THE SMITHS IN SAN DIEGO

We were lucky enough to have the entire Smith clan join us for Memorial Day Weekend in San Diego. The weather has been a classic “May Grey” situation all month so far, but that did not stop us from beach days and boogie boarding. We started the weekend off with a morning at Coronado Island exploring the Hotel Del and walking up and down the boardwalk that lines the beach. We celebrated Derek’s 30^th birthday with a family dinner of Jones’ and Smith’s at the La Costa Resort, and finished off with cake and ice cream back at my parents’ house. Saturday and Sunday  we hit the beach early and set up camp for a day of fun! We totally lucked out and were one of 4 groups on the beach the entire day! Baby Clark had his first dip in the ocean and loved it! He is a little water baby. We rounded out both nights with local favorites of Besta-Wan Pizza & Anita’s Mexican Restaurant. On Monday morning we trekked everyone out to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. We spent the morning enjoying the cool weather and the safari tram ride around the park. It was such a fun weekend and couldn’t have been made possible without the help of my parents who lent us all of their beach equipment, their suburban to haul it and everyone around, and my in-laws who treated us all to a weekend of food & fun! I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I lucked out in the family department big time!

LIVE WITH KELLY & MICHAEL AT DISNEYLAND

My sweet friend Shannon ended up scoring tickets to Live with Kelly & Michael taping at Disneyland in honor the 60^th Anniversary which kicks off this week! This trip was made extra fun with the fact that both Shannon & I are moving this summer, and Ashleigh also moved into her new home & getting married in August. It was almost like a last “hoorah” before we start new chapters of our lives. We were able to score seats about six rows back, and had the best time! Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was the guest, and he is hysterical! We had a great time during the show, and between the commercial breaks when they came into the audience. After the taping, we had the rest of the day in Disneyland! We went hard, feasting on delicious grilled cheese & tomato soup from Jolly Holiday, and laughing our heads off on the roller coasters! It was a perfect day and so much fun! 

GREEK FRITTATA

I have shared my love for frittatas on the blog before, but I feel like it’s a valid expression. Frittatas are one of those meals that fall in the category of “always delicious”. You can put any vegetable, meat, cheese, mix it with some eggs and milk, bake it in the oven, and have dinner on the table in less than 45 minutes. I recently served this Greek version at my bouquets & brunch, and it was a major hit with the ladies! I adore Greek food, and knew this would make a delicious savory item on our menu. We also like this for dinner with a side salad of mixed baby greens and a light vinaigrette dressing. Time to jump on the frittata band wagon, these bad boys aren't going anywhere.

SPRING BOUQUETS & BRUNCH

Recently, Derek and I have been using our weekend date on early Saturday mornings for breakfast or brunch. We head out and dine one delicious and savory options that remind us why we love maple syrup so much. Last weekend (while Derek was working), I had some girlfriends over for a brunch and bouquet building party. I first saw the idea here, and thought it was darling! All of my guests were invited to bring a bouquet of a single type of flower to contribute to the bouquet bar. With a table full of crème brule French toast, Greek frittata, and fresh berries, we brunched and enjoyed a lovely spring morning. After, we cleared the table and started to assemble our bouquets. With so many lovely choices, colors, and aromas, it was so fun to see what each of us came up with! We all left with full tummies, and a lovely bouquet to brighten our homes with. I already have ideas floating in my head of how to make this Fall friendly with pumpkin muffins, savory squash & zucchini quiche, and all those deep orange and red florals for bouquets!

FISH TACOS

Growing up, my family & I had the immense privilege of traveling to the islands of Hawaii. To this day, we all love the island vibe of relaxation, beauty, and the memories we made through the years. One of our favorite things while visiting Maui, is walking to Whaler’s Village in Kaanapali in the evening for dinner on the water and to watch the sunset. (This is where Derek and I also went on our honeymoon!) To this day, I still crave the delicious fish tacos and nachos on the patio of Leilani’s. For weeks after each trip, other fish tacos cannot compare. Something about the breeze, sunset, and gentle ukulele music playing, perhaps? Last weekend, I tried my hand at making our own fish tacos for dinner, and I was not disappointed! This easy & short cut recipe is sure to please any fish taco fan & jazz up your weeknight dinner routine a little. Now, if only my patio had an ocean view, I would be in paradise! 

A SEASIDE PICNIC

On Sunday afternoon, we called up our friends with the idea of a potluck picnic on the beach. We rummaged our kitchens, gathered blankets, and headed to Scripps Park in La Jolla for an afternoon picnic. Our spread ranged from ham & swiss sammies, green salad, fresh fruit, and delicious treats. All of the food was wonderful, and the company even better. I swear, San Diego normally likes to show off in the Spring. Instead, we all bundled up with impending rain clouds and set out. We managed to eat and visit before a huge downpour had us running to our cars. It wasn't perfect weather, but it was still memorable and fun. This is what Sundays are made for.