Good music to make dinner and drink wine to...or something like that ;)

I'd just like to say that I think Ray LaMontagne might be my all time new favorite artist. See below for the link.

"You Are The Best Thing" via YouTube

Mike's Bloody's

As a tribute to Mike Seeley, I'd like to share the Bloody Mary recipe that kept us all sane on our adventures last week:

• Vodka
• Clamato Juice
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Celery Salt
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• Slice of Lime

The proportions are up you you, but the more vodka the better :)
Enjoy!
LL

Woody Turns 30 - Finally!

As if the adventures in Utah weren't enough excitement for me - and a whole week off work didn't separate me from the real world - I left early Friday morning on a flight to Sarasota, FL - Long Boat Key. Andrea had gotten a house at the beach for the weekend, and had about 14 friends coming to celebrate. With exactly 11 hours to re-pack my suitcase, I was back at the airport to meet Jessica. When we arrived in Sarasota, we promptly began the party by renting a convertible Seabring for the weekend.

The weekend was so much fun. The minute we got there I started with the Blood Mary's again. The drinking continued all day - and all evening. Dinner was at Andrea's friend's place next door. Homemade fish tacos. They were AMAZING. We had wine and hung out on the porch to watch the sun go down. I have never in my life known that Andrea's brother Aaron could be so entertaining, but with he and her friend Chip, we easily laughed off all our dinner calories. The post-party was back at the house with lots of dancing to 80s music - Michael Jackson particularly. Who knew that just weeks later the dance videos would be such mementos! ;)

Saturday we spent the entire day at the beach. That night was Andrea's big dinner out. The post-party on Saturday was a bit calmer, as we were all worn out from being so fun the night before!? I guess old people only have so much party in them....

The following day Jessica and I had lunch with Nanny and Poppa, who live about 20 miles from Long Boat Key. It was so great to see them! I wish they lived closer :( Nanny reminded me that she wanted to see those twins - boys more specifically - so I'd better get moving. After lunch we packed it in and headed for the airport :( All is all it was a fantastic birthday celebration. No surprise there. It was also SO hard to get back into work mode that Tuesday. Again, no surprise. I heart vacations - and Andrea's birthday party.

"What are 'Hiking Outfits'?"

This is the exact way that the trip began for me. Sheer panic as to what I was going to need on this outdoor adventure, and how to pack it. I've got the beach trips down to a science, but it's been a long while since I've left the flip-flops and polo shirts at home for running shoes and khaki shorts! But, after a few last minute trips to Target and Old Navy, I was ready to go. We (Robert and I) were going to Southern Utah with Dad, Pam, Paul, Morgan and Ashland. Pam is from Utah, where her brother, Mike, still lives. He was to be our tour guide for the excursion, so we met he and his wife June in SLC. It was here that we were introduced to "the bar". This bar followed us around on our road trip via Mike's trunk. It was like Mary Poppin's magic bag - what ever you wanted, it was there. Bloody Marys and Gin and Tonics were the drinks of choice for the week. But we pulled out the occasional bottle of wine or vodka drink. The perfect medicine for a week of family time.

Our first stop was Moab, UT. I was so shocked by my reaction to the heights at Dead Horse Point and Schafer's Trail. It felt like with one big swoop of wind, I was going to be carried off the mountain. Or with one small slip of the wheel, the car would be sliding off the trail into the bottom of the canyon. I was really, truly the biggest wuss ever. The rest of the brave group coaxed me out on a few ledges, thank goodness, or I would have been a lost cause on that adventure. We also did a half-day rafting trip down the Colorado river. June actually got thrown out of the boat, which kept me holding on to the sides even tighter. Before leaving Moab for Boulder (UT), we made a stop at Arches National Park. One of the most famous Utah landmarks.

The drive to Boulder was about three hours, and a very different geography than the desert of Moab. It was much greener and cooler (temperature). We stopped at Goblin's Valley on the way, and got to be part of a rainstorm - in the desert! We also stopped to stock up on beef jerky, another Utah staple. It was actually really good. Especially with Bloody Mary ;) That night we had dinner at Hell's Backbone Grill and spent the night at the Bolder Mountain Lodge right next door. However, before bedtime we took a little road trip to see the Boulder airport. When we turned of the 'main' road for a dirt road, and wound around some trees for a mile or so, I was certain it was a joke. Well...it wasn't. We found ourself smack in the middle of the runway through the final clearing of trees, with the airport marker in plain view.

Then off to Bryce Canyon. By the end of the trip we were commenting on how guilty we felt for not oohing and ahhing about the amazing scenery anymore. I guess there was only so much to say. The rest we'll just have to keep in our memories!

California, Here I Come....Maybe.

Sometimes I think about moving to California. And then I think, "I would have to leave my cats behind". And I know that could never happen, so there goes the option of west coast living for me! Since Tucker poops - usually on me - and cries from point A to point B, putting them in the car isn't an option. And I would never stick them in the cargo hold of an airplane.

However, it seems that now I can reconsider life on the beach, as some genius lady has created Pet Airways. An airplane just for pets! That had a pet attendent for all it's "pawssengers". Yay! :)

Pet Airways Website

"God couldn't be everywhere, so he created mothers!"

This morning Paul and I escorted our favorite mother to church, had garden omelettes and fresh fruit on the deck and then saw "Under The Sea" at IMAX.  It was a beautiful sunny day, just perfect for celebrating the BEST MOM EVER!  I painted her a guardian angel without a face to add to her collection, and Paulie made sure she was stocked with her favorite dark chocolate!

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms :)

Here Comes The Bride...

Mikaela, Heidi and I hosted a wedding shower for Rebekah at the Swan Coach House,  THE place for ladies lunching in Buckhead.  It was fun to dress up and play the part for the afternoon!  Rebekah got some super cool gifts.  I had a hard time steering away from Lenox mall afterwards to go and stock up on some kitchen accessories of my own!   

Groundbreaking

On Saturday, "the builders" broke ground on the shed! After all the tearing down and planning, it was time to start building up! The work began at 9a with a trip to Home Depot, and ended at 9p with four poured concrete foundation slabs. (You'll have to excuse my lack of correct terminology here...I'm learning as I go!) It's so exciting to see the progress take shape :) It's also spawned lots of conversations about project extensions - a deck, taking out trees, landscaping, fencing....Phew, I'm already tired!

Walk Now For Autism

Mom and I met at Atlantic Station this morning to participate in the autism walk. The weather was a bit hazy, but no rain - a perfect walking forecast. We walked around a bit before the walk began, and saw a booth where they were decorating ponytails with pipe cleaners, paper umbrellas and sparkles! Had we not 

been preparing for a 2.2 mile trek through Midtown, we would have had our hair done too :) 

After the walk, we refueled with a healthy snack from Doc Green's.

A Big Night Out

We actually made it out of the house this weekend! A Saturday night out in Midtown :) We were celebrating a birthday at Smiths Olde Bar. It was nice to be a part of the party, but I'd still choose a low-key night at home with Robert, Maddie and Tucker anytime!

The Point of No Return

It's one of those projects that we threw around from time to time when ever we got really brave, but I wasn't sure if it was ever going to actually happen. I have such issues with change, that I think without the propper prodding, I would have left the fence up until the day I moved out of the house. However, Robert's contagious excitment about the project got to me -- and we tore down the backyard fence in preparation for the shed to be! We knew it was going to be a job, but pulling the posts out of the ground ended up taking a lot more muscle power than expected. I was relegated to shovel duty, as the sledgehammer just wasn't my thing. And by the end of the day, the fence was just a distant memory!