July 2010 Archives

Tomatoes & Cucumbers

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I just wanted to provide an update that yes, I actually am getting edible goods from my garden.  Pretty tasty goods, too  :)  Tomatoes and cucumbers are doing well.  Yellow squash and zucchini, not so much.  At least not yet.

 

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Meet the Parents

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This past weekend my parents met my boyfriend's parents for the very first time.  We hosted a little barbeque and I was incredibly nervous.  Nervous about being hostess, and nervous about all the parents meeting.  Would they get along?  Would it be awkward?   

I am a perfectionist and was freaking out about everything.  There was pouring rain for a couple of days beforehand so I was upset that my flowers weren't looking their best.  I was worried about what we were going to serve.  When we were at the grocery store gathering supplies I wanted to get chicken, ground beef, and sausage so people would have a choice.  I wanted to do pulled pork and baby back ribs so that I'd be sure everyone would be able to have exactly what they wanted.  My boyfriend eventually convinced me that 2 options was plenty.  We settled for BBQ chicken and cheeseburgers.  I was worried our sides and appetizers weren't fancy enough.  I wanted to buy a million different types of drinks so that, again, everyone would have exactly what they wanted.  I was freaking out about the house not being clean enough.  Everything had to be perfect.  I am like this with most things.  I get very upset if I don't live up to perfection.  And since I'm not perfect, I get upset a lot! 

Now that it's all over, I can breathe again (until next time).  And I am happy to report that everything went better than I could have imagined.  Our parents clicked immediately.  Everyone was really happy with the appetizers, drinks, main meat choices, and side dishes.  The food was cooked to perfection.  The weather was perfect and the yard actually looked really good.  We sat outside for hours and hours and we didn't stop laughing until it was time for everyone to head home after an apple pie and vanilla ice cream dessert.

I am certain there will be many more such get-togethers in our future.  In fact, my parents have already invited everyone over to their lake house later this summer.

 

Do you have a good story to share of your parents meeting the parents of your significant other? 

Thirty Books I Love

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The following is a list of thirty of my favorite books that I've read over the last 10 years or so.  As you will see, once I read something I like, I will make it a point to find other books written by the same author assuming I will like those as well.  I am rarely disappointed.  I hope you enjoy the list and find a good book or two to read!

  1. The Help - Kathryn Stockett
  2. White Oleander - Janet Fitch
  3. Middlesex - Jeffrey Eugenides
  4. In Her Shoes - Jennifer Weiner
  5. My Sister's Keeper - Jodi Picoult
  6. The Last Song - Nicholas Sparks
  7. Something Borrowed - Emily Giffin
  8. Something Blue - Emily Giffin
  9. Baby Proof - Emily Giffin
  10. Love the One You're With - Emily Giffin
  11. The Glass Castle: A Memoir - Jeannette Walls
  12. Good in Bed - Jennifer Weiner
  13. She's Come Undone - Wally Lamb
  14. I Know This Much Is True - Wally Lamb
  15. Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert
  16. Joy in the Morning - Betty Smith
  17. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn - Betty Smith
  18. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
  19. American Wife - Curtis Sittenfeld
  20. Prep: A Novel - Curtis Sittenfeld
  21. The Man of My Dreams - Curtis Sittenfeld
  22. Little Earthquakes - Jennifer Weiner
  23. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
  24. The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks
  25. Rise and Shine: A Novel - Anna Quindlen
  26. The Pilot's Wife - Anita Shreve
  27. Light on Snow - Anita Shreve
  28. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
  29. Fall On Your Knees - Ann-Marie MacDonald
  30. Angela's Ashes: A Memoir - Frank McCourt

 * Disclaimer: All link are Amazon affiliate links

Now it's your turn. What are some of your favorite books from the last decade?  Share your thoughts on any of the books above, I'd love to hear your opinions.

Meet Midnight Mama

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Midnight Mama is a lovely young lady in Canada soon to embark on her thirties.  She became a mother with the birth of her daugher last fall and recently started a blog.  On her site, Dear Daughter, she shares both funny and thoughtful stories and experiences of her daily life as a young mother sprinkled with letters to her daughter.  To find out more about Midnight Mama and her blog, check out her about page.  I am confident you'll want to stick around and read more once you do.  She is a wonderful storyteller and her posts are very relatable.

She also has a 30 before 30 list that she is working hard to complete before the big 3-0 milstone. 

Garden Update: Exceeding Expections

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My garden this year is completely surpassing my original expections.  When I was first placing the delicate little plants into the ground I really didn't have high hopes.  My previous attempt failed pretty miserably and didn't really believe this year would be much, if any, better.  I was wrong.  Very wrong, and I am thrilled!  I should have some very fresh veggies atop my dinner plant and in my salads very soon.  I am practically bursting with anticipation.  I am having so much fun going out to check and work on the garden every single day.  It's so fun when you can see a difference in even just one day.  It really does grow that fast.  I greatly underestimated how well these veggies would do and how much space they would take up.  But I suppose it is better to have than over the opposite problem.  :)

 

7-10 full garden.JPGleft: green beans; front row: cucumbers, carrots, yellow squash, zucchini; back row: red pepper, and two tomato plants

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green beans

7-10 green pepper.JPG

green pepper

7-10 patio tomatoes.JPG

patio tomatoes

7-10 yellow squash.JPG

yellow squash

 

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Related Posts:

2010 Veggie Garden: Day 1

2010 Veggie Garden: Mid-June Update

About This Blog

Stories, advice, and random thoughts from a thirty-something female.

Many people in their thirties are dealing with common issues and concerns. Some of these include buying a home, establishing a career, starting a family, and dealing with aging parents. I will blog about all these things as well as other every day stuff as I make my way through this third decade of life.

You can read more about the author behind thirty-something blog on the About Me page.

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