Cinco de Mayo Ideas

 

With the nice weather we are having, it is not unusual to find me on my patio in the early evening with a magazine or a book and a drink in my hand. It might be iced tea, or depending on my mood, it might be a fun cocktail. Of course, I don't want to ruin my carb count for the day, so I am always on the look out for something that is low carb, yet still delicious . This Skinny Citrus Margarita was a drink I tried last summer and it is so good. The recipe can be found here (skinnytaste.com) and would be perfect for Cinco de Mayo, if you are watching your carbs like me. All the flavor of a margarita, but only 12 carbs!

Another great recipe for Cinco de Mayo is my Oven Baked Fajitas. So easy and really good. For dessert, try my Skinnygirl Margarita Cake - perfect to take to a party.

A lovely spring day in May - sitting in a comfy chair on my patio, sipping a drink, enjoying the sun and the forsythia in bloom :-)

I am linking this post with Kelly's Korner, Show us your Life series - mothers of teens. There is still one teen in our family at this point. My daughters are 23 (Megan) and 19 (Melissa) and move in and out of my empty nest as college semesters end and job opportunities arise. In order to get to know me better, as a parent of college age daughters, you can read some of my favorite parenting posts here and here and here.

Have a great weekend!

 

{Linking with these friends}

Gooseberry Patch

Make Ahead Meals

Rattlebridge Farm

This Gal Cooks

Back For Seconds

Mom's Test Kitchen

Stonegable

Semi Homemade Mom

Barns and Noodles

Between Naps on the Porch

Savvy Southern Style

 

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Thoughts for Thursday...flowers, reality tv, etc.

 

 

• This pretty hyacinth has bloomed this week and it has a story. In the fall, it was my turn to choose a book for my book club. The book I chose used gardening as a metaphor for life, and I gave my book club friends the gift of a hyacinth bulb to plant. I hope that all their flowers have bloomed too and are just as pretty as mine. You can read about the gift here.

• My daughter Megan and I made tacos for dinner the other night and I used ground turkey for the first time. It was surprisingly good. I realize I am late to the ground turkey bandwagon, but since we don't eat ground beef often, I don't usually worry about using it in my old stand by recipes. But, the ground turkey is a healthier option that I would definitely use again.
• The book I am currently reading is Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker by Jennifer Chiaverani. It has a lot of historical detail about what Washington was like during the Civil War. I usually like historical fiction, but it seems to be a hard read, at this point. Mrs. Lincoln is definitely not a sympathetic figure, as portrayed in this story. Since it is told from the point of view of a former slave, it is interesting in that regard. I am sure I will finish it, but so far, it is not my favorite.
• The Real Housewives of Orange County has reached a tipping point for me. I am to the point where I can no longer enjoy or find the humor in Tamara's mean girl screeching. I will give it a few weeks, but I may be done with this one. Am I alone in this view?
• Melissa comes home for the summer on Friday. I am picking up most of her clothes and such today and then my husband will move home the bigger items on Friday. Her sophomore year is done and I can't believe how fast it went! She is so much fun to have at home - I am looking forward to it :-)

Happy Thursday!

 

Linking with Ramblings of a Suburban Mom, Thursday Thoughts

 

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Spring Porch Details

 

I have been taking advantage of our beautiful spring weather and doing a little bit of primping on my front porch. I still like the subtle colors of spring and won't be using the bright reds, pinks and others summer colors until I plant my annuals in late May. Yes, we still have a ways to go here in the north, before it is safe to plant. But, there are some things we can do to give some seasonal pop to the outside.

This wreath is something I made a few years ago and I like the simplicity and softness of the daffodils.

One type of flower that we can safely plant, are pansies. These white pretties with their yellow centers are a nice cheerful start to my planting and give a welcoming touch to the porch.

An iron table in the corner is a pretty spot for a rustic wreath that I dressed up a bit with some burlap ribbon and some soft pink twine. Subtle, but pretty. And I love the contrast of the rustic, with the modern element this green glass ball provides.

After a long winter, it felt so good to do a little decorating on my porch and to just be outside. Most of these details will move elsewhere and change soon, but for now, it is just the touch of spring my porch needs.

Happy Wednesday!

 

Linking with Mockingbird Hill Cottage, Favorite Thing, Between Naps on the Porch, Savvy Southern Style, Jennifer Rizzo

 

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