18 inches!

The snow ended around 10:00 this morning and the final accumulation for us was around 18 inches. Man, this was the craziest winter storm I've ever seen. Matt, the boys and I were watching for awhile out of Logan's bedroom window last night and the wind and blowing snow was an amazing sight. Lots of drifts so I can imagine total accumulation was hard to figure out. I have to give kudos to our little town- roads were plowed in record time!! And many kudos to my awesome husband, who spent hours digging us out and then dug our neighbors out too!

Before:

After:

The boys having fun:

whiteout 2011 is in progress.

2 FEET of snow?? Hell, I hate having 2 INCHES of snow. Not the biggest fan of the white stuff. It's coming down pretty heavy right now, so we'll see how many inches we accumulate. Anyone want to place a wager? Closest guess gets to shovel my driveway! Ha! Stay tuned!

another awesome restaurant review.

This time, we stayed a bit closer to home. Actually, a lot closer to home! Tallgrass, in downtown Lockport, is a whopping 5 minute car ride from our house and that in itself is appealing. Fine dining basically in my backyard? A definite plus in my book.

We've been wanting to try Tallgrass ever since we moved to Lockport almost 9 years ago. So when our neighbors invited us to join them for a culinary celebration, we jumped at the chance to join them. And let me tell you...it was totally worth the wait!

First off, if you are the type of person who goes to a restaurant strictly for the ambiance and atmosphere, this is not the place for you. The decor is a bit...strange. Mirrors everywhere (including the bathroom, and if you're pregnant like me, lets just say the mirrors weren't appreciated) and lots of paneling. We were the also the youngest customers in the dining area by oh, a couple decades. But if you're in the mood for fabulous food and awesome, down to earth service with little regard to decor, then you'll feel right at home.

It would have been fun to indulge in a cocktail or 2, but all the drinking was left to the boys since us 2 girls are expecting. Maybe next time we'll splurge on that 2004 bottle of Jordan Cab when we can all enjoy a glass. We did have a mocktail- cranberry, sprite and a splash of lime- and I actually didn't miss the vodka too much- I was too busy anticipating the joy of my meal. :) It took at least 1/2 hour to make final decisions regarding the menu- that's how wonderful everything sounded. I had a difficult time restricting myself to only 4 courses...but between the 4 of us, we got everything I wanted to try so in the end 4 courses worked. The cool thing about Tallgrass is you can customize your preferences and anything on the menu can be a main dish. I didn't ask if you could have dessert as your main. So we placed our order and then a platter of sliced bread appeared. We got to choose from 4 different types- herb, country, english and wheat. So very good.

First course:

Three Cheese Ravioli with Leeks, Pinenuts and Lemon Butter

Foie Gras with Crispy Proscuitto

Seared Ahi Tuna with Pickled Onion and Wasabi

Crisp Poached Egg with Prosciutto, Romaine and Caesar Dressing

The Three Cheese Ravioli was great. The leek cream sauce- even better. I was spooning up the remnants and eating it like soup! I had one bite of the foie gras. I'd never had it before because I'm not the biggest fan of glands period, and duck liver is no different. However, I was impressed by the complexity of the flavor. It started out sweet and salty, and then ended with the gamey, iron-y note I dislike. I'm glad I tried it though! The tuna. To die for. It was prepared just the way I like it and the wasabi sauce was also delish. Matt also loved it and now wants me to try to recreate it at home. Um, sure thing honey. I'll get right on that. Last was a play on a Caesar Salad. The egg was poached to perfection but the flavor of the dressing could have been a little more pungent for my taste.

Second Course:

Bruschetta Salad with Tomato, Avocado, Mozzerella, Basil, Radicchio

Duck Breast Confit

Assortment from left: Lobster Lasagna, Parmesan Egg,
Prawn Tostada, Smoked Salmon Gnocci, Lump Crab Beignet

The Bruschetta salad was incredible. I make a similar salad at home, but this was so much better. I think I need to add some garlic and frisee to my version and it would be pretty much on par! The duck was cooked amazingly well, but I didn't get a distinct flavor from it. But the assortment...mmmm. This was the perfect dish to order for my indecisive tendencies. A little bit of everything. The lobster lasagna was rich and creamy with a touch of lobster flavor. The parmesan egg was unbelievable. Think deviled egg meets parmesan mousse and that was the flavor and texture. I loved it. The prawn tostada was 2 bites of goodness, but it felt a bit out of place with the rest of the assortment theme. My first bite of the gnocchi was one of subtle smokiness. I had almost finished the dish when I discovered a nice chunk of smoked salmon at the bottom, which was wonderful paired with the light, airy texture of the dumplings, yet delectable all on it's own. The lump crab beignet was fried to crispy perfection. Delicious.

Main:

Pork Tenderloin with Prosciutto over polenta

Grilled Salmon with Risotto and citrus segments

Beef Tenderloin and Short Rib with onion confit, potatoes,

green onion oil

The salmon was medium rare, a little undercooked for my liking, but then I'm not really a fan of cooked salmon anyway so this was my least favorite dish. Give me raw or smoked salmon any day over cooked salmon. The pork tenderloin was beautifully cooked. Contrary to popular belief, pork can be a bit pink in the center. It's most flavorful that way, at least to me. It had a real smoky bite to it. But as much as I love pork, I didn't especially love this preparation. My favorite main was- can you believe it?- my own. The short rib could have been a tad better (it didn't fall apart and to me, those kinds of short ribs are the best), or maybe I'm just not a fan of short ribs. I've ordered them several times elsewhere, and have never been impressed. But the beef tenderloin on the other hand...WOW. That was amazing. It was cooked medium rare and perfect and was super flavorful and peppery. It just worked. I tried to eat the beef, onion and potato all together for a perfect bite, but I found I preferred each component on it's own. Amazing. I never thought I'd say that about a piece of meat. :)

Dessert. I was so caught up in the arrival of the desserts that I forgot to take pictures. They were beautiful, and tasted even better, if you can imagine that. Matt is not a dessert person so he didn't order one, but he did have a few bites of mine. A square of brioche french toast topped with bananas, pecans and eggnog sabayon surrounded in a caramel sauce. Absolute heaven on a plate and everyone loved it. We also got the the chocolate quinted which was a chocolate truffle, chocolate souffle, chocolate pot de creme, chocolate and peanut butter crepe and a chocolate tower filled with fresh raspberries and cream. Wow. That was quite an assortment and all was delicious. I do love chocolate, but a few bites was plenty for me.

All in all, our experience was a 3 1/2 hour long success- just divine. There were a few moments of utter culinary joy and a disappointment or 2, but I would return in a heartbeat. Our neighbors, who graciously let us tag along, were an awesome addition to our evening. We had lots of laughs and lots of fun. Enjoy this little gem that our little town has to offer.

finally.

I'm using the word finally to describe many things happening in my life right now.

Finally, I've gotten around to purchasing the duvet cover and shams for our new bedroom. It's still not picture perfect yet, but it's getting there and I'll share the photos of the space here first!

Finally, Meyer is talking. I was worried for a few weeks there that he had delays, but this past weekend he began talking up a storm and repeating lots of words back to me. Walrus. Flamingo. And his first question, "Daddy home?" An amazing relief after a lot of communication frustrations.

Finally, my pregnancy-induced nausea has subsided! So that means I'm slowly but surely returning to the land of playdates and outings...and perhaps a jog here and there. But this also means that I'm also starting to look pregnant...and not where it counts. ;) Sure, the belly is starting to pop, but my chest feels and looks like it's been overtaken by 2 cantaloupes. Not very comfortable, that's for sure. So when my girlfriend called me today to ask me to join her for a run on the treadmill at the gym tomorrow, I was racking my brain trying to remember if I had a sports bra large enough to contain them! I know pregnancy boobs are a blessing to many, but they are a huge (no pun intended) nuisance to me.

Finally, we have reservations at Tallgrass! I have been dying to try this gem of a restaurant for ages. We've heard so many fabulous reviews about this place and I can't wait to see for myself what all the fuss is about. My husband is excited too...especially since he looked at the wine list and found they carry his absolute favorite- Jordan. We are going with friends who are also pregnant, so it looks like the guys will have to do all the drinking for us. Stay tuned for a review!

back into the groove.

I feel like I have been such a stranger these past couple of months...to blogging, to my friends, to my life in general! A lot has happened with our family- in October we found out we were going to become a family of 5, the craziness of the holidays started in November and were capped off by a round of the stomach flu in our house on New Year's weekend. Things have finally settled down and returned somewhat to normal this past week with school and activities back in session. Back to reality! I love the holidays and sharing the magic with my family and friends, but I breathe a huge sigh of relief once they are over. Please tell me I'm not the only one!

happy new year!

Out with 2010 and in with 2011! I wish many happy returns to you and yours and hope that 2011 blesses you in wonderful ways. We are looking forward to the changes this year will bring and hope that you are too!

'tis the season for CRAVINGS!!!

I haven't figured out what a true craving is yet. Truth be told, I have cravings all the time, whether I am pregnant or not. Constant Cravings. Teehee. Anyway, during my first 2 pregnancies, I had constant cravings for absolute junk. French fries, cheeseburgers, cream-of-anything soup with buttered bread...no wonder I gained so much weight with each of my pregnancies!!

This time around however...my cravings are so very different. Sure, I still want the occasional french fry or pizza puff, but for the most part, fried foods aren't appealing to me. Maybe because they have made me feel sicker. I don't know the exact science of this phenomenon, but I'm a bit relieved. Maybe that means I won't pack on the pounds this time. One can hope and pray.

So what am I craving, you ask? Sushi- perfect timing, huh? Just when I'm not supposed to have it. Freeze pops. You know, the perfect refreshment on a hot summer day? Yeah, I have things a little backwards considering the freezing temps outside. And citrus. Clementines, oranges, grapefruit...anything juicy and sweet and tart. So when I saw this salad recipe, I just knew I had to try it. Stay tuned for a review!

Recipe: Butter Lettuce with Avocado and Graperfruit
Source: Spry Magazine, December, 2010

Dressing
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tbsp. white wine vinegar
1 tbsp. minced fresh tarragon or 1 tsp. dried
1 tbsp. minced shallot
1/4 tsp. salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Salad
8 cups torn butter or bibb lettuce
1 medium avocado, sliced or diced
1 pink grapefruit, peeled & sectioned, juice reserved

To prepare dressing, combine all ingredients and whisk until well combined.
To prepare salad, place lettuce in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing and reserved grapefruit juice on top. Toss well. Divide among 6 salad plates. Top with avocado and grapefruit sections.

the first big snow of the season!

And of course, I had some amazingly fun plans scheduled with my sister Lindsay and one of my best friends Eunice. We were running the Santa Hustle 5K (complete with santa hats and beards!), taking a tour of the Intelligentsia Coffee Roasting Works in the West Loop, and finishing up with a yummy late lunch at Big Star in Bucktown. Running, coffee and food- 3 of my favorite things rolled up into a one great day! It's become kind of a running joke...almost every time I make plans that I look forward to, inclement weather hits. But this time, I was not going to let any kind of nasty weather get in my way!!

I left home early to start the drive into the city, just in case things got really nasty. It was snowing, but the plows had been out already so the roads weren't the worst I'd seen. I met my friend Eunice halfway and she piled into my car and we made it to my little sister Lindsay's in Edgewater in record time! We finished getting ready quickly and cabbed it to Montrose Harbor, where we were running the Santa Hustle 5K...in the snow!!

It was Lindsay's first 5K period, and mine and Eun's first race in the snow. If we were crazy for participating, then we weren't the only ones. The sea of Santas was impressive! Christmas music blaring, Santa hats and red shirts everywhere you looked...such a fun atmosphere!! As for the race itself, it was slow going. Running in the snow and slush made for some pretty awful conditions, but we made the most of it and even picked up some cookies and chocolate along the way! It was a pretty wonderful memory maker and I'm so glad I braved the elements to be there.

(l) the sea of santas en route to Montrose Harbor, (r) Lindsay, Eunice and I after the race

After a quick shower and clean-up at Lindsay's place, it was off to the west loop for a tour of the roasting facilities at Intelligentsia...one of my all time favorite cups of coffee! And what a great deal. For $15, you get unlimited samples of freshly roasted/brewed Intelligentsia coffee, a 90 minute tour of the building and a 1/2 pound of beans that are roasted right before your eyes. So if you're looking for something fun to do in Chicago sometime, check it out! We learned a lot about the entire coffee making process- from bean to brew.

(l) Eunice and I enjoying a cuppa coffee (r) some signage!

Then it was off to a late lunch of tacos at Big Star in Bucktown. I'd heard all about this place and wanted to give a try. Pork Belly Tacos? Sounds delicious to me!! We walked up and it's in an old service station. A big square bar is in the middle of the room with a few booths scattered so we snatched up the first opening at the bar we could find and ordered drinks. Horchatas (cinnamon-infused rice water) for Eun and I and a Chelada (beer with lots of lime and salt) for Linds. We were STARVING so our tacos, tostados and queso fundido tasted especially delicious. It was also fun people watching and seeing people get silly on $3 whiskey shots. A Big Hand to Big Star!

(l) queso fundido with chorizo and rajas with corn tortillas and vegetables en escabeche (r) queso fundido, tostado with chorizo and potatoes and the perfect pork belly taco- make sure to douse it with lots of fresh lime!

me and my stylin' little sis

It was a perfect day in the city, but by the end, of course I was missing my boys and was excited to get home to them. Can't wait to tell you all about my next little outing!

one frenzy ends and another begins...

With the amazing Thanksgiving holiday and Black Friday behind us, tomorrow we welcome the first day of December! It's hard to believe a month from now, 2010 will be almost just a memory and we'll be *thisclose* to welcoming 2011. But before we do that, let me list a few highlights from the past week that were special in our family.

* Thanksgiving Wednesday is hopefully becoming a tradition on my side of the family! What could be better than loads of shrimp cocktail, a gorgeous turkey perfectly roasted (even clean with a bag o' stuffing tucked inside!), or catching glances of my stepfather Shawn sporting an apron? And who could forget my lil' sister Lindsay's very first dessert contribution to the family meal?

Pumpkin Chocolate Tiramisu

* Thanksgiving Thursday!! The K side of the family was crowded and fun and many thanks to Dave, Sue, Wes, Raquel, Austin and everyone else who worked so hard to make the K 2010 Thankgiving so perfect. Tabitha, you can be on my Pictionary team any time!

* Matt's 5 day weekend which inevitably went by way too fast.

* And last, but certainly not least, the amazing news we shared with our families during the holiday...that we will be welcoming baby #3 to our family in summer, 2011!! Yes, everyone...I am pregnant and we are so excited for baby's arrival. And so happy to know that our families can't wait either. :)

So in a nutshell, we have so much to be thankful for...our families, our friends, our health, our happiness and a new little life that will bless our family on or around July 1, 2011. ;)

friday, black friday.

For someone who absolutely LOVES to shop, its a big surprise that I stay far, far away from the stores and the crowds on Black Friday. While I love getting great prices and even better deals, I just can't talk myself into braving the early morning rush...although this year, it's kind of turned into the late night rush, with the lure of early Black Friday interrupting the digestion of our Thanksgiving dinner.

That's not to say I didn't consider it last night and early this morning. Target had a wonderfully sweet deal on the Razor scooter I want to get Logan. And Kohl's was practically giving away these cute, cozy little ballet-like slippers. And of course the 50% off deals at Toys-R-Us beckoned. But a full 8 hours sleep was a little more important to me this year.

Oh, well. Black Friday and it's insane deals will still be around next year if I can talk myself into going.

What about you? Did you take advantage of all Black Friday had to offer this year?

ideas and such for our new bedroom.

Our new bedroom is slowly coming together. We have been sleeping on a mattress/boxspring and living out of boxes for the past few weeks and the past 2 nights, we have enjoyed the comfy confines of our living room couch. The fumes from Matt's recent paint job were pretty strong! Furniture is purchased and most of the textiles. Just a few more odds and ends which I plan to buy this weekend and our new haven will be complete!

Now just to personalize the space with artwork and knick-knacks and to light it up with some fun lamp choices. Check out some of my choices so far and stay tuned for shots of the finished product!!

1. 5 drawer high chest- Hampton Collection by Samuel Lawrence 2. Paint color- Urban Putty by Sherwin Williams 3. 8 drawer dresser- Hampton Collection by Samuel Lawrence 4. Draper Upholstered Bed in Oatmeal- World Market 5. Bennett and Tamara pillows- Crate & Barrel 6. Simply Vera Platinum Coverlet & Shams- Kohl's 7. Alvine Kottar curtains- Ikea 8. Organic Pin-Tuck Cotton Duvet & Shams- West Elm

holiday cards from shutterfly? sign me up, please!

Having worked in a brick and mortar stationery shop for over 10 years has made me a paper snob of sorts. So imagine my surprise to find that quite a few of the holiday photo cards for 2010 that Shutterfly offers tickle my fancy! Shutterfly card quality has really improved over the years and I would be love the smiling faces of my family to adorn one of these cards. The problem is choosing a favorite!!

Whimsical delight?

Timeless elegance?

Vintage modern?

My decision may be a difficult one, but yours doesn't have to be, with so many Holiday card options to choose from in so many different styles. And if you're looking for the perfect photo inspired gift, look no further than Shutterfly!

Fellow bloggers, to get 50 free holiday cards from Shutterfly, just click here.

an incredible dinner.

Since an amazing meal at a cool restaurant is an indulgence for me, I thought I'd devote a post to a recent experience.

My sister Laura's 33rd birthday a few weeks ago was yet another reason to indulge in a super special dinner. This time, our culinary destination of choice was Girl & the Goat, an amazing new restaurant in the West Loop with a funny little name. We were joined by Amy, fellow foodie and an old childhood friend of ours who fits in perfectly with our sister dynamic.

It was a chilly autumn evening and as I was walking up to the restaurant, running a tad late as usual for our 8:45 reservation, I noticed how rustic the place seemed from the outside. But as I stepped inside, I was enveloped by the smoky smell of the grill and overwhelmed by the enormity of the space. For 8:45, it was PACKED and the energy was contagious. Everyone seemed to be having a wonderful time and I soon learned why!

My sisters and Amy saw me as soon as I walked in and they waved me over, but not before the hostess welcomed me and asked me if I was with the Laura party and officially showed me the way to our table. We had menus and I started salivating right away...I couldn't wait to get ordering!

The menu is divided into 3 categories- veg, fish and meat. Simple. Our waiter and his "associate" came over and introduced themselves and explained the concept of the restaurant and the flow of things. We took our sweet time ordering- we thought we'd order 3 dishes from each columm and decide if we wanted more from there. It worked out well- 2 of us were laissez-faire about what to order and 2 of us had specific ideas in mind regarding what we wanted to try (I was part of the latter group, go figure.). Laura placed our order, we ordered up some booze and so began the wait for the meal I'd been dreaming about for weeks!

Meanwhile, the service was spectacular. Our servers really took their time with us and stopped by more than a couple times through the course of our meal to chit-chat and make sure we were enjoying ourselves. The service had that perfect balance of attentiveness and nonchalance which completely impressed me. And our water glasses never went more than halfway empty. I felt like we were the most important people in the room, although in reality, that was far from the case!

First up- the bread. Amazing. Served with garlic oil and white anchovy butter, we couldn't get enough. Then our first course arrived- Chickpea Fritters surrounded by fried chickpeas, raw chickpeas in a romesco sauce. It was delicious. My expectations were set high now- if everything was as awesome as the first 2 dishes, we were in for quite a meal!

Next up- one of my top 3 tastes of the evening. Hiramasa Crudo, dotted with crispy pork belly, caperberry slices and crouton wafers and drizzled with an aioli sauce. I delicately cut the raw whitefish into 4 portions and then savored one of the most perfect bites ever. Wow.

Then we each selected 2 slices of the Smoked Goat Pizza. This was a different taste for me, but the meat was so succulent- goat meat has definitely been a hit for me this year! The roasted cauliflower came out next and this was another top 3 dish for me. The cauliflower florets were cooked wonderfully and accompanied by spicy pepper rings and mint leaves. Another perfect bite- I couldn't get enough and probably had more than my fair share of that course.

Roasted Beet Salad. I usually love beets but this dish was a bit different. It did present some great textures which I appreciated, but the anchovies were a tad strong for me. The scallops with fried brussels sprouts made an apperance next and they were beautiful- plump and perfectly cooked with a hint of some kind of nut flavor which really made the dish for me.

Goat, Pork and Beef Sugo over Papperdelle rounded out my top 3 dishes of the evening. My mouth waters just remembering the flavor of the meat sauce accompanied by little bursts of sweetness from the goose berries that accompanied it. Just incredible.

Then out came Calamari stuffed with Lamb Sausage. A very rich dish, but this was our chance to try sweetbreads...how very Top Chef of us. The sweetbreads looked amazing and were cooked well, but I am just not a fan of any kind of edible gland or organ. I wanted to enjoy them, but I couldn't get past the taste and texture. And the lamb sausage was very gamey. This was my least favorite dish of the evening, though the work that went into the preparation was impressive.

Face or Tongue? For our last course, we chose Pig Face. Prior to staring down Pig Face on a plate, I thought I loved all things pork. Yeah. All things pork except the face. I think it's one of those delicacies you don't have an affinity for right away...you have to grow to love the taste. I love pork fat, but the fat on the face was a bit much for me. I made my way to the meat side of things and liked that, but the rest of the dish was a no-go. Bummer.

Our desserts were interesting- to say the least. Not my typical idea of a dessert...and now I think that dessert doesn't always equal something super sweet. We had a sticky date cake with quince paste and housemade marshmallow. And a bittersweet chocolate cake with cocoa nib ice cream (with a candle for Laura's birthday!). For sure, an appropriate end to our meal.

The 9 courses didn't seem enough at first, but by the end of our evening, we were stuffed. There is something to say about spacing out a meal and eating slowly- I definitely felt more satisfied. We missed an opportunity to meet Stephanie Izard- Top Chef Chicago winner and the Goat's chef- there's always next time. And there will FOR SURE be a next time.

the color purple.

My husband is hilarious. It's one of the major reasons I fell so hard for him many moons ago. He knows just when to inject humor into a situation and he has perfect comic timing as far as making me giggle like a schoolgirl.

We were discussing accents for our new master bedroom design this morning and here is the exchange:

Me: I think we might have to have a decorative pillow made for the bedroom. I just can't find the color purple I want.

Matt: The color purple? Just ask Oprah!

Ba dum bump. :) Just the laugh I needed to start this day of on the right foot.

chick-fil-a has landed!

Well, actually 2 Chick-Fil-A restaurants have opened in the past month or so here in the Chicago area. Unfortunately (or maybe it's a good thing!) neither one is super close to me. But thanks to some clever route re-arranging, I was able to stop at one on my way home from a friend's house yesterday. Imagine that!

I had had Chick-Fil-A only once before- while visiting my aunt in Florida a few years ago. So the time had come to give it a try again...and the fact that I could drive there rather than fly, well, that was an added bonus!

The menu is all chicken. And waffle fries. And this delectable sounding peppermint chocolate chip milkshake I didn't see until after I placed my order. I'm all about the spice, so I ordered up the spiciest sounding offering on the menu- the Spicy Deluxe Chicken Sandwich and an order of small waffle fries for good measure. It was THE BEST fast food chicken sandwich I have ever had. Juicy, flavorful and just plain awesome. The finishing touch was 2 dill pickle slices nestled in the bottom of the bun. Gave my tastebuds just a hint of that southern style flavor and I'm usually one to remove the pickles. SO glad I didn't. I'm already planning my next visit so I can indulge in chicken sandwich goodness again very soon. Who wants to join me??

a sweet gift recommendation.

Outer Space and aliens are all the rage in my house these days. From Star Wars to Planet Tickle and everything in between, my 4 year old is obsessed and my 19 month old is quickly following suit.

That said, I wanted to give a shout-out to a special book we received last year as a Christmas gift.

Tickle Monster by Josie Bissett (yes, of Melrose Place fame for all you thirty-somethings out there!)

This is hands down one of the cutest books I've ever read and Logan and Meyer get a kick out of all the tickles! We have the laughter kit which includes the hardcover book and fingerless tickle mitts in a darling gift box. Give the gift of tickles to a child or children you love this holiday season and watch them light up with joy!

favorite snacks!

I thought it would be fun to get a few new ideas for kidlet snacktime. If your kids are like mine, they ask for snacks or treats all.day.long. It doesn't really help that both my boys are complete sugar addicts. I have tried going the healthy route- almonds, honey, natural peanut butter- most the time it's a no-go. It's like they have some kind of treat radar and can automatically detect if a snack has health benefits and if so, they refuse.

So please share a comment here if you have a no-fail treat solution for your little ones!

My contribution: healthy it is not, at least not completely, but it is a total hit in my house and it will surely satisfy Mom's craving for a Thin Mint!

Quaker Chewy Chocolatey Mint

Granola Bars

halloweekend!

Hello and goodbye to Halloween, 2010! Halloween should fall on a Sunday every year...it's such sweet anticipation for that trick-or-treating climax and it should last all weekend long. This is the first year that Logan really "got" Halloween, so it was lots of fun for us this year. We had 3 parties to attend so it was the perfect excuse for Logan to rotate his 3 costumes: a Star Wars Clonetrooper, Spiderman and Superman. He is going through quite the superhero phase, as you can probably tell. Dressing up for Logan is fun, but it's nothing compared to the treats. Logan is an absolute candy kid and was hopped up on sugar all week and weekend too. Some fun memories of our family this weekend:

* Matt's super-sized strawberry margarita when we went out for Mexican with friends. $20 worth of frozen fruity goodness!

* A sweet brother photo shoot to commemorate Logan's 4th birthday and Meyer's 18 month birthday. Some highlights:

* We sold our bedroom furniture!! Now to finalize plans for our new, cozy haven. Ideas coming soon!

* Logan the Clonetrooper's 2 rounds of trick-or-treating, complete with a costume change to Spidey in the middle. I think he could have gone all night, if we let him!

* Meyer the Pirate couldn't get enough treats himself. Every time someone came to the door with a candy basket, Meyer reached out as if to grab it all for himself!

Happy Halloweekend, from our family to yours!

updating my makeup bag.

I love makeup. Although you would never guess it from how rarely I wear it, I truly adore the way I can transform my look with a swipe of mascara, a sweep of shadow and a dab of gloss. However, being a makeup minimalist comes with it's own set of difficulties. Like how to create a mid-drama look for going out...I am SO not the high-drama type. I do like shimmer...on my lids and on my lips, but not at the same time of course. But wearing shimmer the right way (you know, with my age and all) is a mystery that I have to work on unraveling. In the meantime, I picked up a couple of things this week to help.

Stila It-Girl Shadow Palette...only $10 at Ulta!As far as nail polish goes...I've always been a fan of the pale pink/nude shades- in any season. Until I saw how awesome dark polish looked on my sister's toes. So I decided to take the plunge. She was sporting OPI's William Tell Me About It- which was a great color, but a little too matte for my shimmer loving taste. I opted for Black Cherry Chutney. My toes will be rocking this fall!

surprisingly delicious!

Boneless pork chops marinated in jerk paste and then grilled to perfection have been a staple in our house this summer. This amazing side dish that I just discovered is a great accompaniment. Add some basmati or brown rice and you have a meal that will tantalize your tastebuds!

Chickpea Simmer

1 tbsp. vegetable oil
1 chopped onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
a pinch of crushed red pepper
1 can chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained and rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes
4 cups of fresh spinach, packed

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Fry onion, garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper till softened, about 3 minutes. Add chickpeas and tomatoes, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer till liquid is mostly evaporated. Add spinach. Serve over brown or basmati rice. Enjoy!