Heat Wave

It's been a hot summer and we have enjoyed the water slide to cool off.  The heat won't keep Brian away from cutting the grass, and Colton likes to join in.

Glenside 4th of July Parade

Colton and Mark (Brian's colleague and fellow Glensider)

Mr. Kenney & Pat

Nathan, Michael, Ben, Sydney, & Kate

Greg and Sydney

The 4th has become a favorite holiday of ours. We have lots of friends and family come celebrate with us because the parade goes right down the street a block away from our house.  It was a fun day even with the holiday coming in the middle of the week.

Coming Full Circle

Stephanie & Colton playing with "Make your own story cards"

2nd Spark Consulting: Shockingly Smart Creative 

The intelligence of a management consulting firm combined with the creativity of an advertising agency

                                                                                                                

It all started in Hilton Head - two young girls with a cassette tape and an imagination.  Stephanie and I spent one evening recording songs from the radio so we could be entertained on our long drive back home to Pittsburgh.  In between the songs, we created our own commercials and that is where it all began.  The commercials were for silly and fun products like, "Fart-X," "Poop-n-All," "Wrinkle Twinkle," "Thin Thin," and we even made a PSA about drunk driving. Years later we made these audio versions into video versions - continuing our love of advertising.  20 some years later, we have come full circle.  I work for a consulting firm that offers creative solutions for our clients, and Stephanie is a freelance designer/art director who has worked in the field of advertising/packaging for the past 10 years. We use Stephanie for all our design needs because she is top notch, a thoughtful, creative individual and our clients just love her.  Stephanie created the brain image above for the company I work for and she recently came up to Philadelphia for a client meeting where she presented logos she created for their brand.  Just as we did in Hilton Head, we sat on my couch in Philadelphia the night before the meeting, and put our thoughts together for the presentation.

Happy Birthday Brian

Colton and Brian blowing out Brian's birthday candles

We celebrated Brian's official birthday with Mr. Kenney & Pat last Sunday.  I made a cake (it's the one that looks like I made it) and Mr. Kenney brought a cake.  Colton was very excited to help Daddy blow out his candles. 

Celebrating 38

The whole roasted suckling pig at Cantina Feliz

Bob, Mary, Mr. Kenney, & Pat

Brian eating our favorite - Elotes Loco (grilled corn with lime mayo, queso fresco, & chile pequin)

Devon & Me

Deb, Greg & Joe

Jim & Deb

Colton with Michael & Tracey

Brian turned 38 and we celebrated at one of his favorite restaurants - Cantina Feliz - surrounded by good friends and family.  There is a whole roasted suckling pig on the menu that says you must order 3 days in advance.  We were always intrigued and wanted to try it, so we figured his birthday was a perfect time to do it.  We had guacamole, ceviche verde, korean bbq tacos, the pig, and some of our favorite sides - grilled corn, asparagus, and beans and rice.  The chef came over to Brian after carving the pig and said, "Anyone feeling adventurous?" The plate had the brain, the kidney, and the tongue on it.  Brian jumped right in and took a bite of it all. Others joined in too. We thank all that came to celebrate: Mr. Kenney, Pat, Bob, Mary, Greg, Deb, Michael, Tracey, Jim, Rory, Joe, and we were very lucky that Devon & Tim called right before the reservation and they joined us too.  Happy birthday to my best friend, an amazing husband, an incredible dad, and the love of my life.