here comes the sun...

so why not get a head start on Spring and enjoy some FroYo with my favorite boys?

a picture is worth a thousand words

the best burger. hands down

(well, at least in my opinion)

*Herbie's Balaburger
menu and location found here
I mean really? ...

photos taken with my iPhone

Lord of the Horse

It doesn't matter when or how you celebrate Christmas. 

<Did she just say Christmas? Wait, isn't it February? YES it's February!> 

It's all about surrounding yourself with good people. 

And that I did. 

Ahearn family Christmas this year was celebrated in... February. 

Santa didn't pay us a visit. 

But a magician did! 

And I think the look and laughs and smiles on the kids' faces were just as priceless than any Santa or gift could ever provide.

I love the family affairs: the kids running around, the catching up with aunts, uncles, and cousins. And of course,

THE FOOD.

the adults joined in on the fun, too!

and probably one of the best parts... 

the latest edition of the Ahearn Family Cookbook :)

Watch out... I might just have to test some of these recipes, pics coming soon!

traveling

ho hum. 

if you know me, you know i highly dislike flying. i'm getting better. slowly, but surely.

I would much rather be in the car. jams on. going at my own speed. enjoying the scenery.

and usually my roadtrips are from the lou to the chi. so the scenery isn't much but farmland and corn fields.

things i dislike about flying:

airport security

departure

being in the the air

landing

things i like about flying:

people watching at the airport

and hopping in the car to a seat filled with flowers :)

p.s. 

thank you southwest airlines for your friendly customer service, your lil peanut bags, and your rum (and diets.)

vacation.

Destination: Brighton, MI:

first things first. A stop at MacArthur's bakery for a vanilla cake donut and a large diet coke.

Now you see it....

Now you don't!

the kitchen where I would cook and bake every day. 

(not at all. i threw away the batch of cookies I attempted to make. oyy!)

hahaha the infamous pig.

that ultrasound. at about 6 o'clock. Yup, that's me.

all. week. long.

Dad's man cave.

my favorite part about the whole house: dad's <3 CD collection.

Now before I began to browse through this book... We ate a little breakfast at

The Breakfast Club:

OMG. Need I say more?

I just love this veggie scrubber! How cute?

Mom showed me a pretty basic meal, for a rookie like me...

pork tenderloin, potatoes, cherry tomatoes

yum! 

Watching the Bachelor :) 

Salad another night.  

mmm Mom's cookies!  

any food is good food.

el zarape, wheaton IL. golden margarita.

my attempt at baking for the twelfth time. 

was finally a success.

chocolate chip cookie ball things.

even Mom liked em and she's hard to please! Crispy on the outside, chewy inside.

 Mike came in town for a visit, since he hasn't been here since Thanksgiving! 

So we decided for a date night in Lafayette Square... 

Here is what we stumbled upon

*square one brewery*

goat cheese artichoke spinach dip

Light Squared beer - satisfaction on a Friday night.

loved the atmosphere, we sat at the bar and ate beer battered onion rings, beer battered chicken fingers. and we drank beer. Are you sensing a theme here? We were at a brewery, why not.

...and just a little walk down the street to... Bailey's Chocolate Bar. 

Finally! 

I have heard great reviews and have been wanting to go. Who better to go with?!

Mike got a Unibroue Ephimere. A delicious wheat beer flavored with apple. 

Very good dessert beer, if there is such a thing. 

I know he really wanted to get one of the delicious martinis, but he wouldn't get caught using one of the glasses. boys!

Didn't stop me, of course:

I got the drink special of the night *tiramisu martini. perfect is an understatement.

and don't tell Mike, but I definitely saw him sneak a few sips from my glass ;)

after sharing some truffles:

Cinnamon apple bread pudding. delightful.

We aren't very picky eaters - Can you tell?

any food is good food. (well, almost)

Broken Heart

It's winter. The holiday season is over. There isn't much 'life' or excitement around. I think most folks are ready for flowers to bloom and color to surface again. Earlier today I think the words "I'm over the snow" came bursting out of my mouth. But I hadn't been taking pictures lately. Just here and there. So I decided to venture out. All 3 miles away from home. ;)

Creve Coeur Lake.

 I'm sure I've been before. But not recent or often enough to have remembered. 

"Its name, which means broken heart in French, comes from nearby Creve Coeur Lake. Legend has it that an Indian princess fell in love with a French fur trapper, but the love was not returned. According to the story, she then jumped from a ledge overlooking Creve Coeur Lake; the lake then formed itself into a broken heart."

 I enjoyed looking at the footprints, wondering where they lead to and why... Maybe I wasn't so "over" the snow?

On to another park LESS than 3 miles from home:

Faust Park Historic Village, Chesterfield MO.

Something about red against the stark white snow. stunning*

Don't you agree? heh hehe: