Guest Post: Wedding vs. Marriage

Happy Monday!

 Today you'll find me guest posting for one of my favorite bloggers, Holly! 

She and her husband are enjoying their honeymoon in Jamaica.

Warning: My post may have quite a bit of sass.

Enjoy!

Saturday Love

Bacon is sizzling on the stove.

Hubs is upstairs getting ready for the day,

rap music blasting,

the dogs are running around.

The sun is shining,

and my English Breakfast Tea is delicious.

I wish all Saturdays began this way!
Enjoy the weekend!!

Source: google.ca via Jenn on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Jenn on Pinterest

Source: reddit.com via Jenn on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Jenn on Pinterest

Dear Friday Letters

I haven't done one of these before, so I figured it was about time! 

Dear fruit & vegetables: 

I would greatly appreciate it if you washed, cut, and 

arranged yourself beautifully onto platters for my sister's shower on Sunday. 

Thanks!

Dear Deck:
I love you and am sorry you're still naked without any furniture!
We are working on that.
For now, I am enjoying a camping chair and a good book!

Dear "Don't Worry Be Happy" Station on Pandora:

Thank you for keeping me in a calm and cool mood while still prepping for this shower!

Dear Bridal Shower: 

I had so much fun planning, buying decor, and I cannot wait to see the place all 

beachified on Sunday.  

I will be happy when it's over though, as I am 

exhausted

ready to be done.

Dear People who don't RSVP:

You are SO rude. 

Dear sweet husband:

I can't wait to see where we are going on our date night!!!

Dear month of May:
You can fast forward to more important events after this Sunday. 

Like super fast. 

K? 

Thanks.

Dear Holly:
Thanks for hosting wedding week!!

I had so much fun and cried like a baby

as I wrote about my wedding.

{Note the banner under my header--check it out!}

Dear Sunshine:

Thank you for re-appearing these last few days. 

I love wearing a maxi dress and not worrying about drying my hair.

The sun feels so good on my skin!

Dear Universe:
Thank you.

That is all

:)

Appetizer Idea & Girls Night

It's Thursday!!!!!

I'm so happy hubs has the weekend off

and my sister's couples shower is this Sunday

and soon I'll be floating on a big giant boat!!!

 Yesterday was a fun day!

I started out by taking care of the volcano of clothing that had

erupted all over our bedroom floor...

started vacuuming and dusting every crevice in our bedroom

and cleaning with those Pledge wipes all the way 

down the staircase.
Spring cleaning anyone??

I had lunch at Panera Bread with my mother-in-law Maria

I seriously am so blessed to have her as my MIL.

I know too many people who don't get along with theirs,

but mine? I am completely spoiled!!

We enjoyed salads & soups and I had their Mango Smoothie 

{omg so good!}

I was sad when I had to bring her back to work 

:(
I ran some errands,

--may have bought another maxi dress at Target--

brought a chai latte up to Joe

and while I was there, the slushie truck came!

And even though it was not very warm 

{low 60's}

darn lake 

We still enjoyed the first slushie of the year!

Last night was our monthly girls night too, so fun!

I had "appetizers" and I didn't really feel like making something

really filling and fattening, plus I had a lot of snacky foods

leftover from my sister's bachelorette party. 

So, I decided to make some pita chips and serve as a Tapas platter.

Pita Chips:

Small whole wheat pita pockets cut into fours

Toss with seasonings

Bake on a sheet at 375 12-15 mins

These things were good even before I threw them in the oven!

Served with:

Cranberry Goat Cheese

Tzatziki

Lemon Dill Hummus

Guacamole-

 {3/4 avocado, lime juice, 2 chopped cherry tomatoes, 1 Tbs of chopped shallot, sea salt/pepper}

Matty served Upside Down Pineapple Cake Martinis

Pork burgers stuffed with apples & bacon

and Alison made Key Lime Pie!

The crust was Christmas in my mouth...

I won't tell you Matty's metaphor 

=O

It was a perfect day and I am so grateful for such happy,

positive people in my life. 

Whether times are good or bad, I know these 3 always have my back.

I LOVE YOU GUYS!!

And I saw this quote the other day

and just wanted to share it

because it is 

so

very

true.

Top 5 Summer Favorites!

Today I'm linking up for:

The topic?

 {only my favorite!!} 

SUMMER!

It's hard to only pick five favorites about summer time, especially since 

my "MATCH" account was "Summergirl8481" when Joe contacted me :P

There is nothing  I don't like about summer, other than the fact that it ends.

1.  Hot Nights 

I just love those nights where it's so warm, you are literally rubbing ice cubes on your neck.

 The nights where even the air conditioning can't cool you down.

I love that the sun doesn't set until after 9.
You can hear all of the insects singing their summer tunes,
"Katie-did....Katie-didn't"
Did your grams teach you that too?

 Or just mine?

I love gazing up at the stars, finding the big dipper, and hoping to see a shooting star.

2. The Lake

I'm in love with the water. 

Every summer since I was born, I've gone to our family's cottage.

We have a lake front, which my great-grandparents lived in, then grandparents, and 

now, we are in that awkward stage of having it rented out because my grams is the only one still alive,

but she's too old to stay there alone. 

There is a back cottage and a big white garage, and so much space to run around.

The dock is huge and cement, and is the best place to get a suntan.

I could lay there day after day.

I remember how many hours I'd spend jumping off of that dock

and float around with beach toys when I was little.

We have a boat, which is great for wake-boarding, water-skiing, and fun boat rides.

It's amazing at what an appetite you work up out on the lake, and

fresh tuna sandwiches on sourdough bread, chips and dip, fresh fruit smoothies

remind me of many a summer day, on the lake.

3. Fireworks

My husband is like a big kid when it comes to these.

Him and his friend Chris put on a semi-professional show,

and since my hubs works so hard, when he gets a few days off for the 4th,

there's nothing better than seeing him laugh, joke, play around and really

put on quite a spectacular show!  

Last year we celebrated at his grama's house and it was so great, 

we are doing it again this year!

4. Grilling

Hubs is definitely a grill master! 

He'll grill no matter what the weather, if I really want him to,

but there's nothing like a hot summer day to grill some

hamburgers, hots, sausages, veggies, kabobs, steaks, chops...

Dinner time is so easy peazy when you can grill.

I throw together a salad and a side, 

hubs grills the main entree.

I loved sitting out front with him, 

I cannot wait to have the grill on the back deck and I can lounge!!

5. Relaxation with friends and family

For whatever reason, life seems to slow down a bit in summer.

We tend to just go with the flow and let things just be.

I absolutely love it when we attend BBQs and sit around and talk.

A lot of my friends (and me!!) have summer birthdays, so it feels like

the whole summer is a party!

Hubs and I have our anniversary in the summer.

All things good seem to happen in summer.

I just know that summer 2012 is going to be one of

my favorite ones yet!!

Lots of great things are in store.

Sun, you are more than welcome to re-appear any time soon.

I really enjoyed the 80 degree weather in March,

I could totally go for some 65 degrees here in MAY!!

 I'm so ready for this.

 Our lil niece Adrianna!!

What are your favorites about summer?