Monthly Archives: December 2012

happy new year

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2013, Let's do this

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2012 has been a sensational year on AND outside of my house talks. I’ve loved being able to share my travels, recipes, and most of all, the transformation of our home. This year was definitely better than the last and I’m going to venture a say that 2013 will be even better than 2012! Yep, I said it! I have so much more planned for my blogging outlet and thank all of you (friends and family) for the continued support of this little adventure! I hope you all have a sensational 2013!

Happy New Year, Friends! See you in 2013!

gratitude: week 5

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Gratitude Week 5! Happy Happy Holidays, Friends! I’ll be back next week with the last five gratitude pictures!

  1. Favorite food – Yellow Curry Chicken
  2. Smile – Funny/Semi-drunk smile. A great unexpected day with the husband I won’t soon forget.
  3. Happiness – My first love, Boston “Bones”, and the hubs.
  4. Leaves – Frosted Sugar Cookie Leaves! My most favorite cookies ever.
  5. Morning Sky – Dallas Sky
  6. Books – Tina Fey’s Bossypants is one of my favorites!
  7. Something Funny – Pugs are always funny!
  8. Favorite Color – Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray
  9. Inspiring Person/People – Young House Love Bloggers!! So cool to meet them!
  10. Nature –Dog Park trail
  11. Something Old – Bing Crosby Merry Christmas Album.
  12. Hands – My nephew’s hands (and a dimple).
  13. Written Words – Funny words about ordering your steak well done.
  14. Movement – Travel by air.
  15. Technology – iPad & iPhone, what? …taken by another iPhone
  16. Animals – My beast Boston or Bones.
  17. Memories – Visitors.
  18. Something New – I made a pouf! Post to follow!
  19. Best Friend – My lady and my man. I like her A LOT despite the weird face. Promise.
  20. Seasonal – A real Christmas tree.
  21. Where I Sleepwhere I sleep
  22. Clothing – All my scrubs at work! cloths
  23. In My Closetin my closet
  24. Gratitude – My cup has been overflowing with love, support, and friendships even before I entered this world. I’m so grateful for everything I’ve been blessed with (yes, the good and the bad), and hope to continue in this world sharing my talents, being the best I can be, and giving my thanks to others. graditude
  25. Artwork – this wonderful print I got on Etsy. It makes me happy.artwork
  26. Transportation
  27. Daily Routine
  28. Nighttime
  29. Light
  30. Self Portrait

gum drop pillow pouf

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Cover PoufI don’t know about you, but I’ve been drooling over poufs for the last couple months! They are just sitting pretty everywhere these days!

Serena & Lily

West Elm

Anthropologie

Garnet Hill

I was going to buy a leather one, but with a price tag between 100.00 – 450.00, I’m not sure I’d be happy with my decision. That’s a huge chunk of change! Luckily, I discovered when I was taking my beginning sewing classes at City Craft they offer a pouf making class! I was SO excited. They use Amy Butlers gum drop pillows pattern. The criteria to attend were taking the beginner sewing class and knowing how to thread the machine. So, I had even more motivation to start! Unfortunately, my schedule and theirs didn’t align until this weekend. So, I jumped on it! I was so excited and nervous for the class.

For four hours (it felt like 30 minutes) on Saturday, I sewed my little heart out and had so much fun meeting my fellow pouf makers! First, we cut the pieces of fabric into 8 wedges.

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materials

Then the sewing started! That’s the fun part!

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After all the sewing, we stuffed our pouf with more filling than you’d even believe!! It was a workout! But it was so rewarding and I got a super exciting present at the end! My pouf!! I highly recommend this class to anyone, beginners included! I kept up with the ladies that have been sewing for years and got great tips from them all day long!

poufThere are so many places to display this goodness!

gratitude: week 4

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Gratitude Week 4! I’ll just let the pictures do the talking!

  1. Favorite food – Yellow Curry Chicken
  2. Smile – Funny/Semi-drunk smile. A great unexpected day with the husband I won’t soon forget.
  3. Happiness – My first love, Boston “Bones”, and the hubs.
  4. Leaves – Frosted Sugar Cookie Leaves! My most favorite cookies ever.
  5. Morning Sky – Dallas Sky
  6. Books – Tina Fey’s Bossypants is one of my favorites!
  7. Something Funny – Pugs are always funny!
  8. Favorite Color – Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray
  9. Inspiring Person/People – Young House Love Bloggers!! So cool to meet them!
  10. Nature –Dog Park trail
  11. Something Old – Bing Crosby Merry Christmas Album.
  12. Hands – My nephew’s hands (and a dimple).
  13. Written Words – Funny words about ordering your steak well done.
  14. Movement – Travel by air.
  15. Technology – iPad & iPhone, what? …taken by another iPhone
  16. Animals – My beast Boston or Bones.Bones
  17. Memories – Visitors.memories
  18. Something New – I made a pouf! Post to follow!pouf
  19. Best Friend – My lady and my man. I like her A LOT despite the weird face. Promise. BFFBFM
  20. Seasonal – A real Christmas tree.seasonal
  21. Where You Sleep
  22. Clothing
  23. In Your Closet
  24. Gratitude
  25. Artwork
  26. Transportation
  27. Daily Routine
  28. Nighttime
  29. Light
  30. Self Portrait

Happy Season Friends!

kale chips

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I got this recipe from my boss. He came into the office with a Pyrex full of kale chips, and I was hooked. I hounded him for weeks for his wife’s recipe and finally got it! It’s a simple recipe and kale is all-the-rage lately as a super food, so it’s extra special eating it!

Recipe

Ingredients

    • 1 Bunch of kale
    • 2-3 Tablespoons olive oil
    • 2 Tablespoons Balsamic vinegar
    • Sea salt

Start by washing and drying the fresh kale. Break kale into bite sized pieces (i.e. remove from the tough stems). I used scissors to cut around the stems and into bite sized pieces.

Then toss with a little olive oil and anything else fun (I used sea salt, and on half balsamic vinegar) until they turn bright green.

Spread in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 11-12 minutes! Checking to see if it is crisp.

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This is the tricky part. You don’t want to burn it, but if not left long enough, it isn’t crisp. If not ready, then toss and leave in for 2 minutes more. Cook till done. I love the way the balsamic caramelized on the kale! It looked fabulous and tasted even better!

After editing this post, I went out to get more kale. It’s addictive. But eating a bunch of kale chips is way less guilt inducing than eating other things. Enjoy!! Yum!

bikram

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Wow, a couple of weeks ago, I purchased a Groupon with a friend for Bikram yoga! I was on a mission to cross another item off of the 33 before my 33 list and maybe enjoy it enough to do it again and again.

I walked into the studio with mixed emotions.

1. I was really excited to try and ready to have this experience.

2. What the hell am I thinking? I’m not a yogi! I’m 5’11” with minimal stretchability. These people look intense and they’re wearing next to nothing! Eek!

We walked into the class and immediately the smell hit us! A mix between old over-used sauna and rugs drenched in sweat. Yum.

Then, the crazy instructor started – no drinking water between poses, put your mat this way, breathe weird, like this! Lots to think about while your sweating just standing there.

I made it through the session. Sitting during some poses, but felt great when I finished. Like most exercising, it was starting that was the hardest.

Honestly, I wish I loved it and really wanted to use my whole Groupon (for 30 visits!) but I don’t know if I’ll go back? It’s sweaty and intense and well, I feel stupid. But we’ll see. Pilates anyone?

gratitude: week 3

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Gratitude: Week 3 is a whole week late because I traveled to Wisconsin and inevitably, I got sick. So, in addition to the five things I’m thankful for this week, I am thankful for my health (this week, not last.) Ha! Happy Season.

  1. Favorite food – Yellow Curry Chicken
  2. Smile – Funny/Semi-drunk smile. A great unexpected day with the husband I won’t soon forget.
  3. Happiness – My first love, Boston “Bones”, and the hubs.
  4. Leaves – Frosted Sugar Cookie Leaves! My most favorite cookies ever.
  5. Morning Sky – Dallas Sky
  6. Books – Tina Fey’s Bossypants is one of my favorites!
  7. Something Funny – Pugs are always funny!
  8. Favorite Color – Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray
  9. Inspiring Person/People – Young House Love Bloggers!! So cool to meet them!
  10. Nature –Dog Park trail
  11. Something Old – Bing Crosby Merry Christmas Album.Bing Crosby
  12. Hands – My nephew’s hands (and a dimple).Hands
  13. Written Words – Funny words about ordering your steak well done. Written Word
  14. Movement – Travel by air.Airplane
  15. Technology – iPad & iPhone, what? …taken by another iPhone. Technology
  16. Animals
  17. Memories
  18. Something New
  19. Best Friend
  20. Seasonal
  21. Where You Sleep
  22. Clothing
  23. In Your Closet
  24. Gratitude
  25. Artwork
  26. Transportation
  27. Daily Routine
  28. Nighttime
  29. Light
  30. Self Portrait

paradise pumpkin pie

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Paradise pie has been another wonderful family tradition, this one coming from my Aunt Diane. As a youngster, she would always be the aunt with that great pie. But when I got older, I realized she brought other things to the Thanksgiving or Christmas Eve table. Red wine. It made for a fabulous Christmas Eve every year. Thank you, Aunt Diane for sharing your pie recipe and love for red wine! I appreciate both equally.
Recipe
Ingredients

For cheesecake:

  • 1 8 oz. Philadelphia brand cream cheese
  • 1/4 c sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 egg
  • 1 9-inch unbaked pastry shell

For pumpkin:

  • 1 1/4 c canned pumpkin
  • 1 c evaporate milk
  • 1/2 c sugar
  • 2 eggs, slightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • Dash of salt

Optional toppings:

  • Maple syrup
  • Pecans

Combine softened cream cheese, sugar and vanilla, mixing until well blended. Blend in egg. Spread onto bottom of pastry shell.

Combine remaining ingredients; mix well. Carefully pour over cream cheese mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees, 1 hour and 5 minutes. Cool. Brush with maple syrup and garnish with pecan halves, if desired. I desire maple syrup not pecans. Enjoy!