5. Meet Evangeline Cadia

My dear friend Janell and her husband Tim welcomed Evangeline Cadia to the world in February, and yesterday I finally met her!  She is very thoughtful, easy-going (prolly from her mom), has a very sweet disposition, and her whole aura is beautiful.  Here she is taking a summer cat nap in her stroller while we dined on really (really really) good Mediterranean food in Indianapolis. 

She's so chic.  I realized, again, that I'm ready to be a mom when I helped put her in her little bath towel after her bath. Speaking of motherhood (the mysterious scary adventure many of my friends have begun), Janell is such a great mom.  I knew she would be, and it was delightful to see her in action.  New life is beautiful.  Evangeline's face is heart-shaped and her chubby cheeks are so pronounced in a profile, you almost miss them in real time because they'll be gone so soon.  I'll have to visit again so I don't miss it.  I continue to be completely taken by the footy pj's that have the mary jane shoes as part of the foot design.  I want my own pair.

I couldn't resist bringing her a little outfit (thanks, Target!).  And, I used my new craft carrier (called a "painter's kit" on sale at Pottery Barn right now) to give it a bow on my way out the door.  Bows make everything better.  I prefer them to wrapping, lately. 

The kit is quite fabulous, and the husby is okay with me leaving wrapping supplies out now.  (yay!)  I will put OTHER craft stuff in my craft closet, which I'm determined to create.  Stay tuned.  I will be sharing some inspiration images first.



14. Have Makayla Over

Makayla is the daughter of a close friend of mine.  She has the most outgoing personality, and the most adult taste in food!  They are moving to Arizona, and Makayla has started her own "KayKay Show" that she records on her mom's camera.  We were her second guests!  I can't wait to see who she books on her show in Arizona...  (We can't wait to visit.)

I made us "adult grilled cheese."  I used products from Trader Joe's to make delicious sourdough basil tomato grilled cheese with proscuitto-wrapped mozzerella.  The cheese comes in a nice little roll.  I sliced the cheese and layered it with fresh basil leaves and fresh cherry tomatoes (red and yellow) that had been cut in half and pressed a little with the side of my knive to flatten them a bit.  I buttered the outside of the bread and cooked in a non-stick pan.  The cheese melted really well, and Makayla ate every bite!

We also made impromptu cereal treat pops (see images below).  We used a basic rice crispy treat recipe and instead used Trader Joe's Strawberry Yogurt O's and chocolate covered sunflower seeds. 

1. Heat on low: four cups of mini marshmallows and three tablespoons of butter (Be patient, it will ment and you don't want to burn it!). 

2. Once it has a fluffy consistency and the marshmallows are melted, add in four cups of cereal and chocolate covered sunflower seeds. 

3.  Mix and turn with a buttered spatula until all of the marshmallow mixture is mixed evenly with the cereal. 

4.  Pour the mix in a bown lined with wax paper.  Let sit for five minutes (this makes it easier to work with). 

5.  Butter your hands (yes, do it).  Shape the mix into golf-ball sized balls and insert popsicle stick before you give it a final sqeeze to condense the mixture.

6.  Lay pops on a piece of wax paper.

7.  Let harden for an hour or more.  Enjoy!