Fourth of July

So it has been a while since I have updated my blog. Summer has gotten...well, busy? Is that an excuse during the summer? I mean, my life has been busy, just not with the stuff that I would be busy with during my normal life. Does that make sense? Anyway, my best friend flew down to visit from the ever-so-far-away state of Washington. She was here to help me celebrate one of my favorite holiday's... The Fourth of July! Yay! God bless America! Freeedom! Woo Hoo! ( I just love the Fourth). I feel blessed to live in a free country... and I absolutely love all the fun decorations, and food you can make on the Fourth! Meg and I had a ball decorating. 

A patriotic breakfast was also a must on the agenda. 

American flag french toast casserole. You can find the recipe here.

For the third year in a row, we held a bike parade. That is where you get your friends and family together, decorate your bikes patriotically, and ride around your town. (optional: ride to people's houses you know and give them cupcakes)
This year was the most people we have had; 6. Actually we had 9 members, if you count the dogs. It was still a blast.

 

     Red, white, and blue! We had to let Kipper join the festivities.                                              

                                                         

  All the dogs wanted to come. However, we had to stop for a water break in the 106'F weather. 

The day ended with a party at our house, one last time. We bared the heat to play wiffle ball, then cooled off with water balloons. Then came my favorite part; dessert. Well, one of my favorites. I made cherry berry star shortcakes, and my neighbor Rachel has pretty much mastered the art of ice cream. So she made strawberry(red), peach vanilla(white), and boysenberry(blue) ice creams. Delish! The recipe for star shortcakes can be found here. With fire works at the country club, the night couldn't have ended better! 

Summer has begun!

Just got back from a fantastic trip to the windy city! If at all you get the chance, ever, to go to Chicago then you should go. It a wonderful place full of fun, and food, food, food. So much delicious food! Chicago pizza, Chicago hot dogs, Chicago popcorn... And so much more! I love it. A lot.

There it is. She is a beauty.

We found ourselves in the original Potbelly sandwich shop. These sandwiches are amazing.
 My dad says its all in the bread. 

Michigan strawberries fresh from the farmers market!  

My favorite restaurant to eat at while I'm there because there is none in Redlands. Please, somebody open a Noodle and Company in Redlands! You will not be sorry. There Mac n' cheese is no ordinary Kraft. 

Mia was a little happy to get popcorn from the Red Door Candy Store, perhaps the smallest candy store ever. It is the size of my closet. 

 Another thing I love a lot is Cookie Butter. I may be going off subject a little... but this is worth it. You may be a  bit skeptical about butter and cookies together, but Julia Child always said "you can never have too much butter!" Well, maybe Meryl Streep just said that in Julia and Julia, but I think that is quite true. Cookie butter is not actually butter. It is a spread that tastes like gingerbread and is good in just about anything. I have heard Golden Oreos especially. You find it at Trader Joes, however in order to get some you have to go right when the store opens (that is the case at my local Trader Joes). You just need to get your hands on some of this gold by any means possible! Even if it means buying it for $12.00 on Ebay. Yes, that is how desperate some people are. This is what it looks like. It is by all the peanut butters. I wish you the best of luck finding some, and goodluck not eating the whole jar in one sitting.

Nom nom nom nom nom.  :D