Saturday, November 29, 2008
And the fun begins...
I've waited all my life to take my child to see Santa Claus, and it was just as wonderful as I had imagined it. It is a little known fact that the best Santa in New York City (or maybe the world) hangs out at ABC Carpet and Home in December for all the children to visit. We saw him last year there and I just knew we had to take our little Pookie to visit Father Christmas. He was so dear and Winston just loved him and kept snuggling with him(note to Grandpas, I think it was the beard). This may have been one of my sweetest moments being a mom. I told Santa Winston has been a very good boy this year and that what he wanted most for Christmas was sugary binkies and stuff to chew on. We'll see if he gets lucky.


The big parade
It's a pastime of many New Yorker's to go visit the balloons at the Museum of Natural History on the eve of the parade as all the preparations are being made for the big event. Of course Winston was asleep the whole time, but I got to see Buzz Lightyear, Spongebob and a host of others. I couldn't believe how big these were in real life. Just one of the things I love about New York.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
nothing without the cranberry

In my opinion cranberry sauce can make or break Thanksgiving, which means it is absolutely crucial to have a knock your socks off recipe to ensure your Holiday doesn't fall short. You don't have such a recipe you say? Have no fear, I'm here to give it to you. For the past four years I have made the yummy recipe below courtesy of Barefoot Contessa and I've impressed myself every time. Perhaps it is my grandmaother in me, but I think it would be a form of torture to eat cranberry sauce from a can. I think my Gammy would be proud of this sauce, and the best part is the recipe is so easy it will make you feel like a really good cook and make your house smell amazing.
Ingredients
1 (12-ounce) bag of fresh cranberries, cleaned
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 orange, zest grated and juiced
1 lemon, zest grated and juiced
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
* raisins and nuts optional (I'm a traditionalist so I skip them)
Directions
Cook the cranberries, sugar, and 1 cup of water in a saucepan over low heat for about 5 minutes, or until the skins pop open. Add the apple, zests, and juices and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove from the heat and add the raisins and nuts. Let cool, and serve chilled.
Friday, November 21, 2008
free art
Thursday, November 20, 2008
projects

yum

You probably didn't know that our friend Gwyneth is a huge foodie. In fact she spent three months touring spain with Mario Batali to film a cooking special with him. She's just launched a new website, GOOP that I am tickled pink over. Today I received in my inbox a vast collection of recipes for Gwyneth's Thanksgiving. Goodbye Williams-Sonoma and Martha, hello Gwyneth. This has got me excited. And best of all I love the pictures. I couldn't find the link to the recipes online, but if you sign up for the newsletter, I have a feeling you might get a little surprise in your inbox. I can't wait to see what Gwyneth Paltrow comes up with next.

trivia

One of my aunts always brings trivia questions to holiday parties and offers a special prize to the one who can answer the most questions right. This would be a great gift for her and fun thing to pull out every year during the holidays. Be sure to check out all of the other great stocking stuffers at Restoration Hardware. I always seem to find to great little gifts there. And I am so wanting these.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
chubby
zoo

I think this 2D zoo fabric by Alexander Henry is adorable. It comes in a few different colors but the blue is my favorite. It sort of reminds of another pattern I love by Dwell Studio. Now to decide what to make.

One of my friends in SLC told me to check out Green Apple Photography. My computer was down all weekend and I kept reminding myself, green apple, green apple, green apple. I am sure glad I did. I love the style of Lindsey's photos, but what I love even more is her polaroid blog. I was especially digging the ferris wheel pictured above. This just made it to my list of daily reads.
Monday, November 17, 2008
bluebird

I got the sweetest little bluebird blanket by Pixie Lily for Winston as a shower gift. It is one of my very favorite little baby things we have. The cotton is so soft and I think the bluebirds are the most precious thing. Well of course when I discovered these matching pajamas were on sale, I just had to buy them. Hopefully these will help give him sweet dreams.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Charley Harper

Tuesday, November 11, 2008
4 years and counting




Thursday, November 6, 2008
Popular?

I've been thinking a lot lately. About life. About our country. About choices. About issues. And about the election. I ran for office in many a high school election. I won some, and I lost some, and at the end of the day you would always hear people agreeing that high school elections were just one big popularity contest. So now here I sit wondering if that ever really changes? I want to preface this by saying that I rarely write my thoughts about things like this on my blog because I sort of grimace at controversy, but I am anxious to hear what all of you out there in cyberspace think.
Throughout the past year as our country geared up for this historical election I am sure each of you had many conversations with many different people about the candidates. I know I did. And I wish I would have counted how many times I heard people say, " I don't like John McCain" or "Hillary Clinton just bugs me," or " I just really like Barack Obama". I am not trying to say what is right or wrong, but what I would like to say is that it shouldn't really matter whether or not whether we like one candidate or another, it should matter who shares our interests and causes. It matters who will stand up for what you or I hold dear and fight for us and our beliefs when the time comes. It matters who will a champion and advocate for those who have no voice. And we choose who this person is going to be.
Politicians are interesting creatures. They prey on our worries and concerns, our hopes and our fears and build entire careers upon getting their voters to like them, worship them even and perpetuate them to higher and higher levels of power. Their strategies are built upon approval ratings and projections for the popular vote. So I wonder, what has changed since high school? Are elections any less about popularity today than they were back then? Or do we all get sucked in by the charisma or eloquence of one candidate versus another?
chili

The other week for book club I made a heaping batch of chili. So heaping in fact that half of it is still in my freezer. Still, it is nice to know I have something yummy to defrost. I am always looking for good standby recipes for classic dishes and this one is a winner.
Chili
3 tbsp olive oil
2 medium onions chopped
4 cloves garlic chopped
1 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 each red, yellow, and green peppers chopped
2 tbsp chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 cups chicken broth
3 cans (14 1/2 oz. each) tomatoes (diced preferred)
6 cups turkey or chicken (optional)
3 cans (15 1/2/ oz. each) cannellini beans (can sub or mix kidney beans and black beans)
Grated cheddar, cilantro, sour cream, and scallions for garnish
Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add onions, garlic, and peppers. Cook 5-7 minutes, or until soft. Add spices, salt, and pepper. Stir. Add broth and diced tomatoes. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Stir in Turkey/chicken, beans, simmer 30 minutes.
Stir in balsamic.Garnish as desired. Yum!
Stir in balsamic.Garnish as desired. Yum!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
One potato blue

When I was in Park City last month I stumbled into the most adorable children's boutique, Baby Nee Nee. I snagged a couple of adorable things for Winston there but there was one thing I had my eye on that they didn't have his size in, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it ever since. I can't get these darling infant wrap shirts by onepotatoblue out of my mind. So simple, yet so sweet. I think I feel a craft project coming on.
halloween withdrawals
Ruby, aka one of Winston's many girlfriends
Not Too Shabby

My friend Molly has a darling lifestyle blog called not too shabby that I just had to share. Molly has a great style and she is always finding great treasures. Go check her blog out.
one man's trash, another man's treasure
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