sleepless in seattle and greek salad bites

last weekend i had a special weekend for mr c. who has been working extra hard and has had some extra stress lately.
i presented him with a whole weekend theme that i called
'i want you to feel extra loved this weekend'
so i wanted to cook him up some love and make a relaxing weekend.
a weekend 'to just be'.
sleep in late, drink coffee, no clocks, no deadlines, no hustle, no stress, no plans, no projects, extra long back scratches.
to just be.

friday after work...
he went for a hard stress relieving run
in the mean time...
i moved the platters of the yummiest goodies to the living room and put the beer on ice
he took a hot shower and i had his robe fluffy and soft...

movie...
sleepless in seattle
he's never seen it.... and i couldn't remember anything but one of the songs 'we go together like a wink and a smile'....  awwwe!.. so totally us!
and he loved it... he realllllly loved that movie... and the best part... the very very best part...

when tom hanks tried to put into words the love he had for his wife....

'well, it was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together... and I knew it. I knew it the very first time I touched her. It was like coming home... only to no home I'd ever known'...

and my husband...  my tom... he... he sat right up like he had been hit by a bolt of lightening and squeezed my hand so tight that i thought something was wrong... and he said... that's what you feel like to me! that's how it was from the very first time.... you are my home.

annnnnd if you knew our love story... if you really knew...  well, we are each others home...
never ever never could i imagine anyone loving me so much. i have never ever been someones 'home' and i had never ever really been 'home'. ever.
and as i write this, tears stream down my face, because you just don't know, you just don't.

4 tissues later.

this is supposed to be about food.
i started with these....
i found this on pinterest and have been wanting to make it all summer.
i love pinterest, so much inspiration! and if you don't know what pinterest is or you need an invitation let me know and i will send you one i have a few left.

the original recipe here at (http://www.cookingwithmykid.com/recipes/bite-sized-greek-salad/)
Bite Sized Greek Salad Recipe
Prep Time: 25 mins
Ingredients:3 to 4 Persian cucumbers sliced in rounds
1 1/2 pints cherry tomatoes (buy smaller ones)
1 cup pitted kalamata olives (halved)
1 block of feta (cubed)
*(my addition) tender fresh basil leaves 1 per skewer
1 tablespoon fresh lemon
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 teaspoon oregano
fresh pepper
toothpicks
Set up an assembly line with veggies and cheese in bowls. Use a toothpick to skewer the tomato, then the cucumber, then the olive (cut part facing down) and finish with a cube of feta. Stand the skewer on a platter. Repeat until all ingredients are gone. Put lemon, oil, fresh pepper (to taste) and oregano in a jar and shake shake shake. Drizzle dressing over skewers JUST BEFORE serving.

this is party quantity as written, i would imagine...
i made 12 total so cut the recipe accordingly but after having them i would make for a party. they were that good.

i wanted something that was light and happy to go with a cheese platter, fresh vegetable plate/dip and crackers and ice cold beer :)

i have some more recipes to share from our weekend and will post soon! :)
xox Tracie
ps. i am working on putting my cooking adventures/recipes all linked through the tab
'cooking in  my happy little kitchen' or http://justmesofar.blogspot.com/p/cooking-in-my-happy-little-kitchen.html

another happy place

I haven't shared one of my happy places with you for awhile

it's so easy to get behind because I have so many!

Turku, Finland

a medieval 13th century seaport city that sits on the Southwest coast

also the oldest city in Finland

this year Turku along with Tallinn, Estonia are home to the

European Capital of Culture for 2011

(read all about Turku here)

our visit was on the last weekend of August

where we

caught some of the cultural activities

including the Tall Ship Celebration

lots of live music and art installations all over the city

there was some really cool things to see

the city has a laid back artsy festival kind of vibe going on

it was just a lot of fun

here's a peek of a few unexpected things that made us smile

a closer look...

recycled juice bottle orbs

pretty stung along the bridge

now I know what to do with all those bottles

(no. not really)

these juice bottles are a breakfast table staple in Finland

there are displays of art where you least expected it

 this exhibition of HUGE birds with the capped man (on roller skates) were on the Aura River

the water current and wind choreographs their dance

they seem to be in constant movement

at first I thought they were automated but then realized it was

all natural elements setting them in motion

another highlight of our trip

was a driving tour of the Archipelago Islands that lie between Finland and Sweden

(we were jumping on and off ferries taking 'The Small Ring Road' route)

I enjoyed Nagu Island it reminded me of quaint towns along Northern Lake Michigan

as the sun was setting

we were able to experience something really beautiful

the tradition of

Ancient Bonfires

I don't have any good pictures to share, sorry

but I do have this picture of a cute Viking couple

party on Helga and Hägar party on

same place. same time.

next year!

wishing you a happy little day!

xox

Liebster Blog Award

Liebster Blog Award

My sweet/cool/super awesome friend

Becs

at

 Catching Sundust

has nominated me for a

 Liebster Award!

The idea behind the Liebster award is to recognize and share blogs with less than 200 followers. 

So, you both receive it (go check Becs out too!) and then award it to 5 blogs that you enjoy.

I chose:

5 that I personally enjoy.

5 kind beautiful blog friends that support and encourage my blog.

5 very different blogs that let their personality shine.

Here is how it works:

• Link back to the blogger who nominated you
• Choose 5 blogs and leave them a comment
• Post the award on your blog
• Enjoy and share the love :)

Here's my five:

Home Cooking with Sonya

Not Always Picture Perfect

My Healthy Happy Family

West Family Adventures

Pieces of Contentment

Now, go check them all out... and make new friends with my sweet friends!

Thank you again Becs!!!

Have a HAPPY little DAY!

xox Tracie