Nothing would be more tiresome than eating and drinking if God had not made them a pleasure as well as a necessity.
Voltaire

On Tuesday night I joined some of my favorite St. Louis people, my Tri Delta alum friends, at our local Schnucks grocery store for a cooking class. This is a newest Schnucks location and the one I shop at regularly. The store itself is beautiful and the fun part is that they have a great cooking school too!

The class we signed up for was themed around yummy things for summer parties. We had two chefs helping us and teaching neat tricks but we paired off and cooked everything ourselves. They had every kitchen tool and appliance under the sun so I was in heaven!

For the cost of a dinner out that we would have done anyway, it was such a great way to spend time with friends, learn some new stuff but also enjoy a great food that we made.

With Sarah, my dessert-making partner.

Susan and Katie manned the chicken wings.

Along with Kara they rocked it!

Our gorgeous Pina Colada Trifle (definitely the best thing made if I do say so myself!)

Poached shrimp with a variety of dipping sauces.

Our brilliant creation!

It's not the men in my life, it's the life in my men.

Mae West

Happy 31st birthday to my smart, funny, handsome,
ambitious and downright darling husband!

Education is the best provision for old age.

Aristotle

Nine years ago today I graduated from high school.

I know that many, many people have graduated many, many years ago more than that but to me it feels old.

It feels like that was another lifetime ago. Like, shouldn't I be retired by now? Seriously. I'm exhausted.

Oh well, I'm glad to be at this point in my life now. My old soul is much happier as a 27 1/2 year old than as an 18 year old.

So in honor of the anniversary of my high school graduation-ness, I wore the bracelet that my parents gave me that day. I still love it but have since upgraded to a bigger version.

[Funny how the older I get, the larger my jewelry has become. Chunkier watches, bigger necklaces and bracelets, larger pearls and diamonds. Dear Lord, what I will be wearing fifty years from now?! Nick is in serious trouble.]

But I digress.

It has a charm with my monogram on one side and May 25, 2001 engraved on the other. So on this May 25, 2010 I think it is only appropriate to wear today!

...and I could tell it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
Alexander, The Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day

Yesterday was seriously the longest day ever.

I started off the morning with a few errands and ended up stranded in front of Einstein Bros. Bagels for 2 hours until my car decided that it would start.

Then after grocery shopping, I spent another 2 and a half hours in the sweltering parking lot with a car that wouldn't start. Needless to say my ice cream melted, I had to miss my afternoon visit to Angie and my car is now being checked out at the mechanic. Boo.

Hmmm... what will it be this time? Nick's bet is on the alternator, I say perhaps an issue with the battery. Either way, I'd just appreciate a car that turns on and if that could happen for less than $500. Okay, less than $200 would be better.

Thankfully, I did get groceries, albeit slightly gooey and warm by the time they made it home, so Nick and I enjoyed a delicious dinner: grilled pork tenderloin with a peppercorn marinade, grilled corn on the cob and a big fresh salad. We've been hit or miss lately (and also doing a few too many "every man for himself" these past weeks) so it was great to have a home run last night.

Hungry husband is excited.

Yum. Delicious end to a crappy day.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• Nick is madras shorts.
• finishing my first year as an active member in Junior League.
• New Town in St. Charles - so quaint (and totally like The Truman Show!).
• first outdoor dinner of the summer at Amigo's.
• one week until the neighborhood pool opens!
  

The theatre is a spiritual and social X-ray of its time.
Stella Adler

Thanks to our boss, Melissa and I enjoyed a rainy afternoon at the Fox Theatre to see Young Frankenstein. I'm not a Mel Brooks fan, really, but the show was just darling. So clever and with great dancing numbers. I loved it!

Before the show, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at The Fountain on Locust. I've always heard of this place and this was the perfect chance to try it out.

Beautiful Art Deco design with an old-fashioned ice cream fountain.

I loved the girls on the walls with their lights.

I just wanted a taste so I ordered the "World's Smallest Hot Fudge Sundae." Yummy and so cute.

Outside the fabulous Fox Theatre.

At aur seats in the Fox Club - great show!

...and I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves,
and satin sandals, and say we've no money for butter.
Jenny Joseph

A while back I won a giveaway on Jillian Inc. for a $20 Target gift card. I promised myself I'd get one cute thing, not waste it away on sunscreen, peanut butter and dryer sheets. I wanted a pair of new sandals so I snagged these plain white ones for just $15 (the extra $5 got me a cotton tank).

I toyed with the more bejeweled options but the matchy-matchy girl in my heart knew I'd wear the plain ones so much more.

Thanks Jill!

There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit.
Al Gallagher

One of the members at Nick's club dropped off Cardinals tickets so last night we were treated to a great game. The seats were amazing, right behind home plate.

Because you know what is better than excellent seats at a Cardinals game?

Free, excellent seats at a Cardinals game!

Walking up to Busch Stadium. With the recent rain we've had, the light was warm and beautiful as the sun set.

View from our great seats! We had a few fly balls come close but no luck catching them.

We won, go Cards!

I tell ya only the good die young.
Only the good die young...
Billy Joel

I found out last night that a friend of mine from college died unexpectedly yesterday morning. I hadn't been in touch with him recently but I have such fun, laugh-filled memories of my time with Kyle. Although we grew up in Sarasota together and was in grade school with his brother, I wasn't friends with him until college. My fondest memories were exploring Washington DC together during a Student Government conference trip.

It's weird because I cannot shake this sadness thinking of him over and over all day. Twenty-eight years old, young and full of life. Great golfer, big smile. Now gone.

Please pray for peace for his family.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• a big vase of pink peonies on my desk at work.
  
• the smell of citronella candles.
• homemade black bean and corn salsa.
• choreographed curtain calls in Broadway shows.
• finally read The Help - it was wonderful!
  

A flower's appeal is in its contradictions - so delicate in form yet strong in fragrance, so small in size yet big in beauty, so short in life yet long on effect.
Terri Guillemets

After a full year of my garden here in St. Louis, by far my favorite blooms are the two large peony bushes in the front yard. I've been waiting for them to "pop" and over the last few days they really did!

The blooms come and go pretty fast so I learned last year to just clip and enjoy them. This afternoon I cut a big bunch to take to the office so all of the ladies can have a bloom on their desk for some spring cheer.

Although there are a lot blooming now there are plenty of buds still ready to go. I always joke that I need to throw a big girl's baby shower in May because I could cover the house in fluffy pink flowers. I can't wait to enjoy them over the next weeks!

Peony bushes heavy with blooms

One of the big blooms, about twice the size of my hand

Vase of peonies ready to go to work in the morning

I think we're losing our sense of humor instead
of being able to relax and laugh at ourselves.
Betty White

Did you see Betty White on SNL last weekend?

Just was darling and funny! I think I really love her because that is how my mom is going to look in her 80s - it all the best ways possible, of course.

One of the skits that I loved was of my Florida hometown - CSI: Sarasota.

Funny because it is true - golf carts and all! (excuse the random foreign language TV!)

Gardens always mean something else,

man absolutely uses one thing to say another.
Robert Harbison

One of our favorite parts about Williamsburg were the beautiful gardens. All over the historical area were gardens behind homes, next to churches and along the street. They weren't formal gardens but instead more natural plantings with native flowers and vegetables. All of the gardens were trimmed with old fashioned borders and fencing with little paths throughout.

The highest happiness on earth is marriage.
William Lyon Phelps

This past weekend, my mom and I met up in Williamsburg, Virginia for the marriage of her oldest friend's daughter. It was a lovely wedding with a lot of fun stuff to see in Williamsburg and plenty of planned activities.

In front of our hotel, the Williamsburg Lodge

My new husband.

Horse and carriage on the street.

One of the beautiful gardens

Outside the Williamsburg Inn before the bridal tea.

With the bride-to-be and her mother.

I love Nicholas (also the name of our hotel wing)!

Fife and drum

New military "recruits"

Dinner at the King's Arms

The morning of the wedding I enjoyed the pool with a Mallard.

My one and only photo from the beautiful wedding at the Jamestown Memorial Church
(my camera battery died!).

At the Sunday brunch before we left.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.

G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• my wonderful mother!

Heaven give you many, many merry days.
William Shakespeare

I'm heading out of town this evening to meet my momma in Williamsburg, Virginia for the wedding of her oldest friend's daughter, Brittany. It will be a nice time to celebrate with them but also have a little vacation getaway in an interesting area.

The weekend bride-to-be, Brittany, with her mom, my momma and me at my wedding rehearsal dinner. They have been friends since they were in elementary school!

And talk about daughters looking like their mothers...

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another,
"What! You too? I thought I was the only one."
CS Lewis

On Friday, Ashley and CJ arrived for their St. Louis visit. Ashley has been here numerous times but this was a first visit for CJ so it was fun to show him all the great St. Louis stuff. They are so much fun and such great houseguests - so easy to have fun with and the appreciate new experiences too!

Heading to see Avenue Q at the Fox Theatre.

Soulard Farmers Market

Ted Drewes (CJ was really excited about it!).

Out to dinner with my"St. Louis friend" Melissa and her husband.

Busch Stadium to see the Cardinals play.

View from our great seats.

Go Cards!