One my favorite hints of summer is that first fantastically fresh tomato you pick up at the grocery store.  Summer tomatoes just seem to be so much better then their winter counterparts.  The other night mike and I were in the market for a simple and easy weeknight meal and we happened to have a perfectly ripe heirloom tomato, fresh basil along with a ball of fresh mozzarella. I don’t know about you but that combination just screams home made pizza to me! I picked up a few slices of prosciutto to toss on top, and made a simple Caprese salad on the side.

Simple and fresh ingredients always seem to taste better when you do less! Even Bowser couldn’t resist!

(FYI – these pictures were pre-new camera!)

I’ve been busy this week preparing for my upcoming vacation to Killarney, Ireland which I am so excited for! We are leaving this Saturday and will be there for the entire week.  Killarney is a picturesque town in County Kerry and we are lucky enough to be staying in walking distance to the famous lakes and a very short trip from the adorable town center which boasts great shopping, restaurants  and of course pubs!

One of the thing’s I’m most excited about is that we aren’t staying in a  typical hotel but instead we are renting a vacation house since were traveling with Mike’s family. ( Yes – I am vacationing with over twenty of my boyfriend’s relatives – call me crazy!)

Here’s a peek at where we will be staying:

Images via ImagineIreland

I am also thrilled about the fact that there is a fully functioning kitchen (would you look at that old farmhouse sink?!) It will be a nice treat – not to mention a break for our wallets- to make a few meals in.  Think anyone would judge me if I brought a bag of Starbucks beans for that coffee maker I spy on the counter?!

I will be away from my computer, work, internet and cell phone for eight whole days- I can hardly believe it!

No,  I’m not talking about my hair color! I’m actually talking about mulch…..planning on doing a little landscaping and gardening clean up this weekend now that its not supposed to rain anymore (woohoo!) and I’m trying to figure out If I want to make the switch from red cedar mulch to a more calming and organic brown.

This is what our front landscaping looked like last summer when we bought our house:

I really want to work on creating a more cohesive look this spring…it’s looking a bit random if you ask me.

While I think the red  is nice, I’m kinda thinking this is a little bit too much of a good thing, especially next to our very red house. Since most of our plants are relatively young and aren’t fully grown,  we have a ton of  empty space and exposed mulch. (some of which I’m hoping to fill in with a few more plants.)  I’m thinking a more neutral and natural brown would look so much better!

Bowser had a rough day today…we had to take him to the vet to be neutered, six months old and he’s already had major surgery!  He’s home and resting now but he’s so tired and groggy. All he wants to do is sleep in his cozy bed, and I don’t blame him!



Our vet told us he should be back to his usual self with in a few days, but no doggie play dates or strenuous activity for about a week, poor little guy.  In the mean time, he’s going to get extra snuggles and kisses from his mom to make up for it!

It feels like it’s been raining forever here in Boston add that to the fact that next month is April- the month most infamous for its rain fall – leads me to believe I should probably start building an Ark.  At the very least, this rain might be more tolerable if  I had adorable rain gear!

I wouldn’t mind the occasional rain shower if I had these J.Crew Wellies

via J.Crew

And this Canary Yellow trench…

via anthropologie

All the stores have  Spring clothes out right now, if only mother nature would get the memo that Winter needs to be over!