Greek party, Opa!

In honor of Angela's birthday, a professor of Classics we threw a Greek party! Opa!

It was so much fun to whip up the food and learn a thing or two about Greece, I love parties!

Custom designed invite from evite

Greek themed decorations

I actually put the Birthday girl to work and begged for her spanokopita recipe, it was so therapeutic and fun to make together.

If you can't get to Greece anytime soon like me, this is one way to experience their culture, through food!

My labor of love, baklava

Party tips:

-enlist help

-make as many things as possible ahead of time so you can enjoy yourself

-buy some items at the grocery store {picked up the hummus, grape leaves, and falafel from a greek cafe}

-ask people to bring something specific

-go with a theme, makes decorating and food a no brainer

-paper party-ware = easy clean up

-use what you got, made the signs from wrapping paper and ribbon from the closet

-go casual buffet style, makes everyone relax

-have fun, its a party!

Stay tuned for Gideon's "A very hungry caterpillar party" and to see my indian soiree from last year go here!

Friday Favorites: Summer chic

The heat is on, but I'm still enjoying all the light, heat, and fun summer brings!

Water and balloons who knew they'd be so happy together! via audreyhepburncomplex

Perfect mix of an office, love that print via shelter

How ridiculously cute are these summer girls? via neotradionalist

This says so summery and dreamy to me via the decorista

Emily is the definition of summer chic as she models for planet blue, check our more at her blog

Other goodies:

Can't get over this 4th of July party

Numbers really don't matter to God

My favorite verse of the week (message version)

"You did it you changed my wild lament into whirling dance;

You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers.

I'm about to burst with song; I can't keep quiet about you.

God my God, I can't thank you enough." Psalm 30:11

Happy Summery weekend!

Mango Sticky Rice

This is my favorite dessert hands down, originating from Thailand. Coconut milk added to rice plus the tart sweetness of mangoes, divine.

Lily of the Valley

image here

Oddly enough lilies of the valley have made some frequent welcomed appearances in my life lately! They actually lined the church aisles on our wedding day, their wedding bell shape and biblical meaning stole my heart. Then last week Blair from delight by design featured them on wallpaper, be still my heart. But the cherry on top happened in Church this past 4th of July when the 4th stanza of Glory Glory Hallelujah rolled around proclaiming, "In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea"!!! I did some research and came across this beautiful excerpt regarding Christ as the lily of the valley:

"A lily, according to the ancient writer Pliny, is the tallest of flowers and yet hangs its head down. This a beautiful picture of the greatness of the Son of God matched only by the greatness of His humility. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:6-8).

via learnthebible

Happy Wednesday!

A nod to Jcrew

On my hunt for the ever elusive iphone 4, my two hour trek to apple store left me empty-handed. So in efforts to make my trip worthwhile, I hit up the Jcrew store and found this hat!

Our fourth

We had a reunion of sorts with our sweet friends and essentially a playdate for the entire weekend. Italian food, cupcakes, old stories, lots of laughter, and fireworks to top it all off. Truly, one of our best fourths ever!

Annie and Gideon are six weeks apart, both born in Okinawa Japan which pretty much bonds them for life!

Impromptu fishing at the park!

I literally fell head over heals for this sweet peanut.

Happy Fourth & giveaway winner!

I like the old fashioned idea of pulling a name out of a hat!

Nadine-please shoot me an email with your address! Congrats!

image here

Happy Fourth of July!!! We'll be lighting off sparklers, listening to music at the park, and catching up with old friends!

35mm lens

Here are some random images around the house captured with my new 35mm lens. I wanted something that could do both near and far and this lens nails it!

Captures great food shots!

An entire room shot pardon my unfinished dining room, still working on those roman shades!

Laura's new toy!

Great up close.

Learned about it first on pioneer woman.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway, today is the last day, go here!

Noodles & company

After gymnastics on Saturday Gideon and I decided to feed our inner Italian and tried out Noodles and company. Its a franchise that started in Boulder Colorado, their motto: "everything made fresh to order", yummy. I gobbled down my Lemon asparagus linguine in no time flat as did Gideon with his wisconsin cheddar mac n cheese. I could never be carb free, its anti-Italian, against my blood.

Our noodle happy grins.

LOVE their graphic design sign, cute noodle car!

This wall talked about food balance, hallelujah America needs this.

Lemon asparagus linguine with sugar snap peas, basil, mushrooms, feta, and tofu.

We'll be back! By the way, I snapped all these pictures on my iphone and amped them up with Tilt shift generator app! (How did I ever survive without my iphone?)

Pedaling Designs giveaway

My dear friend Rebecca of Pedaling designs has designed this oh so awesome poster for me! That's right she does custom designs of anything your lil heart desires. I chose "Love is kind" because it's our family mantra due to the rough and tumble nature of Gideon!

I just LOVE how the poster came out, note the chevron detailing in the V and N!

Now for the giveaway: I'm giving away one set of Rebecca's amazing notecards. The purpose is twofold: get to know readers and thank you for all your support! So please become a follower (click "follower" button on sidebar) then to enter the giveaway leave a comment letting me know which notecard sets your heart aflutter!

Giveaway will be open all week and winner announced Friday.

Washi (Japanese style)

Polka dots

Graphie

Oh Happy Day

I own this set and have used it on several occasions, its so versatile!

Do check out her site she also features custom posters and children's notecards, super cute.

Favorites Friday: Shine

The temperature has really turned up here in Virginia. The sun is the star of some beautiful images this week in blogland. I just love the Light.

"When Jesus spoke to the people again He said, 'I am the light of the world, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'

John 8:12

So pretty and summery via elle

Great poster via modernverses

Love the great light in this room and its eclectic mix via coco+kelley

Gideon and I call these blowies via audreyhepburn

Also of note

Seleta's foyer before and after

I love these clogs

Fell in love with this song when we visited Australia

Learning how to take a rest step

Have a happy weekend and shine like the Son!