Top Ten Favorite Things...End of June

Top Row:
1. Top Chef Masters is back- Go Bryan Voltaggio, but your albino, goat head, spiked hair sous chef really creeps me out!
2. Vacation time is finally here!!!!!!
3. Starting to look at real estate plans for the future
4. Blake enthralled with the Simpsons...that's my boy
5. The cuteness of Blake and Addie walking hand in hand

Bottom Row:
6. Made it through Blake's Bday without being on bedrest or in serious pain....Goal #1 accomplished
7. Getting Blake's big boy room ready
8. A fun, but exhausting, weekend with the family for Blake's bday
9. Seeing my adorable niece Josie and getting excited for her new cousin to arrive
10. Watching the food channel and having the Zesty Italian guy pop up from time to time

Blake's 2nd Bday Party

Thanks to everyone who came out to help celebrate Blake's 2nd bday.  So glad that the weather held out for us!  I love seeing all the kids enjoy playing together each year and I know that Blake had an amazing time, which is all I can ever ask for.

Blake's 2nd Bday - Favorite Decorations

A few pics of the decorations I made for Blake's fish/Nemo party.  Big thanks to my mom and dad for helping me get this all set up!

Happy 2nd Birthday Blake!!

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful little man in the world!  I could not have wished for a more loving, energetic, happy little guy to enter my world.  You bring a smile to everyone's day with your funny, one of a kind personality.  I feel so lucky to be your mom and getting to watch you change and grow every single day!

I will always love you to the moon and back!!

Top Ten Favorite Things.....End of May

Top Row:
1 - Came downstairs to find Honey Badger BBQ sauce...courtesy of Jon
2 - Starting to get things together for Blake's Bday - can you guess what the theme will be?
3 - First Crab Fest of the summer coming in July!!!
4 - Getting to watch Blake, Colin, and Z play really play together for the first time

Middle Row
5 - Blake's Farmer Day outfit
6 - Getting to share the news of Baby Boy Boehmke #2
7 - Blake's first baseball game
8 - Blake's first haircut....can't say enough how well behaved he was
9 - Been enjoying some good sleepy nights from the little man
10 - A great memorial day weekend at Mom and Dads

Top 5 BEST and WORST Housewives

To celebrate the return of the Real Housewives of NJ, and my inability to stop watching these damn shows!, enjoy my list of my favorite (and the most irritating) housewives of all time.....

TOP 5 BEST

	Lisa from RHOBH Queen Vanderpump will always reign supreme no matter what she does....throw in Ken, Giggy, and Brandy and she rules over the perfect Housewives kingdom.
	Bethany from RHONY I hold a special place in my heart for Bethany because I identify with her soooo much! Sarcastic, prone to putting their foot in their mouth, feelings of inferiority. Get it girl for making it to the top on your own! Laugh all the way to the bank.
	Kathy from RHONJ The most down to earth housewife ever and the only one you'd actually like to model your life after.....loving husband, respectful kids, great cook, able to not punch Theresa in the face...Class A woman.
	Heather from RHOC Just when I thought the OC was going completely off the rails, along comes sarcastic/smart Heather....bonus points for her absolutely GORGEOUS house.
	Yolanda from RHOBH My new favorite housewife....half of what she says leaves a big ? on your face...but the other half is so honest/direct (things that all housewives love to claim they are) that you can't help but respect her...plus - damn woman - you make me almost want to give the master cleanse a try.

TOP 5 WORST

	Teresa from RHONJ This one really needs no explanation - soooo deluded, sooooooo dumb, sooooooo much ugly fashion....please just kick her off!!
	Danielle from RHONJ I still can't get over Danielle....added nothing except headaches and awkward moments of terrible parenting....WHY do you make your 16 year old daughter go to her first OBGYN appointment on a TELEVISION SHOW!
	Alexis from RHOC Probably the dumbest of all the housewives I've ever seen.....the woman has no original thought in her brain or her ridiculously gigantic boobs. The self-righteousness, the blind support of her even dumber husband, the narcissism....thank god she's been relegated to the background this season. Nothing makes me happier then when Heather puts her in her place.
	Mikaela from RHODC I really didn't mind the DC franchise, except the glaring bleach blonde moron Mikaela and her con artist husband. Even leaving aside the "crashing the White House" fiasco, these two were just cringe-inducing every time they were onstage.
	The whole cast of Atlanta The most deluded/crazy/annoying bunch of housewives that EVER existed...and that is quite an accomplishment!

What's for dinner tonight......

I've been slowwwwly starting to get back into cooking some great dinners, in between the heartburn/nausea/exhaustion, but have been less successful at getting these up on the blog....so here's a few of my favorites from over the last few weeks!

Seared Scallops w/Bacon Vinaigrette and Sauteed Spinach

Grilled Shrimp Cobb Salad

Cornbread Salad (perfect compliment to spicy BBQ on hot summer days!)

Chicken w/Balsamic Shallot Sauce, Roasted Potatoes and Beets w/Jalapeno Cream

Top Ten Favorite Things...Week of May 12th

Top Row:
1) My Wallflowers from Bath & Body Works....best air fresheners I've ever used in lots and they come in lots of great/fresh spring scents
2) Spending a great Mother's day with my Boys!
3) Yummy Peanut Butter from the sandwich shop we used to go to in college
4) Getting time for a pedicure....in love with my new nail color
5) Giraffe bubbles with daddy....poor Jon got a little beat up this weekend by the little man

Bottom Row:
6) Impromptu playdate with Addie and Josie
7) Blake pretending to eat the grass like Cash
8) Fancy new spice racks to display my fancy Penzey's spices
9) Total girl crush on Shakira on The Voice....who else could rock a silver sequin jacket w/a wife beater and look this damn good?
10) Congrats to Jon on his new job...proud of you!

Sea Creatures Project Part I

I've started working on my first attempt a knit creature a few months ago, the little crab below, and got sidetracked many times.  But with Blake's bday coming up soon, I got a new burst of energy to finish my collection of these little guys to use for his party decorations.  Really surprised at how nice these are turning out so far!  Sharing the first three guys that are finished so far and will share the steps up to the finished product on party day!  Only 2 months to go!!

What's for Dinner.....Blush Mac & Cheese

Really easy, healthy, and tasty Mac and Cheese recipe with roasted cherry tomatoes and spinach.  Perfect weekday night dinner.  Too bad the little man wasn't feeling too good...toast and applesauce for him, but Jon and I enjoyed!

Top Ten Favorite Things...Week of May 5th

Top Row:
1) About 30 seconds after I took this picture the lambs jumped up to say hi and scared Blake to death...sad, but very cute
2) Surprise flowers from Eaphis after a loooong weekend
3) Michelle winning Project Runway.....I really want EVERYTHING in her final collection, especially this heart sweater

Middle Row:
4) NERD ALERT: New Nancy Drew Game...so good I'm already on the last puzzle
5) So proud of my two Broad Street Racers!
6) Blake loving his first pony ride

Bottom Row:
7) These perfect pancakes I discovered on Man vs. Food - they have bacon or sausage cooked in the batter, then they're topped with a fried egg and syrup....I Want to Go to There!
8) Super nerdy accomplishment...obtaining all of the Whack Boxes in the Simpsons Tapped Out...now please get these snakes out of my town
9) Got Jon to admit that Chopped is a pretty intense show
10) Off to Long Island this weekend...will miss my boys but looking forward at spending time w/my LI friends

Top Ten Favorite Things - February

Top Row:
1- Blake's Simpsons/Thomas hybrid Valentines Day shirt
2- Birthday dinner for Brian and getting to spend time with the best little neice
3- Whenever I can make this scenario happen in my Springfield
4- Blake's enthusiasm to take a bath each night

Middle Row:
5- Amish Pickles from the Famer's Market...super spicy but soooo good
6- This Awesome Oscar poster that DJ Mike shared with me...test your knowledge of Best Pictures
7- Valentines present from Jon - book of one of my favorite painters

Bottom Row:
8- First dress from Rent the Runway for our grown up Valentines Day dinner
9- Smoked tuna tacos from Alma de Cuba.....I could eat a dozen of these every day
10- New dress and shoes from Target's Prabal Gurung collection...is it Spring yet?