The Lovely Folks I Work With

Today's Joy: Our Corporate Christmas Party.
Had a wonderful time yesterday, Reader. Our 11 store managers and the corporate staff gathered at Venuti's in Addison, IL for a last meeting & holiday party to round out the year. The food was amazing and it was great to be able to visit with everyone. I gave out a dozen of my Oreo Truffles to each store manager and they were met with much delight. We also did a gift drawing and I received a cute little lime green Ipod Nano. (Never had one before, so someone will have to show me how to use it!) The company I work for is incredibly generous. What a blessing it is to have this job and be surrounded by great people!


A Sampling of the Venuti's Buffet
(Clockwise from top: salad, green bean salad with white beans, roasted potato wedges, ziti with vodka sauce, cheese-stuffed ravioli, broiled tilapia, steamed broccoli & crusty Italian bread)


Got Some Great Stuff in the Gift Drawing:
A Yoga Mat & matching Ipod Nano

Last Weekend's Breakfast: Eggs Benedict with Our Bacon & Sausage

Today's Joy: The Little Things We Look Forward To.

Is there anybody, Reader, who doesn't love the weekend? Whether yours comes on Sat & Sun or in the middle of the week, having two whole days together where you aren't punching a clock for someone else can feel like the best gift there is. Two mornings where you can either sleep in until the sun is well overhead or get up early to do something of your own choosing.

For me, the weekend represents a multitude of little rituals that I don't usually have time to enjoy during the week: fresh-brewed coffee with a designer creamer; fussing over my indoor plants; lounging in bed reading or enjoying a hot, homemade breakfast--all the while not caring what time it is or where my cell phone is at.

Couple any of these with my family's usual kooky adventures and you have my idea of a perfect weekend--the kind you think about for the rest of the week. So, when I have a lousy Tuesday and work is about to kick my butt, I just have to remember those simple joys because I'll be right back there again in a day or two. If practice makes perfect, I'm gonna be the Queen of well-lived weekends. Here's hoping, Reader, that you are too!

Cameo Pendant, Charming Charlie

Today's Joy: Combining Two Things I Love--Photography & Anything Charming Charlie.

Those familiar with my blog will know all about my love affair with the fab jewelry and accessories available at that loveliest of boutiques, Charming Charlie. But if you are new to the wonderment, dear Reader, be forewarned, here there be serious jewelry junkies.

While visiting the Yorktown Center store in Lombard, IL with friends & family to celebrate my birthday last month, we found out about the Fall Fashion's Night Out Photo Contest and I knew I couldn't resist a chance to put all the great jewelry & scarves we bought in front of the camera. If we won, we'd get a $300 gift card to CC. If we didn't, who cares? We had a chance to dress up, look fabulous and have a marvelous time.



V in a gorgeous blue-green scarf, Charming Charlie

So, I called a few friends and they jumped at the chance to get involved. A few days later, we met up in quaint, downtown Geneva, IL near the 3rd Street Shops and had a ball scouting locations to go with our theme and striking a variety of poses. I happily snapped it all. Here are some of my favorite shots from our just-for-fun Charming Charlie Photo Shoot. Thanks to the folks at CC for having fun contests & giving us a chance to show off why we love your fashions so much!

K, wearing jewelry from CC.

Cheetah Boots from CC

V in a Charming Charlie scarf & silver cuff

K in vintage CC jewelry.

K loves those Cheetah boots!

V is all kinds of dramatic in CC accessories

Mmmm, the flowers smell nice & her CC jewelry is fabulous!

We just can't get enough of those CC Cheetah Boots!

V in lovely CC clip-on earrings.

She turns heads wherever she goes...

Today's Joy: Getting There Just In Time.
While my family was out having a ball trail riding and driving at the local forest preserve all afternoon, I was unfortunately stuck at my weekend home decor job, Reader. I watched the clock and as soon as my shift was up, I beat-foot it home. But no one was back yet. So, I called Aunt and she said they were all still out having fun and I should come join them for a pie iron (a lovely camp dessert involving two pieces of white bread, slathered with butter and having all manner of deliciousness in between, sandwiched in a pocket-shaped pair of cast iron long-handled irons and baked on a bed of hot coals).

So I jumped back in the truck and headed over to find the usual suspects lounging around in the usual place. And while my pie iron was baking into toasty, bubbly goodness on the smokey joe, I got to meet the newest addition to our kooky cast, E, the Trail Aficionado. A friend of our Fearless Trail Leader, E seemed to really be enjoying his first outing with our set. I suspect he's also a man who knows how to tell a good story. (Just so you know, E, we are all ears!) Here's hoping he joins us for more adventures.

Though it was only for a bit, it was totally worth it to catch the tail end of today's festivities. And my pie iron was crazy delish!

Hershey, Fjord Stallion

Today's Joy: Fun Work at the FVSA Show.
Another belated batch of photos for your perusal, Reader. I do apologize for the delay, but hope you will understand, when you see them, why I was so particular about editing them correctly.

Though, I spend all day at these horse shows running back and forth with cameras dangling from my neck, getting sunburned, sweaty and dehydrated; the thrill of capturing a great shot and of observing people I love having a wonderful time far exceeds any minor discomfort I may be experiencing in the moment.

With back-to-back horse show weekends, I am definitely getting a workout. And some amazing shots. For your enjoyment, dear Reader, here are the highlights of another beautiful August FVSA show:


Aunt & Charge


Fred & Ginger, Portrait

The 3 Musketeers & D'artagnan make an appearance for the Costume Class

The red-headed Musketeer

Aunt Chef drives a Circus Wagon full of animals to the Costume Class

A very friendly giraffe

The Circus Wagon

Aunt & Charge doing cross-country

Aunt Chef gives the kids a ride

Hershey is my favorite Fjord ever!

Uncle & Aunt Chef do cross-country

Ambie Webster, Portrait

For Safe-keeping

Reinsmanship

KB & Sugar

Mike's first show

It takes a village...

Grace, Me, Aunt & Mom

A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip.
~ Author Unknown

Today's Joy: Birthday Celebration.
We've had an incomparable day, Reader. Today is my 34th birthday and it has been the loveliest one I've had in a while. I decided to be proactive this year and plan something that all the girls would enjoy. Viola! Enter this summer's grand-opening of Charming Charlie at Yorktown Center in Lombard, IL.

We set off to have a splendid adventure. First we met to peruse all the accessory fabulousness at Charming Charlie. Hours later, we emerged laden with handbags, scarves, boots and, of course, myriad pieces of gorgeous (and inexpensive!) jewelry: rings, bracelets, earrings and necklaces galore!

The Mothership Has Called Us Home

Then, as we were ravenous from all that mega-shopping, it was off to find a place for lunch. Aunt Chef spotted something promising down the square and so we discovered the culinary joy that is the Flat Top Grill. It's a rather swanky place when you walk in the door, but don't let that fool you--the food is as affordable as it is delicious.

Once seated, you write your name on a little paddle and head to the buffet, where you design your own gourmet stir-fry from a large spread of veggies, tender, marinated meats and over a dozen sauces. Once you've made your selection, you stick your paddle in the top of your bowl like a flag on Mt. Everest, hand it over to the grill chef and return to your table. In 10-15 minutes, your personal culinary creation arrives, piping hot, to your table where all conversation stops as everyone dives into taste nirvana.


The Fabulous Miss Elle

After lunch, we dispersed with full tummies. On the way home, Mom, Aunt & I stopped at Planter's Palette, a beautiful & creatively-inspired garden center on Rt. 38 in Winfield, IL. Walking among rows and rows of sale plants and lush tropicals was the perfect finish to a wonderful day. Thank you to everyone who came along to share the joy!


Aunt (An English Teacher in Her Natural Habitat)

The Girls' 1st Trip to Charming Charlie

Aunt Chef Having a Ball

Because time itself is like a spiral, something special happens on your birthday each year: The same energy that God invested in you at birth is present once again.

~Menachem Mendel Schneerson

Quotes courtesy of The Quote Garden.

Today's Joy: Mom, Brother, The Sorcerer's Apprentice & Me.
Having Mondays off has been such a blessing, Reader. With all the activities my family manages to squeeze into the weekends, I need a whole extra day just to recoup and do all the things I should have done instead of going out with them, having a marvelous time. Of course, I'd rather be out having a marvelous time, so Mondays are my new favorite day of the week.

Today, I did some final edits on my new bookmark designs (should have a sneak peek of those for you next week) and then went to the movies with Mom & Brother. Have decided I adore going to the movies on a Monday afternoon. There are no lines and you practically have the theatre all to yourself. I mooched a few of Brother's pretzel bites (yum!) and a handful or two of Mom's popcorn. Brother & I made our usual bet about how many previews there would be before the movie starts. He invariably chooses five and is often correct. I pick either four or six and every once in a while, I win. It's a pointless little thing we do to amuse ourselves, but we still do it. Gotta love those little movie rituals.

Anyway, we settled in to watch a scruffy Nicolas Cage, dressed in a Harry-Potter-meets-The-Matrix outfit, attempt to teach a wussy physics nerd to be the most powerful sorcerer in history all the while saving the world and, of course, the girl. Alfred Molina played the deliciously-evil villain. Lots of action and lots of fun, though our nerdy young "hero" leaves much to be desired (I miss the days of Mr. Darcy-esque protagonists). But all in all, a great way to wile away the afternoon.

Is there a summer movie you've been wanting to see, Reader? What better time to tootle on down to the air-conditioned theatre? Think of me when you're watching the previews. ;-)

Out for a leisurely drive.

Today's Joy: A Fourth of July Trail Ride/Drive & Picnic.
Happy Independence Day, dear Reader! Hope this most patriotic holiday finds you celebrating with loved ones while being mindful of all the sacrifices that have been made (and are being made now) to protect this wonderful country of ours. How blessed are we to live in this incredible land of opportunity!

I was blessed enough to have the day free to join 20 of my friends and family on a trail ride/drive at the local Hampshire Forest Preserve. After rolling over hill & dale and having a marvelous time (including a cart drag race across the back forty, but I'm not naming names...), we regrouped for a picnic, with the incomparable Aunt Chef at the grill. In her red, white & blue apron, she doled out mouth-watering burgers and the juiciest BBQ chicken I've ever had. We did get a tad wet when our picnic was ambushed by a fast-moving rain shower, but it was gone toot sweet and we picked up right where we left off. See below for all of the day's photo highlights!


Aunt & Poodle


Out on the trail.

Aunt, Pony & Poodle

Kathy, Harry & Sugar

Getting Fred ready.

Aunt Chef & Dreamer

Driving a wooded lane.

Grilled Corn

Helen & Jim driving Ginger.

Aunt Chef's delish BBQ Chicken

Sarah, pulling Grace (& I) in the marathon cart with Aunt Chef & Dreamer just behind.

Mike & Kelly driving Tobey.

Aunt & Her Poodle, Portrait

Calling for directions.

Sally & Julie waiting on the rest of us.

Road Trot

Relaxing after a good ride.