Dees Team

more love.

2012-02-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

ingredients

3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons flour
1/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons orange liqueur, such as Grand Marnier
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
2 egg yolks
2 egg whites
pinch salt
pinch cream of tartar

directions

heat oven to 375° F. grease one 16-ounce or two 8-ounce ramekins with 1 tablespoon of butter. coat with 1 tablespoon sugar, then tap out the excess. set aside.
melt the remaining butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and whisk in the flour. blend in the milk and cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce boils, 1 minute. remove from heat. blend in the liqueur and zest. whisk in the egg yolks one at a time. set aside. (recipe can be made to this point up to 1 day ahead. cover and refrigerate.)
beat the egg whites, salt, cream of tartar, and remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar until stiff (but not dry) peaks form. pour the sauce into the whites; gently fold together. spoon into ramekins.
bake until puffed and browned, 40 minutes for a 16-ounce soufflé, 20 minutes for two smaller ones.
serve immediately with Custard Sauce: poke a small hole in the crust of the souffle and pour sauce inside.

be mine.

2012-02-09T21:39:00.000-05:00

valentine's day is fast approaching. this is a must have on your menu for your special someone.

love sent, xo

this week...

2012-02-09T21:22:00.003-05:00

hey there.. it's thursday.. this week has had it's ahaa moments, its sad moments, and the moments when i reminded myself it's a big, big, world. and i got flowers, beautiful flowers, from a very, very, unexpected source. xo

how to make your day instantly better:

do something for someone else.
check your mailbox.
spend time outside (it's really a stress relief).
dance.
walk.
email a friend (they are only a few key strokes away).
laugh.
play music loud.
cook a good meal.
make bread.
find a reason to laugh.
hug. and hug again.
hold the door for someone.
smile.
light your fireplace.
bargain with the universe.
help clean up.
take photos.
take a bubble bath.
read a good book.
appreciate the little things.
buy new lingerie.
try out a new recipe.
make art.
drink wine.
a good haircut (thank you nicole).
drink almond milk.
meet friends.
book a trip.
call your kids.
see a good movie.
send flowers to someone.
believe in little moments.

love sent, xo

now...

2012-02-08T20:50:00.002-05:00

love sent, xo

the sun before the burn...

2012-02-06T21:00:00.003-05:00

i usually like my weekends to be nicely balanced – a little relaxation, some time for discovery (there are always restaurants on my must-try list), and a bit of work.
this weekend started out really nice and ended on a down note. i guess that is balance alright but i like
it when the scale tips more towards mostly sunshine.
but ... i found that a great day of fun and laughter always means a good memory even if what follows is tough. everyone wants to keep a good thing going as long as you can but nothing lasts forever.

when you share an evening with someone you know so well, someone that smiles at the stories you tell, someone that you know beyond a shadow of a doubt loves you very much - the sky looks bluer and you know it may take time but everything will be alright. walk the beach and look out over the water. watch the waves as they rise and fall, you will find the answers there. in the waves if you listen still enough you always find the answer ... or you can catch the next one.

love sent, xo

time

2012-02-02T06:56:00.000-05:00

browned butter chocolate chip cookies

2012-02-01T20:40:00.000-05:00

makes 16
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
14 tbs unsalted butter--divided
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup dark brown sugar-firmly packed
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips
3/4 cups walnut halves

heat oven to 375F. line baking sheets with parchment paper. whisk flour and baking soda in a bowl and set aside. heat 10 tbs of butter in a skillet over medium heat, swirling continually, until it becomes a dark golden brown and it smells a bit toffee like. this should take about 3-5 minutes...the larger the skillet, the quicker the reaction. remove from heat and pour butter into mixing bowl. add the remaining butter and stir until it is melted. add the sugars, salt and vanilla to the bowl and hand-whisk until mixed well. add egg and egg yolk and whisk until smooth and begins to lighten in color a bit. let rest for 3 minutes. whisk again for 30 seconds and let rest for 3 minutes. do this procedure 2 more times. use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir in the flour mixture so that it is just combined = don't over-mix. stir in chocolate and nuts. scoop out large balls (about 3 tbs) onto to the parchment, placing about 2" apart. Bake for about 10-14 minutes or until the edges are slightly browned. cool on wire rack.

family home...

2012-01-30T22:02:00.001-05:00

a home is where a family lives together. always warm and welcoming. a casual space for cooking and eating together. monday night happens to be dinner with the kids (who have all moved out). with lacrosse season starting this was the last night we would all be together on a monday for a while . we have coaches, we have players. xo
thanks for the conversation, the support, and mostly the love.

and for the reminder that
"when we walk to the edge of all the light we have and take a step into the darkness of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen. there will be something solid for us to stand on, or we will be taught to fly." -Patrick Overton

and i'll remember the line from the song we always danced to when you were little...

these are the times to remember, they will not last forever. these are the days to hold onto, cuz we won't although we want to" Billy Joel "

probably one of my most favorite songs of all time.

love sent, xo

a few notes of what january looked like.

2012-01-30T07:14:00.001-05:00

mom heading back to florida :(
roasted vegetables
wishing for snow (getting rain instead)
cardamon braided bread (the best)
cozy fires
dreamy new breakfast recipe.

football (playoffs)
thank you notes on fresh stationary
sweet new baby (welcome rhett)
cleaning closets
michael's famous pizza parties
filing the calendar
catching up with friends
morning coffee
new books
sipping drinks with red and white striped straws

what i am doing right now....

2012-01-29T21:30:00.005-05:00

what inspires you? i sit here going through hundreds of pinterest ideas, while my dh works diligently around the house on some mini projects i thought up today.
we took a trip to ikea and bought a variety of random things to spruce up a variety of rooms.
pinterest - i love you for all the ideas i find. seriously, you are so addicting.

i can't believe we are at the bottom of january. month one is already wrapping up. right now
sunday seems to be my most productive day. today i cleaned the house, made a few calls,
paid a few bills, did some photo edits, and cleared my in box like lightening delete. delete. delete.
today was sunny and bright and wonderful. one of those days we won't soon forget.
a sort of in between day. it was productive and happy and memorable. after a long day of shopping we decided we needed to eat - which is always on the top of the agenda. after rambling through a whole list of restaurants, contemplating on staying home and cooking, toyed with the idea of riding to the beach, we settled on a small local restaurant which worked out perfectly.
over a flickering candle we talked about the day. the food was great, conversation was good. i must say a great weekend it was.

simple. uneventful. real.

and remember no day ever ends if it makes a memory.

love sent, xo

i need a holiday away from the rain....

2012-01-27T22:18:00.001-05:00

i have posted about this duo before. i love, love, them. happy, happy, weekend. i played his loud like
jerry mcguire loud. enjoy <3

love sent, xo

love letters...

2012-01-24T23:13:00.001-05:00

dear bff, thank you for the (healthy) recipes you left on my desk today i ~~might~~ can't wait to try them. you are the best bff. xo
dear bob, it was so good to spend time with you tonight. i loved the pictures
of italy. you inspire me to move forward. our conversations are awesome.
dear mom, its going to be ok - keep up your amazing attitude. one day at a time :)
dear vinny, can't wait for dinner tomorrow night.... the drive is worth it.
dear work, - really? will it ever get better???? i keep hoping...

love sent, xo

lemon sugar scrub

2012-01-22T21:06:00.001-05:00

at this time of year everyone needs a lift. for a fraction of what you would pay in stores you can make your own lemon sugar scrub. a foamy, vibrantly scented sugar scrub for the body. it lathers up for gentle and supremely sudsy, smoothing, softening skin cleansing and exfoliating with an a-"peel"-ing fragrance!

juice of 2 lemons
2 Tbs olive oil
2 Tbs of liquid soap
1 to 1 1/2 cups of sugar

juice lemons into a medium bowl. add the olive oil and liquid soap. mix until
creamy. add sugar a little at a time until it is thick and grainy. pour into small
jars. stores up to 2 months.

apply a handful to damp skin and scrub in circular motions until you are polished to perfection. rinse. use one to three times per week.

package up and give to the ones you love. perfect gift for valentine's day.

update

if you prefer ALL organic beauty recipes, here is the organic version of my lemon scrub

1/4 cup of sugar in the raw (raw all-natural sugar)
1/2 cup of organic white sugar
1 grated lemon peel- From an organic lemon
the juice from 1 organic lemon (about 4 Tbsp)
2-4 Tbsp of organic olive oil

our lives are made in these small hours...

2012-01-21T22:31:00.003-05:00

today it snowed. there is such pause with snow. it seems to slow everything down. i got to have coffee with all my bff's. everyone made it, which is a rarity. it was a long leisurely morning. there was laughter and stories and deep conversations. it made me so grateful to have them in my life.

during the week my brain requires so much day time vigilance that by the time the weekend comes
it says - "i protest." i refuse to stress out over one more silly email. it says take a moment and relax.
but still, in my mind i have a mental list of emails i need to return, thank you notes i want to write, books i
want to read, quotes i want to remember. but here i am just blogging. today was a hang around and cook
and shop and take care of me day. everyone needs those right?

and tonight was a snowy, cold, eat comfort food kind of night. a hang around in front of the
fireplace evening. so we did just that.

and ate this....

homemade chicken pot pie with pastry crust.

ingredients

1 cup potatoes, diced
1 cup onions, diced
1 cup celery, diced
1 cup carrots, diced
1/3 cup melted butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup half-and-half
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
1 sheet of puff pastry

directions

preheat oven to 400°F.

saute onion, celery, carrots and potatoes in butter for 10 minutes.
add flour to sauteed mixture, stirring well, cook one minute stirring constantly.
combine broth and half and half.
gradually stir into vegetable mixture.
cook over medium heat stirring constantly until thickened and bubbly.
stir in salt and pepper; add chicken and stir well.
pour into shallow 2 quart casserole dish and top with puff pastry (or individual ramekins)
cut slits to allow steam to escape.
bake for 40-50 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly and cooked through.

i made these in individual dishes and cut circles of puff pastry to cover.

we ended the evening with pear bread pudding and vanilla ice cream.....

pear bread pudding.

ingredients

2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 teaspoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
4 eggs
5 slices soft whole-wheat or white bread, each cut in half (i cut mine into quarters)
2 pears, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

directions

1.heat oven to 375º F.

2.butter a 9-inch square pan.

3.in a saucepan, heat the milk, sugar, butter, and salt until small bubbles form. in a bowl, whisk together the eggs, then add the warm milk mixture in a slow stream, whisking constantly.

4.layer the square pan with the bread. top with the pears. (i honestly would have sauteed the pears in some butter to soften them for next time) my pears were not ripe enough.
pour the milk-egg mixture into the baking pan and sprinkle with the cinnamon.

5.bake until golden, about 40 minutes. serve warm.

love sent, xo

what would be...

2012-01-18T07:14:00.000-05:00

yesterday over coffee with a friend we were discussing movies, the golden globes awards and the emmys coming up. we chatted about movies that may be in the running for best picture etc. we talked about the descendants and what an amazing actor george clooney is. did i say amazing? he is. but that movie left me feeling spent. it was heavy and mostly sad. it was deep and the family was weird. i needed light and fun. she mentioned a cute movie called "new years eve." she said it's up now you should go. its "your" kind of movie, you would love it. so... i went and i LOVED it
it was just what i needed yesterday.

remember be nice to each other, be kind to each other and not just on new year's but all year long.

love sent, xo

best guy ever...

2012-01-16T19:43:00.002-05:00

this video is of my neighbor colin one of the greatest guys ever.
it's so hard to believe it's almost a year since you left this earth. not a day goes by that we don't miss you driving by...

sleep tight my friend....

final from tim o'donnell on Vimeo.

for a snowy day...

2012-01-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

you will find a snowy day playlist
here

the view from here...

2012-01-10T20:41:00.004-05:00

full moon 2012

after my dad died something shifted in me. i'm still not sure how to put it into words. but things changed. even though we all know that each day is a gift.
and we all know that everyones life comes to an end. those life altering moments change who you are.
my dad was a big astronomy guy. he loved it. he studied it, and could never get enough of it. he was
always looking through telescopes and reveled in the magic of all the stars and planets. maybe being
a long time nasa emloyee and working in the background of the first walk on the moon fueled his passion.
whatever it was - it was a passion.
last night while i was driving home i saw what appeared to be the biggest moon i have ever seen.
it peeked in and out of the trees as i drove along, as if to say hello. it was the first full moon of
2012. it's called the wolf moon. i grabbed my camera when i got home but it appeared smaller by then
but it was still amazing in all it's beauty. in all that splendor he was there, i know it. i could feel him in the distance. it provided me with such peace and calm of heart. it warmed me from the inside and reminded me he is still here in the simple reflection of the full moon.

i miss you. <3

love sent, xo

best food of 2011

2012-01-09T21:24:00.002-05:00

i was going through my hundreds of pictures and decided to post the best food
of 2011. it was really so hard to choose.

january - making cinnamon bread over and over

february - making sugar cookies and chocolate covered angel cakes to share

march - crab cakes

april - easter brunch

may - pizza and salad

june - sunset dinner

july - lighter fare

august - amazing breakfast in york. did i say amazing? visit them

here

september - dinner in the north end

october - apple crunch with pumpkin martinis

november - turkey dinner

december -- peach crepes with whipped cream and brown sugar

sunday night...

2012-01-08T22:12:00.001-05:00

the first week after the holidays always feels well ..abrupt and cold. the spirit of the holidays disappears so quickly. everyone seems to be rushing back to their hurried lives. this weekend was so warm and even tho it was enjoyable it gives off a really weird vibe. like... it's not suppose to be this warm in january and i was going to go ice skating but i couldn't get in the mood.
so.. we went to a small coffee shop and watched someone else's world behind our raspberry latte. and talked about if we owned a restaurant - what it would look like, and what it would feel like, and what the food would be like... and then we went home and cooked.. and baked... and packaged... and dreamed...

deep, dark salted butter caramel sauce

makes about 1 1/3 cups
1 cup sugar
3 ounces (6 tablespoons) salted butter, the better you can get, the better it will taste
1/2 cup plus two tablespoons heavy cream, at room temperature

melt the sugar over medium to moderately high heat in a larger pot than you think you’ll need–at least two or three quarts, whisking or stirring the sugar as it melts to ensure it heats evenly. cook the liquefied sugar to a nice, dark copper color. add the butter all at once and stir it in, before turning off the stove and pour in the heavy cream (the sauce will foam up quite a bit when you add it; this is why you want the larger pot.), whisking it until you get a smooth sauce.
you use it right away or pour it into a jar and store it in the fridge for up to two weeks. when you take it out, it will likely have thickened a bit but 60 seconds in the microwave brings it right back to pouring consistency.
serve over, well... everything

coconut thumbprint cookies with salted caramel.

3 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
3 1/2 c flour
table salt
2 large eggs
12 oz sweetened flaked coconut
caramel sauce (above)
large flaky sea salt

preheat oven to 350 degrees. beat together butter and sugar with a mixer on medium until pale and fluffy. then beat in vanilla. with mixer on low add flour and 1/2 tsp table salt. beat to combine. roll dough into 1 1/4 balls. dip each ball into egg then into coconut. place balls on parchment lined baking sheet, press indentation into each with your thumb. bake 10 minutes. remove sheets from oven and repress indentations. bake another 8 minutes. let cool and repeat with remaining dough. spoon warm caramel into indentations and sprinkle with sea salt. store in air tight containers.

love sent, xo

sunsets...

2012-01-07T17:39:00.000-05:00

it's january and there isn't a snowflake in sight. it has been an incredibly mild winter. i would love
a blizzard or two but in the meantime i will embrace the warmth. last night the sunset was incredible.
incredible. it looked like melted popsicles in the sky.

love sent, xo

dear brae...

2012-01-06T06:00:00.003-05:00

happy happy birthday... love you...

who most likely would have been the winner as usual.

hi there...

2012-01-03T02:00:00.011-05:00

happy new year. make the little things a special occasion. that is going to be my motto for 2012. how can it be 2012? i am going to promise myself not to get caught up in the future - it happens regardless and if you worry about it to much it makes you miss the present.   i write here to capture some moments and feelings that would escape me otherwise.
i write most often at night while i should be sleeping. but sometimes sleep escapes me.  sometimes i write in the early morning while sipping on warm vanilla coffee. that is really my favorite time of day.
this is the time of year for new year's resolutions. do you make them? do you break them?

i am not a resolution kind of girl. i don't make them so i can't break them.

a few years ago i made a new year's resolution to try more restaurants and honestly it
was the best resolution ever. i'm still doing it.

this year it will be along the same lines. i decided to choose 12 things to work on for 2012 and i have the whole year to do it.

here goes:

1.    cook healthier meals.
2.    have more patience.
3.    be kind to strangers.
4.    have more dinner parties.
5.    take more walks.
6.    focus on the simple - less shopping - less is more.
7.    blog better.
8.    buy more flowers.
9.    worry less.
10.  dream big.
11. read more.
12. embrace the moment. everyday moments.

this is a new beginning - again. it's interesting, beginnings and endings arrive unexpectedly. i don't
have everything ~~or anything~~ figured out, but then again who does...

love sent , xo

you will love it, i promise...

2012-01-02T21:08:00.002-05:00

tonight, as usual, it was monday night family dinner. a special time to share in great conversation and
love. sometimes these nights are challenging and sometimes they are rushed and sometimes they
are just filled with love. and tonight it was the latter.. another reminder of how lucky we are.

because i was off and had the time - i made a BIG dinner consisting of barbecue ribs (boys favorite) corn bread, scallop potatoes, special salad and corn chowder. dessert: peach crepes with whip cream and brown sugar topping...

the chowder (the simplest part) was the most well received...

C O R N C H O W D E R

8 strips of thick-cut bacon

1 lg. yellow onion, finely chopped

2 stalks celery, chopped

1 carrott sliced
2 c. fresh or frozen corn kernels

1-14 oz. can creamed corn

4 c. milk

1/2 c. heavy cream

1/4 to 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes (to taste; i use almost a half tsp.)

1/4 tsp. ground sage

salt and pepper to taste

3 tbsp. minced fresh chives, or minced green onion tops

in a large heavy saucepan, slowly cook the bacon until very crisp; drain on paper towels; cut with scissors into 1″ pieces and set aside. pour off all but 1 tbsp. bacon fat. put onion and celery into pan and cook over med. heat until softened, about 10 min. stir in corn, carrotts, creamed corn, and milk. simmer gently for about 25 minutes; stirring occasionally. add cream, red pepper flakes, sage and half the reserved bacon pieces. heat through, taste for salt and pepper. serve in soup bowls, garnished with bacon and minced chives/green onion tops. plenty for six.

love sent, xo

happy happy birthday shae...

2012-01-02T20:43:00.000-05:00

love you to the moon and back...

thanks for the piano lessons.. i've been practicing but i have a way to go...

love sent, xo

happy new year..

2012-01-01T11:57:00.002-05:00

dear 2011...

2011-12-31T18:25:00.001-05:00

well we made it one more time around the sun. thanks for being good to us. you were speckled with happy days, tearful days, and firework days. when you mix it up like that it makes us realize all the good and all the hard. we all know you can't really feel the joy without knowing the pain. thanks for our continued health and the good health of our family and friends. bless you for the new members that arrived this year. sweet molly is a love. thanks for keeping some nasty illnesses at bay. each moment is a gift. we will continue to pray for healing.
please continue to bless the ones that left this earth as they will always hold a special place in our hearts.
here's to a happy and healthy 2012... now off to do some celebrating...

love sent, xo

how true...

2011-12-30T07:11:00.001-05:00

winter's rest and comforts...

2011-12-28T22:47:00.019-05:00

hope your christmas was merry and your home was peaceful and your family was joyful.

mine was. i am blessed. so very very blessed.

it was packed filled with celebration and time spent together.

lots of new memories were made.

enjoy the lights that sparkle around you and let them be a reminder of the

magic...

the oldest and the youngest...

magic in portsmouth

family games.

homemade donuts

the girls breakfast...

the fam

best $2 gift ever...

i count on both hands the ones i love...

cozy supper...

2011-12-28T20:02:00.000-05:00

tortellini soup

this is a recipe that i tweaked from several other recipes.
2 T. olive oil
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
3 carrots, peeled and finely chopped
1 red pepper, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
5 sausage links, casing removed, chopped
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried rosemary
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
5 cups chicken broth
14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes, undrained
15 oz. can great northern beans, drained
20 oz. frozen cheese tortellini

freshly grated parmesan cheese
heat oil in large stock pot over medium high heat. saute carrots, onions and red pepper until semi translucent, about 5 minutes. add sausage, garlic, basil, rosemary, red pepper flakes. season with salt and pepper. continue to saute for 3 - 5 more minutes. add the broth, tomatoes with juice and beans. bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. add the tortellini to the soup and simmer until tender, about 10 more minutes. to serve, top bowls of soup with grated parmesan cheese.

this soup comes together pretty quickly. i also think you could double the recipe right up until you add the pasta and then take out half and freeze it. then finish it with the tortellini. when you are ready to eat the frozen half you could just put the whole frozen block in the crock pot in the morning and then come home and put in the tortellini for the last 30 minutes.

i like to serve this soup with a nice loaf of bread. hope you love it as much as we do!

merry christmas...

2011-12-25T01:00:00.000-05:00

magic hours...

2011-12-24T23:59:00.000-05:00

for those of us who will always believe...

in the lane snow is glistening.....

2011-12-22T21:11:00.003-05:00

i love these photos. there are so many amazing photos on pinterest

i've been gifted...

2011-12-22T19:52:00.017-05:00

with the best friends and family ever. last night was my favorite things swap. it is one of my
most favorite nights of the year. to be together with my girls is always a special night for me. we act as if nothing has changed when in fact every. single. thing. has changed. years pass. mountains are
moved. challenges are met. friends remain. we all share the stories.
we find our way with friends. old and new.
each of you makes me smile for a different reason. you all challenge me to be better, be stronger, be softer, be braver. i am truly blessed. thanks for a wonderful evening.
you all mean so much to me. xo

love sent, xo

let it snow... let it snow... let it snow...

2011-12-20T21:49:00.000-05:00

unwrap the now....

2011-12-19T22:52:00.004-05:00

i should be wrapping but i am writing. i just wanted to share a thought. we have been
busy as elves around here. decorating, baking, crafting etc. a balsam candle is burning on

the counter. i remind myself that so much of the joy of christmas is really in the preparation.

setting the stage in our homes to welcome our family and friends brings us closer together.
the important things will get done. take 30 minutes just like i just did, walk outside
look at the lights in your neighborhood, regroup and prioritize what's most important. you won't
remember all the things that didn't get done. you will however remember the sweet moments and the
time you spent with your loved ones.

love sent, xo

new drink recipe...

2011-12-14T23:30:00.026-05:00

as most of you know i am hosting an annual christmas party for some
friends. we always like to have a signature martini or two on hand. last year
we had huge success with a gingerbread martini. i had high hopes of a repeat
performance. however, i am losing hope as i have not found the gingerbread liquor
so far this year, except in north carolina. but, i didn't want to check bags
to take one home. of course, that was when i was sure i would find it up here.
so...in an effort to move on and not fret about the loss of the gingerbread idea i found
this ... yes s'mores martini with marshmallow vodka. are you kidding? marshmallow vodka?
really? is there a vodka they don't make yet? this sounds a little decadent for my taste, but i have
some friends that can never get enough chocolate. i know this would be right for them.

s'more martini makes 2 martinis
4 ounces marshmallow vodka (or vanilla, whipped cream or cake flavored vodka)
4 ounces Godiva chocolate liqueur
2 ounces bailey’s irish cream liqueur

4 ounces cream/half and half or milk
chocolate syrup

graham cracker crumbs
vanilla frosting for glass rimming
mini marshmallows

dip the rim of you glass in a bit of frosting, then dip into graham cracker crumbs. pour about 1/2 teaspoon chocolate syrup into the bottom of the glass. combine vodka, baileys, godiva and cream in a shaker with ice. shake for 15 seconds. pour into glass. top with mini marshmallows skewered on a toothpick after you have roasted them (if you want )

it's christmas time...

2011-12-13T23:33:00.011-05:00

give to the ones you love... i have so much left to do. i feel frozen. but i am really enjoying every minute. i am behind with my shopping. but... not to worry, it will all get done. i know it will. i believe this
is how i roll. it's like this every year. it seems the more i have to do the more i procrastinate.
but... there are things i need to do. like go away for the weekend with my bff's. attend parties
with the people i love, and laugh... and cry.. and breathe in the moment. i think at this time of year
it's important to focus your attention on all the little things in life that we so often take for granted.
december is certainly fast paced festivity. but for a minute turn your thoughts and your camera into capturing the moment. embrace the magic of twinkling lights, morning fog, faces of children, friends that matter, balsam candles, christmas music, you get the picture. it's a win - win love + love.

life is about the little things right? life is never black and white. the journey is a checkerboard. be grateful for the every day togetherness of regular life...

and all of us have someone looking out for us.

thanks lynne for such a fun, whirlwind trip. you are the best!!!!
love, xo

merry christmas...

2011-12-12T23:07:00.002-05:00

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

i love, love this picture....

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

2011-12-04T23:58:00.002-05:00

experience is the greatest teacher...

2011-12-02T10:50:00.032-05:00

nobody has it all figured out. take your time.

do you feel fully immersed in your life? take 5 minutes to write down 5 things that help you find deep meaning. incorporate one of those things into your life each day this week.
it will bring you to a fuller, more meaningful life.

i'm learning that things change, people change, and it doesn't mean that you forget the past or try to cover it up. it simply means that you move on and treasure the memories.

my mom turned 90 this week. she is the most incredible woman i know. beautiful, strong, caring,
non judging, to her everyone is beautiful and it shows. it shows in the way she lives her life. it
shows in the people that can't wait to be around her. she is so wise and so gentle.
the best gift you can give is to give of yourself... she has done that for so many years. and
she wonders why so many people reach out to her. i know exactly why, and we are so lucky
so very ,very lucky to call her our own.
happy ,happy, 90th birthday mom.

you are such an inspiration to so many. xoxo

love you to the moon and back. xo

it's friday ......

2011-12-02T07:37:00.001-05:00

hope you have some fun...

thankful at thanksgiving...

2011-11-30T21:06:00.004-05:00

our thanksgiving was really beautiful. i was totally in my element. to me there is nothing
better than to be surrounded by loving family, friends and great food. i love to cook, i love
to decorate and i love to love people. i think thanksgiving should come once a month.

mom preparing turkey #1, turkey, matty loving grammy, michael's famous antipasto, the fam, the kids, the food, braelyn's amazing cookies, the entertainment.

and happy birthday drew. xo

love my family, xoxo

birth.. (the time when something begins)

2011-11-24T07:00:00.005-05:00

happy happy birthday. my love.

our mothers held the secrets to us this whole time,
and as we ask “why didn’t you ever tell me?”
they whisper a smile, “you wouldn’t have believed me.”
…some things can only be learned with time…
it is the reminder that they are the strongest species on earth,
and we are now one among them.

it's hard to believe you have been part of my life for 27 years... one the most amazing parts.
thank you. xoxo

Happy Happy Birthday Drew...

i love you, mom

i am thankful for the food before us, the friends beside us, and the love between us. happy thanksgiving.

best ever sauce...

2011-11-19T08:19:00.000-05:00

for the best ever apple cake from a few blogs ago...

best ever sauce

1 stick butter

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup light cream (such as half & half)

1/2 tsp. vanilla

pinch of nutmeg

in a medium saucepan, slowly heat butter, sugar, and cream over low heat. stir for 10 - 15 minutes until well blended and thickened. The house will smell heavenly. Keep it on low; do not allow the sauce to boil. lastly, add the vanilla and nutmeg. Spoon (generously) over pieces of apple cake. serve warm.
enjoy.

love sent, xo

never regular....

2011-11-16T08:04:00.002-05:00

sometimes i need to be reminded...

2011-11-14T06:30:00.000-05:00

there was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind.
she hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend...
he was always there for her.
she told her boyfriend, 'if i could only see the world,
i would marry you."
one day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. when the bandages
came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.
he asked her:
now that you can see the world, will you marry me?'
the girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind.
the sight of his closed eyelids shocked her.
she hadn't expected that - the thought of looking at them the rest of her life
led her to refuse to marry him.
her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying:
'take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before
they were yours, they were mine.'
this is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
only a very few remember what life was like before, and who
was always by their side in the most painful situations.
life is a gift

today

before you say an unkind word - think of someone who can't speak..
before you complain about the taste of your food -
think of someone who has nothing to eat.
before you complain about your husband or wife - think of someone
who's crying out to GOD for a companion.
today
before you complain about life - think of someone who went too early to heaven..
before whining about the distance you drive think of someone who
walks the same distance with their feet.
and when you are tired and complain about your job -
think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
and when depressing thoughts seem to get you down -
put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around.

anonoymous

someone like you...

2011-11-11T21:19:00.003-05:00

love sent, xxoo

beneath my heart...

2011-11-11T20:45:00.001-05:00

is a place for you. it's friday again - we are one strong wind away from bare trees. its dark early, geese fly overhead. the crisp air meets me at the door. i crave my warm house and silence. it's been a long, hard, week. this weekend i want to linger in the kitchen and pour over comforting recipes. these are the gifts of the season i love best....this house and it's contents breathe comfort and peace into my lungs.

love sent, xo

thankful...

2011-11-07T22:00:00.027-05:00

it's november the month to be thankful - not sure what happened to october. i know it started out so warm we had a picnic in the grass then 30 days later we ended up with a major blizzard. heavy, wet, snow that damaged the trees in our yard. but that makes life exciting right? just like hearing your favorite song on the radio or an unexpected note from a friend you haven't heard from in a while. unexpected things make it all worth while. aren’t you thankful for a nice warm house on a really cold day? or a shady spot on a miserably hot day? the spot of shade would just be a spot of shade if it wasn’t for the unbearable heat. how about the way it feels to walk into a warm coffee shop when you’re christmas shopping during a blizzard? the coffee shop would just be a coffee shop without the blizzard to make you appreciate all that is great about it.
…and that’s how life is…it helps to make sense of things that aren’t so pleasant. without the bitterness, we would never, ever, know the sweet…we wouldn’t even know that there was such a thing…unless there were hard days, a hug would just be a hug…a smile would just be a smile…unless there was difficulty, a finish line would just be a ribbon across the road. unless we had trials we would not be able to really, really, appreciate all the good.

embrace today and all it has to offer.

love sent, xo

keep calm and carry on...

2011-11-02T06:57:00.001-04:00

i found this simple project on line and thought of all my little friends who have toddlers who sometimes get a bit overwhelmed and need some calming. this would be the perfect solution. the more i thought about it the more i thought it could work for adults too. i might just make one for myself.
(a mind jar is a meditation tool to use whenever a child feels stressed,overwhelmed or upset. imagine the glitter as your thoughts. when you shake the jar, imagine your head full of whirling thoughts, then watch them slowly settle while you calm down.

mix 1 tablespoon of pink glitter-glue with about 1 cup of hot water or more , then added pink food colouring and a tiny tub of glitter. pour it into a plastic jar.

the glue makes the water so thick and gooey that the glitter just slowly and gently swirls around, it takes about 5 minutes for all the glitter to settle, perfect to gather your thoughts!
shake whenever you need to destress.

photo from miri at here we are together.

have a calming day . xo

life

2011-11-02T06:30:00.001-04:00

life is where you are - by paul coleman

well i took my lady to the top of a mountain
we hung our feet over all creation
and we agreed that the sight was beautiful
and we agreed that tomorrow it'd be a memory
and as far as we could see was all that we could be
but the land had seen lovers come and go

life is where you are

she said think about the greatest day in your life
a day you were longing for the sun to rise
you said hey this is the life that i've been looking for
and you groaned as the shadows fell on the floor
and up on that mountain we saw our days
rise like a vapour and float away
life is where you are

think of all the times, think of all the times,
when you've dreamed of being somebody somewhere in another time
and you closed your eyes and been swallowed by sleep
and your secret desires they rise from the deep
you say i wish i was somebody someone else
'cause life looks real from where they are

life is where you are

we're all looking for security
it's the basic drug of human need
i've lost faith in things that fade
or things that get stolen or get taken away
and up on that mountain we saw our days
rise like a vapour and float away

life is where you are
talking about L I F E

apple cake...

2011-11-01T06:00:00.007-04:00

2 cups chopped apples
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup melted butter
1 egg
1/2 cup chopped nuts

put apples in bowl with sugar mix together leave for 10 minutes. blend butter and egg and add to apple
mixture. mix flour and spices in a separate bowl then add to apple mixture. stir in the nuts until
blended. grease and flour an 8 inch square pan. bake at 350 degrees for 45-40 minutes. when cooled sprinkle top with confectionary sugar. serve with ice cream.

love sent, xo

for dad...

2011-10-23T05:00:00.004-04:00

one more day... how can it possibly be that a year has past? a year since i heard your laugh. a year since i felt your hugs. a thanksgiving without you, a christmas, a birthday, an anniversary, a fathers day. so many days i wished we could have shared one more moment. my heart over flows, i fill my pockets, i fill my memory, i fill my journal, there is simply not enough space to hold all the goodness. all the stories, all the connections - all the laughter. i miss your laughter so much. the silence deafens. this is life. it is all part of life. always counter balancing the good and the bad. how lucky we were to have you for so long but how BIG the void is now that you are gone. i look for your light when i am fumbling in the dark. i know you can see us shinning even tho we can't see eachother. i know you are watching over us helping us through the next chapter. every single day i miss you. as we get older peoples presence gain importance, family has always been important but it becomes very clear that each day is a gift, a very special gift. there were so many things i still needed to say. so many things i still needed to ask you.
i miss you the most at unexpected times. like a random tuesday. it surprises me how quickly the emotion wells up.

i still need you.
i still miss you.
and i hope somehow you know that...

love forever, xo

weekending...

2011-10-21T07:49:00.000-04:00

images that move me... have a great weekend...

love sent, xo

everydayness...

2011-10-18T08:54:00.006-04:00

i woke this morning and remembered i have a lot to do before the end of the week. i walk through the
house and it's chilly this morning. just a short time ago a warm breeze was blowing through the open
windows. i worry about my to do list and whether it will all get done.

i stop in the kitchen and look over at some dishes in the sink, then i walk upstairs and look at the messy bed. i remind myself - those dishes? they are evidence of a long savored monday night family dinnner. and that messy bed ? a reminder that i didn't have to rush today. that i got to savour that extra cup of coffee. it will all get done - eventually.
this house? people live here. people who laugh, people who makes messes, people who leave their clothes around. people who are imperfect. it might be an upside down day but those are good too.

as i look to the immediate future, i remind myself i have a date with a plane in a few short days. a short trip to the sunshine state to hug mom and remind her how amazing and brave she has been this past year. thats where i will focus my energy. i checked the forecast and it reads sunny and 75 - i'll take it.

love sent, xo

remember to do nothing...

2011-10-17T22:02:00.004-04:00

well, i don't really mean nothing... i mean avoid anything that has to do with work, or stress, etc.. weekends should be for that. i think i ate myself through the weekend. but there are just so many restaurants i need to try and so much food i need to sample... everyone that knows me knows that food is a big deal. i love to cook it, i love to eat it, i love to photograph it. so, a lot of my free time is involved in those three things. saturday morning i decided to make some pumpkin pull apart bread with buttery vanilla glaze. cinammony, pumpkiny, heaven. and your house will smell amazing. find the recipe here

after a busy day saturday and being close enough to the peterborough, n.h. area ... we had to go back to
this restaurant the web site is lame compared to the place.
a guy at work had told me about it. of all the restaurants i have gone to (and there are a lot) this has to be in the top five, without a doubt. it is a hidden gem. if you find yourself in the peterborough nh area - try it, you will be glad you did. of course, minus the red wine bath i got from the poor gentleman seated next to me whose wine went into the air and all over me. you know it's funny how things happen and he turned out to be the sweetest guy ever. i felt so bad that he was so upset. paths cross, people meet, sometimes things fall into your lap, sometimes things fall apart, sometimes things fall together. fall. fall. fall.

this was my dinner. chiliean crusted swordfish, truly amazing.

and you might have to try dessert.

apple cinnamon creme brulee with caramel apple slices.

the menu changes often.

love sent, xo

more fall..

2011-10-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

Source: thehighheeledhostess.com via Trisha on Pinterest

i still love you more than anything in the world....

2011-10-14T06:30:00.001-04:00

love, your baby girl.

sugarland was amazing. i have to say tho they missed a few
songs that i wished they had played. but jennifer nettles spirit
is contagious. i love everything about her.. major girl crush here.

love sent, xxoo

smell the crisp air and evening bonfires....

2011-10-13T18:00:00.003-04:00

i love fall.... today is already almost half way through my favorite month. there is a change in the air. the transition between summer and fall seems full of possibility. the changing angle of the sun's passage across the sky sheds a new light on everything. a promise of hope...

i'm here now.

car lights illuminate the street before i've figured out what to have for dinner. it's dark so early.   i pull on a hooded sweatshirt to ward off chills, i take a sip of pumpkin spice and remind myself: i believe in the change of seasons, and the changes in life.

for my friends who love a spicy life. a perfect simple chili recipe for fall.

debdoozies blue ribbon chili

with 1,300 - 5 star reviews it must be good.

ingredients
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
2 1/2 cups tomato sauce
1 (8 ounce) jar salsa  (hot)
4 tablespoons chili seasoning mix
1 (15 ounce) can light red kidney beans
1 (15 ounce) can dark red kidney beans

directions

1. in a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the ground beef and the onion and saute for 10 minutes, or until meat is browned and onion is tender. drain grease, if desired.

2. add the ground black pepper, garlic salt, tomato sauce, salsa, chili seasoning mix and kidney beans. mix well, reduce heat to low and simmer for at least an hour.

simple.

love sent, xxoo

goals...

2011-10-12T22:19:00.001-04:00

i am not a runner. i am not a gym enthusiast. but..this summer i decided to try to be more aware of my exercise regimen, or lack of...
so i signed up for a health miles program at work, and... i have to say that it made me more competitive,
made me want to walk more and encouraged me to be more aware of my lack of exercise. so....(big drum roll here) TODAY.. i have to say that i am as surprised, as most of you will be that... since the beginning of the program which started on July something --- i have walked 5,000 miles. YES 5,000 miles. 5,000. come on that is worth a cheer... and for those of you who REALLY know me, you know this is a HUGE accomplishment... it has gotten me through some really rough days, times when i really needed to clear my head... and some times when i really needed to beat the pavement out of frustration.... i loved it... now i need a new passion for the coming season... cooking???

weekends are for catching...

2011-10-10T22:26:00.023-04:00

congratulations michaela !!!!

as exciting as it was for michaela to make keene states lacrosse team.... yeah michaela!! it meant she had to go back to school early. but... we managed to enjoy a little bit of time together... a sushi dinner at karma, which is always a big hit. a shopping adventure that resulted in a skirt purchase. a teeney tiny skirt. a couple of great hugs. a visit from katie and tay. a really, really, happy dog. it was fleeting, but we squeezed in a lot. the weather was so amazing. we enjoyed warm sunshine. honey crisp apples. pumpkin ice cream. fresh flowers. a spontaneous picnic. no jackets.
life is best when it's most surprising. so happy for you mic.

can't wait to go to your games.

love sent, xo

why it's worth it to keep on hoping... for jpm...

2011-10-10T21:48:00.000-04:00

hello friday...

2011-10-07T06:00:00.000-04:00

mornings are so dark now. it feels like the middle of the night when i get up. 5:30 is early but light always comes. the promise of a new day is here. the weekend is promising to be summerlike. soak it all up before it's gone. this weekend i want to crunch leaves, plant bulbs, eat outside, ride my bike and wear flip flops one more time. i hope the most pressing decision i have to make is which pumpkin to pick. it wont be long before the colors move in and wrap their arms around us and pull us in closer for winter. so enjoy this summer like weekend.

love sent, xo

steve jobs dies at 56...

2011-10-06T07:30:00.005-04:00

amazing guy...such a huge loss

The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. - Steve Jobs -

remember...

2011-10-06T07:00:00.001-04:00

there are people who need what you have. there are things only you can do. words only you can say, comfort only you can offer, art only you can make, worlds only you can change. the question is... will you? we all get caught up in "who would think what i have to offer is important" ? but what we all have to offer is so important. world changers are ordinary people. remember, world changers aren't robots, or superheros, or genetically altered humans, they are people, just like you and me. xoxo

written by the wonderful
emily freeman

i want to start every day like this...

2011-10-06T06:54:00.000-04:00

via pinterest

i love this photo...

2011-10-03T20:43:00.000-04:00

it, alone, would make a man drink...

some of my favorite things...

2011-10-02T09:00:00.020-04:00

1.     seriously go to sallys and buy this product. proclaim professional spray on glosser. i put it in my hair every day it has a yummy vanilla scent, it makes my day start off right.
2.     the best coffee maker ever- go to walmart and get one. program your coffee so you wake up to the fresh coffee smell = heaven.
3.     go buy this issue of martha stewart magazine, it has some great ideas and recipes for this wonderful season.
4.     while you are at walmart buying the coffee maker which is really inexpensive, pick up a composition notebook and some new sharpie pens, they are smooth writing, no bleed through...
write down all your secret thoughts. write a letter to the one you love. there are many things that can change a life, a letter is one of them. they are "new"
5.     always a favorite of mine.
6.     my new favorite bra. it's beautiful and feels so comfortable. VS does it again. buy one here.
7.     daisy - my favorite perfume. even when i try others, i always come back to this. my favorite. maybe you even have free shipping.
8.     my favorite season.

love sent, xxoo

wishing you this kind of a day...

2011-10-01T07:00:00.001-04:00

sweetest video on the internet today....

2011-09-30T06:46:00.001-04:00

and for a moment the world stops turning....

Caitlin + Ben "Fly Safe Please" from Sandbox Love on Vimeo.

great fall style...

2011-09-29T20:39:00.001-04:00

Source: polyvore.com via Megan on Pinterest

Source: stumbleupon.com via Bethany on Pinterest

Source: youngsouthernprepblog.blogspot.com via Cole on Pinterest

Source: lifeisasunset.blogspot.com via Susan on Pinterest

love sent, xo

where i am from...

2011-09-27T21:33:00.000-04:00

i am from the inner city, from clanking radiators, lemon furniture polish and homemade sauce.
i am from a small house surrounded by gardens, apple trees and forts in the side yard.
i am from brothers and sisters and three to a room. i am from from vanilla cream sodas at the pharmacy to
ham radios, and homemade stereos.
i am from the nuns who threatened our lives and church every sunday.
i'm from the frugal, the long lived, the creative, the bossy, the kind and the struggling.
i'm from a world whose geography my children know better than i.
i am from long rides to the country and baseball seasons that went on forever.
from secret passwords to smoking in the woods and children who can fly if they try.
i'm from itsy bitsy teeny weeny yellow pokadot bikinis to bathing caps at the country pond.
i'm from cracker jax with prizes inside and franks and beans on saturday nite.
from flickering super eight movies to the ed sullivan show.
i'm from family dinners and a mom who has a heart 40 times her size.
im from a bussling house with lots of friends and memories that never end.
the stories, the photos, the film reels, the love, it's all there.
a real family - who could ask for more?

fall flavors...

2011-09-26T06:30:00.002-04:00

with cooler weather upon us i will be back to the kitchen for bread baking and comfort food.
this will be first up on the list. i just love the toasted pumpkin seed garnish. enjoy.

roasted squash soup.
via food network

ingredients for the soup:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup (1/4-inch) diced onion
1/4 cup (1/4-inch) diced celery
1/4 cup (1/4-inch) diced carrot
1 cinnamon stick
sea salt, preferably gray salt
freshly ground black pepper
about 4 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon ground toasted coriander, optional
1 1/2 cups roasted winter squash
1/2 cup half-and-half, optional
to serve:
1/4 cup mascarpone cheese, optional
2 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds, optional

directions

heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat until hot. add the onion, celery, carrot, and cinnamon stick and saute until soft but not brown, about 10 minutes. season with salt and pepper.
add the chicken stock and the coriander, if using, and bring to a boil. simmer for several minutes. stir in the squash until smooth, then simmer gently to let the flavors meld, about 10 minutes. discard the cinnamon stick.
puree the soup in a blender until smooth. (the soup can be made ahead to this point, cooled, covered, and refrigerated for several days or frozen for about 1 month. it will thicken as it cools and may need thinning with stock or water when reheating.)

return the soup to the pan and reheat gently. add the half-and-half, if using. adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper. keep warm until serving.

to serve:
ladle the soup into serving bowls. garnish evenly, with the cheese and pumpkin seeds, if desired.

fall food love...

2011-09-26T06:26:00.009-04:00

simple apple cake...

ingredients
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cup light vegetable oil
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
3 cups diced apples
2 cups chopped nuts (optional)

directions
1. preheat over to 350 degrees.
2. put all ingredients in one large bowl.
3. mix with your hands, gently, but thoroughly (do not use a spoon or mixer!).
4. bake in an ungreased 9×13 pan for 1 hour. cool before cutting.

really!! it’s that easy!

another fall favorite...

hot apple cider

ingredients

1 quart apple juice or cider
1 cinnamon stick
20 whole black peppercorns
3 whole cloves
1 to 2 tbsp. brown sugar
zest from 1/2 lemon

directions
1. toast cinnamon, peppercorns, and cloves over medium heat in a pot large enough to hold all the apple juice. stir occasionally to prevent burning. once the spices become very aromatic (after about a minute or two), they are done.
2. pour apple juice into the pan, turn heat to high, and bring to a boil. as the juice heats, add the brown sugar and stir until it dissolves.
3. after the apple juice has boiled, reduce heat to a simmer, and then add the lemon zest. Simmer for 30 minutes.
4. strain the cider using a fine mesh strainer.
5. serve hot, and enjoy!

at keene...

2011-09-25T15:18:00.000-04:00

dear hayley, great job yesterday, glad we came to the game.
dear lauren, where were you when we took pictures? i had to steal this one from liz. happy happy birthday.
dear liz, please take better care of michaela. don't encourage bad behavior.
dear michaela, please be careful and don't study so hard that you fall asleep in the library and bang your head on the table. i figured that is what happened.

love sent, xo

adventure...

2011-09-25T08:26:00.001-04:00

have you seen these videos?? i have a total crush on this guy.. rick mereki spent 44 days traveling
on 18 flights to 11 countries. these videos are incredible. doesn't it make you want to hop
on a plane?

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

LEARN from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

EAT from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

i'm in love.

saturday

2011-09-25T07:49:00.000-04:00

via pinterest...

goodbye summer 2011...

2011-09-22T23:59:00.002-04:00

dear summer,

thank you for the beach days, and warm nights.
for eating ice cream with abandon (thanks emily)
for allowing us the chance to sleep under the starry skies that blinked down on us.
thanks for the smell of fresh cut grass and beautiful flowers.
thanks for the fireworks and burgers on the grill.
thanks for the chance to allow us to drive, drive, and drive and eat, eat, eat.
thanks for the powerful hurricane that reminds us how small we are.
thanks for being you.

i'll miss you.

love sent, xo

check, check, check...

memories are forever...

2011-09-22T06:20:00.002-04:00

plum jam by carl pendle

Plum Jam from http://vimeo.com/carlpendle on Vimeo.

love sent, xxoo

magic is something you make...

2011-09-19T06:48:00.001-04:00

as usual, the weekend was so quick. we hosted a birthday dinner for my sweet bff patti.

patti knows how to live life. she knows how to celebrate and embrace the moment. she doesn't

let any fun get by her and she is always "doing" for everyone else. .. so she needed a special night just for "her" she is a friend everyone should have. she truly puts effort into making people feel special.

happy birthday patti!

love sent, xo

a little reminder...

2011-09-14T22:36:00.002-04:00

last night i watched the sun set - and today i watched it come up again

photo by haley kenyon

life moves along. fall is in the air. sleep comes sparingly, lots on my mind. is there ever peace? a time when there is total peace? no worries, no cares, no fears? i think not. i've been hovering over my life like a helicopter, it takes a lot of work to keep my world spinning, i want smallness when the world feels so big. i know that with each door that closes another one opens. i know that is true, i have lived it and i truly believe it. but sometimes i get tired of coming up with a plan. here on earth we will have many troubles and sorrows. sometimes i look around and i know mine are so minuscule compared to others, but sometimes i have no fight left. sometimes i just want superpowers to make everything ok. it feels like i have had the sunnyside knocked out of me. but tomorrow will be a new day with new possibilities and even when control drips through my hands like water, i try to remember to take a moment to breathe in and breathe out...

love sent, xo

someday...

2011-09-12T22:09:00.000-04:00

memories...

2011-09-11T09:11:00.002-04:00

our thoughts are with those all around the world remembering 911. a day to remember.

written by m when she was 9.

love sent, xo

happy friday... tgif...

2011-09-09T07:07:00.004-04:00

do something today that brings you joy... stop and smell the flowers...

summer you have my heart...

2011-09-06T22:53:00.004-04:00

even tho i am looking forward to fall, you still have my heart. summer 2011 proved to be a good one.

and labor day weekend was steamy hot and humid. we managed another road trip and it was fun and relaxing and productive. we found lots of new restaurants, drinks, recipes and ideas to put on our master list of things to do/places to visit.

when tapas is better than dinner

and sunday morning coffee lasts for hours

riverside hike..the damage from hurricane irene to the houses along the river was much worse than we had expected...

its hard to tell here because it was so peaceful on this morning.

just love this bakery

and this inn

and what pre-fall weekend would be complete without some warm, fresh from the oven, cider donuts

just didn't get to see a real moose like i had hoped. maybe next time. i might have to take one of these

just for fun

love sent, xo

random video...

2011-09-06T22:11:00.002-04:00

that i had to share.
i came across this video and honestly i am sure that at one time or another you have all had a pair of shoes that might be a little too tight. and this really works!!!

september...

2011-09-06T21:55:00.001-04:00

it's like a new year, a new beginning loaded with potential. a fresh notebook with empty pages to write new stories in. this is by far my most favorite time of year. beautiful suuny days with crisp nights for snuggling up. bring those cozy sweaters back into rotation. steamy bowls of soup and crusty bread are on the menu. september sets the mood for lots of productivity and inspiration.
i have lots of projects on the horizon. stay tuned.

love sent, xo

happy labor day weekend!!

2011-09-02T06:00:00.001-04:00

love sent xxoo

once you are real - you can't be ugly...

2011-09-01T06:52:00.000-04:00

.....show someone some extra love today.

"real isn't how you are made," said the skin horse. "it's a thing that happens to you. when a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become real."

"does it hurt?" asked the rabbit.

"sometimes," said the skin horse, for he was always truthful. "when you are real, you don't mind being hurt."
"does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"it doesn't happen all at once," said the skin horse. "you become. it takes a long time. that's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. generally, by the time you are real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out, and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. but these things don't matter at all, because once you are real, you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

the velveteen rabbit

hurricane irene...

2011-08-30T22:43:00.026-04:00

hurricane irene came and went without too much hype, let's just say there was a huge amount of hype, it just didn't amount to what they predicted. at least in these parts. although i am sure my boys would not agree as they have no power and word is it wont be restored until the weekend.

i didn't want to look out my window this morning because i knew what i would find - the end of summer. the long days and the short nights just rotate so quickly. when we brought m back to school on sat i knew summer was coming to an end. you can feel those late august days, the cool nights - the ones that are perfect for sleeping. mornings are darker now, and you can feel that fall is near. as i look toward earlier sunsets and football games and before i pack away my summer beach chair, i'd like to pay tribute to what this summer was to me. besides really, really, quick. it was filled with sweet memories, great moonlit nights, fire pits, fireflys and many memorable thunderstorms. this summer i learned the difference between a trip and a vacation and both are photo worthy. take this window of time and frame it in your memory. hang on to the end of summer, moment by moment. make it last a little longer. enjoy every trip and every vacation.

"live each season as it passes - breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of each" - henry david thoreau

year two...

2011-08-28T06:00:00.003-04:00

and my house is silent again.

there was lots of packing.

lots of reminders to be smart, and have fun, and remember to call.
lots of hugs

it doesn't take long to jump right into your new space.

and it's a pretty nice space - bright and sunny.

the campus was beautiful, flowers were everywhere.

and i never pass a birch tree without knowing that my dad is always looking out for us.

then she told us she was all set. i guess that meant we could head home.

we drove to a town close by for lunch. its a cool little spot, college towny kind of place.

a locals kind of hang out. but i am sure other people go there to grab a bite to eat after dropping off their kids at school and they talk about how fast time is moving.

then back at home after my eyes dried up and the kitchen was cleaned, i fell asleep with that feeling that i was emptied out, spent and maybe just a tiny bit sad for all of the remnant thoughts and worries in my head. but i was also filled to the brim with every kind of goodness.

it was a good day.

hold on to summer...

2011-08-26T06:59:00.005-04:00

as long as you can. just when i thought i had exhausted all my romantic ideas, i came across this business.

this is ~~just about~~ perfection. they actually deliver to your doorstep, your favorite secret spot, wherever you would like. the only problem is they are located in california. but they offer the most enchanting baskets filled with the most amazing details.
imagine a picnic basket filled with vintage silver flatwate, china, pressed vintage linens, vintage salt and pepper shakers, glass tumblers, charming printed menus, and votives of garden flowers?? then there is an exceptionally yummy 3-4 course menu… things like salmon rillette, lamb lollipops with coriander mint chutney and seasonal fruit sabayon, fleur de sel caramels, and dessert baked and served in individual mason jars, all beautifully garnished and carefully tucked into your basket!
swoon..... i might have to travel to california just to order one.

visit them at Georgina Brandt 909-261-5200

just for today...

2011-08-25T07:11:00.003-04:00

Your identity is not equivalent to your biography. There is a place in you where you have never been wounded, where there's a seamlessness in you, and where there is a confidence and tranquility.

- John O'Donohue -

happy tuesday....

2011-08-23T06:38:00.001-04:00

because we all need a little music in our lives....

i love when i find an artist or two that aren't very well known. she has the voice of that sexy, raspy, earthy
tone that i love.... these people are going places.

drinks i dream about...

2011-08-22T21:20:00.001-04:00

about a year ago leonor told me about this drink she loves called bubble tea...what? bubble tea? never heard of it. but, of course i had to try it. it's kind of a dessert drink she says. i should have left well enough alone. now i have cravings for this drink. and honestly, it must have 1000 calories. but worth it. i would not attempt to make it on my own it's a little complicated. but if you get the chance try it. if you are adventurous and want to make it on your own. here is how to do it.
my favorite is coconut.

and it will look like this...
and you will start craving it too.

love sent, xo

so happy for eric....

2011-08-19T18:00:00.001-04:00

click here for press release from nichols

rush rush...

2011-08-18T22:19:00.000-04:00

as i rush through my days to meet my deadlines i feel like a hampster on a wheel. i know most of you are like me and feel like there are never enough hours in the day. sometimes i hear a voice whispering to my heart to slow down. there is more to the story than the colors behind it. i was in a meeting yesterday and we were reviewing the usual monthly projects. since being acquired a year ago everyone has been on overload. each day priorities change, so many things are needed on such short notice, anxiety levels are so high. people are only thinking about themselves. the reports reflect lots of "red" areas which indicate trouble. it looks like progress is not being made. but everyone is so panicked about what "needs" to be done they sometimes aren't seeing all that has been accomplished in a relatively short time. i try to remind myself that our worth is not based on just our ability to produce results. there is so much more. i feel that the most important "done" in my life is not the one i hope to write on my to do list at the end of the day. it is the one i hope to hear at the end of my life. the one that says "well done", you lived well, you cared, you did your best, but most important, you were loved, and that is all that matters, no matter how many items are left uncheked on my list.

love sent, xoxo

eat, drink, lacrosse...

2011-08-16T06:44:00.003-04:00

dear eric,
congratulations on becoming the head coach of nichols college lacrosse team.
great performance is not an accident. may your passions always drive you. xoxo