Picnic in the Park

Saturday night we decided to have ourselves a last minute picnic in the park. The overcast morning burned off to reveal a gorgeous, sunshiny day, and it was just too nice to spend the evening indoors.

We decided to the head to our favorite park - where we got engaged just a few months ago. En route, we picked ourselves a Little Caesar's Hot-and-Ready pepperoni pizza, brewskis for him, and cider for me. We spread out a blanket, laid back and relaxed, all the while enjoying our dinner + drinks and basking in the setting sun. What a great way to end an amazing day.

Salad Savvy: Mango & Black Bean Quinoa Salad

After a few days of heavy eating, I was feeling in dire need of a healthy salad. I came across this recipe on Closet Cooking (one of my fave food blogs) and it was just the ticket, mango and black bean quinoa salad. The recipe was quick to make, and most of the ingredients you probably have on hand, except mango in my case. After I returned from the store, I then realized I only had red quinoa on hand, but luckily it substituted well, and tasted just as good. Personally, I think the red quinoa actually made the salad a bit more colorful, don't you think?

myphotos

Move

Have you seen this yet? Not gonna lie...I'm a tad envious of this guy's travels. I want to be here..

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

Guest Book 101

To guest book, or not to guest book...that is the question. I'm trying to figure out what to do exactly for our wedding guestbook. I haven't written off the traditional "book," where people sign and write cute and clever messages. But...in the interest of inspiration, I'm seeking other creative ideas. So I ask, what would you do for a guest book?

In the mean time, I'm enjoying these ideas...

Pass a note to the bride a groom

Type a note to the bride and groom

Guests find their birthday and sign their name

"Send" a postcard to the bride and groom

photos via myeventdesign

Adventures in Jam Making

Yesterday mom and I had a jam session, raspberry jam that is. My mom is the "jam master" if you will, she makes jam every year; strawberry, marionberry, blackberry, you name it! It's kinda her thing. This jam session was extra special because jars of this raspberry jam will be the favors at our wedding - pretty sweet, huh? Here are a few pictures from our jam session.

In a funny way, making jam reminded me of that episode of FRIENDS where Monica makes jam as the "jam plan to get over my man," and Joey totally devours it all, and has jam all over his face...remember that one? Love it!

Thanks Mom, plus I knocked another thing off my summer to-do list. Yes!

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Dinner Last Night: Lemony Zucchini Goat Cheese Pizza

I was in the mood for a pizza, but needed a wave of inspiration, so what did I do...google "Summer Pizza Ideas." And what popped up, lemony zucchini goat cheese pizza...BRILLIANT! This recipe was unbelievably quick and easy to make. Added bonus: the goat cheese/lemon spread was divine and the perfect salty-and-tart compliment to the crunch of the zucchini and squash slices. Definitely will be making this bad boy again.

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Whirlwind Wedding Weekend

Phew...this past weekend was a busy one! We had back-to-back weddings, first my fiance was a groomsman in a wedding on Friday, and then on Saturday, my good friend and coworker got married. Busy busy! I've never done back-to-back weddings before, and while we had an amazingly fun time, it was also utterly exhausting.

Sunday morning, we grabbed brunch at this new brunch spot, and relaxed for the remainder of the day. After two nights of nonstop dancing, drinking, and celebrating, it was pretty awesome to kick up our heels and relax.

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