Girl Friday

The first week is down with all 3 kids back in school and I am FINALLY starting to get back into our school year routine.  I must admit I already miss not having to set an alarm, our lazy days spent poolside, and staying up way too late.

We are spending our last weekend of summer at "heaven on earth" according to my hubs, or Notre Dame to the rest of the world.

My 2 nieces just started freshman year at ND so we will meet up with my sister in law and her family for a little pre game tailgating 

then off to watch the game

I actually enjoy watching the hubs show us around campus telling his stories from when he was a student at ND.  He gets very animated and I see the sparkle in his eye.  He loves ND.  If anyone knows a graduate of ND I swear they are all the same, they loved their school, they still talk about it almost daily,  all other schools are average at best,  and of course the football team can do absolutely no wrong.  

The old ND joke applies...

How do you know if someone went to Notre Dame??

Don't worry, they will tell you!!

Have a beautiful weekend

Pig Out

Sunday night, the hubs and I headed downtown for a food lover's event.  Cochon 555 made its way through STL and we ate and drank ourselves into a happy stupor.

If you are not familiar with Cochon 555, it is basically a bbq cookoff.  5 chefs are invited from the top 5 restaurants in the city, each chef is given an entire pig and they have to create 5 dishes.  If you love to eat then you would be in hog heaven (ha ha)

The food was amazing...

and the signature drink of the night (and apparently the perfect pairing with pork)

a manhattan

The finale of the night was when a local butcher was brought out this

and we watched him butcher the pig

by the end of the night all that remained of porky was a little bit of bacon

It was such a fun night, this was my father's day gift to Dan way back in June, and he LOVED it.  The one downside, overindulging on pork and bourbon is a really bad way to start off the week!!

If Cochon makes it way through your city, you should definitely go

Must See

Anyone that has ever posted to instagram (guilty) you must take 3 minutes from your day and watch this!!

Enjoy and Happy Thursday

Happy Hour

Last month when I was in Michigan my brother in law got me hooked on a new cocktail...

The Moscow Mule.

It's a fairly simple recipe.

 ginger beer

plus vodka

with a slice of lime

A traditional moscow mule is served in a copper mug, I've heard it is to keep your drink colder, longer but I just like the idea of drinking out of something a little different.  The copper mug is like a bit of flair for your drink,  a little je ne sais quoi.  Over the weekend I was flipping through some catalogues and came across the most perfect copper mugs...

The order has been placed and I hope to be enjoying my ice cold beverage, in a copper mug, by Labor Day

Girl Friday

This week has been really hard to have any sort of schedule.  My youngest started school but the other two have not, I still have 1 suitcase I need to unpack from my trip last month, and we have had unusual weather for August in STL.  Usually it is hell hot this time of year but this week we are having temps with the high in the 70's.

With that being said, today's forecast looks perfect, sunny and 85.  Perfect for my day with my girls

We have our annual farewell to summer afternoon.  An afternoon of this

and this

and then a beautiful night for a private party at the Zoo

I am not one to brag, but we have an amazing zoo, it is one of the country's best!!   Since the zoo is closed to the public for this party tonight we might actually have a chance to pet the sting rays without waiting for hours.

Saturday I would love to do the 1 thing I have been wanting to do all summer...

a trip to our farmer's market

and Saturday night, something my husband has been wanting to do..

Oh the things we do for love!!

Have a beautiful weekend

Last Week of Summer

These are our last days of summer before it's back to school.  Our last days to do what we do best, hang poolside.  I personally think some of the best pools in the city are those at nice hotels.  Most of these hotels will let you spend the day at their pool, even if you are not a guest, for a small fee.  That sounds fair to me.  Now to do this with no kids, poolside dining service and a cocktail waitress sounds heavenly!!

Here are a few hot spots I need to hit up before Labor Day

Chase Park Plaza (my favorite)

The Four Seasons

The cheshire

Friday is my annual "Back to School" lunch and day at the pool with my friends and no kids.  I can smell the suntan lotion and taste the champagne already!!

Girl Friday

And we are off again for one last vacay before school starts.  

We are heading to Branson, hmm do I hear a fiddle and a hillbilly, why yes I do!!

On our itinerary, the Titanic Museum.

I know, it sounds totally cheesy but I swear I have heard it is amazing.  They have recreated the entire boat just like the original Titanic

I have been told the museum tilts so you know what the people were feeling as it was sinking and you can put your hand in a vat of water that is the temp of the Atlantic Ocean the day the Titanic sank ( and I have heard it is freezing)  When you enter you are given a card with a name of a person who really was on the Titanic and when you leave you find out if you survived.  My kids love the movie so I am thinking this will be a winner!!

We also have a day planned here

we will be doing lots of this...

and since we will be in the "south" eating lots and lots of this...

Have a beautiful weekend!!

The Swing of Things

After being home for a little over a week, I am finally feeling a little settled and have most of our unpacking done.  I was just going through my phone looking at all my pictures and was either smiling or laughing at almost every shot.

On my way to Michigan I made a pit stop in Chicago for a couple of days.  

First up, a night out with no kids!!

I had dinner, many many drinks and many many laughs with Heather

crazy eyes=crazy fun

The next day after the tylenol kicked in, it was off to see the city with the kids.  First stop is always American Girl even though we have one here in STL.  I think my girls are on to me and know I will always buy them something.

A walk through Millennium Park

Shedd Aquarium

The stingray tank where you can pet the stingrays 

and our favorite, the beluga whale

Our last evening we took a sunset cruise down the Chicago river.

It was such a great way to see the city plus I actually did learn so interesting facts about Chicago.


I even managed a quick stop to Zara where I picked up some glitter shoes

We always have a great time in the windy city!!

The Perfect Weekend

These 2 pictures perfectly sum up my weekend.

A-mazing Maroon 5 concert.  Seriously if Adam comes to your city you MUST go!!

hanging out with my girls after being gone for 3 weeks

Obsessed

A few things have been on my mind lately...

This wine is my new favorite, I love any sancerre and most restaurants do not carry this type of wine.

Lucky for me I have a stockpile in my fridge.

I think white birch firewood is so pretty, I want some.  Not to burn but just to look pretty next to my fireplace.  I don't think these trees are anywhere near STL.  I never thought I would say this but I might have to order firewood online.

I cannot wait for Fall so I can wear my new track pants

I really want a new kitchen table, and I really want a stainless steel top.

When I was on Mackinac Island our resort served wine in the "front yard"

in these acrylic glasses,  now these have made it to the top of my wish list.  I cannot tell you how many glasses I have broken on my WOP (wine on porch) nights with my girls, well problem solved.  Now if I can just make it to Crate and Barrel before tomorrow night, oh and I am serving sancerre.

I downloaded the first 2 seasons of this show to watch during all my Michigan travels and now I am completely obsessed!!  OMG I have to wait until October 3 now for the new season.  If you do not watch this, download it now, you have plenty of time to catch up.

and last but certainly not least, this guy....

and I get to see him tonight. (in concert, not on a real date)