Last weekend the whole family packed up and headed to our cottage in Alton Bay, New Hampshire for a few days.  We totally needed it!  We had a great time!  It was a packed house though, let me tell ya!  There was me, my husband, our daughter, Papa Neno (hubby's grandfather), cousin John, John's wife Sabrina, their daughter (my goddaughter) Jordin, cousin Justin and his girlfriend Anaiese.  Thank goodness the cottage can sleep about 15 people!

We spent one day at Weirs Beach going up and down the "boardwalk" and playing in all the arcades.  We spent an afternoon at the lake and just hung around the cottage the rest of the time.  We have a big inflatable pool in the front yard so the kids were pumped!  We bbq'd and played darts and just unwinded from city life!  We're very fortunate to have the cottage to escape to and our mini vacation was well worth it!

Before I get to some pics, I have a video of my 1 year old goddaughter Jordin copying my 3 year old daughter Kassie, who's off camera, screaming her head off!  It's hilarious!

Justin on the scooter

Jordin doesn't understand that it's a pool toy!

Just try gettin Kass off a trampoline!! That's it for now, have to upload the rest!  Will post when I do!

The 31dbbb challenge has allowed me to find some really cool blogs and meet some really amazing people with incredible stories.  I want to share one of those people with you.

Meet Erin of Amundsen House of Chaos.  She's a wife to an Army recruiter and mother to 3 of the cutest kids you've ever seen!!  Her oldest daughter Jahnna has been diagnosed with ADHD, Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Bi-Polar- yet she's a spitfire and a great big sister!  Her youngest daughter Riley is a self proclaimed angel who loves monkeys and dancing. Her middle child (as if that ain't hard enough) Colby, has survived and overcome some incredible hurdles in his life.  I'll give you the short version, but you can read Erin's account here.  Colby came down with e.Coli poisoning and was misdiagnosed, which resulted in his treatment causing more problems.  He was eventually (correctly) diagnosed with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and placed on dialysis because his kidneys had failed.  While being moved to another unit, he suffered a stroke that went unnoticed until Erin realized the next day that he was having a seizure.  During an MRI he coded and the doctors brought him back only to be put on a ventilator.  He was essentially in a coma for 3 weeks.  He contacted spinal meningitis during all this as well.  His disabilities are all physical so he's very aware of what's going on and that his body doesn't do what he wants it to.  And ya know what?  The kid's still happy!!  Erin describes him as a flirt...and an inspiration. 

On the 25th of this month Colby's going in for surgery and could really use all the positive thoughts and prayers possible.  So could Erin.  Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.  You can add Colby's button to your blog and let Erin know so she knows how many of us are out here, supprting her and her family and hoping for the best!!  Click on the button below which links to Colby's story where you can get the code to add it to your own blog!



When you add the button, hop on over and let Erin know- I just know she'll appreciate it!

Sorry, that songs been stuck in my head all day!  But, I DO need help...

If you've been following my blog, you know that I just started a weekly post called Entertaining Tuesdays (this week's post was summer party themes)...well, I want to start weekly posts about crafts, recipes and an archive highlight day...only I don't know what to call them!?!?

I'm asking my readers to help me come up with names for my weekly theme posts!  Eventually, I'm hoping to turn them into weekly memes but that's a ways away...for now I just need some catchy name ideas!  That's where you come in!

So here's the deal...since Tuesdays are already taken any other day of the week for these themed posts will work- if you want to incorporate the day of the week with the post topic...I'm looking for a catchy title for:

• A recipe day...I'll be posting some of my fave recipes and recipes I've recently tried.  Eventually I'd like my readers to submit theirs as well but that's once I get it off the ground and can actually have it as a weekly meme!
• A craft day...all things crafty, sewing, crochet, paper crafts, kids crafts-anything goes!  Again, I'd like this to take off eventually and have readers share their creations as well.
• An archive day...I'd like to feature a post I've previously published.  I haven't decided yet, but I may edit the post in some way to kinda freshen it up-maybe add a poll or a linky, something!  I just basically want my readers to have the chance to read a post buried in  my blog that they may not have otherwise read.

If you have ideas for all or any of these post topics, I'm asking you to post your suggestion here.  To make it fun, I'm including a giveaway!!  Each reader that suggests a name for each topic will be entered into a giveaway to win a prize that coincides with the post theme!  So get your thinking caps on and help a sista out, would ya??  Be sure you leave your email address in your comment if it's not linked to your blog profile or you can tweet me your suggestions @ta2255

Hey all!  Welcome back to Entertaining Tuesdays...the Wednesday Edition since I was too stupid to schedule my post before I left for our New Hampshire vacation!!  Incase you missed the previous Entertaining Tuesdays, you can find my Summer Party Recipes here and Summer Party Basics here.  Today, Im going to talk about some cool summer party themes you can use for your next summer bash!

I have lost my mojo.  I havent blogged in days, updated my Facebook or sent a single tweet!  I have officially lost my mojo.  Things have been crazy here and I have been totally stressed out!!  I'm super  behind in my 31 DBBB challenges-which I updated this morning from Day 8 to Day 19- and there was a Blogger error!  The page didn't save and it's still on Day 8!! WTF?!?!?!

This has been my luck and life lately!  I just changed phone numbers and trying to update all my social networking info so I can post from my phone and that's  an issue!!  My phone carrier, who will remain nameless (MetroPCS), is insisting that the 8 number code my hubbs brought back from the phone store on their damn business card  isn't right!  I can't access my account!  I'm not kidding.  This is my life! 

I'm trying to remedy the situation and will hopefully be able to post our trip to our family cottage in New Hampshire (which we're late leaving for because I've been fighting with my phone carrier!!).  Hopefully this trip will help me find my lost mojo! 

I don't know about you, but the majority of my time spent at home is spent in the kitchen.  Whether it's cooking or cleaning or just hanging out, the kitchen is the center of most homes.  Today I'm sharing some of my most helpful kitchen tips!  I've picked these up from friends, the web, family and magazines.  I've tried and use all of them and I hope you can find one or two that works for you!

• If you've ever shredded your sponge trying to get your cheese grater or garlic press clean, just keep a toothbrush under your sink-it works miracles!
• As a baker, sometimes measuring shortening is the toughest task.  Not anymore!!  If your using a recipe that calls for 1/2 cup of shortening, pull out your measuring cup (the one for liquids) and fill it with a half cup of water.  Scoop out (or cut) your shortening and push it down into the water until the water measures 1 cup.  Pour out the water and you've got 1/2 cup of shortening!  Whatever amount of shortening the recipe calls for, you want your measuring cup to read 1 cup, so for 1/3 cup shortening start with 2/3 cups of water- for 1/4 cup shortening start with 3/4 cups of water and so on and so on!
• I use water and lemons to clean the stuck on food in my microwave, it works better than any store bought cleaner I've ever tried!  Just cut up 2 lemons and put them in a (microwave safe!!!) bowl filled with water and microwave in high for 5 minutes (depending on how dirty your microwave is you may need to add a few minutes).  Let the bowl stand for a few minutes and then remove it, being VERY careful because the bowl WILL be hot and the water will probably have boiled!!  Then grab your kitchen sponge and wipe away the mess!
• Sometimes when you cook, the smell lingers.  If you place a bowl of ammonia on your table overnight when you wake up in the morning the food smells are gone!  I don't know how or why this works, but it does!
• If your aluminum pans have lost their shine, boil apple peels in them.
• When using a double boiler, place a jar lid in the bottom.  When your water gets too low the lid will rattle!

And finally the best tip my Nonna ever gave me:  If your gravy or soup is too salty (mine usually is because I am a salt ADDICT!) add a slice of raw potato for the last few minutes of cooking then remove before serving.  Just take Nonna's word- it works!!



This post is part of Works For Me Wednesday hosted by Kristen at We Are That Family.  This week was bathroom and kitchen tips so if you have any, head over and link up or just stop by and pick up a few!!

pic from en.fotolia.com

The food you offer for your party depends on the type of party your having- pool party, summer dinner party, summer cocktail party or bbq- just to name a few!  Let's take a look at each party menu- all recipes are linked to menu item.

BBQ Party Menu

• Margarita Grilled Shrimp
• Best Ever Burgers
• BBQ Beer Can Chicken
• Classic Potato Salad
• BBQ Corn on the Cob
• Watermelon Margaritas
• Pomegranate Sangria (non-alcoholic)

Pool Party Menu

• Mango and Shrimp Wraps
• Honey Chicken Kabobs
• Marinated Pineapple Pork Chops
• Grilled Zucchini and Summer Squash
• Watermelon Vodka Slush
• Citrus Raspberry Cooler

Summer Cocktail Party

• Cherry and Greens Salad
• Planked Figs with Pancetta and Goat Cheese
• Mini Peach and Pesto Pizzas
• Shrimp and Artichoke Dip
• Melon Skewers with Orange-Lime Marinade
• Grilled Beef Tenderloin on Foccacia Toasts
• Mock Sangria (non alcoholic)
• Vodka Thyme Lemonade
• Frozen Coconut Colada

Those are just a few of the types of party you can throw for summer.  How about a starlit dessert party or a summer afternoon brunch?  Nothing screams summer like a picnic at the beach!  Do you have a favorite summer party recipe?  Let me know-post a link or recipe in the comments or write an "Entertaining Tuesdays" post on your blog and come back and link it up!  I'm always looking for new recipes...



Be sure to stop by next Tuesday for our next Entertaining Tuesday post...it's going to be all about decorating  for our different themed parties! 

So one day last week I decided that it was high time I attacked my kitchen stove!!  Here's what it used to look like (I'm almost embaressed to even post these!!):