It's a Party!

Last weekend, we were invited to a HOUSE OF ROCK PARTY hosted by an
architect friend and his wife.

Okay, I was kind of hesitant- aren't we too old for that sort of thing?

Damian (my creative adventurous other half) took an hour from the office late Friday afternoon and dashed down to Fantasy Attic in Depot Town.
He emerged as Kid Rock. (wow...) and found a costume for me to play (A Spice Girl- known as Ginger, I guess). I succumbed to the tight fitting British Flag, added a pair of white leggings, tossed on a red wig, painted plenty of eye makeup on my eyes and found a pair of red sparkly heels deep in my closet... We jumped in the convertible, conspicuous as ever, and decided- who cares!
The drink special of the evening was the "Vanhatten' (our host was Van and his wife Jill- too cute!) made with a good dose of Maker's Mark.
There were delicious snacks and appetizers- the blend of savory and sweet munchies.
We had a great time- totally out of the box!!
So, my friends, I'm here to testify. When you have a chance to LET YOUR HAIR DOWN (or put your hair on) dance and party to rock n roll music, go for it!
Meet some new friends and have some fun!

My weeknight date...the herb garden!

Ready for Spring!? Why not forgo the 5:00 vodka martini..and make a date
with mother nature. After a long day at the office, it's amazing how much
you can accomplish in a few hours of digging, planting, mulching and
weeding. My efforts improved both my state of mind and my herb garden! Pedro
the parrot loves to garden too- so on my shoulder he sits...The perennials
are looking healthy, and the prevailing mint and chives have not
disappointed me - once again, they are invading every crevice of the stone
wall. It's already time for the first blossoming of the garlic and onion
chives, so I cut a huge cluster and put them in a square vase filled with
fresh water- a few simple decorations for the outdoor dining tables.
I like to plant what I'll cook with-or use! Lots of basil, rosemary,
parsley (curly and flat), dill and cilantro.

Try making an herb bouquet with assorted herbs when you can't possibly make another batch of pesto. I have a perennial tarragon bush that is HUGE..many types of thyme (lemon is my favorite)- a curry plant- some sorrel that likes to spread here and there-a horseradish root that loves the soil..along with several healthy sage plants, some marjoram and oregano.

The lemon balm is prolific, and for a refreshing summer bath, I throw it in my bath water.. Ahh.... the smell makes me smile. Just tie a handful of fresh leaves in a clean washcloth, toss it in the tub and draw your bath. The hot water brings out the essential oils and the scent of the lemon balm, and you will be on our way
to a fresh start to the morning- good night's sleep.

Spring Shopping

I love to grocery shop, do you?

My mood and what I’m in need of determines which store I pick.

Oh, and there’s always the vegetable garden in the summer.

One of my favorite memories is watching my daughter, Amaron, during one of her visits home from college, head to the garden with a gigantic stainless steel bowl in search of tomatoes and cucumbers. She returned with her bowl brimming with produce- so full she could barely carry it!

Ah... summer’s bounty.
Anyway, back to spring shopping.

Start by cleaning out your fridge first! I have 2 fridges- the pantry fridge holds ALL of my produce and extra eggs, condiments and back up dairy. The kitchen fridge is the hot spot for daily cooking and ready to eat leftovers.
My method is to take everything out, shelf by shelf, wiping jars, checking dates, consolidating extras and rotating anything that needs to be eaten first. I do a super clean of the surfaces as well. If there are bits and pieces of items that need to be eaten… 2 stalks of celery, a few carrots, a bit of tofu, a container of cooked brown rice. some extra tomato sauce- a few chunks of good cheese, I’ll whip up a stir fry and have it for lunch at the office.
The six one-week-old apples become a cinnamon nutmeg applesauce, the yogurt and ripened bananas- along with the remaining blueberries, strawberries and end of the mango juice whir into a fruit smoothie. I check for what I need to restock- coffee, mustards, tomato products, dry goods..and make a mental list. I buy much of the same produce and fruit. Somehow, when the fruit bowls on my center island are full of colorful fresh fruits, we eat more and enjoy it more. No one has to worry about eating the last banana because there are always more!

In between work, picking up kids, client meetings, a yoga class, I steal an hour or so. Where I shop depends completely on my mood, and somewhat what I need to buy. I know, price should matter too, which it does, but somehow my shopping decisions are cleaner, more concise, and more creative all at the same time when the environment fits my mood. Yesterday, I chose Busch’s. Last week I hit Arbor Farms twice.. Two weeks ago it was Meijer (only in the wee hours of the morning when it’s quiet and empty!) . Sometimes I choose Target for a late Sunday afternoon shop with my son Brian- we stock up on beverages and pantry items (I love his help unloading!!). If I happen to be on State street, the Produce station beckons me- for the small market rush I get looking and smelling the produce.

I admit, much to much of my monthly spending is at the grocery store. But it makes me feel good!! I love the spontaneous dinner party- the ability to always have something to cook with- the feeling of complete organization- and that ready for anything mode I feel with a well stocked fridge and pantry.

Hey... can you come for dinner tonight?