BBQ Desserts

Another Robinson BBQ happened today. Sco and I just can't get enough of eating outdoors. Yesterday Sco went to Costco, picked us up a pineapple, some asparagus, yellow peppers and steak. We drizzled olive oil over the veggies added some garlic and grilled them up. The asparagus charred quickly, but the peppers were so dang good. The steaks melted in our mouths. But the best part was the grilled pineapple. Sprinkled with brown sugar, cinnamon and ginger and heated through. . .to die for! Now we've come up with a great dessert idea for next time. How about making homemade ginger cookies, topping some with this grilled pineapple and then adding a scoop of vanilla bean ice cream or orange sorbet. . .what do you think? Fabulous. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Mellow+Yellow Hello!

This swap has been so fun. Creating a product for someone you haven't met and getting to know that person through blogs, it is so exciting. Then to recieve a wonderful package in the mail made specially for me was the icing on the cake. It's just a special little something that makes getting the mail a joy. Thanks Erin! The package I recieved from you was absolutely perfect. Red and white check is a pattern I never tire of. It's like a breath of fresh air whenever I rediscover it. I love the monogrammed note cards with the red pen tied together with a red grosgrain ribbon. . .It has made me smile all day.

Thanks for playing, Kelly!

Tag, I'm it for another time.

A) Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. The local mail and ups store (before Mailboxes Etc.)
2. Schlotzky's
3. Transcriber
4. Graphic Designer
I'm thankful for motherhood, now I will never be unemployed!

B) Four movies I could watch over and over:
1. Pride & Prejudice
2. Legally Blonde
3. What's Up Doc
4. Notting Hill

C) Four places I have lived:
1. Salt Lake City, UT
2. York, England
3. Harker's Island, NC
4. West Jordan, UT

D) Four television shows I watch:
1. American Idol
2. The Office
3. House Hunters International
4. What Not to Wear

E) Four places I have gone (or will go) on vacation:
1. England
2. Alaska
3. Switzerland
4. San Diego

F) Four websites I visit almost daily:
1. deseretnews.com
2. gymboree.com
3. dtlk-kids.com
4. talbots.com

G) Four of my favorite foods:
1. Chicken Coconut Curry
2. ham and bean soup
3. artisan bread with butter
4. chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream

H) Four places I would rather be right now:
1. I don't know, I'm pretty happy with where I am. . .ask me tomorrow

I) Four people who I tag:
1. Marta
2. Heidi
3. Christie
4. Micah (that's right Miggs, don't let us down)

True Beauty

To answer Min's question, I will quote one of her favorite idols:

The following was written by Audrey Hepburn who was asked to share "beauty tips."

"For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows.

The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years."

Inaugural BBQ

Last night, we had our first outdoor barbeque of the season. Scott mowed the lawn and planted some yews, brought out the resin tables and chairs, and we invited the heros over. The aroma of freshly cut grass and the view of ducks flying overhead, made the idea of eating out irresistable. With good company (Oma, Opa, Heidi, Lucy, Chelsea), good food (turkey burgers, tostitos, ginger cookies, chocolate-on-chocolate doughnuts, and a party-in-your-mouth punch), and good weather, we had a very relaxing evening. Chelsea and Ashley played in the playhouse. Lucy, Chloe and Jess played in the sandbox. We talked about twins, World War II fanatics, spices (Sassafrass comes from Saffron right?), and trampolines vs. playsets. After two tubs full of girls and lining them up in front of a movie, we got excited that Heidi & Jacque are adding two more to the club. When you're passing through we hope you'll join us for our next outdoor dining experience. Welcome warm weather and welcome heros!

Wee Wonderfuls

I love this website! This woman is so creative, crafty and fun. She gets my creative juices flowing. Check out her free downloads for some fun, easy crafts.

Textile Art

Real Simple had a great way of making awesome art out of one of my favorite things: FABRIC. Take a basic art canvas and upholster it with your favorite fabric. Simple and beautiful. I took this idea one step further. I had made a very basic quilt top that I never made into a quilt. I cut it up into three pieces and then framed them. One is in my guest W.C. and the other two are across the hall in the laundry room. I love how they turned out.

Tag, I'm it

I heart:
Chocolate
Sweet teases
Open windows
Romantic comedies
Being understood

I hate:
Doubting myself
Ironing
Worrying
Envying
Stepping out of a hot shower

Clap if you believe in fairies

I remember I used to half believe and wholly play with fairies when I was a child. What heaven can be more real than to retain the spirit world of childhood, tempered and balanced by knowledge and common sense. --Beatrix Potter
"You see, Wendy, when the first baby laughed for the very first time, the laugh broke up into a thousand pieces of light, and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. So now every time a new baby is born, its first laugh becomes a fairy." --J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)

I love English Literature from the turn of the century. Fairies, children, fantasy, moral lessons, imagination are some of the reasons I'm drawn to it.

Two Names

Eliza is beautiful. Thinking about names for the other twin is so much fun. Heed, here are my suggestions from here:

Lane
Lainey
Liv
Holly
Edith (call her Edie)
Amelia (call her Milly)
Lillian
Jill
Jillian
Sadie
Sophie
Rachel
Sarah

or Rania Francesca

Gentle Heros

Ashley

Favorites:
Food: pretzels and onion/chive cream cheese
Drink: Pediasure
Thing to do: hop and jump
Place to go: outside
People: her sisters

Our youngest is a delight. Ashley is so different from how Chloe and Jess were as babies. She loves to climb, jump, play ball, ride bikes and be chased. She has a lot more coordination than the other two. I used to worry about her climbing, until I saw the great balance she has. Yesterday I watched her shooting hoops on her Little Tikes basketball hoop. She would shoot over and over having a great timechasing the ball (sometimes it would actually go in).

Ashley also has a darling personality. When you go to kiss her, sometimes she'll stick out her tongue and lick your face. She does it on the sly so I'm always surprised. She likes to kid her sisters and play "baby tag". She likes to sing and dance. I absolutely love watching her. She's content to play by herself, as long as her sisters are nearby. Ashley's also very cute with her little friends Chelsea and Mary. Both were born within weeks of Ashley and I think they are all very special friends. She walks around the house asking for Chels and Mare-mare.

I love my little "Ashels". She will be my little side kick for a few more years while the other two are in school. I look forward to getting to know her as she grows up.

Oma Day

After having an Oma famine, we feasted on her presence at my house today. It was a most excellent Oma Day. She had worksheets for the girls, ordered pizza for lunch and had great things to say about far away cousins. She talked about the beauty of the trampolines in PA and CO. She quoted the cute things the cousins said. She talked about her adventures in graveyards. And filled us in on organization ideas and filled us up with encouragement. I love the feeling I get when my mom is around. I love to sit back and listen to her talk. She always brings that calming comfort that only my mom can give me. Sometimes it's nice to have your mom mother you when you're a mom yourself. It's very rejuvenating. Thanks, Oma. You are wonderful. I love you.

Happy Easter

Click here for a larger image.

Mary Blair

I have been a big fan of Mary Blair for many years, and I didn't even know it! We have a board book called I Can Fly by Ruth Krauss. I was drawn to it because of the illustration style. I had never heard of Mary Blair, but thought her style was whimsical.

I just did a little research on her after reading I Can Fly to Ashley the other night. No wonder I love her! She had a great collaboration going with Walt Disney. She was the artistic genius behind Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Cinderella and It's a Small World. Her sketches of these famous Disney icons are a little different from their on-screen appearance. I prefer her sketches to the end products. If you want to learn more about her click here.

One of my favorites

I absolutely love illustrations. I have many favorite illustrators. Here are just a few:
Mary Blair
Wilcox-Smith
Tudor & Lemair