Picnic in the park

Warmer temps mean picnic time in my book.  I am all about eating and entertaining outdoors.  It's just so easy.  What better way to entertain than to invite all your friends to the park for a little dining al fresco?  No need to worry about cleaning the house or serving a fancy meal on your fine china.

 

Just grab your picnic basket, and you're ready to go!

A simple menu that offers a little something for everyone, including the kiddos!

 I went with fruit, corn dip, pasta salad, pimento cheese sandwiches, chicken salad sandwiches and brownies.

Picked up the pimento cheese and chicken salad from Whole Foods and made the sandwiches that afternoon.

Since I was focusing on making it easy, went with brownies from a box mix {they were SO good!}.

This pasta salad has become one of my go-to sides. 

It's so easy!

 

Pesto Pasta Salad

1 lb bowtie pasta

6 oz pre made pesto

Feta cheese

Cherry tomatoes {halved}

Pine nuts

 

Boil pasta, rinse and drain.

Add pesto and stir.

Add cheese, tomatoes and pine nuts to taste.

Can be served warm or cold.

 

My favorite appetizer is this corn dip.

Again, so easy!

 

Corn Dip

2 {8 oz} packages of cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup lime juice
1 T. ground cumin
1/2 t. salt
dash of black pepper
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 {16 oz} can of whole kernel corn, drained
1 cup chopped pecans

 

 Beat cream cheese, lime juice, cumin, salt, pepper and oil with an electric mixer until blended.  

Stir in corn and pecans.

  Serve with tortilla or pita chips. 

Once your picnic is packed you just need some good friends, and you are all set.

What more could you want?

Fabulous friends, food and fellowship.

Nothing better!

 

So what are you packing in your picnic basket these days?

Scenes from the weekend...

Happy Monday friends!  Did everyone enjoy a lovely weekend?  We managed to despite the monsoon that took over Nashville.  Holy lots of rain!  Made for good sleeping in weather though.  Lounged Saturday morning and cooked up my little biscuit boy's favorite breakfast.  He inhaled three biscuits.  We are talking the jumbo grand kind.  Seriously!  Met up for lunch with a good friend in town from Louisiana.  Loved reminiscing and laughing.  A little boot shopping downtown, and we headed home to freshen up for a night out on the town sans the little man.  Overindulged Italian style at my new favorite spot and enjoyed the amazing talents of Band of Horses.  Nothing better than a concert at the Ryman.  Sunday the flood waters subsided, and we managed to brave Chuck E. Cheese's for the first time.  Poor little man needed to get out of the house, and I was not about to go to the mud puddle that was our park.  G was a little less than impressed with all the games and such but of course loved the pizza.  I think B had more fun using up the tokens.  Thankfully it did the trick, and the little guy crashed when we got home.  B and I curled up and took in a movie.  Perfect end to a relaxing weekend. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello Sunshine! Guest Post

Happy weekend everyone!  

It's a rainy one here in Nashville, so I'm thrilled to be guest posting for Darci over at [the good life].

Her blog is one of my absolute favorites, and I am LOVING her Hello Sunshine! series.

What an honor for me to share my Box of Sunshine!

Go check out the post, and I know Darci and her darling blog will become one of your daily reads.

Pinspired: Box of Sunshine

If you are anything like me, there is nothing better than getting a package in the mail.  Especially when it's one you are not expecting {don't get me wrong I love getting all the stuff I order online!}.  So often I only send packages for special occasions like birthdays, Christmas, new babies, etc.  But the other day I was scrolling through my Pinterest boards and found this lovely I pinned a while ago.

 

As soon I as I saw it, I was pinspired thinking of a friend whose day I needed to brighten with a little "sunshine."

 A quick trip to Target {and Trader Joe's for my favorite Meyer Lemon Cookie Thins}, and I had plenty of yellow goodies to stock my sunshine box.

This is my favorite!  Nothing like instant sun in a can.

Who doesn't love a good candle?

Packed everything up...

And topped with these lovely free printables.

 

Here's hoping this little box brightened her day. :)

 

Have you ever sent a fun care package just because?

What did you put in it?

Picnic Fun

Now that the warmer temps are here, I am all about some picnics. What is it about dining al fresco that is just so good for the soul? We hosted our first picnic of the season Sunday and enjoyed such fun with friends. Pics and recipes coming soon, but here's a little inspiration for your next picnic.

Picnic Fun by rachelgbolton on Polyvore

1. Picnic Plus Divided Serving Dish
2. Red Striped Paper Straws
3. Crate and Barrel Paper Plates
4. Target Striped Picnic Blanket
5. Crate and Barrel Picnic Basket
6. Plastic Mason Jar
 

More from Meg: Guest Post

Today I am so excited to be guest posting over at More from Meg!  

She and her hubs are moving to Nashville as we speak, so I thought I'd give them a taste of some of my favorites around the city.  

Be sure and check out my post, and let me know what you love about Music City!

Scenes from the weekend...

Well sadly not much organization took place in the Bolton household this weekend.  Call me lazy, but other things just got in the way {like a good nap!}.  B was off to Knoxville for a concert Saturday, so G and I tackled a Junior League project for Rejoice Ministries{don't tell B but he also went to his first ballet rehearsal!} and finished with a trip to Target.  No better way to spend a Saturday in my opinion. Snagged some much needed toy bins and fabulous picnic finds!  Put them to good use Sunday with a park picnic date with friends.  Perfect end to a relaxing weekend.  Hope yours was fun as well!

 

 

 

 

 

Let's get organized

Thank you all so much for your support after yesterday's post.  I am just so touched by all the kind words and advice received from comments here, text messages and Facebook comments.  You ladies have some fabulous ideas on my "new normal" as a stay at home mom {still working on a better title}!

 

Happy Friday!  Any big plans for the weekend?  My plans include getting our house organized.  Last weekend was all about cleaning, but now I am ready to really get our house in order.  We are talking purging and cleansing and reorganizing.  I see many trips with many bags to Goodwill in our future!  Call it my nesting instinct, but converting a guest room into a nursery and a man cave into a play room has become my obsession.  G is going to stay in school for a couple weeks after my last day so I can focus on some of these projects, but here's hoping I can at least get started this weekend.  Here's some inspiration I have found on Pinterest.

 

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Are you working on any reorganization projects?

Any tips?

 

Time for a change

Two weeks from today I will officially be a stay at home mom.  Yes, you read that right.  I officially gave my notice and am leaving my full-time job to be a full-time mom.  I have to be honest, I am not a huge fan of the term, "stay at home mom."  It just sounds so dated and not at all true to that role.  I am not sure what I would call it though.  SAHMs, what do you {we!} prefer to be called??

 

And if I'm really being honest {which I always try to be!}, I have to say, I'm a little nervous.  Actually, a lot nervous.  Don't get me wrong.  I am beyond thrilled for this extra time with the little man before the baby comes and ecstatic to be there for every little moment with the both of them come August.  I guess I'm just a little scared of losing my identity.  Gosh, how's that for revealing?  Is that selfish of me to say?  Again, please hear me loud and clear in saying I am oh so very grateful to be in a position to get to stay home {thank you to my hardworking hubs!}.  It's just that if you know me, you know I'm a worker.  I was always the one growing up that had three jobs each summer.  I've never not worked {forgive my double negative}.  I enjoy working and have always been very career-driven.  I was never the one to set out hoping to get married and have kids and stay home.  Yes, I wanted all that one day, but I always dreamed of my success first. 

Little did I know that "success" I was dreaming of would not come from being a wannabe Katie Couric or having a high paid job.  It seems the older I get, and more mature in my faith I am, I quickly recognize it's not about me.

I define success now by my relationship with the Lord, my marriage, my parenting and my relationship with others.  This is what truly matters.

 

I wholeheartedly believe that God has blessed me with this opportunity to be a mom and this is my season and my time to focus on that.

 

I do have to share that the most interesting thing I've found throughout preparing to leave my job for play dates and sippy cups is the reaction from various people.  Remember that scene from Sex and the City when all the girls are at brunch and Charlotte shares with them she is quitting her job at the gallery...

Let's just say I've received some similar reactions.  And oddly enough, I find myself feeling as though I have to justify my decision to these people.  I totally go into Charlotte mode rattling off all the things other than being a mom to George {as if that won't keep me fully occupied!} that I plan on doing to stay busy.  You should hear me going on and on about Junior League and church volunteer opportunities.  Luckily I have yet to claim I'm on the board for the pediatric children's wing at the hospital.  We've all seen the episode, yes?  The point is regardless of what anyone else thinks, whether they are thrilled for me {and there are plenty...didn't mean to discount all my supportive friends and family} or confused by my desire to want to stay home, it doesn't matter.  I am doing what I know is best for my family and me.  And you know what, {nerves and anxiety aside} I really am excited.  This is a new season for me, and I cannot wait to see what is in store.

 

One piece of advice I'm taking with me is from a friend's mom who shared it with her as she was preparing for the same transition.  She told her simply, "Stay interesting."  And that's just what I plan on doing.  Plus, who knows what may come from my time at home.  A new dream, a new venture or a new opportunity I have yet to even imagine.

But you know what, even if it is just dirty diapers and big messes, I'm okay with that.  Because being a mom to my little man and this babe on the way is truly better than any dream I ever could have imagined for myself.  I am so ready to just soak up each and every moment {even the poopy ones!}.

So, all you SAHMs out there...

Did you experience any of this?

Any advice?

Words of wisdom?