what's cookin' this week

it's a short list this week.  one night we are going out to celebrate mymichael finishing up the spring sememster of his masters program.  and don't forget cinco de mayo on thursday!!!!  we are having a prairie hive meeting that night.  i'm doing the cilantro lime shrimp that is so easy and tasty.  can't decide on a dessert....baked fudge....or mom's new bread pudding recipe......

swiss steak with rice and salad

spicy stir-fried chicken & spinach

cilantro lime shrimp & rice w/ homemade gruacamole & salsa {cinco de mayo meeting with prairie hive gals}

have a great week!

in honor of...

The tiny wedding that took place today, I thought I would post some London photos from my trip last year. 

Buckingham Palace....

I think I could take up residence there....if I had to...how about you?

Prairie Hive.....a new project

{some of you readers have already received this....if so, just skip to the bottom!}

I am so excited to share with you a project that I have been working on for a few months - Prairie Hive!


A couple of months ago, we gathered a group of talented individuals from various creative fields - design, photography, writing, entertaining and crafting - and put our heads together to form this collaborative website. The first part of the project is our blog, which will include ideas for inspiration, design trends, local finds, DIY projects, fashion finds, entertaining ideas...and whatever else we decide to share! We have been posting for a couple of weeks now and have some great content up - and much, much more to come as we establish weekly features and get into the groove a little more.

We are also currently working on an online magazine that will spotlight local people with great homes and style each month. The magazine will also include entertaining ideas, a DIY project or two, and design ideas for easy, quick ways to transform a space. We are shooting these now (if only the weather would cooperate!) and plan to launch it May/June.

I would love for you to give us your feedback, make comments on the blog posts (please!) , and let us know what you think!

We would also love suggestions for content...new products you've seen, local shops/venues/events to check out, ideas for DIY projects, etc. We want to include both local and national/online finds and are open to new ideas (there are 6 of us, but we can't get out and see everything!)! In the future we may also bring on additional contributors and/or feature columns as we grow.

Learn more about the group at www.prairiehive.com/about and check out our blog at www.prairiehive.com/blog.

You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter.  Friend, follow, comment, like....etc!!

Here are some fun photos we attempted to take downtown on a very windy day!  Thank you to C.C. Miller Photography for helping out on our group shots!

Now, head on over to Prairie Hive for my post of the week.  It's part of our "Meet the Hive" series.

Thank you so much for your support and feedback!

dining table love

I was looking online at World Market and came across some dining tables that I love.  Let me share...

The Sophia Table

This green color is what does it for me.  Fabulous.  This would look great in a little kitchen knook nook {thanks sarah}!

The Jackson Table

This is a great industrial look.  Crate & Barrel has some metal chairs that I have been swooning over and these fall into that category as well.  The simplicity of the wood table top is great.

 The Sourav Table

While living in Dallas I drooled over this table everytime I went into a World Market.  It's hard to see in this photo, but the wood has a great "distressed" quality about it.  Nice to know it's still around!

I love that they have great looking furniture, made out of great materials, at an affordable price.  Now THAT is right up my alley!

World Market is one of those stores that has so many wonderful things.  These tables are just the tip of the iceberg, but I felt that I needed to share.  This weekend I will be in Dallas and will definitely be making a pit stop at World Market.  And I know I won't leave without a few packages of these....

Tim Tams.  I was introduced to these when i was in australia.  When i got home from australia i ordered these from Australia.  And then i found them at world market.  Oh yes.  And occasionally they will actually have them at Target as well.  I highly suggest you try them {not sure about the mint slice in the pic....never had those...but the original and chewy caramel are great}!



girls weekend at the lake

a couple weekends ago my book club had a girls lake weekend.  the wulf sisters {courtney, allison, & kristin} put us all up in their families beautiful lake house.  we had a great time relaxing, eating fabulous food, taking a boat ride around the lake, getting third degree sunburns, and being compeltely and utterly ridiculous.  it was great!

our boat chauffeur....please read his shirt!

the beautiful house...looking up from the dock

most of the girls....minus carissa and sarah l.  they had to skip out early.

{lindsay, kristin, allison, lauren, courtney, emily, me, sarah h.}

and what would a girls weekend be w/o a little single ladies action on the porch?  thank you lauren & kristin!

this was our second year and we had MUCH better weather this time around.  it was super fun and i can't wait for the next one.........fall maybe?

a spring wedding sneak

here are a few sneak photos for doug & sarah.  a beautiful yellow spring wedding!

congratulations!

florida, here we come!

that's right!  we are headed to florida the end of may and boy am i ready.  my youngest cousin, clay, joined the army in february.  he is graduating from boot camp at fort benning in georgia, so the family is headed down to see him.  but, on the way we are all making a *quick* pit stop in destin, florida.  i mean, it's on the way, right?  i'm super excited.  if you haven't been to destin, you must go.  it's absolutely beautiful.  white sand beaches and blue water.  i will just plop myself down and relax for a few days.

kj the mermaid...no she's not black...that is what happens when she gets sun.  makes me sick i tell ya!

scott the octopus

any suggestions for this year's sand art????