I know I say this a lot but, I sooo love this time of year.

There is something to be said for new years resolutions. I like the idea of a fresh start. J and I are both very goal oriented people. We don’t always set our goals for the year at the beginning of the new year, and they aren’t always yearly goals. But still I love the organization of a goal. It’s so clean.

Vague outline of my goals for the year:

• alternative process hanging
• opening a studio (or coming damn close)
• eating only foods nature intended
• being as green as humanly possible in every aspect of my life.

The last two will never change but I like to put them up anyway.

We have a lot going on this year, and it all starts now. We’ve been saying for four months, after we get back from New Jersey we’ll really start looking for a house… I have no doubt everything will naturally fall into place once we find our corner of the world.  We are driving out to the area we have taken a shine to on Monday, I’m beyond excited.

I have been waiting so long (forever) to get to that wonderful under-rated place in life where I get to truly settle in.

In less than six months we will own our own home.We will finally have a space to do with as we please.

I want a big ol garden with enough storage to store all it produces through the season. And, a kitchen big enough to hold my massive old pyrex collection and appliance addiction. And… a huge bathtub.

I’m a simple girl…

It seems like I took these images forever ago. In my rush to get to that calm place, a few things like this little collection of thoughts, didn’t get much love. Everyone has that one thing that gets the least amount of attention in times of disarray. This seems to be my new “take one for the team…” I hope that will not always be the case.

Randomness from the last two weeks…

This was my favorite christmas gift this year, I love home made gifts.

Wynn and I went back down to the pier, this time with a charged camera battery…

I love my upstairs neighbor, and I love going to dinner at a friends without having to put shoes on.

We had a great time in Jersey, we didn’t end up doing what we planned on new years eve, we still had a blast.

I do love fireworks, but standing in the cold for two and a half hours (after driving to Philly) waiting for them to go off sounds like to opposite of fun. So we decided to stay in.

We ate crab legs, drank in the living room and watched ridiculous tv shows and laughed till our cheeks hurt. It was the perfect way to bring in the new year.

And Julie because I love you, I will omit certain photos from evening…

We also came home with J’s ornaments from when he was a kid. And a one eyed santa clause that we need to make a pirate patch for…

How wonderfully 50’s…

She just loves everyone…

 

We used to go to movies three times a month and now (because of the general suckieness of the movies of late) we haven’t been in six months.

We did go to Sherlock Holmes while we were in Jersey. I was great, just like the first one.

Happy 2012 Loves! I hope it’s everything you dream it to be… and all you mayans can bugger off, I have plans for the next 50 years.

 

 

 

Merry Christmas All!!!

The three stockings hanging above my brothers head are now hanging in my house; the silver ornament is now on my tree. I think that is fantastic!

I remember exactly how those candles smelled…

my family in 1978

My mother is three years younger than I am now in this picture… My brother is 12, my sisters are 11, 8 and 5.

This picture is a trip, taken a million and a half years ago.

So very much has changed…

Our numbers have gone up and down. My brother grew biceps. No more beard. My sister now has a daughter who looks just like her in this picture. I no longer think pink is a good idea.

my family 2011

No less amazing…

 

 

Happy Birthday one day late to my sweet sister Anne.

I miss you more and more every day…

There are very few things I love more in this world than old photographs of my family…

My sister putting a tissue around baby Jesus to keep him warm.

I remember looking at the toy section of the sears catalog for hours…

I have been missing my house in Middleburg lately, I’m not sure why. I think I just miss that small town feel.

We were not at the right point in our lives to truley appriciate that little town.

The livingroom was made to be decorated for Christmas.

These pictures make me want snow.

It only snowed once so far and that was like two months ago. I’m ready.

I decided to make all of my Christmas gifts this year (except a few for my husband)… I used supplies I had already and a few little things I picked up at the thrift store. I wanted to keep them small so they would fit in an envelope. I don’t see the point in being thrifty if you turn around and pay 25 dollars for shipping.

Any excuse to go to the thrift store makes me happy.

I found lots of furniture I would love love love to have for photo shoots. Someday soon I will have space for that sort of stuff…

I wanted this set! Such a perfect color.

I heart mod podge… 

We had a last minute date the other night….

It’s nice to get away from all the distractions in the house. I find it hard to truly relax when the dishwasher needs cleaned out, and the laundry needs switched over, and emails need sent… bla bla bla. You get the point.

The tree at Faneuil Hall is fantastic!

Oh my gosh! These are the find of my holiday season! I about died when I saw them.  1.99 each.

I love you Salvation Army…!

She played and played with this furry friend. Most dogs she could care less about after 20 seconds.

I had to drag her away…

There is a fantastic little walk down around the pier by my house. Lots of old beautifully run down brick buildings and random pieces of art everywhere.

My battery died after I took this shot… sad.

It wants to snow, I know it does…

Don’t forget to stop and enjoy this week… And put a few extra dollars in the red bucket.

 

 

 

You are my sunshine…

You make my soul smile.

Happy Birthday my sweet fabulous niece…

 

 

Happy St. Nick day!!!

Simple, mostly forgotten and halfway between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I think it may be the perfect holiday…

I was in LOVE with this holiday when I was little.  At some point in our school day we would put one shoe out in the hallway, magically the next time we looked, there was candy in it. Brilliant!

And then… In my house sometime after dinner, candy would start falling through the ceiling. I would look up to try to see the trick, but no trick, candy was actually coming through the ceiling. I was like fifteen before I knew what was really going on. It was a blissful fifteen years years though… Thank you mom and dad for always making the little things so fantastic!

I now have some of those stockings hanging in my house… None of them was actually mine though. I’m the little different one on the end…. once again, art mimics life.

I just love this picture! My brother and sister were so squishy. How can you not smile looking at this…?

May you find candy and not coal (or leftover easter eggs) in your shoe this glorious St. Nick Day…

If you find coal, take it as a hint to stop being an asshole.

 

 

 

 

I don’t even know what to call these…

Hangover Makers

• 2 oz vodka
• 2 oz pineapple juice
• 1/4 c frozen blueberries, strawberries or cherries
• lime seltzer water

Blend vodka, fruit and juice until fruit is mixed in. Pour over ice and top with seltzer. I make this in regular drinking glass.

I use a magic bullet, I don’t know how a regular blender would work. You will just have to make enough for two or three…

 

 

So I lied, actually I didn’t lie, I fully intended on getting my blog done yesterday…

I was more important to talk to one of my besties that I haven’t talked to in far too long.

I miss all my girls…

My first evergreen candle of the season, thanks to my sister…. We have a fake tree, I can’t see cutting down such a beautiful thing for a month of enjoyment. Maybe when we have our own space to replant a living tree… I do miss the smell though.

We went walking the other day with our new friends/upstairs neighbors, Michelle and Lola.

The light was beautiful…

Our friends bought a house… We are jealous. We still helped them though.

J’s muscles do come in handy… like to move the 1000 lb “divorce tv” down four flights of stairs.

Ahhh don’t you love those last few boxes of randomness… printer paper, hand soap, 17 pens,  that pretty thingie that was hanging off the light, one shoe, an assortment of plastic and wire hangers, a night light, the salt and pepper shaker, and a cast iron skillet… (I really didn’t sit and take pictures (maybe a few) while she worked, I know what that last load is like…)

The view from the third floor is great, but moving is a bitch!

Token pizza box…

Why carry garbage down the stairs when it’s so much more satisfying to throw it off the deck.

We’ll miss you in eastie… for six months…. then we get to again experience the joy of moving (more on that later).

I always flip over a tail side up penny and leave it where I found it.

I figure I have great luck, what do I need it for?

Other people are not as lucky…

We decorated the tree!!! J’s first day off after Thanksgiving seems to be our tradition…

Some of my favs…

I run a house for wayward Christmas ornaments. I don’t care if it’s July, if I find old ornaments at a thrift store or flea market they  come home with me. I will love them…

The next three are ones my mom gave me from our collection growing up. They are among my most prized possesions.

I heart them… If there was a fire, I’d be grabbing my box of  ornaments. 

Oh my gosh I love J’s grandma… She made me a whole collection of different snowflakes. They are so beautiful and delicate I can’t help but smile every time I look at them.

Happy Saturday loves!

 

…is it always a tree on the first? I can’t remember.

I loved loved loved advent calendars when I was a kid… It was one of the biggest signals Christmas was so close. That and the lighted garland decorations that topped the light posts on main street.

I remember the plastic being clear….

We split our tree at 5:30am before J went to work… Christmas just makes me smile.

I think I will make our calendar next year. There are too many fantastic ideas.

I’m planning on posting tomorrow as well… with pictures of my tree!!

See you then…

Happy first day of the advent calendar!

I  remember

I wrote that and then I ran downstairs to grab meat so I can make chili tomorrow. And make J and I another drink… (that recipe I will post in a few days because it is more than fantastic). I think everyone should own a magic bullet.

Anyway, I remember having fruit roll-ups once when I was a kid. My mom never bought stuff like that (and I love that she didn’t). But I had one over at a friends house. I loved them. Actually, I loved the sound that the funky plastic made when you pulled it away from the fruit rollup.

I now make my own and I know what goes in them.

Use really ripe fruit, it’s usually the juiciest… These pictures are a collaboration of my last three batches.

My favorite so far.. peach/apple and pear/plum. I like the skins of plums so I leave them on.

It’s super complicated… peel and puree. Cut fruit into small pieces, it makes things easier. I use a hand blender (my new favorite appliance).

If you absolutely need liquid because your fruit isn’t very ripe, use a little juice. Apple cider is perfect. Not too much or your end result will be crap.

Don’t forget to grease your trays! It takes very little, rub it around with your fingers…

P.S. (please santa) I would love extra trays for christmas, hint hint…

Takes about six hours or so on 145. Its done when it stops being spongy. There is a learning curve but it’s so worth it.

Wynn and I went for a lovely long walk Thursday night (aka Thanksgiving). The sunset over the city was more than lovely…

What a fantastic idea! I want one… Save Wynn!

I hate trash day… people are gross. But my dog is cute.

We’re decorating for Christmas tomorrow.. I’m so excited!!

Until then…

Or sloppy Joe, same thing…

These are so much better than what they served you in the cafeteria when you were young.

• 2 lb package of hamburger
• 1 can tomato soup
• 1 can chicken gumbo soup.
• half a yellow or white onion (chopped)
• red and black pepper to taste

Brown burger and onions. Drain grease off and return to the pan. Add pepper and both cans of soup, continue to cook on low-ish  uncovered until it thickens up. Stirring occasionally… About 20 minutes.

Serve open faced over some sort of toasted bread or bun… It’s also good with cheese on top (then again, most stuff is).