The power of Dawn saved my life this weekend.  [That might be a touch dramatic.]  Dawn saved my shirt.  While taking a pan of bacon out of the oven, a pop and a splatter covered a brand new shirt with bacon grease.  After a brief freak out, I remembered I had a bottle of original (blue) Dawn in my laundry room.   The recipe for rescue:  a small drop on each of the grease splatters and let it sit over night.  I washed it this morning in hot water. All traces of bacon grease are gone!  I am a true believer. Think about it and it makes perfect sense.  If Dawn can cut through the grease on your pots and pans, why not your clothing? 

[Please note:  If you use this clothing rescue, make sure to air dry your clothing after washing.  You don’t want to throw it in the dryer and set any remaining grease.  You might need to repeat the process to fully remove the stains.  I did.]

This song, Hello by Martin Solveig and Dragonette, just makes me happy. Build a new playlist and add this track.  [Ironically, the video continues with my tennis theme from yesterday!]

I am thinking that it is high time for some outdoor entertaining. A few things from ACME Party Box Company would set the mood.   The company motto is party. rinse. repeat.  Don’t you love that?  Started by two working moms, this online company specializes in darling, reusable party items.

This is what I am thinking for a warm afternoon on the patio:

Check out ACME Party Box.  What items shout, “Let’s Party!” to you?
Add some sun and let’s go.

Our family has a new favorite cereal…….

What does Quaker have to say about this cute little heart-shaped cereal?

“Enjoy the perfect balance of taste and nutrition. Finally! Every lightly sweetened piece of deliciously crisp oat cereal is in the shape of a heart to remind you that you’re starting your day with a heart-healthy choice.”

My boys ask for them as a dry snack.  I enjoy a bowl for breakfast with a ton of blueberries.  Tastes great. Good for you.  How often does that happen?

Interested in the nutritional information?  Get all the specifics here.

Summer officially begins, around these parts, at 11:01am today.  Let the marathon begin.

Stay up late, let them run wild, encourage them to get dirty, play catch with them, take them swimming, buy them super soakers, build something together, say yes to candy, take a bike ride, go on a road trip, lay in the shade and read, make ice cream.  Love them and enjoy them.  If not now, when? 

Look where mine took me in the month of May!  Unbelievable beauty.  A sleepy, morning beach on Maui. A serene, wooded road in the Canadian Gulf Islands.  Both runs were equally invigorating and restorative. 

While I love great fitness classes, nothing can beat a pair of running shoes and an iPod while away from home.   You need nothing else to get a great workout.  I know that running isn’t for everyone.   If you aren’t a runner [or absolutely HATE to run], give it another shot.  You may find that it isn’t that bad if you have simple, attainable goals.  Run for fitness, health, and overall well-being.  So what if you walk a lot and jog a little.  I promise you won’t regret going for a run.  [Plus, it means you earn an extra glass of wine or cocktail at the end of the day!]

Go run like a mother!

Next week is going to be way better than this week.  How do I know?  For starters, True Blood is back on Sundays.  The perfect way to quick off the last week of school.  Season 5 starts this Sunday night.

A Season 4 recap in case your memory needs some jogging…

Pissed off werewolves, vampire preachers, possessed Lafayette, heartbroken Sookie, lovestruck Jason,  Bill. Eric. Alcide.  Oh, it really is that good.  Happy Watching!

Cheers to the freakin’ weekend. 
I drink to that, yeah yeah
Oh, let the Jameson sink in
I drink to that, yeah yeah

Can’t get enough of this song! 

Cheers.  Be safe!

We call them flip flops (my dad calls them thongs, but that is just embarrassing!)  The Hawaiians call them slippers and I am in love with my new Locals slippers.  Greatest purchase on my recent trip Maui!  I wanted to get my boys an inexpensive pair of flips.  Our friends that live on Maui suggested Longs Drugs.  “You can get anything at Longs.”

Locals were the only flip flops they had, so that is what they got.  They were $2.99 a pair.  At that price I decided to splurge and get myself a pair.  Mine were slightly more expensive at $3.99….and I will say are extremely comfortable!  I went with basic black soles and translucent black straps, but they had fun colors in sizes ranging from toddler to adult!

Heading to a Hawaiian island soon?  Pop into a Longs Drugs and outfit your entire family with flip flops for the price you would pay for one pair on the mainland.  You will not regret it.

[Or you could order from them their website http://localsusa.com/.  It will cost you a bit more this way but it is an easy way to bring the islands to you.]

 Bring on summer!