Refreshing Cooking Club

Nancy hosted a poolside cooking club today! The theme was "Refreshing." Summer got us off to a cool start with watermelon margaritas. Cheers!



At first glance, this might not look like the most refreshing choice of dish. However, Valerie was supposed to bring these brie-stuffed soft pretzels (with honey mustard dipping sauce!) to the beer pairing cooking club last month, but she ended up having out-of-town guests that night and sadly had to cancel. So, to all of us that had been drooling over the prospect of eating them, it was very refreshing to finally get them in our mouths. These were AMAZING. Probably going down as one of my favorite cooking club dishes of all time. Funny how they often involve bread and cheese...



Yumi made a chilled couscous salad with cucumbers, tomatoes and pine nuts. MMM!



I made a grilled shrimp salad with raspberries, hearts of palm and avocado. The shrimp had a raspberry vinegar marinade. This salad was delicious!



Nancy made a watermelon tajin fruit salad. So refreshing!



Emily made a chilled cucumber and feta soup with dill. Plus avocado toast on the side. YUM.



Gabby was really into the avocado!



I mean, I get it. Avocado is gooooood.



Summer ended the feast with refreshing watermelon sorbet.



Add just a splash of vodka and you have a refreshing float!

ACM Retreat

This week was our annual Advancement Communication and Marketing overnight retreat at the Inn at Cedar Falls. We always get a lot accomplished at this intense working getaway. This is my third retreat since joining the retreat. We usually go in early spring when it's chilly. But this year, we went in August! The weather was gorgeous so we took a hike at the falls. Look at that snapping turtle!



Group hike!



For the past few weeks, we've been anonymously submitting superlatives for each other, and then Hailee compiled the best ones and made trophies for each of us! Mine is "Most likely to ride a unicorn to work and eat sunshine for breakast." Guilty as charged!



We told ghost stories by the fire pit once dark arrived. This made it a little creepy to walk back to our rooms afterward!



Especially when this snake slithered across our paths. Eek!



The next morning, we got up bright and early to set our goals for the upcoming year. I've never set goals amongst a family of deer before!



The whole team showing off our trophies. I'm lucky to work with such a creative and talented group!

Kayla's bridal shower

Today was Kayla's bridal shower! We reserved the upstairs section of Athens Uncorked for the party.



We all pitched in and made a ton of food. I think Vana's tofu sandwiches were my favorite thing!



Fooooood.



Don't forget sweet treats!



Alicia modeling the beautiful flowers.



Cheers!



Kayla and Cheryl!



Kayla and Mer!



Kayla and Jon!



Kayla and Kristin!



Nancy made a game called Bra Pong. I love aiming games, so this was right up my alley. Just toss the ping pong ball into the bras! Different points for different cup sizes.



Sisters!









Another set of sisters!






Kristin and Mer.





Alicia.



Moms and daughters!



I surprised Kayla with The Newlyweds Game. Ben and I came up with a bunch of questions to ask Derrick, videotaped it, and then challenged Kayla to see how many answers she could get that matched his. She had to chew a piece of gum for every answer she missed.



She did great! That was the grand total of all the gum that she had to choose. They know each other well!



Family!






Jon tsking Kayla for drinking from the bottle.



Kayla tsking Jon for drinking from the bottle!






Stacia, Kayla and Sierra.



It was a lovely shower! Congratulations, Kayla! Now we just wait for the big day...

Happy birthday, Pete!

We gathered tonight to celebrate Pete's birthday! It's a little early, because they're leaving on a camping trip and will be out of town on his actual birthday. We had a pizza party at Mer, Pete and Kate's house!



Felix really wanted some of that pizza crust. Dad gave him a small piece in exchange for some handshakes!



Presents!



Cake!






Make a wish...



Ta da!!!



Happy birthday, Pete! I hope it's an awesome year!