red white and blue

4th of july is just around the corner! any plans yet? we’re hosting a little bbq and debating a menu of the classics-burgers and dogs- vs. this party idea. decisions, decisions!

whether you’re hosting a party or just kicking it in your own backyard, here are a few festive ideas to get you in the mood for red white and blue…

sparklers for the kiddos (and adults too!)

a diy hotdog bar. brilliant!

summery cocktails are a must

or perhaps punch ?

these bbq recipes would be great to serve at a party…or to take to a potluck!

salt and vinegar . need i say more?

and, of course, no 4th of july is complete without pie! cherry, preferably.

let the celebrations begin!

xk

scenes from mexico

after a week of sunshine and beach lounging we’re finally back from mexico! we had such a wonderful trip. how is it that the best vacations, the ones where you really just do nothing at all, always fly by in a flash?! true to form, this particular trip was over in a blink. we closed ourselves into a lovely little all-inclusive number on monday evening and didn’t emerge from our beachy cocoon for six whole days! lazy mornings of coffee and pastries blended seamlessly into afternoon sandcastles, swims and picnic lunches on the beach. Q blasted superheroes in the waves while ben and i read books (of the old-fashioned paper persuasion) under big billowy palms. as far as activities go, there was, of course, a daily ice cream run or two, margaritas cabana side, and an ocassional stroll along the beach. and, thanks to baba and gido, a few romantic dinners just for two. truth: traveling with grandparents is the absolute best!

no phones, no computers. just sunshine, ocean, food and family. it was absolute perfection.

here are a few of my favorites from our week…

bon voyage!

there’s just nothing better than getting all packed up for a big trip…

see you all next week!

xk

have a fantastic weekend

soooooooo, we’re finally headed to sunny mexico this weekend! woohoo! it has been a crazy first year of residency and we’re beyond excited to celebrate one year completed, not to mention the ‘passing with flying colors’ of step three! yay Ben!! but above all, we’re really just looking forward to spending some quality family time sipping fruity cocktails and lounging about! no schedule, no plans. hooray for vacation!

i’m looking forward to sharing beachy pics from our trip next week. until then, here’s a bit of this and that to help while away those wee friday afternoon hours…

how to eat like a local in paris

doesn’t this look like such a romantic way to travel?

obsessed with this dress

and this one too !

great diy beauty products

bananas !

the perfect summery dessert

hope you all have a truly fabulous weekend!

xk

photo via pinterest

what’s cookin: tarragon chicken salad with pecans

i’m super excited to announce a new series i’m calling ‘what’s cookin’! each week i’ll be posting favorite family dinner recipes that are easy and (hopefully) kid-approved. i’m going to kick off this week’s post with one of our go-to summer dishes: tarragon chicken salad! this dish is bright and summery with lots of fresh tarragon, french mustard and a handful of red grapes for just a touch of sweetness. light, refreshing and easy enough to toss together for a quick weeknight meal!

tarragon chicken salad with pecans

1 hearty bunch of fresh tarragon, chopped
1 tablespoon or two of good french mustard
1/4 cup of mayo (more or less to taste)
1 tablespoon chopped red onion
1 lemon
3-4 chicken breasts, marinated and grilled
1-2 bunches of red grapes, halved (or you can substitute dried cranberries for a sweeter salad)
1/2 cup of toasted pecans
simple greens dressed with oil and red wine vinegar
salt and pepper

combine tarragon, mayo, mustard and onion in a large bowl and set aside. in a separate bowl, combine chicken with fresh lemon, olive oil and season with salt and pepper, let marinate for as long as possible (if you’re short on time just a few minutes will do the trick).

grill chicken breasts, about 5-6 minutes per side or to 160 degrees, depending on size. once cooked, cover and let sit for a bit.

once chicken has cooled slightly, cube into bite-sized pieces and toss with the mayo/ tarragon mixture. add in grapes and pecans. toss again. season with salt and pepper and adjust favors to taste. serve chicken salad over dressed greens and top with more pecans.

enjoy!

xk

photo from our dinner table last week!

it’s papa’s day!

happy father’s day to all those great dads out there! we’re enjoying a wonderfully lazy weekend here in palm springs. we’ve snuggled up with loads of family movies, had an impromptu water fight or two, treated our papa to some delicious dim sum, and, of course, dug a few giant holes! hope you are all indulging in a healthy dose of family time with the dudes you love.

we sure do love our guy! hooray for dads!

xk

sweet dreams

great news for sleepers…

as it turns out, some of the worlds greatest thinkers got in a full 8 hours of shut eye every night!

check out the full article here

i don’t know about you, but i’m feeling pretty good about that nap i took today.

happy snoozing!

xk

white out

we were headed out for dinner the other night and was running a bit late(of course). i started rummaging through my drawers for a fresh, pregnancy-friendly outfit, which is getting harder and harder to come by in my closet, when i happened upon the simplest combination…

white on white!

i threw on a fitted white tank and some distressed white jean shorts and, voilà! i felt instantly refreshed! the bright whites looked great against my early summer tan and, surprisingly, the light monochrome effect made my growing bump feel quite elegant and refined. i finished the look with a bright green head scarf and a dab of coral lipstick and raced out the door! i felt great all evening and i guess a few other folks thought so too since i received some lovely compliments from my husband, toddler, and a few random strangers to boot! and, major bonus: i somehow managed to avoid spilling any of the bbq sauce from my massive burger on myself!

it was truly an amazing night.

looking to give white on white a whirl? here are a few looks i can’t wait to try next…

and this suit? incredible.

happy shopping!

xk

photos via pinterest

party in a pot

i was wandering through some of my favorite food sites when i ran across this brilliant bon appétit idea from 2011…

a summer clam bake party!

all you need is a giant pot full of delicious seafood, a bunch of old newspapers for a tablecloth, and a group of hungry friends ready to work a bit for their dinner! yum! seems to me like the perfect party idea for the 4th of july!

i’d add in a few fun cocktails, perhaps something light and summery to sweeten the deal and, of course, s’mores for dessert!

what do you think? would you join us for clams in july?

xk

photos via pinterest

have a wonderful weekend

what are you up to this weekend? Q is spending the next few days with his grandparents-woohoo adult time! we’re headed to the ace for dinner tonight and then we’re planning to snuggle in with a pint of ice cream and this movie! i’m prettttttty excited!

looking forward to hanging with some great friends on saturday night and capping the weekend off on sunday with a dinner party celebrating the end of ben’s first year of residency! yow!

until then, just a bit of this and that…

champagne is always a great idea

cutie onesie

dreaming of tulum

lemon cake

also, these look ah-mazing!

hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

xk

photo of the ace hotel via pinterest