Still Here

Hello my loyal readers (all 6 of you). I'm sorry I haven't posted. I know how annoying it is when you have a blog on your list that never updates!! I have had so many fun things going on I just haven't been able to sit and write about them!! I've had some new projects, a new small group, dates with my love, puppies that are so precious I can't stop kissing them, and serving at church. Lots of fun things, and no photos. Sorry, I'm so bad about that.

Anyway, the main reason I wanted to post was to let you in on a little bit of happy I experienced the other day. So, every fall I get really excited. Obviously, I love the change in temperature and the leaves brillant color that explodes each North Carolina fall. However, more than that I love the activities that come along with fall. NC State football (4-0 thank you very much), the State Fair (a blessed event), Halloween (Hocus Pocus, anyone?), and pumpkin patches. So, each fall I like to listen to one of my favorite albums to get me in the spirit, James Taylor's Ocotober Road. This album captures the feel of crisp air, piles of leaves, and sitting by a fire. Now the tracks take you through autumn's changes starting with September Grass, moving on with October Road, and so on.

At the end of the album, James presents us with his classic Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas. Usually, I skip this song so I can preserve it for later in the season. However, the other day, it began playing and my heart skipped a beat. My belly filled with excitement and my eyes filled with tears. I just love the holidays. Jeremy makes fun of me because I start listening to Christmas music the day after Halloween. I can't help it. My childhood was always filled with the best memories from all the fall holidays. Halloween was spent in an idyllic neighborhood with kids all over the place trick-or-treating, Thanksgiving spent with family, and Christmas traditions that went on the entire month of December. I just have the warmest place in my heart for the holdiday season.

So, if you happen to get a jolly Christmas tune playing while listening to your IPod on shuffle, just sit back and enjoy and know that I'm probably listening to Kenny G or NSync's Christmas album at the exact same time!

Etsy Picks: November

1. With This Ring ring bearer bowl: My best friend is getting married and so I'm kind of in wedding mode. I love the simplicity of this, so sweet. See it here.

2. Large Magnolia Wreath: Just in time for the holidays. This is a Southern staple and my favorite kind of wreath. See it here.

3. Ethnic Jacquard Necklace/Scarf: So versatile and I love the colors for fall. This can be worn so many ways. See it here.

4. November Party Poms: Tissue pom poms, need I say more? These colors are perfectly November and the shapes are so fun and whimsical. I want these in my house all the time, not just because my life is a party. See them here.

Fall is wonderful for so many reasons. The crisp air, the falling leaves, and the hope of bright holidays to come. This year our leaves have been exceptional. I think because we've had such warm days and cool nights. I've caught myself daydreaming while looking at them. To me, fall and the turning leaves remind me of a simpler time. A time before so many distractions. The upcoming holiday season is always my favorite and I can't wait to experience them with my family and friends. God has truly blessed us and I thank Him each day.

Get ready, the Mulling Spices are on the stove and Christmas music is coming!!

I might be listening to Christmas music already. Tee hee....

Tasty Tuesday: Mexicano Style

Hello All! Here is a variation of a Mexican Shepherd's Pie recipe that my mother-in-law, Joanne, made for us a couple of weeks ago. I had some of my friends over last night and we watched Hocus Pocus (to ring in the Halloween season), ate this pie, and made dessert fondue. Overall, wonderful night!

Mexican Shepherd's Pie

1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 Green Bell Pepper, chopped bite size
1/2 Sweet White Onion, chopped bite size
2 lbs Ground Beef
1 Package of Taco Seasoning
1 Can of Corn, drained
1/2 Can of Tomato Paste
1 Can of Mild Rotel Tomatoes
4 cups of Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
3 1/2 lbs Baking Potatoes (4 big potatoes)
1/2 cup Sour Cream
3 tbsp Butter
Salt and Pepper
Handful of Chopped Chives

Pre heat oven to 350. In a large pot begin boiling enough water for potatoes. Salt water once it heats up.

In a large skillet heat olive oil on medium heat. Throw in chopped onion and pepper and sautee until onions are translucent. Add meat and begin browning. Once meat is fully cooked drain the fat and return to pan. Add taco seasoning and tomato paste, stir thoroughly. Add Rotel tomatoes (not drained) and corn, stir. Once everything is mixed together pour mixture into a 9x12 (or something comparable) baking dish and spread evenly across the bottom. Sprinkle 3 cups of cheese over top of meat mixture.

Cut potatoes into large chunks and add to boiling water. The potatoes should take about 20-30 minutes to cook so try to add them as soon as the water boils. Once potatoes are done, remove from water with a slotted spoon into a mixing bowl. Mash. Then add sour cream, butter, salt, pepper, and chives and stir completely. If the potatoes seem dry, add a TOUCH of milk. Spread potatoes evenly over meat and cheese. Sprinkle the last bit of cheese on top of potatoes.

Bake uncovered for 20 minutes at 350.

Enjoy!!

Etsy Love: My September Favorites

1. This sweater is what I love about fall. The color is like oatmeal and I can practically smell the mulling spices simmering on the stove. Buy it here.

2. Soft wool felt makes this so plush and cozy and the message is right up my alley! Buy it here.

3. The artist that creates these necklaces is one of my new favorites. This would bring such drama to a plain t-shirt and jeans, love the color combination as well. Buy it here.

4. Perfect art for my house. The neutral color from the masonite and the splash of pale blue would be lovely in my bedroom (at least the bedroom in my head that is all designed to a T). Buy it here.

5. Sweet little clutch. In a great camel brown this goes with all fall jewel toned outfits. Buy it here.

6. This just screams fall goddess to me. I love this idea, if only I would be gutsy enough to wear these amazing hair accessories. Buy it here.

7. What a perfect photo for autumn. My friends and I get so darn excited about pumpkins, I mean look at them, perfection. Buy it here.

So each month I've decided to share some great finds from searching around on Etsy. I absolutely love Etsy and I know that a lot of my friends do too. It is such a great place to find unique gifts for anyone at anytime! Have fun browsing, I know you'll get hooked!

P.S. Laura, I love the idea of Tasty Tuesdays! I'm thinking of a great recipe for next Tuesday's post! Miss you L-CatRob!

Weekend Reflections & Autumn Thoughts

First and Foremost: GO PACK!!
Well, other than watching the awesome NC State vs. ECU game (I know, I went to ECU. But you can't erase a lifetime of loyalty just because I went to another school) our weekend was pretty chill. Jeremy and I had the windows open ALL weekend: Thank you Lord for the beautiful fall weather. We woke up Saturday snuggled under the covers because we were actually cold!! Halleluiah!! So we spent the morning watching Across the Universe (beautiful movie) and eating Taco Bell for lunch. It was bliss.

Upon seeing Across the Universe a thought was confirmed that I've had for about 15 years now. I grew up in the wrong decade. Now, I will NEVER speak ill of the 80's. I mean how could you? Pretty in Pink, T-Shirt Rings, neon splatter paint (everywhere), Duran Duran, the crimper, and on and on. However, I have felt for a long time that I would have fit in perfectly into the 60's/70's. I believe it was when I was a hippie for Halloween in 2nd grade. I loved the clothes that my mom resurected from her past. I was in awe of the music my dad listened to, and, once I learned all about the Vietnam War, I was a fervent protestor of our being over there. I just see myself as Lucy (Across) in a Greenwich Village apartment with 8 other free spirits and enjoying life and music and protesting the war. I must say, there are some aspects I choose not to participate in, like the over-use of drugs, but all in all I'd love it. This is just something I've always thought about and Saturday's screening just confirmed it even more...

Now, today is the first day of Autumn. My favorite season. I love Halloween, pumpkin spice candles, orange and brown, leaves falling, and college football. Tonight's supper is my tribute to fall rolling in. I'm making spaghetti squash. It's a great low carb alternative to pasta and sooo good! All you do is slice the squash lengthwise and then again in half to make quarters. Now, Jer and I are saving half of it for another night but two people could easily eat a whole squash. Scrape out the seeds and soft pulp on the inside (it smells like a pumpkin, yum). Then, rub olive oil all over the squash then sprinkle the inside with salt and pepper. Place the two quarters rind side up on a cookie sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes at 375 degrees. Once the pulp is done, scrape the pulp out with a fork (it should look like spaghetti as you're scraping it out). Add any toppings you like. Tonight we're adding sauteed red onion, tomatoes, and lemon juice. As Jeremy says, "Yum yum gimme some."

Happy Autumn Everyone....