I know I didn’t “Saturday Stuff” post last weekend. I’m so sorry! I was on a little trip shooting something awesome for Better Homes and Gardens with an amazing crew, and best of all, dear friends. Tracy chronicled some of it here. I can’t wait to let you know more soon! But since I missed it last week, it might be extra long today…

Goodness. I know I already lamented about what a weird fast and long week this was on Thursday, but I can’t say it enough. And I am glad that we are finally here at the weekend. School is over, and Fathers day is on the way! We went out to celebrate the end of the school year with the girls last night. I think it is a nice thing to do. Even if it isn’t some fancy night out, just making a nice dinner at home and marking the occasion seems like a great way to celebrate all of their hard work. We had them tell us all about what their favorite parts of the school year were and they were on cloud nine. We also told them that this was a good chance for them to practice their manners for Europe and show us what wonderfully behaved children they could be so that they could handle coming out with us. We only had to say that like 50 times before Coco got into it, but then she was all straight back and chirping “no elbows on the table!” I really can’t believe how mature Pia has gotten all of the sudden too. Quite a little lady. I will do a little portrait soon and show you guys how they have grown!

So speaking of Europe, our bog fat Griswold European vacation starts next weekend. That means cramming an ungodly amount of work into this week, and packing. Plus I am one of those people that does stuff like leave bathing suit shopping to the 11th hour. I mean, blech… Then I want it to come in the mail so I can try them on in the safety and controlled lighting of my own bathroom and then deal with it. Anyone else????

Some friends and I had an estate sale sort of thing this week. Basically we are purging and starting over. It is the most liberating feeling to start realizing that you are not really all that attached to stuff. Considering I have always been a bit of a hoarder, this was especially cleansing for me! From furniture to all of the clothes in our closet, we just brutally edited. Has anyone ever done this? I always assumed it would happen if we moved one day. But since it doesn’t seem like we will move, I am just getting to work on making this house our best nest for the years to come. And sometimes that means changing things quite a bit. It seems like the right time with all of the other changes that we have made in our family in the last 6 months, that our environment have some changes too. I will keep you updated if interiors are your thing and you are interested ☺

Also- thank you for all of the concern and well wishes over what I thought was poison oak. Turns out, it wasn’t poison oak. As it has proceeded to look worse and worse and had continued to not itch, I finally went in again. Bless my Dr who just wanted to find out the answer and brought in another Dr for a second opinion, which was “severe chemical burn”. God Help Me. Now this makes more sense to me then the poison oak, which I have spent all week hunting for in my yard by the way! I did go to a local casual restaurant on Monday night and I was sitting next to a stack of chairs. I cross and uncross my right leg a lot and I was wearing cropped yoga pants (please, let’s not get into why I would wear workout clothes out to dinner- sorry mom). The burn is right where my pants would not have been covering it and it seems that I brushed my leg against these chairs or the table legs several times at different angles. The blisters and marks showed up about 30 minutes later, so that is my best guess. They must use some STRONG chemicals to clean. Like Lye. Cause that is the only thing we can think of that could have caused this horrific thing on my leg. I can’t show you the picture because you would never come back to my blog- but trust me when I tell you it’s bad. It looks like a wild animal attacked me. And the great news is, I will probably be permanently scarred!!! Just kidding- that is not great news. Just a bummer. Remind me to wear full length pants when I go out to dinner in the future. And maybe like a hazmat suit.

Ok. I will stop babbling and go get Pia ready for her Ballet recital rehearsal and just leave you with a whole bunch of deliciousness from around the web from the last couple of weeks:

Lamb Slider Lettuce Wraps with Whipped Feta Spread. I could eat a million of these.

Homemade Lox. This is just so beautiful.

Jalapeno Cornbread Beer Bread Muffins with Salted Beer Honey Butter. Um, yes.

Moroccan Chicken Salad with Pistachio Crusted Fried Goat Cheese and Garlic Naan. I don’t think I need to say much- I mean this just sounds insane.

Easy Blueberry Muffins. I know these are simple, but Naomi still manages to turn them into works of art and they look like the best blueberry muffins ever!

Churros with Salty Peanut Sugar– Just because I can’t eat this doesn’t mean I can’t day dream about it. Now. If I can only make these Gluten, Dairy and Egg free!

Charred Broccoli and Tofu Stuffed Avocados with Sweet Curry Lemon Sauce– this is how you get a girl craving tofu- and I never thought I would say that!

Rhubarb Ginger Coconut Floats. Holy Cow- I need these!!!

Grilled Peach Barbeque Sauce with Grilled Polenta. Stunning.