Seasons 52

We went out to dinner tonight with some friends.  We tried a new restaurant (to me) Seasons 52

The Seasons 52 menu is seasonally-inspired with the fresh appeal of the farmer’s market. It represents a unique blend of art and science, with creative offerings designed to excite and surprise the palate.
They feature dining choices that are thoughtfully prepared and in appropriate portion sizes. So their
guests feel the freedom to indulge in a complete dining experience, including their custom flatbreads and signature mini-indulgence desserts, while still feeling good about themselves and their dining choices.

They use natural cooking techniques such as wood-fire grilling, brick-oven cooking and caramelizing vegetables to let the natural flavors shine through. And they execute precision with seasoning, and oil with control and care to ensure just the right amount is used to bring out the great flavor profiles. An added benefit to this style is that our menu items are naturally lower in calories. In fact, they make a promise that nothing on their menu is over 475 calories. The result is great tasting, highly satisfying food that just so happens to be good for you!  And then you can even indulge in these mini desserts!  Just enough for your sweet tooth.  Blueberry Cheesecake and Oren Cookie Mouse and many more that I can't even remember, but they all are served just like this.

I had a wonderful Tiger Shrimp Penne Pasta and market vegetables sautéed in a lemon-basil sauce with Parmesan cheese.  Delicious!

My husband had Fieldale Farms All-Natural BBQ Chicken with Yukon Gold garlic mashed potatoes and fresh roasted corn saladOur friends had Wood-Roasted Pork Tenderloin with herb polenta, broccoli, cremini mushrooms and shallot-Dijon glaze.

Well I thought the whole dining experience was excellent.  The staff was engaging and friendly, and couldn't do enough.
I think they have restaurants in other areas.  I recommend you try them if you ever get the chance.




Well my husband just left for his sleep study.  He has sleep apnea, and tonight they are going to try this breathing machine on him.  He never feels rested when he gets up in the morning and this machine will help him get a good nights sleep.  Sleep Apnea is not good for your heart.  I just hope he can get use to this machine on his nose!

Ok, I think I need to get some work done!  Have an awesome day.

Susan

The calm before the storm~

For all my blogger friends that are near the coast, please be safe!  Right now it is so calm around here but we are expecting 10" of rain and strong winds.  I am praying that our power doesn't go out, I really don't want a flooded basement!   The coast of New Jersey was evacuated.  My sister and brother in law live on the coast line, their home is right on the beach.  They drove to their daughters house up here and they are very concerned.

Called the kids to make sure they are all getting prepared, and asking where they are going to be.  One of my sons and his wife were told that they needed to evacuate.  Their whole street was evacuated, because there is a small creek behind their homes.

The news has been on all day, reporting about the storm.

  My neighbor and I got our walk in early today.  Well, I made a commitment to lose some weight.  I joined the web site, http://www.livestrong.com/ .  It is Lance Armstrong's site, and it is really neat.  It keeps track of the food you eat and calculates everything for you.  It tells you how many calories you have eaten, how many calories you burn when you exercise.  I am giving it a try, so far, so good.

Well, I better go and gather all my candles for tonight.  It is better to be prepared!  Are you prepared?

Be safe.

Susan

Home Good & bedroom makeover...

My friend Joanne and I went to my favorite place yesterday, Home Goods!  She needed to get some things for her guest bathroom and I love to go over there and just look around,,,,it makes me happy!  Well, really I had something in mind.  I was explaining to Joanne that I wanted two long pictures or long mirrors to go in a specific spot in my bedroom.

They are getting ready for Halloween already!  Yes, I know fall is just around the corner, and I do remember being in retail for a million years that the department stores had Christmas up before Halloween is even over.

They had so many pretty things. 

I did end up with this cute little pumpkin.  I am excited to add it to my collection.

My friend Joanne, checking out.  Looks like she found what she needed.

 I saw this beautiful trunk that would have been perfect for under the buffet in my foyer!  I was set on getting that, until I saw these......I just turned the corner and there they were!  Perfect!

Two of these cost me $44.00!  They were $29.99 but I showed the manager a few little nicks and he reduced them to $22.00 each!  I'll take them!!!  I was going to get the ones from Target, but these are larger and heavier. You see we are in the middle of doing a bedroom make over.  I have the perfect spot for them.  It was just meant to be I guess.

Our, on going bedroom makeover.

That's the hubby up there getting ready to paint.  Mr Fix It, he can do anything, usually.  He is starting to slow down a bit as we get older.  I don't think he enjoys it as much as he use to.

Can you guess where I am going to use those mirror's?  I will surprise y'all when we are complete!  I can't wait.  It seems to take me so long.  First I can't find what I want, or else I can't make a decision, or # 3, budget!  It will eventually get done.

Have you been to Home Goods lately?

Have an awesome weekend!

Susan

DC Wedding...

Happy Friday everyone!  The weekend is here and this weekend we are headed to Washington, DC for a wedding.  Our whole family is going minus the first born, age 35, he is going on a Man weekend with 6 other guys to one of their cabins up  in Vermont.  This friend and his girlfriend built a cabin on this island.  It has no running water yet and you have to take a boat to get there!  Not my kind of vacation for fun. But they go every year and work on the cabin.  Anyway, I am getting off track here.  We are heading out tomorrow.

It is going to be so much fun!  The wedding is going to be held at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Arlington, VA.  and the reception is being held at The Carnegie Institution for Science, in Washington.  This should be interesting.  I will be sure to take many pictures to post at a later date.

There is a block of rooms reserved for family at The Rouge Hotel at 16th street NW and Intersection of Rhode Island NW Washington, DC.  We have never stayed there but I looked it up and it is kind of a Boutique Hotel owned by Kimpton Hotels.  All I know is that it is going to be HOT!

Hope you all have some fun things planned this weekend, and a way to stay cool!

Susan

Blog Hop Friday.....

http://feelingbeachie.com/

This is a blog hop I am following.  We are finishing the following statements.

This week’s statements:

1. I don’t understand why _ Grown men in the senate and congress can't seem to agree. I think we need more women in there! 

2. I don’t know what is worse_ The humidity in the summer or the ice in the winter?

3. My _  feet  always get cold.

4. I wish I owned a ___home at the shore!

Why don't you link up and join the fun! 

NEXT

                     

OK, this is Five question Friday  http://fivecrookedhalos.blogspot.com/

Link up and get to know your blogger friends better!

1. If you knew your best friend's spouse was cheating on her or him, would you tell her (him)?  This is really a tough question.  I think if I knew for sure, and not through gossip, I might consider telling her.  I sure would want someone to tell me.  Maybe even catch him myself by being somewhere they are and letting him know that if he doesn't say something, I will.

2. Soda in a can or a bottle?  Oh my gosh definitely a bottle, I think can soda has too much carbonation for some reason


3. What do you wash first, hair or body? Hair first, conditioner, wash body then rinse conditioner out of hair. I think you should always go top to bottom
.
4. What advice would you give to any new mama?  It does get better.  They will sleep eventually.  Try and enjoy every minute because they grow so fast!

5. What is your best hangover remedy? Water before bed along with 3 Advil. Not that I have needed this remedy for a while, it is what I recall and also raising 4 kids that went to college

Have a wonderful weekend filled with family and friends!

Susan

Hello! We are home.....

I am sorry it has taken me so long to get to my laptop!  Vacation was great, couldn't have asked for  better weather.  The water was warm (for some people).  We had a blast!  Beach everyday, cocktails and apps every night on the deck.

Look how calm the ocean was one evening.  We were looking from the deck.

 

Grand pop even stayed up at the house one day to babysit Ryan, so we didn't have to bring him with us to the beach.

Mother and daughter, (my daughter and me).

Ryan and his mom.

Grand daughter Megan, isn't she a cutie, just turned 7, going on 13!

Grand son Connor, watching TV with his Aunt Tricia.

Son # 1 with his cute girlfriend!

Handsome hubby & grand pop!

All three grand kids in their 4th of July outfits.  Time for pictures!

Our daughter and her family.

Nonna (me), Megan and Stacy

The beach by day.

This is where we always stay. My sister & brother in law own it and it is a wonderful family house!

I didn't get pictures of everyone.  Some of the family were down the weekend before we got there, so I missed them.

It was so relaxing.  I had a chance to read, did some shopping but we didn't seem to have time for a movie.  Maybe in August when we have the family reunion.  We are so lucky to be able to vacation together and actually enjoy each other!  I thank God every day for my wonderful family.

Hope you all have a awesome weekend of relaxing with family and friends, you can't ask for anything better than that!

Susan

Hodge Podge Wednesday......

FIRST is WEDNESDAY HODGE PODGE from Joyce at From This Side of the Pond. This one is a great way to get to know some wonderful new boggy friends and learn more about some old ones...not that I'm calling anyone OLD, mind you.

1. Do you and your family enjoy camping? What do you enjoy most/like the least when it comes to family camping? When was the last time you camped?

No, no, no, I don't enjoy camping now.  When I was younger we use to camp with our church friends a few times, it was so much fun back then!  My idea of camping is a room at the Hilton!  I can't ever remember taking the kids camping.  I do know they went with the boy scouts, and Indian Princesses.

2. Did you attend a summer camp when you were a kid? Is that a happy or not so happy memory?

I went with a youth group once for a weekend.  We did stay in cabins and that was fun too, but I was a kid and kids like doing things like that especially with friends.

3. Over the course of your life, what have you probably spent more time pondering than anything else?

I guess life, and how to live it to the best that I can along with being a better person.  You sometimes wonder, am I doing this right, am I being a good mother, wife, sister and daughter?  There is a lot to think about in this life here and now.  What is the way to be?  My husbands professor use to ask the class that, and that is something to think about!  Suffice it to say that is what I have been pondering lately.

4. Which of the seven natural wonders of the world would you most like to see? There are many lists of 'wonders' but this is the standard natural wonder list-Mount Everest, The Great Barrier Reef, The Grand Canyon, Victoria Falls, The Harbor of Rio de Janerio, Paricutan Volcano and The Northern Lights.

Well we have seen the Grand Canyon, I know it is beautiful, but it is really just a big hole to me.  I would love to see the Northern Lights.

5. What was your first real job?

Well, when I way younger 14 I guess, I use to work for my Dad.  He had a restaurant and I was a waitress.  I think everyone should be a waitress once in their life.  I think it teaches you how to deal with every kind of person that comes along.  It was an awesome experience and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  But, of course when I was old enough I went to the mall and got a job with Ladybug.  Now I know many of the older ladies know what that brand was!  Everyone want to wear it.  I probably spent more that I ever made, hence I was on my way to becoming a clothes horse!  I am trying to break that habit now.  I may be on a limited income soon.

6. Lemonade or Sweet tea...which do you prefer on a hot summer day?

Lemonade if it is home made.  Ice tea other wise.

7. What is something that always brings a smile to your face?

My grand kiddies, Connor, Ryan and Megan!

8. Insert your own random thought here.

I think I am all thought out for today, other than I really have to get to work and finish these projects that I have started!

Hope you all have an awesome day! 

Susan 

Brand New!

I am absolutely so excited and appreciative of the wonderful job that Posh Palm  http://www.poshpalmwebdesign.com/   did for my new Blog Design!  Isn't it just too cute!  She even put in our family portrait on the wall!  And Jake is sitting on the couch just so cute!  Jen is even making me a Badge that my followers can grab, can you believe it!  This was the most awesome "Give a Way" that I have ever won!  Now I really need to get more followers so they can see the wonderful work that

Posh Palm does.  I would appreciate if you could recommend my blog to your friends, that would be just awesome! 

Now if you are interested in having a new design made for your blog, you are in luck!  Jen, from

 Posh Palm is offering you a 20% discount on Blog Designs!  That is just awesome.  Just hop over to Posh Palm and pick out your design.  The code is POSHTOTE.  If you have any questions I am sure Jen would offer her advice.  Now if I could just figure out how to add the link in here that would make my day!

When you do go visit Posh Palm, don't forget to tell Jen what a wonderful job she did on

"Tote's Thoughts" blog design.  I am sure she would appreciate it.

http://www.poshpalmwebdesign.com/

Thank you Jen for all your hard work, it is much appreciated!

Susan

                                                                           

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! / Whats wrong with Blogspot???

Hello all on this holiday weekend with beautiful weather!  I can't believe they actually call for good weather this whole weekend.  I hope everyone is spending some time with family and friends. 

 


 Please say a prayer for the people that have lost so much with the tornado's that have swept through their state.  I can't even imagine going through that.  Where do you start?  My heart aches every time I see it on the news.  I feel so blessed to be here, where tornado's are rarely seen.  My prayers are with them all.

My thanks goes out to all of our soldiers who are on the line protecting our country, and the ones that have died in doing so.  I pray that you can all come home soon.  God be with you.

                                                                            




Now, I want you all to know that I have been reading all of your blogs.  I just can't seem to comment on them!!!  I don't know what is wrong.  Some comments went through and some are not going through.  Does anyone know what is going on?



I just finished reading another installment of the O'Briens clan.  Sherryl Woods has written a series of books called "Chesapeake Shores".  Each book is about someone in the O'Brien family.  These books are such easy reads and I just love them.  I just realized I was 3 books behind so I ordered them and just finished the 2 of them.  I have one more and then another one is released in June.  I love the setting of the Chesapeake, and the O'Brien family is like so many families I know.  If you are looking for a good read this summer, pick up one of her books, but try to start with the first one, "The Inn at Eagle Point".  If you like lite reads, you won't be sorry.

Design question....

Well, I am coming to my friends in blog land to help me out with a design question.  I have moved my buffet from the hall into the dining room.  It can actually go in two different places.  The question is I am not sure where it would look best.  On the wall where the window is, I thought it would look good with a mirror over it, but it seems too close to the window.  What do you think?  I know it does fit in the other space where the tea card is.  Should I switch them?

Mirror over top here.

I will be waiting patiently for all your advice.

Thanks!

Susan

Semi Wordless Wednesday...

 We are doing a blog hop today with Flip Flops & Pearls, Semi Wordless Wednesday.  Hop in and join the fun! Things I love..... The Beach,  Ahh  Summer,  and winter.... Sunsets.... Make up.... Candy....  Walking in the snow... Decorating... Flowers.... Shoes....  Shopping....  

Taking pictures....

Friends....

Most of all... Family...

Being loved....  

 37 years and counting! Susan