Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

My Thanksgiving Top 5 is as follows: 

1. Relaxing with family
2. Pecan Pie
3. Stuffing
4. Leftover Pecan Pie (the Black Friday breakfast of champions)
5. The Macy's Parade

I mention this because we are responsible for bringing the pecan pie this year and I decided to try a new recipe... It better be good or my holiday will be 2/5 ruined.  I went with  Paula Dean's Bourbon Pecan Pie and so far it looks good.  

My husband and I are skipping the hometown bar scene this Thanksgiving Eve, but I did find the perfect wine for the evening.  

Love it. 

Warm and safe wishes to everyone traveling in the horrible weather on the east coast today!  

Black Friday Prep: Wrapping Station!

We will be heading to my parents' house for Thanksgiving so my prep for turkey day is limited.  Instead, I've been focusing on preparing for Black Friday.  All of the fall decorations are put away and I have transformed our dining room into a wrapping station.

More like a wrapping haven.

I love to wrap gifts.  Love.  There is something about adding a little glittery touch or a beautiful bow on the outside of a Present for a loved one...it makes it so much more special.  

I wrap presents as I buy them, and then use the pretty packages around the house as added decoration during the holiday season.  My mom always did this and I've continued the tradition in our home.  Why hide them under the tree?  

Here's what I keep stocked in my wrapping station for the season:

Wrapping paper in a variety of red, green & gold
Ribbon
Bags in several sizes- don't forget the wine bags! 
More ribbon
Baubles, bells & bows
Boxes
Tissue paper in multiple colors
Tape, scissors, labels, pens
Envelope for receipts- this is the easiest way to keep them in one place! 

And don't forget the mischievous cat. 

Happy wrapping (and shopping)!

Thankful for a blog break

I didn't mean to take such a long break between posts, but it just happened.  

Blame it on a combination of having transitioned Lu to one nap, celebrating 5 birthdays (including my old husband), and not feeling overly inspired to create/make/bake.  

Between these myriad of reasons, I also (consciously) realized that I was thankful for a bit of a blog breather.  I think it is so easy to get caught up in wanting to do something for the blog, rather than wanting to do it to do it.  I'm thankful for the few weeks of separation... And ever thankful that you are still following us at home!

To wrap up, I thought I'd share this recent weekend of not-being-busy (the first we've had in a loooong time, I might add.).

It including playing in jammies (and Daddy's ties) for a good part of the day. 

Falling asleep while reading a good book. 

And the first real dusting of snow.  

Doe it get any cozier?!  What a perfect way to welcome the first week of this holiday season! 

November Seasonal Ingredient Kickoff... Cranberry Clementine Muffins

Nothing says November and Thanksgiving quite like cranberry sauce.... so I had to pick cranberry as this month's seasonal ingredient.  :)

First up, Cranberry Clementine Muffins.  I used This basic recipe for cranberry muffins and added my own citrus twist. 

Ingredients (makes 12 muffins)
2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1 egg (beaten)
Zest of 1 clementine
1/2 can whole cranberry sauce

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Then add wet ingredients and mix until large lumps are gone.  Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and bake until golden (approximately 18-20 minutes).  Enjoy! 

Friday Favorites- Halloween Edition

Happy (belated) Halloween!

We had a wonderfully festive week with Halloween parties and Lu's first "trick-or-treating" last night.  We dressed her up last year, but she didn't go door-to-door.  This year, we made it to 4 houses on our street before she was ready for bed.  (Gotta love a kid who thrives on a sleep schedule!)

Favorite #1-  All things spooky spider! 

We went with a spider theme this year- complete with a spider web covered front door, spider jack-lantern, and our very own Very Busy Spider.  I thought this was the perfect costume since the Eric Carle classic is one of Lu's absolute favorite books right now... And it was the right bubble-style for her to scoot around!  

Favorite #2- Lu learned that ghosts say "boo!"  So cute.  This haunted house board book has become a favorite.  

Favorite #3- All of Lu's Halloween clothes and Jammie's that she's been rocking since after Labor Day.  I'm sad to pack them away... But I might be ready to look at the clearance rack to scoop up some festive wear for next year! 

Favorite #4- Post-Halloween Peppermint Mocha.  Yup, I'm going there already. 

Next week starts a new monthly seasonal ingredient, so be sure to check back in on Monday to see what it will be!  Have a great weekend!