Guest Post: Review of Aya's Cafe Mediterranean Cuisine in Lambertville, New Jersey

This has been one crazy weekend! I need a break from my break so, allow me to turn the keys over for my very first guest post. Enjoy:-)

Guest post by reviewer Caria Mantallo

I was in the mood for a different style of dining the other day, and I definitely got it. I left my house for dinner, feeding the pets and setting my home security alarm, when I realized that I wasn't in the mood for fried food. If you want to learn more about the great home security alarm I just got, by the way, click here. So I had to find something different. Therefore, I decided to go to Aya's Cafe, a Mediterranean restaurant in my hometown of Lambertville that I had heard a lot about but had never tried. This was an excellent choice.

The inside of the restaurant was the first thing that struck me. The restaurant is in a very odd residential location, and I nearly missed it the first time I drove by because I thought it was a house. However, this made for an excellent atmosphere. The fact that the kitchen was open and the chefs were joking with their (obviously returning) customers while they cooked was even better. The wait staff was similarly friendly and attentive The only thing that annoyed me about the atmosphere was the loud Indian music playing in the background.

The appetizer that I ordered was a spinach "pitza" (or pita pizza). This was very good, though the feta cheese that was on it made it a little bit too salty. For dinner I ordered a Gyro plate with a mix of steak and lamb. This was incredible and I would would definitely go back to the restaurant just for that. The meat was perfectly cooked and seasoned and warm enough that it had obviously been cooked fresh. I will be returning to Aya's Cafe soon.

Blog Frog Friday 5-28-10

I am happy to have you all here for Blog Frog Friday: a weekly stop at my Blog Frog community:-)

"It's my birthday. I can blog if I want to, blog if I want to, blog if I want to. You would blog too if you knew what I knew."

That's right! Today, is my actual 40th birthday. I get to see my youngest read her first published book at her Author's Tea at school. I have an Iron Cupcake: Milwaukee Challenge tonight and with any luck, I may even get to play with my girlfriends. It is going to be the perfect finale to this 40th May celebration of mine:-)

In honor of this special day, this week's topic is about Birthday Cakes. So, hop on over to my pad for the conversation:-)

Veggie Garden

I usually don't plant the veggie garden until Memorial Day weekend but this year, summer has come early. I actually feel a little behind. Some other blogs are showing buds and harvest already! But here in Wisconsin, this is what you get:-)

Tackling a Sofa

This year, my older daughter will be moving into her very first college apartment. As such, she is in need of furniture, dishes, etc. Well, I saved a bunch of stuff when we moved my mom into our house. So, my daughter is pretty set with dishes and such. However, she needed a sofa so, we tackled getting her set up with one.

Now, if you remember back to college, you don't want designer furniture in these places. There are parties that cause spills that you can never come back from. So, look at what $3 will buy you:

Not bad right? The cushions were missing and the frame is broken but that's not a problem. A couple of throw pillows and a woodworking grandpa that can reforce the busted frame and viola!! Chic Ode de College:-)

Blog Frog Friday 5-21-10

I am happy to have you all here for Blog Frog Friday: a weekly stop at my Blog Frog community:-)

That wonderful blog carnvial Friday Followers is all done. I hated to see it go because I loved meeting new friends. So, in honor of the sun setting on that weekly meeting place, this week's topic is about Followers. So, hop on over to my pad for the conversation:-)

In line with that, I would like to pay special tribute to a blogger who recently hopped on the Susie's Homemade bandwagon:

Be At Home

They have got some great information on everything from movie reviews to how to stock a bar to their weekly shopping carnvial. Check em and tell them "Susie sent me":-)

The Move Back

My older daughter is moving back home for the summer from college. So, I am tackling making room for her. That means, I have to take down the Barbie village:-(



So Bye, Bye Barbie:-) See you in the fall!

Blog Frog Friday 05-14-10

Welcome Friday Followers! I am happy to have you all here for Blog Frog Friday: a weekly stop at my Blog Frog community.

Today, I am gearing up for my 500th post which is coming next Thursday! Hop on over to my pad for a chance to win an copy of my e-cookbook before it goes on sale!

Geraniums of Appreciation

This week, volunteers were honored for their service at the elementary school. I was a recipient of this appreciation for chairing the bake sale (did anyone doubt that I wouldn't lead a bake sale?) and for my committment to the PTO. Look what I got:

I got two of these little globes that water your plants for you. Neat:-)

I was also introduced to the masses as the next Vice-President of the PTO:-) I guess I have my work cut out for me next year!

Introducing Blog Frog Friday

Welcome Friday Followers! I am happy to have you all here!

However, I am not happy with how little I am using my Blog Frog community. So, just like everything in my little life, I have to blog about it. If I have you all to be accountable to, I will most certainly do better. So, every Friday is now Blog Frog Friday:-)


My first Blog Frog Friday question is:

What would you like to see on Susie's Homemade community (i.e. giveaways, how to's, forums, etc.)?

Hopefully, a bunch of you will hop on over there and we can get a great conversation going:-)

Snow in Spring

Another flowering crab but this one looks like snow:-)

Bathroom Curtains

Two years ago, we redid our bathrooms however, we never finished the window treatments. So this week, we did this:


Aren't they pretty? I just love them. The inspiration for this bathroom design was a French power room. So, imagine my delight when I found this Paris charm bracelet in my mom's jewelry box!! It even matches the other metails in the room!!



I love it when a tackle comes together...even two years later:-)