Happy Birthday Merith!

Friday after work we headed over to Merith's place to celebrate her impending 30th birthday.  The theme?  "Great Gatsby, Merith's 30!"  Almost everyone at the party dressed up in costume {even the little kiddos}, and combined with 'champs', candy cigarettes {I didn't know they still made these!}, and an awesome photo booth, it was the perfect way to spend the evening celebrating one of my oldest friends.  And since today is the actual day....

Happy Birthday, Merith!!!  Love you! :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy {long week} Friday

What a week, right?  I have a million fun things I want to share with you, but couldn't bring myself to sort through and edit photos this week, or come up with anything witty and clever to say.  So instead, you get this awesome picture of a 4th of July sunset {we like to joke in my family about how many photos of this exact same sunset we have, but I still can't help snapping away every time I see it}.  Here's to a relaxing summer weekend and a better week ahead :)

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Salmon & Melting Tomatoes

This past week I was looking for something yummy to make for dinner and came across The Barefoot Contessa's Salmon & Melting Cherry Tomatoes.  I adapted it to make only 2 servings (shown below) and my oh my, it was delicious.  The tomato mixture was soooooo good, I considered just eating a big bowl of that for leftovers.  It would be fabulous over a steak or a piece of chicken, but the method of cooking the salmon below keeps the fish so moist and perfectly cooked, I'd recommend trying it first this way.  It's a great meal to whip up quickly but will really impress - I called it Fancy Monday food :)

Salmon & Melting Tomatoes

Ingredients
Olive Oil
1/2 cup chopped sweet onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
Salt & pepper
1 tblsp balsamic vinegar
1 tblsp julienned fresh basil leaves
1 lb salmon fillet

Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Heat 2 tblsp olive oil in saute pan.  Add onion and cook over medium low for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until soft but not brown.  Add garlic and cook 1 minute.  Stir in tomatoes, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper and cook over medium low about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until liquid evaporates and sauce thickens.  Remove from heat and stir in vinegar and basil.
3. Meanwhile, place large cast iron skillet over high heat for 5 minutes.  Brush salmon all over with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and place skin side up in pan.  Cook for about 3 minutes until browned.  Turn salmon skin side down with metal spatula and transfer pan to the oven for 8 minutes.  Remove fish to plate, cover with aluminum foil and allow to rest for 5 minutes.
4. Reheat tomatoes, season to taste, and serve over salmon.

serves 2

adapted from Barefoot Contessa: Foolproof

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Great Grandma

I think my brother said it best when he said "heaven received another angel today".  My great grandma passed away yesterday, and while I'm heartbroken over losing her, I am so grateful that we were all able to spend so much quality time with her these last few weeks.  And she was just as funny as ever - even up to her last day she was making me laugh :) Rest in Peace Grams - you will forever be in our hearts.  I love you.

xoxo,
stephanie marie

4th of July {part 2}

Here are a few more shots from our 4th of July celebration.  With the sun setting the annual golf tournament commenced, followed by fancy s'mores, grown up scooter rides, and the craziest firework show yet.

 brother getting oh-so-close to the boat

 madison and shannon contemplating life

 sunburn twins

don't leave toys at our house if you don't want us to play with them

 floating lanterns over the water

 s'mores made with reese's peanut butter cups - epic

awkward family photos

 flags and fireworks

 the neighbors floated a barge full of fireworks out on the water - the show lasted 24 minutes straight!

and this was the aftermath

and finally - dad captured a smidgen of the show to share with you - how awesome are those fireworks?!?!

Samish Island 4th - I love you :)  Until next year.....

xoxo,
stephanie marie

4th of July {part 1}

Since I can't seem to let go of the magic of the 4th, I'm splitting up my pictures from this year into 2 posts - daytime and nighttime.  This year was just as awesome as ever.....I wish I was back at the beach lounging with a beer in the sunshine right now :)

 

david {a samish island newbie} and i started off the day with a walk along the mudflats - then a quick trip back before the tide came in.

 sara is now a seasoned veteran at the island!

 i guess someone is more used to warm weather than i am....

 the oyster nachos were ginormous this year!  i could only have 2 {plus another a few days later...}

 i guessed correctly that the weirdest animal in the parade this year would be a mini horse

everyone's favorite part

 the obligatory 'after parade' picture

 joan's annual rendition of "god bless america"

 maddie's epic jello shots this year were color blocked - we're gettin' fancy 

 lila joined us for her first ever girls photo!

 but then we had to have one with just us - it's tradition! :)

this face kills me

more tomorrow!

xoxo,
stephanie marie

Happy 4th!

Happy 4th of July!  I'm once again heading up north to my most favorite place in the world (see previous years here, here, and here).  The weather's supposed to be great, all of the regulars (and a few newbies) are scheduled to arrive, and I hear there's a whole bag of oysters just waiting to get on the BBQ :)  I'm taking a long weekend to enjoy the holiday, so I'll see you back here next week!

Have a happy and safe 4th!

xoxo,
stephanie marie