclun greens (micro mesclun greens are basically lettuces that have just started to bloom/sprout.... very tender and very tasty). The teeny tiny bruchetta underneath was a toasted piece of bread spread with pureed figs and some sort of cheese and had a balsamic drizzle over top. It didn't sound good, but it was SUPER DELISH and such a surprise treasure, we are sure our guests will agree. In fact..... my brain is already whirring on how to make my next batch of bruchetta just like what was underneath that salad.
The main courses for us to choose from was "Pesto Crusted Salmon", Roasted Chicken, and Beef Shortribs (which we had at Jessica's wedding 2 years ago and was a HUGE hit then). We have to choose 2 selections out of the three for this course.
The salmon was served with roasted fingerling potatoes and a french green beans. The presentation of the salmon was a bit afronting.... it was just.... sooooo bright green! None of us liked it at all.... not the presentation of it nor the taste. However, the fingerling potatoes and the french green beans were outstanding!
The Roasted Chicken was served with mashed potatoes and broccolini. It was very good in flavor, had a nice presentation and not only did we all enjoy it, but felt it would be a very safe choice for our guests. It definitley made the cut and it will be on our menu... but.... we tweaked the side dishes. We will have it served with the fingerling potatoes that we enjoyed sooo much from the salmon plate, and broccolini.
The Beef Shortribs were served with mashed spinach (as in.... looks like mashed potatoes, but are very green instead), and a steamed veggie medley. The WOW factor on the flavor and tenderness of these shortribs made it a definite cut for the menu before we even sat down to sample the menu. They were as good as we remembered them to be. But.... we also switched the side items to go with this dinner choice too. We chose to have the mashed potatoes and french green beans.... MUCH better presentation and MUCH better flavor profile to accompany the deliciousness of the shortribs.
For the serving of the cake, we had to choose between a chocolate rose petal shell with raspberry mousse in the center or chocolate covered strawberries, both are on a raspberry sauce painted plate. The chocolate strawberries were the bombdiggity.... but Joe, the wedding planner and the reception coordinator strongly thought that the rose petal shell and raspberry mousse is a much better presentation than the strawberries...... Lauren and I allowed the others to sway our opinion and did not stand up to our own. Later that day... while she and I were on a walk and talking about the menu tasting.... we both, at the same time said..... "Boy... I sure thought those strawberries were sooooo much better than the mousse". Lauren said she and Kevin really wanted the strawberries, but she was afraid to offend anyone by speaking up.... I told her I totally agreed with her and that we should speak up now and change our choice. So..... that is exactly what we did. We will now have the chocolate covered strawberries on the sauce painted plate to go with the cake! WOO HOO!!! I actually think the strawberries are a better presentation anyway!
It was a fun day.... we got all gussied up as if we were heading to a dinner date, sat in our private room being treated like royalty... and enjoyed the tastings as well as the conversation of opinions. This event made Lauren even more excited about the upcoming wedding. We are all very pleased with our selections and anticipate our guests enjoying our selections as well.
Just 3 more months til the big event and we all get more excited by the day!
The first choice for us to make was napking folding. Each place setting had a completely different fold for the napkin. That was pretty cool.... it's the little details I didn't even think about. Then the white gloved waiter offers a tasting of red or white wine and a variety of bread choices.
Next comes the salad selections.... the three for us to choose from was "Greek", "Baby Butterlettuce", and "Mesclun Fig/Cheese". The Greek salad was definitely the most colorful and quite delish.... however, it was mostly all tomatoes with a couple of cubes of feta cheese and a couple of olives on top, with a balsamic dressing drizzled over top. It was really really really good..... but.... if someone didn't like tomatoes they would be unhappy to sit through the salad course without enjoying eating it.
The "Baby Butterlettuce" salad was our hands down favorite from first bite (before we tried the weird salad)... it had candied walnuts and thinnly sliced green apple mixed in with it and drizzled with a lemon vingarette dressing..... it was really yummy and a definite crowd pleaser.
We saved the weird salad for last..... none of us thinking we would like it..... but.... what a surprise and treasure it turned out to be! It got a WOWZERS two thumbs up from all of us and we instantly decided it was the salad of choice. It had this teeny tiny bruchetta like triangle underneath a mound of micro mesclun greens (micro mesclun greens are basically lettuces that have just started to bloom/sprout.... very tender and very tasty). The teeny tiny bruchetta underneath was a toasted piece of bread spread with pureed figs and some sort of cheese and had a balsamic drizzle over top. It didn't sound good, but it was SUPER DELISH and such a surprise treasure, we are sure our guests will agree. In fact..... my brain is already whirring on how to make my next batch of bruchetta just like what was underneath that salad.
The main courses for us to choose from was "Pesto Crusted Salmon", Roasted Chicken, and Beef Shortribs (which we had at Jessica's wedding 2 years ago and was a HUGE hit then). We have to choose 2 selections out of the three for this course.
The salmon was served with roasted fingerling potatoes and a french green beans. The presentation of the salmon was a bit afronting.... it was just.... sooooo bright green! None of us liked it at all.... not the presentation of it nor the taste. However, the fingerling potatoes and the french green beans were outstanding!
The Roasted Chicken was served with mashed potatoes and broccolini. It was very good in flavor, had a nice presentation and not only did we all enjoy it, but felt it would be a very safe choice for our guests. It definitley made the cut and it will be on our menu... but.... we tweaked the side dishes. We will have it served with the fingerling potatoes that we enjoyed sooo much from the salmon plate, and broccolini.
The Beef Shortribs were served with mashed spinach (as in.... looks like mashed potatoes, but are very green instead), and a steamed veggie medley. The WOW factor on the flavor and tenderness of these shortribs made it a definite cut for the menu before we even sat down to sample the menu. They were as good as we remembered them to be. But.... we also switched the side items to go with this dinner choice too. We chose to have the mashed potatoes and french green beans.... MUCH better presentation and MUCH better flavor profile to accompany the deliciousness of the shortribs.
For the serving of the cake, we had to choose between a chocolate rose petal shell with raspberry mousse in the center or chocolate covered strawberries, both are on a raspberry sauce painted plate. The chocolate strawberries were the bombdiggity.... but Joe, the wedding planner and the reception coordinator strongly thought that the rose petal shell and raspberry mousse is a much better presentation than the strawberries...... Lauren and I allowed the others to sway our opinion and did not stand up to our own. Later that day... while she and I were on a walk and talking about the menu tasting.... we both, at the same time said..... "Boy... I sure thought those strawberries were sooooo much better than the mousse". Lauren said she and Kevin really wanted the strawberries, but she was afraid to offend anyone by speaking up.... I told her I totally agreed with her and that we should speak up now and change our choice. So..... that is exactly what we did. We will now have the chocolate covered strawberries on the sauce painted plate to go with the cake! WOO HOO!!! I actually think the strawberries are a better presentation anyway!
It was a fun day.... we got all gussied up as if we were heading to a dinner date, sat in our private room being treated like royalty... and enjoyed the tastings as well as the conversation of opinions. This event made Lauren even more excited about the upcoming wedding. We are all very pleased with our selections and anticipate our guests enjoying our selections as well.
Just 3 more months til the big event and we all get more excited by the day!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
"Officially" Official
Today my Diploma/Chef Certificate came in the mail! WOO HOO!!! That makes me "Officially" Official! I'll be out first thing in the morning looking for the right frame.... and then by gum.... I'm hanging it on the wall!
It's funny how I've known all along that I had indeed not only graduated, but with a 4.0 GPA as well.... but still...... not having that piece of paper that shows that I had graduated.... made me hestitant to annouce I was actually 'Official'..... of course..... it is the cooking skills that speak the ultimate truth.... but still (again).... I'm totally over the moon happy right now having this piece of paper in my hand. I feel very accomplished at the moment.... even tho moments pass quickly.... I'll remember this moment forever! Boy..... earning that Certificate sure was a fun adventure!!!!! Wonder what I'm gonna do next! : )
Today would have been a really good day even if my Certificate hadn't arrived.... but it's arrival took a really good day to a really spectacular day! It was hot and sunny with a gentle breeze. I had my tea out on the back patio.... Joe and I found the new Hearth Room furniture we have been looking for for the past couple of months.... which is good since our old set is moving with Lauren in less than 2 weeks! Joe went golfing, Lauren and I sat poolside for hours chatting before she had to go to work.
I am in the process of a really deep "spring clean fever" purge..... I've already gone through my whole kitchen, and am half way through the laundry room... which is what I was working on until I let the sunshine call me outside! I'm thinking.... Lauren is moving in a couple of weeks and now is the time to let unwanted stuff go to good use in a new home. And you know..... once you get started on this kind of a project.... one thing leads to another.... and then the next thing you know.... you are talking about redecorating the whole house! LOL LOL Am I right, or am I right??? : )
I'm a Virgo.... and this is basically how we roll.... we just can't help oursevles.... we are obsessive to a fault. So..... it is quite easy for me to get completely caught up in this project for the next couple of weeks, until I have this whole house shining like a new copper penny! I like my house to smell like it's been airing outside in the sunhine (like fresh washed sheets/covers) all day!
I was already feeling giddy with acomplishment when I discovered my Certificate in the mail today.... thus is why getting it made my day go from really good to spectacular!!! It's "Official" that I am "Official"!!! WOO HOOTY HOOT HOO!!!!!!
It's funny how I've known all along that I had indeed not only graduated, but with a 4.0 GPA as well.... but still...... not having that piece of paper that shows that I had graduated.... made me hestitant to annouce I was actually 'Official'..... of course..... it is the cooking skills that speak the ultimate truth.... but still (again).... I'm totally over the moon happy right now having this piece of paper in my hand. I feel very accomplished at the moment.... even tho moments pass quickly.... I'll remember this moment forever! Boy..... earning that Certificate sure was a fun adventure!!!!! Wonder what I'm gonna do next! : )
Today would have been a really good day even if my Certificate hadn't arrived.... but it's arrival took a really good day to a really spectacular day! It was hot and sunny with a gentle breeze. I had my tea out on the back patio.... Joe and I found the new Hearth Room furniture we have been looking for for the past couple of months.... which is good since our old set is moving with Lauren in less than 2 weeks! Joe went golfing, Lauren and I sat poolside for hours chatting before she had to go to work.
I am in the process of a really deep "spring clean fever" purge..... I've already gone through my whole kitchen, and am half way through the laundry room... which is what I was working on until I let the sunshine call me outside! I'm thinking.... Lauren is moving in a couple of weeks and now is the time to let unwanted stuff go to good use in a new home. And you know..... once you get started on this kind of a project.... one thing leads to another.... and then the next thing you know.... you are talking about redecorating the whole house! LOL LOL Am I right, or am I right??? : )
I'm a Virgo.... and this is basically how we roll.... we just can't help oursevles.... we are obsessive to a fault. So..... it is quite easy for me to get completely caught up in this project for the next couple of weeks, until I have this whole house shining like a new copper penny! I like my house to smell like it's been airing outside in the sunhine (like fresh washed sheets/covers) all day!
I was already feeling giddy with acomplishment when I discovered my Certificate in the mail today.... thus is why getting it made my day go from really good to spectacular!!! It's "Official" that I am "Official"!!! WOO HOOTY HOOT HOO!!!!!!
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About Me
- Vickie G
- I am a short little lady with a passion for cooking and pilates. I have been married for 31 years to my high school sweetheart (my soulmate and love of my life!!!) and we have 3 amazing daughters. I am 50 years old and love living life with as much zest as possible.