feeling under the weather....

What's better for a sick or sad soul than a grilled cheese sandwich and mug of tomato soup?

Hmmmm.... nothing that I can think of.

I hope you're enjoying the week:).

xoxo

Today's Sweet Pleasures

Happy October, friends:)

It's a sunny, though somewhat chilly, fall day here in New England. The perfect kind of day for a local fair, filled with fried dough, rickety rides and children screaming with pleasure. I say this because the teeny-tiny town that I grew up in in Connecticut, is hosting it's annual autumn fair. I used to go, without fail, every year. In middle and high school, I would plan my outfit (definitely something with layers, comfy shoes, and a coordinating scrunchie) starting in the late summer, anticipating the excitement of the beginning of the school year, hanging out late with friends and enjoying the best of the best of fall. Oh, and did I tell you that I used to march in the marching band at the fair? This was a big deal and we were very cool ;). Oh, how I love local fairs.

I won't be attending this year, though I have plans to start the fair thing again when my little guy comes, as I'm sure that I can find a few good fairs local to my home in Massachusetts. Today, though, is full of other fall pleasures, including:

- poached eggs, toast  and coffee out on the back deck

-the smell of freshly cut lawn
- household fall clean-up chores
- open windows and cozy sweaters
- laundry on the line, again:)
- maybe the baking of an apple pie, inspired by Johanna over at Birds on a Wire
- a few strolls down our driveway, which is now covered and colored with fallen leaves

What does your fall day have in store for you??

xoxo

B

Carrot Cake Muffins with Cream Cheese Frosting

Today, Mother Nature doesn't know if she wants rain or shine in Massachusetts, so we've seen a little of both. I wrote this post last night, but didn't upload the photos until today. Since I wrote this, I've eaten 3 cupcakes. Yikes:).

There's been a lot of talk of Autumn floating around this blogworld lately. While I really love the summer, I can't help but get excited for fall, as it's been my favorite season since I was a little girl jumping in gigantic piles of leaves and carving pumpkins. Maybe it's because Autumn always brings my birthday, or maybe it's because of the smell of pumpkin pie, freshly plucked apples, anything-spice. Perhaps it's because the clothes are oh-so-cute-and-snuggly. I don't know, but whatever it is, it's on my mind right now:).

And when I think of fall, I get a hankering to bake.

 

Tonight I baked one of Matt's favorites- carrot cake. But instead of a cake, I found a sweet (and delicious) carrot cake muffin recipe online here.

 

Absolutely scrumptious:)

 

With the pumpkin spice candle lit and a tall glass of milk, we're going to sit and enjoy the taste of fall on this rainy summer evening.

Happy weekend!!

xoxo

France = Dessert?

Bonjour!

We've just returned from a week-long trip to France. Matt had to go for work and it coincided with our two-year wedding anniversary, so fortunately for me, I got to go on a little vay-cay:).

The trip started in the beautiful coastal village of Saint Malo and ended in Paris. I took over 200 photos throughout the week, so I thought that for my first France posting, I'd show you the sweeter side of our travels ;).

I have always had a sweet tooth and France is definitely the place to be when it comes to dessert:). And this girl indulged, to say the very least. I made it my mission to seek out the most delicious pastries and ice cream on a daily basis (sometimes thrice daily, terrible, I know). I have to say, being pregnant in France is not a good thing when it comes to sweet treats:).

And I don't know what it is, but desserts just seem to taste better in France. And on vacation. Coffee-flavored eclairs, strawberry ice-cream piled high on a waffle cone, raspberry macaroons sandwiching a scoop of sweet-pink sorbet. Even the coffee tasted sweeter.I left this trip feeling like I want to open a little French bakery of my own here in Massachusetts. 

Maybe when I retire :).

But until then, I'll continue to be an active connoisseur.

More France photos to follow. And happy summer:)

xoxo

rainy days to slow us down

Today it rained. And rained. And rained. It's still raining... a quiet, dark night kind of rain. This is the last weekend home before we leave for France, so there were many much-needed outdoor chores to be done, but thanks to mother nature, we ended up having a very sllllooooooow, nap-py kind of day. This is fine because I had quite an uncharacteristically busy work week, which found me in and out of Pittsburgh one day, in Connecticut the next and on endless teleconferences the last. Next week will be similar, so I welcomed this sleepy kind of day.

We were able to get our new cedar Adirondack chairs put together and sanded, though the rain prevented us from painting them. Nothing says relaxation to me like the sight of two Adirondack chairs, overlooking a fabulous view on a summer's weekend evening. With a nice glass of wine, though that will have to wait until next summer. We also spent a lot of time sleeping, grazing, watching the UK/ USA Worldcup game, and having quiet time with Luna (which basically consists of the three of us sitting on a floor in a circle, staring at each other, until Luna does something doggy-gross, that breaks the circle and causes us to go back to whatever we were doing prior:)).

Like I said, we have been grazing. And one of my favorite ways to eat is this very European-style way of eating. Eating light, hors d'oeuvresy type foods, fresh meats, cheeses, fruit, with crackers and different types of mustard-y dips. I could eat every meal like this, and I believe that I say those exact words every time we eat a meal like this:).

I've started reading 'The Middle Place', which I'm really enjoying. I've been meaning to read it for months now.

I wonder... what are you doing this weekend? Is it raining where you are? Enjoy the weekend :).

a weekend at home

We have nothing planned this glorious weekend. Nada. Zip. Noth-ing. And so far it's been absolutely fabulous:).

We started our Saturday morning with cheese & chive eggs; chives from the garden. There is nothing sweeter to me than eating fresh, delicious food out on our back deck on a sunny weekend morning with some jazzy tunes playing in the background.

Ms. Lu was given a bath- the first use of the outdoor shower this season. She wasn't as thrilled as I'd hoped, but she's now fluffy & clean, which means that mama is thrilled;). And I always love the way she looks when she's wet- so small and vulnerable:).

I've been doing a lot of gardening on the weekends, and today was no exception. We haven't been able to harvest anything yet, other than the chives, which grow like weeds, but things are looking good:).

Early Girl Tomatoes

Baby Persian Cukes (aka 'green fingers')

Super Sugar Snap Peas

Sweetie Baby Romaine Lettuce

This little dragonfly in the photo above chilled out on my chives to keep me company the whole time I was in the garden. He even let me get a close-up shot. In return, I gave him some chives:).

And this sweet little mama is one of my favorites. She (or one of her relatives?) stops by this nest every year to lay her eggs and send her little ones off into the world. I'm always amazed at the concentration and efforts that mama birds put into tending to their young. It's what they live for. She didn't even flinch when I took the photo.

I wish you all an enjoyable weekend, wherever you are.

xoxo

Dinner for 4

We’re having dinner guests over tonight. On the menu is teriyaki salmon (my husband grills a fantastically mean teriyaki salmon, which, let’s be truthful here, is one of the reasons why he is my husband;)), pearled basil couscous and green beans. For dessert, we’ll be having homemade blueberry apple crisp, served up warm with a scoop of vanilla gelato. I could hardly contain my excitement at the grocery store when I bought it!! We’ll also be having Trader Joe’s dark-chocolate covered blueberries. If you have a Trader Joe’s near you, I highly recommend trying these blueberries. They are so delicious:).

I got some fresh flowers for the occasion and pulled out my spring apron (which I got on sale last year at Williams Sonoma outlet), while my little monkey of a dog looked on with a quizzical stare. What a glorious Saturday;).


xoxo

Gravlax With Mustard Dill Sauce

This weekend found me with a terrible cold. I spent a lot of time lying idle on the couch (my ‘sicky couch’, as we’ve so appropriately deemed it) watching the Olympics. It was the perfect time for curling up with tomato soup and…… gravlax. Well, I hadn’t really planned on serving up tomato soup with gravlax, but salmon was on sale at our local grocery store and we’ve been dying to try this recipe. So, tomato soup with a side of gravlax it was.

I have to say that I was hesitant to try this recipe, as I have an irrational (or maybe rational) fear of food poisoning. But thankfully I conquered this fear, as the gravlax was absolutely delicious, especially if you’re salmon lovers like we are. It’s also quite easy to make. Served up on toasted honey grain bread, with some butter, mustard sauce and fresh dill, it goes perfectly with a side of tomato soup:).



GRAVLAX:
2 pounds salmon fillet, without skin (frozen overnight)
2 Tbs salt
2 Tbs sugar
1 tsp coarse ground black pepper
1 bunch fresh dill

Thaw salmon, pat dry. Combine the salt, sugar and pepper and pack firmly onto both sides of the salmon fillet. Sprinkle half the chopped dill onto a sheet of plastic wrap then place the salmon on top of it. Put the remaining dill atop the salmon.
Cover with clear plastic sheet, press by putting another flat bottom container on top with a heavy weight (5-10 pounds) and refrigerate at least 48 hours before eating. Drain excess water twice daily and turn over to evenly marinade.
Slice thin and enjoy with mustard sauce

MUSTARD SAUCE:
1.5 Tbs mild dijon mustard
1.5 Tbs vinegar
1.5 Tbs sugar
0.5 tsp pepper

Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Add finely chopped fresh dill before serving.

SiMpLe ThInGs

Dear sweet friends,

As I was away, I was unable to partake in the Simple Things postings of late January. I thought it was such a lovely idea, so moving and inspiring, that I created my list, albeit a bit late. So, I welcome February with my list of simple things and hope that this month brings peace, love and health to those around the world, including you.



My SiMpLe ThInGs



My husband’s voice
Daily phone calls with my mom
Being my father's daughter
Friendships that have lasted and grown throughout the years
Having an older brother
Having a younger brother
**
Sand between my toes
Being a woman
Being healthy
Rosy cheeks and freckled faces
Good conversation
My dog’s rare and random bark
**
Old-fashioned street lamps and cobble-stoned roads
Being snowed in
The first sign of spring
Christmas Eve
Opening stockings
**
Gruyere Cheese
Beet & Goat Cheese Salad
A pretty glass of pink wine
The sound of my husband playing the piano
A book that I can’t stop reading
**
Naptime with hubby and Luna
My lovely new couches- just the perfect shade of pale blue
Classics and Jazz- a French radio station that we stream in our home- plays the perfect blend of music, no matter my mood
Hand-written letters
Leaving little notes for hubby
**
The blonde curls and big brown eyes of my lovely nephew
My nephews & nieces (and how they all call me auntie Blair:))
The long driveway leading to my sweet home
My husband’s singing voice
My husband’s dancing face
**
When Luna greets me as soon as I walk through the door, like I’m the most important thing on the planet
Filet Mignon and Lobster
Autumn in New England
Birds eating from my bird feeder
Composting
**
Fresh Flowers
Shades of Blues, Pinks, Whites
Flicking through Home Design and Garden magazines on a Saturday morning
Our Saturday morning routine of eating egg sandwiches, drinking big mugs of coffee and listening to NPR
A pair of shoes that is both cute AND comfy:)
**
Outdoor speakers
Outdoor showers
Canoe rides
Singing out loud to myself
Laughter
**
Watching my parents dance together
*
Dancing with hubby
*

Happy 101!

I was given the opportunity to think of and share a list of 10 things that make me happy. This was actually a fun exercise because for the past few days, I’ve been focusing on things that make me happy, smelling the roses of sorts:). There are so many things that bring me joy, in one way or another, but I’ve captured just a few of them below (small and large :))…..

1. My Husband/ Marriage: I fell in love with him for many reasons, but one of my most favorite things about Matt is that he makes me laugh. Every single day he does or says something silly and he has me laughing even after he’s left the room. He also thinks I’m funny (even during those times when no one else does). Being married to him is the best thing in my life. I don’t usually even think about it because it’s just so natural. Right before we got married I told him that I love being with him because it’s just like being by myself. Had I actually thought about it before I said it, I might have said it more eloquently, but he knew exactly what I meant. I don’t feel like I’m compromising on anything, I just feel that I’m doing what I want to do, with him by my side.

2. Luna: This dog was made for our family. We got her from a local shelter. When we got there, we were faced with about 30 black lab/mix puppies. At first glance, they all looked the same. When I went over to her crate (which she shared with a little white & black polka-dotted male puppy who bit her ears), she pawed at me, as though she was hand-picking me. She uses her mittened-hands all the time as a way of communicating with us and it is just as endearing as it was that first day.

3. Family & Friends: I’m so very fortunate to have such an amazing family. I’ve always been so close to both my mom & dad, though my relationship with each of them has evolved throughout the years. They’re a huge part of my life and I’ve learned so much from them, along with my two lovely brothers and their families. I have a few very close friends who’ve also known me throughout the various stages of my life and we’ve remained close. My life has been shaped by each of these people and it is in part, because of them, that I am who I am.

4. Photographs: I love taking them, documenting my life and the lives of others and being able to replay captured moments, with just the click of a mouse (thanks to fabulous modern-day technology, although there really is nothing like an old photograph with worn edges, showing years of love).

5. Art: All forms of it; music, writing, drawings, paintings, theater, decorating, fashion, movies, poetry. I find comfort and satisfaction in being lost in a painting, a good book or hearing a song that perfectly matches my mood.

6. Good Food/ Wine: Matt and I have recently deemed ourselves as foodies. Whether we’re cooking in (mmmm…. Filet with gorgonzola cheese sauce?) or going out to dinner at one of our favorite local restaurants (going out to dinner on vacation to experience local cuisine also makes my heart skip a few beats:)), eating is such a pleasure. Pairing food with a good wine…..well, that’s the icing on the cake.

7. Plush Slippers & Throws: Though I’m a New England girl (I can brave winters with the best of ‘em;)), I get cold so easily. Even in the summer, you’ll find me curled up on the couch in the evening, under a lovely soft blanket, slippers not far from feet.

8. Gardens/ Harvesting: Having fresh flowers & produce, bringing nature inside, makes me feel calm, at ease. I love the smell of fresh flowers (they seem to smell even better when they’re freshly cut from my garden:)) and I love the taste of the veggies (again, veggies from my garden seem to taste so amazing to me; maybe it’s because I know the time & love that went into growing them).

9. Traveling/ Exploring/ Learning: My life feels more enriched the more I travel. It’s so enjoyable to experience other cultures, forms & styles of life, to see the beauty of places other than home.

10. Coming Home: But then again, it is so good to come home, whether it be after a vacation, a work trip or just an errand run. There really is no place like home:).

Thanks to Dawn from May All Seasons Be Sweet To Thee and Rachel from Mozart’s Girl for sending me the ‘happy award’, forcing me to relax and focus on the little glories of the world. As a recipient of this award, I’m to pass it on to bloggers that make me happy :). Each of the following blogs provide me with a little slice of happiness with each read, so here they are, in no particular order:

1. Amber @ Sunshine Flavored Kisses
2. Dawn @ May All Seasons Be Sweet to Thee
3. Kat @ Kat’s Cradle
4. Heather @ A Day in the Country
5. Koralee @ Bluebird Notes
6. Rachel @ Mozart’s Girl
7. Morwenna @ Bluebells and Butterflies
8. Tracey @ French Larkspur
9. Katie @ Katie Slater Photography
10. Courtney @ Scattering Lupines**

** I seem to not be able to hyperlink the blogs..... if anyone knows how, please feel free to send me a note so that I can direct you to these adorable blogs! I guess I'm still working out the kinks. Thanks:)

I’ve been fascinated with the birds that flitter around our yard, so I decided to leave some seed out for them this winter. The first few days I was saddened to find that the birds wanted nothing to do with the feast. Then one day when I was at work, Matt called to tell me that the birds had taken over the yard. Sure enough, when I got home I was delighted to find that our bird feeder was covered with birds of all sizes. Word ended up spreading fast. Unfortunately, the base of the feeder is now hanging by a thread (we’ll have to fix that), but it doesn’t seem to be keeping the birds from snacking. They just huddle together on the snow-covered ground and munch away. Now we get to enjoy our morning coffee while looking out our picture window at the lovely little creatures (as our lovely little indoor monster stares longingly out the window, pawing for us to let her out. Guess you can’t please ‘em all :)).