DREAM SUMMER

I live in Kansas City. It's hot. It's humid.

I think if you look up Kansas City in the dictionary, that's the definition.

I've lived here all my life and I hate Kansas City summers with a passion.

Yet I still live here.

I dream of spending my summers in other places.

I dream of places like this:

Beautiful blue water...

Palm trees...

Spectacular views...

Peacefulness...

And what do they all have in common besides water, palm trees, and views?

A place to sit and relax.

I can just feel the sun on my skin and a pretty pink drink with an umbrella in my hand.

Oh how I love to dream.

FAVORITE LUNCH

My all-time favorite lunch ever since I was a kid has been grilled cheese and tomato soup. It's the favorite lunch for both of my children.

We like to have it for dinner too. It's quick and easy.


I don't like my tomato soup made with water, though. I prefer to use milk and butter. I prefer to use Campbell's Tomato Soup but the off name brand will do in a pinch.

The milk and butter make for a creamier soup. Thicker.


I use plain sandwich bread for my grilled cheese. I don't like the thick Texas toast versions. I butter the bread and place it on the hot pan. Then I add the slices of cheese. Then the second piece of buttered bread. I give you this information because when I first met my husband, he melted the butter in the pan and put the bread on the buttered pan. That's just wrong. I've trained him better since then. The result is so much better if the butter is on the bread first. Trust me.


I also prefer to use 2 cheeses: American and Provolone. Not only does it make for an excellent flavor, but the color combination is simply beautiful.


And lastly, the proper way to eat grilled cheese and tomato soup is to dip the sandwich into the soup. Ah, it's just yummier that way.


So I hope I've succeeded in making you sufficiently hungry for some grilled cheese and tomato soup. Make some soon. Let the kids help. They're really good at buttering the bread. And they'll have fun eating it, too.

Subnote on this post: The Teenager got on to me for using my cell phone for the pictures. I know, my camera would have been much better but I was lazy. The cell phone was handier. I told him if he'd get out of bed before 3 in the afternoon, he could have taken them for me. So on behalf of The Teenager, I apologize for the lackluster photos.

RENEWED LOVE

A few weeks ago, we had some friends over for our usual Saturday night fun night.

I had the taste for spaghetti and meatballs so I made some along with a new recipe that I had wanted to try: herbed olive oil.


I first tried the dipping olive oil at an Italian restaurant that Daddeee took me to for our anniversary. It was yummy.

So I attempted it on that Saturday night. My attempt wasn't as good as theirs but I discovered a bread that I really liked.

Mind you, I'm not a huge bread person. Too many carbs and all, you know.

But that bread was amazing.


It was a simple French baguette. I know, I served a French bread with Italian food. So wrong but I don't care. I'm a rebel.

The bread was just perfect without the oil. I spread a little butter on each small slice and it was the perfect size for a few bites. (We had it again last night with our steaks and baked potatoes for Father's day.)

So my new bread obsession took me in another direction this past Saturday.

Years ago, there was a deli near the City Market called LaSala's. They made the most amazing sub sandwiches.

The Poor Boy was my favorite. Slice off the size of sandwich that you think you can handle and munch away!

Even though their website still exists, sadly the deli does not.

So we decided to make our own. Not quite a LaSala's sandwich but we enjoyed them just as much.

All that bread! It was so good. So filling!

I've found a renewed love for an old friend.

FATHER'S DAY

I have two fathers that I would like to wish a Happy Father's Day to today.

One of them I get to spend every day with. The other I miss dearly.

My husband, Tim, is an amazing father. I couldn't have chosen a better man to spend my life with. We've been through many hard times yet with humor and love, we come out smiling.


You've assisted me with raising 2 of the most amazing sons we could have ever asked for. I know that you and The Teenager have had your issues but I know that it's only because he is so much like you. That just means he's going to grow up to be an amazing man like his dad.

The other father that I would love to wish a Happy Father's Day is my dad, Joe. I wish I could give him a hug and go out to dinner with him like we used to and watch tv shows with him.

He's been gone this year for 21 years (in August). That means that I have now lived more of my life without him than I did with him. It's a melancholy thought but it's weighing on me really hard this year. I think I've missed him more this year than almost any other year in the past.

He was an awesome father and I would like for him to see my boys because I know he would absolutely adore both of them (especially The Kid and their mutual love for guacamole!)

And to all of the other fathers out there, enjoy your day today.

Bobby, Joe B., Jason R., and N8: Happy Father's Day to you all!

YOU DESERVE A COOKIE

You deserve a cookie.


Maybe you've finished a project at work, or planted a garden. Maybe you've volunteered your time or folded the laundry. Maybe you've swum laps.

Or maybe you don't really think you've done much of anything. Maybe you're feeling blue. Maybe you wonder why you're not more productive or more generous or kinder or smarter or prettier or, I don't know, better somehow. Maybe you focus so much on others' achievements that you never, ever, ever take the time to look back and reflect on how far you've come.

But you have come far. I don't know where you started or where you're going or even who you are, but we all go from point A to point B and along our way there are infinite small victories and accomplishments and milestones, some so small they pass by in a blip and we don't even see them. We don't. I don't. We see countless successes in others, clear as day, but so very few in ourselves.

So stop. Just stop. Take a quiet minute. Think about your week.

Did you pack a lunchbox?

Mow a lawn?

Smile at a stranger?

Did you practice a skill?

Tidy a closet?

Go for a run?

Did you do a good job on something? Anything?

Did you?

I'm guessing you did. And there won't be a parade. There won't be confetti. There won't be a thank you note or a raise or a grateful pat on the back. But that doesn't mean it didn't happen. And that doesn't mean it didn't matter.

It mattered.

Have a cookie.

You deserve it.

FAVORITE SOUNDS

Yesterday at work, I overheard one of my all time favorite sounds from across the cubicle wall.

I thought I'd share that sound with you and see if it's one of your favorites too.

Turn your sound up. It's better to hear it really well.

What do you think? It is an amazing sound. I'll bet as soon as you heard it you knew exactly what it was.

Are you thirsty now?

MEMORIES

This old post was brought to my attention today. I had completely forgotten about this video and I laughed so hard to had to share it again.

This was back when The Kid was 3 years old.

He's a rockstar...truly!




Oh hey, leave me a comment if you thought this was good. Or didn't think it was good. Either way, leave me some love!

HOW I LOVE MY BED

I really do love my bed. I dreamed about it all day today at work.

I thought about snuggling up under the covers with the fan blowing on me. I could imagine my hand underneath my pillow propping it up in just the right way.

I'm a tummy sleeper and I like to hug my pillow.

I'd show you a picture of my bed but my bedroom is a mess right now with laundry that has been folded but needs to be put away.

Plus, The Kid threw up spaghettios on my good comforter a while back and I've never been able to get the stain out so I'm using an old comforter.

I can dream though.

I'd like for my bedroom to look like this:
My stained comforter looked a lot like that except different colors.

I like this one too. I also adore the style of the bed and how nice and neatly the bed has been made. My bed doesn't get made very often since someone is still in it when I get up in the morning.

Isn't that armoire just to die for?

For years, Daddeee and I have talked about getting twin beds, mainly because he's a burrito sleeper.

In case you don't know, a burrito sleeper is someone that throughout the course of the night rolls their body up in the covers. By doing so, they rob the covers from their bed mate.

I rarely sleep with covers because of this.

I ran across this idea while searching for dream beds:

I think it's a spectacular idea! This could possibly be my next bed.

MEET JAX

This is Jax. We adopted him from Animal Haven. For the entire month of June, they are waiving the adoption fee for any cat over the age of 6 months. You should go and take a look at all the cute, adorable cats in need of homes. I'd have brought home every one of them if I had the space.

Jax is a very laid back 5 year old domestic. He weighs in at a hefty 14.4 lbs! He's neutered and declawed. When I picked him up from his perch at the shelter and he fell into my arms like a ragdoll, I knew he would fit right in with my family.

He could care less if you touch him, pick him up, cuddle him, or pet him. He's already baring his belly for me to brush.

And he's taken over my bed. He thinks he owns it.

Jax has the most adorable face too. He looks like he's a black cat but really he's a very deep brown.

We don't see it much because he's asleep most of the day but he has gorgeous yellow-green eyes.



I guess my little photo shoot is over. He's turned his back and brought out the flagpole!

By the way, for those that voted in the facebook pole, the name Jasper won but Daddeee pulled rank and chose Jax for his name. (He's such a Sons of Anarchy fan!) Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote with us.

YIPPEE!

Look what I got in the mail:


According the Steamy Kitchen Store, I was supposed to get them 6/8 but instead, they came 6/2...speedy service!

I'm so excited to use them. They're in the dishwasher now but they'll be gracing my dinner table this weekend!

If you don't remember why I'm so excited about this, you can read about it here.