Summering on a plate

Since we’ve got other things to discuss tomorrow (hint: today’s sissy’s last day as a teeeenager, waah!) we’re going to do this fare Friday as a FF-Eve post.

So Teenybird threw one hell of a bash for EDS last weekend and made it all look soooooo easy, even though everything was perfect-style perfect and beautiful and scrumpdiddly. She is an easy breezy style girl and totally gets food and wine and cocktails (note: her supes talented Food Network-lauded chef boyfriend has got it all going too, so together it’s like BAM.). Best of all she’s a homegirl who likes to p-a-r-t-y.

Start:

Pizza stone fired pizza with arugula, prosciutto, peach.

Dins:

Orzo salad in chx stock with grape tomatoes, scallions, feta, olive oil, s+p

Jalepeno queso fresco grilled corn cobs

Beer can herb-rubbed chicken with a soda pop smothering sauce.  These two bitty things look like a pair of sumo wrestlers sitting on a stoop.

Dessert:

Balsamic berries, vanilla bean ice cream.

So there’s your menu for the next time you’re in the mood to Barefoot Contessa yourself. Now just sing “Jeeefffrey! I have a fresh bottle of Pinot Greeejz!”

Easy does it

When people ask wedding questions, the rundown never varies:
1). When’s the date?
2). Where’s the honeymoon? Leaving right away?
3) Tell me about the dress!

It goes like this:

“Weeeell, its sooo pretty, It’s easy and breezy and white and fluffy and unfussy and lovely and traaaaayz elegant.”

People look all stunned when I don’t shout about it being all “beaded, ruched, embroidered, tufted buttoned plunging strappy space gown”.

I don’t know why.

Hellooooo?

Everybody knows that

1) you are foooiiine

2) the dress is simps

3) that’s how you do it.

And no, none of the above are my own.

But close.

Polos. Pomp.

This Saturday was a RIOT.

My gf had her bach weekend here in town:

…and, in her long standing tradition, we donned the traditional EDS uniform: polo, pearls, chinos, boat shoes, ribbon belt.

Bask in the USM/Miami U OPH-obnoxious glory:

Camp girl reunion (caption should read: “So I says to the guy!”)

Sororitay  sistahs: (The Barefoot ConTeenybird, below, hosted the most encroyable summer dinner  to kick off the night – more delicious deeds to come later this week)

These girls…

…imported from far and wide, Boston and San Francisco, are A+++ grade A fancy style sparkle fun! Every last one of them. The bride-to-be absolutely knows how to pick ‘em, and she was a 300% trooper, doing the veil get-up, checking off her list of silly willy to-do’s (pictures not available for blogospheredom) and generally behaving herself like a lovely little button.

Goooing to the chapel and she ‘s gooooonna get married,

3

Today marks three years since our first date on May 28, 2009.

We had met the weekend before at a gf’s family’s memorial day BBQ in the Bay. That week, Kev called and I was exceedingly cool, like “I’m free whenever hold on a sec I’ll just go ahead here and ah, let’s see, cancel everything in my forseeable future and be there in one minute okeeeee byeeeee!!”, like a very busy and important non-maniac.

(GROOM Sauvignon Blanc + clam strips at Mason Street Grill to toast last night:)

Since then we’ve lived apart, finished and started grad programs, said goodbye to, and began, jobs, lost family members, moved in together, gotten engaged, planned a wedding…

…barbecued in the snow, mixed 300000 bourbon manhattans, left the top off the blender for the popular smoothie volcano effect, fallen asleep at the Oriental five minutes into the movie…

…competed in three annual Top Chef: Duffey v. Hardwick showdowns, raced in front of strangers on rowing machines, thrown Margaritaville birthdays/USA is No 1 parties…

…woken up on Christmas morning for a Charlie Brown singalong, pitched two christmas trees off our balcony left the gas on once, given each other full-sized skull and crossbones sharpie back tattoos, slept 1/2 a block away at the MAC when we were key-less, high fived a Packer Superbowl win, canceled HBO three times, and come back four…

And we have had a very good time.

Last night we gave each other presents, revealed our wedding vows to each other (it took me a few tries to make it through sans-ugly crying tears… must practice), and walked down the street to Mason Street Grill for an hour al fresco.  Cheers cheers cheers, three big years.

Friday Fare: Five Minute Dinner

Literally.  Work night, no prep, no dishes, fast, easy, healthy… who cares, it tastes great.  Serves 2 (cals included in case you’re into that sort of thing.)

1 can kidney beans (420)
1 can chick peas (420)
6 black olives (50)
2 vine tomatoes (40)
1/2 avocado (120)
Sliver white onion (10)
Swirl of balsamic and evoo (50)
1/4 cup reduced fat feta (60)
Sea salt, pepper
(585/serving)

That’s just what we had left in our fridge last Thursday.  I’d add fresh spinach, romaine and toasted pine nuts.  Super rich and filling, vegetarian (vegan if no feta), no prep, no dishes, keeps in the fridge for days.  So there’s your lunch too.  (Or exceptionally nutritional 2am snack.)

This one: you’re next - 

It’s memorial day weekend and one of my gf’s/bride-to-be is having her Bach Bash this Saaaturday!  And Kev’s an Amurrica-lover so our place is all red-white-and-blued (behold the balcony’s third summer all star-spangled:)

and we’re ready for blueberry-raspberry drinks and a lot of Bruce Springstein-style patriotism around these parts.  To the pool!

xxoo

All in a row

Peanuts.

Cuddlebugs.

Shmoopies.

Baby loves.

Honey pies.
Loveydoos.
After 28 days of turning Pekin and Mallard eggs, we hatched our babies (Quack, Pack, Nack and Mac, named for his cheesey coloring.)

We had fun every day with them, feeding, cleaning, watering them, taking them swimming, sketching them, writing them letters and now, saying good bye.

Say helloooo to Old McDonald for us!

Bashelorette

For bashing around town in this July….

White

Wild

So which is it?