Jenny Steffens Hobick

Chicken Tortilla Soup | Healthy Chicken & Vegetable Packed Mexican Soup

2012-01-30T10:47:00.000-08:00

Chicken Tortilla Soup

a healthy, veggie packed recipe

There are many different versions of Chicken Tortilla Soup out there. Most versions are called Chicken Tortilla Soup because the soup is thickened with corn tortillas that are softened in the broth, then pureed... my Chicken Tortilla Soup is not one of those versions. Not because I don't like those versions, but because I didn't want to get my blender out and because I was looking to make a healthier version. So... I'm calling my soup Chicken Tortilla Soup because it reminds me of those soups, but in reality it is more like a Mexican Chicken & Vegetable Soup. And it is good. Really good.

When I am making an effort to be healthy I don't like to limit myself from things I like (dessert, cheese, chocolate, pizza, pasta...), instead, I add things that are more healthy like extra fruits and veggies. This soup helps me do that. It is full of vegetables (carrots, tomatoes, spinach...) and roasted chicken, but it still has a just enough of the 'good' stuff (and by 'good' stuff I mean 'not-so-good' stuff : sour cream, avocado and cheese) to make it satisfying. It is a chunky, vegetable packed soup that is full of flavor. If you do want to make it really healthy, skip the garnishes.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

a healthy, veggie packed recipe

1 pound of chicken breasts
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 tablespoon of taco seasoning

2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, minced
4 carrots, large dice
1 (10 oz.) can of Rotel (tomatoes with Green Chiles)
1 (32 oz) can of whole tomatoes
1 quart of chicken stock
4 cups of spinach
4 green onions, diced
Sea Salt & Cracked Pepper
1/4 cup of heavy cream (optional)

Garnishes :
Sour Cream
Avocado
Tortilla Chips
Green Onion

Roast Chicken :
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. On a baking sheet, place chicken breasts, then drizzle with olive oil. Season all sides with taco seasoning. Bake for 20+ minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the breasts.

Soup :
In a pot, cook garlic and carrots on medium heat for a couple of minutes. Add tomatoes, rotel and chicken stock. Season with salt and pepper, if needed. Bring to a simmer. Add spinach. Cook the soup for 10 minutes until the flavors are well combined. Finish the soup with heavy cream to add richness (optional).

When the chicken has cooked completely, shred it with a fork. Place the chicken into the soup. Serve hot with garnishes.

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies | Heart Cookies for Emma's Baptism

2012-01-28T05:48:00.000-08:00

my cookie decorating helper... snoozing on the job

Emma's Baptism Cookies

Emma is making her first trip back to Kansas City next week... on the outside, anyway. While we are there she is going to be baptized at my family's Church in Lexington. She'll be wearing the same Christening gown that my Dad, my sister and I wore - in the same Church at which we were baptized. It is a beautifully simple gown that was handmade... by someone. I'll have to find out who - I'm sure my Grandma will be able to fill me in.

After the service, we will be hosting a brunch for our family. I'm thrilled to actually get to plan a party! Since we've moved to Boston I've done a lot of writing about planning parties, but I haven't gotten to plan nearly as many as I did when I was an event planner and caterer in Kansas City. While I don't miss loading and unloading platters, flowers and linens from my car, I do miss the excitement of envisioning then executing an event. Anytime I start to plan a party my head starts spinning with florals, whimsical desserts, linens, color schemes... really fun for someone like me. There is nothing that quite gets me going like planning a party.

For Emma's Baptism Brunch, I'll have limited time and resources as it will be held in the church... and I will be jumping from Moo-Moo's to Mi-Mi's (the grandmas...) so, I've prepared some sugar cookies ahead of time. I decided that a heart theme would be appropriate since it is so close to Valentines Day. Still in the 'hand-stitched' mode from the Holidays, I made the cookies to look like an embroidery sampler with an eclectic mix of shapes and patterns. I modeled the different patterns off of the various dresses and outfits of hers that I love.

Here's a link to my Sugar Cookie (and more Valentine's Day Cookies...) recipe!

My decorating area... when I decorate sugar cookies it takes over my entire kitchen. It is quite the project.

I just made 'dots' to form the clusters of roses, then used a pastry bag snipped at an angle to create the leaves. I think this is a cleaner, more modern way of creating that classic rosebud icing decoration that we're used to seeing on cakes.

I packed up the cookies in ziplock bags for the freezer to keep them fresh. I'm going to check them in my suitcase at the airport... fingers crossed that most of them will arrive in one piece!

Here's a link to my Sugar Cookie (and more Valentine's Day Cookies...) recipe!

Meringues on Warm Vanilla Bean Custard with Raspberries | Valentine's Day Dessert

2012-01-25T10:20:00.000-08:00

The obvious choice for Valentine's Day is chocolate. Creamy, smooth and fluffy meringues served on warm Vanilla Bean Custard will be a welcome surprise to your sweetheart.

Meringues on Warm Vanilla Bean Custard
with Raspberries

2 egg yolks
1 cup of light cream
1/4 cup of sugar
1 vanilla bean
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

2 egg whites
1/2 cup of sugar
1 pinch of cream of tarter

1 pint of Berries for serving

To make vanilla cream, whisk together egg yolks, cream, 1/4 cup of sugar, seeds from one vanilla bean and vanilla extract. Cook over low heat for 8-10 minutes, stirring constantly until it thickens slightly. Remove from heat and set aside.

To make meringues, in the top bowl of a double boiler (glass bowl sitting on a sauce pan with simmering water), whisk together egg whites, sugar and cream of tarter. Cook mixture in the double boiler over medium low heat for 3-5 minutes, or until sugar has dissolved. If you rub the mixture between your fingers, you should be able to tell if the sugar has dissolved.

Transfer the mixture to your mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk on high for 7-10 minutes. The mixture will cool and froth into a thick meringue as it whips.

Dollop a scoop of the mixture onto each dessert plate shaping them into hearts. You may use a pastry bag to make the heart shapes more perfect. Toast the meringues with a mini torch, or place them on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven under the broiler for 1-2 minutes. Pour vanilla cream (still warm, or heated in the microwave) around clouds and top with berries.

Lobster Bisque | Easy Creamy Seafood Bisque Recipe

2012-01-23T07:48:00.000-08:00

In New England almost every restaurant has a Lobster Bisque on the menu. Some are great - luscious, creamy soups filled with large chunks of claw meat. Others are thin, flavorless and without any actual lobster meat. After a few disappointing restaurant experiences with Lobster Bisque I started asking servers to describe their bisque - is there actually lobster meat in it? creamy? but not thick and goopy... right?

I made this for lunch after a seafood feast from the night before, making use of our shells to make the stock. Seafood stock is really very easy to make. You are basically just boiling the shells!

Lobster Bisque
smooth, creamy seafood soup

6 tablespoons of butter
1/2 cup of flour
2 teaspoons of old bay seasoning
2 cups of Seafood Stock (homemade, see below)
6 cups of milk
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
sea salt and pepper
1 pound of lobster, crab or shrimp (or combination), torn or cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 cup of heavy cream
chives

In a saucepan, melt butter on medium heat. Whisk in flour and old bay, continue stirring for 1 minute. Add seafood stock and continue to whisk over medium heat until smooth. Add milk and tomato paste. Cook on medium for 10 minutes, until the soup begins to thicken, stirring periodically to make sure the soup doesn't burn! Lower the heat. Continue to cook until the desired thickness is achieved. Season with salt and pepper as needed. Add lobster, crab or shrimp and heavy cream. Garnish with a dash of old bay, chives, and a drizzle of heavy cream.

Homemade Seafood Stock
making use of shells

water
seafood shells (lobster, crab or shrimp)
black peppercorns
sea salt
onion, quartered
garlic head, cut in half

In a large pot of water, boil seafood shells, peppercorns, sea salt, onion and garlic for 30 minutes until it has reduced. Reserve liquid from other debris (shells, garlic, peppercorns, etc.).

Ottoman Tutorial | DIY Ottoman $50 | Emma's Nursery

2012-01-20T05:58:00.000-08:00

I do not hesitate to invest in furniture pieces that will last a lifetime. Somethings, however, I can't stand to spend money on. For Emma's nursery (to see all of the photos, click here!), we spent our money on the Crib and Chair. I knew I would need a high quality and comfortable chair, and we selected a classic crib that will never go out of style so I didn't mind spending the money on those two items.

When we went to order the ottoman that went along with the rocker/glider from Pottery Barn Kids, I was shocked that it was almost $450! For a little padded box? I just couldn't do it. So, Mike and I set out on a mission to create our own matching ottoman. With great success we created a perfectly suited version for less than $50. We were so excited that we made a coffee table version for our living room, too.

DIY Ottoman Materials :

Plywood
Screws
4" Foam Pad
Batting
Soft Wool Batting
Staple Gun & Staples
Cream Twill
4 Furniture Legs

Here is the photo DIY :

Mike made a box out of plywood screwed together.

We topped it with a 4" piece of foam.

Then covered the entire top and sides with batting, stapling it underneath.

We turned the box over, foam side down to cover the box.

We repeated the step with a soft wool batting for a smooth finish under the final twill upholstery fabric.

I covered the entire thing in a cream twill upholstery that I ordered from Pottery Barn to match the chair. I created the cover by draping the fabric inside out, then tapering the sides with pins. Then I sewed seems down the sides and where the pins were to create a tight slip cover. I trimmed the excess and then stapled it underneath. To finish, I glued a square of fabric on the underside of the ottoman for a finished look.

Here you can see how I pinned down the sides to create a tight slipcover.

To complete, just attach furniture legs. We bought a kit at Home Depot for about $10... I'm still trying to decide if I like the legs we selected, or if I want something chunkier. After I decide, then I'll need to decide if I want to paint or stain them... or leave them natural. Never ends!

Cherry Almond Shortbread Heart Cookies | Valentine's Day Cookies

2012-01-19T05:43:00.000-08:00

This is my first time making shortbread cookies. I had never really had much interest... as you know, Sugar Cookies are my specialty. I thought, what could be better than a Sugar Cookie? After mowing through a box of Girl Scout Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies, I got addicted to that crumbly, sandy texture of shortbread. Combine that with, Valentine's Day and a craving for the Cherry Almond Cupcakes I made last Spring... boom, Cherry Almond Shortbread Heart Cookies are born!

These not to sweet, crumbly, buttery, sophisticated cookies are the perfect Adult cookie. They have a delicate texture and flavor that overly decadent cookies (think double chocolate chunk...) can't match. The addition of dried cherries gives a touch or red and tartness that is magical! And like most good things in life, they are simple. Only a couple of ingredients. No leavening, no eggs. Just a classic and simple cookie.

Package these in cellophane bags with a ribbon and give them to your lady friends or serve them with coffee for dessert at your next bridge party. They are 'that' kind of cookie.

Cherry Almond Shortbread
classic cookies with a cherry twist

3/4 pound unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups small diced dried cherries

In a mixer, cream together butter and sugar for 3 minutes. Add vanilla and almond. Slowly stir in flour and salt. Mix until mixture begins to come together into a ball. Add diced cherries. Dump the mixture onto a floured surface and form into a disk. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 20 minutes (if you have time).

Roll out the dough to 1/4 inch (I like them thick) and cut into shapes. Bake at 350 degrees on a silpat lined baking sheet for 18-20 minutes, until the edges brown just slightly.

Another Cherry Almond Recipe...

Cherry Almond Cupcake Recipe

Steak with Wine Shallot Mushroom Cream Sauce & Mashed Potatoes

2012-01-18T13:13:00.000-08:00

As a new Mom, I have a new found respect for what "Quick & Easy" really means. For me not only does it need to be quick from refrigerator to dinner table, but it must be easy to clean up, too. Oh, and it must be something for which I already have the ingredients at home.

Before Emma was born, I stocked the freezer and pantry with items I use on a regular basis so I would be able to make all of my favorites without leaving the house. So, after a major Costco trip, our house is now fully stocked with the essentials (more about this later). It has helped me to be able to continue to make dinner every night - and force a little creativity on my part, too.

This is a great example of what you can do with even a minimally stocked freezer and pantry. It might not look like a dinner that you throw together on a Monday night, but it is... in about 20 minutes with 2 pans. I said Monday night because we always have a leftover bottle of wine from the weekend so I try to use it up on Monday night, or I freeze it to use later (again, more on freezer tips later).

The trick to making this meal stretch is slicing the steak. When you slice on strip steak it easily turns into enough for two - especially when served with a hearty mushroom sauce. All I need to make sure I have for this dinner is one steak (to share between the two of us), mushrooms and some leftover wine. Everything else are pantry items or from the refrigerator I always have around. If you don't happen to have potatoes, use rice, egg noodles, bow tie pasta or risotto... or whatever else you can come up with.

Sliced Steak
with Wine Shallot Mushroom Cream Sauce
serves 2

1 strip steak (8-12 ounces)
sea salt & cracked pepper
2 tablespoons of butter
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 shallot, sliced
1 1/2 cups of mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup of wine
1/2 cup of beef broth
1/2 tablespoon of dijon mustard
2 tablespoons of sour cream

Coat steak in salt and pepper, generously. Heat a skillet on high. Put 1 tablespoon of butter in the pan, then top it with the steak immediately. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side (less if the steak is thinner than 1 inch and more if the steak is really thick). Remove steak from the pan and set it aside.

Lower the heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to the pan, then add mushrooms and shallot. Cook them for 2-3 minutes until they begin to soften. Add garlic and cook for just 1 minute. Pour in wine and broth. Cook for 3-5 minutes on high until the liquid begins to reduce. Remove from heat and stir in dijon and sour cream.

Slice the steak into 1/2 inch pieces, then serve with sauce poured over.

The Best Mac and Cheese Recipe | Baked Macaroni and Cheese

2012-01-17T01:51:00.000-08:00

I remember being at my Grandma Steffens' house when I was about 6 or 7 and she asked what I wanted for lunch. Macaroni and Cheese. It was the only thing I would eat when I was younger. It was an obsession. A problem. The only macaroni and cheese I would eat came from a blue box. In fact, at least once a week you can bet that I'm still treating myself to a box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.

On that day at my Grandma's house I can remember her pulling a casserole dish out of the oven and putting it on the table. The top had a layer of bubbling cheese. I was terrified. What was is? Doesn't she know that Macaroni and Cheese is cooked in a saucepan, not a casserole dish? Where was the powdered yellow-orange cheese?!

I'm not suggesting you should make this Baked Mac and Cheese recipe for your very picky 6-year-old, but I guarantee will be a big hit with anyone over the age 12. Or 18, maybe. If you really want to go for it... try my Lobster Mac and Cheese - great for Valentine's Day... Would be great with a Pan-Seared Filet Mignon!

Baked Mac and Cheese
beyond the blue box

1 pound of macaroni
sea salt
1 stick of butter
1/2 cup of flour
4 cups of milk
12 ounces of cheddar, shredded
8 ounces of havarti cheese, shredded
1/2 teaspoon of cracked pepper
4 slices of bread, for crumbs

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Add a couple of tablespoons of sea salt.

In a saucepan, melt 6 tablespoons of butter on medium low heat. Stir in flour. Cook butter and flour for 1 minute, while stirring. Whisk in milk. Cook over heat while whisking, until smooth. Cook for 5 minutes on medium until thickened and bubbly. The mixture should coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat.

Add shredded cheeses, stirring until melted and smooth. Season with cracked pepper. Set aside.

Cook pasta until almost done - making sure it is not completely cooked. Strain the pasta. Add pasta into the cheese sauce and stir to coat the pasta. Pour into a baking dish.

To make breadcrumbs, pulse bread in a food processor until it is in fine crumbs. In a small skillet, melt remaining two tablespoons of butter, add the bread crumbs and cook over medium heat until they have toasted. Sprinkle breadcrumbs on the top of the macaroni. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, until bubbly.

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies | Heart Sugar Cookies | Recipe

2012-01-17T01:32:00.000-08:00

As I've mentioned before, when we were younger, sugar cookies were a staple for every holiday... which means just six weeks after the Holidays we were ready to make more sugar cookies.

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies are great for a novice sugar cookie decorator. Simple shapes (hearts) in solid colors. Wah-lah, you have a festive looking Valentine's Day treat. I made a couple of Love Birds, too... just couldn't resist. You may remember them from the Baby Bird Baby Shower I hosted for my sister.

Unlike chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies are not cookies you have around the house just to nibble on. They are works of art... making them the perfect small gift to your Valentines - friends, co-workers, and neighbors. You'll find creative packaging ideas for your cookies in this post : Valentine's Day Cookie Packaging Ideas

If you missed the recipe for my sugar cookies from my Christmas Sugar Cookies post, I've included it below :

Sugar Cookie Recipe (24 small cookies)

2 sticks of butter
1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups of flour
1 tsp of vanilla
1 tsp of cream of tarter
1 tsp of baking soda
1 egg

In your Kitchen Aid fitted with the paddle attachement, whip together butter and powdered sugar. Add Flour, vanilla, cream of tarter, soda, and egg. On slow, stir together ingredients just until combined. Turn the dough out onto a floured board and wrap it with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for 20 minutes.

Unwrap the dough and put it on a floured board. Be sure to flour the rolling pin, as well. Roll out dough until 1/4 inch thick.

Cut shapes. Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes at 350 degrees just until the edges begin to turn brown - baking time will depend on size and thickness of the cookie.

Royal Icing

3 egg whites
4 cups of powdered sugar

In the Kitchen Aid fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the egg whites until almost frothy. Add in the powdered sugar and whisk on slow until smooth. You may need to add more or less powdered sugar or water to achieve desired thickness. For sugar cookies, you want the icing to be thin enough that it will fall back on itself and smooth itself out, but not too thin so it will run off of the cookie.

Good colors are so important to making professional looking sugar cookies. Here are my tips for a great pink :

Pink Icing : I start with a small amount of the royal icing, I add 1 small drop of red food coloring. Add a 1/2 drop of orange and green food coloring. This will give you a deep pink color. Divide the rest of the white icing in to two or three bowls (depending on how many shades you want). Add small amounts of the pink base to each white bowl in varying amounts.

Get great Valentine's Day Sugar Cookie packaging ideas!

Valentine's Day Cupcakes & Flowers - Get the step-by-step directions here!

Valentine's Day DIY Flowers - Get the step-by-step directions here!

Valentine's Day Boxed Cupcakes - Get the step-by-step directions here!

Emma's Nursery | Soft & Cuddly Nursery | Pale Blue & Cream Lambs & Sheeps

2012-01-11T07:32:00.000-08:00

Emma's Nursery

My vision for our daughter's nursery was a soft, cuddly and cozy room filled with an eclectic mix of items - old and new, purchased, hand-made and found. I used a pale powder blue, cream and whites to create a super soft feeling in the room. She has a new cream spindle-style crib and a large swivel rocker (both from Pottery Barn) along side antique pieces of furniture. We're using an old Pie Safe as an armoire to house her growing collection of clothes and a Blanket Chest doubles as a changing table.

(Left)
Emma enjoying her playtime in her crib with all of her friends, including an old pal of her Dad's, "Teddy" the blue bear.

This Pie Safe used to be in our old living room, but now it works perfectly to house her collection of clothes. It is amazing how many clothes she 'needs' - we seem to go through them all at least once week!

This chair has been a life-saver. It's grand size is perfect for the three of us... Me, Emma and Mr. Darcy. He likes to jump up here with us. I debated on getting the smaller version of the chair (Pottery Barn Kids), but am so glad we got the "Grand" size because it will grow with us - it will be nice to have a chair we can both fit in for storytime when she gets older.

Emma loves all of her lambs and sheep - she can't wait until she's old enough to try out the rocking sheep she got from Santa.

I made the drapes and crib skirt out of felted wool. We had the 12 x 8 cream carpet made at Home Depot... did you know that you can have any of their carpets turned into an area rug? We chose a super soft cream carpet that would be great for her to play on when she gets older.

This sheep mobile (Pottery Barn Kids) was a shower gift from my sister Jill. It really adds a touch of whimsy to the room. I love the 'hand-made' looking quality it has.

I was at a loss for 'artwork' in her room. We had received so many adorable socks and booties as baby gifts, so I decided displaying them and other items of clothing would be perfect. I left them open without glass so I could easily swap out new socks, or put up a photo or memento. DIY instructions to come.

Mike painted these wooden boxes (and their tops) to serve as trays to keep her clothes organized.

Here is one of the box tops with a stack of her onsies.

A collection of socks...

And more socks! Don't you love those pink and white courderoy booties? They were made for us by one of Mike's Mom's friends. Mike is obsessed with them - they ARE super cute.

Instead of a diaper bag, I chose a Vera Bradley tote. It is perfect - has lots of compartments lining the inside, it is a great size (hello carry on...) and it is washable.

Mike and I made the ottamen (for $50 - DIY coming soon!) I still can't decide what to do with the legs. Paint them? Stain them? Leave them natural? I had originally planned to put a skirt on it, but have held off because I kind of like it how it looks now. Work in progress!

Vanilla Syrup | Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup

2012-01-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been obsessed with Vanilla. Not just any vanilla, but real vanilla from vanilla beans. I think it all started when we made a creamy vanilla custard on Christmas Day for dessert. I couldn't stop licking the bowl. I could not stop. Yesterday, I made a Vanilla Cream Sauce with Meringue Clouds for a dessert feature I was working on for another blog for which I contribute (I'll share the photos and link shortly). There is something about cooked vanilla that sends me into a tizzy.

With my new found obsession with all things vanilla, I thought I'd try some vanilla coffee K-Cups... after all, I love vanilla lattes. Nope. I should have known! The "French Vanilla" flavor was nothing like the warm flavor of real vanilla. Suddenly, I remembered an amazing vanilla bean syrup I put in my latte at Natasha's Mulberry & Mott in Kansas City (left : photo of her peppermint & orange syrup). So, this morning I made a batch of Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup to accompany morning coffee... it was everything I hoped it would be! Real, warm, slightly sweet vanilla. Ummmm.

Vanilla Bean Simple Syrup
warm fuzzy in a bottle

2 cups of sugar
2 cups of water
1 vanilla bean

Scrape the beans from the vanilla bean. In a saucepan, mix together sugar, water and seeds from the vanilla bean. Cook on low heat until it simmers. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the liquid has reduced.

Cooking in the saucepan with the bean seeds and the bean.

Bottled up!

January Freshen Up | Paperwhites Planting Box

2012-01-09T09:24:00.000-08:00

As I'm in the process of de-Holidayizing my house, I'm moving the dark and cozies out, and all of my light and fresh in. I'm replacing my Woodland china with powder blue, and wool plaid with pale blue cashmere - it is still January, after all.

One thing that definitely brightens our home is this living arrangement of Paperwhites. Isn't it stunning? I can't wait to start another planting when the paperwhites have finished blooming. I'm thinking a thick planting of hyacinth. They will smell so good! I love growing bulbs indoors.

Did you notice how there are twigs around the perimeter of the box to support the tall stalks? They got a little too heavy even with the twig supports, so I tied them with natural twine. A thick satin ribbon would be lovely, too.

They started to get too cold on the sun porch, so they are living here for the moment... which is nice because it helps to keep the mail/keys/dog leash/phones from piling up here. I'm looking to create a new organizing space for all of our 'stuff' that gathers on the counter. Any ideas?!

The View from Where I Sit | My Home is Where They Are

2012-01-07T09:12:00.000-08:00

Jcrew sale on my comp...

The View from Where I Sit is pretty good. I spend most mornings perched on a stool at our kitchen island equipped with coffee, my computer, phone and camera.

As I sit here in our New England home, 1,500 miles away from 'real' home (or where we had always known home to be), I might not feel completely at home, but I am definitely at peace being surrounded by all of my loves.

emma's mini crib right by my stool... literally what i see from where i sit

In the Barefoot Contessa's "At Home" cookbook she says, "My home is wherever Jeffery is." When we decided to make the move to Massachusetts I felt the same way - and hoped I would still feel that way when we got here.

the mr. in one of his many spots...

And I do. For the most part. Sure, I miss a lot of things from "home" (our cozy Fairway home, being close to family, our best friends, our favorite restaurants, our neighborhood, an affordable lifestyle...), but we've managed created our little version of home here.

I hope to look back on our time in Massachusetts as a shared adventure between Mike and I - the two of us out on our own. We were itching for a change and jumped at it the minute the opportunity became available to us. I hope we're always able to do that - wherever we are in life.

i was sitting on the floor in emma's room and mike was rocking/walking her to sleep in our room

Little did we know that a big change in the form of a baby was headed our way!

I'm not talking just about constantly relocating to a new place, but in all types of opportunities. I hope we're always able to be open to and embrace change... even with the potential slight discomfort it might cause.

While I'll never regret our decision to move here - it already has brought me clarity in so many ways - sometimes I think about how it would be different if we welcomed Emma into our Fairway home - would our experience with her be somehow different? Easier because we had the convenience (and help) from our families? Maybe. Easier because of the contentment and comfort we felt in our old home and our own life? Perhaps.

The only regret I'll have about our time here is if we don't live it to its fullest. While it can be tempting to look forward to moving back home to the comfort of familiar territory (whenever that might be...), I'm determined to "do it right" while we're here. With Baby Emma in tow, we're going to continue to travel and explore - to new places, new experiences and new friends.

The Best Mashed Potatoes | Potato Ricer

2012-01-06T09:54:00.000-08:00

I've always struggled with mashed potatoes. Not eating them. Making them. Not being able to master the perfectly smooth and creamy mashed potatoes, I went with the lazy man's 'smashed potato'... a world without peeling, where lumps are welcome, expected and encouraged. They're good. They do the job - but they often need jazzing up - garlic, sour cream, rosemary, etc. to detract from the fact that they are basically a busted up potato and lack any desirable texture.

"Real" mashed potatoes, with their smooth, creamy and light-as-air texture need nothing. No sour cream, no cheese, no herbs. Simple. If it has been a while since you have had "real" mashed potatoes, you may not even know what I'm talking about. You might be thinking, "but the cheese, garlic and sour cream are what make mashed potatoes so good." Silly girl. Real mashed potatoes are right up there with heirloom tomatoes and small summer strawberries. Natural. Real. Simple. Nothing but a splash of milk, dab of butter, salt and pepper.

How do you achieve this unattainable mashed potato dream? Enter, Potato Ricer. For years I've heard the Barefoot Contessa talk about using her potato ricer. I thought, "Do I really need a specialized piece of equipment to mash a potato?!" (Remember, you're talking to someone that rolled out 100 sugar cookies a week with a bottle of wine and that used a teacup for measuring...) When he saw me mashing potatoes with a can, Mike said, Yes. Yes, you do need a specialized piece of equipment to mash a potato. Then the most amazing thing happened... a potato ricer appeared in my stocking from Santa.

We've had mashed potatoes 3 times in the past 9 days.

Now run out and get this mashed potato ricer. It is on sale for $16 at Williams-Sonoma... Mike paid full price ($32) for mine. Ugh. Still worth every penny.

The Best Mashed Potatoes
creamy, light... real mashed potatoes

2 pounds of Yukon Gold potatoes
1/4 cup of milk
2 tablespoons of butter
sea salt & cracked pepper

Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1-inch pieces. Place them pot filled with water, seasoned with salt. Bring the water to a boil and cook until the potatoes are fork tender - about 7-10 minutes. Drain the potatoes from the water. Using the potato ricer, mash potatoes back into the sauce pan. Return the potatoes to the stove. On low heat, stir in milk, butter, salt and pepper. Do not leave the potatoes on the stove for longer than 5 minutes, or they will burn. To reheat, microwave them in a glass bowl.

Mashed Potatoes go great with :

Pan-Seared Lemon Garlic Chicken
Pancetta Sugar Snap Peas (coming soon!)

Pan-Seared Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe | Healthy Comforting Dinner

2012-01-05T08:09:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I mentioned that I'm so over comfort food. I should have clarified - heavy, unhealthy comfort food.

This Pan Seared, then Roasted Lemon Garlic Chicken has all of the makings of a healthy dinner, but it is warm and cozy comforting all at the same time. Here's to feel good food in the New Year that will actually make you feel good... and help you fit into your clothes. You're welcome.

Lemon Garlic Chicken
pan seared goodness

1 whole chicken, split or flattened (backbone removed)
1/4 cup of olive oil
10 cloves of garlic, minced
2 lemons, juiced
sea salt & cracked pepper

In a shallow dish (large enough for the chicken), stir together olive oil, garlic and lemon juice.
Generously season the chicken with sea salt and pepper. Place the chicken in the lemon garlic marinade, and toss to coat. Marinade for a couple of hours (if possible).

Heat a dutch oven on the stovetop on high for a minute. Remove the chicken from the marinade (saving the marinade) and place it in the dutch oven, searing it on each side for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add the marinade into the dutch oven, then place it in a 400 degree oven for 25-40 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken. Remove from the oven, let the chicken rest for 10 minutes before carving.

Be sure to use a real lemon... no juice from a bottle!

If you have time, marinade the chicken for a couple of hours. If not, go ahead and make it anyway... the lemon and garlic flavor will still do its 'thing' in the oven.

When I made this lemon garlic chicken, I served it with Pancetta Sugar Snap Peas and Mashed Potatoes (made with my amazing new potato ricer... best kitchen gadget I've ever purchased. No exaggeration. I'll warn you, only purchase one if you'd like to be addicted to mashed potatoes and make them every night for dinner. Like me.).

Here are the links for the recipes to complete the meal.

Pancetta Sugar Snap Peas (recipe coming soon!)
Perfect Mashed Potatoes

And... do you know what goes great with Lemon Garlic Chicken? Lemon Cream Mousse! I promise, it is not lemon overload - merely complimentary!

Lemon Cream Mousse

Lemon Mousse | Fresh & Refreshing Dessert

2012-01-04T12:10:00.000-08:00

I am sooo tired of comfort food. During my entire pregnancy I craved heavy, gravy-y, rich comfort food. Now that our little bundle is here I can't get far enough away from it. Except for Oreos. For some reason I can't stay away from Oreos. I'll blame it on the breast feeding.

Besides my Oreo shortcoming, I'm craving fresh, light and healthy food. Maybe it is the New Year... or maybe it is my body's way of telling me it is no longer time to store 'maternal weight' that is influencing my lighter urges. Whatever it is, I'll take it.

Thank goodness for the aptly timed winter citrus season. What could be more fresh than a refreshing lemon dessert? By the way, does anyone else think that it is strange that citrus season is in the middle of winter? Seems like it should be a summer thing... I'm glad it is not. The freshness is just what I need right now.

This Lemon Mousse is light, airy, fresh and creamy. Great by itself served in a parfait glass topped with whipped cream, but it would be equally great in a graham cracker crust or mini tart shell. If you are short on time, you can buy a pre-made lemon curd, and just add gelatin and fold in whipped cream. However, store-bought lemon curd can be expensive, so the homemade version is a more cost effective option if you have the time.

Lemon Mousse
creamy and refreshing

2 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon plain gelatin
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
3 tablespoons finely grated lemon zest
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
Pinch of salt
6 large egg yolks

1 1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons of sugar

In a small bowl add the water and sprinkle the gelatin on top. Allow it to 'gel' for about 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt the butter in a heavy bottomed sauce pan over medium heat. Remove from heat and add the sugar, salt, lemon juice and zest. Whisk together and then add the egg yolks. Place over medium low heat, stirring constantly with a whisk. Cook until the mixture has thickened and coats the back of a spoon (this should take roughly 8-10 minutes). Do not allow the mixture to boil or it will curdle, if it begins to steam remove it from the heat for 20 seconds to allow it to cool then return it to the heat.

Once it has thickened, whisk in the gelatin. Allow this mixture to cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally. Once the lemon curd has cooled, beat the whip cream to stiff peaks. Adding half of the whipped cream into the lemon curd, gently fold it in.

Pour the lemon mousse between 4-6 parfait glasses. Top with a large dollop of the whipped cream.

This Year | Let Your Heart Be Light | Healthy Mind & Body

2012-01-03T12:42:00.000-08:00

Resolutions are funny things. Most people have already fallen off of the resolution bandwagon by this point. After a couple of days of relaxing and reflection, I have thoughtfully decided to take mine seriously this year. Yes, I'm putting them out there - for everyone one to see. This blog will be directly effected by my resolutions - as an effort to get more fulfillment out of my blogging, it is my goal for this forum to be a truer, more genuine reflection of myself, my life and my ideas.

The following is a little insight of what I hope to bring to the blog (and my life...) in the upcoming year. What are your goals and resolutions? No weight-loss goals, please.*

I love this light-hearted moment - true bliss

Let Your Heart Be Light... we only do this once, people

This year, I'm going to make an effort to remind myself to let my heart be light - to live with enthusiasm, leaving fear behind. Life is to be lived and felt - richly and abundantly. We are all so blessed - stop worrying and live happily. After all, we only do this once.

Last week I was talking to a friend that was having a hard time - she is at a crossroads of what to do next. Through our conversation, I remembered a similar time in my life. The advice I gave to her was the same I had given to myself. Make yourself happy. Whatever it takes. Just do whatever it is you need to do to be happy... Not empty happiness and not happiness in a selfish way, but true, solid, sturdy, genuine happiness. Years ago, when deciding what direction my life would take, I spent a great deal of time defining that elusive "happiness" for myself in an honest way - which you must be willing to do. It is a process that you must invest yourself in - it takes time to discover and to decide what it means for you.

At the end of my process, I was able to find a clarity of what I wanted my life to feel like - not look like from the outside, but feel like from the inside. I let go of short-term goals and of what I believed to be what a picture perfect life looked like. I looked beyond them and tried to uncover the emotions that were attached to happiness - why those goals seemed so appealing. What I discovered were the root emotions that I wanted to feel. I set those feeling as my goals instead of the postcard view. I didn't want the picture perfect life from someone else's point of view - I wanted to be sure that I was really living a life of genuine happiness and fulfillment. I still need to remind myself of this sometimes what I forget what "it's" all about and need to check myself and my goals. We only do this once, people.

An attempt at a Christmas card photo... out of focus, trying to beat the camera's timer...

Give it up... Let it go

As an event planner, wedding designer and food photographer, I have spent the last 6+ years producing picture perfect events and blog posts that represent life at its best. Painstakingly tedious, designing perfection takes time, effort, patience and obsessiveness. Sometimes I find myself 'producing' my own life instead of living it. I want every dinner, family gathering, trip, and occasion to be perfect. My career of designing these perfect events and blog posts has crept into my real life, sometimes prohibiting me from enjoying life as it comes and living in the moment.

In just the first few weeks of motherhood, I have discovered that I'm going to have to give up the idea that great moments and experiences are created and methodically designed. As we were (attempting) to pose for a family photo complete with newborn and dog, after a half hour of frustration and not being able to capture it just as I had planned - I said to myself (and out loud), Give it up. The shot wasn't perfect. Don't obsess. Let it go. After all, a real photo is much better than a perfect one, right? Right.

While I don't intend to "Give Up" trying to do my best, I am going to give up trying to make every project and occasion perfect. It will be perfect just as it is. For the blog, this might mean more photos taken of our dinner just before we eat it instead of earlier in the day when I've had time to style it and shoot it in natural light... which takes hours, by the way. It might not look as perfect, but it will be real.

Be Open... I'm open and ready to take in what the world brings to me.

I tend to be a bit of a closed person. I'm introverted, private, a bit of a home-body... perhaps borderline recluse? No, I don't think it is that bad! Yet. Everyone asks me if I get lonely working at home by myself. Nope. I love it. I enjoy my quiet days of projects and writing all by myself - it is very comforting for me. I'm very content with my lifestyle. With that being said, I realize that I need to step outside of my comfort zone to grow and push myself. Contentment can be comforting, but it can be debilitating! This year I look forward to being more open. Open to everything - people, experiences, business ventures... even new foods, style choices, decorating inspiration. I'm opening my heart, mind and eyes so I am ready to take (and run with!) what the world brings to me.

Baby Life... Welcome, Baby Emma

As this blog is a reflection of my life, I will be introducing a new blog topic... Baby. I'm sorry if you are not a baby person and you don't have any need to read about baby things - I am and I do! So there. I'll try not to post too many baby photos (how many is too many...?) and gush over how beautiful she is constantly... but no promises. As I said before, it is my goal for this forum to be an honest reflection of my life - and Miss Emma is a (very) big part of that. If I didn't include baby references, then I would be selling myself and the blog short. With that being said, I do not plan on offering (or taking...) parenting advice or theories. I will be including some of my favorite baby things, moments and occasions. Hopefully you'll find our new addition an inspiring new addition to the blog. Photos of her nursery are coming soon!

Music... Getting back into the swing

This may seem a little 'light' compared to my other goals and resolutions, but that is the whole idea. A couple of years ago when Mike and I were dating, I had a ton of music that I loved and a playlist for every occasion - working, sleeping, spiritual, dinner parties, late night, old school... somehow I fell off the music wagon. Music can be so magical - I miss it! Maybe it is that I only listen to NPR in the car, or maybe it is just an age thing... Well, I'm ready to hop back on. Feel free to recommend your favorite artists and songs... please. I'm desperate. I'm still listening to Regina Spektor and Joshua Radin, people.

Misty morning walk with Mr. Darcy last January in Fairway

*Mind & Body... Enjoy yourself

Notice you won't see weight-loss goals resolutions here. I don't get motivated by short-term goals - I need real meaning behind everything I do. I workout only to feel good and to clear my head, not to lose weight. I eat things I enjoy and that make my body feel good. Sometimes I will forget to eat until 2pm... because I'm so busy doing something I enjoy. Basically, get busy doing something that you love (for me, that means working) and that makes you feel good (for me, walking Mr. Darcy!). These are the only slim-down tips I have - they are the only things that have worked for me. Perhaps they'll bring some clarity to your weight-loss goals. For me, in my post-baby body, this Mind & Body post will help remind me not to get in a hurry - it will happen in time if I do things that make me feel good!

Homemade Pasta with White Truffle Butter Cream Sauce | Pasta with Truffle Cream

2011-12-30T04:57:00.000-08:00

Homemade Pasta is not nearly as daunting as it might seem. As a person that uses store-bought pie crust and boxed cakes mixes, I'm definitely not an 'everything from scratch' purist - by any stretch. But when Mike and I went to Italy on our honeymoon, we discovered fresh pasta. When we came back home, the only way we could get the authentic pappardelle and tagliatelle pasta we had had was to make it ourselves.

For most of our special occasions, instead of heading out to a restaurant we spend the evening with a bottle of wine and our pasta rolling machine. This year for our 1st Anniversary I was 8 months pregnant and we had a snow storm headed our way in New England. Going out was not an option... not a fun sounding one, anyway. We stayed in, started a fire, Mike opened a bottle of wine (for himself) and I got out the pasta roller.

This is our pasta roller machine - it was around $60 from Williams-Sonoma. It is very simple to use!

Homemade Pasta Recipe
easier than you think!

2 cups of flour
3 eggs

Start with a KitchenAid mixer fitted with the dough hook. Dump in the flour, then top with the eggs. Put the mixer on medium and let the ingredients roll together until they form a ball.

*You may need to add a little bit (1-3 tablespoons?) of water or flour if the dough is too wet or too dry. After a ball is formed, let the dough 'knead' on low-medium in the mixer for 5-7 minutes until the dough is elastic. Cover it with plastic wrap and let it sit for 20 minutes.

When it is finished kneading, turn the dough out onto a floured board and kneed it by hand a couple of times.

From this stage, you can roll it out by hand with a rolling pin (or bottle of wine!), or put it through a pasta rolling machine. Either way is pretty simple. I've recently invested in this pasta machine that was very inexpensive. If you plan to make a lot of pasta in the future it can make things a little easier.

Separate the dough into 6 pieces. Flour the machine and dough well to keep it from sticking. Feed it through the rolling/flattening part of the machine starting on the largest setting and progressing to a smaller setting each time you feed the dough through. I find that flouring it each time helps to keep it from sticking. After it has gone through the smallest (or 2nd to the smallest) setting, lay it flat.

Attach the tagliatelle (small square cut long pasta, pictured above) cutting attachment. Feed the long flat sheets through, creating long strands of spaghetti type pasta. Set aside in a dry area until ready to cook in boiling water.

Cook in a large pot of boiling salted water for 30 seconds, until the pasta is light in color and floating.

Truffle Cream Sauce
easy indulgence, serves 6

2 cups of heavy cream
12 ounces of white truffle butter (or 6 oz. truffle oil)
black pepper

Prepare a large pot of water to cook pasta. Add salt.

In a saucepan, heat cream for 5 minutes on medium - until slightly bubbling. When the cream is bubbling, reduce heat to low. Add truffle butter, stir to melt.

Add pasta to the boiling water. After 30 seconds, remove the pasta from the water (with tongs) and place it immediately into the truffle cream sauce. Toss and stir to coat. Add a small amount of black pepper. Serve immediately!

We love a simple, seared steak along side our truffle pasta. For the step-by-step directions for how to perfectly sear a steak in a skillet, click here.

Filet Mignon | Filet of Beef | Seared Filets at Home

2011-12-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

When I was catering, seared Filets were one of my favorite entrees to serve. Why? Because almost everyone loves a good steak (well everyone except vegetarians... sorry!) and they are so easy to prepare. My clients and their guests would be so amazed that I was able to cook all of them perfectly - at the same time, in the kitchen!

For some reason, most people (men especially...) think you have to cook steaks outside on the grill. Nope. I actually prefer a steak crusted in sea salt and cracked pepper, seared in a pan and finished in the oven*. The searing of the steaks with the salt and pepper creates a brown crust that seals in all of the juices that a grill just can't match.

After learning how to prepare seared steaks at home, I rarely order a steak at restaurant (or fix them outside on the grill...) because I'm always disappointed!

I buy the thickest filets I can find - 6 to 8 oz. is a good size.

Coat all sides of the steaks with sea salt and fresh cracked pepper - you can't put on too much! It is important to be generous with the seasoning because it is what creates the outside crust.

Heat the skillet on high until very hot before adding the steaks - about 2-3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then add steaks immediately.

Cook on each side for 2-3 minutes until the steak easily pulls off the pan - this means that they are properly seared.

After doing the top and the bottom, sear the sides for 2-3 minutes.

The steaks will be perfectly medium rare. If you prefer a more well done steak, put them in a 500 degree oven for 3-5 minutes until they are done how you'd like them.

*If you are preparing them for a crowd, I sear the tops and bottoms ahead of time (earlier in the day), then put them on a sheet pan and refrigerate them. About 10 minutes before dinner, I put them in a 500 degree oven for 5-8 minutes until they are medium rare. The cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of the steaks.

This photo was from our Anniversary Dinner - I've sliced the steak along side Homemade Tagliatelle Pasta with a Truffle Cream Sauce.

Tiramisu for Two | Simple Tiramisu Recipe

2011-12-28T13:36:00.000-08:00

Mike LOVES Tiramisu. If it is on the menu, we're ordering it. If we're fixing an Italian dinner at home, it is a must. Some recipes require a cooked custard that needs to chill for hours, then assembled, only to be chilled for more time until it is ready. Well, I'm just not that organized - especially for dinners that are just for the two of us.

Here is my solution to an easy, no cook Tiramisu that you can fix in a hurry just for the two... of you. (rhyme = yikes)

Tiramisu for Two
makes two parfait glass servings

1/2 cup of whipping cream
2 tablespoons of sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla
4 ounces of mascarpone cheese

8 lady fingers
1/3 cup of strong coffee or espresso
1 tablespoon of sugar

1 small chocolate bar

To make the cream filling, whip the whipping cream until thickened - about 3 minutes. Add sugar and vanilla and whip together until stiff. Incorporate in mascarpone cheese slowly until well combined. Set aside.

In a small bowl, mix together coffee and sugar. In two parfait glasses or other sort of individual serving bowls, put two lady fingers in the bottom of each. Pour 1/4 of the coffee mixture on top of the lady fingers in each glass. Spoon in 1/4 of mascarpone cheese and whipped cream mixture into each. Top with two more lady fingers and coffee mixture. Top with the remaining cream mixture.

To finish, make chocolate shavings with a vegetable peeler on a bar of chocolate. Refrigerate up to 2 days.

Creamy, coffee goodness!

Tiramisu for Two goes great with my Intimate Dinner for Two Menu... a great option for New Years Eve if you are staying in, like us!

New Years Eve Dinner for Two | Dinner at Home for New Years

2011-12-28T06:36:00.000-08:00

You might be thinking that this doesn't look like a New Years Eve photo. Nope. This photo is from Our Wedding 1 year and 2 months ago. I've been saving this post for a couple of months - I knew I would need some posts during the first few weeks of Emma's life until we get the hang of everything.

This post about an Intimate Dinner for Two was actually our 1st anniversary dinner back in October, but I think it is a great menu for New Years Eve. If you're like us, you'll be staying in this year - maybe you're having a small intimate dinner party, or maybe it will be just the two of you. Either way, this menu is simple and special - it is our favorite meal to prepare at home. Wait... I mean, it is our favorite meal at home or anywhere else!

Mike is so thoughtful - he had a florist in Concord (Winston Flowers) create a bouquet in our wedding colors... pale powder blue, white and cream. Smelling the garden roses brought me right back to that day in Seaside.

Seared Filet of Beef
Homemade Tagliatelle Pasta with White Truffle Cream Sauce

I served our dinner on our powder blue Anna Weatherly wedding china - I wanted to stick with the wedding color scheme that Mike started.

As I've said time and time again, homemade pasta is so simple. If you've never had it - there is really nothing like fresh pasta. We made homemade tagliatelle pasta in a light cream sauce with truffle butter.

Some folks are scared to prepare steaks at home - especially indoors. Searing steaks in a pan is my favorite way to prepare them. In fact, I've stopped ordering steaks at restaurants because I'm always disappointed... they're never as good as the ones we fix at home. It is so simple. If you can make a grilled cheese, then you can make a perfectly seared steak.

Here is the recipe and my tips for searing steaks at home!

Tiramisu for Two

Tiramisu is Mike's favorite dessert - right up there with chocolate chip cookies and chocolate cake (from a box....). I make a really simple and quick version for us - all you need to be able to do is make whipped cream. No cooking involved!

Tiramisu Recipe, click here!

Stay tuned in the next couple of days for the recipes and step-by-step instructions for this menu!

Christmas at Our House | Brunch | My Life

2011-12-27T12:44:00.000-08:00

Baby's 1st Christmas PJ's

We had a very special Christmas at our house this year - Baby Emma made everything so fun. In case you missed my announcement last week... Emma Elizabeth was born December 15th! To make her arrival (and our holiday...) even more special, we had lots of family visitors in town to meet her. So... needless to say, our first New England Christmas was quite memorable.

On Christmas morning our family of four opened presents and Skyped with my family back in KC while they opened their presents. Mike's family came over for Christmas Brunch at noon, then we spent the day making a big homemade pasta dinner. It was a great day! Here are some photos from Emma's First Christmas morning.

Mike sporting his new puffer vest and telling Emma about Santa.

Mr. Darcy sneaking downstairs to see if there are any treats for him under the tree...

Mike starting a fire before the Skype party.

Emma's Christmas present from Santa!

A surprise gift from her Dad - it will be a great keepsake from our time in Concord!

Christmas Morning Brunch

If we had been able to travel home for Christmas this year, we would've had brunch at my Mom's house just as we have since I can remember. To make it still feel like Christmas for me, I recreated her menu for us in Massachusetts this year.

Monkey Bread

Quiche - Crab Quiche & Quiche Loraine

Fresh Berries... if we had been at my Mom's she would have served peaches she had frozen during the Summer. They always taste so good - real summer peaches in the middle of Winter.

Shrimp Cocktail on ice.

Bloody Mary Bar!

Emma Elizabeth | Santa Came Early!

2011-12-23T09:30:00.000-08:00

Christmas came early to our house this year... Emma was born on December 15th! She is most definitely the center of our world.

Big yawn from a little girl!

Cute pouty lips...

Big curious eyes and her Dad's dark hair!

Sweet little cries...

And a new best friend! Welcome to our world!

3 Ways to Help this Holiday | Giving & Helping | Charities to Support this Holiday

2011-12-23T09:24:00.000-08:00

Over the years, I have tried to do give back in unique ways during the holidays. I like to give in ways that bring surprise and delight to those that I'm helping - to somehow bring the magic of Christmas to someone that may have never experienced the wonderment and joy Christmas can bring.

Each year I think of a new way to share the spirit of giving, but I always follow a couple of rules:

- It must be anonymous. I always give without attachment of my name - if I'm looking for credit, then it is not giving in the Christmas Spirit.
- I must do it without reward. This means that I don't even get to watch them experience the joy and surprise. I know this might sound a little strange, but I believe that if I'm giving from a pure heart, the motivation should not be myself relishing in the reaction of the person receiving. If I am giving to receive (in the form of joy), then it is a selfish act. Also, if their reaction is not what I would've hoped, then I might be discouraged.
- I have to give up something, too. It can be easy around Christmas time to spend, spend, spend and add up the damage in January. When I donate, I consciously go without something I was planning to buy for myself of for someone else.

It can be easy to write a check, but I encourage you to think about the act and method of your giving more creatively this holiday season. Be sure to give in a way that honors the Christmas Spirit of good will and wonderment!

1. Shelter Santa

Mike and I usually set a spending limit for our gifts - about $100 or so. We do this because we don't 'need' anything and it forces us to be creative rather than go buy something luxurious. Last year, I decided to spend the $100 for his gift on toys, books and clothes to give to a shelter. On Christmas Eve morning (when we exchange), I surprised him with a huge "Santa" bag (you'd be surprised how far $100 goes in the toy department at Target) filled with wrapped gifts. We dropped them off at a shelter for families on Christmas Eve on our way to church. He loved that I gave him the gift of giving - I'm lucky to have a husband that "gets it."

2. Surprise Santa

A couple of years ago, I had set aside my $100 to donate or give at my whim during the holiday season. I kept it in my wallet and waited for the perfect moment to bestow it somewhere or somehow. Before I knew it it was Christmas Eve and I still had that $100 bill. I thought, who would really need this tonight? I went to a Dollar General Store at 5pm and walked the aisles until I saw the perfect candidate - she was dressed in a uniform from work and she was looking at books for children. I had been watching her before and saw which car that she had arrived in. So, I went outside and put an envelope with the $100 on her windshield and I left. I didn't want to hand it to her in person, because I didn't want to embarrass her. I didn't wait around to watch her find it. I just wanted her to have it. I love this method because she didn't find the money until after she had checked out so I knew that she had purchased whatever she could afford and the money would be an extra cushion for her - however she needed to use it.

3. Holiday Baking Drop Off

We all get joy from eating a beautiful Christmas sugar cookie or a festive cupcake. There is something special about treating yourself to something beautiful that was handmade just for you. While they might not be one of the basic food groups or at the top of the food pyramid, baked goods that are made with love can definitely have a huge impact on someone without much delight or love in their life. One year Mike and I delivered 2 dozen beautiful cupcakes to a homeless man on the side of the road. I know it seemed like a random gift to give someone without a home or proper clothing, but when he opened the box his face lit up. As we drove away he yelled to us, "I LOVE CUPCAKES!" in the happiest tone. Maybe those cupcakes brightened his day just a little.

Concord Christmas Tree Lighting | My Life | Concord, Ma | Holidays

2011-12-20T09:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I have to pinch myself... do we really live in this perfect little idyllic town? Does this quaint town really exist? My latest 'pinch me' moment was when we walked downtown on a Sunday night for the Concord Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting.

The little town center was filled with area families and children anxiously awaiting the arrival of Santa to flip the switch and light the huge tree in the middle of town.

Mr. Darcy (and Mike) were very excited. D had to be carried most of the way... all of the kids running around and the general splendor was a little too much for him to handle at times. The problem is that he thinks he is a kid, and when a group of them run by he likes to run after them... which is sometimes scary for the children.

The Toy Shop in Concord is amazing. It is filled with classic toys and play things - a huge collection of wooden toys, baby dolls, instruments, infant toys, animals, train sets, etc.

The main street was bustling before the parade began... everyone was looking for a great spot and getting hot cocoa.

Many of the local churches had groups of carolers singing Christmas songs - might have been my favorite part. For those of you that know my family, we love a good sing-a-long... especially during the holidays.

Mr. enjoying the carols.

Kids all lined up for Santa. Look at the little girls in the elf hats!

More groups singing.

A vintage car started off the parade.

Santa brought up the tail end on the back of a fire truck.

The big moment... lights!