Cabo San Lucas: Happiness is Here!

Our family recently returned from a well-deserved trip to Cabo San Lucas , where they boast Happiness is Here! on all their promotional literature. Well, for us, this is true, we really loved Cabo and plan to return. First, I want to make it clear that we didn't get anything free on this vacation, so this review isn't being paid by anyone.  All my comments and reviews are my own, and not even the same as all members of my family. Resort:  We stayed at Villa Del Palmar, in Cabo's Golden Corridor, a 20 mile stretch between Cabo San Lucas and San Jose.  Villa Del Palmar was suggested by Interval International, a brokerage for timeshare resorts across the world.  We chose it from many due to the recommendations of the members of our own timeshare, Welk Resorts, and I have to admit that many of the members were correct. The resort itself is lovely but maybe a bit outdated, but everything we encountered was neat and clean. The staff worked hard to keep the premises beauti

The Salad Bowl Grows!

For those of you who like to garden , I shared my salad bowl post when I planted my seeds a few weeks ago. This post will update you on its progress and give you a few great salad dressing recipes for your own green salads. We've had a lot of rain here in Missouri and I was worried that my lettuce and spinach seeds would get washed away.  I ended up with plenty of greens, enough for salad for a couple of weeks. Typically I take my kitchen shears and cut the greens right where the leaf starts to narrow, close to the soil.  I don't pull them out by the roots. That way the greens will continue to grow. My typical way to eat them is to wash and pat them dry, then add some cucumber slices, shredded carrot and dressing. If I have some leftover proteins from dinner, then I will chop it up and add it to the plate. The fresh greens are delicious and tender, with a great crunch that gives it texture. Sometimes I like to store them in the refrigerator for an hour or so, and

Grilled Lime Beer Ritas with Smoky Lime Salt #SundaySupper

Memorial Day gives us an opportunity to thank Americans who have served in the American armed forces, for those served and for those who gave up their lives for the American Way.  Many of us honor the day being with family and loved ones, and that often includes a BBQ, since Memorial Day marks the unofficial first day of summer! Featured at the DIY Dreamer , Sunday Supper Instagram Stories. With the weather being so nice here in Missouri, grilling season has started and is well on its way! We love these delicious Grilled Lime Beer Ritas because they are so refreshing and good!  Make these ahead of time and all you need to do is grill the limes and salt the rims of your glass and serve these delicious cocktails to your friends! Grilled Lime Beer Ritas with Smoky Lime Salt For the salt The zest of one lime 1 T smoked bourbon salt 1 T sugar Blend together. For the Ritas 1 12 oz can frozen limeade 6-12 oz tequila 12 oz water 12 oz beer 1 lime, slice

Last Minute Memorial Day Ideas

The bloggers at Project Beautiful are so understanding when it comes to hosting a party, so we are sharing with you our best ideas for Memorial Day .  Check out the links below for food, recipe, party ideas, parades, cocktails, drinks, gardening and decor! For food:  Hawaiian Burgers, Red White and Bleu Cheese Grilled Pizza, Red White and Blue Fruit Salad, Red White and Blue Chocolate Covered Cherries, Strawberry Trifle and more! For drinks: Bomb Pop Cocktails, Peach Coolers, Watermelon Sparkler and more! For decor:  Red, White and Blue Home Decor, Decorated Silverware, Tie Dyed Fireworks napkins, Paper Poppy Wreath, Red White and Blue Container Plantings, Patriotic Handkerchief Wreath and more! In years past, our family has had a Memorial Day Cookoff but this year, we are celebrating the beginning of summer in Cabo san Lucas!  We will be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary along with our kids, so this is such a wonderful opportunity for us.  I am going to miss our tr

Meatballs and Cilantro Cauliflower Smear #SundaySupper

Small bites are a perfect patio party food .  When my husband and I plan a party, we often think in terms of small bites, food that is easy to eat and carry from place to place.  We were challenged to think of our favorite foods, and to make them miniature, and so we did.  This is the inspiration of our favorite dish: meatloaf and mashed potatoes. To keep this dish easy and so that you can have time with your guests, all of the prep gets done ahead of time and only the final cooking and assembly goes into making this dish.  When I am the hostess, what I want to do is be with my friends, so I try to do all I can to make that happen! Today's #SundaySupper is  s ponsored by Tapa Toro. Tapa Toro combines contemporary Spanish cuisine with a vibrant, energetic atmosphere – bringing a fresh dining experience to the I-Drive 360 area in Orlando, FL. Their unique paella pit, vibrant tapas menu, and extensive selection of imported wines will guide you through a culinary jou

Meyer Lemon and Blueberry Soup #SoupSwappers

This month at #SoupSwappers we are featuring fruit soups.  This is a fun category and if you haven't tried to make one, this is the time to do so.  My lemon and blueberry soup is adapted from a recipe that I found in a cookbook by the St. Louis Herb Society. This chilled and sweet soup is a perfect appetizer for a summer menu, and can be served as dessert. Add a couple of my favorite madeleine cookies you will have a creative and delicious ending to your meal. Meyer Lemon and Blueberry Soup 2 c blueberries 3 c water 1 T lemon verbena, bruised 1/3 c sugar (or sugar replacement, such as Truvia) 1 meyer lemon, chunked 1 stick of cinnamon 1/2 t freshly grated nutmeg 1 c sour cream 1/2 c dry red wine In a medium saucepan, over medium heat, combine the blueberries, lemons, water, sugar, cinnamon, lemon verbena and nutmeg. Isn't this a pretty color? Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes.  Seive into a large bowl, discarding the lefto

Girlfriends and Gardening #WaveRave

I wasn't paid to do this post, although I was given the plants and pot for free.  I also was not asked to write this post, but I love the flowers and the shops involved so much that I wanted to write all about the experience! For me there is no better way to spend time with your girlfriends than in a gardening center.  Walking among the flowers, daydreaming about English gardens and just oohing and ahhing over all the gorgeousness is a lot of fun.  And then you discover Wave Petunias . Put this all together with girls who love to blog and eat, you have the makings of a wonderful event. Several St. Louis bloggers came together to learn more about Wave Petunias at Parkview Gardens here in St. Charles.  Hosted by Julie from julieblanner.com , we learned how to pot up some gorgeous patio pots, with eats from Prasino's and expert help from the people at Wave Petunias! When we first arrived, Julie was there to greet us and get us started with sangria.  We chatted a bi

Hydrangeas~ #PBColorOurWorld Blue

When we picked blue for our color in #ColorOurWorld last year, I thought my hydrangeas would be up and blooming, but due to a wild and wet week, the hydrangeas are still in the bud stage.  I still want to share with you about getting a nice blue in your hydrangeas. First, you have to have the right hydrangea plants.  I have a pair of oakleaf hydrangeas that will not have blue blossoms, no matter what I do to them.  You have to have what are known as mopheads or lacecaps in order to get the blue blooms.  These plants can change their bloom color based on soil chemistry.  Acidic soil gives you blue blossoms, while a more alkaline soil gives you pink. First you will need to know the acidity level of your soil.  Use a pH kit to find out.  You can purchase them in most garden stores.  This will give you the natural pH of your soil.  Then you will determine what you need to do to get blue blooms.  The pH range for blue blossoms is 5.2-5.5  If your pH is higher, then you will want to

Lemon Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries #SundaySupper

I love to plan a wonderful brunch for Mother's Day about as much as I like going to one!  This year I will be taking my mom out to eat, as we will be in my hometown of Marceline for my 40th high school reunion. I love a good cocktail and last year I made this delicious mimosa  that is so refreshing and good.  That cocktail, along with this Frisee Salad, would make a wonderful meal fit for the queen that is your mom!  To complete this meal, these Lemon Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries are the perfect ending. These are so easy and so delicious that you will find ways to make them all during the summer.  I already have plans to make them with plain cheesecake, chocolate cheesecake and pineapple.  I'll keep you posted. Lemon Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries 1 8oz block of cream cheese, softened I box lemon pudding 1-3 T whole milk 1 qt. strawberries 3 shortbread cookies, crushed Prepare your strawberries by cutting the stems off and creating a flat base for

Trusting Grace #ourgoodlifebooklist

I was given this book to review in exchange for my honest opinion. Trusting Grace, a novel by Maggie Brendan , is the third book in a series that I have been able to enjoy from the first book to this one.  I have enjoyed meeting these characters and was glad that the author chose to let each main character have a book of their own for us to really get to know and enjoy their stories. I was really interested in Grace's story after learning more about her in A Sweet Misfortune.  She seemed like a genuinely nice person and she is! I could feel her pain in not having a family of her own, the loss of her husband and the devotion to her father, who is ill and needs her care. I love that in her need of help for a farm, a newly widowed man and three children (who are the children of his late wife, who failed to tell him about them!) Romance buds, after a time, and the book tells their story. There is a spot of real drama in the book, and not telling you the ending, the author do