Halloween 2016

Nevermind the fact that Halloween was 18 days ago. I am acutely aware that my current ability to track my kids most beautiful memories has been...bad. But whatever, such is life. I was feeling very Halloween scroogey this year and had no desire to put up decorations, probably because we had just moved, I'm working close to full time from home and you know, I have an infant. But I decided that I would host a Halloween playdate and what's a Halloween playdate with decorations?!

This was the first year that at least one of our children was able to carve their own pumpkins and it. was. amazing. Gabriel was so proud, too!

The Halloween playdate was fun too. We painted wood pumpkins and ate scary rice crispies, mummified strawberries and frankenstein bananas. Anyway, did I mention how much I love the neighborhood we live in? To say we were lucky is an incredible understatement. They are so tightknit, celebrating together, throwing parties and doing cute little neighbor-y things. We woke up on Halloween morning having been "Boo'd."

They left little treats and glow sticks in the bucket for the kids to use on Halloween. It was adorable. The kids got ready in their costumes before school, excited for the festivities...until we realized that they weren't allowed to wear costumes.

We frantically changed into uniforms and off they went with their cupcakes and apples with caramel. When they got home that day, we got ready for the party at the pool.

There were games, food, a pumpkin carving contest...so many fun things!

And obviously the boys looked adorable. We ate chocolate covered marshmellows and pizza.

The force was wide awake and ready for trick-or-treating afterwards.

But per the usual, my kids did 10 houses and then were done. They claimed that they wouldn't be able to keep it anyway because I'm crazy about the candy. Cannot have it in the house. Or I will eat it, obviously.

Gabriel super proud of his cute pumpkin.

So we ended our night passing out candy. Some friends stopped by. It was perfect and amazing.

Partin Ranch Corn Maze in Saint Cloud, FL

We really haven't had the chance to do much exploring outside of food (shocker, right?) since Adrian has been working so much, but it was fun to get out and head to the local corn maze.

Before we arrived, we stopped at our favorite burger joint, Mutt's on 13th, which was a BIG mistake! We had no idea that there would be so many vendors at the corn maze -- BBQ, hot dogs, corn dogs, sweet tea, sweet corn...you name it, they had it. They even had the fair vendor with the deep-friend oreos. We ended up only opting for some sweet tea and cotton candy for the boys. I mean, they needed energy to get through the maze...

They even had a zipline! I only got a video of it, didn't have a chance to get some pictures because it was so quick. It was huge, though and the kids loved it.

They had duck races, which the boys spent much time playing with. And corn kernels were a big hit and have since invaded all of the nooks and cranies in my car...

The more I photograph Gabriel at this age, the sadder I get. I keeping getting glimpses of what he will be like in just a few short years as a sullen teenage boy. He paves his own way, that one, with his long hair and camo shorts. He has aged out of "baby crafts" and instead opts for swinging or "cruising the playground" while his brother plays.

Silas did great, but I think he was actually suffering from some allergies. In some of the photos, you can see his swollen eye, which has been gooping up, and he's been sneezing quite a bit. Adrian and I were pretty sneezy by the end of the day too, so I think there's just junk in the air. I hear Florida isn't exactly allergy-friendly.

The corn maze was an actual, legit corn maze shaped like a cowboy riding a horse. After about 15 minutes of wandering around, we just started following the masses who had paved their own way and made a second "exit" out. We were really pumped thinking we had solved the maze and then...nope. We cheated.

These freaking adorable little booties that my mom bought Silas. I mean seriously. I can't even.

I don't know why, but I'm obsessed with this photo. I love how serious they all are.

I can't wait to watch these kids grow up together. I love how much they love each other. Silas just looks at the older two and laughs and smiles.

We ended the day with steaks and asparagus on the patio while being eaten up by mosquitoes. It's a glamorous life we live. I can't wait for Halloween tomorrow!

17 reasons why I'm wound so tightly by the end of the day

Here is an in-depth explanation of why I am as prickly as a cactus by the time my sweet husband gets home. I don't think he gets it, so here it is...

1. My coffee pot wasn't working and caused 35% reduction in the amount of coffee. Yes, 35%, this is serious, people.
2. In an effort to get "me-time," I stayed up to do a fantasy draft with my girlfriends but I realized that I actually don't function when I stay up past 10:30.
3. The baby had a blow-out of epic proportions this morning in Target, so epic that it exploded all over his car seat and I can't figure out how to get the cover off to wash it and everything is covered in mustard poop. 
4. In an effort to help the 4-year old get more watermelon, I knocked over a 2 pound box of blueberries all over the floor and then stepped in them. 
5. The 7-year old has taken up baby talk to be funny and screeches like an unearthed mandrake for God knows what reason and I swear I have developed misophonia since having kids.
6. I ate lunch at 2 pm. Scratch that, 2:30 pm.
7. I'm trying to figure out how to manage working, actually folding laundry instead of tossing it on a chair/in a laundry basket/on a bed, and unpacking an entire house.
8. The day to try on pre-pregnancy jeans was not today. In fact, I'm thinking it might be sometime in the year 2018.
9. I have played referee all day to 2 lovely, sweet children who turn into crazed pscyhopaths when there's an iPad involved and they haven't gotten their turn yet.
10. "Can I spin the Pokestop?" Every. Single. Time. we leave our community. Whoever made the neighborhood fountain a pokestop deserves a cozy spot in hell.
11. I was on the receiving end of an angry bug who left a bite the size of a baseball on my butt cheek.
12. One of the baby's favorite times to scream at the top of his lungs is every single school pick-up and drop-off.
13. The 4-year old decided to scream at the most opportune time (3 minutes after we were supposed to leave to pick up brother) that he is too tired and cannot get up off the floor without my hand which is currently full of a baby car seat, diaper bag, purse, keys and a bottle of water. 
14. I heard "mom" 27 times on the 6 minute ride home from school this afternoon. I counted. 
15. There was a baby alligator in the community pool today and I don't even have to see it in person to decide that I'm good, no need to swim literally ever again.
16. I thought it would be "fun" to take 3 kids to dinner by myself.
17. Speaking of dinner, the 4-year old has decided that he wants a burger, but really he wants a bite of burger, 4 fries and then 18 cookies.

So honey, when I am pouring wine at 3:30 pm and practically throwing the baby at you when you walk in the door 30 minutes late, now you know.

I only post when I move

It appears that I only start blogging again when I move. I'm guessing it has something to do with fresh starts and whatever; this blog has seen me through Santee, (he)El Centro, Imperial, Mira Mesa, Washington...it's like an old, holey glove that I keep digging out of the bottom of my drawer.

Alas, here I am, yet again. This time it's Florida.

We spent a huge, lovely, jam-packed year in Washington. Added a kid to the mix and some grays to my head, went to Disneyland, Big Bear, Hawaii, San Diego several times, finished 1st grade and another year of preschool, added a bunch of friends to our lives and hearts. Good times.

And then, Adrian's company dropped the A-bomb.

I'm not sure how I feel yet about Florida. I wouldn't say we started off on the right foot, what with the two weeks' notice and you know, the newborn I had just birthed 5 weeks prior. The older boys who were plucked out of their summer 3 weeks early in order to start a new life across the country. Again, good times...

But we are making the best of it. We are filling shelves. We are making beds. We are flattening boxes and unpacking emotionally to settle into a life in this weird, strange little world. We are reaching out, saying hi and inviting ourselves to moms groups and playgroups and whatever groups will have us because that's how a house becomes a home and a neighborhood becomes a community.

As much as I am clinging to my life in Washington, I'm trying to remind myself that we have been here before. We know how to do this and we will make it happen again, just like last time. And the time before that. Except every time we build our resilience, stretch our bravery beyond what we though we could. We got this.

Our First Mariners Game

On Friday, Adrian called me around noon and surprised us with Mariner's tickets! A subcontractor had given his department 4 tickets and luckily, he was able to snatch them up. Since we had no Mariners gear, I put them in all the Seattle apparel we had and we hit the road to pick Adrian up. As you can see, our seats were AMAZING, right on the third base line. We explained to the boys that they were incredibly lucky to get seats like this; I'm pretty sure my first game was up in the nosebleeds!

The First Days of School

I'm not going to lie, I've always laughed at the women who say that they miss their kids when the go to school. I know that sounds mean, but let's be honest here...sometimes you need a break. Especially as a work-from-home mama, I need a little quiet time to work, make phone calls, organize myself, etc.

Blueberry Picking in Enumclaw

I did not realize that Washington was such a berrylicious state. Am I the only one? In July, a friend mentioned to me that the berries grow so wildly, you can stop off on the side of the road and fill bucket upon bucket. When my parents visited and we went to Rattlesnake Lake, there were berries growing along the pathways.

Then, the moms group that I creep on (and will someday participate in) went blueberry picking. So, the boys and I decided to make a morning of it and check things out.

Hiking down Crystal Mountain

The view of Mt. Rainier looming over us in Maple Valley never gets old. Seriously. We have been here for almost two months now and I just can't get over how majestic it is as the backdrop of this beautiful, green place.

Before we left for my sister's wedding, we were on a quest to get closer to its gloriousness; we had heard about the gondola ride on Crystal Mountain so we thought we would give it a try.

Our New Favorite WA Hang: Rattlesnake Ridge

When my family came for the week, we had to find some places to explore and fish. Adrian asked around at work and they recommended Rattlesnake Lake for a great recreational area and good catch-and-release fishing. 

Camping at Lake Kachess

One of our favorite pastimes as a family is to camp, hence why we made a pact last summer to do it as often as possible. We thought it was probably a little ambitious to camp only 3 weeks post-move, but with so many visitors coming this summer and traveling in August for my sister's wedding, we really didn't think we would have many other opportunities.

Adventuring at Flaming Geyser State Park

Coming from San Diego, a place notoriously beautiful, you would think that I would be less impressed by nature's beauty. NOPE. This area is so fascinatingly gorgeous, I can't stop staring. The trees, Mt. Rainier looming in the distance, the water that is in every nook and cranny of these towns, this is the type of place where almost everywhere you go, you think: wow.

Granted, we haven't had but just a few drops of rain since we have gotten here, so I'm sure we will be in for a shock in a few short months! Hopefully I'll still be singing the same tune at that point. 

Anyway, this past week while Adrian was at work, I took the boys to Flaming Geyser State Park. I am in a Community of Maple Valley Facebook group and they recently had a thread sharing all of the cool short hikes to take kids on in this area, which is where I found this park. 

The trek

Phew, we made it. It wasn't until 6:00 am on Sunday, June 21st that it felt real. I still am a little bit in shock that we live in Washington, but I'm sure the fact that my family isn't just a short drive away anymore will hit soon enough.

Anyway, Adrian came home on Friday night and was able to take the early flight, thank goodness! The boy were ecstatic to have him back and even still today, 2 weeks later, get upset when he leaves for work. On the Saturday before we started the trek up north, my parents threw us the most amazing, fun, wonderful going away part ever. I couldn't have asked for a better way to be sent off. We played in the pool, had yummy drinks at the tiki bar and enjoyed the company of our best friends and family.

A new adventure ahead

The cat is finally out of the bag. We are leaving California this summer and heading to the great state of Washington! After a lot prayer, tears, discussion and research, we have come to a place where we feel like this is the right thing for our family.

When we found out that Adrian might be recruited out-of-state, I immediately started praying. Not really to stay in San Diego, or to go to Seattle or Colorado or anywhere else for that matter. I prayed for discernment. That our path would be very clearly revealed to us and we would feel at peace with our decision.

One by one, doors that we thought were opening kept shutting. Jobs that we thought would be perfect weren't. And very clearly, the path for us to Seattle was laid out. Throughout the process, we were scared. We didn't want to go and we kept saying over and over again, let's just take the easy way. Let's just take that crappy job.

Let's not do it.

Let's not follow the plan.

But something would change and then we would remember that this really isn't in our hands anyway. When we told the kids, they were excited; particularly, Gabriel was ecstatic. He, of course, is thinking of all the fun things in Seattle (the Space Needle and orca watching are one of his current obsessions), but we have still been very frank with him.

Mimi and Tata won't be a 45 minute drive away.

Grandma and Grandpa won't be a 3-hour car ride away.

It rains a lot.

You might not be going to Catholic school anymore.

You'll have to make new friends.

But still, even after hearing all of that, he is game for the challenge. He sees it as an adventure, as do we.

Five years ago, we applied for jobs in Seattle. Adrian's business had failed and we wanted to start fresh somewhere and we didn't really know what to do. We didn't get any leads and so we begrudgingly made the trek down to San Diego and lived with family until we could get back on our feet.

Three years ago, when we live in the Imperial Valley we started applying again in Seattle. Just a handful of jobs to see if anything would happen. Nothing. Then we were back in San Diego and comfortable and we didn't want to leave.

You just never know where life will take you. I feel comforted and at peace. I feel excited and happy and scared and nervous!

One of the exciting things about this new adventure is that we are going to take a week-long trip up the coast to get to our new home. Adrian's company is going to pay for the trip and we get to explore the entire West Coast.

So, when Adrian leaves next week, I will be keeping myself busy by finding the best places to go along the way, delicious restaurants and cool sights, all the while counting down the days until we can make our way to our new home!

A child's prayer

The other day, we were driving to Santee to celebrate Gabriel's birthday and had one of his friends from school in the back seat. They both go to Catholic school, so are required to go to mass weekly, say several daily prayers, and are overall used to learning about God on an everyday basis.

On that day it was rainy and as all locals know, San Diegans can't drive in the rain. There was an accident on the side of the road and the people who had been in the car were outside, crying and calling on the phone. Nobody looked hurt, but you could tell that they were upset.

Gabriel looked at his friend and said, "X, let's say the prayer that we say at school for those people." His friend agreed and they said to us, "In the name of the Father..." and so on proceeded to do the sign of the cross.

"Lord, please be with those who need them."

"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

Their sweet concern and thoughtfulness actually brought me to tears. Their compassion was so beautiful!

From the trenches: Responsibilities of a t-ball team mom

This is our second year playing t-ball and I guess you could say we are seasoned. Last year, we decided to jump with both feet in, guns blazing, head first, right into being coach and team mom. We had told them that we would coach if nobody else stepped up, aka, they signed us up right away. Adrian really didn't have the desire to coach but I convinced him that it would be a great experience for Gabriel, so he decided to give it a shot.

We have just begun our second season as coach and team mom (which we swore we wouldn't do, but you get sucked in!) and I would like to believe that we know what we are doing now...

There is a LOT to do when you are coach and team mom, much more than I could have imagined. Before the first month of practice, there are at least 3-4 meetings that the coach and team mom need to attend, along with several coaching seminars. In our league, the seminars are free and provide a great resource, especially for new coaches.

As the team mom, your real job starts as soon as the team has been assembled. I like to kick-off the season with an introductory email that talks a little about us and our background, as well as highlights key dates such as uniform pick-up night, our carnival fundraiser, practice dates and location, contact information, request for assistant coaches and volunteer forms, equipment needed for the season, etc. One of the best resources I have found for communicating to and coordinating our team has been Shutterfly's team sites. They are amazing!

At the first practice, I focus on learning the kids' and parents' names, and making sure to introduce myself to each person. They hear a lot from me all season and I want them to feel comfortable coming to me whenever they have questions or concerns. I also bring extra volunteer forms, because for Little League, anyone who plans to interact with the kids is required to have one on file.

During the first month, and definitely before Opening Day, I get my banner company on the phone and have them design a banner, and take our jerseys and hats to the custom screen printer to get names on the jerseys and numbers on the hats. Teams are not required to do either, but we do both. It's a nice way to customize their things, makes it much easier for dugout volunteers to figure out which hat belongs to which child, and becomes a keepsake after the season.

I also work out how we will organize our dugout during the season. This is critical. Our first game last year was an absolute disaster, and that was because I had put zero thought into the matter. My husband was about to fire me from my team mom duties and find another mom to help him. So, I went to the dollar store and bought 12 buckets and backpacking clips, then designed 12 baseballs on the computer with each child's name and number, printed them out and laminated, bought a clipboard and boom.

At the next game, the kids were sitting down in their seats. The batting order was easier to decipher because they were already in order on the bench. Cups and gloves and hats were all placed in the buckets below their names. Whoa. Amazing what a couple bucks at the dollar store and some printed names can do!

One of the most important responsibilities of the team mom is to stay on top of communication. Each week, I try to send out practice and game time and location, snack duty assignments, as well as any other need-to-know information.

The biggest recommendation I have for team parents is to enlist other parents to help. I have made great friends by getting other moms on board and having them help with assigned duties. You'll be shocked at how willing they are to help, they only need to be asked!

A sixth birthday

When I found out I was pregnant with Gabriel, I hyperventilated on the toilet. I wasn't ready to be a mom and didn't think 9 months would make a difference. And then he arrived, and like almost every parent when they meet their firstborn, my breath was taken away.

Every day since then, he has taken my breath away. Sometimes it's from laughing my tush off at his funny jokes.

Other days it's because he is driving me crazy and I am yelling and begging and pleading with him to listen/focus/pickupthetoys/pleasestophittingyourbrother!!!

This child is sensitive and sweet. Fiery and energetic. Fair and honest and thinks that people should do the right thing. He's polite and a little bit crazy.

He is my boy.

He is six today and has taught me so much since that Sunday in 2009 when he made me a mom. He has taught me to overcome shyness. To speak up and speak out and to make friends because what is a world without people to share it with?

He is a fantastic and smart kid and I can't imagine a world with him.

A summer camping pact

Our thought was simple. What can we do this summer for little money that would allow us to spend time connecting with our kids and the outdoors? Where can we take them that they will create lasting memories, ones that they will look back on fondly for years to come?

So, last February, I posed the question to Adrian, "What do you think about trying to camp at least one weekend a month for the entire summer?" As a once avid camper, it was easy to persuade him to start pulling out our old camping stuff to evaluate what items we would need to buy before starting our challenge.

Armed with a list of things to acquire over the next few months and some ideas for where we wanted to camp, we began the planning process.  The month of April would kick off our summer, but more as a test run than anything; Adrian and I planned to go with our friends for just an overnight camping sesh at Carlsbad State Beach here in San Diego. That left May, June, July and August to plan for.

When all was said and done, we bought the following to prepare us for camping with the kids:

• This camping stove from Big 5
• A two-room tent to have plenty of space for the boys and our pup
• Two battery-powered lanterns
• Two headlamps for the boys
• A camping collapsable trash can
• Two Costco air mattresses
• Three Costco plastic tubs for food items and a dedicated "camping stuff" box
• Two cast-iron skillets, one small + one large
• A tea kettle
• LOTS of paper goods
• Dollar store tablecloths 
• A wagon from Costco

We also scrounged up around the house:

• Extra pieces of synthetic grass that were never installed in our yard
• A propane tank
• Quite a few beach chairs
• Our ice chests
• Some random shepherd's hooks for the lanterns that were in our yard
• A coated cable dog leash for Bella
• Our pop-up tent
• Umbrella

Our campsite looked like this:

Now for the hard part: narrowing down our list of places to camp. We ended up deciding on the Sequoia National Forest for May, Big Sur for June and Yosemite Valley for August. July ended up falling through after a friend bailed and we lost our camping spot. Regardless, we still felt like we did our pact justice!

We meal planned using Pinterest, though our favorite things to eat were chili dogs, skillet cinnamon rolls, bacon and eggs, burgers, and of course, lots of s'mores! While we didn't necessarily meet our goal of having an inexpensive summer, we sure met our goal for making memories. 

I'll do a full review of each campsite and experience next!

Have you tackled camping with kids? What are your favorite meals and places to go? 

One Year Ago.

One year ago - almost exactly - I published my last blog post. I can't really say how or why, but I just didn't feel like blogging anymore. I suppose part of it was that I started working and had less time to come up with witty things I thought you would want to read.

However, a major part of it was that it was becoming more about my readers than it was about my family and the things I love, which was the intention of this blog from the start. There was so much "game" in blogging; who has the biggest readership? How can I make mine grow? How much money am I spending on sponsorships and hosting giveaways? I just got tired of playing.

So I'm back. Probably with less incentive for those who perhaps like the giveaways and such (no judgement here!), but this time, it's about - truly - the things I love. The things I see and do. At least for now, because really, who knows how long this motivation will last...

To give you an update, here's a quick snippet:

• We continued with book club and are on The Goldfinch, which for the life of me I can't get through.
• Gabriel started and finished preschool at his new school, a private Catholic school, which he loves.
• We held a murder mystery party at our house with the theme of 1920's Prohibition.
• I started and quit a job with this amazing organization.
• I dressed up as Amanda Bynes for Halloween.
• And then we went to another murder mystery party.
• We got a puppy named Bella, whom I love and adore (despite the fact that she likes to chew on ONLY my shoes).
• Went spent a weekend in Lake Arrowhead with a wonderful group of families in January.
• Jonas turned 2 and then became the biggest chatterbox I've ever met, only challenged by Gabriel.
• I went to New York for a social media conference, then got to visit my very best friend who shared the very special secret that she was pregnant. It made me feel so special to be one of the first to know.
• Adrian and I committed to coaching and team mom-ing for t-ball. That was "fun."
• Gabriel lost 3 teeth.
• I introduced myself to a mom of one of the kids at our first t-ball practice and found out she lived across the street from me (because I'm a nimwit and didn't realize it). She has since become my walk/running buddy, fellow Starbucks fiend and too much wine enthusiast, and one of my very best friends.
• Gabriel went horseback riding for the first time and loved it. 
• We decided that we would have a summer of camping and ended up going 4 times. More to come on that.
• I quit crossfit and bought a crap ton of weights that I use in my garage while saving $100+ per month. I miss it everyday, but such is life.
• The weekends in which we did not camp this summer, we spent paddleboarding on Mission Bay.
• I started a new job at the same company as Adrian. It gets interesting.
• Gabriel learned how to ride his bike without training wheels in less than 24 hours.
• Jonas decided he no longer likes sleeping and as such, stays up until 10 pm playing with toys in his room while Gabriel sleeps peacefully in his top bunk.
• We decided to list our condo in Ventura for sale and are waiting very impatiently for it to sell.
• Gabriel started kindergarten. WHAT. Jonas is now telling us he is ready for school as well.
• We are hoping to purchase a home by the end of the year and I don't even know. It's crazy.
• I will be attending my 10-year reunion in 2 weeks. Yes, 10 years. Let that sink in.

So that's it! In a nutshell, that's what has been going on. There's plenty more to share, it's just a matter of getting it out on the computer screen!

Our first book club meeting: The Night Circus

I'm one of those nerdy girls who has always wanted to be in a book club. A lifelong reader, I am instantly drawn to others who share my passion for the written word. Several years ago, I read a book called Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons, a book about several women in the 60's who start a book club and chronicles their lives together. Long story short, I was so intrigued by the idea of meeting up once a month to take time out of our schedules and dedicate it to each other and good discussion.

And wine. 

Anyway, fast forward a few years to this past June. For some reason, I got this wild hair that it would be a great idea to start a book club. My friends read. I read. It would be perfect. So I did what any millennial would do and posted my proposition on Facebook, offering to host the first one.

We picked a book (well, Random.org did because we were so indecisive) and settled on the Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. 

“The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead.” (Excerpted from: http://erinmorgenstern.com/)

In my opinion, it was a good opener. It was intriguing, magical and had a decent story line. Compared to our second month's pick which we just finished (Let's Just Pretend This Never Happened by The Bloggess), the Night Circus was the best book ever. AKA, our second book was TERRIBLE. No offense, it just wasn't my style and totally unrelatable. 

So, in case you're all interested in what I did to host, I thought I would give a little recap...I may or may not have gone a little overboard. The theme colors were white and black for the circus and of course, red for the reveurs. I tried to sprinkle little bits of circus in without going too crazy.

The front door --

The discussion table -- I removed the cards as it was mostly irrelevant to the story line.

Pre-food set-up -- [Welcome to the Night Circus FELLOW REVEURS]

Post food set-up: crackers, nuts, cheese, apples, carrots, crackers, chips//dip, chocolate mice, kettle corn and fruit kabobs [pictured in other photos].

Apple ginger ale, wine, and champagne were on the drink menu. 

Oh, and chocolate mice. Cannot forget the chocolate mice. If you would like, you can find the recipe here.

And of course, the discussion questions. No book club would be complete without a set of discussion questions, so I pulled mine randomly from different lists on the internet. If you happen to be hosting a Night Circus meeting, you can find an array of provoking questions to pose to your friends with a simple Google search.

I designed the questions and all the framed quotes that you see lying around. Our overall impression of the book was good and if I had to rate it, I would say it would get 3.5 out of 5 stars. The ending was sort of predictable in that I assumed what would happen, even if I didn't know exactly how it would pan out, but it was a nice read. I prefer a little fantasy mixed in so this was a nice mix for me. 

I'll admit something to you guys, most of the things I used to host were actually from the Dollar Store! The popcorn holders, table clothes and ticket stubs were DS finds, straws and string were Target and food from Vons. Very basic, very easy. All of the printables were created by yours truly and that was it!

Our second book was a horrific flop, but our third book, which we just chose on Monday, is the Secrets of Mary Bowser. I will give you my thoughts at the end of the month!

Have you ever been in a book club? Any desire to participate in one? On that same note, have any books you would recommend we add to our queue? 

San Diego Fair and Beer Festival

We have been busy taking care of items from our Summer Checklist these last few weeks! So far we've camped in the backyard, been to the zoo and attended the San Diego Fair and Beer Festival, all of which I need to post about!

On Saturday night, we ended up going over to the Beer Festival and then made our way into the fair. We had a group of 8 and it was so much fun! There were over 400 beers on tap and food galore...