Life Imitates Coffee

I had forgotten about this afternoon over the holidays at my parents house.  On our way home from a quick coffee date, we noticed the sky distinctly resembling the top of my Cappuccino that I had just admired minutes before.

Artfully foam topped Capp from Coffee Hound

Red Lentil Goodness

I don't know about everyone else, but we've been fighting colds in our house and they seem to be lingering...and lingering.  The other night, I just wanted healthy tasting soup to sip but couldn't find a recipe that matched all the ingredients I had on hand.  So, I threw one together, combining ideas from several recipes and I came up with a yummy red lentil soup...it was surprisingly good.  Quantities are approximate..

2 tbl Olive Oil
4 carrots chopped
1 celery stalk chopped
1/2 onion chopped
2 cloves garlic chopped


Sautee carrots, onion, celery and garlic in oil, when onions become opaque add:


1/2 box chopped tomatoes (I use Pomi brand - quantity similar to one 14oz can probably)
1 large box Chicken broth
1 cup red lentils 
Few shakes cumin
Dried parsley
Salt and Pepper


Bring to boil and simmer...the longer you simmer the thicker it becomes.

Top with shredded parm...because we top everything with parm.

Tie one on...

It's that time of year again for the school auction.  New school this year, and as part of the auction they are partnering with the Bow Tie Cause, to create a beautiful silk bow tie that can be purchased and worn to show school spirit.   "Ladies, you can buy one too to wear on your wrist!"  Well, any macgyver-ish, multi-purpose accessory marketing has me sold in about a second.  Anxiously, awaiting to tie mine on....

other takes on the bow tie bracelet

Love this soft leather bow tie bracelet on etsy...unfortunately it's sold out.

Ginger Root Design D.C.

Bow tutorial found on SNAP

Linking up with KORI for Fashion Fridays!

Feeder Fashion

Ok, if I had a newbie right now, I'd be all over these fun feeder frocks.  These just started coming out when I had kids but were not nearly this stylish or fun.  They're not enough to make go through another nine months, but they are being filed for my next baby shower gift.

 

Top of the morning to ya!

Cultural Fair hosted by thre pre-ker's this week.  My daughter's class had Ireland.  We ate soda bread, did the jig, sang lullabies in Gailic, and made shamrock necklaces.  Then, we came home and had to recreate the entire thing all afternoon...including baking up some soda bread.  I found this recipe with a 15 minute prep, which means you can double that in kid prep time, but would've definitely made my 10 and under rule had I been flying solo.

Result:  Follow the recipe and you will end up with delicious bread (better than soda bread because who really loves soda bread anyway).  I only used about 1/4 cup raisins, mostly because I only had the little travel boxes and my patience with allowing the kids open each box was bordering zero.  All in all, a tasty treat on a cold night.

Bake for only 35 minutes when using a regular baking dish.

Wu Wu

I didn't make the mad Missoni rush.  I may just get up early to make the Jason Wu dash.

Super Food

Super Foods (dah dah dah-dah)

We are all inundated with information on the latest super food, but I can't help passing along which heroes I am ramping up in our house this 2012. 

This week it is the walnut.  

What I've read about this nut (going off of memory here-not encyclopedia ready)

High in Vitamin E

Significantly reduces risk of heart attack if eaten daily

Reduces risk of skin diseases (including cancer)

It was the third one that sold me as I've talked about my issues with skin cancer.

How to easily incorporate into your diet:

Eat by the handful (easiest)

On yogurt (easiest)

Mix in with this yummy granola recipe (still easy)

Throw 1/2 cup into your pesto (take a little effort)

Illuminating

About ten years ago, I worked on a commercial launching a new line for Revlon called Skinlights.  

The line had an amazing illuminating moisturizer that created a smooth dewy glow that became the beauty trend of the early millennium.  And ten years ago, I was flying free and hadn't a care in the world, and especially wasn't going to look at the ingredients in a product.  Fast forward a decade, two kids, and not so dewy skin later, I'm still trying to recreate this discontinued product in a natural way.  And I finally found this:  Kiss My Face lotion combined with La Mer foundation.  I actually think you could combine this lotion with any foundation/concealer and get the same outcome.  The combination is light, feels great on this skin, and contains SPF.  Sold, sold and sold.

 + 

The weekend...

Hope that you all had a great weekend.  

We went from scooter weather to snowshoe weather overnight.

We took advantage of the snow and got away for a weekend of tubing, sledding, hot chocolating and deer watching.

stripy girls

morning wake-up

morning - wake-up

friends

Mood Swings

According to super70s.com, The Mood Ring was, along with the Pet Rock, one of the biggest fads of the Super70s. And as with the Pet Rock, there were plenty of imitations floating around. 

 I never had a pet rock, I did have a mood ring or two.

My six year old niece gave me a heart shaped mood ring for Christmas.  I haven't taken it off since (guess I am channeling my inner 70s this year).  In fact, on a few certain hectic days prior to the holiday, it was a running joke between my kids and husband (and more funny for my husband) about how often the color (i.e. my mood) changed.  Right now, it's mostly blue with a few green and orange sherbet swirls, which according to the chart, means I am mostly calm, averaging on normal, with a hint of daring....(cue the eye squint).  And over the holidays, it turned black as night several, well, more than several times and you can check the chart for that mood.

Some fun modern mood rings....the first one is my favorite!

gold mood ring on etsy

Add caption

glow in the dark mood ring from etsy

glow in the dark mood ring from etsy

found here

What color are you today?

Linking up with Kori for Fashion Fridays!

Just a little obsessed with our friend's lake house decor where we rang in the new year.  

Wanted to share a few photos......

It sure is hard getting back into the swing of things...more regular posts to follow, I promise.

Who's reading this anyway?!

Now is now

So, every new year, I write a list of resolutions.  I keep to about half of them...maybe...for about the first month.  Then the novelty of the new year slowly comes to an end as winter weather S.A.D. kicks in and my intentions are long forgotten.  I did achieve one resolution for 2011 and that was to karyoke in a bar, in front of real people, not just my kids as they back me up (dance-wise) on the latest hit from Glee Wii.  And I did it, problem is that I did a duet with a friend.  A friend whom I don't know really well...definitely not well enough to know that he is a professional musician!!  So, he sounded great...which made me sound kinda great too...but I am not sure if that really counts.  I may have to add that to my list for 2012.  And that will be the only resolution on my list, well, that and drinking of glass of lemon water every morning (heard it's good for the liver).

Anyway, so I am not doing resolutions this year, because new year, end of the year, middle of the year, life is now.  Now is now.  And living each day to the fullest, sans expectations, is the plan.  We are reminded daily that life is short.  Like the other day, I was taking the kids to the park and they were asking, no begging, me to play T-Rex.  T-Rex is basically a game where I chase them all around the park as I am pounding my T-Rex feet and trying to "get" them.  It brings an unbelievable amount of joy and laughter to my children.  But this day, I was feeling tired and wasn't really up for my dinosaur task.  We got to the park and there was another father there, two older boys and three young children.  My first thought was, wow, he's got a handful.  But shortly after we arrived, he left, with only three of the younger children.  The two older boys, and when I say older I mean maybe around 6 and 10, were there alone.  I looked around the park only to see an older gentlemen slowly walking around with a cane.  He seemed to be looking in the boys direction so I realized that it must be their grandfather.  But as the man got closer, it seemed that he could very well be their father.  He walked very slowly, was frail and thin.  He then called over to the boys, calling to them "boys" as if to say it's time to leave. But his voice was so weak that the boys didn't hear him.  All I could think about was how much this man would love to run over to the park and have a good game of T-Rex with his "boys."  Father or not.  The boys finally left and I played T-Rex.  I was the best T-Rex I've ever been and played my heart out with my kids the rest of the day.  Now is now.  Life is a gift.

our friend's house, all wrapped up for the holidays.  has nothing to do with this post, but isn't it gorgeous?

Style Icon 2012

Happy New Year, Besties!   I was going to get all serious with my new year's take on resolutions, but I'll save that for later this week.  Let's keep this light, fun and fashion-like.  Remember my style icon of 2011?  Well, I'm keeping it classic but mixing it up with a little bohemian playfulness - Ali MacGraw - 1970 style.  

My husband just asked if this was a photo of Pippa!  

Funny how this 1970's girl looks so similar to our current royal icon of 2011.  

So, throw that side part to the middle, grab your favorite hat, and hit the year running with confidence and a smile. Two things that never go out of style.