On My Bookshelf [Beach Town]

You can always count on Mary Kay Andrews for a fun beach (or pool, if you're in Indiana) read.  While Beach Town isn't my favorite of her works, it was still a easy read, perfect for a sunny summer book!

Greek Villiage Salad [Horiatiki]

Well friends, I hate to break it to you, but a Greek salad doesn't have lettuce.  Don't get me wrong, I'll eat one because, quite simply, add feta and olives, which is really all anyone really does, and it's good.  But, all those Greek salads you've had?  They've been a poor imitation of the real deal.  A true Greek salad is so very simple, yet a thing of beauty.  It's truly one of my favorite dishes and served fresh from the garden it just can't be beat.  So without further ado.....

Mesquite Bean Coffee

While visiting Bestie MHDRL in Big Bend, Texas we embraced the notion of "while in Texas" wholeheartedly and whipped up some mesquite bean coffee.  She had already harvested the mesquite beans before I arrived, so all we had to do was roast and brew.  It was quite yummy and such a unique treat -- definitely not something we find in Hoosierland!

Happy Hour: [Sweet C's Whimsea Fizz]

Last summer we had a little girls' day on the boat with the most delicious "summer in a cup" cocktail from darling friend Sweet C.  It's quite yummy and the perfect little addition to a day spent floating and sunning....it's dangerously good!

Sweet C's Whimsea Fizz
Ingredients:

• Deep Eddy Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka
• Club Soda
• Lime wedges

Directions:

• Simply mix to your own taste -- we go heavy on the lime (and heavy on the Ruby Red, if I'm being honest....).

Happy Happy Hour! 

Happy Hour [Pink Sunset Delight - Grapefruit Cocktail]

Hubby and I are trying to squeeze in as many relaxing summer evenings as we can before school starts later this week.  Enter in the Pink Sunset Delight, which is really just a pink grapefruit cocktail.  We were enjoying them on the back porch, watching the pink sunset, when I quipped, "Pink sky at night, sailor's delight"  -- and the Pink Sunset Delight was born.

What's for Dinner on the Boat [Brick Pressed Sandwich]

Hubby and I enjoyed a lovely evening on the boat with Besties DB and KB last night.  (Do you call boys "besties"??? Regardless, I still count him as a "bestie"!)  We had a terrific time -- Hubby and I can hardly wait to do it again!

The weather was lovely (finally no rain!!)...

Peach and Cherry Flambee

Yesterday we celebrated my sweet Hubby's birthday.  He's not much of a traditional cake fan, so I opted for something a little out of the box for a special dessert.  It was a huge success....Hubby loved it and the presentation made the treat special enough for the special birthday!

Five on Friday [7.10.15]

ONE
Although it's been cold and seems as though the rain will never end, Hubby and I have been enjoying these Nutella Popsicles.  They are divine and so, so easy.

Easy Nutella Popsicles

These simple Nutella popsicles keep popping up on my Facebook feed.  Since "make popsicles" is on our Summer Bucket List I decided to pull the trigger and whip up a batch.  Boy am I glad I did.  These. are. delicious.  They're such a yummy treat.

Easy Nutella Popsicles
Ingredients:

• 2 cups Cool Whip
• 1 cup milk
• 7 T Nutella (the original called for six, I threw in one more for good measure)

Directions:

Mix together.  Pour into mold.  Freeze for a couple hours.  Enjoy!

Full disclosure:  I only have a 4 Popsicle mold, which is perfect for the two of us, but this made waaaay more than that.  I filled two additional large ramekins with the mix.  It still set up beautifully.

Happy Summer!

Joining up with the Cozy Little House,  Share Your Style, and  Recipes for Summer Entertaining

Five on Friday [7.3.15]

Happy Friday and Happy Independence Day Weekend!!  Let's just get right down to this week's Five on Friday....

ONE
Earlier this week we had the yummiest grilled Greek style lamb chops.  Seriously delicious.  They will definitely become part of the regular rotation.

Patriotic Printables

Independence Day is one of my favorite holidays!   I'm so very proud and grateful to be an American. It is incredible just how lucky we are to live in this country.

Five on Friday [6.19.15]

Happy Friday!!!!  It's going to be a long, long weekend, however.  We have 500+ tennis players from all over the Midwest coming for a closed tournament.  And rain is predicted.  Lots and lots of rain.  If you wouldn't mind doing a little non-rain dance for me it would be greatly appreciated!  Now, let's get down to this week's Five on Friday...

ONE
Bestie MHDRL came into town last week to surprise her mom for her retirement.  It was a spectacularly fun week complete with a surprise party, a trip to the Children's Museum, lots of snuggles, and lots of giggles.  Perfection.

Porch Rules

Porch rules have popped up all over Pinterest and I've been itching to recreate something for our back porch.  I found the perfect little spot on an antique plant stand that simply needed something a little extra.  These porch rules fit the bill perfectly.

Happy Hour [Easy Vodka Mojito Cocktail]

Today's the last day of school!  Woohoo!  There's nothing better in the summer than a relaxing little happy hour on the back porch...a warm summer breeze blowin' in, geraniums blooming, and sweet little chats with the Hubby.  We took advantage of the beautiful weather this past weekend, and whipped up an easy, refreshing cocktail...

Countdown to Summer

Summer is just around the corner and we can hardly stand it here in our happy little hive.  I decided we needed a little something extra to help get us to the finish line. 

Summer Bucket List 2015

Bucket lists for the different seasons are so fun!  Really, it's just a fun to do list.  This year I took a little different approach, and whipped up a little printable on Picmonkey.  I simply popped it into a frame and will use a dry erase marker to check off the items off as we enjoy doing them.

Ramblings

Summer is quickly coming to a close.....as in I go back to school today and the kiddos come Monday.  I'm trying to beat the back to school blues, while still trying to figure out where summer went exactly.  I've decided to extend my Summer Bucket List deadline until September.  First of all, August is still summer even though school has started, right???  Secondly, I'm hoping this helps to ease those said blues.  Until the next bucket list item, I thought I'd focus on some summer time fun we've had so far.....

We have 5 or 6 different hummingbirds that are regulars at our feeder.  I LOVE seeing them, and have been trying to capture an image all summer long.  I've failed so far.  I promise there's one in this picture.

The big 3-2....again.....

We kicked off Hubby's birthday weekend with a surprise picnic on the boat on a gorgeous Friday evening.  Hubby was not expecting it (or at least that's what I tell myself) and was pretty happy to cruise on down the river. 

We enjoyed the scenery.....

Summer Bucket List

Summer is finally here!  At the start of each summer I think of all the things I want to do during the warm, relaxed (?) months.  Sometimes they get done, sometimes they don't.  This year I decided to make a Summer Bucket List to serve as a reminder of the things we want to do.  Time seems to slip by so quickly, and hopefully this will help us to remember to slow down and enjoy our time together.  (In fact, to further prove my point that we need a reminder....this has been on my list of things to do for a while now, and the first week of summer vacation has already slipped by.  The good news is we have crossed off a few of the items.)