Rocks in the Dryer

Kids Birthday Party Favors

Can we talk about party favors real quick?  I make cookies for just about every party I host.  It's standard issue.  I wish everyone would, just do something homemade that is.  Standard kid party favors really annoy me on so many levels.  I wish I could start a trend.....

I could pitch it in the following ways:

• Green:  No manufacturing and shipping of plastic crap.
• Inexpensive:  Making anything saves so much time and money.
• Kids Activity:  Get the kids involved, make them work for thier party.
• Fun:  Darn it, I like making stuff. 

I have done some crazy time-consuming party favors in the past (I'll save that for a later post) in the end the cookies always win.  The whole process goes like this:

 

3 days ahead make the dough  (20 minutes)

2 days ahead, roll/cut and bake (45 minutes with multi-tasking opportunities)

1 day ahead, frost  (20 minutes)

day of, package (10 minutes)

 

A few years ago I purchased a set of number cookie cutters, they have and will continue to take me far with birthday favors.  Easy Breezy! (we make simple sugar cookies)

Frosting?  Easy.  Royal Icing in a squirt bottle.  We are big fans of the dots and squiggles, no matter the cookie shape.  This is something even my kids can do and the result is always divine.

Keep a supply of cello bags on hand.  Bought in-expensively in large quantites, a stock will carry you through many more projects and purposes than you might think possible, for years!

Slap a label on it and you are DONE!  I always get asked where I get my favors.  This happened at yesterday's party and when I told the mom I made them she replied: "Well, I'm never coming here again".   LOL.  Don't be intimidated people, I promise it's easy.  A little pre-thought, a little planning and many less trips to the store or (Oriental Trading.com) - that's my kinda party favor.     

 

 

The Jell-o Fish

I had a Christmas party, but how could you know that.  I haven't attended to this blog since November.  Life has been going on and I have been developing lots of new and exciting entertainment....

Back to the party.  I had a Christmas party, yes I did.   I didn't take many photos and for that I am regretful.  The mid-century menu was divine and matching decor, in my opinion, beat the band.

I did, however, take a photo of the fish. 

- hipstimatic dated it, however so appropriately '81.  It's 2011 all the way

 

Last year I threw a mid-century menu party and made a jell-o mould, sticking to the theme and all.  No one touched it - and who could blame them, jell-o and cool-whip are kind of are gross.  The jell-o recipes of the 50's are disgusting, yet so ...... festive! I have plowed through many back issues of "The Joys of JELL-O" trying to find just the right one to bring to my modern table and then, out of nowhere, a flash of genius!  Vodka!

Don't put cubed ham or peas, tuna, olives and apricots in the jell-o - put VODKA in it!

The Vodka fish was an enormous hit.  Not only was it fun, festive and tasty, it was entertainment, a conversation piece!   The fish was hacked to death right there on his mirrored display for all to see.  People I never dreamt so daring, were slurping up Vodka Fish and with great pride and celebration.  Who knew.

This fish has breathed new life into entertaining as I know it. He made his way to my neighbor's 7 fish dinner Christmas Eve, that was a virgin fish, family party and all.  I have been invited to participate in a recipe swap.  I wonder if Vodka Fish is an appropriate submission?  Big Daddy and I have a couple of party invites on the horizon where we are asked to bring an appetizer.... hmmmmmm, what to bring? Vodka Fish!

 

Here's the recipe:

Obtain a large fish jell-o mould (mine came from an estate sale) 

Choose seasonally appropriate jell-o flavor and color 

Follow package directions substituting (to taste or tolerance) some/all of the cold water with vodka

Enjoy!

 

 

crave more jell-o inspiration - see here: 

Today Started with Dog Vomit

It's a been a crazy few weeks:  vacation ended, school started, there has been carnage, the emergency room has been visited more than once.  I have been chasing the ever elusive normal.  I thought today was going to be my day and then....

Our sweet new doggy Vince saw his chance at a popsicle yesterday and took it.  When he saw me coming to end his pleasure he did what any 70lb labrador would do, he swallowed it whole.  Stick and all, he swallowed the whole darn thing.  I nearly fainted.

I spent a good part of my evening reading links produced by the google search: "My labrador swallowed a popsicle stick whole".  There was a surprising amount of content, apparently large labradors all over this fine country respond the way Vince did to a popsicle slipping out of the hands of babes.  It came clear there were about 3 scenarios that were going to play out for me and my new companion: 

1.  We were going to do some major diet modifications that would eventually result in the production of a "poop-sicle".  I wasn't exited about this option, aside from the fact that I didn't see how in the world that was possible.   I was ready for the task, I didn't get the chance to ask Vince what he thought, but I went ahead and made a large pot of white rice in preparation.

2.  This is the option that kept me awake most of the night.  The stick would get stuck somewhere inside and need to be surgically removed.  Need I express the reasons why I was not interested in this option?

3.  Popsicle stick might reappear via vomit in the first 24 hours.

Voila!  I have never been so excited to see dog vomit in all of my days.  Dog vomit with a popsicle stick on top, was far better than the proverbial icing on the cake.  I nearly cried tears of joy.  The boys and I ran around the house dancing and singing in honor of our four legged friend.  It was true a celebration.

So that was it.  A little dog vomit and a couple loads of laundry.  When dogs vomit in my house they always do it in my children's beds - se la vie - better than ruining the carpets, and let's be honest, worse things have happened in their little set of twins.

If anything has happened to me in the last few weeks it is certainly that I am learning to not panic in times of unforeseen stress, emergency.....whatever you wanna call them.  A deep breath and little google search is (sometimes) all you need. 

 

That was NOT my Vacation

Since the birth of my children I have learned to look at what used to be a vacation as more of a business trip. The scenery changes, the work load does not.  I was fortunate enough to spend two weeks on the cape, but it didn't seem much like a vacation. Am I really this big of a brat?!

The house we rented was simply beautiful.  The weather was next to perfect.  The company of family and friends was plentiful and pleasurable. What was the craziest part?  I took little to no photos.  This is very odd behavior for me and I don't quite know how to explain or justify it, other than the fact that it did feel more like a business trip.  Big Daddy only joined us for the weekends, so that added to the business trip feeling.  I didn't pack enough clothes, so the amount of laundry I did also made it feel like home away from home and not in a vacation-y way.  The house was lovely, so I did an inordinate amount of cleaning trying to keep it as nice as we found it.

We rented the house from a family who lives on the cape year round and have decided to go RV-ing for a year.  They are homeschooling their kids and visiting all the national monuments, big citys and parks.  What envy I feel.  They rented their home, as stated on their blog, not only to help cover costs of the trip but to also remove the option to bail out of their plan.  If their home is rented, they can't call it quits and go home.  Love it.

I am sorry I didn't take photos of the house - it was a simply stunning, custom built, perfectly appointed arts and crafts bungalow.  Drat.  I took the boys to Race Point, twice and again, took no photos.  Dang it.  We went to Provincetown twice, no documentation.  Spent time in Wellfleet, went to the Chartroom, ate at lobster shacks - you name it we did it and not one shred of proof....

I took this one photo at White Crest Beach in Wellfleet part of the Cape Cod National Sea Shore:

It was my first visit there and was stunning to say the least.  I obviously didn't read the fine print on this beach where the website says:

White Crest

A beautiful beach with towering sand dune cliffs. The waters at White Crest Beach (also called Four Mile Beach and Surfer's Beach) are rougher, making it ideal for the surfers who often flock here. Hang gliders are allowed before 9am and after 5pm. Facilities include restrooms, a concession stand, and lifeguards. Parking fees are $15 per day at the large lot. Please note that White Crest is not the greatest place to bring young children, senior citizens, or the disabled, as a steep dune path with no staircase leads down to the beach. How to get there: Take Cahoon Hollw Road off Route 6 in Wellfleet. At end, take a right on Ocean View Drive and follow to end

That would have been good to know since I took 2 children and 2 senior citizens.  The children LOVED running up and down the cliff, my 6 year old sprinted up and down nothing short of 15 times (he's a blur in the above photo).  My father didn't much care for the hike back up, sinking up to his knees under the weight of coolers, chairs and umbrellas...... but we all survived and might just even go back.

With that little chunk of summer behind us we are packing for the real vacation, and happy it's been raining for days - must mean clear skies ahead!

 

 

Teavana, Teavana, TEAVANA!

I can't count the number of times I have briskly walked passed the Teavana store in the mall.  Never have I had any slight sense of an urge to enter.  I don't really drink tea and I certainly had no need for swanky chain store mall tea ..... OMG until now.

I went to a very casual evening gathering at my friend Miss Anna's house last week.  Miss Anna, among many things is an absolute master at ambiance.  She is an incredible hostess, phenomenal cook, master gardener the list continues to no end.  She brings passion to all her living works and is truly an inspiration on the "good things" as well as doing things well, beyond well.  I learn much from her always.

Last week she served tea.  Big deal, tea.  She made me drink it (I'm trying to not drink alcohol right now as part of my skinner me mission, beer & wine are just too full of calories).  It was divine.  Not just the tea itself but her ceremony of it, the presentation, her knowledge.  We had so much conversation about tea, who knew.

She came to my house Saturday night and brought her tea and making supplies.  We made tea and drank it and it was lovely.  Sunday I found myself thrilled that I had not emptied all the glasses from the porch.  Like a scavenger, I found the 3 nearly emptied glasses and pitcher all with a bit left. I shamelessly dumped them into one glass and iced them.  Divine.  I found myself craving more of it and Monday morning could take it no more.  Miss Anna and I needed to go on a field trip.

Teavana, Teavana, TEAVANA!!!!!! - where have you been all my life!  It's timely really, my new introduced tea drinking fits perfectly into my "Being Better" mission;  put good quality things into my body, waste less, add ceremony, slow down and embrace great pleasure in the simple things.  This new tea obsession is all that and more.

I'm not a huge soda drinker, but when I want a beverage other than coffee or water it's what I drink (Polar diet orange is my poison of choice) the wastefulness of single serve aluminum cans has been bothering me greatly.  Sometimes I drink crystal light lemonade - but lets face it - I am flavoring water with a little chemical pack.  ew. 

Yesterday I marched into Teavana, purchased a teapot infuser steeper thingy, chose some lovely cleansing and detoxing teas and made a list of the many more to try next time (IE Muscle relaxing tea to improve my yoga practice, wowsers).  I ran home, decanted the teas into vintage mason jars (not a sanctioned container by Teavana, but I do like to break rules),

It wears vintage well wouldn't you agree? I downloaded the Teavana Tea Time App and steeped my first batch of tea. 

The app perfectly times the steep of each specific tea as well as playing tranquil music while you wait.  The ceremony begins, I am in love.

I have been coveting a large blue vintage mason jar having not found anything quite worthy of it's use....until now:

The blue jar holds the day's batch nice and cold in the fridge and awaits for me to decant my day long desires.

So that is it.  Tea, Tea, Tea. I really do love all this bettering and now that the day's tea is made I have much to do!

Chicken Love

I think I need to raise chickens, actually I'm quite certain of it. Admittedly, I have a few things to sort out first.  One is my obvious backyard Fox infestation.  Second is the doing it.  I have found out that raising chickens is allowed in our town after the acquisition of appropriate permit.  Third, we'd need a coop - so many to drool over all over the web. Finally, and the biggest, the actual commitment.

Had dinner with a great group of women (all local ETSY sellers) last week and one told me of how she rent chickens from a local farm.  Chickens arrive in their mobile coop complete with food and instructions.  You care for them, harvest the eggs and chickens get returned at the end of your rental period.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME?  Perfect, mostly since Big Daddy is not quite certain of my latest obsession... at all.  So happy to learn of a training program with built in return policy.  {Farm is Land's Sake in Weston Ma}.  I have also worried about chickens surviving the winter here - getting them from a local farm should assure they are new england hearty.

It all boils down to the fact that I want fresh eggs.  Fresh eggs is number one and as part of my quest to Be Better.  A big item on my list is that I want to buy less and less from the grocery store, from any store for that matter.  I want my family to connect more with the food we eat.

I read a great article in Organic Gardening this month and there was  little snippet that said it all, thank you for confirming my obsession with the need for chickens:

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Pulling a warm egg from beneath a broody hen is a magical thing:  the ruffled murmur as she relinquishes; the egg's oval perfection, it's bone-smooth promise.  And fitting so perfectly in the palm of the hand as though the relationship between laying and gather always was.

But when a new CSA member stopped by this week to say hello, I was unprepared for the power and imprint of memory on her visit.  She had grown up on a farm in Iowa, and her connection to that time seemed to rill through her as we did our walkabout.  On the way out, we visited the hens in the "Cage Aux Fowl."  On putting a warm egg in her palm, she began to cry softly.  Clearly, the evocation was almost too much.  There was one awkward silence as she held the egg - and her childhood - in her hand and struggled for composure.  But she seemed grateful for the connection that the experience summoned up.

 

 - journal entry title: Magical Realism, From the Article The Accidental Farmer,

    Organic Gardening April-Sept 2011

 

 

Sign me up!  Rest assured, I'll keep you posted!

 

There Goes the Neighborhood

A new family moved in to our hood last fall.  Not just any ole run of the mill basic American style type.  They are Belgian, like the kind actually from Belgium.  What do they do to earn a living here in our great land you ask?  They import Belgium Chocolate.  Thank you very much for your service to our country and welcome to the neighborhood!

As any self respecting Belgian Chocolatiers would do, they hosted a neighborhood Easter chocolate hunt. I am not sure where all my neighbors were 'cause we were just about the only locals present.  This is to say we were the only soil born Americans at the event (the neighborhood Australians were there as well, just none of the American variety neighbors).  What a dream, we felt like we were in Europe if just for a moment.  All the men had on sassy glasses, pants and shoes, yes that was the first tip off, the swirling accents, the other obvious trait.  My average 'ole american family had a fine time being the token locals and sucked down the wine, the amazing food, the great company and of course the chocolate.

There was so much chocolate, it was a bit more fantasy than reality.  They explained how all the unsold holiday themed chocolates usually end up at a pig farm in Maine, this season they thought to put it to use for human consumption - consume we did, sorry pigs.

This little nugget, may have just consumed the most . . .

The day, beautiful. The scene, set....

Did I mention the chocolate?

There was a mighty hunt...

The resources were plentiful...

One child was lucky enough to find the mac daddy of all hidden chocolates . . . guess who?

That's my boy!  It goes without saying that he may contradict our friend Charlie Sheen on who it is that is actually "winning"......

Down on the Truck Farm

It has become rather clear that I am going to need a truck farm. 

Funny how an obsession can begin in just a few short hours.  I think this is the answer to my rascally rabbit problem. I would like to see those vegetation eating varmints, that have overtaken our property, find their way into the back of a truck.  The only problem now, is the actual truck part.  We have a truck, it's a shiny flaming red leased Toyota Tacoma - not quite the aesthetic I have in mind here (and it comes off lease in Oct, so we couldn't harvest the pumpkins).  I am sure I can locate something that will work. Time, patience and perseverance I have.

I am completely in love with these Truck Farm people and their Truck Farm project and while I am only just discovering them - I think we will do wonderful things with each other!  Discover all of love at TruckFarm.com

Becoming a Shiny Mommy

I don't like the shiny mommies much.  Unfortunately for me, I live in the hub of shiny mommies.  They are all around me in all of their fit, fabulous, healthy, manicured, coiffed, shiny fabulousness.  I had a vague understanding of the time, expense and commitment it must take to be a shiny mommy and knew there was no way that was ever going to fit into my life......

Unfortunately for me I turned 40 in October and as the birthday approached I realised I had myself a problem.  Somehow, someway a few, many un-welcomed lbs had graced my bod.  Who was responsible for this?  Someone, I assure you, had been asleep at the wheel.

An early fall afternoon I found a postcard in our mailbox that read "lose 20 pounds in 12 weeks".  Done, sign me up!  I joined my local Get In Shape For Women and, well, would you believe it worked?  The 12 weeks dragged out a bit due to the unavoidable, Thanksgiving, Christmas and month long back injury.  The count to date is 17 pounds.  I am as much proud of this accomplishment as I am ashamed that it needed to be so.

The gym and it's program is perfect for me.  It's small group personal training where I have 3 scheduled appointments each week.  I need someone (gorgeous, fit, tall and nice smelling) to stand over me and motivate.  Jay, my boyfriend lover trainer has been nothing short of fabulous.  He's nearly made me vomit on many occasions and for that I am incredibly grateful.  My BMI has dropped from "over-weight" (wince) to "fit" with the next stop being "athletic".  Shocking.  It's the psychology in this program.  The appointment is what makes me get there, it makes me plan.  I can't "push it out", I can't "go later", I can't "go tomorrow".  I must show up for my appointment or I loose the opportunity.  Not only that, Mr. Sassy Pants is there to make sure I make the most of the precious time I have allocated and tells me exactly what and when to eat.  Isn't he dreamy?

It does feel utterly amazing, but there has been a cost.   A lot of where I have been over the last few months is at the gym with my lover boyfriend trainer.  Not just at the gym, but completely altering my life and the way I use my time so that the gym gets priority.  'Tis the way, I now know, of the shiny mommy.  I don't think I'll make it to true shiny status.  Maybe I am little more "not too shabby" than super shiny.  What I have learned is that it is plain and simply about prioritizing.  Deciding what comes first, what can slide and quite frankly, all that can go without doing. 

The last few months I have chosen fitness, quality family eating, household tidiness above all else.  That in itself has taken every single moment of my available time.  It's been peaceful I tell you.  I have felt a sense of accomplishment and control that is foreign to me.  As I head into the home stretch (with not a single pair of pants that fit me) I am starting to revive some of the old me.  Some of my old ways of spending time.  Right now as I sit in front of the computer the breakfast dishes sit undone, beds unmade and me in my jammies.  That's the old me alright.  The modified me will soon dress, run to the gym and get home for the chores before the boys get off the bus.

Perhaps I can do it all, be a slimmer, sassier me who also has time for some other stuff . . . I just may have to be un-showered, certainly un-manicured and hopefully from time to time wearing something other than sweaty, baggy running pants ...

Simple Christmas Candy Party Favor

We threw a little party for some friends with a new and very delicious little baby.  The party was a "sip and see".  Historically I believe a "sip and see" is intended to be a tea party.  Guests come to sip tea and see a new baby.  We gave it a bit of a grown-up holiday twist.  Ours was to sip cocktails, the baby part remained the same.

That is Cora May, couldn't you just eat her!

Theme was red, pink and white candy, desserts and cocktails.  The best part was having a divine little snuggley baby in a bucket in my house.  The second was the party favor....

simple little glassine envelopes accented with candy cane striped paper, tied off with red & white bakers string and filled with white and pink sixlet candies.

Most everything for the favors I had in my house - but all can be sourced here:  candy cane wrapping paper, pink oval labels, bakers string, glassine envelopes, sixlets candies)

Desert was a candy bar, all were pink, white, red and chocolate.  The cake is my new favorite discovery tipped off by BFF Annmarie.  Make a simple one or two layer cake and cover with granche. 

Quickest decorated cake I have ever made!  Granache is poured over the cake and once dry becomes shiny and perfect and lovely!  It was the bomb. Baby's name went on in a flash with royal icing. 

Decorations were simple, pink roses and of course we served a pink holiday punch.  Quick, simple, stunning if I don't say so myself.  Welcome baby Cora!

Happy Day

It's a good thing my boys are "thankful for cousins", for they are blessed with many.  Happy day everyone.  May your celebrations be merry.

Hors D'oeuvers for a Mid-Century Man

My goodness, I made you wait.  Found myself with an in-box full of gentle reminders that I did not keep the promise made on Monday.  Forgive me, I am easily distracted.

The task at hand?  What does Big Daddy want to contribute for Thanksgiving hors d'oeuvres?  First allow me to show you what I have chosen to make, as with the stuffing, I will be preparing two offerings.

Hot Spinach Dip :: Martha Stewart Everyday Food

Full of irony, the heading even states: "This might become a new holiday tradition" he does like tradition afterall.  I expect it to be rather yummy.

That is mine.

Big Daddy, on the other hand, has rather specifially requested:

 

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While searching for an image of the Kraft Pimento Spread, I came across this blog post on the subject...so, I am not the only one.  Yuck.

I am beginning to think that Big Daddy may have mistakenly landed in the wrong time frame century.  He's coming across more as a Mid-Century Man than a Modern Day Man.  So fine, I will make his icky pimento spread rammed in celery hors d'oeuvres and I may just toss in a tray of deviled eggs (his other fave) and a fruit filled, cool whip topped, jell-o ring to boot.  I, for one, know how to beat a theme to death. 

See here for a food timeline for the 1950's : thank you very much, all present and accounted for.   Perhaps I should add this cook book to my Christmas list . . . I know I should start reading this blog more . . . and next year I may just make the item below:  It has everything included in one festive dish.

Finally, to my old friend Tucky who is having surgery today {People will do the darnedest things to get out of cooking} . . . . Godspeed my friend, I'll save a stuffed celery just for you!

 Happy Thanksgiving one and all.

 

 

 

Family Recipes :: Thanksgiving Stuffing x2

I've been married to Big Daddy for 11 years now.  Clearly we have shared a few holiday's together.  I have cooked for this man for many years and I can't think of a person who is less appreciative, nay, worthy of any culinary effort.  

My husband has the simplest of palates.  His favorite dinners are Hamburgers & BLT's with one important note:  Don't do anything fancy.  Don't get nice bread, don't even walk into the bakery, don't get special lettuce or imported cheese.  Don't use center cut bacon.  Don't use any creativity, don't add flavor.  Don't get fancy chips, he likes Classic Lays.  Use the most basic (he actually PREFERS frozen hamburger patties to wonderfully succulent fresh ground beef from John Dewer) ingredients.  If you think you are going to do something wonderful, extra tasty, special, yummy, think again.  He won't like it and he'll be sure to tell you. 

I have been assigned Stuffing and an appetizer for our family Thanksgiving feast.  Much time has gone into my research of what to make.  I do love stuffing.  I enjoyed a stuffing many years ago (at one of his family Thanksgivings) that has haunted me in all of it's deliciousness, no one remembers who made it. I have been searching for a recipe that might come close.  I have chosen to make this one:

Mushroom & Walnut Stuffing from Martha Stewart Everyday Food.  I have yet to make something from Everyday Food that has been anything short of fabulous.  I don't expect this to be any less.  Fresh sage, real bread (I selected a creative variety) bacon, mushrooms, yum yum yum!  Big Daddy almost had a coronary.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE FAMILY STUFFING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He bellowed.  Blimey.  So I asked his mom, who actually chuckled at the notion.  Here is her recipe for what he calls "The Family Stuffing":

 

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Pepperidge Farm stuffing from a bag with water.  She said if I want to get fancy I can add celery.  I think I have learned my lesson about getting fancy with my husband's food.  I'll stick to the "regular". 

What is interesting is that my husband's 3 sisters are incredible cooks.  Seriously good.  Inspired.  Maybe even gourmet. Fabulous tasting, beautifully presented, upscale, inventive, makes you second guess your offering, solidly good cooks.  Meals and holidays with this family are always super duper yummy! His 6 brothers and sisters all seem to have developed mature palates, appreciate nice food, flavorful, natural food, current food, food that takes effort.  I'll bet they'll eat my stuffing. 

Since the concoction he calls "Family Stuffing" requires very little of me I will be making two stuffings.  One I will call "Good Stuffing", the other I will call "Kids Stuffing".  Maybe we'll even put him at the kids table where he can be perfectly thankful for a bountiful array of bland food.

What he wants for the appetizer will be tomorrow's post, it's more than I can stand in one day.

 

Destination Newport :: It goes on and on and on

If you don't know much or anything about Newport, RI,  you'll need to come up to speed.  Newport is a truly unique place there is no doubt and has long been a true love of my life.  Newport is an island, part of the the great state of Rhode Island and is steeped in history much unlike any other place in this country.

Rich beyond compare in the American colonial and revolutionary history,  rich in tradition of world class sailing (watch this video, makes me want to get in my car and head straight back),  Newport was THE vacation stomping ground of the wealthiest of all humans during the gilded age.  All of this and more, more, more are what make Newport, Newport. 

People from all around the world flock to Newport (a notorious party town as it has been since the late 1800's.) in the summer months to party their faces off and plenty of other more respectable things.    In my early twenties I did the same, though, I didn't leave on Labor Day,  I stayed.  I can say without doubt that my 3 years there were of the happiest, funnest, car-est free-est days I could have wished for.

Ironically, I had forgotten too much of it until this weekend. I think I have been to preoccupied to miss it.  The ladies that escorted me to Newport really knew little of my previous life there.  I think it is safe to say I regressed a bit when we crossed the bridge. We had wonderful dinners, hours of dancing, and more encounters with old friends than I could have ever dreamed.  It felt a bit like an episode of "This is your Life" - I was simply blown away.

The core group of us staying at Vanderbilt Hall....

were met (by surprise to me) by more friends at dinner.  To aid in the surprise the guests arrived in "costume"....

I now know they were attempting to look like Lindsay Lohan and January Jones .... All I know is when they walked in to the restaurant I said to my other dinner companions; "Hold on friends, the trans*vest*ites (pardon the *'s I don't want to be search-able by that word) are in the house ... who knew it was a gaggle of my BFF's.   Not sure what happened to them between the above photo and the below, but Newport can do that to you...

It is safe to admit that I had about 16 too many of these...

 

                                   ...to capture the rest of the evening events, though I tried.  Sadly everything else is far too blurry to share.

We were invited to late night events (a very common occurrence in Newport since the establishments close at 1 am) that included one ocean-worthy vessel and one stripper pole (not at the same location).  I can safely say that I did not anticipate the first words I would utter the morning after my 40th birthday would be:  "Wow, my arm is really sore from pole dancing"  or "Gracious, I hope I can pole dance like that when I am 70!"

Whatever the case, no, the weekend did not turn out at all as I planned.  I could have never have dreamt it would be as it were.  Wonderful encounters, divine locations, bountiful friends, joyful celebrations and lasting hang overs memories . . .

In parting, if I were to make a mix tape pod cast for my homies as a party favor, it would have to include this track, our theme song.  The rhythm and lyric sum it up rather nicely . . . and it played 'on and on and on' for the duration of our journey.  Is it so lame that our 2nd graders are the ones who first introduced us to it, and such is how we knew all the words and could "rock dis club" like it was dy - no - mite?

 

 

 

On the Road to 40 :: Destination Unknown

I am turning 40 on Saturday, not much I can do about that now is there? I'm not very sure how this happened since I still feel very 31.  If it weren't for the skin around my eyes exploiting all my secrets I might just be able to pass . . . .well for a wee bit younger.

A particular posse of BFF's is taking me somewhere to mark this monumental passage of time.  Destination unknown.  For a while there was a nark in the group who was leaking details to me.  At that point I knew we were headed to NYC and I was getting all sorts of juicy details.  The spoiler has been expelled from the group.  Expelled from knowing details and I am now in the dark.  They either switched the trip, or are just trying to make me think they did.  Yesterday I was told to pack a bathing suit by one, another told me to pack for weather comparable to our own.  They've asked about the validity of my passport and all sorts of other things to throw me off the scent . . .

So, I don't know where I am going. Don't know what I'm gonna do, but this I know it true;  I'll be celebrating in the hands of many capable women who know how to celebrate a birthday, who know how to honor a friend.  There are about a million things we could do, a million places we could go, quite frankly anything at all is fine and dandy with me.  {I do hope they know that if I truly have to squeeze into a bathing suit that a quick stop for an emergency wax is in order . . .}  I also know I won't be at the hockey rink, I won't be dropping people at random 1.5 hour birthday parties, I won't be making mac & cheese.  That right there is nearly all the celebration I need, the rest . . . .icing.

Next time we meet friends I assume I'll have a story to tell . . . but in the mean time, wish me luck!