Summer Dreams...

                               Hello There Strangers!!!

How long has it been? Pretty much feels like an eternity.. I never predicted Summer would have come and gone and I would have created perhaps 2 or so posts.. It's times like these that we truly find the humor in the saying "When we Plan..God laughs".. This was an EYE OPENING 3 months for me... My mom was here for the entire duration.. MY plan or should I say hope was that she could perhaps watch the kids while I get many things I have been dying to accomplish done, but this life of mine is not for the faint of heart... My mom has been suffering from Macular Degeneration for the past 10 years which is rapidly deteriorating but she has sight in one eye right now which is what she is holding on to. Pretty sad for a woman who has always been so active and creative all her life.. but I will speak of my mom in a separate post in the near future..

The beginning of the Summer was rough. It began abruptly for the first two boys and they were not at all happy being at home.. No matter what I tried to engage them in, they were always bored ( sounds familiar?)...Until my Birthday...

This year I turned the big 3-5 and for almost a year I thought that I would have this swanky cocktail party at a lovely restaurant.. but as the time quickly approached, I realized that I wasn't quite prepared, so last minute, Trevor and I decided to go out to dinner, we would have reserved a couple seats for friends and it would be simple and intimate.. Well, everyone I called told me they couldn't make it which was actually a shocker considering I have always had parties and people had always come.. and whether it be me and/or Trevor always try to show up when invited.. Was this a joke? Was there a surprise brewing? Perhaps when I showed up they would be there... Well, my mom was able to hold on for dear life and watch the kids for a couple of hours while my husband and I prepared to go out to what was supposed to be my "adult" celebration.. During the car ride, I uttered to him "Is there going to be anyone?" he said "No baby, I am so sorry.. but I have a surprise for you, I got you the license plate you always dreamed of having for a community where you lived"....My heart dropped and it was at that moment... at THAT particular moment, I realized that this Summer, I was going to focus and invest my time once and for all on the two most important relationships in my life.. My relationship with Myself and My Husband and that's where the adventure began.. Here is part ONE of my "Birthday Gratitude Celebration".. at Brio..

What makes an evening Romantic?

.

.... Beer $4.00

...Coffee alcoholic drink $6.00

... One Fish and Chips $13.00

The manager splitting the one Fish and Chips in the kitchen presenting it as two individual meals...

and....

                                                                               Cute...

...Spending another quality evening with my husband after a week from what felt like torture...
                                                             
                                                           ..... Priceless

BLOOPERS NEXT PAGE......

Love-arella..Pretty-rella.... BAKERELLA...

It's the time of the year where I am already looking for the boys' school attire for Fall semester.. Well actually I have already purchased their shirts and they were delivered on Saturday.. Yippie... So left are pants, socks, shoes and undies. This has to be taken care of before school ends for Summer as it is impossible to do anything but care for the boys. Thankfully, I was so happy to learn that there is a Summer Camp for kids with disabilities where I am considering sending Dylan. Brandon isn't quite emotionally ready yet so he will be home with me and Logan.. As of now, the chains in my head are still moving and hopefully God will help me decide what will be the best decision..                                                                  BUTTTTTTTT
When I think of Summer, I also think of birthdays and with birthdays come birthday parties.... so I am now on the quest to figure out what I will do this year. I have two birthdays that will fall during the Summer, one is right behind and another two that are one day apart... Ouchhh...    I have been surfing and researching and that is when I came across the most delectable little treats EVER and perhaps one of the best talents. I wonder whether she made those treats from my post Too Cute to Eat ? Nevertheless, hope your sweet tooth is flossed and your cutesy machine is powered up... Even Grumpies will smile..

It's your Birthday!!!.....

                                                           

   HAPPY BIRTHDAY HANSHURE!!!!!

 We went to Brio for Dinner... I can't even put into words how ridiculously delicious their Brio Burger tastes..

Click HERE for my last post on Brio.

Let me say this.. There is absolutely no excuse why a guy can't take a girl out on a date on a budget.

Here is what we ordered.

*THREE Brio Burgers

*ONE Shrimptini

*ONE Spicy Shrimp and Eggplant

*TWO Sliced Steak Bruschetta

*ONE glass of Merlot

*One Chocolate Martini

TOTAL: $38.37

IN-SANE!!!!!

One glass of wine later...

Heh!!!...She is single guys.... (Lawd.. she will kill me)

Then we went to "THE PUB"

The live band ROCKEDDD!!!!

Then there was this couple I kept admiring who were grooving on the dance floor.. They kinda reminded me of Trevor and I when the kids are grown and perhaps able to stay home alone... I pray...

They decided to call me to join them...

*

Here we go......Whoops... Careful with the bad back Lisa.. Easy.. Easyyy....

Thanks for the photos Hanshure

..Until next time..

It's always a "Happier Hour" at International Plaza

Publix is the New Chilis..

                  


For many years when my husband travelled for weeks at a time, leaving me alone with the kids, besides wishing that I had an extra pair of eyes to watch them while I take a half an hour nap, my biggest wish/desire was the ability to get groceries without leaving my car. There is nothing like running out of your most important staple during the day when you are with kids who can't tolerate the overstimulation of a supermarket. Just to gather them all into the vehicle while functioning on two hours sleep and several carpet steaming later was simply unbearable.
Alas, select Publix supermarkets offer "Curbside Pick Up"... Yippieeee!!!.. You simple go to http://www.publix.com/ and under "Services" you will find "Publix Curbside" and follow the instructions  In a nut shell, you click on the products that you need and add them to your shopping cart, you pull up to the participating Publix at the sceduled time, your payments will be collected  ( I think you shoud pay online) and your groceries will be brought directly to your vehicle. How cool is that?..Right now, the services are available in Atlanta, Georgia and Tampa, Florida. There is a standard fee of $7.99 per trip no matter how many or how few items purchased.. This is such a God send for many of us and I thank Publix for starting this here. Can't wait for it to be available near me.

Too cute to Eat....

For the past month Trevor has been making my daily Starbucks runs after dropping the kids off to school, so it was only yesterday when I went out to run a couple errands did I get my much needed caffeine fix..... and there they were....... Cake Pops!!!!

                                                                  "Birthday Cake Pop"

"Tiramisu Cake Pop"

"Rocky Road Cake Pop"

 How cuteeeee!!!........At $1.50 each or two for $2.50, and at approx. 170 calories each those little bite size devils are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth craving without feeling too guilty.... Um...Well... unless you actually eat maybe 4 at a time... (not that I did that).....hehehehe..... Wait, what did you say? You want me to try all at the same time to compare? Welllllll..... if you insistttttt!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ohhhh and look at this Red Velvet Whoopie Pie

Heaven.

Breakfast...

Grape Juice

(Gucci)

Half Pink Grapefruit

(Yves Saint Laurent)

A Scrambled Egg

(Aidan Mattox)

....I am still starving!!!!!!!!!!!!

Le Chocolat (PART 1)

                                                          

      About a month ago, I attended the Chocolate Festival at Mosi in Tampa and let me just say that even my toe nails were tingling. I wanted to save the post for this pre Valentine's Day week to put some of us grumpy folks in the mood.. The aroma was simply devine, and the talent showcased looked like an episode of Food Network Challenge.  There were several booths of different chocolatiers displaying their creations and the best part was you were able purchase the delectable treats... HOGGGGG'SSSSS HEAVENNNNN!!!!!!

On entering, a brief history and facts about chocolate were on display..

Now comes the truly interesting facts, many I didn't know...

Ka-Ka-Wa?!?!?... Who would have thought?!..Hehehehe

Now for some treats...Sure you can handle it?