Sigh. Was it mean of me to post photos of cake like that? It was delicious, like red velvet always is. Happy birthday celebration for Katie at her and Greg's place. It was so fun. Karen. Kate. Katie. Me. Sitting, cake eating, and champagne/coffee drinking. So wonderful. I loved Karen's up-do. I missed Becky and Alicia. I could not finish my cake. So Kate eat the rest of it. The night was so fun. We chatted. We laughed. I love them.
Last morning on the lake: wake up and look out at the gorgeous water. Then, naturally, go for a final jet ski run :) I drove this time, a crazy 30 mph! But that's kind of fast when you consider the force of those machines and the big waves. Maybe I'm not as wild as Kate who prefers to go 60!
Get ready, say thank-you to Karen's family, and head on down that crazy bumpy road to... a coffee shop straight out of Gilmore Girls. Very sweet. Delicious food and the biggest desserts you have ever seen!
Around 4pm I headed back on the road, following Karen and Alicia with Kate in tow. It was great to have a few hours to just catch up. It was so fun to drive down the road and see the city come into view after a few hours... it was good to be home. Sunburned, crazy bleached out hair, and dry skin besides it was a fabulous weekend!
Drove the hundreds of miles from the city to a sweet little town called McGregor. I did not get lost, the car did not break down, and I had the windows down the whole way. It was an easy drive minus the crazy bumpiness of a gravel road right before Karen's cabin. I am not a country girl! Paved roads = easy driving.
Karen, Kate, and Alicia came out and were waving at me when I arrived. How can you not love a greeting like that? I got on my bikini right away, and walked out on the porch...
See? I told you I wasn't playing. This is the best place on earth to live. Since we are deprived from normalcy during the winter months... it was time to get our share of vitamin D. I need it, oh I need it!
We spent the afternoon lounging, riding on the jet-skis, and "roughing it" by munching on: fresh Washington cherries, brie on carr's crackers with raspberries on top, mango slices, and gigantic strawberries with fruit topping. Did I forget to mention the hint of lime chips, thick salsa, and pink champagne? We don't mess around.
In case you are wondering, the lovely ladies are: Sam (Karen's high school friend), pretty in Irish green Karen, Alicia, your's truly, and boo-boo. Our photographer/entertainment/Kate's big bro and SAE (how's that for an introduction?) Ryan took that lovely shot.
Ryan did better than well stuck in a cabin full of crazy ladies. He can out talk anyone (and I mean ANYONE), and was a countless source of laughs. I believe my favorite quote from him was: "the most beautiful a woman looks is when she has just given birth... to your baby!" LOL. Hilarious!
When evening rolled around we promptly changed from sundresses to our fourth of july gear- which for me included the AOPi yoga pants that I wish I could quit. A sick addiction, as I have an image of myself wearing them in a four season's eque nursing home someday. They are that good! Karen's family was such a treat to be around (her mom, dad, sister, aunt, uncle, and cousin all stayed up the road at the "big cabin"). They were so kind to us, and treated us like royalty! Dinner was fantastic, and I gasp, tried a veggie burger. It tasted good. Alicia and I could not resist snail hunting on the beach as the night began to arrive...
Before we knew it it was fireworks time. Of course we had to sing American songs before the show started... nothing will beat Ryan belting out "I'm Proud to be an American" in the "Creed" style. Too funny. There were certainly some good fireworks and sparklers... stay tuned for part 2!
Happy Father's Day! Love this day. Love celebrating great men who are fathers. Love that each father's day I think back to the last, and we've always done something fun: San Fran, Park City, Madeline Island, Palm Beach...
This year it was lying low. Dad mentioned wanting a small table for his patio, and Target had a great sale on folding ones. Here is his sweet outdoor space, and I did put those Pottery Barn chairs together myself- granted they were basically assembled, but I also picked out the pillows. I did good huh? Dad loves it, and that's all that matters. Now my mind is circling about a rug to cover up those ugly spots.
Dad made a fantastic meal- his great bbq ribs : ) I brought over cookies he requested- a gigantic batch of peanut butter ones. Seriously, the batch was enormous! I thought mom's kitchenaid might give up, but alas it came through.
Claire joined us for dinner, and it was lovely. I know she had a fun time, and it was great to see her. I am so glad I have been able to maintain my buddies from school and sorority life. We also saw Night at the Museum II in the afternoon, and I loved it. Owen Wilson is so funny, no matter what role he's in.
My father is such a wonderful person, and the best dad in the world- of course everyone else says that, and it's good! He's the best dad for me, and often says, "you're my favorite daughter" [I'm his only daughter!] I feel so blessed to have a great father who has been more than present my entire life- what a great example he's been to me: for picking boys who will treat me right, for having high standards, for learning how to laugh, for learning how to cook... I think it's so unfortunate that fathers are becoming so absent in today's world. Men need to step it up, and women need to require that men step it up but standing up for themselves/children. I say, bring back the dads! We need them, we love them!
So, I said I would come back and talk about the wedding. Now is the time. Here's the background: my dad's sister's oldest son (so my cousin) Colby married his love Jennifer. I had never been to a wedding at a hotel, but can I just say how convenient? My other Aunt (Doris) is a Lutheran minister, so she did the actual ceremony in a very nice room of the hotel that overlooked the water. The bride looked beautiful, and she cried as she walked down the aisle...
You know how people make it out to be that weddings are not fun for single girls? Well, they have yet to go to a Harris family wedding. Think sorority formal (toned down a touch, naturally) plus good food plus family. Really fun time. You would of loved it... After the short (thank you!) ceremony, we headed into a room for cocktails and appetizers ranging from crab claws to miniature macaroni and cheese to tiny Philly cheese steaks, all served by men in black and white-
From there we went into the reception hall for a lovely sit-down dinner with champagne toasts...
Let me tell you something, when there are less than a million people at a wedding you can really go all out on quality and feed your guests well. I felt like a queen. We started out the meal with mushrooms in pastry dough, bog salad, intermezzo: sherbet, then bread with flavored oils or butter, bass for the main course, and then besides wedding cake a dessert bar! We did not go hungry. But we needed the nourishment because...
... once the sun went down on the water it was time to "shake yo groove thang." I am not joking here. You know how at most weddings no one dances? Well, come to one of my family gatherings. We shake, we shimmy, we smile. It was so fun. I danced with my mom, my dad, Dennis, the bride and groom, and the littlest guests. They plaid oldies, rap, r&b, and classic danging songs. It was so much fun-
We could not just do dancing, we had to do a mother and son dance, and a father and daughter dance, and a "love train," then the cupid shuffle, the electric slide, and naturally a dance off. I think the photographer and videographer were both in awe. It was something out of a Tyler Perry movie. You know what I mean!
So many favorite moments: when mom and I forced dad to come onto the dance floor again, watching my Aunt Barbara 'get down,' and then collapsing into bed at the end of the night, tired and sweaty from getting crazy. Loved it! Best of luck and love to Colby and Jennifer. I love them!
the party was filled with people, old and new, family and friends-made-into-family... so enjoy this last party entry.
my aunt (mom's sister) and cousins and dad and me (cheesing)
ms. emma et moi. she is the advertising queen, I love her. her nametag read: Emma (AOII Sister). It's how we roll...
the little sis, who has a certain special talent for making me smile each time I see her. before I moved out of AOII, she smiled and came through the kitchen, looked at me and said, "see you in the suburbs." True, true. Glad we only live five minutes down the road from each other. Blessing!
My mother, Aunt Barbara, and Dad. Carrying the famous salmon. You really needed to be there, and taste it. Some kind soul (most likely mom) got an apron for dad, who- as we all know, grills in suits. Get this: it's an orginal amish apron. Love what that says about my roots: black creole papa bear in the penn-dutch apron. Pretty much sums up my heritage!
Ms. Hughes, who I adore. We spent a great afernoon scrapbooking at her lakeside home (yes, THOSE lakes) and I got to touch her inaguration invitation (2nd I've seen- thanks for Kate's grandparents).
Obviously my partner in crime, the Kate. So cute. I think we kind of look alike in this photo, but I know we really don't. Go figure. She is one of my favorite people on earth...
This photo below captures something quite rare: my mother sitting down, with her feet up. Something I haven't seen since the mid 90s. She put on this whole thing, and deserves so much. Like my firstborn child, which she will already "own" anyway. I want to treat her when we go out east, cannot wait for more fun adventures. We like to plan the h*ll out of parties. Our family motto ought to be: go big or go home. If you had only seen us working... you would of been frightened by the prep work that went into this. All orchestrated by one fabulous woman, wow spelled backwards...
Can't do a party without the J. Who I adore, but also gets on my nerves at times. C'est la vie! He was such a hugh help. I am not joking. So helpful. Then he brought me a crazy present and the most heartfelt card. One sentence read: "I am very happy and lucky to be with you and I wish you the best of luck as you move into the world of 'adulthood.'" He looked hott at the party, too.
Menus are no light thing. So much to consider: theme, availability, cost, time, season...
For my party, my mom, dad, grandma, and I did all the cooking and prep work. The flatware, glassware, and napkins were rented- such a good idea. Do people not "do" cloth napkins anymore? One of our guests said, "oh those things like little blankets." My mother says using paper napkins at home is "against" her religion. So funny.
•Fresh fruit tray
•Fresh vegetable tray with hummus
•Pita chips
•Assorted cheese plate with carr's crackers
•Chicken drummies with blue cheese dressing
•Salmon
I'm not going to lie, in all reality I got to eat about two strawberries, one chicken drummie, and some carrots. I am eating all the good leftovers now,though, so don't feel bad for me. I was just too busy mingling!
And the desserts are special, thus getting their own category...
•Katharine Hepburn's brownies
•French cream wafers
•Coconut creme cake (with lemon curd filling)
•Miniature carrot cake (in cupcakes) with cream cheese frosting
For beverages we kept it simple: a red and white wine, assorted pops (yes, pop!), and sparking water (my favorite!)
Around here, no party is a good party without some sort of flowers. Large or small, one bouquet or twelve- my mother (and papa bear) have always taught me to do flowers for any thrown event.
Growing up my dad would get me up early to go to the Farmer's Market. I hadn't been in years. It was a perfect day to go- cool and sunny, lots of wind. I fell in love with this truck. I love where I live...
I chose colorful bunches keeping in mind the color of my mother's pretty garden furniture cushions, and of course- the pink theme. Aren't tulips pretty?
Then I came home to fill a dozen miniature ice buckets with pink pebbles and then water. A perfect vase for my party flowers. And J, boyfriend and helper extraordinaire, was there to help with the tying of pink tulle-
More to come...
Once upon a Friday my father ventured down to costal seafood (an emporium of fresh goodies).
I knew he was buying salmon, I like it, but usually the kind I get looks like a slab of pink rapped simply in plastic wrap. I had no idea what awaited me inside a box marked with my simple surname...
Isn't it right out of a wildlife magazine? I swear, and I like fishing, so maybe someday I'll go up to Alaska and get one of these huge babies myself. But really, does Mr. Salmon not look amazing?
Yes, my father is the type of man who can grill a gigantic salmon in a suit. One of the thousands of reasons I love him and think he is very unique...
It was such a hit. So delicious, and just how we like to do things at parties: go big or go home. So that is the story of Mr. Salmon who fed about 35 people and made us all happy and smile.
These are my mothers pretty dessert plates and fine china tea pot, and of course pretty flatware. I love nice flatware. I notice it at restaurants and turn it over, making note of the name on the back.
Easter was quiet, still, and peaceful. As it should be. We have enough crazy, whirlwind holidays- I need one that is not all about food, or all about family, or all about whatever- just an introspective one. I think I got my wish.
The meal was planned ahead. Parm chicken, vodka sauce and whole wheat pasta, fresh broccolli, deviled eggs, and my famous apple pie. White wine, too.
It was just mom, stepdad, J, and I. A pretty simple day.
Mass was really nice. Then afterwards, before our good dinner, mom and I went to 20-21. I like that place. It was very chic, and I felt like I was in an episode of Sex and the City or something-
I took a nap after our real dinner at home, and then spent the rest of the evening at J's. Some silly faces he likes to make for me...
