I'm in love

I have been looking for the perfect Spring Roll recipe and have found it! Previously, the best spring rolls could only be found at The Lemon Grass. I was reading a Heart friend's blog, Lindsay, and learned about her cousin, The Rookie Cookie! She had what I was looking for. I have subscribed to Rookie Cookie feeds. My family loved the spring rolls and I made a General Tso/Rice Vinnegar dipping sauce that had a kick! Awesome!

Thankyou!

My brother's Birthday dinner outing!

My two favorite things....Hearts and Food! What a combination!

Outing with Heart Families at Fairytale Town

What an awesome day! Check out Channel 10 at 5:00 and 6:00PM for extensive coverage on our group outing!

Winner Announced

I have chosen the winner through the Random Number Generator and the winning number is 19. Here is the post!

Hmmm. Chocolate, of course. yummy bath products? A great read, and either fabulous tea or coffee to go with it? Hair care stuff. The list is endless. . . (smile)

Thanks!
Heather

Bloggy Giveaways!

My giveaway item this time is a "Mom Goodie Bag", lots of cool stuff inside. All you have to post is, what would you like to see in this bag (no guarantees!).

Good Luck! Winner will be announced on August 2nd.

Kyburz or bust!

The three of us are leaving for the beautiful Sierra Nevada Mountains in Kyburz today. Alexia has opted out do to a work schedule and my mom will be hanging around to make sure she behaves. There is a lovely cabin that we use right along the American River. We will be back on Monday with photos and stories I am sure.

Three Years Ago Today.....

Alexia had just got home after her 5th open heart surgery. Dr. Richard Mainwaring had done a Aortic Valve Replacement with a St. Jude Mechanical Valve. Although recovery went relatively smoothly, we did ride that, all too familiar, rollercoaster breifly. During surgery, Alexia had a complete blood tranfusion, having bled so much and had some difficulty with atrial flutter, where they had to do a cardioversion to get her back in a normal heart rythym. Some of my friends are either going through or have just gone through the ridiculous ride that we all go through when having a child with a CHD and it makes so many memories very fresh! Click on the link above, 5th Open Heart Surgery and humor me through that silly video, it actually makes sense!

Tonight Alexia and I are going to see the Sacramento Music Circus version of Sweeney Todd, unfortunately, Johnny will not be there but I think I can still sit through it!

A Heart Mom Outing!

Front to back left to right. Gina, Amber, Andrea and Me

But really it was just 4 friends going out to dinner and to a musical. Recently, a friend gave me 4 tickets to Gypsy at the Sacramento Music Circus. I decided to invite these 3 ladies and we started off the evening at R15 which, despite a few glitches that Gina quickly resolved, was good and we had a lively time. During dinner, we talked about our heart children, only a few times and no tears were shed. On to the show with only a few minutes to spare. We all needed the night out and I can't wait to do it again.

Birthday Gift

I am in heaven, I received a gift card for William Sonoma from my dear friend Lorraine and today Alexia and I went out and bought this beautiful set of Emile Henry Couleurs Mixing Bowls in this beautiful shade of pink. Only I would get so excited about something like this.

The Simple Woman’s Daybook–July 12th

The Simple Woman’s Daybook–July 12th
FOR TODAY–July 12th

Outside my window…heat and smoke!

I am thinking…that some wine and a delicious dinner with my friends tonight is going to be perfect.

I am thankful for…my family and friends.

From the kitchen…Leftovers for my family since I will be out tonight.

I am creating…this blog post instead of doing any sort of house cleaning....which I should be doing instead.

I am going…to actually do something with my hair for tonight, I hope my flat iron still works!

I am wearing tonight these darling shoes that I picked up at Nordstrom the other day.!

I am reading…Katrina Kittles, The Kindness of Strangers

I am hoping…That the weather will stay on the cooler side for Aden's Zoo Camp this week.

I am hearing…nothing.....awwww peace.

Around the house…My kids are playing a board game and my husband is at the gym.

One of my favourite things…is cooking!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week…Lots of cooking and picking up the strange item on the post before this and a couple playdates.

I found this idea on Heart of the Prairie.

Guess what this item is

We are now the proud owners of one of these, it costs $755.00 (not including tax). Can anyone guess what it is?

Lemonade and Taro's!

This past weekend Aden had a brainstorm of an idea to have a lemonade stand. He did all the work himself. He made the sign, set up the table and got the organic strawberry lemonade (from Trader Joes)iced and ready, his cash box and was ready to go. He wanted to be out front of our house and I seriously had my doubts if he would sell anything. He sold for about 2 and 1/2 hours and made $39.30! He was thrilled!

This past Monday Alexia treated our family to Taro's. We love that restaurant and always end the evening with shopping at Barns and Noble.

Yesterday was the first day of our class revolving playdates. Yesterday play day was at my friend Lorraines and today is at my house. We have every day of the week filled with optional play dates at various homes from 1-5PM. With weather at 108, we will surely be in the pool most of the time.

The 4th!

We had a lovely celebration yesterday with my mom and her husband Ed and my brother Dominic. I made a delicious variation on a potato salad with a homemade BBQ sauce over spice rubbed chicken breasts. The BBQ sauce was excellent with a hint of chipotle....I never knew how easy it would be to make your own. The potato salad was roasted red potatos, with fresh, cooked green beans, a lemon/olive oil dressing topped with crumbled _______ (what do you think, if you guess you will win a small prize).

We were out untill near 11:00 PM shooting off fireworks and drinking rootbeer floats with our neighbors. It was really nice. It got cool enough where I had to cover the children with blankets for the show. Every year we are showered with lot's of fireworks from my friend who is head of TNT, we were spoiled again.

Today brings a warmer day. I will be cooking a dinner for Drew and his family as they adjust back to their normal life.

Photos from our night!

Congratulations to Lexi and her Mommy and Daddy!

Auction closed!

Lexi and her Mommy and Daddy were the highest bidders on the firework set.....Congrats and have a happy 4th to everyone.

Disneyland is like a well oiled machine.

Off we go!

Tomorrow we are leaving for 5 days at Disneyland/California Adventure. My mom is taking Alexia, Aden and myself and Carl will be "baching' it at home. Our rental van is slowly getting packed and the "kids" are excited!

If you know me well enough, you know I am not excited. A homebody by nature, the drive is not something I am looking forward to. I am sure once I get there, my mood will change but untill then...... Leave me a comment or 2 that I can use to get "amped" for my trip. I may even bring you back a souvenier!

Raffle will continue but.......

Drew and his family continue to hang out at LPCH at Stanford. It will be 4 weeks tomorrow. They are about as unhappy as their extended family and friends are, wanting to get this over with. Drew continues to heal and with his loving parents by his side, constantly, he is doing better. Our raffle for them will continue and we have sold so many tickets but I hesitate to stop it untill Drew goes home!

I am leaving town on Monday with my mom, daughter and son, therefore I am relinquishing my duties to a fabulous person, Gina!. If you would like to buy raffle tickets, get a emailed copy of the flyer or help in another way, please contact Gina at g.dyke@sbcglobal.net.

Other than that, we will continue our prayers and good thoughts for this wonderful family.

Items in the raffle are:

$100 Mikuni
$100 Ruth Chris Steak House
$100 The Waterboy
Gift Card at C Webb's Center Court Restaurant
personalized baby blanket with matching booties, made by Beth
$40 Gift Certifcate for Mary Kay

A raffle for a dear family!

Handmade, personalized baby blanket with matching booties donated by Beth



I have grown to care deeply about a family I met through the Hearts of Hope support group that I helped start. May 23rd, Drew, their four-year-old son, had complicated open heart surgery to repair a congenital heart defect at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. He had been there 12 days when they discovered that he had a wound infection where his surgical site is. The Doctor's are now saying he will be there an additional 2 weeks with heavy duty antibiotics. His mom and dad are there along with his 2-year-old sister, Ava. I am holding a raffle for Drew and his family. A few restaurants have donated gift certificates to raffle off including, Mikuni's, C-Webb's Center Court Restaurant, Ruth Chris's Steak House and The Waterboy. For those who live in and around Sacramento, know these are high-end restaurants and they feed you well. Raffle tickets are $10 each or three for $25. Please consider buying a raffle ticket or 2 or 3 to help this family as they endure this hurdle.

You can email me at cvboesen@comcast.net or call me at 916-799-2508.

A funny story and strawberries

St. Jude Medical® Mechanical Heart Valve

My mom took Aden, Lexi and I out for a bite yesterday. As we were sitting in our booth, I kept hearing a "beeping" noise. I could not figure out where it came from. We all checked our phones, purses for toys etc nothing. I was convinced that it was an alarm telling me that Lexi's, St. Jude Mechanical Valve, was failing or maybe it ran on batteries and they were dead. I freaked, to say the least. I asked the restaurant manager to figure out what that noise was and he did, the thermostat above our heads was running on low batteries. Panick Attack, ever had one?

On another note, I have found Farmer E Fo Lee, not far from my house is a little strawberry stand. $17.00 for a flat of the most delicious strawberries you have ever had.

Lot's and lot's of parties and a circus!

Oki doke, An interview I was a part of for the new PCV Surgeon the hospital is considering (more on that later), 2 B-day parties, a party at the ICU Doctor's house that Carl works with and throw in a circus and we had a full weekend!