Red, White and Blue...

The fourth of July has always been a favorite holiday of mine. When I was little, we would go up to my grandmas (where fireworks were not only allowed but encouraged haha) and we would have a huge celebration. This year we decided to stick around and enjoy the fourth of July festivities here. Our neighborhood does a cute little parade which my kids loved (doesn't take much to please 'em I tell ya).

We then went over and enjoyed a day of swimming and BBQ'ing with family...and we even got to watch a firework show from my in laws backyard; which is always the perfect ending to this special holiday.

Probably more than any year I can remember, this holiday has really struck a chord with me this time around. I am not sure if it's just me getting older (that saying the older you grow the wiser you get...maybe is a true statement?!). Or maybe it's just that my kids are getting older, and watching them grow up has made me truly appreciate everything this country offers.  I am so, so grateful for it.

Here are a few photos of our little fourth of July celebration... chalk full of those iconic USA colors red, white and blue.

Strawberry Cheesecake Pops

We love strawberries and we love cheesecake...so this was a no brainer. I love doing things like this, where my girls can help me. They feel included and I feel like I'm not ignoring them while I do things like this. They went and checked the freezer about fifty million times before they were ready...I'd say they were pretty excited?!

These were so good, refreshing, and healthy! My kids didn't like the graham crackers, so they opted out of that part. I think I might make these, and take them to our fourth of July celebration; the colors are perfecto mundo! :-)

Ingredients:
1 (5 oz) can evaporated milk
1/4 cup sugar
3 oz 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup plain fat free greek yogurt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 TBS light colored corn syrup
1 teaspoon lemon juice
10 oz. strawberries, blended
1/4 cup graham cracker crumbs

Directions:
-combine milk and sugar in a saucepan, cook for 3 minutes over medium heat. Place cream cheese in a medium bowl; gradually add milk mixture, whisking until smooth. Stir in yogurt and vinailla. Cool completely.
- Put corn syrup, juice and berries in a blender; process until smooth. Then layer the cream cheese mixture among 6 (4 oz) ice pop molds; going from cream cheese to strawberry back to cream cheese.
- Freeze at least 4 hours. Unmold and dip tips in crumbs (if you want).

***some of my favorite molds are here, here and here

 ^^^brain freeze^^^

White Sand and Blue Skies...

Well hello there! It's been a while since I've blogged. My little family and I decided to take a spontaneous vacation last week and it was a much needed time away from all things obligatory and work related. I am finally getting back in the groove of things...tell me I'm not the only one who has vacation hangover when you get back to real life?!

We met up with my sister in laws and their families at the Gulf Shores in Alabama. Then we spent the last day and a half of the vacation in New Orleans (which I'll post about some time soon...) For now, this post is for all things beach related!

This was the first time Josh and I have taken our girls on an "extended" vacation (aka longer than a weekend) to a completely new place. I was hesitant at first because of the long flight, the unexpected sleeping arrangements and a million other things that only moms think about when thinking about taking their kids on vacation.

But when all was said and done, I am so glad we went! Yes it was a lot of work trekking to and fro with little ones in tote...and Yes, the flight was a bit brutal and LONG, and yes there were some nights where we didn't get much sleep...and yes we ate way too much fried food and my kids ate way too much crap for their own good; but I have to say, the people, the places, the experiences/memories and the time together most definitely outweighed the cons (cons like Sage peeing the hotel bed at 1 in the morning, and beach rashes up the wazoo, and ridiculous humidity that caused my body to sweat 24/7)

So may I just say if and when you get the chance to vacation with your whole fam damily... do it. Whatever it may be...camping, staycationing, sight seeing. Whether it's close or far...cheap or expensive---all that matters is that you're all together with no other distractions!

This beach was so different then ours in So. Cal...the sand was white powder filled with seashells and the water was about 75 degrees. There weren't too many waves and storms would roll in every once in a while...it was awesome.

Here are a few photos from the Gulf Shores. It was hard to narrow it down...which only means that there will be more posts to come, one of which includes one of my favorite restaurants of all time!

^^^not sure what happened here, but apparently she wasn't as amused as I was?!^^^

Coconut Mango Sticky Rice

WAIT! Ok, before you judge this delectable treat let me just say it was one of the most delicious things my taste buds have had in...a while!

I wish I could say I tried this for the first time while perusing the street markets in Bangkok...but instead it was at this mind blowing Thai food restaurant that our friends introduced us to. This place took Thai food to the next level; dare I say it has even become one of my favorites!

So back to the rice...It's warm, sweet and soaked in coconut milk. If that doesn't make you jump for joy...the soft mangos add a tangy and distinctive twist that'll have you coming back for thirds and maybe fourths. If it doesn't, well I guess we just can't be friends :-).

Here is the recipe (found below) and seriously don't judge it 'til you taste it...I promise it's a game changer. Plus, it's kind of nice to change it up in the dessert department?!

***This dessert is very popular among the Thai people where they take a lot of pride in the process; and cutting fruit is an art form. I have a new appreciation for anyone who can cut a mango and have it look pretty...I was having some mango cutting issues to say the least.

STICKY COCONUT MANGO RICE

1 1/2 cups uncooked short-grain white rice 2 cups water 1 1/2 cups coconut milk 1 cup white sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup coconut milk

1 tablespoon white sugar 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon tapioca starch 3 mangos, peeled and sliced

1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Combine the rice and water in a saucepan; bring to a boil; cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer until water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes.
2.	While the rice cooks, mix together 1 1/2 cups coconut milk, 1 cup sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil; remove from heat and set aside. Stir the cooked rice into the coconut milk mixture; cover. Allow to cool for 1 hour.
3.	Make a sauce by mixing together 1/2 cup coconut milk, 1 tablespoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and the tapioca starch in a saucepan; bring to a boil.
4.	Place the sticky rice on a serving dish. Arrange the mangos on top of the rice. Pour the sauce over the mangos and rice. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.

A Shower for Baby Girl Bryant

Baby showers are probably one of my favorite things! I mean it's right up there with Christmas, bubble gum, and traveling to exotic places...well, maybe not quite but still I really do love them!

My friend Lela and a couple of the sweetest, most amazingly talented ladies, got together and planned a shower for our glowing amiga Liz; who has two boys and is now having a third and it's a girl! :-)

So, with Lela's vision (she is a shower extrodinaire I tell ya) of white and gold with little angel wings in the mix...it turned out quite heavenly indeed! :-)

Congrats again Liz...oh I can't wait to meet her and like I always say girls are really the best (but, I don't really have anything else to compare it to *wink wink)

 ^^^you had to be there...but seriously Kristi the cheese stuffing...hilarious^^^

 ^^^this picture makes me so happy...^^^