Pneumonia.

Hello dear readers.

I have been battling illness for 3 weeks now and pneumonia for the past week.

There has been a trip to the ER, many medications, puking, coughing, no sleep, etc.

What? TMI?

I miss you dearly.

I will be back just as soon as I can.

Happy New Year!

Quietude.

Thinking I probably won't be blogging this week

 (does this count as blogging?).

Still nursing this damn cold or whatever you call it.

Now it's in my chest. 

Actual all three of us have it.

Also, trying to wrap (get it) up all my last minute projects and shopping.

Merry Christmas!

and 

Happy Holidays! 

{ this moment }

a friday ritual - a single photo - no words - a moment I want to pause - savor - and remember

inspired by soulemama

Chillin'

We've got spirit, yes we do!

Christmas spirit that is!

I don't like to go overboard with the decorations (mainly because I don't want to clean it up) but I love a real tree, a wreath and stockings on the fireplace and some boughs (trimmed from the bottom of the christmas tree) on the top of the entertainment center (no pictures of that yet because I have to add the lights).

I use wire edged ribbon in lieu of the metallicy fuzzy garland. I think it looks elegant.

And, of course, I kept the glass ornaments up high.

I have yet to decorate the wreath. In past years we've ordered one already decorated and delivered right to the house but in order to save a few bucks ($35 to be exact) I purchased one undecorated when we bought our tree.

Tis the season for a sniffle too.

Here's a recipe for my herbal cold and flu remedy.

Medium sized knob of ginger sliced

1 lemon sliced

2 sticks of cinnamon

4 cardomom pods

5 whole cloves

6 cups of water

Bring all ingredients to a boil. Turn heat down to simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, turn heat off and let steap for another 10 minutes. Store in a glass jar in the fridge and heat and serve as needed.

I have been making this recipe since I was about 19 years old. It hasn't failed me yet. 

Now we just have to keep this little rascal from yanking down ornaments.

The house smells wonderful and the ambient glow of a christmas tree in the evening makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.


Now...back to that knitting!

WTF.

How is it December? How? How? How?

Well, I am just knitting my little heart out trying to finish the 2 projects I've got going.

One is taking precedence over the other right now as it needed to be finished yesterday...literally.

Eeek!

The other, not until Christmas.

Shew.

Meanwhile I added another little feature to my workspace/dressing room.

From the door the the closet was about a 14" strip of unused wall space.

I used to have pictures hanging there but moved them to another wall in anticipation of doing a project like this.

Little tip... I used chalk to make my marks for the hooks. It wipes away easily.

I bought ceiling hooks and wooden dows at the size I wanted. 

This could vary depending on where and how big a space you wanted to do this in.

I envision it holding sewing-projects-in-progress or just pretty fabric.

Here's my little helper.

Here's the finished product.

As if this wasn't accomplishment enough I made this little mobile for Iris's room.

I bought the stars back in September for her birthday and with the impending holidays I thought it would be perfect in place of the butterfly mobile we had up in the spring and summer.

I used the inner ring to an embroidery hoop to attach the stars and used some clear string I had from my jewelry making supplies to attach it to the hook in the ceiling.


Yay for progress!
I've made some headway in my mending/alterations pile as well.
I'l be revisiting the 2011 TDL soon also. 
The year is almost over.
It's time to take stock and start compiling a new list.
I may even have a resolution or two.

{ this moment }

a friday ritual - a single photo - no words - a moment I want to pause - savor - and remember

inspired by soulemama

Random Things.

Last week was a little tough.
Lots of doctors appointments (for me) and consequently trying to catch up on housework.
Blogging had to take a backseat.


But the good thing that came out of it is that I realized I haven't taken very good care of myself this past year.
Between post-partum blues, sleep deprivation and indulging all my nursing-mama-cravings I also haven't exercised very much. I'M A PERSONAL TRAINER...WHAT WAS I THINKING?!
Game on!


Time to get back to what I know. Time to dust off the juicer. Time to start making MY health a priority.


I would also like to Thank everyone who visits this blog.
We sure are happy that you take the time to visit us.


Please enjoy some moments I've captured over the last couple of days...

This Iris sporting her very stylish Thanksgiving attire. The whole outfit is from the Gap except for the shoes (another wonderful hand-me-down from Aunt Nicole) and the cowl was joint effort by my mother and I. I think it looks absolutely precious.

Here she is helping me take some measurements for Aunt Danielle's pants. More on that later.

It seems the little nugget has an affinity for hiding. She can often be found under the stools navigating her way through the bars with cat-like precision.

Here's my juicy little nugget enjoying her first taste of carrot/beet/apple/cucumber juice.

She loved it. Seriously.

If this face doesn't say it all...

Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all!

I like to give a freshly baked loaf of bread to whomever happens to be hosting us for the holidays (if we're not hosting ourselves).

What better to enjoy those leftover turkey sandwiches on?

So I will be chained to my mixer today. 

See you Friday for { this moment }.

Stay in the moment. Soak up your family.

 Drink responsibly...unless you don't have to drive... in that case, get drunk and embarass yourself!

Gobble! Gobble!

Cheesy Kale Chips.

Before you judge. 

Please believe me when I tell you these are de-lic-ious! 

Not kaley at all and super nutritious.
I mentioned them here.

The reason I make these instead of just buying them is because they are extremely expensive.

Extremely!

The bulk of the work is in prepping the kale. I hand pick the leaves to remove them from the thicker stems  which aren't so edible.

I usually buy about 5 bunches at a time so it's alot of pickin' but they last a while so it's worth it.

Then I rinse the leaves and place them in a bowl. 

If you don't have a bowl big enough just break it up into 2 shifts.

The next thing to prep is the "cheese mixture". 
 There isn't any actual cheese in the mixture.

Everything can be purchased in most grocery stores these days or a quick trip to a health food store.

"Cheese" Mixture

(this recipe is per 2 bunches of kale)

1 cup raw cashews soaked for 8 hours

2 tbsp. nutritional yeast

1/4 tsp. sea salt

2-3 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup re bell pepper

Place all ingredients in blender a blend until smooth. 

I use a little water to loosen the mixture for a smoother blend.

When mixture is complete massage it into the kale leaves until the leaves are nice and wilty.


Like this.

Then I spread them out on two cookie sheets.

This is where you can go a couple different directions.
I like mine to be as nutritionally intact as possible and I happen to have the extra added advantage of having an oven with a dehydrate setting. Sooooo, I dehydrate mine at a low temp for a longer period of time 
(about 12-24 hours depending on how much I'm making). 
If you have a real dehydrator...well you probably know what to do.

The other option is to just bake them. I've done that too.
Do it at a very low temperature ( 175-200 degrees) for about 8 hours.
Just check them periodically.
When they crunch and crisp like chips they're ready.


No joke, these are addictive and deceptively cheesy.
Even the nugget devours them.
I have to hide the bag from her.


Try 'em. I dare you.

Recipe.

Wow! Sorry! 

Somehow I posted a post without ... the post!

So here's...the post

I had promised a recipe or two or three.

I'd like to start making good on that promise

This one was mentioned here.

I've been making this one for years. 

It's my go-to dessert because of all the possible variations (and the chocolate).

Mom's Blender Chocolate Mousse

adapted from Bon Appetit test kitchen

1 cup high quality semi-sweet choc. chips

3/4 cup water

3 tbsp. sugar

3 lg. egg whites

Place the chocolate chips in the blender. Heat the water, sugar and... see below... to a simmer. Pour water mixture into blender and blend for 5 seconds.

Seperate 3 egg whites. Pour egg whites into blender and quickly cover and blend for 1 minute.

Divide between 6 ramekins and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

So this is the part where you can "go your own way".

The recipe calls for 1/4 tsp. of instant espresso powder to the water/sugar mixture.

I've done it, it's great.

But you can go the pinch-of-cayenne route, cinnamon or orange zest.

The possibilities are endless.

Now, this "mousse" doesn't exactly have the texture of a handmade mousse. It's more in the area of a pot du creme/chocolate pudding.

But it's delicious, easy and, more importantly, it looks like you worked really hard at it.

I serve it with a simple whip cream. I've also been known to whip out a blow torch and toast some marshmallow fluff on top. 

That's right, nothing says badass-in-the-kitchen like a blow torch.

Something I haven't done yet but I think would be really tasty is shortbread.

Next time.

Fashion.

I've been wanting to do a fashion post for a while but never really thought I had enough material to make it interesting.
It still might not be but I don't care.

Recently, I've had a string of good luck in consignment stores, rummage sales and even my own closet.

I think it's worthy of sharing.

If you've been following my 2011 TDL you'll know that #24  is to make more of our clothing or buy second hand.

I picked this little number up at a rummage sale. It's Laundry by Shelli Segal. Silk and cotton. $20.
I'm in the process of taking up the hem so I can wear it with tights and boots in the winter and a strappy heel or sandal in the spring/summer.

I wore the hell out of this white dress while I was pregnant. Afterwards it just seemed to long to be functional for a mommy on the go. My intention was to remove the bottom, raise the hem and reattach it. But once I removed it I realized it would be a really cute skirt. So I just hemmed the dress and bought a zipper to turn the bottom into another whole piece of clothing. Genius.

I just like this. I have a really great 

vintage (as in, I found it in the back of a cupboard in my husband's office) leather messenger bag.

But I love the canvas/leather combo of this one.

Here's mine.

This little beauty came from my favorite consigment shop, Greene Street Consignment in 

Lambertville, NJ. 

It's Kimchi & Blue. $16.

I wear it ALL the time.

Sometimes I belt it sometimes I don't.

It's sheer so I wear a little gray dress underneath, usually with tights and boots.

I also scored a pair of Paper Denim Cloth boyfriend jeans for $16.

They are not pictured because they're in the wash.

I looked on their website and they retail for $90 and up. 

Score.

I have also been making pajama pants for the nugget out of her old recieving blankets.

Way to upcycle!

More on that later.

Random things...

We've been quiet this week. Grandma is visiting!

So here are some things you've missed.

Walking for real now.

Watching Daddy clean up from that horrible storm last week.

Playing peak-a-boo with Aunt Patty!

Enjoying mommy's homemade "cheesy" kale chips and a green smoothie!

Thank goodness for small miracles.

Shopping. Still trying to reign in the food costs around here.

Knitting like crazy. Gotta get those holiday gifts going.

Learning to sit on the potty. Just for fun.

It doubles as a step stool. Sweet.

Stick with us. We'll be back next week with more family fun, projects, knitting, crocheting 

(check out the "Learn to Crochet" button in the sidebar), recipes, etc.

Much love.

{ this moment }

a friday ritual - a single photo - no words - a moment I want to pause - savor - and remember

inspired by soulemama

A little recap.

If you read yesterday's post you know that the past few days have been a challenge.

Which brings me to my next topic... Challenges!

This one and this one to be exact...

I blew my budget on the "$400 Grocery Challenge" and, due to no electricity, I haven't been able to work on my "Pinterest Challenge" project.

Boo Hoo!

This doesn't mean I'm giving up!

OH NO!

I'm going to give that grocery challenge another whirl this month. And with what I learned this past month, I think I can pull it off.

I will complete my pinterest project also, just not in time to post it to all the fabulous blogs hosting this event. 


katie - Bower Power
sherry - Young House Love
ana - Ana White Homemaker
erin - House of Earnest

Hence, not getting all the blog traffic that this sort of thing generates.

I heart blog traffic, it's sorta the point. Right?

Total Disaster.

It has been a trying 4 days. 

We have no electricity and no running water due to the snow storm that blew through on Saturday, quite unseasonably.

Note the weather channel in the reflection.

 Least prepared...the trees!

Still full of sap and leaves, they snapped and crashed and tore down power lines.

Thanks to all of you who have fed us, allowed us to shower and offered shelter in your homes.

Growing up in South Florida, I have a working knowledge of disaster preparation. 

I had the foresight to fill up the bathtub for flushing toilets) and any other empty container (for drinking or washing up) we had with water.

We were able to do some cooking of our own on the wood stove (coffee, eggs, stew).

It was kind of fun playing "Little House on the Prairie".

Don't get me wrong, I'm ready for running water.

But being unplugged (mostly) has been sort of ...cleansing.

Morning coffee.

My crowning achievement... beef stew with drop biscuits!

No TV. In it's place, knitting (lots of knitting), late night games of cards, backgammon and conversation.

It has been a welcome change.

Although I love me some television, it as been a personal battle to limit my time watching it. This was a sort of forced withdrawal.

Due to the lack of electricity, I couldn't work on my

 Pinterest Challenge Project. 

Totally bummed.

Fortunately, I did get about half of it done before we lost power.

Whether or not I'll be able to finish in time is uncertain.

Here's a sneak peak!

During all this chaos and mayhem I have developed a sniffle which has sapped my energy. So the idea of scrambling to get this place cleaned up, once the power is back (which will supposedly be sometime today), and then sitting down to sew is slightly unappealing. You never know though, stranger things have happened.