Birthday Season Begins!!

We have many celebrations during the summer months, my sister Kim had her birthday June 19 in Pa. & my Mother, sister,our other sister  & I got to celebrate with her this year!! We have not all been together in Pa. in 10+ years!! Next on the birthday trail was Connors!!! He turned 9 (where do the years go???) on June 22, we celebrated at Fun Depot with a dozen of his closest "dudes" 

After pizza and birthday cake the dudes couldn't wait to attack the laser tag, go carts, bowling, & of course video games!!!

5 hours later!! We finally got all of the happy (sweaty!) dudes to decide that no one could continue on without collapsing!! Lol!! Next on the birthday trail is Independence Day (Americas "birth" of independence) which we will be celebrating on summer vacation!!!!! Woot woot can't wait!!!!!

Here's wishing everyone a truly FAB Fourth of July!!!! TTYL <3

Viva la France!!!!

First let me apologize for playing hooky on my post last week! I wish I had some fantastic explanation as to why the post wasn't written... But.... The truth of the matter is I was just plain busy thrifting and antiquing!!!

Sometimes you just need some me time :0) So without further adieu lets get onto France!

This week Connor is attending Boy Scout  camp with his buds!! Especially Raj & Christopher (his BFF!)

So it has been a perfect week for Brit & I to attempt some of our fav French delicacies!!! Brit is on summer hiatus from University & Connor is in summer camp so time has presented itself for us to tackle French Macarons!!!! These delish little pieces of heaven proved to be as fun to make as they are to eat!!! ( or maybe I just enjoyed baking with my princess!!) 

We couldn't find almond flour so we made our own in the food processor.

Next we sifted our almond flour and confectioners sugar together.

Then it was time for whisking egg whites in our trusty mixer.

We decided on pink for our first batch natch ;-)

And with that... Voila!!

Our very first Macarons were born!!!

As you can see we chose chocolate ganache as our first filling (these are Connors personal fav!) several colorful batches later we had a rainbow of little lovelies!

They aren't difficult per se as much as time consuming and very delicate, if you are not careful cracks can happen but never fear, even the ones that don't look the prettiest still taste AMAZING!!

I have also decided that what I need most with my Macarons is French pressed coffee! So you guessed it... I conquered this yummyness next!!!

It is easy!!! And yet tastes so fancy!!

Our tour of french cuisine continues!! Tonight for dinner Brittany conquered Julia Childs Bouef Bourguignon!!! So our home smells divine & we can't wait for dinner. 

Tomorrow I'm off to lunch with a dear friend, Anitha, at Christopher's Kitchen in Palm Beach Gardens 

And when I get home from my lunch outing, Brittany and I will attempt Ratatouille!! We are having family movie night and you guessed it... Disneys Ratatouille is our movie of choice. I'll keep you posted as to how our next French recipe turns out, wish me luck!!! TTYL <3