The BBQ..

The BBQ was so much fun! My friend Shauna put together these decorations by having us all bring our children's cowgirl/cowboy gear. Then she brought two backs of Hoody's roasted peanuts that we scattered and smashed a little.
Bandannas and sunflowers ...
.. and lots of good food, but by then the people were there, which is when I stopped taking pictures and went to the party myself.

A Happy Hat...

I love this hat and the photograph!

Found on Etsy

See it HERE!

BBQ Chicken Sandwiches...

I have to say that I found some cool things while shopping at Costco yesterday. Foster Farms has this 10 pound bag of individually frozen (not frozen in a big lump mind you..) INDIVIDUALLY frozen chicken breasts. A lady in my neighborhood told me about these and I'm trying them out for a big neighborhood BBQ today. I like the look of them because they are fairly normal sized and don't look as though they've been pumped full of hormones. If they turn out to taste good, I think I will buy a bag for myself to just keep in the freezer. It would be so nice to just be able to grab one or two for dinner when needed. There were 27 in each of the bags I purchased.

My recipe for BBQ chicken sandwiches is simple: Kraft Honey BBQ sauce (any kind would be great..) And chicken. If you own a crock pot, you just put the frozen chicken and the BBQ sauce all in. I don't have a crock pot.. so I just use a regular oven safe pot with a lid.

I put the chicken right in frozen at 8AM with the BBQ sauce and I will cook it until about 4-5 PM @ 275 degrees. Shred with a fork. I like to cook it all at 300 for the last 1/2 hour before I serve it.. just to be safe.

Costco had some really fabulous different rolls that come from nice local bakeries. Baci rolls from Granato's and sour dough rolls from Vosen's. I thought either would be nice for my party, but the Baci rolls were kind of prettier.. so I got those.

Anyway, that's a 3 ingred. recipe. I'm not sure if it fits healthy.. because there is a lot of sugar, but if you make a salad.. it's almost a no effort meal.

Whites...

Everyone who knows me well, knows that I adore rainbow bright colors.. but, not so well known is that I also really love white. You'd never guess because I wear black everyday, but I love white linens.

I paid for part of my college education by working for 3 years at a commercial laundry. The facility had washing machines that did hundreds of pounds of sheets at the same time. I loved the sound they made.. it was almost like the ocean. I loved the feeling of the steam in the air and the smell of stacking clean linens.

It wasn't always pleasant job. I found a turtle and a snake in a bag of lab coats.. and subsequently saved them from being washed in one of the large commercial machines. I actually had some trouble at the particular stop.. Another time I went to pick up lab coats.. I became curious about a stuffed Alligator.. who wasn't actually stuffed. I nearly had a heart attack when he jumped and snapped at me.

I also occasionally picked up the lab coats from a local slaughter house.. I nearly became a vegetarian.. not out of compassion.. just because the uniforms did not smell good lets say.

Anyway, I did love that job. It was one of my favorites and I came to have quite a few opinions about laundry which of all the household chores is still by far my favorite. If you are interested in a few tips.. you can read on..

1. I keep white sheets, towels, bath mats and bar mops in my home. They can all be bleached. While I keep colored towels in all the baths for drying hands and decorative purposes, when I get out of the shower, I want a big, clean, white, fluffy towel waiting for me. I love to fall asleep surrounded by the smell of good, clean, white, cotton sheets. And, for obvious reasons.. bath mats and bar mops are better off bleached.

2. I am opposed to perfumed laundry soap. I know that many people like certain perfumes found in soap, but I find that if I am sitting next people (I have quite a nose.. mind you) I can smell their laundry soap, deodorant and perfume mixing. I find this particularly annoying on men. Most laundry soap perfumes are floral in their base and you don't want to send your son to school smelling like a bouquet. I love Tide Free & Cheer Free & Gentle which only smell clean and do a great job.

3. I am a big believer in Borax and even though we have soft water in our home. I add Borax to every load. It does so many things that it's difficult to list. It's especially great for non-bleach able whites and delicates. It's wonderful for getting that icky smell out of colored towels (you won't have noticed that if you use perfumed soap.. but it's there). If you have a small baby.. it's a must have for spit up stains etc. But, just read the back of the box.. it does all those wonderful things.

4. I prefer dryer sheets as opposed to adding liquid softener for several reasons. Even with the Downy Ball or whatever.. I would mess that up timing wise and secondly... softeners separate the fibers in your clothing.. thus making them soft.. but also reducing the amount of wear you get out of them. So, when I do a large load of the fluffy white towels.. I use a full dryer sheet, but for clothing I only use 1/2 a dryer sheet which is enough to take out the static and soften the clothes sufficiently. Dryer sheets also can leave some residue on the lint screen of your dryer. Lint screens should be rinsed and air dried about every 6 months to increase the life of your machine. I have the same problem with perfumed dryer sheets and use Bounce Free sheets which are somewhat expensive, but if you are buying the box of 120, but getting about 200 loads out of the box.. it's not so bad.

Giveaway Friday...

The 4 Seasons: Something fun for each season of the year...

These photos represent just part of the prize.. there will be some original photo cards as well, but they aren't finished. Also, this is a new box design.. it isn't flawed, it just isn't the final design, but I hope you'll like it anyway.

To see more LOVE BOXES...

Visit

THe LoVE BoXEs SHoP
Enter your name just once one the comments below and I will draw a name Monday Midnight EST. Spread the word. :)

ljune is the Winner! Congratulations!

please contact me love.boxes@att.net with your address so I can send you your prize!

Good Manners Thursday...

On of my favorite etiquette books, Better Than Beauty: A Guide to Charm, is a really fun read because some of it is a little out-dated. It was written originally in 1938 and there are passages about proper dress and hygiene that sound funny in a day when women wear pants and often shower at least once a day if not more. However, some rules of grace are timeless. The book makes the point that it is nearly impossible to be charming if you are wearing uncomfortable, pinchy shoes. True. No?
It also talks about Gratitude without which there can be no grace or charm..
"There is scarcely an hour that passes in which someone doesn't do something for you. It may be the grocery boy. It may be the mailman. Most of all, it will be the people with whom you work and live. Do you stop to realize the humanity of these givers of good things that make your life comfortable? ... Are they mere scenery, something you paid for and so needn't be aware of? You can't afford to think so. Your attitude toward those who serve you reflects your attitude toward everyone else."
I think this is why Princess Diana was so beloved. She was not a perfect person, but she was a person of great social station who was famous for treating everyone beautifully. She comforted the sick, held the hands of aids patients and was famous for gratitude. Her thank yous always arrived the next day.
When I was little, I would watch how my dad treated waiters at restaurants and gas station attendants and the people who worked at the garden centers. Often they remembered his name because he treated them with such grace and respect for which he was rewarded with exceptional service.
One time my husband needed a car inspection done post haste. The car was borderline and we needed the car to last for six more months until we could purchase a new one. C took a box of donuts down to the guys at the garage and explained his situation. The car passed inspection just in time. He could have yelled and had a temper tantrum. That does work for some people, but why sell your grace so cheaply and burn bridges.
"'Thank-you' is a tribute, a recognition that we live by mutual aid and mutual consideration. Once you get this fundamental feeling that each of us lives by the grace of God and our fellowman, you will detect a new note in your thank-you. It ceases to be just a phrase. You stop wondering whether it is necessary to say it. It turns into graciousness and reflects itself in your every human contact."
Just a few weeks ago, I went to a new restaurant with some old friends. The waiter was new and quite enthusiastic, but very awkward for such a nice place. I was a little embarrassed for him. He kind of went on and on although he didn't quite seem to have his lines down. I was just a little bit uncomfortable. But, my friends all treated him as though he were the best waiter ever and what could have been uncomfortable in other company was a lovely evening. When I went home that evening, I was thinking how lucky I am... my friends are a lot like Princess Diana. :)

The Butterfly Hat...

No one seemed to like this butterfly hat that Princess Beatrice wore to the latest royal wedding... but I loved it!

Here's a better photo.

Sticky Brown Rice and Veggies...

This is really an easy one. Make your rice. Chop any veggies you like and steam in a microwave safe container in 1/2 inch water for 4 minutes. Combine everything and add lite soy sauce, sea salt and pepper.
This is my favorite brown rice. I love it! It's now available in bulk at Costco. It makes a healthy brown organic rice that turns out as yummy as your favorite sticky rice every time.

More Manly Tooth Fairy Delivery..

See the truck here
and the tractor here

There is also a pirate and a captain toothless..

Circe's Trees...

Circe has written another masterpiece. Don't miss it.

P.S. Get a box of kleenex first.

Harry Potter...

We finally finished the whole series last night. I feel like someone should give me an award. I loved books 1-3 (you know.. the short ones). I am not a series person, with the exception of Jan Karon's Mitford series, which I adore, I have a difficult time if a series is longer than 3-4 book and usually move on.
And, Rowling can write teens. If they did one more bit of whining.. I was going to send them all to time out! But, the ending was great and c is really happy with me for sticking it out (I didn't whine) and it all goes back to the library today! Hooray!

Prince Caspian...

Little c and I have listened to this series several times on recorded book from the library and they are wonderful. In the film, they had to add just a bit to Prince Caspian to make it a full-length feature film, but for the most it was a fantastic job.. the kiss and the lame theme song at the end weren't quite on target and the Lion made a comment that I didn't think fit.. but for the most part it was really great.
It is more intense than the first film a bit and quite violent so you have to know your child.

Bella...

Bella is a story about a man who has done a terrible and thoughtless thing for which he cannot find redemption. He is haunted by a mistake that has shattered his dreams and left him broken.

In a moment of revelation, he finds a way to help another person who struggles with her own demons and in an act of selfless service begins to find a way back, a way to heal.

Bella is a visually and spiritually moving film. I just cannot recommend it highly enough.

Easy, Healthy & Cheap Eats...

I wanted to make a collection of recipes... not fancy recipes because I'm NOT a cook. These are just going to be easy non-time-consuming recipes and they have to meet 2 other criteria so I don't know if I'll be able to add one every week or not. It has to be pretty healthy and cheap because I like to spend my food budget eating out!

This is my version of Pasta Carbonara

White sauce:

1 tablespoon butter 1 tablespoon flour 1/8 tsp salt 1/8 tsp pepper 3/4 cup milk In a small saucepan melt margarine or butter. Stir in flour, salt, and pepper. Add milk all at once. cook and stir over medium heat till thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir 1 min. more. Makes 3/4 cup ..

Pasta:

Whatever type you like.. cook until done

Veggies:

Also whatever you like. I used sweet petite frozen peas and zucchini and yellow squash chopped up. I put them in a microwave-safe bowl and cook them in the microwave in 1/2 inch water for 4 minutes

Combine everything with 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese.

P.S. Don't forget to sign up for the giveaway below!

Giveaway Friday...

This contest is for the whole OWL package. Owls fluttered into

ThE LoVE BoXes SHoP

some time ago.. you can find them HeRe and HERe

Enter your name just once one the comments below and I will draw a name Monday Midnight EST. Spread the word. :)

The randomly picked number is: 4

IAMLOw Wins! Congratulations! Please e-mail me @

love.boxes@att.net with address info! :)

Be sure to come back this Friday for another

Giveaway day!

Belong to Me...

This is a book about how people become yours simply because you choose to love them. The characters are real individuals... so unique that their 3 dimensional qualities remind me of the writing of Charles Dickens. There isn't a sentence that comes out of the mouth of any of the characters that doesn't truly belong to them.

Marisa de los Santos is so talented in her ability to express emotion and especially the elusive emotion of love that her writing made me want to weep and cheer at the same time.

"When he looked up, he said, 'Clare told me about Christmas.' And I swear the boy's face began to shine. I recognized what I saw there; that a person's name could be infinitely precious, that just saying it could make you feel singled out for glory."

My favorite passage is about when one of the characters is six years old. Everyone is swimming at the community pool, but she is afraid of the water and cannot join in. Her eight year old future husband comes up to her and says kindly, "you're missing the whole point of summer," and offers to teach her to swim. And, she talks about how his touch made her feel safe and how she learns to swim and then she says, "When I was no longer six years old, when I was a grown woman whose belief the possibility of safety, while far from shattered had suffered the inevitable hard hit or two, Teo's touch did not displace fear as absolutely as it once had. But it was still true that his skin on mine worked a kind of instant, inexplicable possibly chemical magic. When he touched me, the world fell into alignment -- a laying on of hands, a chiropractic of the soul-- the threat of drowning evaporated, and hope cast its light. I know this sounds dramatic, but what would you have me do about it? Some things are dramatic. Put it this way if you prefer; under Teo's touch, I could believe in happy endings. Or middles. Or beginnings."

There are so many good books, but one of the qualities of great book, in my opinion, is one where the great beauty of the language and the truth of it makes you want to open your heart a little wider and be just a little better. So, if you're looking.. this is one of those rare books.

Good Manners Thursday...

It's just rude to be late, or as our current President has put it, "late is rude." So, I apologize. Good manners Thursday is late again. We will try to do better next week ... again.

Did you know that at an English wedding.. "hats are aways worn," according to Debrett's? My English friends will be shocked to hear that I own 1 pink and 1 red beret.. and no wedding appropriate hats. Hats are really not worn in America since the Kennedy's were in the White House.

But, it is important to wear a lovely hat to an English wedding and it can be "as fanciful and extravagant as the wearer wishes."

However, if you are sporting a very large hat, it is appropriate "to keep social kissing to the bare minimum." Imagine the disasters that could occur.

In addition to this small bit of hat wisdom. I wanted to share something really helpful and one of the most violated rules of etiquette in modern society. Circe explains it like this...

RSVP means call if you can't come to thank me for inviting you, and call if you can come to ask what you can bring!

In addition to what Circe said, Alexandra Stoddard suggests that you make your decision about whether or not you will be attending said function in a timely way.. meaning within a day or two and get back to the hostess who may need to make other arrangements to complete her party if you are not attending, but who needs to know quickly either way (I will try to find the reference on that).

On a funny personal note. When little c was about 3-4 years old, she was addicted to "Martha Stewart Living" and she called Martha by this full title every time she referred to her, "Martha Stewart Living says, ..." etc and watched her program faithfully everyday. One day my mother was getting ready for a fancy girlfriends luncheon at her home. c was thrilled to see all the fancy little treats and pretty tableware... and was trying to finagle a way to help set the table. In her tiny little voice she said, "Nammy, how many guests will you be expecting at your party?"

I don't see much of that little social secretary these days, she is interested in Nancy Drew, super heroes and dogs, but I'm hoping that underneath the latest layer of playground dust that little person is still in there somewhere.

Father's Day Idea #3...

If you need a shirt to go with your cuff links.. this one from Land's End is fabulous and priced very reasonably... It says that it's "no iron"... mmmmmm.. I have NEVER found that a shirt didn't need an iron. I just don't believe in it.. but, it does iron up beautifully and stay ironed! It looks nice all day.

Father's Day Idea #2...

If you want to splash out...

a pair of beautiful Thomas Pink

Cuff Links... They are my favorite!

wrapped in a Love Box... if the message inside isn't just right.. let me know I have a few others...

Father's Day Ideas... #1

For the Fly Fisherman...

Find it here.