A Spring FAVORITE!

Salmon, Asparagus and Orzo Salad with Lemon Dill Vinaigrette

This meal is outstanding.  It's simple, healthy (I even use WW orzo) and downright delicious.  I have made it for family and also for a friend and his wife as a thank you for some computer work he did for me.  An all around great meal.  Also delcious with avocado, as salmon is.

Shhhh....it's a SURPRISE for Frank!!!

60?  Really!?  I tell him to tell others that he is 50!!!!  I am not kidding!

So the surprise is UP.  Frank walked into our home, thinking I'm having a Downton Abbey party for girlfriends, wondering outloud "why do you have balloons for a downton abbey party?"  and then the "oh my goodness" moment hits him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Happy birthday honey!!!

Guess who got a sip of champagne?  Daddy's little girl!  And Mommy's too!  ;)

Great friends together tonight.

Thanks Kelly!  You brought the balloons and helped make this night so special....you took most of these pictures.  I am forever grateful for you!

Some close friends.

A sweet little one.

I worked hard on this cake, and to keep it a secret, and to keep the entire party a secret.  At this moment of the party I am well on my way to feeling happy and relieved.   Have you ever thrown a surprise party?  They are kind of stressful! :)

My first time making this cake, from Smitten Kitchen, it's a Chocolate Hazelnut Crepe Cake.  Everyone seemed to like it, thank God!  It was fun to make and I was excited about it.

Waiting for Frank to blow out candles.

The cake is lit.

"Happy Birthday to you.....

Make a wish!

Hold on who gets the first piece?

Oh yes!  FRANK does!  Look at that face!

So much fun with his friends!

And of course there is sweet Little Lia!!!!

Daddy and his girl

Lia got these aweswome stickers from Kelly and she placed them on all of us girls, all in different designs.  Vicki got them all in an arc!  What a little sweetie Lia was!

Great friends.

Great family!

Happy Birthday Frank!  You are well loved!

Delicious Valentines Dinner

Tonight I made Lamb Saag.  My friend Kelly and I recently took an Indian cooking class for fun and this is what made me think of this dish.  I LOVE Saag...and Lamb Saag?!  I am crazy for....especially that it's LOCAL humanely raised lamb!  :)
 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here's Lia's final collection of February hearts with messages, ending today, on Valentines.  :)

And guess what I got on Valentines morning?  My very OWN collection of hearts that Lia and Frank worked on.  Each heart was exactly what she said.  The one that made me laugh the most?  "U R Fancy".  So not!  But so sweet, I LOVE this.  ♥♥♥

Feeding turtles and ducks

It was a beautiful night tonight, and Lia and I decided to go feed the turtles and ducks.  The sunset was even prettier than this picture but we were racing towards it in the golf cart

and just couldn't get there quick enough. 

You have to be careful and stand behind the tree roots.  First came the ducks. 

Here come some turtles! 

This one is soooo close to us! 

Watch him....going for the bread! 

So fun!

Our first ever private jet trip!!!

Here is Lia boarding her very first ever private jet trip.  You can see the pilot on the left, the owner in the middle and Frank on the right.  They were giving Frank a tour of the plane before Lia and I jetted off to Florida to see Nana and Poppy. 

 

I love this shot b/c it really shows the plane.

We're ready to go!

This is in-flight taken by Lia on her camera, of my customer Darlene (who did not want her picture taken) who invited us along for this plane ride.  It was really funny and I love it that Lia captured this comical moment.

"Smile Mommy!".  It was honestly the best plane ride I have ever been on!!!