This weekend one of my dearest friends from Florida is coming to visit. Lots of planning to get ready for the holiday. Monday we will have 30 of our nearest and dearest for a paella party, so I will have a ton to report on Tuesday.

As you can imagine, I have been to-ing and fro-ing everywhere gathering up last minute buys at Ikea (wine glasses, extra chairs and those .49 napkins), Target (yard spray for those hideous mosquitos that love me as their banquet – I wonder if they blog about me?) and today to the liquor store for all the makings of a tasty sangria (both white and red). Sunday all my girls will be together and we will trek to the Dekalb Farmers Market for the paella ingredients so everything will be super fresh. Sunday night we are attending a huge taco party with Kingsized as the entertainment at Ryan & Jennifer’s place. I am so looking forward to meeting these cool folks and eating some tasty tacos as well as dancing to great music! Other fun weekend activities include a slumber party at our darling Holly’s house up in Cumming on Saturday after we watch the Dragoncon parade downtown at 10 a.m. Friday night we are supping at Holy Taco in East Atlanta. I haven’t been there yet, but will review it next week.

As you can see, not a lot of cooking until the big day on Monday. We will be cooking the paella outdoors over an open flame (I will post photos, of course). I will be chopping tons of onions and garlic so I will leave you until Tuesday with this Special Tip: After chopping onions and garlic, rub your hands on something that is stainless steel (the bottom of a kitchen sink works really well) and no more odor. It’s kitchen magic.

So, my darling readers, I bid you adieu until Tuesday. Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day weekend!

xoxo, Patti