Blogging Molly

Fall Is Here - Fall Mantle Decor

2011-10-03T13:32:00.000-07:00

Fall is my favorite time of the year. I love the baking, the apple picking, the cooler weather, the leaves changing colors and Halloween. But my favorite thing about fall is decorating for it! I don't put a ton of stuff out, but I like to add a few touches around the house that look more fallish.

In honor of my favorite season, I thought I'd do a series on fall decorating in October. Today I'll be sharing some autumn inspired fireplace mantles. I know not everyone has a fireplace, but it's always nice to look at pictures of them right? Here are a few of my favorites from pinterest:

I realize that this is a piano - and a very cool, old white one at that - but this same look could be used on a fireplace mantle. I love the banners!

So spooky and old school. Love the black and white and silver!

Hit up your local thrift store or salvage yard for some cool, old shutters and you've got yourself an amazing looking Halloween mantle! I love how they hung them off balance.

Further proof that Halloween decor doesn't have to be scary!! I love this simple, black and white decor.

Really digging this perfectly balanced mantle in black.

A very fun, casual take on fall

More formal, but I love it

Who says you have to save all your bling for Christmastime?? LOVE this one!!

I hope you found some inspiration in those fun mantle photos! Here are a couple of shots of my fireplace mantle dressed up for Halloween. I will probably add a few white mini pumpkins, but for now this is what it looks like!!

Happy Fall!!! Stay tuned for some outdoor photos tomorrow!!

House Tour - Family Room Before & After

2011-09-27T16:08:00.000-07:00

I think I'm finally done enough with my family room to post a few pictures of it. The pictures are terrible because it has been so dark and rainy outside today AND also because my camera stinks AND also because I probably don't really know how to use it very well. Now that I've gotten all those disclaimers out of the way, here is the family room before. And after.

BEFORE:
There wasn't anything wrong with the family room before. There were just too many colors happening. And it wasn't really our style. Here are a few before shots taken at different times. You can see we had carpet at one point. And the fireplace wall was open too!!

AFTER:

Neutral wall color, new pillows/art/rug. Looking for one more sofa pillow in the perfect apple green color. You can never have too many throw pillows! I'm also thinking some sort of ottoman or coffee table might be nice in here? But it might be too much....

We have so much more room with the television over the fireplace. We still plan on adding decorative molding to the columns and building a shelf over the components for more storage.

A view from the kitchen area

A tall bookcase houses baskets for dvds and magazines

And that completes our tour of the family room! We love the way it turned out. It matches our personalities and suits our needs perfectly just the way a family room should! Thanks for stopping by to check it out!!

Want to know where we got everything?? Here's a break down....

Paint - Benjamin Moore's 'Shaker Beige'
Sofas - Sam's Club (we'll eventally replace these but for now we're good!)
End Table & Bookshelf - World Market
Throw Pillows - various etsy sellers
Wall frames and ledge - IKEA
Area Rug - Target
'LOVE' print - MadeByGirl on etsy
Home print - FREE printable you can find here http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/05/filler-print.html

To Catch A Hamster

2011-09-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

Cats supposedly have nine lives. How many, I ask you, do you think hamsters have? In our case, at least two. My kids' little hamster Lucy escaped from her cage in the night, ate mouse poison, got stuck to a sticky trap (DON'T even flipping ask) and lived to tell about it. Bad ass, right?

Just when we thought things were about the get boring (hahahahahahaha), she escaped again. We still have no idea how, but she did. We noticed she was gone Thursday night last week. We turned the entire house upside down looking for her furry little butt. No luck. I figured she was gone for good this time. But the kids put food out for her and in the morning it was gone. Sooooooo we knew she was still around.

After a couple of days of seeing absolutely NO trace of her, we decided to pick up a live mouse trap at our local home improvement store. It didn't work. She didn't go for it. Two days later, but still no hamster. Things weren't looking so good for Lucy.

And then just when we were about to give up, we came home this afternoon from running errands and who should we see hiding out behind the dryer but our long lost little hamster!! Thinking and acting quickly like Chris Hanson from "To Catch A Predator", Kevin grabbed a shoe box and sprung into action. WARNING: THESE NEXT FEW PHOTOS ARE VERY GRAPHIC AND MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUNG CHILDREN

Success!!!! We are happy to report that Lucy was apprehended quickly and that no hamsters OR husbands were harmed in the process. We have a new and improved, escape free cage where Lucy is now resting comfortably with her sister Fat Phoebe. Reunited and it feels so good!!

Abby's Room

2011-09-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting to post photos of the kids' rooms because they're not really done yet. They still need quarter round for crying out loud! I'm constantly changing and adding to rooms anyways, so I figured why not post a few!! I have plans for these rooms as far as how to make them more efficient - think storage. But anywho, here is Abby's room. Her room actually used to be Ethan's room. We switched them around last summer because it made more sense this way.

Bad picture quality! When you enter her room, this is what you see... usually with more toys on the floor, but I just cleaned! :) I'm planning on adding a band of material to the bottom of the curtain panels that coordinates with her bedding. And we still need to hang some more things on the wall.

Her bedding is from Target and the headboard is actually from Walmart online. We got such a great deal on everything!! The entire room was themed around the stuffed monkey you see on her bed. The very talented Sarah Mock aka Odd Dotty made Molly Monkey for her birthday and she adores it. I am thinking of ditching the little bookshelf in between the windows and doing white, floor to ceiling built ins on either side of her bed. Maybe like this?

You know how much I heart construction. :)

Her dresser which is about to be painted white. She has her own bulletin board for photos and drawings. Notice the disco ball. ;) Dance parties happen in here quite often!!

The incredible wall of closets. Sooooooooooo not sure what needs to happen to make this better looking. I've thought long and hard about opening them up OR taking the doors off and putting curtains up instead. I thought about painting them a differnt color?? I don't know what to do. Abby's clothes, etc are in the closet on the right. Kevin's entire drum set is in the closet on the left. Dilema.

So that's my little tour of Abby's room!! Have you made any changes to your kids' rooms lately? How do you cope with storage/closet issues without making the room look too cluttered? I'm open for any and all suggestions! I need all the help I can get!!

Garage Sneak Peek

2011-09-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Just a quick peek at what we've been working on.....

We still have to mount the shelves to the wall and we're going to epoxy the floor in black and grey, but it's finally starting to come together. I have to hit that door with another coat of black paint too. But it's looking so great! We have a nice little shoe bench and a place to hang bike helmets next to the door. The shelves that are to the right will be used for extra things like toilet paper, water, etc. I even have a place for my Aldi bags now!! All this stuff used to be shoved into overflowing closets. It will be so nice to free up that space!! Stay tuned for even more pictures once everything is really for really real done!!!

DIY Carriage Garage Door

2011-09-05T06:43:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what to do to make your plain builder garage door look like one of those expensive carriage house doors? Me too. But wonder no more! Thanks to some $25 ebay hardware, a small can of black rustoleum paint and some painters tape, I now have a very cool door!

I found this idea on pinterest (of course!) and the hardware I got here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Decorative-Garage-Door-Carriage-House-Hardware-/290560599077?pt=Garage_Doors_Openers&hash=item43a6c2e425
This wasn't a difficult or time consuming project at all, BUT you have to make sure you're careful when taping. I *thought* I had purchased the green "frog" tape at Menard's but it actually turned out to be the blue tape wrapped in a green label. How confusing right? So instead of going back to the store to exchange it, I went for it and used the blue tape. The black paint bled pretty bad, so now I have to go back over the edges with a smaller brush and some white paint. The line down the middle of the garage to make it look like two separate doors bled the worst. Ugh!!!

Here is a photo of the "during" process. There's only one coat of black gloss paint on the faux windows at this point. I did three coats.

Here is the street view of the door all finished. If you get up close, you can obviously tell the windows are painted on. But I don't care!! I think it looks so much better than it did when it was just a plain, white door!!

We have been busy cleaning and organizing the garage these past couple of weeks. The walls are all drywalled and painted. The doors on the inside are painted and we're getting ready to epoxy the floor in the next couple of weeks. Our garage has been this dark, junky place since we've lived here. Everything we didn't want inside the house just got chucked out there. We're trying to make it more of an extension of our home, so I thought the doors needed a facelift too! Stay tuned for photos of the finished garage renovation!!

DIY Floating Shelves

2011-08-08T08:17:00.000-07:00

It all started when I couldn't find floating shelves in the right size. Not at Ikea, not at target, not at West Elm, not anywhere. I had been searching for some for over the toilet in the downstairs bathroom, but they needed to be just under thirty inches wide. I wanted them to fit exactly in between the two walls so that I could put extra toilet paper and other cool/useful stuff on them. Sort of like these:

We all know that Kevin and I are no strangers to a good DIY project, especially one involving lots of liquid nails and plywood. And it just so happened that we had some plywood leftover in the garage from another build. Hooray for free floating shelves!!!

http://www.younghouselove.com/2010/04/build-it-with-ana-floating-shelves/

We used the tutorial from Young House Love and Ana (from Knock Off Wood) to figure out how to build ours. Check out the above link if you want to make your own! We used strips of wood to make a frame on the back and sides of the walls and spaced them about fourteen inches apart. Then we attached plywood to the top and bottom of the wood frame.

After that, we nailed a strip of wood to the front of the plywood. I am still in the process of sanding, priming and painting them. Ours will be white, but you could definately stain them as well. Here's what they look like before paint...

Stay tuned for the after pics when it's all painted and decorated!

Sew Happy - A Kitchen Window Treatment Love Story

2011-07-19T07:37:00.000-07:00

If you had told me years ago or even months ago that I would attempt to sew my own kitchen window treatment, I'd have thought you were crazy. Sewing has always freaked me out. The thought of buying fabric and trying to make something and having it end up looking like total ass, the work and the frustration of wasted time. I don't know. I just never thought I'd be the sewing kind of person. And I was okay with that.

Well, that all changed when my parents bought Abby a little sewing machine for Christmas last year. It's not a little kid sewing machine, just a more compact version of a regular, adult one. It's so easy to use! Abby just dove right into using it. She was never afraid to try and fail, so I thought I'd take a cue from her and give it a shot. She's been my little sewing mentor!! We started out with small projects like hemming curtains and things like that. Then we made some pillow covers with an envelope back. It wasn't so hard!

bedroom pillow covers...

Months into this home renovation, the kitchen window has remained treatment-less. It has a plantation blind for privacy, but needed something colorful and exciting to dress it up a bit. There are some problems with the window though. For one thing, it's HUGE. Like stupid huge. 72" wide to be exact. I would rather have it be half the size and put another set of kitchen cabinets or wall shelving on the other side, but Kevin says there will be no replacing of windows or siding right now. Poop. The other problem is that the sink isn't centered underneath. I had thought about doing two short panels on either side, but because of that it would just look lame. Needless to say, it was kind of a dilema and nothing I could find in stores really worked for the window. Nothing was the right size or shape or even the right color. I looked online at lots of stores too, but short of spending hundreds of dollars there just wasn't a lot to choose from.That's when I started thinking about sewing something myself. Which is crazy. But, crazy just happens to be my middle name.

So I began looking at all sorts of photos on pinterest and searching google for DIY window shades. I found some pretty good faux roman shade tutorials, but wasn't sure all of those folds would look great on that large and in charge window. Then I found the perfect solution on this amazing blog called The It Girl Project.

It was simple looking like a valance, but just a little fancier with the tie ups. AND there was a tutorial on how to make the shade which was even more perfect. Here it is for those who are interested: http://theitgirlproject.com/2011/02/22/diy-window-shades/
And it just so happened that I liked the fabric in the inspiration photo and that it came in my favorite color - apple green!! Alas, the stars aligned and all was right with the universe. It looked like I would have my perfect window treatment after all!!

The fabric arrived last week, so Abby and I got to work making the shade yesterday afternoon. The It Girls used Stitch Witchery for their shade, but we decided to sew ours. Other than that, it's made the same. After a lot of measuring, cutting, ironing, pinning, sewing and cursing (just kidding. Well, not really), we had our window shade!!! Here are some photos of it at night and one during the day. See how I need a new camera really bad?!?!!?

The It Girls used ribbon to tie up their shade, but we opted to make ours out of the leftover fabric from the shade. I wasn't sure it would turn out, but it did! Woo hoo! There are two wooden dowel rods in the bottom of the shade for support. If you wanted your shade to hang loosely (think shabby chic), you could skip the rod. There are lots of options!!

I LOVE how this window turned out! I guess the moral of the story is not to be afraid to try something new. I'm a long way from a pro and if you look closely at the shade you would definately notice that. But it's more than I ever thought I could do!! I'd love to hear some of your sewing success stories! Any window treatment dilemas you've solved with a sewing machine??

House Tour - The Office

2011-07-14T11:52:00.000-07:00

As much as things are SUPER unfinished around here, I thought I would take the time on Fridays to do a tour of a different room in our house. I've learned things will never really be finished with me because I am constantly tweaking and rearranging!! Plus, it's fun to see how far we've come!!

The first tour is going to be of our home office. Kevin doesn't work from home very often, but when he does it's nice to have a nice big desk area with two different workstations for both of us. All of the furniture in this space is from Ikea except for the little, round side table. Before we see current photos, let take a trip down memory lane to see what this space looked like before it became "the office."

First, it was an empty, lack luster, beige carpet filled formal dining room....

Then we painted it merlot, but we still NEVER used it as a formal dining room.....

Then we turned it into a awesome homeschooling space for our kids, but it was so dark and sort of a catch all for junk....

Then we closed it in, added french doors and painted it a bright, fun chartreuse/apple green - Sweet Daphne by Benjamin Moore. These are the progress photos... what a mess! But what a transformation!!

Now, it's our home office!!! Here it is today.

We seriously use the heck out of this room. All of the kids' school books are in our generously sized Expedit wall shelving. We have plenty of space for everything!! I am still going to be adding more decorative pieces to the Expedit and changing some of the white boxes over to baskets at some point. We still need art for the top of it as well. I would also like to get a desk lamp and some cute plants for the Lack shelf over the desk. And of course once winter hits again, we'll want some sort of warm graphic rug to keep our feet warm while blogging!!

That it for this Friday's house tour!! Hope you enjoyed it!! Stay tuned for next week when we tour the kitchen!!

Master Bedroom Ramblings/Cane Chair Progress

2011-07-14T09:40:00.000-07:00

Can we all just agree that Pinterest is soooooooo addicting? It's bad people. I need an intervention! One good thing about it is that it's helped me come up with some great ideas for all of these in limbo projects we have going on here. Take the master bedroom, for example. It's slow going, but progress is progress. Right? Kevin and I stayed up until 1 am last weekend working on the thrift store cane chair. We had a few issues (most of which came from the fact that we were sampling a few new beers we picked up at the Sprecher Brewery in WI), but all in all I'm happy with it! We still have to get some more staples to finish the front - see how the fabric is sort of hanging off? And I have to buy some of that cording to trim out the back and bottom edges so you won't see the staples. Then we'll call Candi the cane chair DONE!

My daughter Abby (sewing genious at age 8) and I also made up some throw pillow covers to match!! I'm super pumped about how things are looking so far. Here's a photo update and inspiration pics/notes about where my brain is headed with the rest of this transformation. :)

Nice, dark picture!! My camera sux!!!

Up close..... fabric hanging off needs to be cut & trim added to it

Another view... prob going to do a couple of large pieces of art OR maybe a smallish gallery wall?? Like these....

OR

More photos.....

New bed pillows to match chair fabric... prob going to hang a sunburst mirror over the bed and add some frames over each nightstand like these... (and we still need some cool lamps too)

Near....

And far...... ;) grover reference

The door dilema or doorlema is going to be solved by adding a full length mirror to the front of the closet door (door #1 or the door on the far left). The door into our room (door #2 or the middle door) will stay as is. Door #3 or the bathroom door will be replaced with a full view frosted glass door. I feel like that will help open up the space of all those doors without making it look super weird. Here are a couple of idea photos...

Mirrored door for closet....

Frosted glass "bath" door :)

A few more photo updates that have nothing to do with the bedroom and then I will stop pic spamming!!! The laundry room lighting has always been total crap. We found an inductrial looking pendant light on sale for $15 on our latest Lowe's trip. Woo hoo, score!!! Here's what it looks like hanging in our laundry room.

How much do I love the giant Minion Abby drew on the chalkboard door?? So much!!!! :) Nevermind the fact that I almost sh!t myself every time I walk into the laundry room thinking it's a real person. Yes, I need new glasses.

In other thrifting news.... check out my super awesome $39 find!! They don't just sell cane chairs!!! :)

It's an old server, but Kevin and I plan on turning it into a bathroom vanity when we redo the kids' bathroom this fall/winter. :) It's going to look amazing!!! Picture it painted a bright turquoise with a cool vessel sink on top!!! Like this:

LOVE this color combo....

The vessel sinks at Menard's are $49, so this little project will be under $100 and look like a million bucks. Fingers crossed.

Well, that's it for now. Whew, that was a lot of pictures!!! Hopefully this next couple of weekends will bring more progress in the way of wall art for the bedroom. That is if I can make up my mind!!!

Fabric Guru & Candi

2011-06-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

Happy Summer, everybody!! After a cold and extra rainy start, summer is officially here. We have been out enjoying the weather, so I haven't had a lot of extra time to blog or work on the many home improvement projects that I have going on. I wanted to post a quick update on my bedroom cane chair project before we head to the pool to soak up some sun!

BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER:
?????????

You'll remember my chair update, pictured above. We ripped it to shreds - tore off the old fabric, pulled out the disintegrated foam padding and springs that we inside of the chair. I primed and painted "Candi" (that's what we named her. Yes, you can name a chair!) in same color we painted the drawer fronts of my Ikea Rast nightstands. It's Olympic's 'parchment white', which if you're wondering is the PERFECT match to Ikea's white furniture finish. Pure awesomeness!

The bed pretty much still looks like this..... although I have two Ikea lumbar (14x22) pillows on it now. Still looking for some sweet matching lamps for the nightstands. I am also planning on taking the vinyl wall decal off and replacing it with some sort of a sunburst mirror. I saw some nice ones at Hobby Lobby yesterday that were 50% off, but still not in the budget right now. But anyways, I DID score a suh-weeeeeeet deal on some fabric seconds at http://www.fabricguru.com. The fabric is by Richloom and it's called 'Campione.' It has a slight, barely there defect so it was marked down to $5.95 a yard! Now that's what I call a deal!! Here it is shown below on a pillow so you can see what the pattern looks like:

Don't you love it??!!! I think it will look amazing on the chair!! And I ordered enough fabric to recover the lumbar pillows on the bed as well. :) I adore the bright, happiness of the pattern and colors. I also love how it has the exact blue and yellow of the pillows and throw I bought from Meijer!! So excited for it to get here so I can finally finish "Candi" the cane chair!! When all is said and done, I will have spent $23 for the chair, $22 for the new foam padding and $12 for new fabric. That's less than $60 for a beautiful bedroom chair!!! :) Hooray for thrifting!

More photo updates soon!!! We're off to enjoy the day!!!!

I've Been Framed - Part Deux

2011-06-16T07:58:00.000-07:00

See how I just used french right there? :) Nevermind the fact that I took french for three years in high school and that's all I remember!!! You know that post awhile back about my gallery wall in the front room? Well, I've made some small progress in finding fun art and things to put in those frames. I'm taking my time with it so it's still not done, but I wanted to throw up a few update pictures for fun anyways. Here's how it looked before:

And here's how it looks now:

I have a new pillow cover (still deciding on other prints for the other two - bringing in red & brown somehow), I finished painting the back of the fireplace tan to match the walls & added more objects, and I have several new prints in the frames!! The pointe shoe is from the etsy seller BalletArt, the drum set printed on sheet music is from the etsy seller FauxKiss, and the Chicago destination print is from tinyowlstudios - also an etsy seller. I have lots more things in my cart on etsy just waiting to be purchased!! The small, square black frame that you can barely see has our wedding invitation in it. I have some shadow box plans for the other two small frames - I was thinking of putting the kids' hospital bracelets in one. For the other one I want to put our first house key and our first car key in. Don't ask me why I still have them, but I do and I think they'd look cool inside a shadow box. I love how this wall is turning out. We have a ways to go, but we're getting there!!

AND I finally decided on a frame configuration for the other sofa wall in the family room! It took long enough. But if I've learned anything from home renovation/decorating it's that you can't rush it.

This was my inspiration photo for this wall:

Here is the blank wall before:

And here is how it looks now:

This darling print from Made By Girl will be going in the largest frame and the other ones will hold family photos. I love the big number six in the inspiration pic, so no doubt I'll be on the lookout for a number five for my shelf. Hobby Lobby perhaps???

So that's it for my little update! Progress is slow, but sure. In other updates, we got some great news about our little Lulu the other day. Her EEG came back normal! The neuro says that she has a benign form of epilepsy that will eventually correct itself. So she could definately have some more seizures, but most likely she will outgrow them in a few years. We are so relieved!! Thanks to everyone for keeping her in your prayers!!!

Cane You Believe I'm Doing This??

2011-06-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

Cane chairs. Remember them? My mom had one back in the 80s. Well, what's old is new again because cane chairs are making a HUGE comeback in the design scene. They have great lines, are afforable and pretty easy to find if you know where to look. I have been stalking my local garage sale website and craigslist, but most of the cane chairs I've come across have either been in rotten shape or more than I'm willing to pay.

Since Kevin is on vacation, we decided to check out the local thrift store in hopes of finding the perfect chair. Thrift & Dollar on Lake Street in downtown Aurora - how did I not know about this place?! They had the coolest old stuff!! And talk about hitting the chair jackpot!! It was a wonderland of cane chairs!!! Yay!!! We picked up this beauty for all of $24. Woo hoo!!

I should have taken a photo before I ripped the back off. The fabric is toast and so are the guts, so I will be replacing the back and seat with new foam as well as fabric. Pulling all these staples out is going to be pretty time consuming. And since I've never really upholstered anything before, I don't really know what I'm doing. But for $24, I'm not out too much money if it turns out looking like crap right??

I'll be the first to say I've never been big into thrifting. Something about other people's old stuff freaks me out a little bit. It's not really a germ thing, but more of a past life thing. Furniture can have a past life right??? Ahhhhhhhh!!!! Let's just hope I didn't bring home a possessed chair. My plans for this thrifty beauty are undecided as of yet. I could go black or white as far as paint color. If the chair gets painted black, I'll probably go with a striking white fabric for contrast. If it gets painted white, the fabric will either be yellow or blue - maybe a print. Either way, I think it will make the perfect bedroom chair! Here are some of my inspiration photos....

Black & yellow, black & yellow!!

white looks nice too & would match my bed...

love the contrast

white & blue

so fun!

Love how they look in a room!

Different style, but I love the black with the white fabric

Another different style, but I love the print on this fabric!

Decisions, decisions!! Stay tuned for a more detailed tutorial of the chair demo. Hopefully it isn't a giant chair fail. I can't wait to see how it looks in its new home in my master bedroom!!

Master Bedroom Sneak Peak

2011-05-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess it's more than a sneak peak, but I wanted you to see how it's coming along since my last post. Our old bedroom looked like this.....

We sold the furniture and stuff on craigslist and used the money to buy this new Edlund bed from Ikea and a new memory foam mattress from Overstock. We'd been sleeping in a full bed and thought it was time to upgrade to a queen!! Here's what it looks like now!!

The duvet cover is from Ikea as are the bed and nightstands. The pillows and throw blanket are from Meijer!! I am in love with the new Katie Brown home decor line they are carrying in stores. Beautiful colors and great prices!!! I'm going with a tiffany blue, yellow and beigey/gray (greige?) color scheme in the room. Also keeping my eye out for a sweet sunburst mirror for over the bed. Here is what the rest of the room is looking like...

I am planning on some type of gallery wall of frames for this little space of wall next to the HUGE window. Thanks to Young House Love and House Tweaking blogs for showing me how to hang curtains high and wide. It makes such a big difference in how your windows look!!

Got this little round table for a steal of a deal at my local Target store. I have been searching craigslist and thrift stores for the perfect chair to go next to it!! Possibly something armless or maybe even rattan/wicker?? Or wait..... leather????? Who knows!!!! As far as what's going on the wall above, I'm leaning towards some type of canvas painting - probably from Homegoods or Etsy. Oh, and I'm trying my hand at customizing a lamp shade with some cool yellow chevron fabric I found. Which is why there's no shade on the floor lamp yet!!!

We will also be tackling our walk in closet at some point. Instead of spending buttloads of cash on built ins from California Closets or even Home Depot, we're going to try making our own. We might end up opening this wall up somehow - either by doing double doors with mirrors on them or maybe even some sort of curtained "dressing room" situation. I'm not sure yet. We have quite an issue with doors in our room. See below photo....

I have never liked how all of these doors look. The door into our room, the closet door and then the door into the bathroom are all right smack next to each other. Part of me wants to do away completely with the bathroom door, but then the other part of me thinks it would be a mistake. Esp when Kevin gets up at 5:00 am to shower and wakes me up because I've removed the bathroom door in the name of good design. Who knows what we'll end up doing. It's a dilema. A door dilema.

And now for my very cool, very affordable furniture project!!! We got rid of all of our dressers because I felt like they were really junking up the room. Plus, once we pimp our closet out we won't need them anyways. But I think every bedroom needs nightstands with cool lamps on them. I scoured thrift stores and craigslist for the perfect nightstand, but nothing really jumped out at me. Then I found this amazing Ikea dresser makeover at Aubrey and Lindsay's blog: http://aubreyandlindsay.blogspot.com/2009/09/side-table-project.html

Enter Ikea's $29 unfinished "Rast" dresser. Given it's small size, I wouldn't really call it a dresser. But it makes a perfect nightstand!!! After finding some affordable silver drawer pulls on ebay, I bought some black/brown wood stain and stained the outside and top of the dresser. It took about three coats and a quick sanding with steel wool in between each coat. Then I bought Glidden's "Parchment White" paint because the peeps over at Young House Love blog said it matched the Ikea white perfectly. And ta-da!!! My little Ikea dressers went from this:

To this!!!

I love a good makeover!!! Once I find some cool lamps to paint yellow and some frames and other little accessories, the nightstands will be complete! Now for one last photo: the hallway. I had this mirror that was originally in my bedroom that I didn't know what to do with. So, I hung it on the awkward wall in my hallway right at the top of the stairs. I feel like it opens the space up so much more!!!

That's about it for now, but you know I'll be sure to post more photos of the progress as it happens.

On a more serious note, we had quite a scare today. My youngest daughter Lulu had her first seizure in almost three years, so we spent the afternoon in the hospital keeping an eye on her. She seems to be doing much better now, but of course we are very upset. We had thought she'd outgrown these episodes, but apparently not. These next few weeks will undoubtedly bring a lot of testing and questions to which we may or may not get answers to. What we do know is that Lulu is very healthy otherwise. The seizures she's had in the past have not in any way affected her brain, her body or her spirit. She is one of the toughest, bravest people I know and she's only four. Any prayers you could offer up on her behalf would be much appreciated!!

New Music Monday 5/16/2011 'William Fitzsimmons'

2011-05-15T19:52:00.000-07:00

Well, hello there. I hope this blog post finds you warm and well. We're having a bit of a cold snap here in the midwest. We went from almost ninety degrees last week back down to the forties this afternoon. Brrrrrrr!!! Nothing like running both your A/C and your furnace in the same week!! No worries though..... we'll be sweating it out in the summer heat soon enough.

Today I spent the afternoon at home catching up on some much needed laundry and housework. I was also nursing a sickish husband. He came home Friday afternoon from work with a terrible toothache that drastically worsened over the weekend. Our dentist put up some pain meds and antibiotics to hold him over until he can have it pulled tomorrow morning. Poor guy. There's nothing worse than tooth pain!!!

While catching up on said housework and putting together some unfinished nightstands with Ethan (that kid is so amazing at assembling furniture from IKEA - he must get it from me right?), I of course had our Pandora radio playing in the background. We were keeping busy when this amazing song came on and I just had to stop and see who it was. It ended up being this guy I had never heard of before - William Fitzsimmons. That doesn't happen very often, so instantly I was super curious. I started looking up some of his work and listening to his other songs. Wow. I am hooked. It's so hit or miss with Pandora. You never know if it's just going to be the one song you're hearing that's great or if there's a whole album of amazingness.

William Fitzsimmons is one of those rare artists that really make me excited about music right now. The radio is so filled with crap. You can yell at me if you want to, but it just is. In a world full of overproduced crap, singer/songwriters like Fitzsimmon's are a breath of fresh air.

Who is this guy, you ask?? Well, he has had quite a different life from you or me. Both of his parents were blind, but quite musical. Due to their inability to communicate through visual means, their home was filled with the sounds of musical instruments and family sing-a-longs. He taught himself how to play several instruments and began recording his own music during the summer break of college. He was noticed on Myspace and gained quite a following from there, but once his songs were featured on hit tv shows like Grey's a Private Practice it didn't take long for people to get on board. He stands right up there with artists like Iron & Wine, Mumford and Sons, Sufjan Stevens and even the late great Elliott Smith. Most of his songs are quite serious in nature and tackle difficult subjects such as betrayal, divorce and mental illness. He has quite a few albums out - none of which I currently own at this time. I am still working my way through all of the tracks to decide which ones I'm going to get for myself!!! For now, here are a few of my absolute faves so far.....

'So This Is Goodbye'

'I Don't Feel It Anymore - Song of the Sparrow' duet with the lovely Priscilla Ahn

'I Kissed A Girl' Katy Perry Cover - this is brilliant!!!

'If You Would Come Back Home'

'Passion Play'

'I Don't Feel It Anymore' George Raquet Remix - I do love some remixes

'The Tide Pulls From the Moon' - luuuuvvvvvvv

That's about it for now! There are so many other songs of his to explore! But now I'm off to go enjoy the rest of the Bulls game with my doped up husband, a cup of tea and a blanket. Happy listening!!!!

I've Been Framed

2011-04-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

Or at least my front room wall has!! Ahhhh, the front room. What a transformation!!! Here is what the blank sofa wall looked like before...

Here is my inspiration photo a la Pottery Barn...

And here is what it looks like now after my trip to Ikea!!

I wish I would have taken some "during" photos. I used brown packaging paper and traced each frame before hanging them on the walls. It was quite a process but I think the end result is fab! Now I have the fun job of finding photos to put in all of these frames. I'm planning on making it a "Kevin and Molly" wall. Each photo will have something to do with us or where we've been or lived. Or what we do. Should be cool! I am still planning on making a piece of art for the upper right part of the wall above the one frame - maybe a black beat up board with the "312" area code on it??

Here's a look at some of the other parts of this room....

Ahhhh, the fireplace. It's such a hard thing to decorate given it's oddness. I will make it happen!!!

Da bar. This bar is one of my fave pieces of furniture. We make some good drinks here!!!

Notice how there isn't much wine in the wine rack?? I guess we drink it too fast to keep any there!! Want to know what my new fave wine is?? The Barefoot Sweet Red. It's amazing! And I don't normally even like red wine as much as I do white. I also love their Moscato. Amazing!!! Ugh. And don't pay any attention to the stairs. They are messed up AGAIN. The paint didn't stick. Why why why do I have so much trouble getting these stairs right?? I think I need a glass of wine......

I'm still collecting pillows from etsy for the sofa and chair. And I'm also on the lookout for a cool tray for the ottoman!!! Oh and there will be another photo over the chair. I just have to get to target for another one!!

I love how the wall turned out. Once we get some photos up in the frames and finish a few other things in here, I'll have more to share. Until then I'll be searching for the perfect photos!!! :)

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep....My Master (Bedroom) Plan

2011-04-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

Well, it finally feels like spring (and sometimes summer) here in my neck of the woods!! Yay! There is nothing like spring sunshine. All of my plants and flowers in the backyard are starting to come up, there are tiny little buds on all of my trees and the grass is the prettiest shade of green.

While there's a lot to be done outside, we were able to get a few things done the past few days. The garden is ready for all of our vegetable seeds we'll be planting within the next month - probably Mother's Day weekend. We took down the kids' wooden playset and gave it to a very nice family with two sweet little boys from our home town. And we've cut back some of the dead stuff from last year to make way for all the little green growth that's happening. I've also been spring cleaning and washing windows inside. We've made lots of donations to our local Good Will Store. It feels so good to get rid of all that extra stuff!! After all, less is more right? More or less. :)

As I was spring cleaning my master bedroom, I got to thinking about the changes I've been wanting to make in there. We are so happy with how the main floor renovations have turned out, I thought, "What the heck? Why not get started in here??" Haha. Nevermind the fact that we aren't technically "done" downstairs yet. I mean, we're done with the major stuff. But there's this....

I need to put another coat of the black on the stairs and then do the other ones, but I have to do it after the kids go to bed at night so they won't walk on them. And lately I haven't had the time!

And then there's this.... I still need to find an end table and some throw pillows (green like the office) and I can't decide what to put on the wall over this sofa....

Or this one actually.....still looking for the right pillows (green ones) to complete the look on the big sofa and make up my mind about wall art/pictures....

So many little things to finish up!! Really it's just wall art related. Nothing too tricky. So!! I decided to just go ahead and sell the orangey oak matchy matchy dressers and nightstands that we've had for the past few years. And the wrought iron bed. I listed them all yesterday on craigslist. When I spoke of my plans to my wonderful husband he just laughed at me. So I took that as his enthusiastic blessing!! :) Basically the plan is to do built-ins in our walk-in closet to maximize the space. We're making them ourselves rather than buying a closet system because they're just too freaking expensive. Once we get the closet done, we won't need so many huge dressers and chests. Right now there is just too much furniture in a not so big room. Here are some inspiration photos of where I'm going with this...

Aren't they gorgeous? I'm thinking - dark wood canopy bed + white bedding + lots of comfy throw pillows... maybe some second hand nightstands that I can paint white.... maybe an armless chair in the corner with pillows and a throw.... and a little round table next to it. There it is! My master bedroom plan!! Stay tuned for photo updates of that and also maybe some progress on the other crap I haven't finished yet. Hopefully.

New Music Monday 4/4/2011 'Faded Paper Figures'

2011-04-03T19:36:00.000-07:00

Can it really be Sunday again?? The weeks go so fast I can hardly keep up!! I'm going to have to type this out fast because I just checked the weather map and it looks like we're in for a pretty decent spring storm. Those of you who know me well know that storms are not my favorite. Guess I will be taking the weather radio to bed with me tonight!

The band I'm writing about this week is an indie electronica group called 'Faded Paper Figures' that hails from LA. The trio consists of John Williams and Kael and Heather Alden. They started writing music back in 2007 and ended up putting a few songs up on myspace under the name Machine Discourse. Obviously, they later changed their name to Faded Paper Figures or FPF.

FPF's first album titled 'Dynamo' was well received and described as "a balance of upbeat and soothing electronics.' They've been compared to The Postal Service which certainly shouldn't hurt their feelings. I personally love the balance of chill and fun these guys offer up in their songs. And not only are they musically talented, they're smart. Heather is currently a med student at UCLA and John is a professor of English and media studies at Yale. But they've still been able to follow their passion and make great music. Here are a few top picks from their 2008 album....

'North By North'

'B film'

'Logos' :) maybe my fave of all

'Polaroid Solution' sooooo Postal Service-y & yep it was played on Grey's

'I Fell Off My Name'

'The Persuaded'

Despite how busy they've been with school, FPF came out with a second album last year called 'New Medium.' I freaking LOVED the first album, but this one is amazing. I love everything! It's too hard to pick which songs to share here, but are my faves....

'Invent It All Again' LOVE

'Limelight'

'You Know What I Mean'

'Small Talk'

'One More Crash'

'The Cold Wars'

'New Medium'

If you're looking for fun and upbeat music, neither of these albums will let you down!!! Happy listening and Happy New Music Monday!!!

Do You See What I See?

2011-03-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

I've been pondering over what to hang on the walls since we painted them way back before Christmas. One wall in particular that's always been a big question mark for me is the wall opposite our kitchen table. It's an odd little wall that isn't really big enough for any sort of buffet or hutch or even really any shelves. But whatever gets put there needs to really make a statement. It's a dilema, I know. I thought about doing a grouping of frames but I've done that before. I thought about a big piece of art, but nothing I've seen has really spoken to me. I've gone back and forth about a big floor mirror, but worried about the size. Size is always an issue isn't it? And I wondered, "do I really WANT to see myself eating?"

Sooooooo, after much debate we took a trip to Ikea on a Sunday afternoon (don't ever go to Ikea on a Sunday, by the way) and picked up the black/brown framed Mongstad mirror. At only $99, it stole my heart without stealing all of my money. I was worried, but I am really happy with how it looks on the wall. It's big enough, but not too big. And you actually can't see yourself eating because of the fact that the wall isn't really in line with the table so much. Win!! Here's how it looks from a couple of different angles....

From the family room:

It works out nice because the frame of the mirror is the same finish as the shelves just around the corner in the front room:

From the kitchen:

Phew. It feels good to have at least one wall out of the way! Now I can focus on the walls over the couches!! Stay tuned!!!

New Music Monday 3/28/2011 'Radical Face'

2011-03-27T20:23:00.000-07:00

Holy balls, it's been a long time since I've written about music. I don't know how many people actually read my blog, but I used to post music reviews every Monday. With everything going on I just haven't had the time to keep it up, but I really miss it. But it's been so long since I've done it that it's hard to know how to start again. So here I am on a Sunday night trying to type out my latest find!!

We're at that weird time of year here in the midwest where it's not winter anymore (thank you, Jesus) but it's not really that nice outside yet. It sucks. I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some consistently warm temps! Being stuck inside has its advantages though. I'm getting a lot of projects done (more on that later) all while listening to some great new music!! One new find I'm really enjoying lately is a one man band called 'Radical Face.' Radical Face is just a dude named Ben Cooper who happens to be from Jacksonville. He's also part of other popular groups Electric President and Iron Orchestra. If you like Sufjan Stevens, Elliott Smith or Animal Collective you will be a fan of Radical Face.

Cooper's album 'Ghost' was four years in the making and came out way back in March of 2007. Why it hasn't gotten more attention is completely beyong me. There's a subtle layering of drums and lyrics and sound effects of times gone by - maybe one of the most beautiful albums I've ever heard. It is a discreet masterpiece. What makes it even cooler is that it's a concept album. The idea behind it is that houses retain stories of things that have happened in them. The people that live in a home leave their "ghosts" behind. Each track on the album tells a story - some from the house's point of view. Ben Cooper even talked about an old house he grew up in as one of the inspiration's for the album. I'm a dork, but I think this is so right on and cool. I grew up in an older home as well and this gives new meaning to the phrase "if walls could talk." Everytime I go back "home" I can almost hear the memories that were made there - making blanket forts, doing homework at the kitchen table, playing in the side yard..... It always made me wonder what kinds of memories were made in that house before I lived there. I think that's sort of what this album is all about.

Here are some of my favorite tracks from Radical Face's Album 'Ghost.'

"Welcome Home" - looooovvvvveeeeeee

'Let the River In'

'Glory'

'Wrapped In Piano Strings'

'Haunted'

'Winter Is Coming'

'Homesick'

I feel like this album could be a soundtrack for a little unknown, indie film or something. The more I listen, the more I love. I hope you will too!!

Where Things Stand

2011-02-17T08:42:00.001-08:00

Hey, everybody! Just wanted to update the blog with a few before and after photos of the progress on the house. It's amazing how much a few changes like paint and curtains can make. It definately makes the house seem bigger!! The colors we chose were all very neutral to keep the space light and open feeling. I also plan on bringing that fun green color from the office into the other rooms with pillows and small accents. Ready for some before and after fun?

The stairs before...

The stairs after.... I still have to finish painting the ballusters white and the treads black. I ran out of the tan paint we used on the main floor, so I have to go back for more so I can paint up the stairwell into the hallway.

This little hallway is going to get a gallery wall of old family pictures in different sizes of white wall frames.

Now for the front room. This room used to be our computer/toy/sitting/everything room. It's now a kid free zone with comfy seating and a bar area!! I still have some trim work to do here and there. I also have a lot of accessorizing to do! Throw pillows, wall art and end tables!! For now, here are the before and afters...

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After: Yay, DIY coat rack area!!!!

And last, we have the family room and eating area. I added a chalkboard wall which has become home to fun little kid drawings and lots of grocery/to do lists. I'm still trying to decide what to do as far as wall art in here, but am thinking of doing a big floor mirror by the kitchen table. Not sure about it though - do people want to watch themselves eat? I will probably do some big framed photos of the kids over the couch again. And I need different covers for those tan pillows (hello, etsy!) and some more fun things for my bookshelf. I am planning on DIY'ing some faux roman shades for that big stupid window in the kitchen. It's just a matter of finding the right material! All in good time though!!

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Watch out for more updates as things get finished, but this is where things stand as of right now. Hope you enjoyed the before and after photos!! We've sure come a long way since we moved here seven years ago!!

The Office

2011-01-04T10:17:00.001-08:00

Well, hello there 2011!!! Gawd, can you believe it? The holidays flew right by just like usual and here it is a whole new year. I have been horrible with finding time to blog and hope to be able to get around to it more often this year, but between drastic home renovations, homeschooling, work and the everyday it might be a bit difficult!

Anyways, I promised I would update the blog with photos of the house once we weren't in such shambles around here. Shambles is just about the right word for what we were living in too. I am so happy with how everything has turned out so far, but let me just offer some advice to anyone who might ever think it's a good idea to take on a big home improvement project during the holidays: don't do it. Just. Don't. You know that Kevin and I both love DIY. Even though he tries to deny it, he loves a good project just as much as I do. But being tore up for the holidays was just way too much stress for everyone. Now that the messy parts are over and there's a nice big light at the end of the tunnel, we both feel a lot better about everything!

Now for the photos!! Here are a few "before shots" just so you can get an idea of what was done over the past couple of months....

School Room Before any construction took place:

Bye bye, dark red paint and oak furniture! We loved our school room, don't get me wrong. But we weren't really using it as much as we could have been - we usually do read alouds on the sofa and the kids were doing their workbooks and reading in the quiet privacy of their own rooms. Kevin really needed a place of his own to work from on occasion, so we thought moving the computer into this ex-formal dining room/school room was the best option. We did all of the work ourselves (with the help of a neighbor and my brother) and got all of the furniture at our local Ikea. Geez, I love that place. The wall color I ended up with was a pretty apple green. Big shock that I picked green right?? It's my favorite! It's a Benjamin Moore color called 'Sweet Daphne' we had mixed up in Valpar Paint & Primer In One. I'm not sure this paint lived up to all it promised since I did have to do more than one coat, but it did cover very nicely and I'm happy with the way it looks. And here's the end result!

We closed in the entire room by adding on to the hallway wall that was already there. I still have to put one more coat of paint on these doors and add the oil rubbed bronze handles to them. You can see a little preview of the stair railings here too - I stil have to paint all the spindles white and plan on using some black porch and floor paint on the treads to match the railings. All in good time!

Our new Expedit bookshelf conveniently stores all of our homeschooling books, workbooks and the kids' art supplies as well. I will probably put decor of some sort on the top of the bookshelf and move some books around to incorporate decorative vases and such. I'm thinking I'll replace the white boxes on the bottom with seagrass baskets at some point. And I'm still on the hunt for the perfect area rug as the floor gets so cold in here. The ceiling light was a fantastic find for under $60 at Overstock!!

I love this desk! It's so nice to have a place for both computers. I still need to figure out how to use the space on the big wall shelf a little bit better, but this is ok for now. The wall calendars are all from Target - saved me some serious cash as opposed to buying them from "that other store." ;)

The parsons chairs were a last minute decision that I'm super happy with. Kevin wanted something more comfortable than a wooden chair and I didn't want a regular office chair. So these were a good compromise!! I still need to figure out the unsightly electrical cord situation as well.

I still need to find some art for the frame in between the windows and a cute throw pillow for the plain white chair. I might even put a small table next to it, but who knows. A trip to Homegoods will probably help. Oh and I need to shorten that curtains a little bit too.

It's so nice being able to close the doors! I was worried about making the house feel too closed in, but with the french doors I think it still keeps that open feeling.

It feels so nice to be able to post an update on our progress! We still have a ways to go with choosing rugs and wall art, but that's not something I want to rush anyways. It's fun to shop around!! Thanks for looking and I promise there are more updates to come and we get a few more things finished here and there. Stay tuned!!!

Home Office Inspiration

2010-11-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to get started on our new home office. We just closed in the old school room and will be moving our computer into that room now. We used to have the desk and computer in the formal living room. It worked, but with Kevin occasionally working from home we needed to do something different. It will be nice to have a designated space to shut the doors so it isn't the first thing one sees when walking into our home.

When designing this new space, I was on the lookout for functional furniture that looked good and wasn't going to break the bank. Where else would you go for that but Ikea?? We are lucky to have one that isn't far from our home.

Our desk will seat two people and house two computer workstations. One computer isn't enough for all five of us!! The Vika Amon desk was the perfect solution....

Most likely I will get some dark espresso colored chairs from World Market with some nice cushions for this desk. The other thing I knew we needed was a lot of storage for books. We homeschool and are avid readers, so we have an abundance of those!! I have always loved the large scale and simple lines of the Expedit bookcase, so that's on our list as well!!

As far as color, I knew I wanted a crisp apple green for the walls. Since we'll have white trim and curtains to soften the bright color, it'll be perfect. Here are some gorgeous home office photos with green walls that gave me my inspiration:

And these don't have green walls, but aren't they lovely?? Doesn't it make you want to redo your office space???

Caution: Life Under Construction

2010-11-04T10:04:00.000-07:00

Woo hoo! Elections are over!! You all know how hard I try not to talk about politics or religion, but I just have to say I am so glad all the political bashing is over for now. I think! Man, there's nothing that can divide people more than politics. I think running for election has become less about standing up for what you believe in and more about knocking the other guy down. That's sad to me. But it is what it is and that's all it will ever be. Que my political playlist......

Anyways, we're keeping busy!! Though most of the big demo is done, we are still under construction. It's starting to take shape though!! Even though it isn't done, I thought I'd take the time to post some quick photos of our progress so you could see what we've been up to around here. Basically, it's been me starting more stuff before other stuff was finished. Big suprise right???

Phase 1 - Demolition

The school room was cute, but we were ready for a change!! So we sold all of the furniture in there and were left with an empty slate. The plan was to frame in the room and close it in with double french doors. We started out by ripping into the drywall on the ceiling & walls. Can I just say how much I loathe drywall dust??

Ick. Ick. Ick!!!!

Kevin is overjoyed about this as well!! ;)

It's important when you're doing something like this to have the right tools. ;P

All framed in and ready for drywall and doors!!!

Phase 2 - MORE Demolition!!!

So after getting the school room aka new office framed in, we moved on to the next very messy project. Why not get all the messy work out of the way right?? Right. So next we cut out the half stair wall. It was super fun.

He's not pissed. I swear. The sawzall was just super loud.

We took the wood cap and trim off with a hammer and pry bar.....

Then Kevin scored the wall where we needed to make the cuts....

Lulu thought it was too loud.

Ethan enjoyed knocking out the wall with a hammer!!

Abby enjoyed it a little too much!!!

And voila!!!! No more stair wall!!!!

This last picture is where we've stopped for now. We still have to finish taping/sanding the new drywall in the new office and finish the rest of the trim work on the stairs.

Those railings right there were a marriage tester. We had a little trouble! I didn't realize how much math and figuring would be involved. We had to drill down into the concrete to sink bolts to hold the posts in. Then we had to figure out how many balisters needed to go in and how far apart to space them and how tall it all needed to be, etc, etc, etc. Luckily we got it built and are still friends!!!

So that's about it for now! Hopefully we'll get some more done this weekend so I can start painting. I have a ton to do! Ceilings, all the walls and all the trim. Yowza. Good thing I like to paint and can survive on small amounts of sleep. If you don't hear from me or see me for awhile, you know where to find me!!!

Where Have YOU Been?!?!?!

2010-10-25T13:05:00.000-07:00

Um, hi? I'm not sure if you remember me, but I occasionally hang out here. It's been too long!!! I have had so many intentions of sitting down to write a post about home improvement, recent travels, new recipes, great music finds.... but time has eluded me. The longer I went without posting, the more awkward writing one felt! Hopefully this post will be like ripping off the band-aid and I can make a better effort to be a regular blogger. At least I can try, right?

We've been having a great fall so far. The weather has been insanely gorgeous and it has me very nervous for what's in store this winter. Mother Nature has a way of getting us back, you know? Speaking of that, how is it possible Halloween is this weekend?? Gah! Time is flying! We are dressing up as a family this year and I will let this photo be the hint as to what our theme is......

So, let's catch up a little. I've been super busy in between homeschooling and teaching up at the studio, but we did manage to get away for a long weekend up to the northwoods of Wisconsin with our friends Dan, Amanda and their son Landon. It was so much fun. We were about eight hours north all the way up at the top of Wisconsin near Lake Superior. It was absolutely beautiful! We saw lots of wildlife, waterfalls and really enjoyed our time together. Here are some photos courtesy of my amazing photographer.... you can view her other work here at http://www.simplyaestheticdesign.com

This was the view every single night from our cabin on the lake...

Ethan enjoying the view of Lake Superior!

My pretty Abby! Abby is turning eight in two weeks!!

Lulu.... where do the curls come from?

Both of our families!!

A quick family picture near the waterfalls...

Once we got back from our trip, we started on one of the biggest home renovations we've ever taken on. We decided (okay, I decided) it would be a good idea to close in the school room and make it more of a multipurpose room. Our computer was what was considered to be our formal living room before, and I was tired of it being the first thing you saw when you walked in the door. The plan is to make the school room more of an office space for Kevin as well. The formal living room will be more of a sitting room. We also needed to paint pretty much the entire downstairs (we're going for a more neutral color palette this time - bye bye heavy curtains and accessories)..... and I had always wanted to knock out that stair wall (I think there was a previous post somewhere here about that)..... so ya. One thing lead to another like it ALWAYS does and we found ourselves in the middle of a demolition zone. We are living amidst drywall dust and destruction! But it's looking better all the time and will be so nice when it's done. The school room is closed in & drywalled, the french doors are up (thanks to some help from my brother and neighbor). We finished the stairs this weekend without too much trouble. We now have two beautiful banisters and newel posts instead of a closed in stairwell! It's really coming together and I promise to post photos of the before, during and after once I can find the cable to upload pictures! So stay tuned for those!

New Music Monday - Halloween Music Week 1

2010-09-06T19:07:00.000-07:00

I will admit it's a little early to start thinking Halloween, but I can't help it. The weather is sooooooo halloweenish tonight. Cool breeze, leaves blowing in the wind. Halloween is my favorite. I can remember every single costume I wore growing up! Man, we had some great ones! My mom always came up with something cool for us to dress up as. That woman is pure magic with a pair of scissors, some felt and craft glue. :) Anyways, Halloween. I love everything about it - the dressing up, the creepiness, the getting and eating of the candy and of course the music. Most people don't know there is actually a ton of great Halloween music out there besides the theme to Ghostbusters and Thriller.

So in honor of my favorite holiday I will be posting ten creepy songs every new music monday right up until Halloween!! Yes, there are that many!!!! I hope you're as excited as I am for this!!!

The first song on the list is 'Dead Souls' by Nine Inch Nails. It's a great tune and you just don't get too much creepier than Trent Reznor. Dead Souls was on the soundtrack for 'The Crow' movie that came out wayyyyyyyy back in good old 1994. The song is actually a cover as it was first done by the band Joy Division.

Next we have the song 'Bloodletting' by Concrete Blonde. Love it!!!!

A cover of The Doors classic 'People Are Strange' by Echo and the Bunnymen. A great song from the 'Lost Boys' soundtrack!!

Nothing says creepy like The Smiths' song 'How Soon Is Now.' You'll remember it from the hit tv show 'Charmed.'

'Fresh Blood' by the amazing band The Eels. This track made it on to the True Blood soundtrack for season two! Good stuff!!!

I have been a huge fan of The Cranberries since their first album came out in the early 90s. You can't have a Halloween soundtrack without 'Zombie.'

One of the creepiest songs of all time for me is 'Lullaby' by The Cure. I am scared to death of spiders and that's what this song is all about!!!

'Ghost Town' was a huge hit in 1981 for the british band The Specials. Uber creepy and quirky at the same time.

'Creep' by Radiohead was so freaking huge back in the day. I know it doesn't scream HALLOWEEN!!! like some of the more obvious songs do, but it's such a cool tune I had to include it. It's about being a freaking outcast. Outcasts are creepy.

Last one for this week!!! I have always loved The Bravery and their song 'The Spectator' is uber creepy. It's about being an outsider. Love the line 'His eyes are like two cats scratching in his head, begging him for sleep, starving for a bed.' Ya. Creepy.

Well, that's it for now!! Until next week!!!!

Gram's Apple Crisp

2010-09-03T13:31:00.000-07:00

Cooler weather is upon us and that means apple season is here. I love apple season!! I have so many great apple recipes, so I thought I'd share one of my very favorites. It just happens to be my gram's apple crisp. Gram just turned 84 years young last week and she can bake like no one else I have ever known. She is the coolest!! I love you, Gram!!!!!

Now let me start by saying that I know there are thousands upon thousands of recipes for apple crisp out there. What makes this one better than all of those other ones is that a) it's simple b) it does NOT have oatmeal - I do love oatmeal, but not in my crisp c) it has crisco AND butter in it. So there. This recipe is not good for you. Deal with it. Not everything has to be good for you, people!!! I'm not saying you should eat this every day or put crisco in everything, but I think it's okay to have something "bad" once in awhile. I mean, you're going to die anyways so you might as well enjoy yourself. Moving on.... I like to use a couple of different varieties of apples in the crisp - it varies based on what's available and what I feel like! Just make sure you get some that will hold their shape when cooking or it will be more like apple sauce with crumb topping. Cortlands are the best in my opinion. Red delicious and granny smith work as well especially if you like it a little more on the tart side. The possibilities are endless!!

Gram's Apple Crisp

4 cups peeled, sliced apples
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon (I LOVE penzy's Ceylon cinnamon)
1/4 cup Crisco
1/4 cup real butter (if you try and use margarine it will suck and I will personally beat you)
1 cup granulated sugar

Peel and slice the apples. Lay them into a greased 9x9 baking dish. Mix all of the dry ingredients in a bowl. Cut in butter and shortening until mixture resembles course crumbs. Top apples with crumbs and bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream!!! Oh, and caramel sauce is really good on this too! :)

New Music Monday 8/30/2010 'Stars'

2010-08-30T13:22:00.000-07:00

August is on its way out, folks! Fall is on its way in!!! The latest 'Stars' album titled 'Five Ghosts' came out back in June, but I haven't had the chance to give it a proper review until now. One of my favorite albums of all time was 'Set Yourself On Fire' by Stars. I always get all nervous when a band I love comes out with something new because I am worried it will suck and I will hate it. Thankfully that was not the case with this new record!!!

'Stars' is an indie band out of Toronto. They are also members of the band 'Broken Social Scene' which just happens to be my brother's favorite band ever. And one of the other members of Broken Social Scene just happens to be Emily Haines from the band 'Metric' which just happens to be my favorite band ever. So I do love Stars because of their relation to BSS and Metric, but I really just love them because they are so great.

This is Stars' fifth studio album and it is everything I love about them and more. Pitchfork gave it a pretty lame review - called it boring and claimed that all the songs sound the same. I couldn't disagree more! This album is anything but boring and I think the way the record is mixed is genious. Each song flows effortlessly into the next. I mean, to each his own but shame on you, pitchfork with your crabby review. Stars has still got it going on in all the right places. They've still got that amazing, layered electro pop thing going on. Amy Millan's voice is just as beautiful as ever - in my opinion one of the best female vocalists around right now. Stars is one of the coolest bands around. Sadly, they are also one of the most underappreciated bands around. While their records have been highly regarded by lots of critics, their fanbase has remained small. Sad face!! You people don't know what you're missing out on!!! Listen up.....

'I Died So I Could Haunt You' Sheer musical genious.... lyrically and musically - I love this one!!!

'Wasted Daylight' - :)

'We Don't Want Your Body' - references to drugs and sex, but I think the deeper meaning is less literal.... like, propaganda - we don't want what you're selling...

'Dead Hearts' - reflection on people who have meant so much who have now moved on and are "dead" to her.... or so she thinks....

'Fixed'

'He Dreams He's Awake'

'How Much More'

'The Passenger'

'Changes' could have written this myself

If you've never heard 'Stars' before, this would be the album to start with in my opinion. 'Five Ghosts' is perfect for this time of year. I mean, with Halloween on the horizon how could you go wrong with a title like that? Trick or Treat??? :)

Paint It Black

2010-08-24T09:23:00.001-07:00

I love fall. I love everything about it. The food, the sweaters, the football playing in the background, the cooler weather, the trick-or-treating, etc. There's just something about fall and the change of seasons that makes me want to renovate. We've been doing a bit of sprucing up around the outside of the house and it's really coming together! One thing almost always leads to another when it comes to home renovations as far as I'm concerned. So this weekend while painting the trim around the front door, I decided it was time to take off that old screen door. It's nice to be able to open the door and let in the fresh air, but honestly the door was toast. It was faded, broken and we've never had a key for it since we bought this house on foreclosure. So off it came!!! It looks a lot better.

Door without fugly screen door... before I painted it a new color.....

I have been needing to paint the front door for awhile - it's dirty, scratched and faded - plus I am kind of over its color. My mom suggested a black door which I thought would look pretty great! So I picked up some paint at Menard's today and painted it black after we were done with school. The paint color is called "gargoyle shadow" and I absolutely adore it. It isn't quite black black, but more of a grayish black with just enough brown so that it compliments our hardware and the colors in the brick. I will also be painting the faded poo brown shutters to match the door. Crappy thing is that I can't get them off the house - the screws won't budge. Minor detail. I will just have to get on a ladder to do it. So ya..... I will be sure to post pictures when it's all finished!! For now here are the "during" photos.

I love this color!! It's Dutchboy's new "maxbond" paint and primer in one and it's called 'gargoyle shadow.' Love!!!

From afar - don't mind my paint mess.... you can see I have one shutter done on the right. It looks so much better! I knew they were faded, but yowza!

Proof that you CAN paint just about anything. Kevin was all worried about painting the shutters since they're vinyl, but this paint is supposed to stick to any surface and it seems to so far..... shutter on the left is painted, shutter on the right hasn't been painted. See the difference???

So that project is coming along just fine. Other things on the agenda are staining the concrete out front, getting new house numbers, maybe painting the garage door and planting some sort of flowers in a big awesome pot next to the front door. Not sure if it's too early for fall foliage or not, but I'm gonna check it out today!! :) Fall. It's on.

New Music Monday 8/23/2010 'Pomplamoose'

2010-08-23T18:17:00.000-07:00

Holy busy Monday!!! I wasn't sure I was even going to have time to blog about this amazing new(ish) band. We started school today (in case you don't know, we homeschool). We were all ready to start, but the first couple of weeks of getting back into a routine are always a big adjustment. Ethan's doing fifth grade curriculum, Abby's doing 2nd and some 3rd and this will be Olivia's first year of preschool! Talk about being a little overwhelmed!! On top of it all, Abby has had a fever/headache thing going on the past couple of days. Ethan's allergies are so terrible he wants to peel his face off. And Lulu has croup and so many bugbites on her face that she looks like the elephant man. If you don't know who the elephant man is, google it... it's not pretty.

So, Monday has been interesting to say the least!! But it's all good in the hood - kids are in bed and I have a few minutes before I work out (gawd, I don't want to) to make sure that you all get to know a sweet little duo called 'Pomplamoose.' It's very important because I love them.

Pomplamoose (which just so happens to be the french word for grapefruit) is Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn. They are a fan-freaking-tastic indie jazz duo!! I first heard them at the salon!! My amazing stylist Kat (who just got married, Congrats!!!!!) doesn't just have style when it comes to hair. She is responsible for my current obsession with Pomplamoose. A thousand thanks to Kat!!! Anyways, Jack and Nataly are what you would call "multi-instrumentalists", meaning they play all sorts of different things. But not just your normal things - I'm talking kid sized piano's, wine bottles, spatulas and other oddities. They have secured a pretty solid fan base as internet musicians and people LOVE their videos. They are so cute and they make me smile. With Pomplamoose, what you see is what you hear: no lip-syncing. If you hear it, you see it. There are no hidden sounds. They've recorded all of their videosongs in this so-called "glitz-free" manner. Nothing fancy, just music. I fell in love with their cover songs, but their original tracks are just as lovable! Take a look/listen for yourself!

The covers.........
'September' - seriously, this song is MY HEART!

'Single Ladies' Awwwww, yeahhhh!!!

'Beat It' - yes, they went there.... and I happen to love it!

'I Don't Want To Miss A Thing' tee hee!

'Telephone' Lady Gaga!!!!! LOVE this!

The orginal tracks......

'Little Things'

'Beat the Horse'

'If You Think You Need Some Lovin' :)

'Expiration Date'

'Twice As Nice'

'Centrifuge'

There is a lot more amazingness to be heard/seen as far as Pomplamoose is concerned, so check out their youtube channel and then head over to itunes or amazon and buy their albums!!! Fill your ears and your heart with the goodness that is Pomplamoose. Oh, you're welcome!!

psssttttt!! In order to listen to/watch the vids, just mute or turn down the playlist - the volume is on the far right corner......

Making It Happen

2010-08-17T14:04:00.000-07:00

So summer is pretty much over. Boo. Hiss. But, I have to admit I'm sort of ready to get on with it. We're starting school over here next Monday. I can't believe how fast our summer break went! I always freak out trying to get things packed into the last couple weeks of August because I never feel like I got everything done that I wanted to do. But looking back, I think we really made it happen around here! We did lots of fun family trips, spent time with lots of great people and I even got one project finished - Ethan's room. (I won't tell you how things many I started that aren't finished!!) But at least I can say that his room is officially done. I guess if you don't count the fact that I have to do the quarter round.... but ya, it's done in my book!!

We actually moved Ethan into Olivia's old room. His old room is now Abby's new room and Abby's old room is now Olivia's new room. Make sense? Ya, it doesn't to me either. I still go into the wrong rooms!!! But it did make sense as far as changing them around. Now Ethan has the biggest room. His old room was a sort of primary colored pirate theme - very cute, but not really grown up enough for a ten year old kid. So we decided to go with a music/skateboarding theme this time. It turned out really well I think!!!

Here are the before pics of what it looked like when it was Olivia's room - we sold everything we didn't need anymore on Craigslist or Ebay....

Here is what it looks like now! Quite different!!!

bought the curtains and 'I Am Music' wall art from Target...

bedding is from Target and the loft bed and full bed are from Walmart - we got a great deal on them with site to store shipping...

dresser is the 'Malm' series from IKEA....

found the sweet skateboarder wall decal at our local Menards - you can also see that I painted the ceiling the same color as the trim & doors....

wall color is called 'Quiksilver' and it's by Olympic paints for Lowe's.... I had originally bought another trim color which turned out to be a nightmarish, bad prom dress teal. It's amazing how different colors can look in the store compared to at home!! The second color turned out to be just right...

Ethan got this shelf from my mom for his birthday from PB Teen....

I also painted the inside of his walk in closet the same color as the walls, but it's always messy so we keep the door closed! The mirrors were originally in my brother's old room and are from IKEA....

Phew! One room is technically done and I feel good about it. And Ethan loves his room!! Win!!! We also love the fact that it can sleep all three of the kids at once because that leaves other beds for when we have overnight guests. They also have frequent sleepovers in there just because. Especially during storms!!! :) I hope to be able to cross some of the other projects off the list soon. I will post pictures of the girls' rooms once I feel like I can call them done. So goodbye to summer and hello there, fall!! Here's to making it happen some more!!!!

New Music Monday 8/9/2010 'Jeremy Keen'

2010-08-02T16:24:00.000-07:00

Wow, what a weekend!! Rarely, I have the opportunity to hear good music. I mean, really good stand out music. Even more rarely, I know the person making it! I am lucky to know the talented man behind the music of 'Jeremy Keen and the False Starts'. I am actually pretty tight with his wife!! NBD :)

This past Friday was the cd release show for Jeremy Keen's new album titled 'Lock and Key.' Kevin and I drove into the city to Subterranean (very cool venue) with a couple of other friends to watch the show. And what a great show it was! Andrea Dawn was an amazing opening act - actually Andrea's voice is beyond amazing. Think Fiona Apple meets Carol King. After that, Jeremy and his band took no time at all setting up and hitting the stage. Their stage presence was relaxed and flawless.... like they'd been doing shows all their lives. Really, I guess they kind of have been!!

'Jeremy Keen and the False Starts' is an indie folk rock band that started with Jeremy. He began writing music in junior high and has played in a lot of different bands since then. The band consists of Zach Goforth (bass, background vocals), Charissa Motley (keys), Brendan McCormick (drums), and of course Jeremy on guitar and vocals. Jeremy wrote all of the songs himself over the past few years and the recording itself was quite a labor of love for him. 'Lock & Key' was recorded in several different locations (a basement, a garage, an office....) on a portable rig and then pieced together at a studio in Villa Park. What came out of all that is an incredible masterpiece.

What makes 'Lock & Key' stand out from other albums is the fact that it isn't like anything else you've ever heard before. It isn't over-produced. It isn't the same old stuff. It's raw and urgent and beautiful. This record covers it all lyrically. Songs like 'Sad' and 'Brother' tackle difficult subjects like depression and an estranged relationship. 'Barnburner' takes you back to the 90s with its alternative rock feel. If I had to pick, I think 'Save Me' and 'Too Late' are my own personal favorites.

In summary, 'Lock & Key' is one of the most enjoyable, consistent yet diverse albums I've heard in quite awhile. Hands down. If you like good music, you will love 'Lock & Key.' You can get it on itunes or here at amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lock-Key/dp/B003VXHWPO/ref=mb_oe_o Happy downloading!!!!!

New Music 7/23/2010 'Miike Snow'

2010-07-23T12:26:00.000-07:00

With August looming ever so close, I am starting to panic here. I do NOT want summer to end!!! I feel like I'm trying to pack as much fun as possible into these last few weeks, and while we've been extremely busy it's been so great. So I haven't had tons of time to post on the blog even though there's definately a lot of catching up to do!! I'll get to it eventually!!!

I got a lot of positive feedback from last week's music review for Hey Champ's 'Star.' So glad you all like it and that people actually read this blog!!! This week I'm thrilled to review an amazing trio out of Sweden called Miike Snow. No, the two ii's are not a typo. Two i's are better than one maybe?? Sweden must put something in their water because it would be damn near impossible for me to list all of the insane talent that's come out of that country in the past few years. Some of my faves being The Cardigans, Robyn (little bro just got to see her live at Pitchfork last week), Peter Bjorn & John and The Hives..... just to name a few. This particular Swedish trio consists of Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg and Andrew Wyatt. Karlsson and Winnberg (under the name Bloodshy & Avant) have written and produced hits for Madonna, J Lo, Jordin Sparks, Kylie Minogue and Britney Spears who even won a grammy for the song 'Toxic.'

I am still amazed at how this group has managed to stay under the radar since their album 'Dig' came out in 2009. Not sure if it's getting a ton of club play because it's been awhile since I've been to da clubs!!! I've read a few other reviews of this album and most of them weren't so great. But music is in the ear of the listener just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so I suppose you either like it or you don't. As far as I am concerned Miike Snow's falsetto vocals, synth and electronic beats makes for a highly enjoyable album. It's the perfect mix of chill and upbeat.... my personal favorites being 'Song For No One' and 'Cult Logic' (both perfect summer tunes) Here are a couple of videos I couldn't add to the playlist from the 'Dig' album.

'A Horse Is Not A Home'

'Sans Soleil'

'In Search Of' - might sound familiar if you've heard the Crookers 'Remedy' - I believe this is a remake of that song....

'Dig' is definately the soundtrack for a summer that's winding down..... meloncholy yet driven. It's been a great summer so far and I hope to get the most out of what's left of it!!! Happy listening!!

New Music 7/15/2010 'Hey Champ'

2010-07-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

I should really be doing the dishes right now, but instead I thought I'd take the time to update this blog. The dishes aren't going anywhere right? It's been quite awhile since I've written about new music and I am so excited to be able to write about Hey Champ's new album!!!!

'Star' just came out two days ago and I think I've listened to it at least a bajillion times since then. My younger brother introduced me to Hey Champ about a year ago when they only had a couple of singles out. We were in the city for the Keane concert. Hey Champ was playing at a bar near my brother's place, so we met him there for some drinks. Pete, the keyboard player, actually used to be the roommate of one of his buddies so he sort of knows him.... sorry, a little name dropping there. Pete is ridiculous on synth though. So awesome. Anyways, we got to see them play which was amazing.

Saam Hagshenas (vocals, lead guitar, keys), Jon Marks (drums, vocals, keys) and Pete (Pete!!!!!) Dougherty (keys, synth) are just a bunch of midwest guys from Rockford, IL. Proteges of the super famous Lupe Fiasco, these guys have been hitting it hard writing and touring all over the US. Their first single 'Cold Dust Girl' has been in my rotation for awhile and the video was recently featured on MTV's Buzzworthy Blog. You cannot listen to that song and keep standing still. It's impossible. In fact, the entire album is highly danceable. But underneath all of the hypnotic electro-rock beats and fab 80s inspired synth, there is a pretty intense theme and message to 'Star.' Some of the lyrics are less than uplifting, but then again so are a lot of things going on in the world right now. If I had to pick a favorite track, I would say it's 'Word = War.' "My word is my war. So lay down your sword. Cuz you'd be ill advised to fight anymore." It's about words being used as weapons. And of course I love 'Cold Dust Girl' and 'Face Control.' And 'Neverest' and 'Shake.' Okay, wait. I guess I can't pick a favorite!!!

I decided instead of posting a bunch of vids I would just put all of their songs on my playlist so you can listen to it all the way through. I am going to post some videos for some of the remixes they've done because they are really, really great at remixes too. In fact, they'll be playing at the Lolla Remix Throwdown in Chicago on August 1st so go check them out! For now, enjoy the album from start to finish on my playlist and here are a few amazing remixes......

'Beaches and Friends' by French Horn Rebellion - Hey Champ Remix - this is pure summer right freakin here

'Beatbox' by The Sounds - Hey Champ Remix

'Cooler Than Me' by Mike Posner - Hey Champ Remix

'Little Secrets' by Passion Pit - Hey Champ Remix

'What You Need' by Priors - Hey Champ Remix

'Say No' by Moneypenny - Hey Champ Remix

'Call On Me' by Andy Bell - Hey Champ Remix

So after some relentless touring, a label change and lots of hype, I'm happy to say that 'Star' is no let down. I predict big things from this band out of Rockford!!! So buy the album, tell your friends and tell them to tell their friends!!! You can download 'Star' here for only $5.99 http://www.heychamp.com/home Your ears and hips will thank you!!!!

An Old Friend

2010-06-28T19:55:00.001-07:00

We had to say goodbye to an old friend this weekend. It was one of the hardest goodbyes I have ever had to say. Sure, I've had friends I've known longer but this friend was by far the most loyal I have ever known and probably ever will. We met Piper almost eleven years ago when she was about five months old. I remember seeing the ad in the paper for a guy on the west side of the city who had several lab retrievers for sale, so Kevin and I went to take a look. There were two goldens, a chocolate lab and then there was Piper. She was a beautiful, pale yellow and had such an interested little face. She was the first one to come up to us and lick our hands, so we decided to take her home. She sat on my lap and was very calm the whole way back to our apartment. I knew right away we'd be good friends.

We lived in high rise facing the lake, so potty training Piper was a little tricky. We'd take the elevator down five floors and out to the vacant lot at the end of the block. Piper on a leash was something to see - she acted like it was posessing her. When we finally did make it to the lot, I swear we'd stand there for days while she sat on her little white butt watching the cars pass on the busy street. After awhile, we'd get tired of standing there and head back up the elevator. We'd no sooner get inside the door and she'd squat a pee right on the carpet. But after awhile, she got the hang of it. Well, sort of.

We had lots of adventures with her living in the city. Most of them are funny to me now, but they sure weren't at the time! We dropped out of puppy training school because she was so embarassing to take. We gave up on teaching her to walk properly on the leash. We had to avoid that vacant lot after having to fish certain trash items (condoms, food wrappers, etc) out of her mouth AND after she urinated on a homeless man sleeping in said vacant lot. We learned to double check that her leash was attached properly to her collar when she got loose and ran between four lanes of traffic during rush hour on Sheridan Road. We found out that she had a fondness for bras and bikini tops when she repeatedly ripped apart several high end bras of mine - picture my face walking into our apartment (after running down to the laundry room for two seconds) to find her looking sheepish with a little pink bow stuck to her upper lip. Oh, there are so many funny stories of Piper and her city life.

A couple of months after getting Piper, we found out I was pregnant with Ethan. She knew before I did and she didn't want a thing to do with me. She detested me being pregnant. She went on a bra eating spree, shredded our mattress pad and chewed off one end of our bed posts. It was mayhem, but it only lasted nine months. Once we moved to the suburbs and brought Ethan home from the hospital, she forgave me for being pregnant. Piper loved Ethan and would always lay right next to his bassinet and hover over him when he cried. And once he was mobile, she let him climb all over her and never seemed the least bothered or annoyed when he was a little bit too rough. She loved every single one of the kids, but always had a special place for "her boy."

We had lots more adventures out here in the burbs - like the time she chewed the end of her leash off while we were moving in to our first home. I ran all over the neighborhood nine months pregnant until we finally found her assaulting some yippy little dogs in the park. And God love her, she never let anything grow in the backyard. Any time you'd look out back and couldn't see her, you knew she was either destroying some vegetation or taking a dump in the flower beds by the air conditioner. That was like her big, "Hey guys, F U." :) Oh, Piper.

When Olivia was sick as a baby and I would come home from the hospitals to shower, change clothes and have a good cry - Piper would sit with me. She always kept me company and made me feel safe when Kevin was working late after the kids had all gone to bed. I had no idea how much more than a friend she would be that day we brought her home all those years ago. Right now I feel like I will never get used to her being gone. It feels weird and wrong. I've gone to the back door to let her in at least ten times today. I suppose it will get easier as time passes, but for now I just miss her. She was one of a kind and we're so lucky she was our dog!!! Thanks to everyone who has cried with me over the past few days, sent emails, text messages and phone calls. We appreciate them so much. It was a good eleven years!!!

And the World Spins Madly On

2010-06-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

That is the name of one of my fave songs by The Weepies. I actually think there is a Weepies song for just about anything. (If you have never heard a Weepies song, see this post http://bloggingmollyr.blogspot.com/2010/01/dont-hit-weepies.html ). The song is about a profound loss and how the world doesn't stop even though it feels like it should. "The whole world is spinning, but I am standing still." I think everyone can identify with this feeling, whether it be through the loss of a relationship or a death.

In June of 1997, we lost my wonderful father-in-law to stomach cancer. He was in his early forties at the time and Kevin and I were fresh out of high school. Even though I only knew Andy for four years, he made a lasting impression on me. Because of him I smile bigger, I laugh harder, I sing louder, I love more and I say what needs to be said (sometimes that can be good and bad). It's been nearly thirteen years since we saw his face or heard his voice, but his memory is still clear in all of our hearts and minds. How could you forget someone like Andy?? He was kind and gentle (well, except for those sometimes too hard pokes in the ribs when something was funny) and he made everyone feel like they were special and important because to him everyone was special and important. There aren't too many people out there like that.

The day he died, it felt like our world had stopped spinning. But it didn't. And I guess that's how it's supposed to be. Because the people who leave you are never really gone. And as hard as it is to go on without them in our lives, that's just what we have to do. I like to think that we all kept the best parts of Andy with us - that maybe the people who felt the same way about him that we did will all smile bigger, laugh harder, sing louder, love more and say what they feel to the people they love. He made us all better for just having known him. Even if it was only for a little while.

Thanks for everything, Andy.

New Music Monday 'Two Door Cinema Club'

2010-06-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

I haven't had too much extra time to write about any new bands, so I have insomnia to thank for some extra time to post this one. I am completely in love with a new irish band 'Two Door Cinema Club.'

Their debut album 'Tourist History' is getting worn out around here!! Amazon.com's review slapped a big ole "pop" label on them, but I don't buy into labels so I'm not going there. I suspect they did that because of the highly catchy, singable lyrics and fabulous guitar riffs. Whatever, amazon.com. Vocalist Alex Trimble sounds a bit like Ben Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie & The Postal Service) in places, so that's also one of the reasons I like them so much. Well, that and the fact that they're irish. That's pretty awesome. Oh, and I kid you not when I tell you that there isn't one weak track on this whole entire album. It's one of those rare gems you can listen to all the way through without skipping songs!! Yayeeee!!! Take a listen and I promise you won't be disappointed.......

'I Can Talk' as soon as I heard this one, I was a goner

'Undercover Martyn'

'Something Good Can Work'

'Cigarettes In the Theatre'

'Do You Want It All'

'What You Know' - aw, look at the kitty

'Eat That Up, It's Good For You'

See?? I told you you'd like it!!! Aren't you glad I couldn't sleep tonight? ;) Happy listening!!!!!

How Do You Measure Time??

2010-06-21T07:37:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about this a lot lately. It seems that the older I get, the faster time goes. Tomorrow is my son's birthday and it seems impossible that he could be turning ten years old. How did ten years go by so fast?? I remember like it was yesterday the day I found out that I was pregnant with him. I was twenty years old, newly married and living in a tiny apartment on the north side in the city. Kevin and I were young, broke and pretty unsure of how to provide for ourselves much less another person. But it's funny how things work out. I remember the first time I saw him and held him, the day we brought him home from the hospital and how scared I was, the first time he smiled at me and how it made me feel, the first steps he took, his first day of school, the first time he rode his bike without training wheels........ everyone tells you how fast it all goes by but you just don't realize it at the time!!

Looking back on the past ten years and all of those firsts, I realize that years aren't really a good way to measure time at all. Years are just a way to keep track of all the beautiful memories and life that happens in between. I am so grateful for this time I have with him - to be able to watch him learn and grow into the amazing person he is becoming. I can only imagine what kind of firsts he'll have over the next ten years. Happy Birthday to one of the best people I know. I am so lucky you're my son. I love you, my little old soul.

Tropical Sangria Recipe

2010-05-10T17:45:00.000-07:00

Speaking of summer in a glass...... here is a recipe for a fabulous tropical sangria. Pineapple rum stars in this delicious tropical version of a white sangria!!! Be warned that it goes down a little too smooth!!!

glass pitcher (or a sangria pitcher)
wooden spoon
1 lemon, sliced
1 lime, sliced
1 orange, sliced
fresh pineapple, sliced
1-1/2 cups pineapple rum
1/4 cup sugar
1 bottle of white wine (Reisling or Pinot Grigio works great)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup pineapple juice

After the citrus fruit is well-chilled, slice each piece into thin rounds (about 1/8 inch thick) and place them into the glass pitcher. Sprinkle the fruit with the sugar and carefully pour in the chilled rum. Stir the mixture gently and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

After the fruit has steeped in the rum, crush it gently with the wooden spoon. This will release the flavors. Pour the white wine, pineapple and orange juices into the pitcher and stir. Serve straight-up, or over ice for a lighter drink. Hello, summer!

New Music Monday 5/10/2010 Surfer Blood

2010-05-10T13:56:00.000-07:00

Who's ready for summer??? Me me me!!!!!! Last week the weather was decent and this weekend, wouldn't you know it, the temperatures dropped. I swear this always happens in May. Just when you think it's safe to put away your sweaters...... BAM!!! It's 40 degrees and you're freezing your ass off again!!

At least we know it won't stay like this forever. Before you know it, we'll be enjoying the summer sun and all of these chilly days will be nothing but a sad, distant memory. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself. And now for the perfect addition to your summer soundtrack, 'Surfer Blood.' These guys are from West Palm Beach and just dropped their first album called 'Astro Coast' in January of this year.

It is pure summer from beginning to end!! I will save you from having to read me compare them to Weezer and Vampire Weekend. The similarity is there and you will hear it, but rather than try and figure out who or what this band sounds like I would rather just listen and love!! Ya know how I always say that sangria is like summer in a glass? Well, this is summer in your iPod. For real. Check it.....

'Floating Vibes'

'Swim'

'Take It Easy'

'Slow Jabroni'

'Harmonix'

'Catholic Pagans'

'Twin Peaks'

There it is, folks - that is the sound of summer. It might be cold and stupid outside right now, but listening to this I can almost imagine myself by the pool with a drink in my hand. Cheers!!!!

A day late and a dollar short....New Music Monday

2010-05-04T11:20:00.000-07:00

but, oh well!!! New Music Mondays have gone by the wayside again!!! That's what happens when the weather is nice and you have tons of stuff to do around the house. We've been super busy!! My birthday was this past Saturday and it was a good time. Kevin took me out and he got me a new Ipod!! Woot woot! It's blue. I lurv it!!!

And what was one of the first albums to go on this ipod??? 'Rabbit Fur Coat' by Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins. I absolutely love it and cannot stop listening to it. I swear I have blogged about it before, but that could be my ADD getting the best of me yet again! Jenny was born in Vegas back in 77 and is a former child actress turned singer/songwriter (she was on The Golden Girls way back in the day!!!)Good thing because she is freaking brilliant. She's probably best known for her role as front woman for the band 'Rilo Kiley', but you will remember her best for just being awesome.

She paired up with the very talented Watson twins for this record and they are the perfect addition to Jenny's soulful voice! Some people try to label her as "country" or "folk" but I'm not sure she really fits entirely into either of those genres. It is what it is and it's magic as far as I'm concerned!! Anywho, here are my personal faves from 'Rabbit Fur Coat.'

'Rise Up With Fists' a big kick in the teeth to the hypocrits out there!!

'You Are What You Love'

'Handle With Care' Hey, look!!! It's Feist!!!

'Run Devil Run' and 'The Big Guns'

'The Charging Sky'

So this one wasn't probably something you'd expect from me, but I guess if anything it shows that I am well rounded in my musical selections!! Happy listening!!!

Things I've Learned

2010-04-24T19:30:00.000-07:00

I've learned that you can get by on charm for about 10 minutes, but after that you had better know something.

I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do, but the best you can do.

I've learned that it's not what happens to people that's important. It is what they do about it.

I've learned that you can do something in an instant that will give you a heartache for life.

I've learned that no matter how thin you slice it, there are always two sides.

I've learned that it is taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.

I've learned that it is a lot easier to react than it is to think about it first.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I've learned that regardless of how hot and steamy a relationship is at first, the passion fades and there had better be something to take its place.

I've learned that heroes are people who do what needs to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I've learned than learning to forgive takes practice.

I've learned that there are people who love you dearly, but just don't know how to show it.

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that sometimes the people you'd expect to kick you when you are down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry, I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel or rude.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I've learned that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it.

I've learned that your family wont always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend someone is, s/he is going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive her/him for that. An in friendship that works BOTH ways as well.

I've learned that is isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how badly your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influences on who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that when my friends fight, I'm forced to choose sides even when I don't want to.

I've learned that just because two people argue, doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't, doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of his actions.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I've learned that you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It may change your life forever.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who that counts.

I've learned that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something entirely different.

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I've learned that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

I've learned that there are many ways of falling in love and staying in love, and each time love is something different.

I've learned that no matter the consequences, those who are honest with themselves get further in life.

I've learned that many things can be powered by the mind, the trick is self control.

I've learned that no matter how many friends you have, if your are their pillar you will feel lonely and lost at the times you need them the most.

I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people you don't even know.

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains.

I've learned that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned that the people you care the most about in life are taken from you too soon.

I've learned that the word "love" can have many different meanings and it loses value when overused.

I've learned that it is hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice to keep from hurting other peoples feelings, and standing up for what you believe in.

Author Unknown

You Don't See Me

2010-04-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

'You Don't See Me.' The title of one of my favorite songs by the amazing band Keane. I think its meaning could be interpreted a lot of different ways, but for me it is the Earth Day anthem. We all get in such a hurry with our busy lives, we don't take enough time to enjoy all of the beautiful things on this earth. We don't see it. We don't see each other either. We get wrapped up in the every day and lose sight of what's most important - taking care of this place we call home and taking care of each other.

I have been so disturbed by some of the things I've been hearing and seeing as of late. I'm not one to read too much into things or take everything too seriously - and that's not because I'm shallow or because I don't care. It takes a lot to make me upset, but recently that's just how I've been feeling. Disappointed and upset. I don't talk about politics or religion with most people, especially people that I like. I don't feel it's worth losing a friend over when I tell them that I support our president, though I don't agree with everything he's doing. That I voted for him and I'm not sorry. That I haven't been to church in a very long time because I'm not too sure how I feel about it all or where I belong. I mean, I'm not an idiot. People don't always see eye to eye on everything and it'd be boring if they did. I'm all for standing up for what's right and fighting for what you believe in. Things in this country (and this world) are a freaking mess. We are hurting. But it's not going to get better with people acting the way they are. Blaming others does very little to fix anything. All it does is deepen the divide. Trash isn't the only thing that poisons the earth - hatred, intolerance and disrespect are the worst forms of pollution. A little compassion, a little respect and a little humility would go such a long way.

I have no idea how many people actually read this thing or even care what a stay-at-home mom who lives in the suburbs has to say about stuff like this. I don't expect to make a huge difference with this blog or change anyone's mind about anything. It is what it is! That's why I usually keep it fairly lighthearted and stick to what I love! My love of music, family, baking and home renovation!!

Speaking of those things!! The kids and I had a super fun Earth Day today - playing at the lake, going on a nature walk, reading about our planet in school, baking some 'Earth Day' bar cookies and spending time with friends. And tomorrow we're going to see the movie 'Oceans' in the afternoon. And I hope to be able to post some pictures of some of the bedroom renovations as soon as they're finished..... or as finished as I usually ever get things! Abby's room is done so we're just waiting on her headboard to be delivered. Ethan's ceiling and trim are all painted and I'll be painting the walls this weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to order his bed and other furniture within the next week or two. I had to go in a different direction than I had originally planned since the bed I had wanted is no longer available. But as it happens, I found one I like better and it's less money!! Woo hoo!!!

Well, that's all for now. I hope you have a wonderful Earth Day and that you're able to see the beauty around you, maybe even where you'd least expect it!!! ;)

New Music Monday 4/12/2010 'Ra Ra Riot'

2010-04-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

Well, hello there!! It's been a busy couple of weeks here!! Lots of new things going on. I decided to switch the kids' rooms around - Ethan moved into Lulu's room, Abby moved into Ethan's room and Lulu moved into Abby's room. Sounds complicated, but I think it's going to work a little better. I've been painting like a silly fool!! Abby's room is done and Ethan's room is next. I will be posting pictures as soon as everything is done.

I also got a job!!! I am so happy!!!! I will be teaching dance at a wonderful studio here in the neighborhood. I already met some of the kids I'll be teaching and they are the sweetest. To say that it feels good to get back into teaching is the biggest understatement I can think of. I have the best life ever - the best family, the best husband and kids, and the best friends. I am blessed beyond measure and I'm so happy. But something has been missing and this was it!! It's a brand new adventure and I can't wait to see what comes next!!

New Music Monday is back on!!! Spring is here, the weather is gorgeous and what have I been listening to?? A little band called 'Ra Ra Riot.' I honestly can't remember where in the hell I first heard them, but they're fricking amazing. Ra Ra Riot is an indie rock band from Syracuse, NY. They started out playing locally around the Syracuse University campus in 2006. Less than six months later, they were on tour and getting great reviews. Unfortunately just as they were getting started, their drummer died tragically in a drowning accident. But they pressed on and ended up releasing an amazing album in 2008 'The Rhumb Line.' This could be my new favorite band - the more I listen, the more I love! There's a lot to hear on this particular album - Cellos, violins, drums..... listen!!

'Can You Tell'

'Run My Mouth'

'Ghost Under Rocks'

'Too Too Too Fast'

'Dying Is Fine'

'Oh La'

So in the spirit of all things new and different, I urge you to check out Ra Ra Riot!! They're definately one of my new faves!! Happy listening!

It's A Beautiful Day

2010-04-01T15:27:00.000-07:00

Who knew we could go from having snow on the first day of spring to an 80 degree day on the first of April?? Weird, but we're enjoying it!! The kids and I are on spring break from homeschooling this week and have been enjoying the lack of schedule. We went through all of their bedrooms and made piles to donate and piles of things to sell at our garage sale. It felt great to clean everything out!!

This afternoon we went out for ice cream and a little bike ride. Lulu is a bit apprehensive of her little bike with the training wheels, but I have a feeling she'll get the hang of it soon enough. Abby is an old pro and will probably be needing a bigger set of wheels soon. Ethan has taken to skateboarding thanks to Uncle Ben's generous donation of his old skateboard. He's pretty decent!!!

We're looking forward to Easter with our families in our home town this weekend. I am in charge of appetizers this time which is cool. I think appetizers and snacky stuff is my fave - besides dessert of course! I decided to make Roast Beef Roll-Ups and Bacon Lettuce and Tomato Dip. Both recipes are from the Pampered Chef 'Celebrations' cookbook. Here's a shady looking picture I took of the cookbook picture!!

Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Dip

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup ranch salad dressing
1 medium tomato, seeded and diced
6 bacon slices, crisped and chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
1 tsp sugar
Lettuce leaves
Pita Chips for dipping

Mix cream cheese and ranch dressing together in large bowl. Remove seeds from tomato and dice. Reserve 1 Tbsp for garnish. Chop bacon and celery and add to cream cheese mixture along with tomato. Add sugar and mix well. Cover and refridgerate at least 3 hours to allow flavors to blend. To serve, line bowl with lettuce leaves and fill with dip. Garnish with reserved tomato. Serve with pita chips.

Roast Beef Roll-Ups

1 (8 oz) container cream cheese spread
3-4 Tbsp prepared horseradish
6 plum tomatoes, thinly sliced
1 small cucumber, thinly sliced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
8 (6-7 inch) flour tortillas
1/2 lb thinly sliced deli roast beef (8 slices)

Combine cream cheese and horseradish in small bowl; mix well. Spread each tortilla evenly with 2 Tbsp cream cheese mixture. Top each tortilla with 5 tomato slices, 5 cucumber slices, 3 red onion rings and 1 roast beef slice. Roll tortillas up tightly. Wrap filled tortillas individually in plastic wrap. Refridgerate, seam side down, for 30 minutes. To serve, cut each roll crosswise into thirds. Place on lettuce-lined platter.

Happy Easter!!!!!

Coffeehouse Scones

2010-03-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

Whenever I eat a scone I think of my Aunt Deb's coffee shop back in our small, home town. There is something comforting in their simple warmth. This isn't my aunt's recipe (I could NEVER make mine taste as good as hers in a million years, even if I copied it exactly), but it tastes pretty damned good!!!

Coffeehouse Scones

2 cup all purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, cold & cut into pieces
2/3 to 3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper. In large bowl, combine dry ingredients. Blend butter pieces into flour mixture with a pastry blender or two knives. It should look like course crumbs. Add the buttermilk and vanilla and stir until the dough comes together. Do not over mix.

Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead gently. Form into a round loaf that is about 2 1/2 to 3 inches thick. Cut it into quarters and then cut each quarter in half. You should have 8 triangle shaped pieces. Transfer to the baking sheet and brush the tops with a little milk. You can also sprinkle them with sugar before baking. Bake for 20 minutes or until the edges are golden and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Remove from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Ta da! Homemade scones. These taste great with a cup of hot tea or coffee and just butter on them. But I am in love with "Sticky Fingers" lemon curd too. You can get it at World Market. Yum!!!

New Music Monday 3/22/2010 'New Young Pony Club'

2010-03-21T16:28:00.000-07:00

Make fun of me all that you want to, but I have always liked disco. My theory is that most other people do too, they just don't want to admit it. Disco inspired music is making a big comeback. There are some bands doing it well and one of those bands is 'New Young Pony Club.'

Their debut album 'Fantastic Playroom' came out almost three years ago and in my opinion, disco never sounded so good!

NYPC is an edgey, electro-disco group out of London. Who knew disco could be this cool?? Well, I did but that's beside the point. This whole album makes you want to dance!! The rhythym is just right and the synthesizer gives it that 80s feel. All the songs are super catchy. Definately one of my new favorite albums. They've got a second one coming out this year, so I will be anxious to hear if it's just as good as their first!!

'The Bomb'

'Tight Fit'

'Ice Cream'

'Get Lucky'

'The Get Go'

Now more than ever, I think music needs to be fun. There is a lot of heavy stuff going on around us and I think it's important to balance that out - with fun, lighthearted, make you wanna shake yer booty 'n dance music! Call me shallow, but that's what I think. So anyways, if you're not sure where to start when looking for those disco inspired tunes, look no further than 'New Young Pony Club.' Long live disco!!

What Up, Spring? Backyard Inspiration Hits!!

2010-03-19T13:50:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is the first offical day of spring on the calendar - but guess what?? It's gonna snow. Boo!! Hiss!!!!! Hopefully it's a short lived little slip up on mother nature's part. We sure have been spoiled the past few days with all of these warm temps and abundant sunshine.

This weather has me motivated to make some changes outside. Even though it isn't quite time to do any planting, I am already dreaming of what kinds of veggies to put in the square foot garden this year: bush beans, wax beans, beefsteak tomatoes, cucumbers, salad mix, sweet green & red peppers and maybe some peas and zucchini this year. I am planning on doing the herbs in the window boxes under the kitchen window again - mint for mojitos, dill, basil and oregano for sure.

I need to paint that darn blue door on the back of the garage again because it all peeled. I will probably tone it down and do more of a wedgewood blue this time - also thinking of painting the adirondack chairs by the fire pit. Maybe one red and one blue?? We're also going to relay the patio bricks and walkway as lots of them have heaved up the past few winters. I'm also wanting to redo the patio table and chairs instead of spending money on a new set. I love the look of bright furniture and flowers in a backyard. So I'm thinking maybe a creamy yellow for the table and maybe a different color on each of the four chairs?? Blue, red, green and ????? Here are a few of my inspiration photos!!

Pretty painted table...this is the yellow I was envisioning for my table which is similar to this one

Love how all the chairs are different colors! Looks like candy... I love candy...

This is the blue I am loving right now. It looks so great against all the greenery!

I wish I could get the plantings around my patio to look like this! It's messy but it makes sense....

Blue and red.... so happy together!!!

I'd love to do something like this against the back of the house to break up the expanse of beige siding....

Just a cute little shed!!

I can't wait to get to work!! Wut up, spring!!!!!!

Emerald Isle Martini

2010-03-16T10:24:00.000-07:00

Everyone loves green beer on St. Patrick's Day, but sometimes it's good to have another option as far as the green drinks go. Too many of these and you'll be hurling on the blarney stone instead of kissing it, so be careful.

Emerald Isle Martini

1.5 oz Vodka
1.5 oz Midori or other melon flavored liqueur
splash of orange curacao
juice of 2 limes

Fill cocktail shaker with ice and ingredients. Shake well and pour into chilled martini glass. Garnish with a cherry or lime! Slainte!!!

The Ugliest Cookie You'll Ever Eat

2010-03-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

One of the things the irish are best known for (besides being notorious drunks) is that they can make a little go a long way. They made the most of what they had, however little it was. They made up recipes out of whatever was in their bare cupboards - like the irish lace cookie. There's not a lot going on in this cookie and they aren't very pretty either, but they sure do taste good. And since they're a drop cookie, kids can help make them!!!

My cookie helper, Abby

Lulu getting in on the cookie action!

Irish Lace Cookies

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

In a bowl cream the butter with the brown sugar until light and fluffy and beat in the flour, milk and vanilla. Stir in the oats, drop rounded teaspoons of the dough about 3 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets, and bake the cookies in batches in the middle of a preheated 350ºF oven for 10 to 12 minutes, or until they are golden. Let the cookies stand on the sheets for 1 minute, or until they are just firm enough to be moved with a metal spatula. If you take them up too soon they'll fall apart - like really bad. Transfer the cookies to a rack and let them cool completely.

Makes about 24 cookies.

Ethan didn't want any part of the baking, but of course he wanted a cookie!

Ugly, irish cookies!!!

New Music Monday 3/15/2010 'Capercaillie'

2010-03-15T09:56:00.000-07:00

Capercaillie is one of my favorite bands to listen to around St. Patrick's Day or just any time I'm feeling particularly irish-y. We saw them play live quite a few years ago at Celtic Fest in the city and I have been a fan ever since.

Capercaillie are originally from Scotland and got their start in the 80s. The cool thing about them is that they take the traditional songs and sing them in Gaelic, but use modern production techniques and electronic instruments. Karen Matheson's voice is amazing even if you can't understand what she's saying half of the time! Here are a few of my favorite songs from several different albums......

'Beautiful Wasteland'

'The Tree'

'Kepplehall'

'Four Stone Walls'

If you're looking for some celtic music to play on St Patrick's Day that's a little more low key than Flogging Molly or The Pogues, Capercaillie is it. We're busy gearing up for our family's St. Patrick's Day dinner here. I have all of the groceries and the kids and I hung some shamrocks from the ceiling and put up the shamrock window clings too. Tomorrow we'll be making irish lace cookies, so I'll be sure to post the recipe and pictures of my kids making a mess in the kitchen!

Corned Beef and Cabbage

2010-03-14T19:21:00.000-07:00

Oh, yes. It's that time of year again! Corned beef and cabbage time!!! It smells so bad, but it tastes so good. And it looks good too!!!

Now, corned beef and cabbage aren't traditionally eaten in Ireland (although in the early 1800s County Cork was the biggest exporter of canned corned beef). It's about as irish as spaghetti and meatballs. You see, back in poor times the cows were used for their milk and not their meat. Beef was a delicacy and meat was as well.... reserved for holidays and special occasions. On those occasions, the irish would eat ham/bacon joint with their potatoes and cabbage. But when irish immigrants came over here in the mid 1800s they weren't able to find bacon like they'd had in Ireland. They found that Jewish corned beef was similar in texture and used that for their St. Patrick's Day celebrations. So corned beef and cabbage isn't really all that irish, but it is St. Patrick's Day. Ish.

So, here is the link to the recipe I've been using for the past few years that has never failed me once!!! http://www.recipezaar.com/NYC-Corned-Beef-and-Cabbage-15846
It's a good one and it also has a lot of important info on how to select the best corned beef, how to know if the cabbage is ripe, etc. Be sure to serve it with some nice soda bread, a green salad and bottle of Harp's. I also like to make a sauce for the corned beef (not that it needs any, it just tastes good with it!!).... Here's the recipe for that:

1 Tbsp horseradish
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayo
2 Tbsp prepared yellow mustard
2 Tbsp dijon mustard

Don't be intimidated by corned beef and cabbage. It's a little involved, but if I can keep my focus enough to make it I think anyone can!! And it tastes so good it's worth it. Happy eating!!!

Irish Soda Bread

2010-03-08T07:38:00.000-08:00

I always had trouble making a decent soda bread on St. Patty's Day. That is until I found this simple recipe!!! Soda bread dates all the way back to the 1840s. This simple quick bread is a staple of the irish diet and compliments many traditional irish dishes.

Irish Soda Bread

2 cups all purpose flour (I like to use 1 cup each of white & wheat flour)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 tsp salt
3 Tbsp butter, cut into pieces
2 eggs, beaten
3/4 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup golden raisins

1. In a mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of salt.
2. Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
3. Combine 1 beaten egg, raisins and buttermilk.
4. Add to mixture above and stir until just moistened.
5. On a lightly floured surface, knead gently for 12 strokes.
6. On a greased baking sheet, shape the mixture into a 6 inch round loaf and cut a cross (4 inches wide and 1/4 inch deep) in the top. Some irish folk say that a cross is cut into the top of the bread to ward of evil or to let fairies out. I'd sooner think it's to let the steam escape, but what the hell do I know?
7. Brush with the other beaten egg.
8. Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes or until golden and knife comes out clean.

Stay tuned for more irish recipes!!!

New Music Monday 3/8/2010 - Lunasa

2010-03-08T06:51:00.000-08:00

This week (and next week as well) I will be blogging about irish music in honor of St. Patrick's Day. It's getting so close I can almost taste the corned beef!! I guess I could have went with a more well known irish group like Flogging Molly or Clannad or The Pogues, but I wanted to post about someone you may not hear of unless you read this blog. If you love celtic music, you will love Lunasa.

Their album 'The Story So Far' is a collection of previously recorded tracks from their six other records. Sort of a "best of" if you will. This would certainly be a good place to start if you don't own any of those other albums.

Lunasa is an instrumental group and probably one of the best to come around as far as traditional Irish music goes. They were founded in 1996 when musicians Seán Smyth, Trevor Hutchinson, and Donogh Hennessy briefly toured through Scandinavia. This is the kind of music you'd hear in the small town pubs across Ireland. Here is a little sample of 'The Story So Far.'

'Morning Nightcap'

'Black River'

'Cregg's Pipes'

'Punch'

'Eanair' - gorgeous!

'The Last Pint' - this is live - LOVE the part where someone yells 'bastard' in a thick Irish accent before they start playing!!! Ha ha!!!

If Lunasa doesn't get you in the irish spirit, nothing will!! They still go on tour each year and I am hoping someday I will be able to see them live at Celticfest in the city. Happy listening!!!!

Green Velvet Cupcakes with Irish Cream Cheese Frosting

2010-03-04T11:54:00.001-08:00

My love for cupcakes and all things irish have come together!! Over the next couple of weeks I will be posting not one, not two but THREE fabulous cupcake recipes in honor of St. Patrick's Day. We start celebrating as soon as it's March, people. It's St. Patrick's Day all month!!!

The first recipe is just a twist on my classic recipe for red velvet cupcakes, using green food coloring in place of red. Would you?? Could you?? Eat a green cupcake??? Kinda weird, but hey it's St. Patrick's Day!! For the frosting, I tweaked my cream cheese frosting recipe by adding some irish cream to it in place of milk. Hello, amazing!!!!! By the way, I love me some Bailey's but did you know you can make your own irish cream?? It's beyond anything you've ever tasted, trust me. One sip and you'll be kissing the Blarney Stone!!!

My favorite helper!! Chef Lulu!

Green Velvet Cupcakes

2 1/2 cups cake flour (not self- rising), sifted
2 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-process cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 Tbsp (YES, Tablespoons!) green food coloring
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons distilled white vinegar

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk together cake flour, cocoa, and salt.
2.With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, whisk together sugar and oil until combined. Add eggs, one at a time, beating until each is incorporated, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Mix in food color and vanilla.
3.Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in three batches, alternating with two additions of buttermilk, and whisking well after each. Stir together the baking soda and vinegar in a small bowl (it will foam); add mixture to the batter, and mix on medium speed 10 seconds.
4.Divide batter evenly among lined cups, filling each three-quarters full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely before removing cupcakes. Cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen up to 2 months, in airtight containers.

It's not easy being a green cupcake!

Irish Cream Cheese Frosting

1 stick (1/2 cup) of unsalted butter, room temp
8 oz block of cream cheese, room temp
2-3 cups powdered sugar
1-2 Tbsp Irish Cream (you can use Bailey's or make your own!!)

1. With an electric mixer, mix the butter and cream cheese together, about 3 minutes on medium speed until very smooth. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure even mixing.
2. Add the irish cream and mix. Slowly add the powdered sugar. Keep adding until you get to desired sweetness and thickness.
3. Either spread on with a blunt knife or spatula, or spoon into a piping bag to decorate your cupcakes.

Extreme frosting close up....

Homemade Irish Cream Recipe

1 cup heavy cream
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
1 2/3 cups Irish whiskey
1 teaspoon instant coffee granules
2 tablespoons chocolate syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract

Directions
In a blender, combine heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, Irish whiskey, instant coffee, chocolate syrup, vanilla extract, and almond extract. Blend on high for 20 to 30 seconds. Store in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Shake well before serving.

That's all there is to it! Happy baking!!!

See Ya Later, February!!

2010-03-02T08:23:00.000-08:00

Oh, my gosh I am so relieved that February is over!! I never want to wish the time away, but honestly I always look forward to March - St. Patrick's Day, irish cooking, irish music, daylight savings, signs that spring really is on it's way..... It's all just such a relief to me!!

You'll notice that my playlist is all irish music right now. Give it a listen! It starts out slower and builds into some really good drinking music. ;) No one can drink like the irish! So stay tuned over the next couple of weeks because I'll be posting some fabulous St. Patty's Day recipes and great irish music. Bring it on, March!!!

Chocolate Wine Cake

2010-02-27T12:43:00.001-08:00

Two things that go together better than anything else I can think of: wine and chocolate. I got this recipe off of Martha Stewart's site. Most of Martha's recipes are really involved, but I was pleasantly surprised at how truly easy this cake recipe was. And I got to use my bundt pan so yay!!! It's a pretty rich cake, but most of the richness comes from the lovely merlot glaze......

Chocolate Wine Cake

FOR THE CAKE

Nonstick vegetable cooking spray
4 ounces bittersweet chocolate
1 cup red wine, such as cabernet sauvignon or merlot
1/3 cup whole milk
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup (10 2/3 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 large eggs, slightly beaten
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 box (.3 ounce) sugar-free black cherry gelatin
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

FOR THE WINE GLAZE

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup red wine, such as cabernet sauvignon
1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for serving
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1.Prepare the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 10-cup Fleur De Lis Bundt Pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.

2.Melt chocolate in a small bowl placed over a small saucepan of simmering water. Let cool 5 minutes. In a small bowl, combine wine and milk; set aside.

3.In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and the granulated sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs; beat for 2 minutes. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and beat until incorporated, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.

4.In a large bowl, whisk flour, gelatin, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt to combine. Add to mixer bowl, along with the wine mixture, and beat on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Spoon batter into prepared pan.

5.Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool 15 minutes. Using a plastic knife, carefully loosen cake from the pan; invert onto a wire cooling rack. Let cool completely.

6.Prepare the glaze: Combine the butter, wine, and confectioners' sugar in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, over medium-high heat. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Set aside until ready to serve.

7.Dust cake lightly with confectioners' sugar. Slice cake and drizzle with glaze.

I highly suggest washing this cake down with a glass of your favorite wine!! Yummm!!!!

New Music 2/22/2010 Persephone's Bees

2010-02-22T20:49:00.000-08:00

Oh, I should be sleeping. But I am not. I haven't had a good night's sleep since I don't know when, but I still can't bring myself to head to bed. Sometimes the more tired (is that proper grammar?? wait, I don't care) you are, the harder it is to get to sleep. I'm feeling like that right now. Kevin and I took the kiddos to a waterpark hotel this weekend. Now, let me start by saying that I love my children. You know that I would only go swimsuit shopping in the dead of winter, and stuff my pasty-white-out-of-shape-ass into a tankini and wear it in a public place because I love my kids more than anything. They had so much fun and we did too. But I am glad to be home.

So, I can't sleep. I realized it's also Monday - which means New Music Monday!!! 'Persephone's Bees' is a San Fran based band that has been getting a lot of my attention as of late. They're mod and hip without being too out there. The lead singer, Angelina Moysov, grew up in Russia and was heavily influenced by the gypsy, folk music of her country and also the British and American rock music her brother was into. 'Notes From the Underworld' is a fun and spunky album with as much originality as Angelina herself! I had heard the song 'Nice Day' and liked it so much that I decided to check out the rest of the album. So glad that I did! Listen for yourself......

'Nice Day' - seriously, who needs drugs when you can watch this video?!?!

'City Of Love'

'Muzika Dyla Fil'ma' - yep, that's Russian....

'Home'

'Paper Plane'

Nice, huh?? I dare you to try and stand still when you listen to 'Paper Plane,' You can't do it. I think everyone could use a little of this kind of music in their collection. Especially this time of year when you're feeling all blah and wondering when the flip spring will ever get here. So anyways, that's New Music Monday for this week. And I'm going to sleep now!!!

New Music Monday 2/15/2010 Nada Surf

2010-02-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

Remember that song 'Popular' by Nada Surf? Makes me think of high school for sure. Cool tune. Unless you kept up with the band, you probably thought that song was about it for them because they haven't really had any mega hits since then. The truth is, they've only gotten better!!!

A New York band that came about all the way back in 1992, these nerds became instantly popular with their hit song 'Popular.' They've put out a few albums since then, but my favorite of theirs (actually one of my favorite albums ever) is their 2003 release titled 'Let Go.'

Since it came out in 2003, I guess I can't technically call it new. But I think it's probably one of those albums a lot of people don't know about and they should. Part Semisonic, part Radiohead.... you can listen to it all the way through again and again since there isn't a bad song on it. It's the perfect blend of rock and chill, high and low. Check it out.....

'The Way You Wear Your Head'

'Treading Water'

'Inside Of Love'

'Paper Boats'

'Fruit Fly'

'Happy Kid'

'Hi Speed Soul'

So there you have it! If you thought Nada Surf were one hit wonders, you were wrong!! I highly recommend all of their other albums, but please make this one your first priority. It's that good!!! And yes, my playlist is all food related. I need to get a life, stop eating junk and start working out again!!!

Red Hot Velvet Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream

2010-02-14T12:21:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!!! My family and I went out for breakfast to celebrate and then Kevin and I will be celebrating with a date night this evening. So fun!! I thought I'd post this amazing recipe for red velvet cupcakes in honor of Valentine's Day. Honestly, I find this holiday to be a little lame but do enjoy the baking and candy that goes with it. These cupcakes were by far the best red velvet I've ever had. Most red velvet cupcakes are topped with cream cheese frosting, but these have a cinnamon frosting that you actually heat up. It was beyond good. Here's the recipe which I got courtesy of Oprah.com. Again, this requires you making a giant effing mess and using tons of different mixing bowls. It's worth it.

Red Velvet Cupcakes:

1/4 cup dark, unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tbsp red gel food coloring
1/4 cup boiling water
6 Tbsp unsalted butter, cut into pieces and softened
2 Tbsp room temp Crisco (don't fear the hydrogenated oil)
1 2/3 cups sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups cake flour (don't try to use all purpose, it's not the same)
1 tsp salt
1 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 tsp baking soda

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and line muffin pan with cupcake papers. In medium bowl, wisk together cocoa powder, boiling water and food coloring. Set aside to cool. In another mixing bowl, cream butter and shortening until smooth. Add sugar and mix until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Stir buttermilk and vanilla into cooled cocoa mixture. Sift cake flour and salt together in another bowl. With mixer on low, alternate adding flour mixture and cocoa mixture to egg mixture. Beat well. In another small bowl (I hope you have a lot of bowls), combine vinegar and baking soda and stir until dissolved - it'll fizz so don't freak out. Add to batter and stir until combined. Fill each cupcake liner about 2/3 full and bake 20-25 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack. Now for the frosting.....

Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting:

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 cup heavy cream
3 sticks unsalted butter, soft but cool, cut into pieces
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp cinnamon
Red Hot Candies (you can find these in the baking aisle by the sprinkles)
Red White Chocolate hearts

In a heavy saucepan, whisk the sugar and flour together. Add the milk and cream and cook over medium heat, stirring, until mixture boils and has thickened - about 12 minutes. Transfer to mixing bowl and beat on medium speed until cool - about 5 minutes. Reduce speed to low, add butter and beat until mixed in. Beat an additional 2-3 minutes on high speed. Add the vanilla and the cinnamon and mix until combined. If the frosting is too soft, put it in the fridge for a little bit and stir it up again. Frost each cupcake and top with a heart or a red hot!!! Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Sometimes You Just Can't Win

2010-02-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

I'm not known for being unreasonable, but I do know that I'm not the easiest person in the world to get along with. Women will understand what I'm talking about here: sometimes it has to do with PMS, sometimes it's just that we're looking for a fight and there isn't anything you can do or say that's going to be right. It's not fair but that's the way it is. Sorry.

I know when I'm acting like this. It's like I am standing on the other side of the room watching myself being completely ridiculous but I can't help it. Kevin could say something as simple as, "hey, did you know we're out of toilet paper??" and it sets of this whole chain reaction. He may as well have walked into a field full of land mines. Suddenly I'm in full attack mode. "Oh really? No I didn't know that. I guess I am a failure for not knowing that. I guess I am the only person in this whole family that wipes their a$$. No one could have told me this before now? I was just at the store!?!?!?!" Then before you know it we're insulting your mother's cooking and the size of your package. Jugular stab with a fork!!!!!

I don't know why this happens or how to avoid it. Or if it could even be avoided at all. Sometimes there is nothing you can do or say that isn't going to get you in a ton of trouble. Sometimes you just can't win. Just putting that out there.

New Music 2/1/2010 Jump Little Children

2010-01-31T14:57:00.000-08:00

This week's new music isn't really all that new. The band 'Jump Little Children' has been around awhile. Though I've just recently stumbled onto them, I can't seem to stop listening. I originally bought their album 'Between the Dim and the Dark' because an article I'd read compared them to Guster and Radiohead. I'm ashamed to admit I really only bought it to hold me over until Guster's new album comes out - which at this point I have no idea when that will be. While no one will ever replace Guster in my heart, this album is holding its own in my rotation and I think if you like Guster or Switchfoot or Travis or Radiohead you should really give these guys a listen.

The founding band members all met up while attending a school for the performing arts in the Carolinas - they were studying classical music and decided to forget it and become a rock band instead. Good idea!!!! Check them out!!!!

'The Dim and the Dark'

'Hold You Down'

'Rains In Asia'

'Mexico'

'Requiem'

'Young America'

Jump has two other albums that came out before Dim and the Dark called 'Vertigo' and 'Magazine' which I've only briefly listened to so far.... so I can't fully review them. BUT here are a couple of songs from each album just so you can hear how different they are from Dim and the Dark!!!

'Cathedrals' from the album 'Magazine'

'Angeldust' from the 'Vertigo' album - this album *REALLY* sounds like Radiohead

Sadly, I don't think they're together as a band anymore which is a huge bummer. But if you're in need of some new/old music, Jump Little Children come highly recommended. Happy listening!!!!

Cosmopolitan Cupcakes

2010-01-28T07:34:00.000-08:00

Well, if you didn't think I was a complete drunk before........ No, seriously. :) As soon as I saw this recipe I knew I had to try it out. I love cupcakes and these take the cake. They're pink, they have alcohol in them and the cosmo is pretty much my all time fave cocktail. Well, one of them anyways. These were a snap to whip up (be warned tho, lots of separate bowls will be used) and they're oh so pretty, aren't they?? The perfect treat for your next girl's night!!!

Cosmo Cupcakes

1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
3 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup frozen cranberry juice concentrate, thawed
zest of one lime
2-4 drops red food coloring

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line muffin pan with paper liners. Mix together butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time and beat well. Combine all dry ingredients in a separate bowl. Combine buttermilk, thawed concentrate and zest in another bowl. (You know I effing love cupcakes if I would make this many dirty dishes right?!?) Add in 1 cup each of the dry and wet mixtures alternately, beating on low until well mixed. Fill cups with batter 2/3 full and bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan.

For glaze: (that's right, more dirty dishes!!!)

1/4 cup thawed cranberry juice concentrate
1/4 cup vodka (doesn't have to be top shelf as you're not drinking it..... unless you are)

Brush cupcakes with glaze while they're still slightly warm. When they're cooled completely, frost with lime-cointreau buttercream.....

Lime-Cointreau Buttercream

1/2 c butter
4 c powdered sugar
3 Tbsp Cointreau or triple sec.... same freakin thing as far as I'm concerned
juice from 1 large lime
2-4 drops red food coloring (supposed to make it pink not red)

Mix on high speed until fluffy and pipe onto cooled cupcakes! Garnish with a dusting of glittery pink sugar and a fresh lime wedge..... or you could take it a little further and get some of those sugared gummy limes. But I didn't do that. Anyways, hope you get the chance to try these. I think they were pretty fantastic!!!! I highly suggest mixing up a batch of these while listening to my swanky cocktail hour playlist!!!

New Music Monday 1/25/2010

2010-01-24T21:10:00.000-08:00

I, like many others, sat with my family on the sofa and watched the 'Hope For Haiti' telethon this past Friday. I was overcome with emotion several times while watching and listening to the stories and songs. I can only hope that others were as compelled by the words and music and chose to donate what they could to help the people of Haiti.

One of my favorite performances of the night (and there were many) was Justin Timberlake's version of 'Hallelujah.' It was so beautiful. Lots of people were asking who the other guy that was singing and playing the guitar was. I did a little searching around and found out that his name is Matt Morris. Come to find out he is a former Mickey Mouse Club Member and has remained good buddies with JT since back in the day. Matt released an independant album called 'Unspoken' in 2002 and has performed at Bonnaroo, so he's definately not a new guy. And he just so happens to have a brand new album out - just released January 13th - called 'When Everything Breaks Open.' As soon as I listened to it, I fell in love. He sounds a bit like Sanders Bohlke which is a good thing - he's got that funky, folky, soulful thang going on. Here are a few songs from 'When Everything Breaks Open.'

'Bloodline'

'Let it Go'

'Money'

'In This House'

'The Un-American' (sounds like Bohemian Rhapsody!!! Love the lyrics!)

'Eternity' (JT sings back up on this one!!!)

There are lots of other songs on the album and each one is equally as good as the last. Now you know who "that guy" was that was singing with Justin Timberlake the other night!! I hope to hear a lot more of this "guy" in the future!!

New Music Monday 1/18/2010

2010-01-18T10:13:00.000-08:00

New Music Monday with the flu!! Boo! This is the first time I've been sick like this in quite awhile. At first I was in denial and just thinking I was sore from working out, but it hit me like a ton of bricks last night. There's no mistaking the flu!!! Thank goodness for Motrin.

This week I am focusing on a new, young (she's only 26!) artist out of England named Olivia Broadfield. Her first album 'Eyes Wide Open' came out this past summer and I've been enjoying it ever since. It was also one of my top albums of 2009! It's one of those albums you can put on and enjoy all the way through. The soft rock dance beats combined with Olivia's ethereal voice make for a pleasant sounding album that will pull you out of the darkest of moods. I *guess* I would compare her to Imogen Heap a little bit..... maybe??? I'm also looking forward to using it for some dance classes I'll be teaching soon!!!

'Don't Cry' First Single

'Lost In You'

'Silence'

'Holding Onto You'

'Safe'

Well, that's it for today. I'm off to go and lie down for a little bit!!!

When Boredom Strikes

2010-01-11T13:19:00.000-08:00

Renovate something!! Seriously, is it still January?!?! This is the time of the year when I really start to feel like I'm going mad. So I turn to home improvement projects to keep me sane. Or insane, depending on how you look at it.

The project I've been wanting to tackle since we moved in here five years ago (wow!) has been the stairs. I already ripped off the carpet and painted/stained the treads and risers which was a huge improvement. But I've always wanted to cut into the half wall and put up actual wooden railings instead.

I feel like the half wall doesn't really go with the style of the rest of the house. Suprisingly, Kevin agrees with me and wasn't too against the idea of taking a sawzall to the walls!!! Here are a few of the inspiration photos I've found that sort of show what I'd like to do.

I like the square ballisters. We'll probably paint them white and then do the actual railing in black. Not sure yet though as I really like the look of the all white railings in the last picture. Hmmmm..... looking at my pictures also makes me want to paint the inside of the front door a different color. Black??? Hmmmmm..... I smell another project!!!!!! ;) Good thing I've got myself to keep me busy.

New Music Monday 1/11/2010

2010-01-10T18:37:00.001-08:00

New Music Monday!! Yay!!! This week I've been listening to the self-titled debut album from 'Broken Bells.' It's a fantastic collaboration between artist-producer Danger Mouse (of Gnarls Barkley) and James Mercer from 'The Shins.' As soon as I heard the first single 'The High Road', I knew I would need to buy it. There's some really cool stuff going on - a crazy sounding carnival organ and this sort of trip hop vibe. The actual album isn't being released until March 9th though, so we'll have to keep our pants on. But for now here's a bit of what there is to look foward to!!!

'The High Road'

'Vaporize'

Come on, March!!!!

Don't Hit The Weepies

2010-01-07T17:36:00.000-08:00

So here's a funny story for you. It harkens back to my city dwelling days. Ah, the city. Kevin and I were so young and dumb when we moved there. We lived on the north side in an area called Edgewater Beach near Rogers Park. It was a tad ghetto, but the price was right and it was on the lake. Anyways, we parked the car in this creepy parking garage underneath the high rise apartment building we lived in. There were these HEEEE-UGE concrete pillars that held up the ceiling of the garage and they had them wrapped in this rubbery stuff with these little feelers on them(in case you just happened to cut your turn too short and hit them) which I named "the weepies." I don't know why.

At that time we were just married and driving Kevin's old T-bird from high school. It was quite a large car and its turning capabilities left a lot to be desired. But it was a good car. So one night after work when I was parking it I did an awful thing and cut my turn a little too short. I hit the dreaded weepies. Despite the fact that they were rubber, they still messed up the side of the car up pretty bad. Woops. So instead of being honest and telling Kevin about it, I kept my mouth shut and hoped he wouldn't notice. He noticed right away the next morning. And he was pissed. His exact words were, "Oh, my GOD! Did you?!?!?!?! You hit the weepies!!!!!" Then we both just started laughing. To this day when I'm pulling into the garage he tells me not to "hit the weepies". Turd.

So imagine my sheer delight as I am perusing the music on amazon and I see that there is a BAND called.... you guessed it.... The Weepies!! I mean, I didn't even freaking care if they sucked!!! I was buying one of their albums regardless!!! But guess what?!?!?! They don't suck at all!!! They're kind of amazing!!!

'The Weepies' are technically classifed as an indie-pop folk band. Deb Talen and Steve Tannen were on separate paths when they met at a club back in 2001. They found they had a bond right away and began playing together. Then they got signed, got married and had a baby!! The band got major attention with their second album 'Say I Am You' in 2006 when it became the most downloaded folk album in eight countries. Since then, their songs have been featured on lots of popular shows like Grey's Anatomy, Everwood, One Tree Hill and Scrubs. And their song 'Can't Go Back Now' was played during an ad for Obama's presidential campaign. You've probably also heard a couple of their songs on JCPenney's commercials and you didn't even know it. Now you do!!!! I think Deb's voice reminds me a lot of Aimee Mann and I love her so that's a good thing. The harmonies between the two are prefectly matched and nothing short of breathtaking.

I present to you 'The Weepies.' Who knew??!?!?!

'Take It From Me'

'The World Spins Madly On' - beautiful lyrics and sentiment

'Gotta Have You' sweet love song

'All That I Want' wish I would've known about this Christmas tune!

'Can't Go Back Now' LOVE this one

'Somebody Loved'

So those are The Weepies. They don't rock out. They don't do anything real fancy. But that is why I like them. Well, that and their name! Hopefully I won't be hitting any more weepies with the car, but I'll definately be listening to them in it!!! :0

Top 100 Albums Of the Decade 1999-2009

2010-01-04T11:13:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe I'm doing this! 1999-2009. It's insane. At first I tried to make a top fifty list, but there was just so much good stuff I didn't want to leave anything out. Lots of info coming atcha, but what better way to start 2010 than with a look back at all of the amazing music of the past decade. In going through my expansive music stash, I learned a few things I which I will share with you: there was a TON of great stuff that came out over the past ten years, my tastes have really evolved, holy hell I have spent a lot of money on music!!!! But it was money well spent. Where would any of us be without our favorite bands? I know for me, I'd be pretty bored. Looking back over the years was really fun. To me music is like a time machine. Just hearing a certain song can take you back to a specific time and place in your life. Music provokes thought and emotion and can help soothe a broken heart.

Prepare yourselves for a lot of scrolling. I thought the best way to organize (how funny that word would even be in MY vocabulary) this situation would be by year, but then I got pissed and just started typing. If I were to make a New Years resolution it would probably be to "try and be more organized", but seeing as I don't make resolutions that wouldn't really work out. The playlist you'll be hearing has over a hundred songs on it. I took a song or two from each of my favorite 100 albums. If you have enough patience to read through this and listen to them all, I hope you find some new stuff you've never heard and need to have. But also, I would encourage you to go through your own music stash and break out some of those older albums you haven't listened to in awhile. It was fun!

All right, let's put on our walking shoes and get ready to take a trip down music's memory lane!!!! Remember, these are in no particular order as that goes against everything I stand for.

1) Death Cab For Cutie 'Transatlanticism' 2003
2) The Shins 'Wincing the Night Away' 2007
3) Brandi Carlile 'The Story' 2007
4) The Music 'The Music' 2003
5) Spoon 'Kill the Moonlight' 2002
6) Keane 'Hopes and Fears' 2004
7) Switchfoot 'Beautiful Letdown' 2003
8) Radiohead 'In Rainbows' 2007
9) Foo Fighters 'There Is Nothing Left To Lose' 1999
10) Fiona Apple 'When the Pawn' 1999
11) Jimmy Eat World 'Bleed American' 2001
12) Frou Frou 'Details' 2002
13) Beck 'Guero' 2005
14) The Killers 'Hot Fuss' 2004
15) The Cardigans 'Long Gone Before Daylight' 2004
16) Muse 'Sing For Absolution' 2003
17) The Postal Service 'Give Up' 2003
18) Blink 182 'Blink 182' 2003
19) The Feeling 'Twelve Stops and Home' 2006
20) Kasabian 'Kasabian' 2004
21) Stars 'Set Yourself On Fire' 2004
22) Imogen Heap 'Speak For Yourself' 2005
23) Jason Mraz 'Waiting For My Rocket To Come' 2002
24) Garbage 'Bleed Like Me' 2005
25) Pete Yorn 'MusicFortheMorningAfter' 2001
26) Nada Surf 'Let Go' 2003
27) Abandoned Pools 'Humanistic' 2001
28) Remy Zero 'The Golden Hum' 2001
29) South 'From Here On In' 2002
30) Aqualung 'Memory Man' 2007
31) Great Northern 'Trading Twilight For Daylight' 2007
32) Moonbabies 'At the Ballroom' 2007
33) Eisley 'Combinations' 2007
34) Dandy Warhols 'Welcome To the Monkey House' 2003
35) The Perishers 'Let There Be Morning' 2005
36) Metric 'Fantasies' 2009
37) Kings Of Leon 'Only By the Night' 2008
38) Olivia Broadfield 'Eyes Wide Open' 2009
39) Mat Kearney 'City of Black and White' 2009
40) Filter 'Title Of Record' 1999
41) Blonde Redhead '23' 2007
42) Dido 'No Angel' 1999
43) Green Day 'American Idiot' 2004
44) Jamie Cullum 'Twentysomething' 2004
45) Sufjan Stevens 'Illinoise' 2005
46) Jimmy Eat World 'Chase This Light' 2007
47) John Mayer 'Room For Squares' 2001
48) Anberlin 'Never Take Friendship Personal' 2005
49) The Submarines 'Declare A New State' 2006
50) Elliott Smith 'Figure 8' 2000
51) Jamie Cullum 'Catching Tales' 2005
52) Gin Blossoms 'Major Lodge Victory' 2006
53) Augustana 'Stars and Boulevards' 2005
54) Jens Lekman 'Oh You're So Silent Jens' 2005
55) Keane 'Under the Iron Sea' 2006
56) MGMT 'Oracular Spectacular' 2007
57) The Raveonettes 'In & Out of Control' 2009
58) Imogen Heap 'Ellipse' 2009
59) Phoenix 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix' 2009
60) Lily Allen 'It's Not Me It's You' 2009
61) The Sounds 'Crossing the Rubicon' 2009
62) Rogue Wave 'Descended Like Vultures' 2007
63) Everclear 'Songs From An American Movie Part 2' 2000
64) Sea Wolf 'Leaves In the River' 2007
65) Travis 'The Invisible Band' 2001
66) Guster 'Ganging Up On the Sun' 2006
67) Coldplay 'Rush Of Blood To the Head' 2002
68) Ben Folds 'Rockin the Suburbs' 2001
69) Queens Of the Stoneage 'Songs For the Deaf' 2002
70) Metric 'Old World Underground Where Are You Now' 2003
71) The Shins 'Oh Inverted World' 2001
72) Sia 'Color the Small One' 2006
73) Rogue Wave 'Asleep At Heaven's Gate' 2007
74) Phoenix 'It's Never Been Like That' 2006
75) Santogold 'Santogold' 2008
76) Greg Laswell 'Through Toledo' 2006
77) Guster 'Lost and Gone Forever' 1999
78) Sea Wolf 'White Water, White Bloom' 2009
79) Coldplay 'X&Y' 2005
80) Metric 'Grow Up and Blow Away' 2007
81) The Rescues 'Crazy Ever After' 2008
82) Priscilla Ahn 'A Good Day' 2008
83) Bloc Party 'A Weekend In the City' 2007
84) Uh Huh Her 'Common Reaction' 2008
85) Phoenix 'Alphabetical' 2004
86) Greg Laswell 'Three Flights From Alto Nido' 2008
87) Carolina Liar 'Coming To Terms' 2007
88) Mat Kearney 'Nothing Left To Lose' 2006
89) Coldplay 'Viva la Vida' 2008
90) Guster 'Keep It Together' 2003
91) Travis 'The Boy With No Name' 2007
92) The Helio Sequence 'Keep Your Eyes Ahead' 2008
93) Incubus 'Morning View' 2001
94) Via Audio 'Say Something' 2007
95) Green Day '21st Century Breakdown' 2009
96) Feist 'Let It Die' 2005
97) The Action Design 'Never Say' 2008
98) Death Cab For Cutie 'Plans' 2005
99) Franz Ferdinand 'Franz Ferdinand' 2004
100) U2 'How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb' 2004

There you have it! I'm sure I'm forgetting something here, but I think this about covers it. I checked out some of the other "best albums of the decade" lists from Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. Some of their picks were right on and some of the albums I listened to most of all weren't anywhere in sight. But that's okay. We all have our own list and I'll take mine over theirs any day. Happy listening! (ps in all this craziness I forgot Jem's 'Finally Woken' from 2004. Argh!!!!! It's on the playlist, but not on the list list!!)

Top Nine Albums Of 2009

2009-12-28T06:40:00.000-08:00

Christmas came and went faster than it ever has this year. As fast as it was, it was extremely enjoyable and fun. We traveled to and from both family Christmases in very nasty weather, so I'm grateful for having made it home safely. Despite all of those positives, I am sitting here with post holiday let down. I am sad to see the holidays go! Everyone who knows me knows I am not a big fan of New Year's Eve/New Year's Day. The thought of another year gone by just makes me want to freak out. 2010sounds insane and I think 2009 just went by way too fast. So ya, not my favorite holiday. Even so, I busted out a playlist full of New Year faves - lots of classics mixed in with some newer, retrospective favorites. I mean, you can't have a New Years playlist without Frank. And if 'Long December' doesn't make you want to sit and bawl your damn eyes out, I don't know what will. I can definately remember a few years where I just wanted to get December over with. So I'm thankful this wasn't one of them!

Instead of the typical 'New Music Monday' I thought I'd post a top nine of my favorite albums of this year. It would take me all of 2010 to put them in order of my favorites, so they're just all over the place. Typical for me. Here we go!!!

Metric 'Fantasies' - my favorite Canadians!! Haven't stopped listening to it since I bought it and probably never will!!!

Phoenix 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix' - 80's inspired synth rock born in the garage of a Paris suburb - how could you NOT love it?!?!?!

Imogen Heap 'Ellipse' - there will never be anyone as talented or unique as Immi, or as weird. Great album!!!

Olivia Broadfield 'Eyes Wide Open' - I haven't blogged about this gal yet, but don't let that stop you from checking her out for yourself! Good stuff and one of my tops for 2009!!

Mat Kearney 'City Of Black and White' - Kevin and I had the pleasure of seeing Mat live when he opened for Keane - he's one of my favorite artists and this album is amazing!

Lily Allen 'It's Not Me, It's You' - if honesty is the best policy, then Lily's your gal! If you can't handle explicit lyrics, well then maybe you should move on.

The Raveonettes 'In & Out Of Control' - another one that never made it to the old blog! Guess you'll just have to check them out for yourself... 'Last Dance' and 'Heart of Stone' are my absolute faves!! 50s era rock with a dark and twisty flavor.

Green Day '21st Century Breakdown' - didn't think they could top 'American Idiot' and I was extremely wary of the album format with the whole narrative thang, BUT this is still one of my faves of 2009.

The Sounds 'Crossing the Rubicon' - what's old becomes new again, so are we suprised then that 80s synth is making a huge comeback? No and that's ok with me!

So there you have it - my top nine of 2009!! All in all it was a great year for music, and 2010 promises to be even better. Happy New Year to all who follow this strange little blog. See you in 2010!!!!

Where Have YOU Been??

2009-12-13T12:05:00.001-08:00

That's what I've been thinking lately. Every time I sit down to type something up on this blog, something interrupts my thought process and I'm just not able to finish. That's the story of my life - one unfinished thing after another. If I told you how many half written compositions were waiting to be posted, you would laugh your ass off. As usual my intentions were good but the follow through was lacking. I had every intention of doing a Christmas version of New Music Mondays, but honestly I've just been listening to all of last year's favorites anyways. I was meaning to post some favorite holiday cookie recipes, but I haven't had the chance to type them out - we've been too busy eating. I was meaning to post a holiday shopping guide of some of my fave affordable gifts, but it seemed a little too materialistic so I deleted it. And here we are! A couple of weeks to go until Christmas and this is the first thing I've posted for the month of December!! So I decided to put it all into one post and hopefully this will break the 'blogger's block' I've been experiencing!

My Top Ten Holiday Albums (Dave Letterman style)

10) Maybe This Christmas (various artists)
9) This Warm December - A Brushfire Holiday Vol 1 (various artists)
8) The Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs (various artists)
7) Narada's Nutcracker
6) James Taylor at Christmas
5) Elf Movie Soundtrack
4) Loreena McKennitt's 'A Midwinter Night's Dream'
3) Jars of Clay 'Christmas Songs'
2) A Charlie Brown Christmas
1) Ray Coniff 'We Wish You A Merry Christmas'

If you're in the market for new holiday music you should definately check those out!

Peppermint Bark is one of my fave Christmas-y treats. The kids and I made some the other day and we're still eating it. They love helping me smash the candy canes to bits!! Here's the recipe!!!

2 bags semi sweet chocolate chips
2 bags white chocolate chips
box of candy canes - crushed

Melt the dark chocolate in a microwave safe container (I like Pampered Chef's micro cookers!). Spread carefully on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Freeze for 5 minutes or until set up. Melt the white chocolate and then carefully spread that over the dark chocolate. Spread crushed candy canes on top and let cool in the fridge. Lift wax paper off of cookie sheet and break into pieces. Eat and enjoy!!!!

A Lesson In Giving

2009-11-23T10:33:00.001-08:00

I'm sure you've noticed my playlist (please excuse the Bon Jovi song, oh GOD and the Kelly Clarkson one) is all ready for Thanksgiving, as is my family. We're headed back home to celebrate with my family for the day and looking forward to it as always. I can remember going to my grandparents as a little kid for dinner and eating the delicious food my grama made at the kid's table in the kitchen with my cousin and brother. Then we'd sneak upstairs and work on our booby trap for when our parents told us it was time to head back home. That usually involved lots of yarn, tinker toys and a barrel of monkeys. Lots of good memories of Thanksgivings for me. :)

This month I've been trying to think of something I'm thankful for every day and it's really helped me realize just how truly blessed I am. There were certain days when things weren't going very well when it was a little more difficult to find something to be thankful for, but when I did I was reminded that it's the little things for which I am most grateful. That's especially clear now when there are so many Americans struggling to find work and meet basic needs.

Yesterday while spending a nice afternoon getting a little holiday shopping done, I learned a lesson in true generousity from my daughter Abby. She had brought her own money and found a pretty Christmas ornament she wanted to buy. As the sales person rang up the ornament she asked Abby if she'd like to make a donation to St. Jude's. Abby asked what that was and when I told her it was a children's hospital, she said 'Okay, sick kids.' Then she reached into her purse and proceeded to pull out the rest of her money and put it on the counter. I was blown away, but not at all suprised. Abby has always been one of the most generous people I've ever known and is always putting the needs of others before her own. It made me so proud of her. I hope that as we head into the heart of this holiday season that I can give as freely and from the heart as she always does.

Happy Thanksgiving to you all - I hope it finds you surrounded by the people you love and that you never run out of things to be thankful for!!

New Music Monday 11/23/2009

2009-11-23T09:21:00.000-08:00

Last week on one of my favorite shows, 'So You Think You Can Dance' - a brilliant choreographer named Travis Wall showcased a beautiful dance to a song called 'Your Ex-Lover Is Dead' by a band called Stars. Although the song was cut in several places to the point where I personally feel the meaning was a bit lost, it was still a beautiful piece. And I bet a lot of people heard the song and downloaded some 'Stars' stuff. So this week which will be the last week for non-holiday music blogging, I decided to post about 'Stars.'

I actually first heard 'Stars' on the pandora website, which is where I get a lot of new stuff. 'Elevator Love Letter' was the song and it's from their 2003 album called 'Heart.' Since then, I've become hooked and bought two more of their records. Their sound is the perfect mix of soft vocals and rich instrumentation. You'll hear strings, keybords and horns in their songs - but while there's a lot going on in the way of instruments, it's complicated but never sounds overdone. 'Stars' is a canadian group and are also members of the very talented, well known band 'Broken Social Scene.' Both 'Heart' and 'Set Yourself On Fire' have been nominated for the award of Alternative Album of the year. Here are a few favorites from 'Heart.'

'Elevator Love Letter'

'Look Up'

'Life Effect' LOVE these lyrics

It's no secret that 'Set Yourself On Fire' is my favorite album from these guys. :) It's permenantly in my rotation. I feel like they tackle some really great stuff with the lyrics in a lot of the songs, particularly 'Your Ex-lover Is Dead' which is about a one sided relationship gone wrong. All of the tracks on this particular album will resonate with anyone who has ever been able to get over someone and move on, made the wrong decision, chosen to stay with someone despite the fact that they weren't good for them or just been in a relationship period. 'Stars' is for everyone!

'Your Ex-lover Is Dead'

'Ageless Beauty'

'Reunion'

'Soft Revolution' set to extreme skating??? Ha ha!!!

'First Five Times'

That's it for this week! Stay tuned for fun holiday music posts every Monday through Christmas!!!!

New Music Monday 11/9/2009

2009-11-10T17:28:00.000-08:00

Technically it's Tuesday, but I didn't have time to post this with all of the fun birthday happenings around here!!! This week's new music is from an LA band (a chick band!!!) called 'Uh Huh Her.' So I guess if you are already sick of my chick band posts, you should move along and not read this one!!! This indie electro-pop band was originally made up of three members - Camilla Grey, Leisha Hailey (played Alice on a show called The L Word and is on some Yoplait commercials... random) and Alicia Warrington.... but Alicia up and quit. Too bad so sad for her!!! If you're a big PJ Harvey fan (if you don't know who PJ is, you must have slept through the 90s) you'll recognize the name 'Uh Huh Her' as it was the title to one of her albums.

'Common Reaction' was released in 2008 and is the only album they have this far. It's a perfect blend of rock and electronica. This album comes highly recommended *by me* to anyone who likes Metric, Esthero, Feist or Tegan & Sara type lady bands. It's an easy listen - smooth yet edgy......

'Say So' - this is the Thom Russo mix which I *heart*

'Explode'

'Not A Love Song'

'Wait Another Day'

'Covered'

'Common Reaction'

All in all, a great find I think. I don't know if there will be more albums in the future or if this was a one time deal, but it's good. Like staying in your pajamas and reading books all day good. ;) Ha ha.

Happy Birthday, Abby!!!

2009-11-09T19:34:00.000-08:00

Abby is 7!!! Wow, time flies. As usual on one of my kids' birthdays, I dug out all the old pictures. It's always so fun looking at how much they've changed over the years. Abby has changed so much!! She has always been so much fun. She's creative, crazy and such a kind hearted little person. Here's a look at her through the past seven years of her life......

Happy Birthday, Abby!!! We love you!!!!

I Know It's Not Monday, but Oh my Gawd!!!!

2009-11-05T16:40:00.000-08:00

Has this ever happened before??? No! I could wait until Monday to blog about my latest music find, but I physically cannot. As Buddy the Elf would say, "I'm in love, I'm in love and I don't care who knows it!!!"

So, his name is Sanders Bohlke and he's from Oxford, Mississippi. His voice is like butter, I kid you not. He's currently unsigned and I think you can only buy his stuff through itunes and amazon's Mp3's, but you should do one or the other because you will be sorry if you don't!!! I originally heard his song 'The Weight of Us' and I literally stopped what I was doing and said, "who is this amazing man with a voice like butter??" The rest is history. I downloaded every single song of his I could get my hands on and have not stopped listening to them since. The depth of emotion in his music is like nothing I have ever heard. Dude's got soul!!!!!

'The Weight of Us'

That is really the only song of his I could find on youtube that wasn't live, so if you want to hear more you should check out his myspace page.

http://www.myspace.com/sandersbohlke

Then go directly to itunes or amazon and purchase all of it!!!! Here's the link his mp3 downloads from amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_0_7?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-music&field-keywords=sanders+bohlke&sprefix=sanders

Oh, and you're welcome!!!! :)

New Music Monday 11/2/2009

2009-11-02T18:13:00.000-08:00

Happy November!! Halloween was chilly here, but tons of fun as usual. Now it's like the final countdown til Christmas. I am super excited to start blogging about holiday music, but I think I should at least wait until after Thanksgiving. I was always one of those people who started listening to Christmas music as soon as November first hits. I love it!! So get ready!! My holiday recommendations will be coming your way shortly!

This week I chose a band called 'Via Audio'. The drummer is actually from the band 'Spoon' and the rest of the band members are all from Brooklyn. Their first and only album to date is called 'Say Something.' I really love the fact that they have the female lead singer with male back ups - it makes for a really great sound. Not one of the most upbeat albums you'll ever hear, but it's not depressing either. It's just one of those nice chill records. Here are some of my favorites from 'Say Something.'

'Modern Day Saint'

'Developing Active People'

'We Can Be Good'

'Presents'

Unfortunately a lot of the other really great songs from the album aren't on youtube, so you'll just have to check them out for yourself! I have no idea if these guys are planning to put out another album any time soon or ever, but 'Say Something' is definately great and I know I'd love to hear more. Good stuff!!!

New Music Wednesday???

2009-10-21T06:29:00.000-07:00

It just doesn't have the same ring as New Music Monday does it? I would have posted this Monday, but I didn't get time to finish it. I just don't seem to be having an abundance of down time lately!! So this week it's New Music Wednesday.

'Phoenix' has been around awhile, but I've just recently gotten into them. Blame it on a commercial for a Cadillac playing their new hit '1901.' Honestly, did you know there's a whole website devoted to music heard on commercials?? So Phoenix. They're french, but we won't hold that against them will we. ;) They are an electro-indie pop band.... which quite simply means lots of synth and great dance beats. We're starting with their latest release 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix.' Nothing big headed about that album title right??? But it's actually been called their best album (and they have four in total) so I guess they're allowed to be big headed. I am addicted!!! It's very easy to listen to and booty-shakingly fun as someone else put it. AND and and it's also only $7.99 at amazon right now!!! Let's listen...

'Lisztomania'

'1901' heard this one on Q101 the other day!! It's also in a Caddy commercial.

'Lasso'

'Girlfriend'

'Fences' hello, disco-rock!!!!

I haven't purchased their previous three albums, but once I wear this one out I will definately be doing so!!!! Happy Wednesday to all. The weekend is just around the corner!!!

Fall Along the Fox

2009-10-18T14:15:00.000-07:00

It's been feeling like fall (more like winter at times) temperature wise for awhile now, but we haven't had much of a chance to enjoy it yet. We're so lucky to live along such a beautiful river with so many fun things to do. It was a little chilly, but we thought it would be a good day to go to the Fabyan Forest Preserve for a picnic and some fun.

What a cool place!! There's tons of bike trails, a japanese garden and even an old windmill you can tour. Here are a few pictures of our day.

New Music Monday 10/5/2009

2009-10-04T07:22:00.001-07:00

This week I'm going a bit indie with a great band called Sea Wolf. They're an amazing group based out of LA. Their album 'Leaves In the River' has been one of my tops for quite awhile now. I thought it would be a good time to put it out here on the blog because it has a very fallish, folk sound to it. It's perfect for curling up on the couch with a cup of coffee and your blanket!!!

Band leader Alex Church was originally part of the late 90s group called 'Irving' but the songs he wrote for them didn't really fit their style. So off he went!! He started performing locally as Sea Wolf with a few other musicians and eventually hooked up with the producer of the groups Band of Horses, The Shins (HELLO!!! Luv them!) and Fleet Foxes. Major greatness!!! Disclaimer: this album will grow on you and the more you listen to it the more in love with Sea Wolf you will become. You will not be able to stop listening to it. They are that brilliant! Oh and errrr, ya..... they're gonna be on the 'New Moon' soundtrack with a song called 'The Violet Hour' :) So excited!!! Here are some great songs from the 'Leaves In the River' album. Seriously. Buy it.

'You're A Wolf' - best song on the album for me

'Middle Distance Runner'

'Leaves In The River'

'Winter Windows'

'The Cold the Dark and the Silence'

'Black Dirt' the guys who made this vid did a great job! It's friggin sweet!

Sea Wolf also came out with a new album called 'White Water White Bloom' on the 22nd of September, so I don't even own it yet! But based on the reviews I've read I will most definately be purchasing it soon. This is 'Wicked Blood.'

'Wicked Blood'

Hope you likey! See you next Monday!!!

The Flu Shot - Are You Getting One?

2009-10-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to lie, this new H1N1 flu virus scares me. Hell, the regular flu virus scares me. But I'm trying to decide what scares me more - the flu itself or the vaccine given to prevent it. Let me be clear before I go any further here that I am NOT anti-vaccine. But I'm not pro-vaccine either. With my first two kids, I went to the health department on time and got their shots without asking any questions. Why would I question vaccinations? It was just what you did. I had no reason to wonder why I was doing what I was doing - that was until my third baby was born.

As a mother, Olivia has made me question EVERYTHING I have ever done or will do from now on. From nursing to solid foods to sleeping to you guessed it, vaccinations. She made me wonder and worry about things I never had to before. I don't neccessarily think that's a bad thing. It all started the week after I had her. She was having a hard time nursing and I didn't know what to do. She seemed uncomfortable and would just scream and we didn't know why. She started getting this awful rash all over her which was very different from the normal baby pimples that happen to some newborns. I did some research and wondered if she was having issues with something I was eating. After many tears and lots of attempts, I completely gave up breastfeeding and switched her to Nutramigen hypoallergenic formula. It was awful stuff, but it worked for her. We were able to lay her flat without fear of a reflux episode and she slept over over an hour for the first time in her two months of life. She was content. I cried tears of joy. Do you have any idea how much crying you do when you're a mom?? Anyways, the rash even started to go away and she was this happy little baby I didn't know existed.

At her two month check up, I politely declined her vaccinations. Despite pressure from our doctor, something told me it was the right thing to do. I was concerned at how sensitive she must be due to the reactions she'd had with her diet so far. Thank God I didn't do it. At age four months, after giving Olivia a bottle and laying her down to bed she had her very first seizure. I cannot put into words what an absolutely terrifying thing it was to witness. After vomiting what seemed to be her entire feeding, Olivia's eyes rolled back into her little bald head and she paled to a color that I have never seen a living human being turn. She was limp and unresponsive and so cold. We didn't know what was happening. By the time we got to the ER, she seemed much better. They checked her vitals and sent us home, thinking it was some sort of stomach virus not knowing it was actually a seizure. I slept next to her crib (sleep isn't the word I would use) that night. Little did I know, the horror we'd just witnessed would surface again.

Olivia has had five seizures in her three years of life, the most recent one being last December. I pray every single day that it was the last one she'll ever have. It's not something I will ever get used to seeing or forget or get over and the image of it will haunt me probably forever. (I try not to live in fear, but I wouldn't be honest if I told you I didn't worry like a crazy person every time she got sick!) Olivia underwent lots of testing to determine the cause of her seizures and we never found one. The term mitochondrial disorder (google that if you're curious as it would take me quite a long time to explain) was thrown out there by her peds neurologist and we did some testing that was in conclusive as far as that went. So we still don't know and maybe we never will. And we still haven't given her one vaccination. Does that bother me? Yes. But right now I still feel the risks far outweigh the benefits for her. That doesn't mean I don't worry about my decision and it doesn't mean I won't ever vaccinate her for anything.

That being said, I still have to think really hard about this upcoming flu season. I can't figure it out. Either we're all screwed or the media/government has done a great job of trying to scare us all to death. I haven't decided which one it is yet. For most people, the decision to get a flu shot is black and white. You either get them every year because you think they work or you take your chances not getting the shot. I guess everyone is taking their chances if you think about it - either by getting the flu shot and hoping it doesn't have any awful side effects or not getting the flu shot and hoping you don't get sick. I guess it wouldn't bother me so much if people knew for sure if the shot actually worked. I am curious how many people who have never gotten the flu shot before are getting it this year. Will you get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available? What chance are you taking this season???

Comfort Food Makes a Comeback

2009-09-30T16:37:00.000-07:00

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: I love fall!!! Don't get me wrong, I am sad to see summer and the warm weather go. But there's something about cute sweaters, football and comfort food that makes me so happy. Food in general makes me happy. I love to eat probably more than anyone should. I look forward to my meals. As soon as I'm done eating one meal, I am already thinking about what to have for the next one!!! I am not ashamed to say it. I love food.

Comfort food is high on the list, although it's not something we have as often as I would like for obvious reasons. It tastes good, but it's not always good for you! My family's all time favorite meal is a simple one of creamed chicken served over biscuits. It is the definition of comfort food - warm and filling, inexpensive and uncomplicated, and easy to prepare. My mom used to make it for us when we were little and it never disappointed. It was one of the first things I made for Kevin when we were first married! I happened upon a cute little blog called The Big Red Kitchen one day and was so happy to find a good recipe for the beloved creamed chicken. It is probably the best blog about food EVER. She takes the most beautiful pictures of the food!!! Of course you can't just look at the pictures. You have to make the food. And eat it!!!

What did I tell you about the pictures??? Thanks to 'Big Red Kitchen' blog for allowing me to use your delicious photo!!!!

Anyways, here is her amazing recipe for Creamed Chicken which my family and I enjoy on a very regular basis during cold months. Hopefully it will make its way to your table for you and yours to enjoy!!!

Creamed Chicken

1 stick unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
4 cups milk
4 cups cooked, shredded chicken- about 3-4 chicken breast halves
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot over medium high heat, melt butter. To melted butter, whisk in flour until smooth. Slowly whisk in milk. Turn heat down to medium and cook until thickened. Add chicken then salt and pepper to taste. Serve over hot buttermilk biscuits with steamed peas and enjoy!!

Little Mermaid

2009-09-27T15:13:00.001-07:00

We had a fun family birthday party yesterday for Olivia. My parents, grandparents, brother, Kevin's mom, his brother & twins were all on hand to help us celebrate. Olivia decided on a mermaid theme since she loves them right now. I was able to find this adorable costume on ebay used for a really great price!!

Doctor Lulu in the house.... she loves her new doctor kit!

Olivia was so excited for her party!!! Here are a few pictures!!!

Happy Birthday to you, Lulu!

She loved it!

Blue frosting = blue tongue!

Yummy!!!!

I really took the whole mermaid/under the sea theme and ran with it, which was super fun. We had fish tacos, lime cilantro shrimp skewers, chips & salsa, shell pasta salad, pineapple dessert salad and "seaweed" spinach with tropical fruit salad. The kids had "sushi" (I took white bread without the crust and spread cream cheese on it with celery and lunch meat and rolled it up like sushi!), goldfish crackers and blue fish jello jigglers. It was an amazing spread!!! I was also really brave and made the cupcakes from scratch this time!! We had coconut cupcakes with buttercream frosting and key lime cupcakes.

Blue frosted coconut cupcake and key lime cupcake

Here are the recipes in case you'd like to try them!!!

Key Lime Cupcakes with Lime Frosting

MAKES 12

Recipe by Buttersweet Bakery

September 2008
Ingredients
CUPCAKES
1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cup self-rising flour
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/4 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel
1/4 teaspoon neon-green food coloring
3/4 cup buttermilk
FROSTING
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon finely grated lime peel
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preparation
CUPCAKES
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line standard muffin pan with 12 paper liners. Whisk both flours in medium bowl. Beat butter in large bowl until smooth. Add sugar; beat to blend. Beat in eggs 1 at a time, then next 3 ingredients (batter may look curdled). Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with buttermilk in 2 additions. Spoon scant 1/3 cup batter into each liner.
Bake cupcakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes. Remove from pan; cool.

FROSTING
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 tsp Lime zest
1 tsp vanilla ext
1/8 tsp salt
16 oz powdered sugar
3 Tbsp lime juice
1 to 2 Tbsp milk

Beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, lime juice and milk, beating at low speed until blended and smooth.

Coconut Cupcakes

Ingredients

3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
5 extra-large eggs at room temperature
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons pure almond extract
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup buttermilk
14 ounces sweetened, shredded coconut

For the frosting:

1 pound cream cheese at room temperature
3/4 pound (3 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon pure almond extract
1 1/2 pounds confectioners' sugar, sifted
Directions
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. With the mixer on low speed, add the eggs, 1 at a time, scraping down the bowl after each addition. Add the vanilla and almond extracts and mix well.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In 3 parts, alternately add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk to the batter, beginning and ending with the dry. Mix until just combined. Fold in 7 ounces of coconut.

Line a muffin pan with paper liners. Fill each liner to the top with batter. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool in the pan for 15 minutes. Remove to a baking rack and cool completely.

Meanwhile, make the frosting. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on low speed, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla and almond extracts. Add the confectioners' sugar and mix until smooth.

Frost the cupcakes and sprinkle with the remaining coconut.