pretty enough to drink: starting the holidays off on the right foot

 

Need I say more

 

cocktails and the holidays just go together

 

I'm a gin girl

 

twenty years ago I used to be a vodka girl-oh the memories{or lack of-ha!}

 

I will never be a martini girl because those things go down waaay tooo fast

 

so, this is my new favorite drink

 

not that gin and tonics are new and amazing

 

my dad just introduced me to a little something special

 

 

 

 Fever Tree tonic

 

 whole star anise

 

 lime and an orange

 

cheers!

 

 

Now, this has nothing to do with adult drinks

but I suggest you sit down and make the kids share

 

this year I put all our hot chocolate fixings out on display

 

the kids love it

 

hot chocolate making has become an art

 

everyone has their own technique

 

two peppermint sticks, twelve mini marshmallows, whip cream to the ceiling

 

its a new adventure with every cup

 

my favorite part is the cute paper straws

 

the kids can't stand them

 

little punks

 

I tell them to go ahead and just drown in whip

 

I'm going to sip in style!

 

now, get out and enjoy the season

 



crafters unite!

 

What could be better than a visit from a great friend for the weekend?

 

 

I'll tell you ... that great friend and you crafting your little hearts out!

I mean really, we were productive. 

 

 

Books were being destroyed

 





 

Darling things were being created.

 

More on the book page trees a little later.  Thanks Tisha and G. for coming to hang out with us.  We miss you so much.  Next reunion is at your house after Christmas ...that should give us plenty of time to search Pinterest for inspiration :) 

 

 

*note: next reunion

i'm making sure to

shower before we

take the pictures!

what i wore wednesday

 

The other day Becca and I shopped together via texts.  While it made me miss my bestest friend like crazy, I was just so darn happy to be shopping for shoes with her any way possible.  She was having a crisis, and we have all been there...trying to find the perfect boot.  You know what I mean by perfect-the one that is just the right height, goes with everything you already have, doesn't hurt your feet, doesn't make you look too young and definitely not too old, the one that is just the right color and  texture and again goes with everything you already have{!}. Is it just me or is shopping sometimes like opening Pandora's box. 

 

It never fails that one clothes purchase leads to another.  If it's the shoe you love, it doesn't go with the jeans you already own.  The sweater that you have to find the right shirt to go under.  The coat that needs a new scarf and on and on.  I totally understand ambush makeovers.  There is nothing like living on a budget, losing a little bit of touch with trends, and having some babies that will keep you from ever going inside the walls of the mall and in turn looking like you just rolled out of bed. Hello yoga pants you wear every other day{the other days you are wearing the jeans that you've been wearing for seven years and your just thrilled they fit-never mind they have holes in both the knees}and a pony tail{maybe this is just a ME problem?} 

 

Thankfully Becca found just the right boot{I think...last time I checked they may have been hurting her feet}, but it got me thinking about my own fashion challenges-and there are many.  I like clothes, and if you ask my husband, I have no problem going into the mall and buying them.  that might be true, but I'm certainly not buying the ones I really want, I'm just getting the ones that don't break the bank and make me feel good when I really *have*to get dressed{it honestly doesn't happen that often}.

 

The following outfit took two years to put together.  That is so stupid considering it is not the least bit amazing, but parts of it have been sitting in my closet until I could find just the right thing to go with it.  I almost Goodwilled this shirt several times along with the shoes because I thought they were a mistake purchase and I would never wear them.   I stopped myself every time they nearly went in the pile because I knew all I needed was the right-whatever-I didn't know what to buy to go with it.

 

So, this is what I wore to church on Sunday

 

I bought the rust colored shirt 1.5 years ago in Des Moines. I had not worn it until this day.  The lace shirt is a recent purchase from The Buckle{of all places} suggested by the sales guy{of all people}. I love it-maybe a little too youthful but I don't care.

 

The mid length gold and silver necklace is from the Lucky store.  So happy that silver and gold are in together-makes jewelry way more versatile.  The short necklace is Silpada from 1 million years ago.

 

The jeans{7 for all mankind} were a birthday present last winter. This was seriously the first time I've worn them because I didn't have the right shoe, that went with the right shirt, that needed something to go under it...it's like the old lady who swallowed a fly.

 

The shoes are Dansko. I bought them 2 years ago.  I loved them, hated them, and then loved them again. Pretty happy they never went to Goodwill. 

 

Now I need a casual black pair that will likely collect dust until I have time to collect all the makings for another outfit-ha!

 

Happy shopping to all you mommies.  I'm more than happy to pass along my phone number so we can go virtual shopping together :)  I'm always up for a trip to the mall in person or just via texts{don't tell Todd I just admitted that}.

 

. 

let them eat kale!

 

 Martha Stewart...she's a good thing{see yesterday's post}.  That woman knows how to do some stuff and I love her.  I love her even if in real life I would hate her and she'd be all snotty and stuck up and all type-A when I met her, she has still brought great things into my life.  She has pretty much been the one who taught me to cook, and she no doubt was the one who inspired me to bake.  I have a looong way to go, but this "Martha" isn't giving up anytime soon.

 

Now, with that said, I think she is holding this recipe hostage.  I usually have no problems finding recipes on the Internet to link up to.  I can't find this one, even though it was just published in this months Everyday Food.  I'm lazy people. I don't like to type out recipes. I must really love you.

 

 

Sweet Potato-Sausage Soup{Martha Stewart Everyday Food/November 2012}

 

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1 large onion, diced large

2 cloves garlic, minced

salt and pepper

3/4 pound sweet sausage, casings removed

2 sweet potatoes{1 pound total}, peeled and diced medium

4 cups chicken broth

3/4 cup small pasta{I used ditalini}

 4 cups roughly chopped mixed greens, such as kale and swiss chard{I just used kale}

grated parmesan for serving

 

1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium high.  Add onion and garlic and cook until onion is translucent, about 6 minutes, season with salt and pepper.  Add sausage and cook, breaking up meat with a wooden spoon until browned about 5 minutes.

 

2. Add sweet potatoes, broth, and 2 cups water and bring to a boil. *see note*Add pasta and cook 3 minutes less than package instructions. Reduce to a simmer, add greens, and cook until pasta is tender and greens are wilted. 4 minutes. Serve with parmesan.

 

 

*note*the recipe says to cook the pasta in the soup, but it is my experience that pasta gets super gross when you do this-it soaks up all the broth, triples in size and gets way too mushy, unless you are serving immediately.  I've decided to cook the pasta separately and add it before serving. The pasta stays firm, the soup remains soupy and left-overs are much better.

enjoy!

 

it's all good

 

Around here when you're three a certain book becomes your favorite.  Sloan has reached that milestone and that means we read "It's a Good Thing" a lot and then a few more times.

 

It's just a silly little book with cute pictures.  It says things like..."It's a good thing...porcupines don't like to hug" and "It's a good thing...storks don't get confused". 

 

 

 

 

 I

If I were writing the "It's a Good Thing" book my pages would sound something like this today.

 

It's a good thing...Sloan isn't a twin.

 

It's a good thing...jeans aren't the only option my boys have for long pants.

 

It's a good thing...Home Goods has everything I need because it's all I can afford.

 

 

Home Goods.  Yes, that place is a good thing and it's a good thing I went there last week because I dismantled my master bathroom *again* which means I took down the plates that had no business being there in the first place.  I re-painted, I re-purposed, I re-did it one. more. time.  Home Goods was wonderful enough to have just the little cubby thing I wasn't looking for and  I had all the things to fill it with.  I have had all these little tchotchkes for a long time.  A few antiques my mom has passed down, a heart collection from my dad. Things I have cherished and had no place to display until now.  I don't know if it's the best thing for above the toilet, but I am certain it looks better than the plates

 

 

Good-bye plates.  You were not a good thing.