It was a whirlwind of parties last night ... first a baby shower and then a 40th birthday celebration! We gathered at one sixty blue for a private dinner to celebrate my lovely friend, Kendra's Birthday ... and closed the place down! I've had the pleasure of knowing Jay and Kendra for almost 20 years and consider them family at this point. We have shared many a meal in celebration of weddings, babies, birthdays, holidays and everything in between. I look forward to continuing the journey. Happy Birthday to my smart, beautiful, talented, stylish, and caring friend Kendra!
Drove to Chesterton for Holly's baby shower yesterday ... She's got some incredibly talented friends that whipped up paintings, owl pins, prints, yummy sweet treats and etc. We began the evening with coffee and cocktails and a little chit chat. It was nice to meet all of her new friends - I'm kind of the odd man out, coming from out of town, but everyone was very nice and so welcoming. There's just something about a small town isn't there? Anyway, then we made cards - one for each of the baby's upcoming birthdays while dining on bread bowls filled with lintel or squash soup and salads. Followed that up with presents and sweet treats. They also had a really cute game - make a baby out of play dough and have the mom judge which is the best. The interpretation and execution from each woman was so different... so cute and so hard to choose! Baby Sloane will be here sometime in the next thee weeks and I cannot wait to meet her!
Bella Barclay turned seven today - 11.11.11. We celebrated at the American Girl Doll store and had lunch with the ladies (and Jeff and Xavier!). It was an explosion of pink and Bella could not have been happier. Maybe a bit overwhelmed by the merchandise surrounding her. See, she's been saving her money and stocking up on Birthday cash to buy a new American Girl Doll and all sorts of accessories. But, what to buy? There's so much! And what girl wouldn't want it all?
The whole experience was pretty seamless. They rang to signal lunch time, we lined up to be seated and stocked up on chairs for all of the dolls and were taken to our table - all set up with crowns and etc. They have a menu of the kid basics plus some adult fare and began bringing beverages and appetizers right away. They took each girl's order and left us with a little box of questions to ask the girls while we waited. The brought out a cake with candles lit and sang happy birthday, passed out little goodie bags and then came back with little slices of cake and flower pots full of ice cream. So cute. Happy Birthday Bella!
Are you a Living Social member? Well, I signed up a while ago and rarely buy any of the deals. But when I saw one for a shooting range, I had to find someone to go with me! I have always wanted to shoot a gun, don't know why, but I have. I talk with my military friends and they always say they will take me to the range, but just hasn't happened yet. So, thankfully, my friend Beth was all in for the "shootin' and drinkin'" deal!
Once we were done there, it was off to Round Barn Winery for the "drinkin'" part of the adventure. Round Barn has a winery, distillery and brewery all on the property. We only had an hour there so we decided to stay in the winery. We liked the Cab Sav, Cranberry and the Redel Doux, both on the sweet side - not my usual taste, I tend to lean more toward dry wines. I think everyone on the bus ended up purchasing something to take back with them, so that had to be a big win for the winery!
We started the day with a HUGE breakfast at KOA Pancake House (yum!) and then headed to Ko'Olina beach (lagoon 4) to catch some sun… it was stunning and beautiful for the first hour we were there and then this giant gray cloud moved in *frown." We met our friend Mark and just sat on the beach chatting, hoping that damn cloud would leave… but it didn't.
So we packed it up and headed to pick G up from school. We tossed some sandwiches into a cooler and headed for the North Shore. Stopping at the Dole Plantation to pick up some goodies along the way.
So while I snapped iconic photos of the Hawaiian sunset, B & G explored the tide pools finding all sorts of wildlife. B found an eel, and fortunately this time from afar. No medical attention needed unlike my last trip. Wheew!
I have about twenty shots in various angles and such of this beautiful spot and honestly they barely do the real thing justice. The light. The surfers paddling along the still water. Palm trees make the most beautiful sound with a little wind blowing through the branches. And then there were these assholes - mucking it up!
Then kept climbing on top of that stump talking about how the other person(s) should take their photo. Laughing. Being loud. "Now take a video of us down here and pretend we're mermaids." Really? Come on people. Let the rest of us enjoy this stunning sight in peace. It not only annoys me when people disrespect this type of moment, but makes me sad that it's completely lost to some… Look around you. Take it in. This is nature at it's purest and most magnificent. Aloha!
(9) someone you love :: this one it hard for me because the people I love the most do not live near me. So... meet Mary Ellen. She's the bestest grandmother a girl could have! We used to play tiddly winks at the kitchen table after feasting on the yummiest home cookin' after church on Sundays. We would run around the farm and feed the left overs to the barn kitties. I would ride in the back of the wagon full of soy beans while she and my grandfather were pulling in the harvest. She would measure me against the growth of the corn each year and I would help her hang laundry out on the line to dry. She makes the most delicious parker house type rolls and would ship them to me after I moved to Chicago along with homemade grape elderberry jelly that she would pack in chex mix to keep it safe and provide an extra treat. She's simply the bees knees!!
Hello! Hello! Happy 10 on 10 on a weekend!! I'm always so excited when the 10th falls on a day that I am not in my office - there is only so much to photograph there ... So much easier to find beauty in my city and my travels!!
9 AM :: leaving Chicago and heading to Indiana to spend the day with the Pittman's - I never tire of the Chicago skyline... it's even more dreamy with a little fog
10 AM :: Still on the road to Chesterton ... it was raining and the sun was shining at the same time. Can anyone explain this? Just seems wrong to me! Oh and I love the old Skyway signage!
11 AM :: Bella B shows her cheer spirit at the Trojans game! Now, we didn't have these mini football games complete with cheerleaders when I was a kid, but they are darn cute!
12 PM :: Second half of the game ... Bella's still got the spirit. Sadly neither team scored any points on the field.
1 PM :: Hit the European market to pick up those rosemary flatbreads I love so much! No trip to Chesterton is complete without bringing these home with me!! I love their little market - even picked up some French macarons that were very good. And how delicious do these cupcakes look??
2 PM :: Arrived at the annual Popcorn fest!! Had to get kettle corn and found some adorable little pet toys and holiday decor at a couple of the booths. We buzzed through super quick because there were some sort of flying ant and bees EVERYWHERE. Holly and I were both pulling bugs out of our hair, it was the most disgusting thing!
3 PM :: Finally got Holly's elephant ear - tried on our way in, but they had run out of sugar! Oops! It was super good - worth the wait for sure.
4 PM :: Linus, one of their three dogs, the most adorable great dane. She truly is a gentle giant ...
5 PM :: Slip n' Slide
6 PM :: Still at it ... Don't you sometimes miss being a kid?
7 PM :: Decided to stop off by the museum campus to watch the sun go down behind the city. This is one of my favorite views of the skyline and you can just sit along the lake, people watch, snap a photo or two, enjoy the breeze and watch the lights come on as the sun sets. Lovely.
Hope you had a wonderful day filled with sun, fun, family and friends! So long Summer...
Forgot to post this with the air & water show pics the other day ... perfect example of Selika and me ... Posh Spice & Sporty Spice. Ha!
