Pool Party

Summer is almost coming to end and I was fortunate enough to enjoy a little pool date with two of my sisters and their baby boys one Friday afternoon. We had a simple light lunch by the pool and had so much fun playing with the boys in the water.

Everything for the lunch I bought in one quick trip to Trader Joe's. The menu is below along with recipes for the salads. And if you haven't enjoyed a leisurely afternoon by the pool, make sure to try and squeeze one in before the summer sun is gone.


Pool Party Menu

• Chicken salad (recipe below)
  
• Mango avocado salad (recipe below)
  
• Apricot almond tart
• Animal cookies (for the babies)
• Iced tea
• L'ambrusco bianco (sparkling white wine)
  
• Sparkling berry lemonade (to mix with the l'ambrusco)
  

Chicken Salad

• 1 pound cooked chicken, diced
  
• 1 gala apple, diced
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup dried currents
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon honey dijon mustard
  
• 1/2 teaspoon celery seed
  
• 1 lemon, juiced
  
• Salt
• Pepper

In a small bowl, prepare the dressing. Whisk mayonnaise, mustard, celery seed, and lemon juice. Salt and pepper to taste. Mix chicken, apple, almonds and currents. Toss with dressing. The currents will plump up after soaking in the dressing. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Can store for 2-3 days.


Mango Avocado Salad

• 1 mango, diced
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1 bag of baby romaine lettuce
• 1 bottle of poppyseed dressing

Fill a serving bowl with lettuce, lay mango and avocado on top. Toss carefully with dressing right before serving.

Baby Shower Season: Invitations

Six of my friends are expecting this year! It's baby shower season for me. Is it baby shower season for you too? Several showers are on the horizon including one for my sister. She's expecting the first baby in my family! The little guy is supposed to arrive in August so her shower is coming soon.

With such a baby shower flurry, I thought I'd do a series on "Baby Showers" for you. First stop, invitations!

My sister's nursery theme is the Jungle and I found these perfect Jungle Boy invitations for her shower! When looking for invitations, my first stop is to peruse my favorite paper websites. I like to look through these websites to find ideas if I'm going to make invitations by hand, a ready-made invitation to purchase and print at home, and even ideas for how to word invitations.

Resources:

• http://www.tinyprints.com/
• http://www.polkadotdesign.com/
• http://www.paper-source.com/
• http://www.invitationbox.com/
• http://www.lemontreepaperie.com/
• http://www.paperieandco.com/
• http://www.paperstyle.com/
• http://www.redstamp.com/
• http://www.traylorpapers.com/