Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Camera 1, Camera 2
Look at this sweet Christmas penguin.
Now look at him again.
Notice a difference? I sure hope so... Because we have finally entered the wonderful world of DSLR!
We bought a new camera as an early Christmas present to ourselves, and we love it so far! I have no clue what I'm doing (auto mode it is!), but Andrew has already been a little more adventurous. (He took the second penguin pic.)
My little point-and-shoot has had a good run, and she'll still hang around for awhile--especially since you can't really carry the new guy in a clutch. But, the blog viewing experience should be a little nicer from here on out! Thanks for sticking with my shaky hands + no image stabilization photography so far. ;)
Now look at him again.
Notice a difference? I sure hope so... Because we have finally entered the wonderful world of DSLR!
We bought a new camera as an early Christmas present to ourselves, and we love it so far! I have no clue what I'm doing (auto mode it is!), but Andrew has already been a little more adventurous. (He took the second penguin pic.)
My little point-and-shoot has had a good run, and she'll still hang around for awhile--especially since you can't really carry the new guy in a clutch. But, the blog viewing experience should be a little nicer from here on out! Thanks for sticking with my shaky hands + no image stabilization photography so far. ;)
Monday, November 28, 2011
Menu Monday
The slow cooker corn and potato chowder was a success!
I halved the recipe, and my CrockPot was still filled to the brim. I didn't have any celery, so I just doubled the amount of onion. For the pureeing part, I used an immersion blender right in the crock. We garnished with bacon, scallions and sharp cheddar. Definitely give this a try!
(One word of warning: You will have to spend some time dicing the potatoes and chopping the onion, so I'd recommend prepping the ingredients the night before or just making it on a non-workday.)
On to this week: We're totally recovered from Thanksgiving feasting, so...let's eat!
I halved the recipe, and my CrockPot was still filled to the brim. I didn't have any celery, so I just doubled the amount of onion. For the pureeing part, I used an immersion blender right in the crock. We garnished with bacon, scallions and sharp cheddar. Definitely give this a try!
(One word of warning: You will have to spend some time dicing the potatoes and chopping the onion, so I'd recommend prepping the ingredients the night before or just making it on a non-workday.)
On to this week: We're totally recovered from Thanksgiving feasting, so...let's eat!
- Ina's Chicken Chili - This is an old favorite.
- Grilled Pierogies & Kielbasa (Our third time making this! Guess we like it.)
- Baked Barley Risotto with Butternut Squash
- Smothered Pork Medallions over Pasta with Roasted Broccoli
- Taqueria del Sol ;)
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Turkey Tour 2011
We are safely back in Atlanta after our Turkey Tour 2011!
We were able to get off work early on Wednesday to beat some of the traffic leaving town (yeah right) and made our way down to Statesboro.
First on the agenda, of course, there were kittens to see. (Oh, and my family too!)
On Thursday, we watched the Macy's parade before heading out to Nevils for lunch. (I couldn't get my camera fast enough, but Toby and Rocco had a real problem with the SpongeBob float.)
There was plenty to eat even before it was time to eat.
Then it was time for the really good stuff!
After we made our way through some Black Friday sale papers and discussed the merits of Himalayan pink salt, we headed outside for a cousin photo shoot!
Later we dragged out plenty of old photos and had a good time laughing at the hairstyles and outfit choices. During the '80s and '90s, we were clearly not fans of "less is more."
The great thing about my family is that they all live close to each other. We live the farthest away of anybody, but for holidays, we can make a short trip and see all of them at once. For those of you reading, we had fun seeing yall!!
Fire-pitting was in order when we got back to the house. I went inside, so I missed an experiment with fire-roasted sweet potatoes! If they tasted half as smoky as Andrew smelled, then I'm sure they were...good?
The next morning, we avoided the Black Friday madness (guess we weren't too tempted by the sale papers), but Santa may have done some online shopping. Only time will tell. Instead, we worked on decorating my parents' house for Christmas.
With two curious kittens, we had to be strategic about ornament placement. Only shatterproof, cloth and plastic on the bottom branches!
Too bad kitties can climb trees.
They can also complete a pretty effortless high jump, so the Three Wise Men are going to have to watch their backs. Apparently the buffet isn't high enough to keep the Nativity safe. I told the little one that there were no kittens present at the birth of Jesus. ("There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?" Name that great holiday movie!)
On Saturday, we were up (fairly) early so that we could head back north to Andrew's house. It was Small Business Saturday, so we made a stop at Sugar Magnolia for brunch first to support the local (and parental) economy!
We had a fun and relaxing time in the Boro, and we are always sad to leave. But we were happy to continue our trip to see Andrew's mom and brother in PTC!
So it was back in the car with our new holiday co-pilot.
We listened to the Dawgs on the radio all the way there and arrived just in time to watch the second half. It was great to be a Georgia Bulldog yesterday!
After the game, we spent some time just hanging out before we had dinner and made plans for Christmas.
We're very thankful that we have lots of family to see, just a car ride away...and that we get to do it all again in just a few short weeks!
We were able to get off work early on Wednesday to beat some of the traffic leaving town (yeah right) and made our way down to Statesboro.
First on the agenda, of course, there were kittens to see. (Oh, and my family too!)
A girl after my own heart.
On Thursday, we watched the Macy's parade before heading out to Nevils for lunch. (I couldn't get my camera fast enough, but Toby and Rocco had a real problem with the SpongeBob float.)
There was plenty to eat even before it was time to eat.
Southwestern Cheesecake, Oreo Balls, Texas Caviar &
Smoked Sausage in Puff Pastry
Smoked Sausage in Puff Pastry
Then it was time for the really good stuff!
Sides
Cranberry Sauce, Turkey & Ham (for the non-turkey eaters)
Salads
(And yes, strawberry pretzel salad and pasta salad do count.)
(And yes, strawberry pretzel salad and pasta salad do count.)
A Plate
W Plate
After we made our way through some Black Friday sale papers and discussed the merits of Himalayan pink salt, we headed outside for a cousin photo shoot!
Later we dragged out plenty of old photos and had a good time laughing at the hairstyles and outfit choices. During the '80s and '90s, we were clearly not fans of "less is more."
The great thing about my family is that they all live close to each other. We live the farthest away of anybody, but for holidays, we can make a short trip and see all of them at once. For those of you reading, we had fun seeing yall!!
Fire-pitting was in order when we got back to the house. I went inside, so I missed an experiment with fire-roasted sweet potatoes! If they tasted half as smoky as Andrew smelled, then I'm sure they were...good?
The next morning, we avoided the Black Friday madness (guess we weren't too tempted by the sale papers), but Santa may have done some online shopping. Only time will tell. Instead, we worked on decorating my parents' house for Christmas.
With two curious kittens, we had to be strategic about ornament placement. Only shatterproof, cloth and plastic on the bottom branches!
Too bad kitties can climb trees.
They can also complete a pretty effortless high jump, so the Three Wise Men are going to have to watch their backs. Apparently the buffet isn't high enough to keep the Nativity safe. I told the little one that there were no kittens present at the birth of Jesus. ("There was more than one lobster present at the birth of Jesus?" Name that great holiday movie!)
Ten bucks says the Ninja Turtles don't make it to Christmas.
On Saturday, we were up (fairly) early so that we could head back north to Andrew's house. It was Small Business Saturday, so we made a stop at Sugar Magnolia for brunch first to support the local (and parental) economy!
Ham, Egg & Cheese Biscuit - Yum!
We had a fun and relaxing time in the Boro, and we are always sad to leave. But we were happy to continue our trip to see Andrew's mom and brother in PTC!
So it was back in the car with our new holiday co-pilot.
Pay no attention to the hand behind the monkey.
We listened to the Dawgs on the radio all the way there and arrived just in time to watch the second half. It was great to be a Georgia Bulldog yesterday!
After the game, we spent some time just hanging out before we had dinner and made plans for Christmas.
We're very thankful that we have lots of family to see, just a car ride away...and that we get to do it all again in just a few short weeks!
And now. IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!!
Thursday, November 24, 2011
A Thankful Heart
The unthankful heart...discovers no mercies;
but let the thankful heart sweep through the day
and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find,
in every hour, some heavenly blessings.
-Henry Ward Beecher
-Henry Ward Beecher
Happy Thanksgiving!
.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Menu Monday
It's Thanksgiving week! Time to talk turkey! (If you like that sort of thing, which sadly I don't.) We're taking it easy before the big day with some light meals and stuff from the freezer.
I will be trying this recipe, though:
Slow Cooker Corn & Potato Chowder
I'm hoping that it's half as easy/tasty as it looks!
I will be trying this recipe, though:
Slow Cooker Corn & Potato Chowder
I'm hoping that it's half as easy/tasty as it looks!
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Bakin' Bacon
We usually cook bacon in the microwave, but the greasy plate and paper towels are a mess sometimes. Tonight, I searched for a baking method instead and then modified it a little. This isn't necessarily a novel idea, but it was easy and worked well!
You need:
Bacon (duh)
Dijon Mustard (optional)
Cookie Sheet
Bacon (duh)
Dijon Mustard (optional)
Cookie Sheet
Foil
1. Line a rimmed cookie sheet with foil.
2. Place strips of bacon on foil, spaced apart just a little.
3. Brush bacon with Dijon if using.
4. Place cookie sheet into a cold oven. Turn on to 400 degrees.
5. Bake 15-18 minutes, depending on thickness and number of strips.
6. Broil until crispy. (Watch it!)
You can remove the bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain, although most of the grease will be on the foil...which you can just ball up and throw away!
Perfect for a California BLT!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Menu Monday
Cheddar-Topped Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's pie is not necessarily my favorite meal ever, but this version was tasty! I used beef stock instead of water and added in a little Worcestershire. It was also great leftover!
Shepherd's pie is not necessarily my favorite meal ever, but this version was tasty! I used beef stock instead of water and added in a little Worcestershire. It was also great leftover!
Good Monday morning!
Hope yall had a great weekend. :) This is the last full week of dinners before Thanksgiving...yikes/yay! We have one dish leftover from last week, and then we'll be adding these to the mix:
- Honey Garlic Chicken over Rice with Roasted Broccoli
- Chili with Cornbread
- Chicken Parmesan over Pasta with Roasted Green Beans
- California BLTs with Roasted Red Potatoes
Sunday, November 13, 2011
A Pinteresting Day
Andres, Allyson and Austin had us over today for brunch and activities! Crafting for the girls and football/playtime for the boys. :)
The fun part about the day is that everything we ate/made was sourced from Pinterest! Allyson and I might sorrrrrta be fans of pinning. And that's a good thing, because everything turned out so great!
We were treated to some super delicious Bloody Marys as soon as we arrived. I mean, they were really good.
Allyson also made Mexican baked eggs, and we all had our own little dishes. Two of my favorite garnishes were also included: avocado and lime sour cream. Yum! We all agreed this was a great brunch (or breakfast, lunch or dinner!) dish and a little something different.
For a "touch" of sweetness, we contributed a sopapilla "cheesecake." It will win no nutritional awards, but it sure was tasty. And easy!
Yum, yum and yum!
After we ate, the three boys went to hang out in the living room while the ladies got to crafting!
Allyson made a very festive burlap wreath (based on this tutorial).
I didn't take an "in the process" pic, but Allyson knotted the strips around the wreath form and twisted and fluffed them until the shape was right. She made the little rosettes out of separate fabric and hot-glued them onto the wreath.
I originally wanted to try a ribbon wreath, but I was a little intimidated by a tutorial suggesting that you needed 14-15 spools of ribbon... So I went for something smaller instead. :) I made a ribbon tree (based on this tutorial).
We had a great time spending the day together, AND we got some fun holiday decor to bring home. I call that a win-win! Or maybe...a pin-win. :)
The fun part about the day is that everything we ate/made was sourced from Pinterest! Allyson and I might sorrrrrta be fans of pinning. And that's a good thing, because everything turned out so great!
We were treated to some super delicious Bloody Marys as soon as we arrived. I mean, they were really good.
(Bonus: It's a red and black recipe for you Bulldog fans! And who wouldn't be after yesterday's Auburn stomp?)
Allyson also made Mexican baked eggs, and we all had our own little dishes. Two of my favorite garnishes were also included: avocado and lime sour cream. Yum! We all agreed this was a great brunch (or breakfast, lunch or dinner!) dish and a little something different.
For a "touch" of sweetness, we contributed a sopapilla "cheesecake." It will win no nutritional awards, but it sure was tasty. And easy!
Recipe
(I determined that this is actually a Pillsbury original. But see the note on the blog. You can reduce the amount of crescent rolls, fat in your cream cheese and butter. Every little bit helps I guess?)
(I determined that this is actually a Pillsbury original. But see the note on the blog. You can reduce the amount of crescent rolls, fat in your cream cheese and butter. Every little bit helps I guess?)
Yum, yum and yum!
After we ate, the three boys went to hang out in the living room while the ladies got to crafting!
Allyson made a very festive burlap wreath (based on this tutorial).
Supplies - Burlap, Fabric & Buttons for Rosettes and a Wreath Form*
*Allyson got a whole package of foam tubing (from somewhere like Lowe's or Home Depot) for about $3. Make it into a circle and tape. Much cheaper than craft store wreaths! I think the bag had enough for 3 or 4 wreaths.
Strips are ready...
I didn't take an "in the process" pic, but Allyson knotted the strips around the wreath form and twisted and fluffed them until the shape was right. She made the little rosettes out of separate fabric and hot-glued them onto the wreath.
The finished product! Love it!
I originally wanted to try a ribbon wreath, but I was a little intimidated by a tutorial suggesting that you needed 14-15 spools of ribbon... So I went for something smaller instead. :) I made a ribbon tree (based on this tutorial).
Supplies - Foam Cone, Ribbon* and Straight Pins
*I needed almost a full 4 yards of the main color ribbon. One spool was plenty for the others. I think the cone I used is 6-8ish inches? I chose one wide and one medium green ribbon for the tree itself plus three small red/white ribbons for extra decoration.
More strips are ready...
Pinning Process
Little tree! With topper TBD.
We had a great time spending the day together, AND we got some fun holiday decor to bring home. I call that a win-win! Or maybe...a pin-win. :)
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Sweetwater Creek State Park
Andrew here!
I had been motivated by the changing colors of the fall leaves outside my office, so we decided to take a quick trip this morning to see some of them in person at Sweetwater Creek State Park in Lithia Springs.
We took the red trail along the creek for the first mile or so, then the blue trail that winds through the hills most of the way back. The ruins of the old cotton mill about halfway down the trail were really something to see, and the leaves didn't disappoint either!
Here's to getting outside some to enjoy the fall weather -- hope everyone's gotten to do some of the same!
(Since those of you who know me are probably wondering: Yes, I participated in the entire hike, complained minimally and only checked Twitter once! ~W)
We took the red trail along the creek for the first mile or so, then the blue trail that winds through the hills most of the way back. The ruins of the old cotton mill about halfway down the trail were really something to see, and the leaves didn't disappoint either!
(Where's Waldo?)
Here's to getting outside some to enjoy the fall weather -- hope everyone's gotten to do some of the same!
(Since those of you who know me are probably wondering: Yes, I participated in the entire hike, complained minimally and only checked Twitter once! ~W)
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