Mother's Day

Took Mom to Krohn Conservatory for the Butterfly Show for Mother's Day.











At the end of our day we came across these little "hobbit houses" with no explanation....I think we're going to try and figure out how to make our own.

Vintage Family Photo Love

Chris's Grandma and Grandpa Lee


My Great Grandma and Grandpa Oliver

Grandma and Grandpa Oliver

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

Jim and Mary Jane Oliver

Cinco de Mayo!

In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I wanted to post a recipe for my new current obsession

Fish Tacos
• 1 Tbsp ground chipotle seasoning
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 6 (6 oz) tilapia fillets cut into 1 inch chunks (I've been using tilapia from the freezer section a la Costco)
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp grated lime rind
• 2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
• Vegetable cooking spray
• 12 tortillas (recipe calls for corn, but I prefer flour)

Directions:
-Combine first 3 ingredients & rub seasoning mixture over fillet pieces
-Stir together oil, grated rind, and juice, rub over fillet pieces
-Arrange fish in a grill basket coated with cooking spray
-Grill over medium-high heat until the fish begins to flake with a fork
-Serve with guacamole, Sweet-&-Spicy Slaw*, and my cheese of choice, smoked gouda

Makes 6 servings

*Sweet-&-Spicy Slaw
• 1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar (I've also used red wine vinegar)
• 2 Tbsp pineapple or orange marmalade
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp dried chipotle seasoning
• 1 (16 oz) package cabbage slaw mix

Directions:
-Whisk together first 5 ingredients in a medium glass bowl until blended. Add slaw mix and toss to coat. Cover and chill until ready to serve.

Makes 12 servings

A big "Thanks" to Southern Living for supplying the recipe and also I would like to express my gratitude to Arnold's in downtown Cincinnati for inspiring me to want to make fish tacos every night of the summer. Without their new $4.99 lunch menu, my new found fish taco appreciation may have never been discovered.

Pretty, Fun & Whimsy

All images via This Pretty Space

Cooking Odors

Funny I just came across this today. I've recently noticed every time I use my oven the whole house takes on an oven stench. Also, if I reach into the oven to pull out my dish, my hair takes on the same smell. Ick!

Eliminating Cooking Odors

Earth Day

Not only do I like owls, but I like furry deer and furry foxes.

It's a hound? It's a horse? It's a bunny?

This photo was sent to me by my dear friend Jamie and it's just too funny not to share. I can't stop laughing at it every time I browse through the photos on my iphone.

What is it?

A bunny topiary. We initially wanted to use topiaries as centerpieces for a "Alice in Wonderland" themed bridal shower we were throwing for our friend, Tara. When we discovered real topiearies were close to $100 a pop, we quickly explored other options and this was Jamie's solution. After purchasing 3 weird bunny topiaries and letting them chill on her kitchen counter for 1 night, she and her husband Blake both concluded they were too creepy and sadly, these freaks of Easter were returned the following day and this is what Jamie had to say about it:

"RIP- weird bunny topiaries. I brought them home and they just kept creeping me out so I took them back. I just couldn't get past the giant football player man asking me if they were racing horses or greyhounds in full stride."

Hah! Poor bunny topiaries!

So....what did we end up using? Flower-filled tea-pots...and they were beautiful and a tad bit more practical than creepy bunny topiaries...don't you agree?

Poor Blog

Sorry blog...the weather's been nice...been planning wedding showers and making invitations...going to Wisconsin this weekend. Back to blogging next week. Promise!

Love/Hate

Baby Donovan definitely loves Santa.....



....but he he absolutely HATES the Easter Bunny!



Happy Easter Everyone!

Regarding previous post...

Chris would like to know:
"What does it sound like when doves cry?"

SPRING!

I took a walk around the hood on this gorgeous day and relished in a few of my favorite signs of spring:

-The sweet smell of honeysuckle

-Newly formed cherry blossoms making their first appearance

-The hooting of Doves before dusk

or is it called hoo-ing?....or is it called purring?

What do you call the sound a dove makes?

Yay Spring! *insert side jump heel click*

Ducks, Owls & Clowns?

So I decided to go to Old Time Pottery today after church because I was looking for some sort of mirror and/or medicine cabinet for our newly remodeled downstairs bathroom. As it usually happens, I became easily distracted after walking through the entrance and I ultimately walked out with something very different than what I initially began searching for. This trip my eye zoomed in on some fabric scraps. Oh good! Fabric scraps! Maybe I could fashion some curtains or pillows or something. While scanning the long tables of fabric yardage, I found something so absurdly exciting to me, that I snatched it up right away so nobody else would steal my new found hidden treasure.

What is it, you wonder?

None other than Duck Decoy Fabric



I know, I know, a little weird, but I thought whatever I decided to make with it would make for a good conversation piece...a little fun, a little whimsy...you know.

I immediately called Chris and told him the exciting news and sent him a photo so he could tell me "congratulations" on finding the perfect fabric for our owl themed guest bedroom....maybe we could make it a bird themed room instead!



...sadly, he wasn't excited.

The reason?

Duck are considered to be the "clowns of the bird world".

Really?

I object.

After I came to my senses I put the fabric down and walked away.

Hopefully I won't regret my decision.

Wise Guy

How cute are these? Who doesn't love a cute owl?

Found this on Greta's Guide

Twilight

I just watched "New Moon" FINALLY! Now I'm ready for Eclipse. Who wants a date night with Sarah on June 30th?!?

I like this look.

Want List
•Bright orange scarf
•Comfy striped long-sleeve shirt (preferably black and white).


via Karla's Closet

Mommy Alert

For all you new moms out there (technically I'm speaking to the select group of 10 people who read this blog) check out this blog called Dear Baby. It was created by a woman from San Francisco who recently embarked on the incredible journey which is motherhood (so I've heard :) I'm childless and I even like reading it.

She also has another blog called Stay Forever Sunday which is addicting once you get into it. Basically she talks about the adventures of living in San Francisco with her musician husband, and now daughter Everly, and they are SUPER cute!


Enjoy!

Bathroom in disarray

Chris is hoping our bathroom will be finished in 2 weeks.....I'm thinking that's a negative.

Bathroom Remodel Inspiration

Time Warp

I grew a wild hair at the salon and reverted back to the hairstyle of my youth.





Only now I have more teeth.

Rare Photos of Famous People

Here are some I found intriguing....


Marilyn and JFK

Liza and Judy

Cher, Sonny, & Bob

Johnny and Kate

The Beatles in 1957. George, age 14, John, age 16, and Paul, age 15.

Star Wars cast.....and what is wrong with this photo??? Are Carrie Fisher and Luke Hamill really THAT short?!? I was trying to figure out if it is superimposed, but I couldn't tell.

Elvis and Sophia

All photos via Rare Photos of Famous People