Time to Celebrate...

Summer is my favorite time of year (and fall too). I don't like 100+ degree days, but really who does? However, I LOVE 80-95 degree days, and we've had our fair share of them lately. I love the heat to make you feel like you're working hard while working out or in the garden. I also have been a water baby since I can remember so I love swimming, lakes, rivers, fishing, anything with water.

We spent last weekend celebrating Todd's 30th birthday on our annual float trip to the Niangua River in the Ozarks of Missouri. We stay in Todd's parents' camper at Bennett Springs State Park and float with the NRO company. I think Todd's family has gone a float trip every year for 20+ years so they get really excited about it. We have to  have the perfect snacks, drinks, water toys, tunes and suit.

Here are a few pictures from our float trip:

Todd's beer cake that I got the idea from here. 

Some of the guys taking it easy in the river. Tony is pointing  to me to not take photos!

Todd and my catch from one day of fishing trout. We both caught
our daily limit in about 20 minutes!

Todd's mom, Jeff, and Laura enjoying a stop on the river. 

Showing off our fishing catch!

It was crazy packed on the river! Definitely an experience if you have
never been on a float trip!

Tony and Regina on another stop to enjoy drinks while on the river.

~~Do you all go on any fun trips with your family during the summer? If so, what do you do or where do you go?~~ 

A little lunch heaven...

I visited KC a week or so back and had a chance to spend some time just being by myself for half a day.

I went to eat lunch at one of my favorite places around, Farmhouse, in the River Market area. It was such a beautiful day so I ate on their outside patio. Amazing fresh and locally grown and produced food is their specialty. They have a menu they publish monthly that changes and no month is the same. They have a homemade sausage each day, and I finally tried it this time. So very good!

Homemade sausage, pickles and potato chips!

I also wanted to see the Princess Diana exhibit at Union Station since I probably wouldn't make a trip to KC before it would leave. It was so neat to actually see pictures, items and momentos of someone I have admired since I was a little girl. I remember crying during her funeral back in 1997 and with the royal wedding this year, it was really fun to step back and think how cool would it be to be a princess?

I then stopped at one of my favorite places in Briarcliff Village, Nell Hill's. The store used to be in Atchison, Kan., and the store I worked at in high school, Nichols and Lea, was one of the first to carry Mary Carol's line of products. It was so fun to see how much it has taken off, and I even got to chat with Mary Carol for a little bit while there in KC. She even gave me a signed copy of her newest book for weddings! What a precious gift I'll always cherish! Check out Mary Carol's blog for awesome decorating tips, http://www.nellhillsblog.com/

Wishing you all a great and relaxing Memorial Weekend! (more to come next week on some other news!)