One More Month

School is out in less than one month!  Phew, I feel like the summer snuck up on me.  With our Ireland trip on the horizon and the promise of long sunny days just a few weeks away, I'd say I'm pretty excited for summer!  

I'm a compulsive list maker, so with a new season about to dawn he's my summer to-do list.

+ break out my new sewing machine (and use it!)

+ try out some new hikes in the area

+ wine tasting 

+ outdoor movie night

+ start at least 1 DIY project I've pinned on pinterest

What's on your agenda for the summertime?  Any big goals, plans, projects you've got on the list?

image/e-tells-tales

Happy Weekend + Link Love

Happy Weekend!  I'm so excited for an extra day off to relax and soak up some quality time with my husband.  We're off to take a ferry ride to the San Juan Islands.  The last time I was at this particular island, I was a high school camper.  My bunkmates and I sailed there and set up a tarp tent and campfire on the beach.  Needless to say, my return visit will surely be a little different!  What are you up to this weekend?

Link love from around the web....

+ blue glass tutorial

+ guacamole bruschetta?  yes, please!

+ 50 fun and cheap date ideas

+ dark chocolate cake batter cookies with sea salt...'nuff said

+ DIY lace candle holder

+ love kate midleton's style!

+ spicy peanut and chicken quesadillas

image/weheartit

DVD Binge

Growing up, my dad cultivated an enormous movie collection.  I remember our weekly pilgrimage to Blockbuster Video, to walk and scour the perimeter of the store, tirelessly searching for a worthwhile, but appropriate new release to rent for us kids for the weekend.  At the checkout counter, he always perused the VHS/DVD for sale bins and we usually left with between 1-2 new movies to add to the collection on most trips.  

Hence, I am a movie buff.  I love movies, especially oldie but goodie movies.  In recent years, I have found myself starting a substantial DVD collection of my own, which I attribute to affinity for movie-watching ingrained by my dad long ago.  When watching a flick and a friend mumbles, "Who is that guy, I think he's in something I've seen," I pride myself on being that person who can successfully make the movie-to-movie connection instantaneously (or at least reasonably fast)!  Yeah, I'm that girl, I know, I know, don't worry, I am aware that my actor and actress trivia and the ability to recite lines from movies is not favored by all... :)

Lately, I've been feeling a little ho-hum about my movie selection, and went on a bit of a DVD binge on amazon picking up some new flicks to add to my collection including... 

 and

What are your favorite rainy-day, go-to, pick-me-up-when-you're-in-a-bad-mood, or just plain random FAVORITE MOVIES?  I'm dying to hear!

images/amazon

Sibling Love

I just stumbled across delightful photos by Jason of JLW Photography!  His personal blog documents his darling daughters' sibling love at its best.  I love their facial expressions, they are pitch perfect!  I've recently been intrigued by photo journal blogs such as these.  What a great way to document your children growing while simultaneously being accessible to family and friends far away.  

image/kristinandkayla

via kitchencorners

Desperately Seeking Camera

I am in the market for a new camera.  I'm hoping to invest in a fancy-schmancy DSLR that I can use for years to come.  I'm often in awe of the focus and detail of photographs I see on other blogs, and thats what I am seeking, a camera that will allow me to really zoom, focus, and create art of out of life.  

So...let's have it, your thoughts, recommendations, suggestions, and opinions.  If you do have any helpful hints, please let me know the make / model so I can research further!

image/pheartache

Friday Link Love

+ How common is your birthday?  Mine is not so common...interesting.

+ Succulent boutonnieres - love!

+ Harvard boys jamming to girly pop?  Hilarious!

+ Stylish bikini for summer

+ Pretzel pool float - this is too cool!

+ Snazzy wallpaper inspiration

+ Ever had German pancakes?  They look good!

+ Hand lettered gift wrap, GENIUS

+ Homemade snickers bars

+ Kitchen chic: butcher block countertops

image/bloom

Dinner Last Night: Fettuccine with Asparagus, Green Peas, and Tarragon

Thank you pinterest for providing me with constant dinner inspiration!  Another pin-turned-reality, fettuccine with asparagus, green peas, and tarragon!  I have been feeling like I haven't been eating enough veggies lately, so this was the perfect way to add vegetables to my usual dinner staple of pasta.  The sauce is similar to a roux (but less fattening) and gives a nice creamy base to the dish, plus the breadcrumbs added a satisfying crunch.  

All in all - worth making again.  I can always tell when a dish is a success when my husband exclaims, "Dinner?  GOOD!"a la Joey from Friends.  

Side Note: In case you were wondering, the recipe stories I post in "dinner last night posts," are the success stories, a.k.a. the good recipes, worth your time to repeat!  I wanted to clarify just in case I was sending the illusion that I'm an amazing cook who always gets every recipe right.  Negative!  I do have my failures and mishaps in the kitchen like everyone else.  I just choose to not blog about the mishaps or sub par dinners... I figure it'll save everyone time. Why try out a recipe that's not worth repeating, right?

image/myrecipes