I met my husband when we were both seniors in college. He's a little younger than I am but wiser. He's more logical, and funnier. He's easy to be with and my forever companion.

He is an amazing husband and an incredible father.

I adore time a part from the rest of the world, just with him. I also adore time with the rest of the world MORE when he's around.

         

As I mentioned yesterday, we had the chance (really we made the chance, since it is us cheapskates/overachievers that had not set aside the time to do so) to enjoy a dinner out. Don't get me wrong, I love taking the whole family out for a meal, but getting to share each other's delectable entrees and have an uninterrupted adult conversation...and actually look my best friend in the eyes for an evening...well, that's just pure goodness.

No matter the duration of our dates, we always fit in a trip to a bookstore for coffee and some dreaming. We both gather our stacks of favorite magazines to peruse and pour over the pages of Coastal Living and Architectural Digest together. Our future ocean/lake home is going to have some amazing views and interior design, I tell 'ya.

Whether it's sitting together on the deck to enjoy the sunset or just holding hands as we walk around lakeshore city streets with our children, summer goodness is truly ampliflied by the warmth of my hubby.

How are you spending the summer with the one you love? Any cheap, easy ideas you want to throw our way?

XOXO, MJ

Welcome to Monday, friends! How was your weekend?

We wrapped up some swim lessons, headed out to the blueberry fields for a second harvest, buried our first family pet (RIP Violet the fish), and the hubby and I had a few hours to ourselves for a much-needed date night.

Typically we manage a monthly date night, but with the busy-ness of summer, we had let the time slip by. So, bring in the lovely neighborhood babysitter, Mommy and Daddy are headed out. We tried out a new-er local restaurant which specializes in hyper-local cuisine, and it did not disappoint.

Date nights are always such a joy, and summer date nights are my favorite. The dresses, the heels, and even the touches of floral goodness. I'm a flower-in-your-hair kind of gal, and I can't resist popping a fresh rose in my pulled back locks to add an extra touch of special to a night out together.

That dress: Call me boring, but a little red dress is still a great go-to for flirty fun. I love wrap dresses, and this one is so easy and affordable...I couldn't say no.

Those earrings: Simple, silver sparkle that stand out enough without stealing the show.

That clutch: Snake-embossed. I can't handle too much, but if you make it silver and sleek, it kind of makes any outfit complete.

The perfect red lipstick: I'm a new fan of red on the lips. I've been pretty much scared of it until this summer when I finally felt like now might be the right time to give it a whirl. I'm a fan of orange-reds right now. How about you...is red too much?

Those shoes: When I'm wearing a bold color, I like the shoes to play a lesser role. For summer I'm drawn to tan/flesh tones, and these sandals have the height that I like.

How about you, friends? What are your key pieces for a summer dinner out with the one you love?

Wishing you a wonderful week! XOXO, MJ

What's up Tuesday! We're heading back into Grown-Up Goodness (to find more of this great stuff we adults can love all summer long, check out that word link over there ------>).

This week: grilling. When I was compiling my summer list, I thought of all the delectable tastes of summer. Last week I shared one of my new summer baking faves. And this week, I want to offer two super simple recipes that we've served to happy customers!

Grilling offers our family of five easy prep, splendid flavor mixes, and delightfully quick clean-up. My husband is our main grill master, which also means I get to take the night off when he mans the machine. Hoo-ray.

One mainstay on our grill: sweet corn. I'm a Midwesterner. And I love my corn. If you have not grilled the lovely ears yet, you must try it...the sugary, warm sweetness of it all.

Prep your corn by gently peeling back the outer layers of the husk. **Be sure that all of the husk remains attached at the base as you carefully dive into the corn silk.

Remove all the silk. Little hands are great helps here.

Wrap up your ears with the husks, turn upside down, and immerse in a large pot of water (with a dash of salt). This soaking helps prevent grill burn. We usually soak ours overnight, but in a pinch a lunch to dinner soak (4-5 hours) does the trick.

Grilling time is 10-15 minutes total. Make sure to turn the corn as you see a side of the husk drying or blackening. When the kernels turn from dull to shiny (and juicy!) then remove those golden ears.

From here you can just peel back the husks and chomp away. Or, you can grab a trash bag while you're out by the grill and keep the mess contained. Remove the charred husks outside and bring just the gorgeous kernels to the table.

I'm someone who could eat just corn for any dinner (my fave summer dinner = 2 ears of corn, salt, and a ripe tomato). The kiddos love lots of butter and a touch of salt on theirs. We've tried some great spices and parmesan cheese for other satisfying meals.

Another grill goody from this week: Feta Portabellas

First off, remove the stems from these jumbo treats. We grilled three for our meal. Wash the caps and set them aside to dry. In a bowl, mix 4T balsamic vinegar, and 4T olive oil. Add in 3t of minced garlic. Mix, mix, mix.

Pour the mixture into the caps. Pop it on the grill for about 15 minutes until the 'shrooms feel tender. For the last minute on the grill, add chunks of feta into the caps. Let those warm up and then remove.

So meaty, good, and flavorful.

My friend, Amy, has a great board with all kinds of grilling ideas for summer. Check it out!

Are you firing up the grill this summer for some grown-up goodness? Do tell!

XOXO,
MJ