Ladies Who Lunch

Yesterday I had a date with The Wilson Girls to celebrate Cindy's birthday.

Note: the pretty paper under our pot stickers made us Lunching Ladies quite HAPPY.

Little Ladies Who Lunch (Morgan & Audra)

Sunday afternoon was the SJM Senior Fashion Show Luncheon

We had fun watching Jared STRUT HIS STUFF down the runway!

Last Week, my mom & I lunched in one of our city's many noodle houses...

We'll definitely be returning & soon.

Next up...

Mother/Son SUSHI DATE

That's the PLAN for tomorrow anyway~

Been A Busy Week Baking...

 Monday was Vanilla Bean Macarons

filled with White Chocolate Ganache

Wednesday was my day for Pastry Cream & Yellow Cakes needed for the

 Boston Cream Pie in a Jar

...with the Chocolate Ganache made today, as I assembled them...

And Finally, Citrus Souffles

...which cool & form a creamy pudding bottom...

(so this one is best eaten at room temperature or chilled...but not warm out of the oven)

Good Thing I've got my Crafting Group Tonight

so I can Share the Sugar

My Aunty Lynn

 is Amazing...

and Talented... 

and, Lucky Me...she made me this

Beautiful Quilt

that I will Treasure Always!

~Feeling So Blessed~

A Trip to Elena & Michael's

TWO of our FAVORITE

PEOPLE on Earth!

Audra is a happy helper with the breakfast preparations.

Jared does his part too ~ by EATING!

Michael assisted the puzzle building with Jared only briefly before Audra stole his attention with her puzzle project.

Elena was needed for Shopping Excursions with Louis & Tracy.

An evening full of laughs, 

cocktails, & fun conversation.

After dinner we all relax & watch a movie together.

Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure

How'd we decide on that show anyway?

The Guys

The Girls

We ended our little visit dining out for Sunday Brunch,

(a treat in honor of Jared's Eagle Scout Achievement)

before making the drive home.

Fun Times! 

Yahoo-y

Success the 1st Time Around!!!

French Macarons have a reputation for being tricky in home kitchens.

Soooo, I've been putting off actually baking them for quite awhile now. I've been reading foodie blogs & books to learn about these little beauties for, well...hum...let me think...definitely over a year now...maybe 2? Can't quite put my finger on it. Anyway, I've gotten my hands on a few to eat & they are as delightful as they are pretty. So the time had come & I put all the little tips I've been collecting to use today...and here they are...A Success! With the proper PIED (little feet) too! Yeah!

I don't get worked up about My Kitchen Creations, now do I?

Happy Girl Today.



Batter made, piped & resting...got just enough time to pick up youngest child up from school...before I get them into the oven.

 

This photo taken was thru the oven door - yippee, little frilly feet!



Out of the oven & cooling...I can hardly wait to taste one...

 

CAN'T WAIT for the filling, gotta eat one STILL WARM!



Okay, the tested results are GOOD & worth filling ~ Sharffenberger Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache should do nicely.



Love a day to play in my kitchen.

February Fun

This week, I made Something Pretty!

...and attended Parent Visit Night

at Audra's Demo Team. 

The 30 dancers performed a half hour show for us

then they were presented with Season Ending Accolades.

Audra received 5 Awards

 for her efforts & commitment.

Jared got to celebrate Catholic School's Week with

Dress Like a Nerd Day 

~ Such Silliness ~ 

& Audra took us to her school's

Open House Night

And Last, but certainly Not Least,

Louis got his annual review &

a PROMOTION!

He went from Area General Manager to being
 one of the Company Vice Presidents

...and while it may only be a change in title, 

we were only too glad to celebrate his success
& all his hard work being recognized...

Great Job, Sweetheart!

Lucky Me ~

 My boys went on a shopping excursion

and they came home bearing gifts....

 that I got to open,

they helped me set up,

& now... 

I've got a new Toy!

(I think all this generosity is really just that they are tired of me using theirs)

I may be the last member of this household

to own my own computer...

but you know what they say,

better late than never...

I feel like a kid in a candy store!



JANUARY ...so far...

Audra's had her two cotillion nights

...TOGA Times!

She got in her 1st ski time 

of the season last Sunday and

She's going again tomorrow 

& taking Morgan along too!

Jared is always Out the Door on the way Somewhere

...usually for SCHOOL or to Swim Practice...

or duties for Campus Ministry...

Here he is working the Junior Class Retreat

(but looks like he's just playing cards to me)

 Louis is back to busy times at work, 

but enjoys the weekends for a Father-Daughter Dance

& day trips to ski with the kids too.

I am back to the normal stuff of life,

...mom taxi, groceries, laundry...

 preparing pretty produce,

& playing with my photos

:o)

It's all good ~ 

The Blessings of Routine!

Lola Rosario Linney

A Wife

1947 at her wedding

1986 at our wedding

A Mother

in 1951

in 1997 at their 50th anniversary party

A Sister

Lola & Aunt Dot

A Grandmother

The Christmas we spent together in Oaxaca, Mexico

A World Traveler

1974

in 1985 traveling around Australia, NZ, & Tahiti

in 2002 at Gibraltar & Alhambra, Spain

And for me,

 My Godmother 

My Mother-in-law

My Friend...

 In Loving Memory

1927 ~ 2010

I spent the last week of 2010 & 1st days of 2011...

 Doing Laundry...

 Editing & Organizing TONS of Vacation Photos...

Celebrating New Year's with the Kiddos

(not to mention a couple of girlfriend dates)

AND...drum-roll, please...

Finishing my December Daily Album! Yippee!

 

It feels GREAT to have my December 2010 in an album 

within the 1st two days of 2011!

Now if I could only just catch up on the past 3 years...
sadly, those photos are still waiting in boxes for a home in albums.