Shades

we've been busy having lots of fun this week. we've played at the park, in the water, went to the movies, had a lunch date, ate sushi, colored lots, built spaceships and home depots, played cards, read, sang the itsy bitsy spider and the alphabet... my little dudes make my world a better and happier place and these pics remind me of what's most important, our little happy family. do you adore those shades or what?

thanks to all of you who have entered the CSN Stores Giveaway this week. it's been exciting to meet so many new bloggers who are now on my daily list of must reads. the winner will be announced on thursday, so you have plenty of time to get in your extra entries. 

have a great weekend my friends. thanks for stopping by.

CSN Stores Giveaway

While in the midst of decorating my home, I discovered the over 200 plus CSN stores online. Who would have thought that I could decorate my home in style with the likes of corelle dishware, herman miller chairs, iittala origo mix bowls, ET2 chandelier,  boon high chairs and bugaboo strollers.  Can't a girl throw in some toys for the kids while decorating the house?
  
Now, it's your turn to shop. The amazingly nice people at CSN Stores are offering one of you a gift certificate of $50 towards anything your heart desires at all of their stores. What is on your shopping list my friends?

How to Win?

Be a follower of A Spoonful of Dish and leave a comment below. 

Extra entries:

- Blog about it

- Become a fan of A Spoonful of Dish on Facebook

- Facebook about it

Please leave a separate comment for each entry

(Giveaway open to US & Canada readers only, I will chose a winner next Wednesday via Random)

Good Luck!

Bachelorette Reality and a Giveaway

Are you a fan of the Bachelorette this season?  The hubs and I have been glued to it and I have to say I keep asking myself why?  Mostly because it really is a silly show filled with awkward moments {at least for me} and almost no one makes it in the end.  It's to be expected because these people have a whirlwind romance that ends with a proposal {we hope} at the end of a short two month dating period. Oh and throw in celebrity of sorts and that just puts these couples on a downward spiral to an eventual breakup,  just look at Jake and Vienna.
This season though I find it even more strange with the media's fascination and analysis of the show.  InStyle magazine had a photo shoot with Ali {the bachelorette} to help her pick date outfits for when she was in New York.  I guess I only associated tabloid journalism with this type of show not InStyle.  To add to that, 20/20 did another expose this season on the Bachelorette/Bachelor series to analyze the show.  Seriously, should this show be taken this seriously?
Back to gossip, who do you think Ali will pick? My money is on Roberto... He's a cutie pie who can dance and he seems to really be into her.  Despite my rant above, I can't wait to see what happens next week.

Meet the cast:
Ali, she quit her job in Ad Sales at Facebook to find her husband on the Bachelorette.

Meet Roberto, Ali's soon to be fiance.... At least he's my pick. 

Meet Chris, the soon to be broken hearted.  He seems like a great guy so I feel for him, really. 

Who do you think Ali pick or do you even care?  What reality shows do you love?

By the way, tomorrow is an exciting time for The Dish.... It's our first GIVEAWAY!!!!!!

Make sure to stop by tomorrow and see what you can win. 

Photos 1/2/3

Wake up it's Monday

Mondays are hard.  If you know me, you'll often here me say that I spend Mondays recovering from my weekend.  Since I am a SAHM, I find it funny I am like this.  I have a lot planned for today and I will hope do it all.

This weekend was low key.  The hubs wasn't feeling good since he completed his 7th round of chemotherapy on Friday.  I was proud of him for taking it easy and listening to his body that clearly wanted sleep.  While the hubs slept, the boys and I played outside on Saturday.  Our play was interrupted by the growing number of wasps feeding on our grass.  Due to this, the hubs sprayed wasp spray on Sunday that kills the protein the wasps feed on.  By the afternoon, all the wasps were still around. Hmmm.. Any suggestions?

Sunday night we had a BBQ, our first at our new house, crazy I know but we've been busy.  I made, marinated the chicken while the hubs BBQ'd it.  It was sooo good.
The chicken was served with Whole Corn and Goat Cheese Salad.

Balsamic Dijon Chicken
Ingredients:
2 chicken breast, 6 thighs (without bones) all organic
1/3 cup of olive oil
1/4 cup of balsamic vinaigrette
1 tablespoon of Grey Poupon
4 cloves of garlic chopped
4 stems of Rosemary
a pinch of salt and pepper
1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper

Combine all ingredients, then pour over the chicken (either in a dish or plastic bag) and marinate for up to 4 hours.

Boiled Corn
In a large pot, fill half of the pot with water
Add a pinch of salt
Cook on high until water boils
Drop in corn for about 2 minutes and it's done.
Serve warm

Goat Cheese Salad
Ingredients:
5 oz. of Goat Cheese
4 handfuls of Organic Mixed Greens
1/3 cup of red onion (thinly sliced)
1 cup of tomatoes (I prefer cherry)
add more veggies you like. For example, I used half of a avocado, and a cup of chopped asparagus.
Sourdough Bread (cut up the bread and then broil in the oven for a couple of minutes - be sure to keep on eye on the bread so it doesn't burn)

Dressings:
Microwave Goat Cheese in a bowl for 30 sec. to 1 min.
Then mix with balsamic vinaigrette and olive oil
Pour over salad and toss together.

Happy Eating friends!
How was your weekend?  Make anything yummy?

This + That = My Closet

This is a drawing I did of my dream closet. Like?

I'd use this fabric by Rubie Green on the ottoman

The walls would be painted in Silver Sage by Restoration Hardware to match my room.

This Jonathan Adler light found here would light my clothes just right. 

The wood work would be in Espresso with silver knobs which is what is throughout our house. 

Now the floor, I am not sure if I'd add a rug but if I had too, it would be this beauty. Although I'd love a rug that combined the pink, silver sage, cream, white and espresso.. Any suggestions?

Now, I would add cedar siding to the floors to help keep moths out. I've seen it done in model homes and I luv it.  I would want to stain the cedar, if possible, so it wouldn't clash with the espresso wood. 

I almost forgot that I would get all new hangers in white or pink like these. 

What's your dream closet friends? 

While we're on the subject of closets, here's mine on a good day. 

Happy Friday lovelies! Any fun plans for the weekend?

Showers of fun

{the adorable invitations were created by Sheridan Designs}

{the cookies matched the invitation and were designed by babycakes}

{the chocolate cake was from Karen's Bakery, another fav of mine}

This past Sunday, the day after we returned from our holiday, I met up with my friends for a surprise baby shower to celebrate our friend Jamie {center}.  Jamie is pregnant with her third baby, her second girl. Kim and Shannon held the party at my favorite restaurant in town, Sienna and they did a great job on everything, from the invites, to the table setting, the lavender and brown themed bash went off without a hitch

In other news, I mentioned on Tuesday that the boys and I were going to grab a treat from the new Icing on the Cupcake.  They were so busy but well worth the wait.

{Jake was so excited to pick a cupcake}

{Jake carrying the box of yumminess}

What's your favorite treat?

My Man

Today I was hanging out with the hubs while he went through his 7th round of chemotherapy which means we've passed the halfway mark!  So, with 2 1/2 months left in his chemotherapy cycle I am full of hope.  During his treatment today we received the good news that his 2nd Pet scan showed no abnormal growth in his body. This solidifies that the chemotherapy is doing it's job.  After Eric's 1st Pet scan they located a lymph node that was inflamed which was concerning since they thought they removed all the cancer during his surgery in February yet the doctors assured us not to worry because the chemotherapy would shrink it and it has.  I've set up a CaringBridge website for the hubs and still working on the specifics but if you're curious about Eric's progress you can read more here.

I tried blogging on my iPad today and Safari couldn't support blogger in full, meaning I could only write a post not add pictures.  Has anyone figured out how to use their iPad and still blog?  I ask because we spend up to 12 hours at Eric's chemotherapy appointments over a three day period and it'd be great if I could use my iPad more. All suggestions welcomed!

Eric and the boys at Hetch Hetchy dam last week

P.S. Eric I love you.  You're the best partner and daddy!

Finally

The cupcake trend has arrived. Today the boys and I will be stopping by Icing on the Cupcake to nibble on some delicious treats.  To say that I am excited would be an understatement.  I am thinking I should hit the gym first... 

Are you a cupcake connoisseur? 

Leave it to J

I am back from a much needed holiday.  Although a holiday with kids is always work, right?  I'll post some pics this week of the last few weeks since we've been busy enjoying the summer.

In other news, while shopping at the Galleria recently, I stopped in at a favorite shop of mine, J.Crew.  I found an adorable sweater that was on clearance {can't locate a pic online} so I had to get it.  Then I spotted these adorable bags...

Aren't the illustrations adorable?  After using this bag all of last week, I am happy to report this is now my go to bag for summer and for $6.99, it's a steal.
Any great deals you've found lately?