Simply Lovely

I recently read What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty and have to say that I absolutely loved it. The reader meets the main character Alice on the floor of her gym. The only problem with Alice is that she’s forgotten the last 10 years of her life. She still thinks that she’s 29 years old, expecting her first child, and madly in love with her husband. The only snafu with this is that she’s actually 39, a mother of 3, and her marriage is on its way to D-town. Throughout the book, I found myself racing to finish each page so that I could find out WHY Alice and Nick were divorcing; to find out why her sister was so sad; and what secrets her grandma was hiding. What I took away from this book is that relationships are difficult and that sometimes it’s good to loose your memory. That it’s good to let go of the negative emotions in order to allow positive emotions to take their place. 

If I had to rate this book, I would definitely give it a 8. 

Hope you get a chance to read this bad boy!

XO.

From 20 cent! Get it, we’re dimes??? Anyone??? Fry? Fry? Fry?

On a different note, sorry it’s been so quiet around these parts the last two weeks. I’ve been working, traveling and avoiding the internet. & I’m sincerly sorry.

XO.

This week’s esty love fest is necklaces. As you could imagine, this post could conceivable go on forever, and ever, and ever, and ever. But to K.I.S.S* it, here are some (just SOME) of my favorites. 

I’m not 5 or anything, but how cute is this dino necklace?

Cute and simple. Just the way I like it. 

This owl locket is a little creepy with a huge dash of awesome.

I’ve seen these stamp necklaces EVERYWHERE & I can honestly say that I love them! 

Love the color! Would be perfect with a summer’s tan. 

Key necklaces always make me feel like I’m hiding a secret. Don’t ya think?

Well, there ya have it folks. 

XO.

P.S. K.I.S.S.= Keep It Simple Stupid :)

“Comparison is the thief of joy!”— Dwight Edwards

These are words that I might have tattooed on my body, because they mean that much to me. I first read this quote on a fashion blog of all places and those words have haunted me (in a good way) ever since. In this extremely materialistic, media driven world it’s easy to get caught up in the “I needs” or “I wish I hads…” Whether those needs or wishes are for clothing, hot boyfriends, or new bodies, it’s those feelings that ruin our self-esteem and outlook on the world. If you’re constantly comparing yourself to others, when are you actually enjoying life? The answer: hardly ever.

 It’s also extremely easy to lose perspective. I’m not going to lie, sometimes my body and I have fights about how “curvy” it is. To me, I could afford to lose 10lbs, and I often compare (tisk, tisk, I know) myself to women who are petite, like 5’3” size 2 petite. When I look at them all I see is “perfection”. I see the ability to wear the latest and greatest fashion trends, BLAH BLAH BLAH. But what I often forget about is that they, those little petite mamasitas, might not love their bodies. They might think that they are BOYISH. Or they might wear heels constantly because they want to be TALLER. OR they might wish they had a bigger bootie or whatever.  Everyone has their own issues with themselves. But maybe, just maybe, if we all gave up obsessing over what other people have, we might set ourselves free. Free to think and be happy with ourselves. Because let’s face it, no one is the same. And what’s the point of comparing ourselves when we’re all a little different in totally awesome ways.

XO.

1) You burn more calories when you have your period

2) I’ll save more next month

3) My apartment isn’t that dirty

4) I don’t need to iron that…

5) I absolutely need a new pair of shoes

The End.

XO. 

I love going on walks in the woods. I love the quiet meditative state that nature perpetually lives in. I love the noise the birds, chipmunks, and other creatures make while conducting their daily business. This past weekend, R and I went on a nature adventure. Here are some of the pictures we captured. 

Hope you enjoyed!

XO.

So, October is by far my favorite month. I love the crispness in the air, I love Pumpkin Spice lattes, and I love the changing leaves! In addition to my general love fest with this month, I also have a few exciting things on my horizon. I’m starting a sewing class and  totally have some major projects lined up already. I’m going to visit my sister in Chicago. I’m running a RACE on the 29th and Halloween will be here before I know it.  I just feel like I have so much to look forward to this month! And I just love that feeling! Don’t you?

And with that, I’ll leave you with a picture of me and my little sister!

XO.

For this week’s Etsy Love Fest we’re looking at some bird throw pillows. For the longest time, I’ve thought it would be so cute to have a couch covered with bird inspired throw pillows. Here are my favorites from, my husband-website, Etsy:

I love the pattern on this one. So cute!

I LOVE ME SOME OWLS. Love this little guy. 

The pink is so awesome it hurts. 

I don’t even know what kind of bird this is, but me likey!

I love the simplicity of this pillow. Too cute. 

Well there you have it! I hope you enjoy some of my favorites!

XO.

Found this while looking through some old photos. I still love it. Had to share.

XO.

For this week’s dessert, I made the Pioneer Woman’s Apple Cake and all I have to say is, DAMN THAT WOMAN LOVES HER SOME BUTTER. I mean, the recipe calls for practically an entire POUND of it. Oh, there are some apples, sugar and flour thrown in there too, you know, to make it an actual cake. Although I thought the whole thing was going to be a complete failure (it DID NOT look like the pictures on her blog), it actually turned out to be rather delicious! What a nice turn of events?!

Look how lovely! I mean, if it weren’t 434523 calories, I would have eaten the entire thing myself!

XO.

Today has been one of those days that doesn’t really inspire activity. It’s rainy, cloudy, a cold front is rolling in and frankly all I don’t feel like doing much of anything. But alas, real life has to step in and ruin my plans. Err, real life being, oh my JOB. So, here I sit at work, wishing I was home reading a totally engrossing book and cuddling with my fur babies.

Hopefully my Starbucks will help pick me up!

XO.

Last night I happened upon a totally DELICIOUS and unplanned dinner, prepared by moi. Without further adieu, I’d like to present my scrumptious Stuffed Acorn Squash.

What you need:

- 1/2 lb chicken sausage de-cased (italian flavored)

-1 portabella mushroom

- 1/2 of a onion

- 3 cloves garlic

- a handful (literally) of baby spinach 

- 2 large or 3 small acorn squash tops cut off and insides scraped out

- 1/2 box of couscous, I used this brand

- parmesan cheese

-butter/olive oil

- oregano 

- salt and pepper

What you do:

1) Preheat oven to 450F

2) Heat up sautee pan on low—add 1TB butter and 1TB olive oil

3) Dice up onion, garlic and portabello mushroom 

4) Add onion and garlic to heated pan and season with salt, pepper and oregano. Allow to cook for 3 minutes

5) Add dice mushroom, season as needed. Allow to cook for 2-3 minutes

6) Add de-cased chicken sausage. Allow to cook until chicken is cooked through (AKA no pink in the center).

7) While chicken is cooking, make couscous according to package instructions. If using plain couscous, add rosemary or garlic powder for extra flavor.

8) Cut and scrap out acorn squash. It’s always helpful to create a “kick stand” by cutting off part of the bottom so that the squash can “stand upright”. Also, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE use a proper knife and also, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don’t cut yourself. I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I knew someone cut them self recreating my recipe. Aiight?

9) Turn off cooked chicken/mushroom mixture and fold in spinach (don’t worry, it will wilt on its own!)

10) Mix couscous and chicken mixtures. Add 3TB grated parmesan. BE SURE TO TASTE IT! ALL UNDER SEASONED FOOD IS A RESULT OF NOT TASTING AS YOU COOK! 

11) Stuff squash with delicious couscous/chicken sausage mixture! 

12) Put squash on a cookie sheet, cover top with tinfoil and put into your steamy oven. Cook until squash is tender (about an hour)! 

Viola! Dinner time!

———————————————————————————————

Also,  easy ways to make this dish for people with stricter diets.

Make it Vegan/Vegetarian by: swapping regular butter for Earth Balance, omitting the sausage and adding more mushroom AND by swapping the parmesan with nutritional yeast. 

Make it Gluten Free by: swapping couscous for quinoa.

Make it Gluten Free Vegan by: Doing everything listed above, duh!

I have a feeling this is going to be my go-to winter dish!

Yum.

XO.

It’s no secret that I love Etsy. If I could marry a website, it would be etsy.com without a doubt. It’s also no secret that I love stationary. So, for today’s Etsy Love Fest, I’m taking a look at some stationary.

Holy crap. Customized stationary + gnome = true love.

Banksy inspired gift tags? Yes please.

So bright and friendly! Who wouldn’t want to get a letter from you?

The flags are so festive that I just instantly fell in love with these!

This totally reminds me of Charlie Brown, now only if they came in brown and yellow. Hmmm….

If I could, I would snag them all. This weekend I’m going to attempt to make my own stationary. Wish me luck!

XO.

So, R has challenged me to make a dessert a week. Last week, I made vanilla pudding, this week I made no churn vanilla ice cream. I followed this recipe and I don’t think my life will ever be the same. The end result was light and fluffy and simply amazing. The best part is that it doesn’t take more than 15 mins to prep. You could honestly do it before work and enjoy the delicious final product as a post-work treat. It’s. Just. That. Good.

Condensed milk and vanilla extract.

Beatin’ some cream. Is this considered domestic violence?

Those be some stiff peaks. 

Time to fold the whipped cream into the condensed milk/vanilla mixture. Folding DOESN’T mean mixing. You have to do swift motions that fold one mixture into another. Here’s a tutorial for ya, if you’re still confused. 

Ready for the freezer!

I don’t think I’ll be able to buy ice cream ever again.

Enjoy.

XO.

So, I’m not afraid to admit it, I hate heels. Well, let me back-up, I don’t HATE heels, I just never feel truly comfortable in heels. I much prefer my beloved flats. And with crisp fall weather on the horizon, I have to get my ass in gear and get some new foot wear. Truth be told, I’m rather harsh on my foot wear. I generally wear out shoes within two seasons. Not cool, I know, but what can I do? 

Here is some shoe loving for your Wednesday morning!

J.Crew strikes! I love the bow! So cute! And the price tag isn’t too ugly either ($58)!

Payless cognac flats—$29—hmmmm

I dig the animal print on these Steve Madden shoes ($90)!

The bling on these Mia flats IS TO DIE FOR!!! ooo laaaa laaa!! ($69 isn’t so bad either!)

I know that loafers can sometimes scream GRANDMA but when paired with the right jeans and sweater you can look rather chic, don’t you agree? ($59)

Decisions, decisions. Perhaps I should buy them all!

XO.

R was off hanging with his friends on Friday, so naturally I had to play dress up. I mean, honestly, how else would I pass the time?

Very 50’s glam, right? RIGHT??

I started decorating for fall. I just ADORE my lame leaf wreath!

I found a totally cute fall jacket on sale for $70! HELL YES! 

I also watched A Simple Twist Of Fate which is a completely adorable movie. I don’t know about you, but I love watching movies from my youth. Even though the movie quality isn’t always there seventeen years later (GASP, 1994 was 17 yrs ago), the story still makes me smile just like it did when I was 11. 

How was your weekend?

XO.

I’ve always wanted to make cheese and when I found out how DUMB easy ricotta is, I just HAD to give it a go.

I followed this recipe and it was easy as it sounds. 

Milk and cream bubbling away!

Look at those curds and whey! Who knew you’d just have to add vinegar? 

Letting it strain.

And, there ya go. I added chives, which was a smart choice if I do say so myself. I’m going to make eggplant rollatini with it later this week. Yumm!

Cheesus. 

XO.