For Today

For Today...

Outside my Window…it is gorgeous here today, it is supposed to get up to 62 and is sunny, so a beautiful sunny day!

I am thinking…that it is a perfect night for a fall BBQ with friends!

I am thankful for…the weekend! I have a TON going on, but I am so ready for the weekend, it has been a long and stressful week!

From the kitchen…not much this weekend! We are headed to friends for a last minute BBQ tonight, I have some brownies I will be bringing that I did not make. Tomorrow about the only thing from the kitchen is going to be some berries from the fridge as I walk out the door in the morning, we will be gone the whole day. Yesterday was the boys parents 49^th Anniversary, so I will make\bring a dessert over!

I am wearing…Rachel Pally black flare pants (so super comfy for a Friday!) a black tissue turtleneck, a gray cotton cable sweater vest and super cute plaid gray, black and burgundy flats.

I am reading…A few things as always, Vera Bradley "Cooking with Friends" love the recipes in here, getting lots of ideas! "The Find" by Stan Williams, I had just added this to my Wish List and then *poof* as I was walking through Home Goods to get some things at Michael's the other night, there it was! And last but not least Rachel Ray's "Book of 10". As well as my gossip rags for the week.

I am hoping…that I can catch up on things this weekend and get things crossed off of my ta-list as well as kick back and enjoy the weekend!

I am hearing…a conference call. . . . all day long!

Around the house…Harvest decorations are out and need a little tweaking! Laundry of course needs to get done this weekend and I am beginning to get organized for the holidays and get my lists created!

One of my favorite things…is leaving work early on a Friday and relax before the BBQ!

A Few Plans For The Rest Of The Weekend…BBQ tonight, tomorrow get set up for The Affair, Summit duty, Volunteer for The Amazing Case, Sunday, The Affair, dinner with the boys parents!

What are your plans for the weekend?

Meal Plan Monday!

I am swamped at work and with JLM so it is going to be a low key week.

Monday
Plans-JLM Committee meeting at my house. We are welcoming our new members and our committee more than doubled in size. So when I signed up to host we were 12, now I am expecting 26 for tonight.
Dinner-Whatever people bring. Everyone is signed up to bring a beverage, an appetizer or a dessert.

Tuesday
Plans-Vote! And then catch up on things at home, run a couple of errands
Dinner-Leftovers, we really need to clean out the fridge

Wednesday
Plans-catch up with sister J
Dinner-Captial Grill

Thursday
Plans-Screening of "Men Who Stare at Goats"
Dinner-Sandwich on the go

Friday
Plans-Wine Tasting if I am up for it. . . .
Dinner-Out

Saturday
Plans-Summit duty, as well as stationed at Sweeney's most of the day for "The Amazing Case"
Dinner-Something at Sweeney's!

Sunday
Plans-Catch up on the house and such
Dinner-The boys parents house

For much better meal plans with some substance as well as some decent recipes, check out the Orgjunkie, mine is TERRIBLE this week!

Fall is for Changes

The leaves have really started to change around here. They really just popped this weekend. I love the way my street looks.
There are going to be more changes around here. Heck, isn't that what fall is for? More on that coming soon!

More on the changes soon, but in the mean time, take it in, doesn't it just look like a perfect day for a stroll?

Meal Plan Monday!

Hope you all had a great weekend! We had so much fun with my nephew G on Friday and Saturday. We took him to dinner, he chose PF Changs (NUM) where he proceeded to eat his entire dinner with chop sticks, love the adventure in the guy! I also ran into THREE friends from HS while I was there. One works there, this I knew, but it was fun to catch up with her. The other two were HS sweethearts and it was super fun to see them as well. She is pregnant. With their sixth. Girl. Did I mention that they will have six girls by this time next year? How unreal and wonderful for them. They all do Irish Step Dancing, how fun. He works in a similar field to my own, and we have crossed paths with some of the same people and larger companies in the past couple of years, so we had a good time chatting as well. He also mentioned that it all started in my back yard. Well, that is where they met and began their high school romance which is now in full swing. I never run into people I know from HS. Weird, but true. Minnie is not that big, and I do get out and about, and I went to a decent sized HS, but I never cross paths with too many people from HS and last Friday I caught up with FOUR!

We took G to Borders, which he could have spent the entire evening in, he picked out some books, he could have picked out more. Then we saw "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" very cute. It was fun to have him, he is such a cuddler and such a sweet sweet boy.

Saturday afternoon I had an appointment with these ladies
(Drat! Left Camera at Home, post pics later!)

to get this done (complete with cute shoes!)

And then we hit the town for dinner and cocktails, and of course we let the boys join us!
A fun night, but as the night wore on, I felt a fever coming on, and the headache, and the body aches. By the time we got home there was a lot of moaning and groaning going on. Needless to say I had to take a pass on the fun festivities we had planned with our parents and Sister J and her mom. I missed "Buddy" which I was really looking forward to as well as brunch.

This week, while busy, looks like a good one! I saw this over on another blog, and it looks like a great way to stay organized!
Weekly Focus: Finish getting the guest room cleaned up and my closets finished.
Breakfasts:

• Oatmeal
• Cereal with soy milk
• Apples
• Granola Bars
• Toast with Peanut Butter

Lunch:

• Leftovers - Cassoulet, Pizza, Stew
• Fruit

Snacks:

• Halloween mix (peanuts, candy corn, M & M's and craisins)
• Chex mix

Dinners:
Monday

• Menu - Manicotti (from last week, we wound up going out to dinner instead)
• Plans - Catch up at home, laundry, clean

Tuesday

• Menu - Mexican Lasagna (also from last week, we got tickets to the screening of "Amelia" so we grabbed a sandwich instead)
• Plans - Catch up on JLM stuff, get ready for Saturday's party

Wednesday

• Menu -Ribs (this is subject to change. . . )
  
• Plans - Planning with the girls (it has been a while)

Thursday

• Menu - Dinner out.
• Plans - We have a JLM kick-off event for our Shop, Save and Share card at The Container Store, so I will be there helping out with that event.

Friday

• Menu -
• Plans - Wine event for the Wine Club. Costumes and Spooky wine. Should be fun!

Saturday

• Menu - Will post the entire menu later this week!
• Plans - Halloween Gathering at my house. I have a bingo cage and cards, so we will be playing some bingo and noshing on treats and drinking goodies!

Weekend is off to a great start!

I had lunch with these girls today.

It was her 6th birthday, so we got her a pony, well, we got her American Girl Doll a pony.

Tell me she is not the cutest thing, those dimples, that sparkle in her eye, her funny little laugh and oh her personality. She is just the funniest sweetest little girl, I just adore her!

Her mom and I went to Junior High and High School together and were always friends. We reconnected at our 15 and then 20 year class reunions, but realistically it was FaceBook that brought us closer together. Now I get to see her and her family on a more regular basis. I really enjoy them. But especially that cute little pixie. Isn't she just a doll?

Getting Wiser

Because clearly I am not getting any older. Or at least I am in denial of the fact that in a mere 5 months and two weeks I will be breaking ground into a new decade. Or will I. . . I guess I am in denial.

Do you ever wonder though, do you ever just sit back and wonder and ponder all of the changes, places and people that have passed through your life over the years. Do you ever look back and wonder why did that happen or what if this didn't happen, where would I be, what would that bring?

I guess I am a firm believer in the fact that everything happens for a reason. I guess I am also a firm believer in the fact that you have to live each day to the fullest and not take a moment for granted. We get one turn on this merry-go-round, might as well make it a good one, right? Might as well try everything we can. Might as well do all we can do. Might as well not question, but just go with the flow and grasp on and enjoy the ride.

Sometimes I look back on different moments in my life and think about how wonderful each step has been. Granted, there have been some that have not been so wonderful as well, but I guess we have to get through those in order to get to the REALLY good ones.

I think that we create our own lives. We choose our own attitudes. We decide which path we want to go down, now granted, some trees will fall in our paths along the way, but we still get to decide how we deal with them. Whether or not we want to chop right through them, whether or not we want to rise above it and go right over, or whether or not we think creatively and work our way around them. No matter what, we are still in charge of this journey.

Just been thinking today. That's all. Just been thinking about how lucky I am that I have chosen to be where I am right now. Just thinking about how happy I am with the life I have chosen right now. Just appreciating all that life has offered me so far. And just knowing that no matter what, anything else that life decides to throw at me, I am ready for it.

As I approach this new decade, there are definitely some things in life that I am still waiting to take on. You have to leave some of the good stuff for later on, right?

In honor of all of this, I am creating another list. Because I need another ta-da list. 40 things before I am 40. . .I will let you know how I am doing. But I am going to keep the list to myself!

Etiquette Question. . . .

This is a tough one. I know right from wrong, and I know that this is probably wrong, but would really like to get some more input. I am getting ready to order my holiday cards. This will be my 4th Christmas with the boy. My whole entire family has met him several times, all of the aunts, uncles, cousins and what not. We do not live together. We are not planning on getting married (these are personal choices for both of us and we are both perfectly comfortable with this and feel very secure in the relationship in the state that it is in). When I plan parties of any sort I always include him as a host. I have not in the past included him on my holiday cards, but I am considering doing so this year. I know that it is not Emily Post or Miss Manners standards, but due to all circumstances, what are your thoughts? And here is the big one, picture or no picture? Would love any and all feedback. Thanks!

Things I am Digging! DownEast Basics!

I am not sure if I have ever mentioned DownEast Basics, but I came across them this past spring via another bloggers blog, sorry, can't remember whose, but I fell in love with their stuff! I have placed 4 orders since then, and I have been more than pleased with every item. I love color and I get bored wearing just basics, however, DownEast Basics, gives me so many more options when it comes to color! Their skirts and dresses have awesome patterns and colors, and it is great that I can just add a simple top or jacked with a skirt and during the summer a pair of sandals, and now that the fall is here, a pair of ballet flats or a pair of knee boots are paired perfectly with both their skirts and dresses.

I am wearing this dress today, with a long sleeved green tee and a pair of patent gray ballet flats. It is dreary, cold and rainy here, but throwing on a little color like this always makes me feel better! I also love that they name their items, this is the Wonderful World Dress, isn't that great? Their skirts and dresses are also lined for the most part, and their prices are phenomenal!
Here are some of the other items I have picked up for the fall, I don't have a store near me, but if you do and have been to one, I would love to know more about it! If I ever get out West at all, I will definitely be stopping by!

Detail Oriented Skirt in a basic black (for someone with OCD, details are important), super cute with just a white long sleeve tee, jean jacket and black ballet flats.
Night Owl Skirt, since I am a morning person, I guess I am living vicariously through my skirt?
The One and Only skirt, LOVE the pink in this
Summary Skirt, I LOVE this one, I have actually worn this TWICE already! Love the colors in this, I wore it with a brown ribbed turtleneck and brown knee boots once and with an orange cable crew and brown ballet flats another day. I love the brown little pettiskirt under this!
Feelin Fall '09, I guess I am feelin a little fall, I also got an indigo top to wear with this, but I just love how I can change this up wearing all kinds of different colors!
Mod & Marvelous. I am not sure how Mod I am, but I think I can do it up a little Mod with this skirt. I have a great green RL sweater that I thought would look great with this!
Serendipity Dress. I just love the word Serendipity. But I also love these two colors together, I would love to do my bedroom in these colors, but I just have not taken the leap. I wonder if I can get the boy to go there. . . .
Fall Floral Fixation Skirt. Again with the pettiskirt, LOVE that. I have a cashmere sweater in that melon color and I just thought it would be something fun to pair with it.
Fancy Schmancy Dress. Oh, I think I will feel a little fancy schmancy in this dress, LOVE these colors. I have a pink scarf that would be perfect with this, with a gray long sleeve tee under it?
WOW, Look at all that color! And for fall and winter? Someone asked me a while back, what does your fall and winter wardrobe look like, do you wear as much color then as you do during the spring and summer? I love to wear color, and while Lilly does give me quite a bit of that, this provides another great option! Check them out though, they have a blog too!

Everyone Loves A Party, No?

I know I do! And I know I am really looking forward to the new magazine coming out this spring, Flea Market Style. They are having a party over there, so I decided to add this post from a while back. Check out the party though, LOTS of good stuff over there!

Recipe of the Week! Cassoulet

I have really been trying to focus on following through with my menus when I plan them at the beginning of the week. I come across so many fabulous recipes, in cookbooks, in magazines and on other blogs. I also have a huge file of them in One Note which I will reference from time to time. One thing we are trying to do right now is to go through foods we have in the freezer, cupboard or fridge and not shop for anything except for produce. I am an outside aisle shopper for the most part anyway. I don't buy hardly any prepackaged foods or kits, I guess I feel like I can cook a recipe just as quickly if I am organized and prepared as I could to whip up one of those prepared meals. There are exceptions of course, I love Trader Joe's, and we also will order in usually once a week as well. I also try to make things where we will have leftovers so that we don't have to worry about buying lunches, so that is always in the back of my mind as well. This is usually pretty easy as most recipes are made for four servings, and usually there are only two of us.

This was a recipe that I made last week. Sister J and her dog Max were over for dinner and wine, and this recipe with my changes actually still made about 10 servings. The boy LOVED this, and it is all he has been talking about since. It was extremely easy to make, took me about 15 minutes and then it just simmered. I am having it for lunch with some crusty bread as well. We only had it with the topping the night that I made it.

White Bean and Sausage Cassoulet Recipe

By Woman's Day Kitchen

Nutrition Facts

Yield 8 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 316

Total Fat 14g

Saturated Fat 4g

Cholesterol 28mg

Sodium 979mg

Total Carbohydrates 37g

Dietary Fiber 10g

Protein 16g

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

INGREDIENTS

· 2 tsp oil

· 3 links (10 oz) Italian sausage (I used 5 brats and 3 chorizo sausage and sliced them up - that is what I had in the freezer)

· 2 medium carrots, thinly sliced

· 2 stalks celery, sliced

· 1 large onion, chopped

· 2 tsp minced garlic

· 3 cans (15.5 oz each) Great Northern beans, rinsed (I used 4 cans)

· 2 cans (14.5 oz each) fire-roasted diced tomatoes

· 1⁄2 cup water (I left this out)

· 1 tsp dried thyme leaves

Seasoned Crumb Topping

· 2 tsp oil

· 1 tsp minced garlic

· 2 cups coarse fresh bread crumbs from a baguette

· 2 Tbsp each grated Parmesan and chopped parsley

PREPARATION

1. Heat oven to 375ºF. You’ll need a rimmed baking sheet lined with foil.

2. Heat oil in a 5-qt pot over medium heat. Brown sausages

3. In fat remaining in saucepan, sauté carrots, celery, onion and garlic until golden, about 5 minutes.

4. Cut sausages into 1⁄4-in.-thick slices. Add sausages, beans, tomatoes and their juices, water and thyme to saucepan. Simmer, covered, 30 minutes or until heated through and flavors are blended.

5. Topping: Toss oil and garlic with bread crumbs; spread on prepared baking sheet. Bake on all sides until cooked through, about 6 minutes. Remove to plate. 15 to 20 minutes, tossing once, until toasted. Cool slightly; stir in Parmesan and parsley. Serve Topping with cassoulet.