Friday Links

A few random links for you to enjoy on this Friday.  Check out the first one... starting a new Instagram account and I want YOU to be a part of it!

Share your REAL LIFE moments on Real Moms Wear Grey.

I will not sleep until you sign up for the TODAY Food Club.

We've had some serious dance parties to Daniel Kim's Pop Danthology 2015.

Monster Cookie Dough Dip... because.

And while we're on absurd dips... S'Mores Dip.  OMG.

Holiday candles like this one are my weakness.

Thanksgiving in a slow cooker?

And finally, more grey... these pajamas!

SD on Instagram

Hello!  It's me, mom of three, goo goo gee.  And as you can see, sleep deprivation has gotten the best of me because I just wrote "goo goo gee" and that's not normal.  Remind me when they decide to sleep for more than three hours at a time??  When they're teenagers?  Good, good, okay.

I don't have anything new and exciting for you, so I decided to share some Instagram photos with you.  If you don't already follow me, well, do it.  The above photo is from this past Sunday.  The Jets played the Raiders (Carson's team), and we had a tailgate party.  My mom was here, and she made a whole bunch of deviled eggs: original, and a tarragon kind.  Yum.  Below, Carson made "street tacos" - marinated steak, salsa verde, shredded Mexican cheese, chopped white onions and cilantro.  Yum! 

This is a dinner I've been making a lot lately for the kiddos.  We call it Mexican Pizza: flour tortilla, refried beans, ground turkey flavored with taco seasoning, shredded Mexican cheese (baked for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees) and usually topped with corn and avocado...

And finally, last night I made Weelicious' Chocolate Chip Granola Bars for school snacks.  I'm obsessed with this recipe.  Also I drank red wine and almost fell asleep standing up!  

Thanks for stopping by... stay tuned for a couple of awesome giveaways next week!

Milly & Grace: Pink Cake Stand Giveaway!

Hello Gorgeous.

Before we begin, I have been missing.  Travel, sickness, broken computer, mom-of-two, do I need more commas?  You get it.  Even if you don't get it just say, Siri, I get it.  Say it to your iPhone, and she'll be like, whaa?  (That idiot gets nothing.)  But anyway, I woke up early to bake a little cake.  And once I bake my little cake, I'm going to display it on my new little cake stand:

Is there anything more gorgeous than that?!  Yes.  And I'll tell you what it, this entire website.  A dear friend of mine from college, Tim, recently moved to Nantucket and found himself working at Milly & Grace: a lovely inspired clothing and home decor boutique on the island.  The owner, Emily, named the shop after her two grandmothers, Milly and Grace.  As someone who named her daughter after her own grandmother, I find that very sweet.  If you peruse the online store ("peruse" makes you sound smart), you will find all sorts of items you suddenly "NEED" like I just did.  I mean, this woven plate with glass dome??  I need that.  This is the perfect online shop for unique holiday gifts, my friends.  Check out their Christmas Shop and Gift sections, and you will understand why.

Are you ready for the best news?  Emily is giving away a 10-inch pink cake stand to one of YOU!  All you need to do to win is 'like' Milly & Grace on Facebook and comment below, letting me know what else you love on their site.  I will pick a winner on Monday, 11/18 at 8am PST.  (Only residents of US and Canada eligible to win.)  Good luck and thanks, Milly & Grace!    

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Ta da!  A new site!  With the same old dork behind it who says things like, "ta da!" 

It's a work in progress, so bear with me, but I am LOVING the change.  It feels crisp, it feels clean, it feels like me.  (Not that I'm crisp OR clean, in fact, when did I shower last?)  I have to thank Ana at BlogMilk for the template and Alice for designing my wonderful logo.  They were both A JOY to work with and put up with my paranoia along the way (changes freak me out).  I HIGHLY recommend them both if you're doing any web redesign.  

So, what do you think?  Do you like?  Any suggestions as I keep toying with it? 

(image)   

one of those mornings...

It's not even 7am, and so far this morning I've been pooped on, I've had to plunge a toilet and my earrrrrly morning Homeland viewing was interrupted just as it got incredible.  That's the sort of opening you expect from a food blog, right?  Well you're just going to have to deal with it because that's what I'm doing - DEALING, with a smile on my face and a coffee in my mouth!

Anyway - if that picture above looks familiar, it's because it's been on the blog before (Saveur's Chocolate Chip Cookies).  But now The Post Social "postmarked" my post (that's a lot of the same word) so please check it out here!  Love that site.  

How the adults trick-or-treat.  As someone pointed out on Instagram, there appears to be a wig hair growing from my drink.  Only thing, no one was wearing a wig.  I think it might be growing out of my thumb, in fact.  Let's hope that's a joke I'm making.

My cousin sent me these napkins, and she made them!  Check out her Etsy shop, Dutch Wives Club, for these (which can be printed in any color) and much, much more.  She also gave Jack that 'Favorite Brother' tee from her shop, which I love because he totally is.  

Election Cookies.  To get you in the political spirit, as if all these campaign ads aren't already doing that.  I was watching Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy the other day, because I'm a dorkface, and EVERY SINGLE COMMERCIAL had to do with a campaign, proposition, measure, etc.  Enough!!  Just vote and end this madness already!

I made these Slow Roasted Green Beans with Sage over the weekend.  Extremely easy, seasonal and delicious.  Highly recommend.  

Happenstance Guest Post ~ Fall Fashion + Food

by Haydee from Happenstance...

Hello!  It's Haydee from Happenstance here feeling like a champ 'cause Siri asked me to blog sit today while she gets ready to welcome their fourth musketeer.  So today I share some great pieces from J.Crew's fall '12 collection.  I know, pump the brakes!  It's still technically summer, but I couldn't help it.  The line is amazing.  And so are these comfort foods they reminded me of.

Enjoy!

Peach and Pecan Ice Cream

For the final day of Peach Week, I'm over at The Post Social with a delightful new ice cream recipe.  If you are a fan of sweet and savory, you will love, and if you are a fan of wonderful blogs, you must go to TPS and stay awhile.  They "postmark" great blogs from across the web, as well as create original content - everything from food, fashion, beauty, even something for the kiddos and the dudes.  

Hope you enjoyed Peach Week!  And Zucchini Week!  Next week is just going to be a week, ok.  Just a regular old week.  I hope you're ok with that friends.      

mid-week links

It's been a busy week, and I keep fighting the urge to cuddle up with my son during his nap time.  But, there are things to do and blogs to write and cookies to bake.  Don't even try and stop me.  Let's check out the world wide web, shall we? 

Try whipping up your own hamburger buns for your next BBQ!  Perfect way to make your friends who like to wrap theirs in lettuce feel guilty about not eating the real deal.

    

Ever wonder what your state's signature sandwich is?  Check 'em out here.  I could go for Minnesota's Fried Walleye seen above.

I've been enjoying one too many of these: Decaf Mocha Light with Whip.  Ok someone bring me one NOW.  Only 130 calories for a grande!  Well, then the whipped cream...

...and don't even get me started on these...  

Ate my way through a whole bag of those in a few short days.  Pure evil.

Sprinkles Cupcakes now has ice cream and cookies!!  GAH!  DROOL!  Take me there!!  I think that's some sort of red velvet madness above.  Speaking of... check back here tomorrow for something along those lines... goodbye.

Snack.

Here's a snack I'm eating right now.

(Isn't this the most exciting post ever??)

I wanted to eat this, but I didn't have the energy to turn on my oven, so I took a few rosemary crackers, spread some avocado on them, topped them with a bit of provolone cheese and zapped them in the microwave for 15 seconds.  

Also, I just joined Pinterest.  No seriously, don't all go running there at once, so far I've pinned one image.  

Give me some time, I'll get there.  

Guest Post on Happenstance

I wrote a springtime guest post over at one of my favorite blogs, Happenstance! 

Please go check it out here, and while you're there, stay awhile!  You won't be sorry.    

p.s. She's in Paris sans kids for a week, I'm not jealous, nope I'm not.  

Transformer Party

The 10-day celebration that was my son's 3rd birthday is finally over.  On Saturday, we hosted what was probably our first real birthday party, catered mostly to kids unlike his 1st and 2nd birthdays.  But who am I kidding, there was plenty of adult food, adult beverages and I even accidentally put a song on his playlist that featured the F bomb more than once.  Mom of the Year.  

  

We chose Transformer related colors of red, blue, yellow and black, and I tried to keep that consistent with the flowers, balloons, sweets and details - many of which were purchased at Etsy.  Here are some photos and links, if you care to see and you better...  

I found the banner at this lovely shop.  She will also customize it to include a name.  I bought plain goodie bags at Party City and stuck these decals on each to make them festive.  Yes, we had a fire, because the high was still only 60 degrees and yes, I know you live in the Midwest and it was warmer there.    

Straws for the bar in my Redneck Wine Glasses.  

A candy station, because what's a child's party without the mothers hating you for sending their kids home all jacked up on sugar?  Swedish Fish and Red Vines, Lemon Jelly Beans, Black Rock Candy and Blue M&M's, customized with Jack's face on them.  The goodie bags came from this darling shop, which I kept ordering more from as the guest list grew.    

A sweets table.  Because candy is not enough.  

I used a Martha recipe for the Whoopie Pies.  They were tasty, but did not come out looking like all the pictures of Whoopie Pies I see on the Internet.  WTF?  Why can't I be perfect like all of you??      

I used this recipe for the frosting, because I can't say no to marshmallow fluff.

Regular old blue jello served in shot glasses.  It never occurred to me to put vodka in half of them, but a few guests took it upon themselves to get creative with that.  

After making a Transformer Cake for his actual birthday, I was spent.  I can't do it all, people, I can't!  But Sweet Lady Jane can... 

Seven layers of yellow butter cake with French chocolate buttercream, I die.  I also still have a massive brick of leftovers in my kitchen if anyone wants to come over...

As I mentioned earlier, there was adult food.  A LOT, OF, ADULT, FOOD.  

No seriously, a lot.  If you're from the LA area, than you know how amazing Roscoe's, Bay Cities and Lemonade are.  So we decided on a spread of fried chicken with smothered potatoes and greens, a variety of Italian party subs with a make-your-own meatball sub station, and assorted fresh, seasonal salads.  The kids ate mac & cheese, dinosaur-shaped chicken nuggets, pigs in a blanket and fruit.  I swear they ate fruit.   

By the by, have you ever seen a vat so big of mac & cheese?  5 boxes of the good old Kraft kind.  

And finally, a little favor dropped in each goodie bag - with the wrong date because we postponed the party - purchased here.  Check out the shop for all sorts of chocolate lollipops.  

Success!  Jack is already planning his 4th, p.s.  He has no idea what "a year away" means yet. 

Kitchen Prints

Came across this website this morning and I love these prints for the kitchen or dining area.

And much, much more art for any wall in your house.  Go to there.  

Check back around lunchtime for a delicious Egg Salad Sandwich!  

world. wide. web. stuff.

I made dinner once this week.  ONCE.  What is happening to me?!

But I spent plenty of time perusing the web, and here are some of my favorite links...

A mini birthday cake made in a tin can!  How perfect is this for a one-on-one celebration?  Also in the same post, birthday cake marshmallows.  Must, try.  

  I want to make these ice cream sandwiches.  I'll need this first, who knew it came in attachment form?! 

In LA, with Sushi Nozawa closing its doors, thank GOD Sugar Fish is still around.  We went this week with Jack who ate edamame, sticky white rice and blue crab : )

Has anyone ever tried to make homemade tortillas?  Do they come out looking this amazing?  I want to smother them with avocado and eat them plain...

Yes, you should do this.  

How cute would parchment-wrapped baked goods look with this finishing touch?

How cool is this cake floating on a bed of M&M's?

For Jack's birthday I want to have jars of vintage candy in the colors red, blue, yellow and black - what are your favorite old timey candies?  

Chasing You Photo

This shot, snapped during my son's 1st birthday party (nearly 2 years ago WHAT?), was taken by my very talented friend, Katy Schneiderman.  I almost feel guilty that she's one of my best friends and therefore gratuitously documents my life on special occasions, such as that party (and that cake).  

So the VERY least I can do for her is introduce you to her professional website, Chasing You Photo.

Go to there, browse her stunning galleries, and then consider her for your next photo need.  

Getting married, popping out cute babies, want a picture of you and your siblings for your parents, having a party, a corporate event, need a head start on your next holiday card, etc, etc???  

HIRE HER.  

For my blog, I wanted to share some of her food photographs.      

Personally, I would love to frame the following series and hang them in my kitchen.  

Or make cute Thanksgiving greeting cards out of them?

Perfection...

So there you have it.  Also check out her blog, please thank you.