Monday, November 28, 2011

Monday...

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending."

~Maria Robinson

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Wish List

Now that Thanksgiving has had it's proper attention I can turn my attention to Christmas. I hate that poor Thanksgiving gets so overshadowed by it's dominating holiday neighbor. Especially since it's such a great holiday! It's personally one of my favorites. What's better than a nice long weekend to gather with your family, lounge around watching parades & football, stuff your face with amazing foods, and be thankful? Add in the whole no gifts required and you've got a winner. But, the turkey has been stuffed, the pumpkin pie covered in whip cream, and a weekend of leftovers enjoyed so it's on to my wish list for Santa....

**I love these birth month necklaces! I've never been a fan of my birth stone but do enjoy the choice made for October's flower. I also really like January, September, & June. I could also be persuaded to enjoy February in honor of Baby Robinson assuming arrival is timely.

**I'm in desperate need of new winter boots but can't seem to find something I like also in my price range. Good luck on this one Santa.


**In an attempt to be more organized I've been looking for a small to medium sized jewelry box mostly for earrings and bracelets, like this.

**I've been wanted a set or two of these latte bowls from Anthropologie for awhile now. Perfect for desserts and special treats. I like the raspberry, chartreuse, and mint the best.


**Jim and I spotted the cutest knit headband/ear warmers while Christmas shopping at Christmas village in Philly. They had a lot of fun color with cute little flowers. I'm thinking something neutral that could go with any of my coats/jackets to just throw on with a ponytail.


**I also really want a new lightweight black turtle sweater. But it's a stupid wish since I'm pregnant and either way you go I won't get a full season of wear out of it, so I guess I'll just save that one for next year.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The After. Finally.

I've got a million mini projects on my to-do list for the long weekend. Hopefully I can convince the mister to give me a hand with a few of them. (You're the best Jim. I'll even make you cookies!) It's an ongoing problem for us because we start a million and one things at a time and always focus on getting the big stuff done. Thankfully we're starting to run out of big projects, forcing us to buckle down and get the little stuff done. Like hanging that mirror in the kitchen. Remember like two months ago when I wrote a post about the same damn thing? We actually hung the mirror a few weeks back but I never got around to posting the "after" effect.

Drum roll.......

Last seen looking like this.....

I love how it turned out. The mirror, which we already owned, is the perfect size. I was worried that it would be too much green but I think it's really off set by the dominate white on the bottom half and compliments the buffet really well. I changed out a few of the accessories for some fall decor which I also helped the green not become overpowering.

What do you think?
Are you a fan of mixing second hand items or do you like a more matched look?

Three.


Yesterday marked three years of marriage.
We celebrated with heart shaped grilled cheese and tomato soup.
True romance never dies.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Pumpkin Dessert

If you're looking for a new dessert to add to your Thanksgiving celebration, this is it! It's easy to make and oh so delicious.

Pumpkin Cake Dessert

1 box yellow cake mix
1 16 oz can pumpkin
1 12oz can evaporated milk
3 eggs
1 1/2 C. sugar
4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. chopped pecans
1 C. melted butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 9x13 cake pan.
Mix pumpkin, evaporated milk, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
Pour into prepared pan.
Sprinkle dry cake mix over .
Top with pecans.
Drizzle evenly with melted butter.
Bake for 50-55 minutes.

**I've tried making a gluten free variation using boxed gluten free cake mix and it didn't really turn out right. I think it might be because the gluten free mixes are generally made for smaller pans. Regardless it wasn't an easy substitution and still requires some experimenting***

Monday, November 21, 2011

Kids Corner Special. Ending Child Abuse

Have I ever mention Kids Corner? It's an absoultely fantastic radio program that airs on WXPN Monday-Thursday nights at 7pm. The host, Kathy O'Connell, engages children on a wide range of topics ranging including nature, science, books, movies, music, and more. Even without a kid in the house Jim and I have been known to listen in. I'm a big advocate of the program and highly recommend the program for anyone with kids and those of you who are kids at heart or just nerds like us.

But even if you don't like goofy songs, cute kids calling in to play the piano, or science trivia you need to tune in tonight. Tonight is an extra special program featuring a conversation with Tracey Thomasey from the Support Center for Child Advocates addressing child abuse. An important and difficult topic all parents and kids need to be able to discuss. You can also find downloads of the interview here.

regarding an important topic all

Monday...

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."

~John F. Kennedy

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Thanksgiving Prep

I can't believe it's Thanksgiving this week! A lot of times we travel to Ohio for a long weekend but this year we're staying close to home and having dinner with my in-laws, where half of the group will be vegetarian. My mother-in-law just can't grasp the whole idea of cooking without meat or meat related products (chicken broth, etc) so I volunteered to bring a vegetarian main dish as well as vegetarian stuffing. After some internet searching I decided on this squash dish. I think it looks AMAZING and hoping it turns out. I've never really worked with phyllo dough so it could be interesting.


After an early dinner we'll head over to Aunt Kathleen's for dessert and extended family time. I'll be bringing along a delicious pumpkin dessert. My sister-in-law makes it ever year for my family and it's always a big hit. I'll have to dig out the recipe and post it this week.

It's also our anniversary this week. It falls on a weekday and we'll both be working until after 8, so we plan to celebrate next weekend with brunch where we got married followed by an afternoon hike, weather permitting. We agreed on no gifts again this year. Of course last year Jim broke the rule so now I don't know which way to go.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Monday. On Wednesday

"When I was 5 years old my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy.' They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them the didn't understand life."

~ John Lennon

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Lists & Links

I made these "breakfast cookies" last night and they are completely gone already! Just sweet enough but not the guilty kind of sweet. Kind of like a bowl of oatmeal in cookie form. We've also really been enjoying a juicy tart morning grapefruit together.

I love this color combo with the soft peach peaking out of the bright yellow. I'm been checking out more fashiony blogs lately including here, here, and here. Maybe because I'm stuck in a a crappy, blah maternity wardrobe.

I also have really been into this blog. Lots of quick posts ranging from motherhood to fashion to NYC life.

I'm heading to Ohio tomorrow on a little solo road trip. To battle my loneliness I picked up 5 different audio books and about a dozen new CDs at the library. I've got everything from Fahrenheit 451, Barbara Walters, some David Sedaris, and a bit of little crappy girly fiction.

I'm hoping this beautiful fall weather lasts through my weekend roadtrip. Any fun plans before the frigid temps set in?

Me and the Sofee dog enjoying a crisp fall camping trip (2009)

Monday, November 7, 2011

Monday...

"Some think it's holding on that makes on strong; sometimes it's letting go."

~Sylvia Robinson

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Couch Potatoes

Last weekend I turned thirty-one bringing along a lovely 6 inches of snow mixed with ice and sleet. Nothing says "Happy Birthday" like freezing ice balls falling from the late October sky. We bailed on all our Halloween related engagements and spend the night stuff our faces with cupcakes and parked our lazy butts on the couch for the whole night.


Birthday candy corn cupcakes. More candy corn. Toasted pumpkin seeds.

We started off with Paranormal Activity followed by Psycho, which neither of had seen before, then ended the night with about 5-6 episodes of Breaking Bad on Netflixs. The most terrifying thing I saw the whole night was the terrible heroin death on Breaking Bad.

****Warning the remaining post may contain spoilers****

I just get so disturbed by heroin/opioid addictions and the aftermath. It's the addiction I fear someone I know having the most. I just couldn't sleep thinking that last scene and what was going to happen to Jesse and how could Walt just stand there for god sake! Not to mention Jane was super bad ass and combined in a relationship with Jesse, one of my favorite characters.... especially in comparison to Skylar who is just a major bitch! I'm also a big fan of the Los Pollos Hermanos guy and Better Call Saul. Breaking Bad is so awesome.

Creating New Life. Week 25


This is really the first week that I've noticed I was pregnant from a physical standpoint. Up to this point my growing midsection went unnoticed in my daily routine. But this week I know I'm carrying around a little basketball under my shirt. I have to sit down to put on my socks because I can't flex my hip enough to reach standing up. When I sit down my boobs almost touch my stomach and if I sit for too long I get a crease where the two meet. Squatting down requires caution and rising back up requires a little groan.

I'm getting more belly rubs than ever and a lot more people are taking note of my condition. Everyone thinks I'm having a boy. Everyone also thinks I'm carrying the baby really high. I contribute this illusion to the fact that I have no torso. I have known for a long time that someday being all legs would haunt more beyond shopping for pants and that time has come. I'm under 5'9" and wear a 34" inseam. For comparison, Jim is 6'2" and also wears a 34" inseam and my brother in law is about my height and wears a 30" inseam. By my calculations I'm missing 4-5" of torso. Good luck in there Baby Robinson vs my internal organs.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

I Told My Kids I Ate All Their Halloween Candy

My favorite is the little boys at the end "oh, good for you now you're probably going to get a belly ache."