Back in the Saddle Again!

Since I basically spent most of March out of town, I needed the month of April for re-entry.  I finally feel like I am back to my schedule, have the suitcases put away, have caught up on mail/appointments/to do lists and then I realized in 3 weeks my kids will be out for summer!

There is definitely something about travel that always makes me want to come home and zhush up my house.    Parisians are all about their flowers so I now I feel like I have a green thumb. I seriously could not stop taking pictures of windows and doors.  I don't know what it is about those Parisians but they make everything from how they outfit themselves to how they outfit their homes look effortless.  These photos should make you want to run to your local nursery today and start planting...

and the darling florist right across the street from our apartment.

Lucky for me, my hubby knows about my quest for a Parisian patio so for mother's day he and the kids spent the entire day planting and cleaning up our deck.  Time to have a deck party!!

It's coming along, hey Rome, I mean Paris wasn't built in a day!!

Wrap up and Resolutions

We definitely had a December to remember.

We started off the month with our annual trip to Silver Dollar City to see the lights.

I have said it before, and I will say it again...if you ever have the opportunity to go to Silver Dollar City in December do it!!  It truly is spectatular and it will just make you happy, I promise!!


We decorated gingerbread houses

and checked out our competition around the city

not bad, but I still think ours was better.



We went to the Wild Lights at the Zoo

had a Christmas tea with our American Girl Doll

baked some cookies

went ice skating

saw Santa at the symphony, and heard beautiful music

and had a great holiday.

Now that the decorations are down, the kids are back in school, and the new year has started it's time to work on some resolutions

*Read, read, read-this is on my list every year but the benefits from reading; knowledge, vocabulary, intellectual curiosity, improved concentration, I mean its almost like free therapy.  I get my best recommendations from friends, here is what I hope to read in 2016

any other recommendations??

*travel every change I get

Don't you love a resolution that is pretty damn fabulous.  I have been working very hard on this one and have a few trips already lined up

*Try one new restaurant a month- I feel like I already do this, but now that it is official I really have to dine out a lot.  It is a win win for everyone, I get a great meal and the chefs/owners are getting business, just doing what I can to support my city.

Looks like I am good through April

*Have one on one dates with my children and my hubby

family is everything, right!!

and one last one for good measure

*go to the gym- does it count if I already do this??  Is it still a resolution??  

I am not going to lie, I am in it for the cute clothes

Happy 2016

Girl Friday

I cannot believe that Thanksgiving is next week.  Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday.  I love spending time with my friends and family but I don't have the stress of gifts, and decorating, and baking 12 different varieties of cookies, and getting out a photo card and the list goes on....

Next week we are heading to Detroit to spend the holiday at my sister's house

I am in charge of the veggie on Thursday.  I think my sister wants me to make the canned green beans with the soup and french onions but I just can't.  I think I am going to make this instead

Brussels Sprouts Gratin

It is going to be freezing in the big D town so I picked up a cute little number so at least my neck will stay warm

The day after Thanksgiving we plan on doing a little shopping

then off to see The Nutcracker

and this weekend, we are having our Friendsgiving here in STL

Thanksgiving feast in a barn about an hour outside of the city.

It's going to be a chilly night, the barn is open air, at least I got my new favorite pinot to keep me warm, and my new scarf!!

Have a beautiful weekend!!

Life Lately

These past 2 weeks have hands down been pretty awesome!!

I spent 5 days in Miami on a girls tennis trip, but we managed to eat and drink like queens as well.

There were 40 girls from across the US and Canada (8 from my team in STL) to play some tennis, and yes did we play some tennis, 7-8 hours every day!!

my doubles partner in STL



The 40 of us were split into 4 teams and in addition to lessons we had a championship match,  my team snagged the title

it was not all work

I like to consider myself a foodie, I am constantly on the hunt for the latest and greatest wherever I am in term of restaurants.  Well, if you are ever in South Beach you MUST go to Tom Colicchio's (remember him from top chef) restaurant Beachcraft.  This will go down in my book as one of my best meals of all time!!

We also had to check out the scene at Fountainebleau

Everyone there was either a Miami Heat player, a Kardashian wannabe or a tennis player from STL


It was such a fabulous extra long weekend,  I spent most of the time laughing which is exactly why we go on girls weekends!!

2 days after I got back my oldest child turned 16, yikes!!

have to admit I kind of am loving having a driver



then we had Halloween

and now we are just enjoying the beautiful fall weather

This weekend we have an auction

I love waking up the morning after and realizing I paid 2 times the value of something I never wanted in the first place.



I blame the champagne towers

Have a beautiful weekend!!