The Lounger

This was the sight that greeted me when I came home yesterday.  Our dog Lucky was lounging artfully on the loveseat in our living room, propped up by a mound of pillows.

He's got such a hard life, you know.  What with having to bark at every unsuspecting person that walks down the sidewalk, chasing squirrels and bunnies in the backyard and foraging for food every. single. day. in the kitchen.  Whew!  You'd be tired too after all of that.

I like how his left leg just hangs a little bit off the loveseat.  Like "Yeah, I know it's there but I can't be bothered to move it up onto the furniture."  Poor baby!

All kidding aside, I can't imagine not having a sweet dog like Luck in the family.  He just makes life more fun.

Friday Favorites: Week 10

Favorite color combo:  Cake from a Mint & Peach wedding pinboard
Seriously, how pretty does this look?  I find myself really drawn to pastels, particularly minty green, this summer.  I must be going soft.  :-)


Favorite party food:  4th of July Salsa
I've never had jicama - I think it's time I try it out.  And blueberries are just about my favorite thing on the planet right now.  Did you know they're supposed to help you lose belly fat?  Cool!



Favorite bit of wildness:  temporary tattoo
If I were going to get one, it'd be a ship.  This is pretty awesome.




Favorite funny:  my man Ludwig
He's right, you know.  A man before his time.



Favorite sweet:  Monster Cookie Bars
Oh my gosh!  I need to make these ASAP.




Favorite refresher:  margarita fruit dip
Sounds too yummy for words.  Gotta get some strawberries and try this out.




Favorite cutie pie:  Awww!  From photosbynatalie.com



Favorite doggie treat:  Pupcakes
I know each and every one of my dogs has a sweet tooth.  This is a great way to indulge them without giving them something that could be harmful. 



Favorite new possession:  Nico from shoedazzle.com
I love these!  They're cute and comfy at the same time - a rare find in shoes these days (for me, at least).



Favorite parting thought:  Satan's weather
We've had 100+ temps for the past three days.  And there's no end in sight.  C'mon, Satan, get this weather behind me!!



Enjoy your weekend, everyone.  Keep cool and carry on...
Chris

Salad Sunday

Okay, I'm going to switch things up a bit here.  I had been posting regular meal plans almost every week, but now I think I'm going to take a break.  It turned out that half the time, I wouldn't even make those meals myself.  So instead, I'm going to find 2-3 salads online that I want to try, and post those for you instead.  Bill and I are trying to eat more healthy meals, and it's summertime:  the perfect time for salads!

Here are three delightful salads that I've found this week:

Wedge Salad from the Tasty Kitchen

Two words:  Fried shallots.  Yummmm!




Honey Roasted Chicken Salad from Iowa Girl Eats

I've tried several of Kristin's recipes and have yet to be disappointed.  As a bonus, this salad is mayonnaise free!



And finally Cabbage with Almonds, Blood Oranges and Ginger Vinaigrette from the Roost blog

I'm doubtful that I'll be able to find blood oranges at my local cut-rate grocery store, so I will probably go with regular old navel oranges instead.  And you know what?  I bet I won't know what I'm missing.  :-)



Enjoy your Sunday!
Chris

Friday Favorites: Week 9

Happy Friday, everyone!

Favorite pooch:  beach pup
I want to hug that little guy or girl SO MUCH!!



Favorite feast:  baked spaghetti pie
I made this for dinner on Wednesday, and it was a huge hit.  Easy and delicious.



Favorite summer casual outfit from Marshall's

I'd totally wear this if the shorts were longer.  :-)  Don't want my thunder thighs to scare small children and animals...

Favorite funny:  Pants on the Ground!

I can't stand it when I see young guys having to walk down the street holding their belt buckles with one hand and their cell phone in the other.  Why???



Favorite sweet:  strawberry lemonade poke cake
I'm extremely tempted to try this with raspberries!  Bet it would be equally good.



Favorite summer decor:  Citrus Centerpiece
This would be beautiful *anywhere* in the house.  Look at those gorgeous colors!



Favorite DIY Project:  Make your own beach glass with Elmer's glue and food coloring.



Favorite summer drink: Ginger Tea Lemonade with Basil

Giada De Laurentiis has given me yet *another* lemonade recipe to try.  I'll use herbal tea.



Favorite front porch
Look at those gorgeous hydrangeas!  And the inviting wicker seating!  I love everything about this place.



Favorite gutsy hairdo:  purple and fuschia!
I could never do this (because I have short, short hair, obvs), but it's kinda cool!



I'm off to visit my mom in the hospital tomorrow.  She fell and fractured her hip last weekend.  She's being moved to a rehab facility today.  Prayers and good wishes are apprciated.  :-)

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!
Chris

Friday Favorites: Week 8

Happy Friday, everyone!  Hope you've had a great week. :-)

Favorite pic:  beach bike
I want to be riding this along a boardwalk by the sea.  The sooner, the better.



Favorite sip:  Watermelon lime frosty
Maybe I could stop for one of these along said boardwalk?



Favorite arm candy:  Juicy Couture bracelet
Elephants!  Fabulous Colors too!

Favorite sweet moment:  mama and pup
Love.




Favorite funny: 



It would thin them out. Just sayin'.

Favorite bookends:  Mermaid
I've always loved the idea of mermaids.  And something tells me they'd be awesome at holding my books together.  ;-)



Favorite bite:  peach oatmeal muffins



Favorite footwear:  polka dots by Loeffler Randall
At $295, they're a little steep for me, but I can still admire from afar.




Favorite reason to have a party:  caramel grapes



Favorite thing to look forward to:  Halloween
LOVE that scary tree on the door! 



Hope you have a wonderful, fantastic, stupendous weekend!!!

Chris

Meal Plan: June 4-8

Look at all the yummy meals I've got lined up for you this week!

Monday: California Grilled Chicken Avocado and Mango Salad
Don't you think this salad looks scrumptious?!



Tuesday:  Spicy Bean Burritos
I really like having one meatless meal a week.  Here is my choice this time around.



Wednesday:  Jamaican Jerk Chicken & the Best Rice Ever
Yes, I made this a few weeks ago.  Yes, I'm gonna make it again this week.  It is that good!



Thursday:  Turkey Spinach Avocado Burgers
I shied away from ground turkey for the longest time, but it's really quite good.  This recipe combines the ground turkey with spinach for an extra-healthy and flavorful burger.  Can't wait to try it!



Friday:  Honey Rosemary Pork Chops
Oh, my!  This looks like heaven on a plate.



BONUS:  Rosemary Lemonade
A dear friend made this for me last week, and I fell in love!  Do yourself a favor and make up a pitcher TODAY.  :-)

Rosemary-Lemon Syrup
1 small lemon
2 cups water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 spring fresh rosemary (about 5 inches long)

Lemonade
7 small lemons
3 cups cold water
3 cups ice cubes plus additional for serving

1.  Prepare syrup:  Into 2-quart saucepan, grate peel from lemon; reserve lemon.  Add water and sugar and heat to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until sugar dissolves.  Remove saucepan from heat; stir in rosemary sprig.  Cover and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour.  Refrigerate syrup for 1 hour or until chilled.

2.  Prepare lemonade:  Squeeze juice from 7 lemons plus reserved lemon through strainer into large pitcher.  Strain rosemary mixture into pitcher; stir in cold water and ice.  Serve lemonade in tall glasses over ice.


Enjoy your week, my friends!

Chris

Friday Favorites: Week 7

Happy Friday, everyone!  Hope you've had a good one.  My husband and I have been off to paint our foyer, living room and dining room.  They look great!  Once we get everything back to normal, I'll share some pics.  In the meantime, enjoy some of the fun things I've found online this week:

Favorite breakfast:  Caprese Frittata

Oh my gosh does this look good!  Fresh tomatoes and basil lovingly engulfed by cheese and eggs.  Wow!

Favorite cute summer shoes:  Payless "Shania" Wedge

Yes.  Payless!  I tried these on last week and loved them.  They're on sale now for $19.99!

Favorite sip:  Blackberry Lemonade

I'm all about exotic lemonades this summer - basil lemonade, rosemary lemonade, blueberry lemonade.  Somebody stop me!

Favorite kitchen gadget:  Pizza saw

 How cool is this?!  I bet it's easier to gude than a traditional pizza cutter too. 

Favorite Awww!:  Baby Polar Bear

 Look at that cute little nose!  Precious.

Favorite tie-on:  Paper Bow

Click the link for the pattern *and* the chevron paper!  A great addition to any gift.

Favorite summer sweet:  Cherry Salad

Cool Whip, sweetened condensed milk, cherry pie filling, crushed pineapple, mini-marshmallows and nuts.  Yum!!!!

Favorite anytime sweet:  Peanut Butter Cup Cupcakes

Best flavor combo.  EVER.

Favorite DIY project:  Shopping Cart Chair

What the what?!?  Now that's a clever idea!

 

Favorite summer scene: The Saguaro - Palm Springs, CA 

I want to to lay on one of those lounges with a good book and a fancy lemonade.  :-)

Wishing you all a fun weekend!

Chris