A Blue Irish Birthday Celebration

The 26TH was my friend Trisa's birthday. The plan was for a big group of us to go out to eat and then to a club for cocktails and maybe dancing the night before her big day. Too many people already had plans on the night of the 26TH.
She chose Baby Blue Sushi Sake Grill on Center St. They have an outdoor patio that had been reserved for our huge group of roughly 20 people that were planning on going. It was a very hot day and the tables that were reserved for us were on the west side...with the sun beating down on us! Wow was it hot! I was glad I arrived early to pick a spot at one of the tables that was facing away from the sun. Any of the late comers had to face the sun....
We had an awesome meal. The menu consists of other food besides sushi, thank goodness. I don't think I could eat it if I was paid! I shared a couple of dishes with one of my friends and we were quite full. We chose Grilled Chicken Lettuce Wraps that were divine! And we also ate Mango Crab Rangoon that tasted like none I'd eaten before it! The Mango flavor was subtle but also gave the dish a nice boost. Some people had room for dessert and chose the Fried Ice Cream. One serving was enough for at 4 people to devour! I remember seeing at least 4 orders of the delectable dessert! They were passed around for others to sample and help eat up before it had a chance to melt! I said I would have to go back sometime just for the dessert!

Me and the birthday girl....

Trisa and Tammy

All but 2 people were in this photo. Aren't we cute?

Trisa with her Fried Ice Cream topped with honey. Jamie, her husband is next to her.

Dee and Lisa....

Another Fried Ice Cream with Chocolate Sauce. Yummy! I helped eat this one!

Here is everyone in the hot sun....the ice melted quickly in our glasses! And the wait staff was sweating just coming out the door to serve us!

Rick, Trisa and Susan. Rick and Susan were the two that weren't in on the large group photo.

Barry and wife Cleo, Penny, Trisa and Penny's hubby John.
Cleo and Penny are siblings.

Teresa, Trisa, Tammy and Tammy's husband Steve. Steve and Teresa are siblings as well.

Tina, Trisa and Tracy.

Janine, Trisa, Dee, Lisa

Trisa and Jamie not liking the heat very much!

After we left the Baby Blue, we drove to a nearby club called Two Fine Irishmen. It's near my house so I was happy that I didn't have far to drive! There were many people there but it wasn't packed even though there was a band there to entertain the crowd. A few other friends met us there that hadn't eaten with us. We stayed for awhile and discovered that it was a bit hard to chat with each other due to the volume of the music! Trisa thought that maybe we should go elsewhere. Myself and a few others had to get home because of being scheduled to work the next morning, bright and early. But others did go to another bar from there.

It was a great night and the food was delicious! I hope you had a great birthday Trisa!

Humidity Doesn't Keep Me Away!

If anyone is aware of how humid it gets here in Omaha, then you'll appreciate this post.

Doing activities outdoors is no big deal as long as you can find somewhere to cool off! I work outside and I also play outside. The humidity is just something you get used to I guess. Besides playing outdoor sand volleyball, I decided to share a membership at a water park with my friend. That way we split the cost and we can go anytime and just show our membership card. We chose Papio Bay as it's nearest our two homes. They have lots to do: diving boards, 2 water slides, kiddie pools, lounging chairs by the vast pool (that was heated up until the other day), showers and locker rooms, a snack bar, and even a sand volleyball court! Life guards are on duty at all times and kids under age 17 must take 15 minute breaks from the water each hour. The life guards blow their whistles at 45 minutes after the hour which signals break time from the pool. Then they blow them again at the top of the next hour to signify that the break time is over. There are plenty of lounge chairs and if they get filled up, the lawn has lots of space for swim towels to placed for resting or catching some rays.
I've been there several times already just in the last month! It's wonderful to go there just after work to cook down! It's always busy and I've seen a few other people I know each time I go.

There are a few water parks in and near Omaha. Fun Plex, Mahoney State Park Family Aquatic Center, CoCo Key Water Resort and Papio Bay. When my brothers' family came for a visit back in 2008, we went to Fun Plex one day and enjoyed the refreshing cool water. Remember this?

I've never been to CoCo Key or Mahoney State Park. But I hear they are nice too! There is always something to do outdoors if you like to get some sun. Come and visit me and we'll go to anyone you like!

Finally....Something I Like!

I've been searching each summer since I bought my house, for a decoration to hang on the outside wall under my porch. During the winter I have a wall hanging made of pine branches and pine cones that used to belong to my Mom. At Christmas time I add small holiday lights to it.

Even though I've seen many items at various stores such as Hobby Lobby or even WalMart and Kmart, nothing really caught my eye. Then for some reason I remembered (only after I happened to drive by!) the store that is apparently quite a hit down in Texas and other southern states....Garden Ridge. This store always has items on hand for the season at hand. And not just for either the outdoors or indoors alone. You'll find things for both at all times! I knew from past visits that they would be my best bet for decor. And were they ever! I can't even begin to explain just how many styles they had to choose from. I was looking for something metal that would hold up in the weather. But it also had to be easily hung from my vinyl siding. I also wanted it to be somewhat colorful to show up under the shade of my porch. I found just what I was looking for! Nothing too gaudy but enough to fill the space between my two long windows. And it shows up nicely from the street. I'm very happy with my purchase.

Each section has a metal flower on it. I thought the flower theme was fitting for me.

I've also had a little bird feeder hanging off the railing on my deck. It's got Finch Food in it. I always loved seeing the little finches at the farm that ate from the feeders that Dad and Beverly had out in front of the house. So I thought I'd see if they would find my feeder. After hanging out there for nearly a month, finally, one day I saw a couple of finches enjoying a few morsels. But today, I saw a bird that I've never seen before! It was small like a finch but had a red head and chest and the rest of it's body was the color of a barn swallow. The finches were frolicking with this particular bird on my fence, chairs on my deck and the railing. It was so cute!

Can you see the little thing between the rails? So pretty! I have no idea what kind it is.

I love watching my cats peer out the patio doors when they spot the birds as they sit on the perches of the feeder. The cats' tails flicker back and forth and their mouths twitch and squeak as they try to let me know that they have in sight, what they hope will be, their next snack!

Challenge Met!

As you all know, I'm an independent consultant for Tastefully Simple. Every month we are presented with new specials or offers. And not just for our customers. We as consultants are given incentives as well. Let me explain....

Back in March the company laid this out on the table for us to either be a part of or not....it was our choice. At headquarters, they have all the info on sales for each active consultant. The average sales of each consultant, per month, was emailed to us and we were told that if we could surpass our average sales beginning March 15Th through April 30Th, we could choose a gift. There were 3 levels to this challenge. If our average sales, for example, was $1200 and we could beat it, then we had a choice of 2 gifts that would be sent to us. If our average sales were $1500 and we thought we could beat that, then again, we had a choice of two other gifts.....etc. It went up from there based on the dollar amount in sales. My average sales happened to be at $1800....give or take a few dollars. I looked at my calendar and knowing that I had several parties booked along with a couple of catalog parties going on during that time frame, decided that I could beat my average sales and go over it! I gave myself a challenge and I definitely had a goal. The two gifts I would get to pick from was a Howard Miller clock or a personal digital music device of some sort. I can't remember it exactly....that was a few months ago after all! ;-)

Anyhoo....I had my eye on the clock!

I knew where I stood the entire time during this challenge. I thought that if necessary, I would submit an order myself to make sure I met my goal....I had to get to at least $2468 in sales for the time frame of March 15Th to April 30Th.

Well, as I'm sure you've guessed, I beat my goal! I had over $2500 in sales! I was going to get a new clock and I knew exactly where it was going! In my living room next to my fireplace.

After an acknowledging email from HQ, I was given one more opportunity to change my mind on the gift that I'd selected. But I knew I wanted the clock.

Soon thereafter, I had a delivery. My clock had arrived. It was as pretty as I knew it would be. See for yourself....

It has a pendulum and the front glass stands out away from the clock by the four pegs that you see in each corner. So there is actually space between the wooden back and the glass itself. There is about 2 inches of space between the two surfaces. I totally love it!

And while we're on the topic of incentives, I earned something else a month or so before the clock! It was an easier challenge. We could earn some very cute glass stir sticks with fruit and Moj]to (pronounced "mo-h\-toe",) glasses. Slender, tall clear glasses with bubbles on the side and the words Tastefully Simple. To get both items, we had to have $1000 in retail sales. No problem. Guess what? I have the glasses and the stir sticks now too!

So cute!

Doesn't this just make you want to be a consultant? You get all these free gifts just for selling food! I've earned many other items in the past but these were extra special to me and I wanted you to see them. Call me for more information and I'll be glad to help you get signed up! ;-)