Just a typical July

My blogging hiatus is quickly coming to an end. Where did the month of July go? I still have a few more days until I go back to work, 5 days to be exact. 5 days of freedom... The thought of going back to work is not a happy one. I like having a month off of work.
(you know, throwing stuff at the screen right now is only hurting you and your screen. don't hate)
I had a fantabulous break... I did zero projects around my house... I loved every minute.
Here is the play by play:

• Celebrated Canada Day with Homemade T-Shirts, Cake and Teeth Blackener (in honor of the hockey players of course!)
• Spent a lovely day at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
• Went to COSTCO and a Nintendo Wii might have jumped into my cart and then into my car... sneaky little devils.
• Threw a 4th of July BBQ... complete with Fireworks! Vlach's ran off with some of hostas! (you can not turn your back on them for a second!)
• Went to the beach a few times, went to a pool, baked in the sun, did handstands in the water, cut my foot open... declined stitches.
• Got my hair cut and a pedicure... one must look cute in the summer time.
• Stalked a few MN Twins players at Baseball Unplugged... tried to act normal, failed gloriously!
• Went on an impromptu visit to Chicago to see my Aunt Sandy.
• Stopped by Best Buy and Dance Dance Revolution somehow ended up in my car??? How does this keep happening... subsequently I am officially addicted to DDR!!!
• Book Club followed by a night at the horse races. Go Sasha Fierce Go!!!
• Invited my girls from High School over... DDR anyone?
• A weekend of camping with my MN BFF Shannon. "We are the only ones left in the woods???!!!", Hiked the river bluffs, Met a giant rat mouse and watched a house fall on Shannon.
• Another BBQ at my house with some faithful friends.
• Lovely lunch on the patio with my creepy wonderful co-workers... Grilled Steak with Corn Relish, Green Beans with Orange Beurre Blanc, Cavatappi Caprese Pasta Salad, Peach Sangria and Raspberry French Tart with some Dance Dance Revolution on the side!
• A local play by one of my favorite playwrights, Thornton Wilder... The Skin of Our Teeth. My co-worker's fiance was one of the leads. Well done!

That is just a few things i did over my break... I'm sure I did more... but I don't want to bore you with the details. It was also a busy month in the BIG events dept. Friends getting engaged (yay Kristin & Bonnie!) Friends getting married (Diana & Barkley!) Friends having babies! And Lots of Birthdays!!!!
July is indeed the best time of the year!

Joyeux 14 Juillet!

Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité!

We Were On A Break!!!

Sorry folks... But I am on a blog break. I have the whole month of July off and I am just trying to enjoy as much of it as I can! I do have lots to blog about... everyday I have something going on. And I can't wait to share all my stories, like Canada Day and Blackened Teeth.
But for now, the thought of me sitting at my computer, cooped up inside and not in the sun just seems silly.
I hope you are all having the times of your lives, I know I am. :)

XOXO

Wedding in the Month of June

Saturday was a good day for a wedding. My cousin Chris, married the lovely Jennifer at the Minneapolis Peace Garden. It was a beautiful day to celebrate! The bride and groom were all smiles and glee and I couldn't be happier for them.
The reception was a Lurcat, a beautiful bar\restaurant in Minneapolis. Chuck Bass must have been the florist because there were peonies everywhere. The other wonderful thing about the day was having all the cousins together! That rarely happens these days and it makes me smile!
Congratulations Chris & Jen! Love you!

Chris & Jen!

Chad toasting the happy couple

The Robideau Siblings, Paul, Barbie, Todd & Lori
(these people are responsible for all things strange & weird about me & my cousins)

The most lovely cousins, Amber, Erin, Sabrina & Kelly

Chuck Bass was here...

Bad Threes

I always say bad things happen in threes, including celebrity deaths.

It started the other day when Ed McMahon passed away. And I thought, there will be two more soon. Sadly, I found out today that Farrah Fawcett died, and when i heard that, I thought, I wonder who will be the third? I really wished I had not said that.

Because I just found out that Michael Jackson died of a heart attack.

When I was in first grade I went to school and a girl was playing a tape and it was the coolest sounding music I have ever heard. I asked her, "what is this?" and she said,

"It's Michael Jackson, duh!"
Up until that point the only music I had ever heard was, Country, Christian and Oldies. And when I heard Michael Jackson that day my love of Pop music blossomed. Yeah Micheal was a little weird, but he was an amazing performer and great songwriter. So sad.

Cabins and Cousins

This past weekend, I was invited to tag along with my cousins and aunt to a weekend at the cabin. (thanks guys! because according to grandma I have no life)

What was even better about this weekend was that my cousin Erin was back from Cambodia for a few weeks. It has been 2 years since I've seen her and I just heart her lots. This cabin is the place where Kelly and Kyle spend their summer weekends, so it was great that we could all be together up at Lake Hickory.

We had many heart felt laughs, catching fish and sun rays, and only a minor temper tantrum (I want to play Yahtzee and NO ONE will play with me!!!!!! kyle)

We ate like Rock Stars, with lots of fresh homemade meals! YUM!

Tonight we will all join up once again for a Twins game, Dome Dog anyone?

Target Practice:

Kyle scores points for accuracy,

But Kelly wins for style and coolness.

Kyle caught the big one, BIG TIME!

Erin and Kyle cleaning the slabs

Dinner in the sunshine!

Aunt Lori, never without her camera

Or her baby Coach...

Sisters on a boat

Beautiful weekend...

TWD~Parisian Apple Tartlet

Yes, I know, It's been awhile since I've posted anything I've baked. Especially something I have baked for my Tuesday With Dorie group. I really do love baking, but sometimes baking every week gets to be a little too much. But when I saw this week's recipe, I thought,
Hey, That I can do.
I decided to go for a mini version of the Parisian Apple Tartlet. Instead of using a puff pastry crust, I used some cute little Phyllo\Fillo (I've seen it spelled both ways???? which is it?) dough cups. I took one Golden Delicious apple and cut it into small chunks and softened them in brown sugar and cinnamon water. When they were soft I put one apple chunk in each cup and sprinkled a brown sugar and butter mixture on top. I baked them for 5 minutes and let them cool. When I ate it one, it was like Autumn in my mouth... and really, it feels like autumn outside right now, so it was a very apropos treat.
I just wish I had a little vanilla ice cream to go with it.
Oh, and one other thing... My peonies are in bloom and I am in love.