Thursday, December 30, 2010

My Four Things...

1.  Four words/phrases I use a lot...
  • Fabulous
  • I'm Sorry
  • I Love You
  • Chocolate 
2.  Four things that I am passionate about...
  • My girls
  • Desserts
  • Books
  • Bed & Breakfasts
3.  Four things I've learned from the past...
  • The grass isn't always greener
  • Complaining doesn't make you feel any better
  • Nothing will change your mind, except yourself
  • If you can't afford it now, wait until you can
4.  Four places I would like to go...
  • London
  • Paris
  • Heaven
  • Nantucket
5.  Four things I love about winter...
  • Pumpkin spice coffee
  • Slipper socks
  • Christmas
  • Down comforters 
6.  Four things I'm looking forward to...
  • Grandchildren
  • Traveling/vacations
  • Having an amazing 2011
  • Refinishing my kitchen cabinets
7.  Four things I did yesterday...
  • Shopping with Lindsey
  • Laundry of course
  • Lunch at Chick-fil-A with Lindsey 
  • Took a nap
While shopping with Lindsey, I came across these adorable pink ballet flats!!! I can't wait to wear them...

We also ventured to Brighton and I found a fabulous watch that Lindsey bought for me...


Hope everyone has a safe and fabulous New Years Eve!!! 
XoXo,
 

Monday, December 27, 2010

Christmas Is Over...

I hope everyone had a fabulous and wonderful Christmas!!! We certainly did...



Lauren Olivia 1998...

Lauren Olivia 2005...
Opening their stockings...
Lindsey Nicole, I wasn't allowed to show her sweet face...

Lauren Olivia, just a little of her sweet face...
Very warm and cozy Christmas socks...
XoXo,
 

Monday, December 20, 2010

Christmas Shopping...

Hope everyone is finished or almost finished with their Christmas shopping. I only have 1.5 days left of complete crazy shopping. That's because I'm working the rest of the week, and for those of you that know me, I am the biggest procrastinator there ever was!!! I am not proud of this statement, and every year I swear, I'm going to change and fix this problem of mine...



I also, tell myself I am going to wrap my presents as I bring them home. Well...that did not happen either this year. For the last 20 years, I am up until about 2:00am Christmas morning, wrapping presents, stuffing the stockings from Santa, fixing my Christmas morning casserole, and swearing I'm never going to wait to the last minute, ever again!!!
Maybe secretly I love this complete and total madness and really wouldn't have it any other way...

XoXo

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Some Christmas Inspiration...

Oh how I love, the month of December!!!  It's chilly here today, so it really feels like Christmas. Well... chilly for South Florida. I have my Christmas tree turned on, burning a yummy scented candle, still in my pj's with socks on, and a cup of pumpkin spice coffee...















Hope you are staying warm and cozy...

XoXo,

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Lets Pick Strawberries...

Over the summer, Lauren Olivia made a list of 10 things she wanted to do. Picking strawberries was one of them.  So... I had this brilliant idea, we would get up early this morning, spend quality time together, and go pick strawberries and get our Christmas tree...
I thought it was a very good idea, but the girls seemed to think differently! They just wanted to stay home, in their pj's, and do homework. I had to put my very sad mother face/voice on, and then they changed their minds. It works every time. Shhh don't tell my secret...
When we first got to Bedner's Farmers Market, it was actually very comical! All the children there were under the age of 6. Except for mine, my girls are 15 and 20...
Santa Claus was there too, and no I did not make them sit on his lap. I won't lie, I did think about it for a few moments...





Funny how even when you are 15 and 20 years old, you still can't stand still while waiting in line. I have one texting, and one studying her flash cards for chemistry. Or they are annoying each other to no end. Some things will never change, and maybe, I really don't want them too...



They actually ate more berries than what went into their baskets, just like when they were smaller.  I remember the first time I took the girls to pick strawberries. A friend had told me to bring little scissors, so they could cut the stems and not squish the berries. It worked very well. Except, Lindsey decided to cut her own bangs that day. Let me just say... They were not straight what so ever, but they did grow back eventually and it is a very sweet memory for me...






You can also cut your own sunflowers if you would like...




Where else, but South Florida, can you pick strawberries, sunflowers and get your Christmas tree all at the same time...

XoXo

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Happy Thanksgiving To You...


Hope everyone has a happy and safe Turkey Day!!! Don't forget to watch, The 84th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade...

XoXo

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Winter Pasta...

My youngest, Lauren Olivia, continues to be a vegetarian. I thought this was just a phase, but I thought wrong! So... I'm in a constant search of delicious recipes that we all can eat. When I say we all, I specifically mean my oldest daughter, aka My Very Own Drama Queen. She loves everything and anything that is not healthy. OK... well she does like orange juice, watermelon, mango, pineapple, zucchini, squash and broccoli. Yep...that would be it for healthy.

So this one particular afternoon, I was on a mission to find something for dinner, that was yummy, fast and easy...
 

Winter Pasta

I used penne here, but you can substitute whatever pasta you like. Spinach can be substituted for the kale if you like as well.
4 cloves of garlic, peeled
4 small shallots, peeled
1 small bunch of kale - 1/2 lb / 8 oz, stalks removed, washed well
1/3 cup / 80 ml extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup / 2 oz goat cheese, plus more for topping
2 tablespoons + hot pasta water
fine grain sea salt & freshly ground black pepper
fresh lemon juice - optional
12 oz / 340 g dried penne pasta
fresh thyme - and thyme flowers
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Salt the boiling water generously, and add the garlic and shallots. Boil for 2-3 minutes, stir in the kale and cook for another ten seconds. Don't overcook. Working quickly, use a slotted spoon or strainer to fish the greens, garlic, and shallots from the water. Use a food processor to puree the ingredients along with the olive oil and goat cheese. Add a couple tablespoons of hot pasta water if needed to thin things out if needed. Then season with a touch of salt and plenty of black pepper. Taste. Depending on your goat cheese, you might need a little extra acidic oomph if your sauce is a bit flat. If so, add fresh lemon juice a bit at a time until you're happy with it. Set aside.
Reheat the pot of water and boil the pasta per package instructions. Drain and toss immediately with the green sauce. Serve topped with a few pinches of fresh thyme, and more crumbled goat cheese.
Serves 4-6. 



I had extra sauce left over, so we used it as a dip for Tostito chips and veggie's. You could also add some pine nuts to the pasta, if you like...

XoXo

 

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Love My Farmers Market...

I have to say... I have a great farmers market, right down the street from where I live. The produce and plants are always so fresh and really really inexpensive!!!







XoXo

 

Monday, October 18, 2010

The Walls Have Paper...

Well...It only took me 3 weeks to finish the wallpaper...
I always seem to find other things to do, or I find another exciting project that I just have to start. I usually do have 4 or 5 projects going at the same. This really drives me so crazy at times, but I continue to do it over and over again!!!


~ Love This Spackling. So Very Easy To Use ~


I love this wallpaper!!! Now I just need to find a couple of pictures for the wall...


XoXo,

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Organizing Tip For You...

I am spending way too much time looking at all my favorite blogs today. I should be cleaning, possibly laundry, gardening, organizing my garage, or even trying to finish the wallpaper, I started in my bathroom awhile back. Can you say... Procrastination?! That would be my first, last and middle name...

I wish I could remember which blog I saw this great idea on. So I could give them the credit, but I can not...

What a cute idea to keep your extension cords organized and not a tangled mess. Which mine definitely are, whenever I can remember where they might be!!!





Have a great day!!!

XoXo