Royal Wedding Preparations

I have a long list of preparations to complete this week in anticipation of the royal wedding. We’re having afternoon tea to commemorate the occasion – it was originally my cousin Kelly’s idea, but we decided to host the little party at our house. Although Jord is playing butler for the gathering, his role apparently doesn’t include the last-minute responsibilities. I’ve been working on decorations, my inspiration stemming from Kate’s engagement ring. I have silver to polish, the tea set to clean, recipes to procure, a playlist to create, table linens to launder, the DVR to set, champagne to chill. I’ve doled out some of the menu items, but my main concern is actually making tea. I’d love to make it the “English” way, but as a non-tea drinker I have my doubts. It wouldn’t be much of a tea party without tea! And since we have to work on Friday, we’ll be watching the recording of the wedding and all the hype on Saturday during the party. I don’t know if I’ll be able to wait that long to see everything!

The Possibilities of a Three Day Weekend

Oh how I adore a three day weekend! Recently, I’ve been in a better groove of working out and cooking dinner, so last night I did just that. I tried a new recipe for a chicken and linguine casserole – not bad – with some cheddar biscuits. So far, all the recipes that I’ve attempted have been “not bad”, according to both Jord and I. Nothing has wowed us, but what do you expect for a newbie in the kitchen? We'll just continue to try new things until I find some specialties.

There are limitless possibilities for this weekend! Who knows what out of town guests may arrive and the exciting happenings to follow! We do know that we’re having my family over for dinner tonight. We’re planning a batch of homemade mac and cheese for this last Friday of Lent, an absolute classic in the Collins clan, along with some mashed potato wontons that are becoming our new favorite. And we also have Easter Sunday mapped out, starting with my family for mass and brunch at the Hotel Blackhawk, sure to be swanky and delicious, then some quality time with Jord’s family. Who knows what will happen in the meantime – it’s sure to be better than any old regular two day weekend!

In Bloom

Hyacinth

It appears that the bulbs we planted in the fall are doing okay. The hyacinth are very little, but colorful. The tulips, my favorite, are just starting to bloom and are quite plentiful. We noticed that some creature is trying to dig at them, but it didn’t seem to do any harm. Even the peony bushes that we transplanted from the back yard to the front of the house are beginning to grow, even though they don’t quite look right.

Peony bush

Speaking of tulips, I'm hoping to attend the annual Tulip Festival in Pella this year. I've always intended to go, but have had conflicts in the past. As long as the weather is favorable, my mom and I plan to make the trek.

Tulips

TRADhome

Check out the collaboration of Traditional Home and Lonny editors, aptly named TRADhome. This new endeavor "combines the style and imagination of both editorial teams to bring you an inspired online magazine that redefines tried-and-true traditional style", to quote the introductory email that I received. The first edition is amazing and I'm so excited to have another source of inspiration!

Best in the Quad Cities

Every year, the River Cities Reader comes out with a list of the best restaurants in the Quad Cities, voted by their readers. I find it very disappointing that chain restaurants top many of the categories. Come on Quad Citians! There are some amazing local eateries to enjoy in the area. Faithful Pilot, Bier Stube, Front Street Brewery, 11th Street Precinct, Riefe’s and Grinder’s are just a few that didn’t make the cut. Yes, some of my favorites were included, such as Azteca, Harris Pizza, Lunardi’s, Hungry Hobo and Whitey’s. Get outside of your culinary comfort zone and discover something new and local!

Illumination

The main floor of the house was filled with bad lighting. Most of the lights were recessed and didn’t provide much illumination. My prerogative was to replace every fixture, preferably with a chandelier. I have come to the completion of this project and we now have unique lighting for every room, minus the bathrooms. Unfortunately I don’t have many before shots, but needless to say, it was bad.

Before: Lamp post

After: Lamp post

Before: Front Entry

After: Front Entry

After: Sun Porch light

Before: Kitchen and Master Bedroom lights

After: Kitchen light

After: Master Bedroom ceiling fan

Before: Several lights, including both hallways

After: Hallway light

After: Kitchen Sink and Hallway light

After: Dining Room light

After: Den light

After: Office light

Cubs Opening Day 2011

The tradition continues! My dad, Jord and I went to the Cubs home opener on Friday. Despite the chilly temperature and the rain, we enjoyed the day at Wrigley. And although the Cubs didn't win, they won the game on Saturday and are off to an amazing season, or so we hope. The moment we got back to Davenport, Jord proudly mounted the W flag to show our team loyalty. This is the year!