Memories..... :)

So this last week the hubby's sweet sister Wendy and her family paid us

a visit. That's her sitting between us. She is my hero:)

That woman has fought breast cancer 3 times.

Yeah. 3 TIMES. Like a boss.

After a fantastic week with us, her family headed south to 

San Clemente CA because her girls were playing in a

tennis tournament there:)

Well we decided to take the train down to watch the girls play. We were

sooo excited for the almost 4 hour train ride! Reading, eating, looking at

the beautiful coast and napping...

Well.....

Somebody (who shall remain nameless) mixed up our departure

times and we missed the train:( :(

After we stood staring at each other in disbelief and laughing hysterically,

we jumped in the car and headed their way:)

You see, San Clemente and Dana Point were our stomping grounds for

over 17 years! We hadn't been back since we sold our place a few years

ago, so I was excited to watch the girls play some tennis

and visit all our old haunts:)

As soon as we exited PCH into Dana Point, we drove past our 

old house (of course).

I always get a little nervous to see if the new owners of our old

houses love them like we did.

Wow!! The house looked sooo happy!! They added that

cupola with the mermaid weather vane and redid the

front porch and it looked

adorable!!!

After the neighborhood tour, we headed to one of my 

favorite eats in San Clemente- Nick's on Del Mar Street.

I had been dreaming about their roasted chicken for the

entire car ride. Roasted chicken is one of my favorite things

ever and I couldn't WAIT to chow down on Nick's.

Well....

We got there and sat down and I didn't even look at the menu,

because duh- I already knew what I was getting!

So I ordered the roasted chicken and the waitress looked at me

all puzzled like and said

"yeah, we don't have that anymore"

I'm pretty sure the room went black and silent.

I just sat back and said...

well ok.

Just give me a minute to look over the menu and drown my

sorrows in some bacon deviled eggs then...

Have you ever romanticized something you ate so much

that absolutely NOTHING on the menu even comes close

to your favorite dish?

Yeah me too.

I ordered the Sea Bass. 

And I don't even really like fish:(

I pretty sure I was still high from the bacon deviled eggs.

I will say that I sure perked up when my lunch arrived though.

I mean come on! what's not to love about that adorable

mesh bag over the lemon??

I reeeally had to stop myself from "accidentally" putting

that little thing in my purse!!

Can anyone tell me where to get them??

I must have!

Ok, and I'll be honest.

THIS here is what I was dreaming about the entire car ride.

Nick's butter cake.

Oh me oh my I LOVE this dessert and after romanticizing

it in my head for all these years...

it did NOT disappoint!!

So our quick little trip to San Clemente was a fun trip down

memory lane. The extra time with family was awesome:)

Now I gotta go roast me a chicken....

And He walks with me.... :)

So while I feel super lucky to have found this rental here in Carp, there is a downside.

There's no yard:(

That means lots of walks for Little Bully.

Rain or shine.

(You can see here how much he enjoys the rain... hee hee hee.)

The upside though? 

I get to walk around my sweet little town and

take in all that it has to offer.

Like beautiful rose covered arbors....

 and the occasional FREE curbside goodie!!

Take a look at those chairs.

I mean what??

Take a look at my adorable hubby lugging those chairs home:)

Then take a look at how adorable they look in Rio's house!!

We still haven't heard back about the cute rental house we looked at. 

But I'm thinking that's the Lord's way of telling me he's got something

even better in our future:) and I'm ok with that:)

Update.... :)

So I've received several emails about this house. Apparently you all

have been tossing and turning in your sleep over this ole gal!!

Well here's the very very sad story...

grab a tissue people.

A few days after I posted about this beautiful place that stole my heart, 

our realtor went and found the 93 year old owner (her dad built the place!!) who is 

living in Santa Barbara. She told her all about us and left her

with all our info. The owner stated that she still was unsure what 

she was going to do with the place....

Well.... I've since found out that the city has condemned this house.

waaaaaaa :( :( sniff sniff :( :( :( :( :( waaaaaaa sniff sniff :( :(

I may never ever get to love on the crying house and it completely

and utterly BREAKS MY HEART!!! 

You know what else is kinda heartbreaking??

We haven't heard back about this house!!!

I'm trying to not lose faith.

No. I'm NOT going to lose faith!!

So while playing the waiting game, 

I did a little retail therapy...

 Why of course I'll take this bully rug!!

And how bout this adorable pillow?

And for a mere $5.99? Yes please:)

And well duh- right?

On sale for $3.95 !!

I got 2 of them.

All these things are from H&M, and all these things

will be going in my new home...

that I don't have...

yet:)

This week.... :)

My sweet mama came to town!!

Oh I love when she's here.

We laugh till we can't breathe.

We cook like crazy.

And my mama loves her some guac!

So Ryne hiked it up the tree in Rio's back yard

and got her some avocados:)

under the very helpful direction of the gang

of pointers on the ground.

Check out the bounty!

I still find it amazing that avocados are so abundant here.

I love morning talks over coffee with my mama, sharing our hopes and dreams.

My latest? I've got houses on the brain. 

Like crazy.

While I sooo appreciate the place we're living in, my heart longs

for a little yard for my little bully.

And ok, I'll be honest, for me!! And for the hubby!!

Just a space to sit in and admire the plants and flowers

that I never imagined in my life I could grow in AZ.

Just feast  your eyes on this adorableness that just hit the 

rental market!!

It has happiness written ALL over it huh??

We went and walked it and....oh boy.

Mama wants.

Like really bad. 

We turned in all our paperwork and are praying like the dickens.

Tenterhooks....

This little place brings to mind this song I grew up singing in church.

If you've spent any amount of time with an old hymnal, then you can

sing this with me....

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below

A little silver and a little gold

But in that city, where the ransomed will shine

I want a gold one that's silver lined

Chorus

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop

In that bright land where we'll never grow old

And some day yonder we will nevermore wander

But walk on streets that are purest gold

Sunny Salad.... :)

Happy June!!

Or June gloom as we call it in these parts.

The sun kinda hides behind the clouds this time

of year, but I aint complainin!!

No way! This AZ native has seen enough sun to last a

lifetime. I LOVE me some May gray and June gloom!!

And you wanna know what else I love?

Salads. Yep. Love to make em and eat em.

This here is one of my recent faves, and if you're

in AZ where it's already hovering around 3 digit temps

then this is the salad for you!!

Arugula, Watermelon and Feta Salad

This recipe belongs to the fabulous Ina.

I love her. She's my go to gal for all things yummy:)

6 cups baby arugula

1/8 seedless watermelon (about 2 cups) cut into 1-inch cubes

12 oz. feta cheese cut into cubes (or use the crumbled)

1 cup fresh mint leaves, julienned 

* I add pine nuts for crunch:)

Start by cubing up your watermelon into perfect 1 inch cubes

a la Ina. Discard all those that aren't perfect. 

Totally kidding:)

Then cube up your feta next. Or if you don't feel up to 

cubing everything you can just use crumbled feta and call it a day!

Because who really cares right??!!

And Ina can't see it anyway.

Next up, julienne your mint.

Ok really Ina? Who has time for that??

And again, WHO CARES!!

Chop it up and throw it in.

I use a ton of mint. Because mint and watermelon

are a match made in heaven:)

Throw all those ingredients in a bowl and git to gittin

on your tasty dressing.

Citrus Vinaigrette

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup minced shallots

1 Tbsp honey

1/2 cup olive oil

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

This dressing is FABU I'm telling you!!

(I'm a poet and didn't know it- AGAIN!!)

It's the perfect balance of tart and sweet.

Whisk all those ingredients and pour them over you salad and toss.

Here's a few variations on this cool summer salad.

source

source

source

 Since I made enough salad for a party of one,

I hopped in my car and headed for the beach:)

Because the sun decided to make a little appearance

and I was going to go enjoy it:)

And enjoy I did!

I never thought in my life I would welcome the sun.

But today was a beautiful 63 sunny degrees for a bit

WOOHOO!!

Thank you Ina for the fabulous recipe!

Thank you Carp for the fabulous weather!

Another match made in heaven:)