Summer Lovin' part 2

So much love happening this summer that I couldn't fit it all in one post! Just a few more exciting and fun events until I'm all caught up! Why you ask? Because this blog is a way that my family and I can look back and recap life. I don't know about you, but without pictures I would likely forget so many moments. Pictures AND words are the best way to keep track of those moments that you want to remember :) We also have friends and family all over the country and so I want to make a better effort of keeping them in the loop so that we can stay connected! So without further adieu....

Bryan and I in Columbus celebrating Sean's Law School Graduation! 

Celebrating Father's Day with the BEST DAD EVER!!!

If you haven't been to Tremont Tap House on a Tuesday, it's a must go! It's bring your doggy day on the patio! Our friend Mary Jo brought a litter of puppies that she recently fostered and they were a huge hit! Here's one little guy just hanging out with us as we enjoy some delicious food and brews.

Summer time means breaking out the mini-bike for some fun! Mike felt like a kid again!

Yes, this is still the mini-bike. Our friend Tricia is mini too, lol. 

Surprise date night dinner @ Pier W! Isn't he the best?!

Gorgeous views of the Cleveland skyline!

I tried my first oyster! They were delicious!

Crab cakes appetizer

Fried Perch on top of a risotto

Simply prepared Halibut and veggies--YUM

Nautical decor inside was pretty cool

He's so thoughtful :) We love date nights!

We've spent lots of time with family this summer with all of the summer birthday parties! Here's a kodak moment with Bryan and little Scottie! Scottie loves to RUN! So this is a rare moment to catch! lol

Another one from 4th of July Fireworks:)

Just a little cuddle time

Dad came to visit us for the day and we got to hit a bucket of balls together at the driving range. Believe it or not, only a couple hours before this a tornado came through our area! 

There's something so relaxing about being at the pool....

Oh and our little Tiger. Tiger turned 18 this past April. He has definitely slowed down and loves to sleep and lay in the sun. We are treasuring our days with him as we know they are numbered.

Days 5 and 6: Voting and Prayers

While I'm definitely thinking about what I'm thankful for day-to-day, it does appear to be challenging to write about it every single day especially during busy weeks like this one! So today will be for yesterday and today. Going ahead, I may not post every day, but I will surely cover all 30 days when I do!

Gosh, as if everyone everywhere wasn't talking about voting anyways...I have to go ahead and add it to this too. This is the dialogue that is going on in my mind right now, but the truth is that this blog is a record of my life, something my family and I can look back to and say...oh yeah! I remember that! So yes, I am talking about voting.

Don't worry, I'm not going to make this yet another political rant. Instead, I just want to say that I'm thankful for the opportunity to cast my vote. I'm thankful that we live in a time and in a country where I can voice my opinion and have my voice somewhat heard via casting my ballot. I think we, as a society, lose site of this. We most likely forget about this sentiment because during this campaign time, so much hostility surfaces. It's actually saddening to see so many unproductive arguments take place due to differing opinions. Don't get me wrong--I feel strongly about my voting choices and the political candidates and issues I vote for; however, I also feel strongly about the ability to carry on conversations with people who have differing opinions without being offensive, abrasive, or breaking relationship ties. Having the ability to listen and carry on dialogue doesn't mean that you are allowing people to change your mind. To me it means that I'm acknowledging the fact that we are different, but that I still have a larger obligation to love and care for people regardless.

I am thankful for living in a nation that I can vote. It's liberating! I actually get excited to go to the polls, greet the same lovely ladies who check my name off and hand me my ballot every year. It's kind of cool to stand at your little booth and work your way through the complex language of the ballot issues. I love that when I am finished with my ballot, it's always the same cute, old man who instructs me to tear off the bottom tabs and insert my ballot into the scanner one at a time. Oh and then we get the sticker! Can't forget about the very cool, fashionista sticker that I get to sport for the rest of the day! Then I get to oogle over the baked goods for the PTA bake sale and make my donation in exchange for some delicious home baked goods! Yumm!

So after all of these descriptions, I bet you're wanting to know our personal choices for voting day....Well, Bryan got chocolate covered pretzels. I got peanut butter cookies with the peanut butter cups in the middle. :) Haha

Moving on...

I am also thankful for prayers. We are so blessed to have so many prayer warriors amongst our family and friends. Whenever we are in need it is so nice to know that we have been blessed with people who are willing to appeal to God on our behalf right alongside us. When we are feeling down and out, we have people who are constantly keeping us lifted up in prayer. Like I've said in past posts, I just love Matthew 18: 19, 20. There is something so special about a community of believers praying together! Joining in purpose to pray! You all know about our number one prayer request right now (babies) and I'm just so thankful to know that so many of my family and friends have reached out to me to let me know that they're praying. I believe the Bible to be the living truth and so I know that God hears our prayers based on His promise in Matthew 18:19, 20. So to all of my praying warriors: Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Being a Hostess of the Mostess

Party, Party, Party! Birthday parties, Holiday parties, Dinner dates, Social Gatherings, Book Club, Bible Study...these are just a few of the hosting opportunities we have on a regular basis. Bryan and I love to host. We enjoy bringing people into our home and eating good food, spending time with people, and Bryan loves serving up his latest concoction from his home brewery or his homemade wine. We hosted my Grandma and Dad's birthday party last night, so this is my reflection and also my preparation for our next big event: hosting our first Thanksgiving dinner!

 I am truly blessed, because I would like to think that I've learned a few good tips from the best of the best when it comes to hostessing. First, my mother. My mom has held all the family parties and thrown many parties for my friends and I growing up. She is known in our family for being the hostest of the mostest. Every one who has attended one of her parties would say she always has the best! If she is throwing the party, then you know the food will be plentiful and there will be fun for all. Some of my favorites are the bonfire party she threw for one of my birthdays in highschool. We had a bonfire, lots of food, and my dad got out some minibikes and let people ride them (until one of my friends wrecked one). It was awesome. Or the time when I was in college and my mom had totally fooled me with a surprise birthday party; she loves surprise parties. Or our last joint birthday party where she took stock of all of our favorite foods and was able to represent every one of them! haha. It was great. My mom is always working so hard to take care of her guests and make sure everyone is comfortable, having fun, and nice and full!

Second, my mother-in-law, Roseanne, is also a wonderful hostess. She's extremely efficient! She plans out her menu well in advanced. She makes what she can ahead of time. She will always make sure that the food is ready to go on time. This is probably why Bryan gets so frustrated with me when I'm running late (which is embarrassingly often), because he grew up with a mom who is habitually on time if not early. My mother-in-law also has the superhero ability to have her house party ready at all times in that it is always spick and span! I REALLY try to live this out, but let's get real folks...most of us have to do some special party cleaning, right? Since she does all of her planning and is so efficient, she's really able to relax and have fun with everyone at the party.

                                                                 
Last but not least, my other mother-in-law, Karen, is a wonderful hostess. For those of you who don't know, Bryan has 3 siblings and then 5 step-siblings. Most of them are married, some of them have kids, and then there are boyfriends/girlfriends. The point being is that our family is HUGE! Karen is able to cool, calm, and collectively organize and pull off many family events. It is so much fun to be a part of a family with so many of us around the same age. Karen is quite the multi-tasker and such a hard worker.

All of these women are amazing to me. I am so blessed to have grown up with such an amazing mom, who taught me so many things. Now, God continues to bless me with more strong, hospitable, and loving women. The only lesson I can gather from that is that God desires me to have these qualities too! He certainly has provided me many examples!

Now that you know where I'm coming from, let me leave you with a few Hostess of the Mostess tips of my own:

1. Plan ahead! For everything! Let your guests know well in advanced of when the party is, even if it's immediate family. They have lives too ya know. Plan your menu, your cleaning schedule, you name it- plan it! It'll make for a less stressful day.

2. Let people know how they can help! I'm not always super good at this one, because sometimes I try to be superwoman (and I'm obviously not) but often times people are happy to help! So let them!

3. Try to make what you can ahead of time and store in fridge AND plan out your serving dishes too! Have them cleaned out and ready to use, so that you don't have to take too much time plating foods.

4. Don't forget about the kids! I have a box of kids books at my house, because I love books and I'm super excited to have kids one day (hopefully soon). Until then, they're great for entertaining the little ones.  Small toys or coloring books etc. can be picked up at the dollar store too!

5. Don't stress out! Your guests will have more fun, if you're having fun! Be hospitable, be loving, be kind. Proverbs 31 talks about this type of woman. I would say God desires us to be a hard-working, hospitable, kind, and loving hostess of the mostest.

Your turn! Do any of you out there have any fabulous tips to pulling off a successful event that you host?