My Recipe Pins

It seems crazy that since my blogging hiatus began in September, Pinterest has exploded into the social media site it is today. As much as I love the visual stimulation/inspiration Pinterest provides, it's easy to get caught up in the occasional thought of "my kitchen needs to be remodeled and look exactly like that person's pin." Or "I'm a bad mom for not throwing my 4-year old a perfect birthday party." That's when Pinterest gets dangerous. 

I've used some of my 300+ pins for inspiration but - gasp - I haven't really done much with them. I have a board of recipes that is collecting dust (just like my cookbooks -- I LOVE collecting recipes) and I think it's about time for me to start cooking! What recipes have you tried via Pinterest? I'm thinking about making these over the next couple months:

Mini Caprese Salad Bites

Bacon Zucchini Frittata

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

Nate Says Hi

This was taken right after Nate's recent haircut. We went to the salon where I get my hair cut. He had a great time and all of the ladies loved him. Shelley gave him 2 Tootsie Pops and he said he wanted to save them until he got home. Then he unwrapped the cherry one and spent the next hour(!) eating it. It was his first Tootsie Pop. He's not a big fan of hard candy. Nate prefers baked goods when he gets a treat -- he'll talk your ear off about cupcakes and cookies. This picture makes me a little sad because I didn't know it at the time but he was coming down with an awful ear infection. The next 4-6 days were pure torture. It breaks your heart to see your child so sick. Thank goodness that week is over and we're back to normal. 

Like a Quiet Church Mouse....

....I return to this blog to blow the dust off the ole girl. I won't be blogging regularly -- let's get that straight from the get-go. But I have a few projects and recipes I've wanted to share for the past 6+ months. Expect to hear from me once a month. Maybe.
More later with photos too....

Low Budget Halloween Make-up

Learn from us:

Eating an entire bag of dried blueberries makes your mouth look a little scary. With this face, who needs a Halloween costume?!

Santa is Real. So is Elmo.

Watch this video.

I bet you'll forget in five seconds flat that Elmo is just a puppet manipulated by a man. I did. I watched this and cried. Yes, cried. I think every expectant mother would do just about anything to have a picture of her pregnant belly being hugged by Elmo. Wouldn't that look amazing in a nursery??

I can't wait to see the the documentary "Being Elmo" that opens next month.

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Seasonally-Challenged

 

4pm at the Cook House

Nikki hunts for Halloween decorations in the garage.

Nate plays in his backyard pool.

Pumpkins become pool toys.

We're seasonally-challenged.

To New York, With Love

Yesterday was a day of mourning and remembering. But today, I honor New Yorkers for their plunky spirit. There's nothing quite like The Big Apple (do only tourists call it that??).

PS - after watching this video, click on the red box in the right corner to see a previous improv video that's equally as awesome!

A Milestone

Dear Nate,

I wish you could stay small forever. I want to wrap you up in a blanket and cuddle with you  -- yes, I know, I know --you didn't even like doing that when you were a baby. Still, I can't help it. You'll always be my little peanut. I know it's inevitable but try not to grow up SO fast, okay?

Hugs and Kisses,

Mommy

Honest Abe

Earlier in the summer I read the book With Malice Toward None which is a biography of Abraham Lincoln. It was written by Stephen B. Oates in the 1970s and is often cited as the best one-volume biography of our 16th president. I found it to be very interested and haven't stopped thinking about the book and poor Mr. Lincoln since I finished it. I say "poor" because, to be blunt, his life stunk. Hardship after hardship. He endured it all for the love of his country. Very, very admirable but, seriously, he must have felt miserable most of the time. I wonder what he would think about this book? Or (more importantly - ha!) what he'd think about this (note: not suitable for children):

Good grief. Okay, ignoring that - I'm excited about the upcoming Steven Spielberg movie that stars Daniel Day Lewis as Mr. Lincoln. That should be good. Just call me a history nerd.