Hope you all had a fantastic long 4th of July weekend!

I enjoyed picking blueberries, family, burgers, the river, camping, lots and lots of karaoke, Flannery O’Conner (for book club tomorrow) and some Friday Night Lights episodes.

I’ve got a crafty project tutorial coming up for ya soon.  Stay Tuned…

This is a brilliant concept to me.  Imagine the possibilities – Icecream, Tacos, Healthy Stuff… Yes, I know this is nothing new but our city’s market is not very saturated so just sayin’…  Maybe I could do it out of my camper-slash- home!

People – especially office people – really do just EAT THIS STUFF UP!

Caprese, Fried Bologna, Brie and Walnuts… so many different cheezzzzzzes!  And for dessert- a s’more sandwich!

They even offer a curry ketchup.  Which makes me want to puke up my kidneys ’cause ketchup is the grossest thing to ever exist but you may be into it.

As much as I rave though- that is not what i had for lunch.  This is:

Oh i know i know.  I had to threaten my jealous office-mates with asparagus spears.

But speaking of healthy deliciousness– and spears actually — the other day i had some farmers market veggies lying around with some italian chicken sausage.  Beings as it’s summer and all, I put a sharp-ended skewer through those SOBs and made daddy fire up the grill.

They marinated overnight in olive oil, fresh rosemary and some salt and were quite delicious if not exactly the most filling.

What are your favorite things to grill?  I also love asparagus, butter and parmesan! mmmmm

Back to Alton for the weekend for more camping and boating and…..

FIREWORKS!!

Have a great Fourth everybody!

It’s a little embarrassing for me to admit the shocking fact that i’ve never been out of the country.

So then you see how desperately I need to win this contest

It’s a need. Maybe not quite the same as the needs of starving children in other countries.  But at least they’ve been outside of America. *

Or just buy me a trip overseas.  I don’t even care where I go.  Just somewhere Oh Please!

But Paris would be oh so nice don’t ya think?

*example of really bad and tasteless humour.  Please don’t judge me.  It’s obvious I am not a horrible snake that actually feels that way isn’t it?

isn’t it?

Happy 32nd Anniversary to my mom and pops.

Isn’t my mama beautiful??

My dad looks like Hugh Grant.  And is not the biggest fan of smiling

Here’s to long love-giving marriages (and makin’ babies so i can be alive)

The Oaks too

(a few celebrities included)

A new post with unimaginable earth-shaking brilliance (per MSB usual) coming your way but in the meantime, have you heard Stone Rollin’ yet?  So Good. Stream Here.

Happy Oaks Day! (a brief history and intro. to the Oaks for those unfamiliar)

This morning we had our annual pancake breakfast at work and couldn’t go without some Woodford… in our syrup, in our whipped cream, in a plastic solo cup   It’s been a full week of Derby preparing here in its home city but it’s not over yet so we’re giving you a few links to inspire your last-minute party preparations and keep you in the holiday spirit.

A photo guide of  this year’s lineup

Some advice for the Gentlemen

Martha’s recipe for a mint julep

Not a drinker? Put it in a cupcake

The lesser-known “official drink of the Oaks” – Lily

A Derby-themed ladies brunch

Celebrities at the Derby

And who’s attending the biggest party in town tonight?

Photos: who was there in years past

The cake this year: “The $2,500 concoction is flavored with a $200 bottle of Kentucky’s finest bourbon and wrapped in real 23-karat edible gold.”

Just look at those hats

An adorable Derby-themed birthday party

Paula Deen’s version of Derby pie

Love the julep cup. Perfect to use for flowers or pens and pencils or just more mint julep after!

Last-minute decorating for your party tomorrow? Love this sweet vignette

Entertaining dreams of visiting this horse town for next year’s race, or any other non-Derby day? Check out Design Sponge’s profile highlighting just a few of the gems.

Downs photos via my iphone after a Wednesday spent in Millionares Row

Just in time for Derby, the Royal Wedding was a runway of hats and fascinators fit for a future queen (and the racetrack.) Some of the highlights:

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice

Zara Phillips

The Queen herself, in a design by her personal assistant Angela Kelly

Princess Mathilde of Belgium

Princess Letizia of Spain

David and Victoria Beckham (my pick for best-dressed!)

Lady Frederick Windsor

Tara Parker-Tomkinson (in blue)

Miriam Gonzalez

Frances Osborne

Many of the hats seen at the wedding were designed by London-based milliner Philip Treacy.

(All photos from People.com)

How was your weekend?  Saturday was my birthday and so I had a pretty full and fantastic few days.  That evening we went to dinner at this amazing new dive- Hammerheads- and I had a P(ork)B(ack)LT with duck fat fries. mmmmm… Then my awesome roommate Amanda made me this cake. Both Final Four games turned out exactly how I wanted and Sunday I got to hang with two of my fave lil’ gals -in photo above with Peanut the horse (check out Ella’s awesome pink cowboy boots).

So what mischief or not did you get into this weekend?

photo cred

Dear Readers,

What tomfoolery do you have planned this weekend?

Lately I’ve really been wanting to watch this movie again.  It’s been a long time.  I remember being so creeped out by it as a child yet i would watch it daily!  Such is the effect of Michael J. Fox I suppose.

But no time for movies.  Tomorrow I rise before dawn and prepare for a 6.2 mile race.  Later that day is a St. Patricks Day parade AND THEN… the one and only…

That Lady….

Don’t forget about Daylight Savings on Sunday!!

Good news for those amongst us fascinated by William and Kate’s upcoming nuptials: the Royal Wedding Website has launched! Get all the details on the ceremony, procession, and reception site, or find out how to take part in the celebration if you happen to be in London that day. And if you need even more updates on the wedding of the century, they also have a Twitter feed!