A "yummy" weekend away...

1 weekend

5 friends

1 50th birthday

5 sleeping bags (no laundry for us)

1 wine festival

1 iPod with various songs

100 jokes

1,000 laughs

35 phone calls from husbands and kids

1 pool

2 water slides

3 trashy magazines

endless rolls of paper towels

1 fabulous ice maker

no cable

no time constraints

many memories....

Throughout the weekend I took a few photos of the food.

But we all agreed the photos of us would remain just between us.

Tovey Taco Dip

1 can refried beans (I use the vegetarian... and I am NOT a vegetarian)

1 pkg (about 1 c.) guacamole (I use the Safeway brand)

1 1/2 c. sour cream

1/2 c. mayonnaise (Best Foods, of course)

1 pkg taco seasoning

2 c. shredded cheese (freshly shredded Tillamock is the best)

1/4 c. sliced green onions

1 tomato, chopped

1 little can chopped black olives (we did not use them this time)

Spread refried beans in bottom of a fun platter. Top with guacamole. Mix together the sour cream, mayo and seasoning packet. Spread over the guacamole layer. Top with LOTS of shredded cheddar cheese. Then top with a mixture of green onions, tomatoes and olives.

This dip came to me from my friend, Traci Tovey. We have been making it for years. My family loves it. For some reason it is really good after a day in the sun. Of course you can serve

margaritas with it if you like.

These tortilla chips (I get them at Safeway) are the best! They provide that extra bit of salt needed by women our age!!! I do love the Harbor Greens Tortilla Chips for a fancier alternative, but I do admit.... the $2.00 Santitas are the best for this dip.


Gracia's Bloody Mary's (secret recipe) were a must for the morning after the wine festival. Big glasses of water (in our Starbucks tumblers) accompanied these. And we chowed on the Jimmy Dean sausage, egg and cheese muffins. Tip from Tracey T.... instead of microwaving the whole thing, you take it out of the wrapper, toast the muffin in the toaster, microvave the insides on a paper plate, then put it all back together. Yummy!!!

A new find. And please don't think all we did was drink....

Sweet Tea Vodka. Mixed with lemonade (Paul Newman's brand or Crystal Light seems to be the favorites). A girly summer sipper for the lash ladies.

Pampered Chef makes the most amazing sauce. You know when you get invited to those parties and you feel obligated to buy something???.... Not anymore... you will be buying this every time!

RASPBERRY HABANERO SAUCE

Refrigerate it and pour it over a log of fresh goat cheese.

Two ingredients and you look like a professional chef.

My favorite new chocolate bar. It's hard to find, but worth the money in gas to drive around and get it. It's a delicious dark chocolate with just a hint of sea salt. After ever bite your mouth salivates. Maybe that doesn't sound too sexy... but I am telling you... it is heaven! You can't stop eating it. Little pieces here and there. A true indulgence.

My idea of a grown up cake.

Twizzlers and Charlston Chews.

Okay, that's all we had. We brought candles, but forgot the cake.

And nobody noticed.... sweets are treats in any form.

And a celebration among friends doesn't need much.

Just laughter and giggles and love.

Thank God for girlfriends!!!

-Tracy