Smoked Salmon Spread

The tennis program is officially underway starting on Monday.  We had some last minute planning and organizing to do, so I hosted the meeting yesterday evening.  Let's face it: snacks and yummies (and maybe even an adult beverage....) help to make a Friday evening meeting better.

I kept it simple, serving things which could be made ahead of time.  This smoked salmon spread fits the bill perfectly, as it only gets tastier with time to let the flavors meld.

#100 Happy Days

#100HappyDays has been creeping up on my newsfeeds on both Facebook and Instagram a lot lately.  After checking it out, I decided to go ahead and jump on the bandwagon.  (And let's face it....what better happy day to post about it than the last day of school???  Although my kiddos will tell you I cried -- all. day. long.)

End of the Year Love Notes

The school year is quickly coming to a close.  On the one hand, it seems like the year just started, but on the other, it has been a long year.  (Made even longer with our SEVEN snow days!!)  I take many opportunities throughout the year to write little notes to my kiddos....Thanksgiving, before the state-wide testing, when they invite me to various games (football, basketball, soccer, baseball, tennis...you name it, I've been to it....).  I didn't want the end of the year to come and go without one final little note to let them know how much I have loved spending my days with them and just how very special each of them are.

Freedom Isn't Free

Taking a moment to gratefully remember those who have served.  We remember our fallen heroes and their sacrifice this Memorial Day, as they are the reason we are free.   
Thank you!

 

Happy Memorial Day!

Patriotic Cheesecake Filled Strawberries

These little bites of goodness come together quickly with minimal ingredients, and disappear even quicker.  They are the perfect addition to a dessert table, or for when you just want to offer a little taste of sweetness, without the heaviness of a full dessert.  Typically I top them with a slivered almond or leave them bare, but for a little patriotic flair I decided to top with a blueberry to complete the red, white, and blue theme. 

The Herb Garden

The other day I posted about our vegetable garden , but I neglected to mention our herb garden.  We keep in it a bed on the side of the house.  They seem to love and thrive in the rocky soil there.  Typically most return each year, although after the extreme and never ending winter we had this year, I've had to replace more than usual.

What's for Dinner? [Gyros with Tzatziki]

Friends are always asking my advice for the best Greek restaurant in town and Greek cooking.  Last year, the tables turned and a dear friend asked if I had tried Kincaid's gyros meat.  Kincaid's Meat Market is a local butcher shop and meat market which has been open since 1921.  Everything they have is wonderful, but the gyros was news to me.  I went that very evening to pick some up, and it was delicious!  It's found in their small freezers, and is the perfect thing to keep on hand for a quick dinner.  They also offer the traditional tzatziki sauce to use, but I'm pretty picky about mine, and make my own. 

In the Garden

Every spring Hubby and I plant a vegetable garden.  I always say I'm not going to go overboard and that I'm going to keep it simple, but that never seems to be the case.  I just get too excited :). (Last season I found Pink Girl Tomatoes -- our very favorite -- for $2 for four plants.  I ended up buying 16 plants.  These are heirloom and grow to be HUGE plants.  I gave some to my dad, but still.....) I really did think I had accomplished the "don't go overboard" goal this year while buying the plants.  When Hubby and I planted, I realized I hadn't.  Oops.  Regardless, we're both very excited that it is finally warm enough to get them in the ground.  We can hardly wait for them to start producing.

DIY Birdhouse Sculpture

I came across this picture online while on the Anthropologie website and was smitten.  However, with the nearly $500 price-tag I knew it would never be mine.  The wheels started turning and I remembered the bag of unfinished miniature birdhouses I had used for a lovebird themed bridal shower I had hosted.  The bag had been stashed for nearly two years, but I just didn't have the heart to get rid of them.  Using paint and supplies from my stash I immediately got to work.

First I played around with the arrangement trying to figure out how they would best fit together.  I knew that I wanted one with a hanger on the very top of the structure so that I could hang it next to our bird feeders. 



I'm clearly a very scientific person....

In My Lunchbox [Bento Lunch I]

It always seems that I start my week determined to be organized.  I always plan to pack my lunch and make home cooked meals for dinner......then Thursday (or sometimes even Wednesday) hits and that plan goes right out the window.

One of my favorite ways to combat this issue is to simply pack a week's worth of lunches on Sunday.  Then I'm all set.  It takes minimal time, but reaps a big reward.

What's for Dinner [Farmers' Market Frittata]

Since Hubby and I usually plant a rather large garden we typically only visit the farmers' market in the spring before our plants start producing and in the fall after they are spent.  The market opened a couple weeks ago, but we made our first trip yesterday and picked up some goodies.  Hubby suggested omelettes, but in an effort to simplify things we went with a frittata.  I didn't measure everything, so some are approximate.  The beauty of frittatas is that you can use whatever you'd like (or have in the fridge).

DIY Chalkboard Menu

I've been contemplating a chalkboard menu for quite some time now, but never could quite pull the trigger.  I just wasn't convinced that it would look how I pictured in my mind, and I couldn't find the supplies that I thought were "just right".  Usually the desire for one goes in spurts depending on my schedule.  The busier I am, the more I want one. 

What's for Dinner [Paul Prudhomme Grilled Salmon]

Some of my very favorite memories growing up were our family trips to New Orleans.  We'd "stop in" on our way to Florida.  I was immediately smitten with the city...how could you not be??

Ramblings [A Few of My Favorite Things Edition]

It was such a cold and harsh winter that my new obsession was just about the only things to keep me warm.  I fell in love with Bigelow's Mint Medley Tea and drank it nearly every day.  I'm enjoying another cup today as the temperature here dropped significantly.  I'm wondering if it will be just as good iced when the warmer temps stick around for good. 

The Month of May

The month of May brings warmer weather, lovely flowers, and hints that summer is just around the corner.  All things I love.  But in Indianapolis in the month of May the focus is one thing....racing.  Indianapolis is the Racing Capital of the World and each Memorial Day Weekend hosts the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.  The Roman Coliseum, Vatican City, Wimbledon Campus, Rose Bowl, Yankee Stadium and Churchill Downs could all fit inside the 2.5-mile oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. There isn't an official attendance count for race day, but last year it was estimated that over 400,000 people attended, including yours truly.  It truly is a special place. 

Source: Inside Indiana Business

Homemade Vanilla Latte

This morning I awoke with the full intention of completing the planting in the garden before heading off to school.  However, it was wet.....really wet.  That plan bit the dust.   I instead decided to start the week with my new favorite treat, a homemade vanilla latte.

Grateful

Today I was going to write about our weekend gardening project, but that can wait.  Today my incredible dad sweetly gifted me with my favorite picture of my mom and me.  There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss her or think of how grateful I am to have had such a loving, kind, fun, and generous mama.  She was a lady in every sense of the word, yet knew how to have fun, too.  Simply put, she was incredible.  So although this day makes me a little gloomy, it also makes me smile thinking of her.  I'm reminded of just how lucky I am. 

As of now, I'm loving the new addition to my little table.

 

 

 

Wishing all those who are celebrating today a Happy Mother's Day!

DIY Silhouettes

I love silhouettes.  The other day while waiting in line and flipping through a magazine I came upon an article about how to stage a bookshelf.  A tiny picture in the corner of the page caught my eye....a framed dog silhouette hung on the back of the bookshelf. I knew right then and there I needed to make one of our pup Stan.  He is after all the sweetest dog ever!

On My Bookshelf [The Clouds Beneath the Sun]

Don't judge a book by its cover.  We're all familiar with the old adage, but in this case I'm thrilled I did.  While browsing at the library something about this just caught my eye and I threw it in my basket.  I love a good book filled with unexpected twists and turns, and The Clouds Beneath the Sun delivers just that.  I couldn't put it down.

What's for Dinner [Arugula Salad with Strawberries, Blue Cheese, and Balsamic Vinaigrette]

I was lucky enough to have dinner with Bestie KB one night last week at Napolese, a local restaurant which specializes in gourmet pizzas.  Not only was it wonderful to catch up with a dear friend, the food was delicious, including the arugula salad we shared before our pizzas arrived.  It showcased arugula, strawberries, crumbled blue cheese, and pistachios with a balsamic vinaigrette.  In fact, it was so good I decided to make my own version with dinner tonight.

Taking the Plunge

Well.  I'm going to do it.  After following so many different inspirational, funny, and creative blogs I've decided to take the plunge and start my own.  Call me crazy, late to the game, or finally joining the rest of the world, but I'm excited! 

Welcome to The Happy Little Hive! I hope to use this as a way of documenting our comings and goings as I try to make our home just that, a happy little hive.  I have a love for DIY, cooking, party planning, and crafting.  I'm an amateur gardener (big aspirations, but sadly the actual garden doesn't rival the one in my mind) and a beginner beekeeper. 

I hope you join me (and are patient while I figure all this out...) for the ride!