Sending out an APB!

I seem to be missing a few brain cells, if you find them, give me a holler!

As I was getting my shopping list ready for the week I came across a recipe I had cut out of Rachael Ray's magazine....I know, I can't stand her either.  But every once in awhile she has a recipe that looks good and isn't over the top disgusting sounding.

I read through the recipe and saw it said Meat Sauce.  Lacking these brain cells I figured it meant bottled meat sauce and added it to my list, I even went as far as putting pasta sauce by it because Brandon was offering to go to the grocery store and I figured I would be a step ahead of him.

Fast forward to tonight...I'm looking at the pictures and I notice this seems to have more ground beef than the "meat sauce" I bought...hmmm better run to the store and add that to my bottled meat sauce.  I start to mix things together and I notice that meat sauce in her recipe seems to be bolded and looks like a link! AHHHH I hurry to get online and see if its posted because I didn't tear out the "meat sauce" recipe too!

Found it online and didn't have anything it called for nor the time.  So I improv'd.  And you know it still tasted good.  So I would imagine the next time I try this I'll do the real meat sauce recipe and compare.  If its no different then I'm sticking with bottled meat sauce.  This working mom needs shortcuts!

Men will like this one because its hearty.

White Bean Stew recipe

Meat sauce recipe

{rachael ray}

If you want to try my version:
- Purchase a bottle of meat sauce
- Brown .75lbs of ground beef and add to bottle
- only use 1- 2 t of Herbes de Provence vs. the 4 she recommends
- top with Parmesan cheese

Seems I've been doing more cooking these days than sewing.  I'll have to do something about that!

P.S: does anyone know where the spellcheck button went on the new layout?!

New Moon

I'm a fan of the Twilight series, not sure how it all happened but earlier this year I read all 4 books...quickly.  It amazes me the wide range in ages of those who are captivated by the series.

Last night I joined some work peeps for a little party which included appetizers, Twilight showing and then off to see New Moon.  It was way better than Twilight, I'd recommend it.  I couldn't help but feel very old at times throughout the movie when the young girls in front, in back, OK all around me were giggling anytime Jacob came on the screen or Bella and Edward kissed.  Funniest part was a few young girls in front of us in line mentioned that Edwards body was really gross....when we saw his body I cracked up...it was great! However these young things don't realize thats what an older mans body looks like! HAHA not like Jacob....they have a rude awakening waiting for them as they get older.

I made some Werewolf  Kibble to bring as an appetizer and then made everyone an individual bag to sneak into the movie.  Very easy, very tasty.  It was a hit, so I'd suggest it to any of you who are finding themselves enjoying New Moon with their girlfriends.

Recipe here, label here.  I substituted 2 cups, of the 9 total, with cocoa puffs.  Served perfectly in a dog bowl.

T$

I'm a planner...that comes as no shocker to those of you who know me well. So each week I plan about 5 meals to eat at home and then we have about 2 nights to "figure it out"...which translates into left overs, scrapping something together or going out.

This week I was feeling like tackling Tortilla Soup. Its something I haven't made before, I thought I'd share it with you because it was GOOD!

Tortilla Soup

{Sunset.com}

This recipe is easy, so I won't go into details on the struggles I faced tonight making dinner...like hot soup flying out of the blender or forgetting the limes and it tasting like tomato soup NOT tortilla soup.  In the end it turned out great, but limes make a huge difference in this recipe so if you don't have them send your hubby to the store! 
 
A few things I should mention...I bought a roasted chicken from the store and shredded it up, it saved time but you could also use Just Chicken from Trader Joes.  I don't typically like cilantro, but use it, it really tastes great.  Don't skimp on toppings, they are yummy.  And lastly...don't fill your blender up too full when blending it....it could result in a huge mess!
 
Enjoy!

Family Pictures

Its that time of the year...capturing the Simmon's family on film (or SD card) just in time for Christmas cards.

My girlfriend Erica, from Life in a loft, gracisouly took our pictures on one of the last sunny perfect days this fall.  We had a great time wandering downtown in the Pearl. And the pictures turned out better than I could have hoped for. 

These were a few fun(ny) ones she sent to me

Like father like son!

Visit her website to see a few more captured smiles.

To compliment our newly captured pictures, I entered a giveaway on Todays Creative Blog, and won.  Take a look at the card makers site, Announcing You. Which is your favorite or which should we do as Christmas cards?

Maybe next year

I realize its past Halloween, but I tried a new recipe that was share worthy!  Its called Candy Corn Cookie Bark.  Remember this next year if your looking for a fun, easy, crowd pleaser.

Candy Corn Cookie Bark

{photo: yourhomebasedmom.com}

Recipe and step by step pictures can be found here.

Mea lanakila

Thats Hawaiian for WINNER!

I figured I would get in the Hawaiian spirit since Brandon and I just arrived in Maui for our 5 year anniversary!  This is our second time to Maui, but our 4th time to Hawaii.  Its our favorite island.  We are staying in beautiful Wailea.  We've got some new places to try and I'm so excited to be here without a plan.

{ Pi }

Here was Pi's holiday tradition, which I love and hope to start this year,

Growing up my favorite Piland family tradition was a week or so before Christmas we would get dressed up, go out for dinner then go shopping for our Christmas ornament (a new one for Cale and I each year), afterward we would drive around and look at all the Christmas lights. I'm excited to start that tradition with the Flynn family!

Everyone had great ideas and traditions, many of which I'd like to incorporate into my family this year and in the coming years.  Pi, start putting those Holiday recipes together so you can shake your tail feather in your new apron. And of course I love to see pics of my peeps sporting their prizes

And one last view from our deck

Aloha!

100!!

100 posts since I started this blog and I'm still loving it!  I've been a bit busy these last few weeks, but I promise I'm back in full force.   I have some projects that are already started and I have some great recipes to share.   I'm even thinking about selling a few things...more on that soon.

Before I get into the happs, I think its about time to do the GIVEAWAY!  I thought you all might need a Holiday Apron since Christmas is right around the corner.

To enter a chance to win, leave me a comment about your favorite Christmas tradition.  If you don't have a blog, email me and i'll post your comments.  Giveaway ends Friday, 10/6.  I'll be on my way to Hawaii but never fear, I'll have my laptop with me!

Or you can double wrap the ties

I'll just post a few pics from the past three weekends, 2 of which consisted of GIRLS weekends away!

My first weekend away was to run the Nike Women's Half Marathon in San Fran.  I went with my girlfriends from work who I run with.  We ate at some fabulous restaurants, Nopa, Barney's Burgers after the race for burgers and champagne, and Bread and Cocoa for one of quite possibly the best latte I've had.  We also ventured to the Ferry Building and had a great breakfast at Boulette's Larder.  I had no idea there were so many great shops and small cafe's in the Ferry Building  But wait, although we had great food all weekend we went for the race.  It was wonderful, the weather was perfect and there were over 20,000 women running it! Unbelievable, I even got teared up at the start because it was so powerful.  The course was really hard but worth it at the end when the hot fireman were standing there in tuxedo's holding tiffany boxes!  Can't beat that!

Niketown had all 20,000 runners names on the wall, you can't see it, but obviously thats my name.  One of my only pics from the weekend.

Next weekend away was with my college girlfriends.  We headed to Flagstaff for Homecoming...what a GREAT time!  We partied like we were still in college, ate fast food at the end of the night and laughed the entire weekend.  There ended up being about 30 of us there and it was like we never left.  Definitely one of the highlights of my year so far.

And finally Halloween.  We had a good time celebrating Halloween Friday night at my parents with all the kids getting dressed up and pretending to trick or treat to see what treats Grandma and Grandpa had...boy were they shocked.  It was like Christmas! So much fun.  Actual Halloween was laid back as B was at the Duck game (YAY DUCKS!).  The costume was so fitting for the big win!

BTW, I must have been gone long enough not to realize that there are changes here with putting in posts...its ANNOYING! I hope they work the kinks out...yuck!