and we celebrated

we spent the Fourth of July at Wendys house

we started off breakfast with a recipie Wendy found on Pinterest for Red Velvet pancakes

yes...they involved red velvet cake mix....the heart attack special as Wendy lovingly calls it !!!

and the topping was made with cream cheese, butter and powdered sugar plus.... a little vanilla (made from vanilla beans Wendy brought home from Madagascar that had been sitting in Vodka for the last 20 years)...what's not to love !

Wonderful family get together. I've met her family many times and they feel like my own family. In fact her BIL Joe (L) looks like he could be The Lensters brother !!

here we are running into the picture taken on the iPad !!! It's done with an app called 'Self Timer' ! We are a true bunch of nuts !

great food...all home made

hand picked from Judys farm

Judys hubby Joe and Wendys hubby Roger...only Joe is the real Italian ! !

***********

then today we took a ride to Gilroy...

what's a trip to northern CA without some outlet shopping! BUT...before getting there we stopped to smell the roses at Syngenta Seed company just to look at their grounds.

It was as good, if not better, than visiting a botanical garden

from there we headed over to the shopping..

a little-a-this...a little-a-that

Home Goods had REAL succulents for sale

and their usual fare..cool home decor

If they had this bench in the Home Goods where I live I'd buy it in a flash !!! remind self to check it out when I get home !

A quick lunch at Mimi's Cafe

and on to Michaels Craft Store

where...I went BONKERS for Susan Lenart Kazmers new 'Industrial Chic' pieces

and I mean BONKERS....!!! They are AMAZING !!

Excited to catch a glimpse of Rangers new packaging...

and on to the Luggage store

and a CHICOS outlet...(they shipped!)

and a winery

okie dokie then...

seems like enough for one day...

tomorrows another day

tra la...

Comments

[Adidas Original Shoes]

Again...thanks for sharing! I'm nestled away here in rural North Carolina {which is very difficult for me as I'm a city girl}. I feel like I'm on a mini-trip with you fab pictures & comments ;)

[Kathyk]

Oh yes, let's do the timewarp agaaaiinn!!!

Fabulous stores - can't wait to get back in to Michaels myself but have to wait till September! Ah well, it'll come round quick.

Loving your vacation, thanx for sharing

Happy Thursday

Kathyk

[Lee in Texas]

Wonderful blog!! Loved seeing all the flowers, the stuff at Home Goods...the winery, the tees...the food at Mimi's is wonderful (we have one next to IKEA here). What a wonderful day you had!