Shopping The Closet

And then I bid you farewell....

2013-01-19T16:34:00.001-05:00

When I started this blog back in September of 2009 it was to motivate me to shop my own closet.

It didn't really work - my closets were still bulging at the seams.

And still I blogged.

Because of you.

I shared with you my outfits, my thrift finds and my thoughts.

I told you about my kids and husband and how much I adore my family.

I brought you with us on our journeys and adventures ~ and we had quite the time didn't we?

You all saw me through a job change, a life change, and the return of an old/new career.

You showed your support and enthusiasm when I started my first solo business venture.

You were all with me through the loss of my grandfather and somehow made the emptiness feel...well, not so empty.

And of course you were always there for all the little things inbetween.

For a while now I've toyed with shuttering this blog ~ but I know I would miss you all too much.

But I'm no longer here for the reasons I first was.

Shopping The Closet doesn't fit anymore, and for months I have been trying to figure out how to make it all feel "right" again.

I've also thought that I gave up on my shop too soon ~ not because I wanted to, but because my new job wasn't affording me the time to juggle both.

But....

There's a happy ending to this post.

While this is the last time I am posting to Shopping The Closet, I am starting a new blog and a new shop called

Ballyhoo & Bedbugs

The shop?

Trinkets, treasures and found items for the home and entertaining.

All secondhand, of course!

My fabulous sister in law will be selling her art and other handmade items.

We hope to be open for March 1, 2013.

The blog?

All about the things I fill my life with - food, entertaining and finding the pretty in this amazing thing called life.

You can also find me on twitter @ballyhoobedbugs and on Instagram @ballyhooandbedbugs

I hope you will join me on my new journey.

And before I go, let me say

Thank you

for your warmth and friendship for the past 3 years, 4 and a half months.

I value it more than you could know.

xo,

Eleanor

Weeknight Chef: Mama's Chicken Pot Pie

2013-01-17T04:00:00.000-05:00

There's nothing quite like a hearty chicken pot pie on a cold, blustery night is there?

This one is so simple and so delicious that it makes for a perfect weeknight meal.

Two things I have continued to do since my sabbatical are:

1. Meal plan each week and

2. Clip coupons

I began to do both because, well let's face it, you don't spur of the moment eliminate 50% of your household income and not cut corners and save where possible, right?

The coupon clipping is a hit or miss thing. We don't eat tons of processed foods, we use a butcher for meats and a local farm stand for seasonal produce. At the end of the day, that means there are not a lot of coupons I am interested in.

However, to save money on shampoo, conditioner, cereals and snacks that I would be buying regardless is a definite win in my book.

The meal planning is necessary because we are on the Monday through Friday 9-5 grind with our jobs.

And we like to eat homecooked meals.

After a stinky commute home the last thing either of us wants to think about is "What's for dinner?"

If I have to decide last minute when already exhausted from a full day of work then it's take out for sure.

Over my sabbatical, I actually meal planned to reinvent leftovers into different meals. For instance, we enjoy having a whole roast chicken for dinner on a Sunday night. I make a full 5lb. bag of mashed potatoes to go along with it. Those leftover potatoes become the topping for a quick Shepherd's Pie later in the week and the leftover chicken goes into my Mama's Chicken Pot Pie.

I bet you can guess what we had for dinner this past Sunday night.....

Mama's Chicken Pot Pie

1 can of Campbell's Chicken Gravy

1 box of Pillsbury Pie Crusts

1 can of sliced white potatoes, drained - I use "no salt added"

1 small bag of frozen peas and carrots

Leftover roast chicken

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Place one pie crust in bottom of a deep dish pie plate

Combine gravy, potatoes, frozen veggies and chicken in a large bowl

Season with salt and pepper to taste

Pour into pie plate and cover with remaining pie crust

Bake in oven until top is golden brown

Remove from oven and let stand 5-10 minutes

See? Easy peasy!

Here is the non-negotiable:

You must use the Pillsbury Pie Crust

I don't care what kind of gravy you use, what kind of veggies you add, frozen, canned....you can add whatever your heart desires, but you MUST use the Pillsbury Pie Crust.

I've been making this for years. I've even made my own gravy for it, use fresh veggies when I have them, but I always use the Pillsbury Crust.

Trust me on this one.

Mom was a single, working mother of 4 and has been making this since for as long as I can remember. I have no idea where she found this recipe.

I'm just glad she did.

Martha Stewart's Breakfast Cookies

2013-01-15T04:00:00.000-05:00

In a recent issue of Martha Stewart Living, I found a recipe for Breakfast Cookies.

Leave it to Martha to find a semi-wholesome cookie!

Packed with some really wholesome ingredients, I decided to give them a whirl.

Breakfast Cookies:

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp of baking soda

1/2 tsp of coarse salt

4 sticks unsalted butter at room temp

3 cups packed dark brown sugar

4 large eggs

1 tbsp + 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract

4 cups rolled oats

1 cup raw almonds, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup raw pumpkin seeds

1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds

1/2 cup shredded unsweetened dried coconut

1/2 cup raisins or currants

1/2 cup finely chopped dried mango

1/4 cup finely chopped dried papaya

1 cup banana chips

*I omitted the sunflower seeds (mine were not raw), the papaya (couldn't find at my grocer) and used craisins instead of raisins/currants - it's what I had on hand.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk together flours and baking soda in a large bowl. Set aside.

Beat butter in a large bowl with with mixer until light and fluffy.

Add sugar and beat well.

Add eggs, 1 at a time beating well after each.

Add vanilla, beat until just combined.

Slowly add flour mixture and beat until well combined.

Add oats, almonds, seeds, coconut, craisins and mango and beat to combine.

Form dough into 8 large cookies or 16 small cookies and place on parchment lined baking sheets.

Top with banana chips and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden and firm.

*this recipe made way MORE than 8 large and 16 small....I got at least 2 dozen GOOD sized cookies out of this batch!

My husband has proclaimed he is addicted to them.

I packed up a small bag of them as a hostess gift for our friends who had us for dinner Saturday night.

The husband proclaimed them, "Ridiculously delicious!"

Aside from an "on the go" breakfast meal, I think they are perfect for an after school snack as well.

Even Little Miss Picky Eater thought they were good!

(Even though she plucked out the Craisins!)

Try.these.cookies.

You will not be disappointed!

Scenes From The Weekend

2013-01-14T04:00:00.000-05:00

My sweet baby girl had a tough time last week while I eased my commute and spent the night in New York.

I haven't been away since early October and I was surprised to see the effect it had on her.

From her melancholy mood to the 11pm text messages she was sending me with teary faced emoji's...it was heartbreaking.

I told Charlie to head off to work early Friday so I could take her to school hoping that it would help her feel better.

Later that morning while I was chatting with my boss, I mentioned my little Miss Melancholy and she immediately instructed me to wrap up what needed to be done and be out of my office in enough time to surprise Ryan at school.

I literally made it in the nick of time and the look on her face when she saw me standing on the sidewalk in the rain was priceless.

We made a little video in the car of her thanking my boss to send and show our appreciation.

Later that evening, we watched Frankenweenie, cried our eyes out together and shared ice cream.

Best.night.ever!

We slept in on Saturday then started our day with strawberry banana smoothies.

I spent the early afternoon baking a new cookie I discovered.

(Recipe on the blog tomorrow!)

Then made fried egg blt's with baby spinach for lunch.

We took the dogs for their usual walk and I noticed a secret pathway I have never seen before.

Don't you just love little wooded hideaways?

I sure do....

Saturday night we headed to dinner at a friend's house.

The husband and I worked together for quite some time many, many years ago and were the greatest of friends.

We reconnected a year or so ago via social media and at Halloween time we got to meet his beautiful wife and adorable daughter.

His wife looks like Kate Winslet and is so cool it hurts.

I think I have a girl crush.....

After hours spent drinking and eating the amazing meal she prepared we were sad to say goodbye.

The only upside was knowing we would all get together again VERY soon....

Sunday morning I picked up Liam at his dad's house then made a bagel run.

Our bagel shop pumps their water in from New York.

NJ bagels are good enough, but if you've ever had a NY bagel then you know EXACTLY what I am talking about....

I broke all my own "lady rules" on Sunday by doing a grocery run sans makeup and in workout wear.

Sometimes a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do...

I stopped at the liquor store after my grocery run and picked up a scratch off for each of us.

My little "gamblers-in-training" loved every second of the mania that ensued.

We live about 45 minutes from Atlantic City that's not too dangerous is it????

I hope your weekend was filled with love and laughter too....

xo,

Eleanor

TGIF

2013-01-11T08:12:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I am sure glad it's Friday!

This has been a busy week of non stop running and I'm looking forward to relaxing and unwinding with my family.

On Monday I headed into Manhattan where I got to play "stylist for a day" helping to put together mannequin looks and merchandising spring product that rolled to select stores around the country this week.

I got back in the groove making smoothies for breakfast.

Strawberry banana is my all time favorite.....

I wore some different bracelets finally.

My daughter and husband made some cute stuff with model magic that I put on the desk in our home office because it makes me smile.

Found this sweet note sitting on a shelf in my son's room.

Stayed in New York on Wednesday night for work commitments.

Why do I always choose hotels that resemble The Shining?

Perhaps because I always pick hotels that are Shining~esque, I find it hard to sleep in one.

I got to my room around midnight, fell asleep around 1 and was up again at 3:50.

Then had to spend the morning with the CEO and other Execs.

See why I'm so glad it's Friday???

Happy Weekending Everyone!

Everyday Pieces

2013-01-10T04:00:00.000-05:00

If you've been coming around here for any length of time, then it's no secret that I love me some arm candy.

If your newer to my humble blog, then you will soon discover that I love me some arm candy.

It's true.

I stack bracelet after bracelet on top of each other ~ mixing metals, mixing colors...anything goes really.

Nary a day goes by without my men's Citizen watch and my Tiffany charm bracelet clinging to my wrist.

They are the old standbys.

Over the past few months I have received a few really special pieces that have now become my daily de rigueur.

I spotted the two~tone Yurmanesque rope bracelet at a designer consignment shop just outside NYC.

It was love at first sight.

For my birthday in November, my boss gave me a beautiful Michael Kors bangle (not pictured~I wore the lucite one instead this day) and my other boss gave me the Alix and Ani Hope bracelet because of my work this year for St. Jude Hospital.

At Christmas, I was taken by surprise when a very kindred spirit presented me with the Tiffany hook bracelet. It is so elegantly simple ~ I adore it!

Not to be outdone, my husband had the diamond link bracelet under the tree for me.

It's a stunner!

Now I have 6 pieces I cannot possibly leave the house not wearing.

All my novelty bangles are already collecting dust because these beauties go with everything.

I see no hope on the horizon for them all either.

What are your daily accoutrements?

Do you like to switch things up or stay with the same few pieces?

A Fairytale of Sorts...

2013-01-09T04:00:00.000-05:00

Once upon a time, a little doll house curio cabinet presided on a wall in the nursery of a sweet baby girl.

For the past few years, it has been living in the corner of a cold, dark garage unused and unloved.

One December day, that sweet baby girl (who is now 10) made a little family from plain wooden spools.

She lovingly crafted them clothing from fabric scraps, hair from yarn and then christened each with a beautiful name.

The little girl's mother, who can sometimes be incredibly wise and thrifty, remembered the neglected curio and thought it would provide a fabulous home for the Spools. So she suggested they spend a weekend refinishing it for the family.

They started working on it on a Friday night, even convincing Daddy that he should help them!

The little girl insisted that the house should look like their house: red with white trim and a black front door.

So that is just how they did it.

By Sunday night the paint was dry.

The mother fashioned some wreaths from pipe cleaners to welcome the Spool Family to their newly remodeled home.

They were truly home for the holidays.

The End.

Layers

2013-01-08T04:00:00.000-05:00

My new favorite trick to layering?

Wearing my denim vest over my clothes, but under my coat.

I can still pop the collar and give those denim button ups a well deserved break.

Do you have any favorite layering secrets?

Scenes From the Weekend

2013-01-07T04:00:00.000-05:00

Just as planned, we spent Saturday dismantling Christmas.

It was sad to see such our beautiful tree so naked and bare.

As I was leaving work on Friday just outside NYC, I stopped at this cupcake shop and picked up some treats for the family.

We indulged on Saturday.

It got a little ridiculous around here.

As in, ridiculously good.

I reorganized our bar.

Then contemplated never leaving the house again.

Got some sweet hugs in between puttering about the house....

...and spent a few quiet moments basking in the pretty afternoon sun.

Saturday night we headed to our favorite dive for dinner and drinks with our favorite family of four.

We ate too much, warmed ourselves with conversation and drink and realized that Santa prefers Bud.

Who knew?

What were the scenes from your weekend filled with?

Over The Weekend

2013-01-05T10:42:00.000-05:00

It was really tough trying to get back into the swing of things at work Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after such a lovely time off.

My weekend exists of only today because I have a 6 day work week ahead of me that starts tomorrow.

Who said January was a quiet month?

Today we need to dismantle our holiday decor, do laundry, change sheets on all the beds, meal plan and make sure the pantry is stocked for a busy week.

After all that, I'm looking forward to curling up under a warm blanket and digging in to some of my new books.

I've mentioned before about my enormous cookbook collection (I think it exceeds 300 titles now!) and over the holidays I was gifted a few new titles to add to my vast amount of tomes.

I will always be a book lover ~ you can keep your Nooks and Kindles and machines and give me the scent of fresh pages and the feel of a sturdy hardcover.

Do you still love books or do you prefer electronics?

Happy Weekending!

xoxo,

Eleanor

Those Last Days

2013-01-02T06:57:00.000-05:00

The last few days of 2012 were spent:

...sipping wine by 3pm while having movie marathons

...eating care packages of cookies my sister in law baked

...spending time with some of my favorite people

...admiring my brother's home so perfectly appointed for the holidays

...having my mama in town and watching her spend time with her grandchildren

...delicious dinner parties my sister in law "whips up" ~ she's one incredible gal!

...watching my goddaughter become more and more mobile

...baking more cookies

...cooking steaks on the charcoal grill even though it's 30 degrees outside

...then warming back up with parmesan risotto

...catching up on magazine reading

We wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Happy New year!

xo,

Eleanor

Homemade Gifting ~ Hot Cocoa

2012-12-27T12:30:00.000-05:00

Every holiday season I usually send a parcel of cookies or some other baked treat to neighbors and friends.

Since my amount of "free time" was seriously condensed this year, I almost leapt for joy when I read about making homemade hot cocoa on Siri's blog.

She shared a recipe from Martha (who else would have a delicious homemade hot cocoa recipe?) and displayed it in a mason jar.

As if the sun, moon and stars then aligned, I saw another version on Pinterest that was paired with a shooter of Bailey's.

Genius!

The hot cocoa is simple to mix up and tastes delicious!

(We taste tested, naturally)

The only glitch in my plan was that almost every single liquor store on the NJ Shore was sold out of Bailey's so I had to settle for another brand of Creme de Menthe Liquour for some of them.

I purchased cute little tags from Target and wrote the "recipe" on the backside and our salutation on the front.

I always keep corsage bags on hand for gifts and a little festive baker's twine attached the tags perfectly.

Voila!

I have to admit it was a little thrilling to stray from the predictability of the cookie this year and surprise people with a delicious and practical homespun gift.

Do you share homemade gifts with your friends and neighbors?

Christmas

2012-12-26T21:35:00.000-05:00

Finally got to bake some cookies on Christmas Eve~

Then headed over to my brother's house and I got to spend time with this little angel~

And this little angel too ~ my goddaughter ~

I was tempted to have a laugh making this little guy do some innapropriate things, but my brother forbid me to touch it.

So instead I spent as much time as possible with my favorite girlies.

Christmas morning dawned bright and early~

and I was surprised with another beautiful note from my very best girl.

Husband spoiled me with trinkets, baubles and books~

And I returned the favor with some yummy treats.

The settings were placed at the table with care~

With hopes that good food soon would be there.

Our day was filled with comfort and joy.

I hope yours was too.

xoxo,

Eleanor

Homemade Christmas Cards

2012-12-24T07:23:00.000-05:00

This holiday season I thought it would be a great idea to deign and make my own Christmas cards.

I handmade the invitations to our annual Halloween party this year and they came out so great that I thought I would repeat the process for Christmas.

I ran into obstacle after obstacle, time being one of the biggest ones of all, and after a few meltdowns and lectures from my husband about biting off more than I can chew I completed them.

Of course they didn't hit the post office until Saturday morning, but I finished them without compromising the design I envisioned and the perfection I expected. What can I say? I'm stubborn.

Husband scolded me that I don't have time to do projects like this but these are the things I love to do that make the holidays extra merry for me. Even with the occasional meltdown and roaming the aisles of the arts and crafts store in a daze at 9pm trying to think up a backup plan. If I can't decorate, bake and craft then what's the point?

Do you ever overextend yourself to do something you enjoy that makes the holidays special?

Have a very, very Merry Christmas and I hope it's spent with all the ones that you love best.

xo,

Eleanor

It's Christmas Time In The City

2012-12-22T20:13:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday we headed into NYC with our daughter to see the tree at Rockefeller Center, do some shopping at American Girl, have lunch at Heartland Brewery and explore St. Patrick's Cathedral.

There really is no place like New York at the holidays.

P.S. It was SantaCon 2012 that day...it made for quite a few laughs!

"I Love You to The Moon"....

2012-12-19T06:34:00.002-05:00

"I love you to the moon and back" I said as I hugged her tightly and kissed the top of her head.

There were faint traces of the chocolate donut she was eating for breakfast smeared across her lips as she smiled.

"What about me?" asked my husband.

"I love you to infinity and beyond." I replied.

She giggled.

"Like Buzz Lightyear Mom?"

They both laughed at me.

Our goodbyes before school and work have been tough this week but full of a little extra tenderness and care.

I hope yours have been the same.

I Can't Stop Wearing...

2012-12-14T04:47:00.000-05:00

My denim button up.

That thing has been poking out from under everything I am wearing lately.

I firmly believe I couldn't live another day without it.

Do you have an item that you wear so often that you worry it will sprout legs and run away from you?

Decking My Halls ~ The Tree

2012-12-13T06:38:00.000-05:00

Am I the only one who thinks in themes and color palettes?

Every year I change things ever so slightly when the tree goes up, inspired by an item or a photo or an idea.

This year, the two cylindrical vases I bought at Target on clearance inspired me. Cream and gold with pops of red were are this year's color palette.

Last year was the first time I rearranged all the furniture in our formal living room so that the tree stood in front of our large picture window. It's a lot of work, but lends an excitement to the air as everything changes and the tree goes up.

And those moments that you get to just kick back and soak it all in make up for it getting dark so early, doesn't it?

Tom and Stacey

2012-12-12T05:09:00.000-05:00

Back in September while on my little blog hiatus, I had the great pleasure of being a part of my brother's wedding.

Tom is the 2nd born in our family and we are only two years apart in age. He has been my friend, confidante, partner in crime, and all around best buddy for the 36 years I have been lucky enough to call him my brother.

From the moment he told me about Stacey, I knew that a wedding was right around the corner.

And on September 16, 2012 I was fortunate enough to be a part of that moment.

They were married outside at a small Italian villa in Warwick, NY ~ just over the NJ border and about 45 minutes west of Manhattan.

The wedding was small, simple and elegant.

My sister in law is a woman of exceptional taste.

My baby brother Chris was the best man. Just looking at these two standing there together and I was already tearing up!

My beautiful daughter was the flower girl.

Isn't Stacey so chic in her tea length dress?

I love a bride who sways from the full gown and fuss and frills and opts for something so stylish and unique.

Hooray!

Spelling may not be their strong suit, but cooking certainly is!

My boys.

My life would never be what it is without these two in it.

I get emotional even looking at this picture as my heart is filled with so much love and admiration for my brothers.

Silvio's was charming and September was a perfect time for a wedding. The grounds were still lush and green and the warm afternoon sun made for a stunning backdrop.

My sister in law made the centerpieces herself.

Aren't they sweet?

Isn't this cake so perfect for this wedding?

I'm not lying when I tell you it was the best wedding cake I have ever tasted too!

We were able to grab their photographer and get a family picture outside as the reception began.

It is my favorite family photo yet.

I would have been remiss not to share this wonderful day that was so full of love and warmth because it was spent with all of my most favorite people.

Rainy December Sunday

2012-12-10T06:27:00.000-05:00

We were supposed to spend Sunday in NYC doing the typical holiday~ish NYC things. Rockefeller Center, American Girl store, ogling the magnificient windows along 5th Ave and winding the day down with dinner in Little Italy.

When we woke that morning, it was pouring outside. We live so close to NYC that we decided to switch gears and wait until next weekend. There might not be much worse than wandering for hours in the cold rain with a 10 year old who will inevitably become wet, tired and cranky.

I'd much prefer the tired and cranky without being sopping wet.

Since she had been counting down the days all week my daughter was completely devastated. To soften the blow we hopped in the car and headed to Red Bank NJ, a beautiful and hip little hamlet on the New Jersey shore.

I've blogged about Red Bank before. It is the town where my parents met, I was born, and my grandfather owned an amazing little corner shop called The Threshold (it is now an Urban Outfitters. How times change!) It is quaint and lovely and will always have a special place in my heart for more reasons than just the magnificent shopping!

We enjoyed a late lunch at The Dublin House which looks as if it was snatched right from a miniature Christmas Village. Trust me, it is just as adorable inside and the food is nothing short of amazing. My husband enjoyed Bangers and Mash and I had an amazing Corned Beef melt at a cozy table in front of the fireplace where we found ourselves lingering to enjoy an extra pint or two.

We browsed through Sickles Market in a neighboring town called Little Silver. Sickles is a small mom and pop gourmet grocer and gift shop that started off as a roadside corn stand when I was just a small child. All summer long my grandparents would stop on the drive home from the beach to buy fresh corn on the cob to have with dinner. At the holidays they have an amazing Christmas shop set up in the greenhouses overloaded with trinkets, treasures and pointsettas as far as the eye can see.

We finally found ourselves over at The Grove at Shrewsbury which was New Jersey's first lifestyle center - built back in the late '80s. It is a treasure trove of fine shopping where my daughter promptly fell in love with Anthropologie.

"They just have a little bit of EVERYTHING!"

I might be in trouble now.

It was a lovely day doing everything we would have done in New York, just on a smaller more local scale.

Plus, we stayed pretty dry. Win - Win.

What did you do this weekend?

In The Men's Department

2012-12-07T04:00:00.000-05:00

I decided this fall that my wardrobe is seriously lacking crewneck sweaters.

Especially a black one.

You see, dress code at work is in one sentence: not my cup of tea.

We can wear the newest products until they go 50% off or more. If we choose not to, then it's all black or black and white or; all black with a "pop" of color. As in a scarf or top or accessories.

I am a color person. All black is way too boring for me.

And buying the latest stuff only so I can NOT wear black is vexing on my wallet.

So I decided that if I found a black crewneck sweater, I could utilize my button ups as my pop of color.

Goodness knows I have a million of them!

Did you know that finding a PLAIN black crewneck is almost impossible right now?

JCrew, The Limited, The Gap....I tried all the usual suspects right away and was shocked to discover that a regular crewneck was not to be had.

Bateau necks, ribbed sleeves, or in JCrew's case; they didn't make them at all this year! (?!?!?)

I was about to give up the idea of it when luckily my husband realized that he has outgrown 90% of his work pants. I told him I would pick him up a few new pairs and found myself in LL Bean later that same day.

Once I secured a few new pairs of khakis I meandered to the women's section in search of my sweater.

Of course they did not have one either.

Yet, at that moment ingenuity struck and I rushed back to the men's department and found a simple, black crewneck in cotton. At a fabulous price too, I might add.

A men's size small is just roomy enough for layering and works perfectly with skinny black pants and riding boots for work.

And those button ups are finally getting some use again!

Thanks LL Bean for not swaying from the path of truly classic sweater making!

Do you ever find yourself in the men's department shopping for what is not to be had in the women's?

Weeknight Chef ~ Stuffed Peppers

2012-12-06T06:50:00.000-05:00

Life is a little crazy around here sometimes and I'm sure it is in your household too.

Two working parents, two kids in school, and two dogs...it's alot to manage sometimes. In spite of the chaos on the weekdays one thing we always make time for is dinner together.

Many nights this means we are not sitting down to eat until 8pm or so, but dining as a family is a non negotiable in our home.

I do our grocery shopping on the weekends and then plan our meals according to where I am traveling for work each day. 3 hours of commuting always equals something simple with virtually no prep or lengthy cook time. One of my new "go to" meals for days like this is Stuffed Peppers.

Besides the ease of preparation and cooking, I like the fact that it provides fresh vegetables and portion control. You can only eat what fits into one pepper! My only challenge is filling them with contents that will leave my husband and 18 year old son feeling full.

The fun part is that it affords me the chance to be creative with each version I make. I've made them stuffed with ground sausage and pasta, I've made them with just meat and cheese.

Last night's version was with taco meat, rice, beans and a variety of cheeses.

The only trick is to cooking the peppers for a little while in a 350 degree oven to soften them up a bit before you fill them. Sometimes I even prep the peppers in the morning before leaving, then have my son pop them on a baking sheet and into the oven while I am driving home. This saves even more time and gets dinner on the table even faster once I have arrived.

Let your imagination run wild and I'm sure it will become one of your favorites too!

That House That You Love

2012-12-05T04:00:00.000-05:00

Do you ever pass by a home that leaves you swooning out of your car window?

Or praying for stop signs or red lights so you get a minute to ogle at it?

I shared with you all in the past how my home was the house my mother used to stare longingly at when we were children. And for the past few years I have had my own piece of eye candy.

This blue farmhouse sits on a corner on the ride I take out to my office. It inspired my front step redo back in 2010. Every season and holiday it is so impecably appointed that I long to knock on the front door, express my admiration and solicit the owner for best friendship.

At night when I am driving home, I slow down and hope for a peek inside those windows at the life being lived inside.

It may sound "stalkerish" to some, but for those of you that have that special house you love to pass ~ you know exactly what I mean.

Decking My Halls ~ The Dining Room

2012-12-04T04:00:00.000-05:00

When my sister in law and nieces presented me with this lovely little house cloche for my birthday back in November; they had no idea that they would inspire my holiday dining room decor.

We do not normally exchange birthday gifts amongst the adults in our family, but they were living with us in the wake of Sandy when they gave me this thoughtful little token.

I had admired the little house everytime we went to Target but passed it up again and again because it was not a necessity and I certainly have no shortage of decorative items!

It inspired me to gather all my beloved cloches and steal a few bottle brush trees from our Christmas village.

I bought 2 unfinished pedestals at my local craft store that uncannily fit a matching pair of cloches precisely. I spray painted them antique gold to compliment my pheasants.

I am a fan of symmetry and balance but like things grouped in odd numbers. I anchored the center of the display with a huge cloche over a square white cake stand that holds a mini forest of trees.

The faux snow was also "borrowed" from the village.

To create balance with the little house I used a small cloche atop a cream white tea cup saucer. Inside I placed 2 random white bottle brush trees I found packed in the box of village decor.

Nothing pleases me more than using all purpose decorative items to create new holiday displays. It's a great way to change the look around the house each year without investing in pricey holiday items.

It just takes that sweet little bit of inspiration ~ and maybe a sweet sister in law too.

Do you change your holiday decor around each year?

The Tree Farm

2012-12-03T07:07:00.000-05:00

The very first Christmas I was dating my husband he was appalled that I had an artificial Christmas tree.

In fact he announced that that Christmas would be the very last one the artificial tree was used.

Indeed it was.

For the past 12 years we have bought a fresh cut tree. For the past 8 of them, we have cut them down ourselves at a small tree farm in New Egypt, NJ.

Lone Silo Farm is small and understated. It lacks the giant wooden roadside Santa cutouts and garishly decorated entrances of many of the other tree farms we pass on the way. Each year the same friendly young guys ride around on ATV's at the ready to give you a hand transporting your tree back to the car. Every year the unassuming owner greets you with a smile as he stands next to a knock down table with a giant thermos of hot cider. Those steaming styrofoam cups of cider might even be our favorite part of the whole experience.

Cutting down our tree at Lone Silo is now a tradition in our family and one part of Christmas that we all look forward to.

This year we found "the one" in record time. One of those friendly guys was at the ready and toted our find back for us. Of course the Little Miss opted for a ride back too! They loaded the tree on the top of the car, we sipped our delicious hot cider, and we were off - heading home to decorate it in all it's holiday finery.

Another year, another memory made.

What kind of tree do you have?

And, if it's real, do you cut it down yourself?