This Weeks Favorite Things

Since I have been absolutely all over the place this week I thought it would be fitting to just post a everything I have seen and fell in love with...hope you like them too!

First let me start with my new favorite "lounger"

Remember when long sweaters were the coolest...well I kinda love this one

Maybe I have been under a rock but I recently discovered Serena and Lily clothing

Austin Webb...Country on You

best clothes

Lastly, if I wasn't so insane lately... These T-shirts would be going to mom, mommy-to-be, God-mama, and grandmom !

Birthday, Graduations, and Really Good Beer!

Birthdays, Graduations, Holidays... I am starting to struggle for gift ideas...You see my go-to gift options have already been done so I find myself really racking my brain for something "new." The twins have a birthday party this weekend for one of their closest friends. Naturally I thought cute beach towel but I am just a little late in the purchase so I went to my next best thing, a gift from the heart. The boys love when I make yarn wrapped letters, mainly because they can do whatever they want because I am busy crafting instead of nagging but also because they like to help soooo why not make their friend an "L." We picked up a Barbie and found this super cute charm bracelet and I am calling it a day-- " a Birth-day" hahaha okay not a comedian.

        

Next I have to tackle a college graduation gift and my BFF's birthday gift... Shhhhh don't tell them but I think I am going to lulu. They have some really great wraps and gear right now...we will see. My cousin, who is graduating college, just texted me requesting this classic. I will definitely be fulfilling that request ASAP. 

Side note: Have you tried the Leinenkugel's Grapefruit Shandy? Well it is a MUST. Tonight I am drinking the "orange shandy" and it is equally delicious! I need you to get up and buy it especially if you will be sitting the sun! I love it!

This little gem is just because...Jack-Jack finally received his own turtle shell with weapons! He is so in love! Now there is no fighting his big brothers for theirs! Good night! 

What a "Meh" Monday

Have you ever had a "Meh" day? You know when like nothing really goes wrong but nothing goes as expected either? That is me today.
Here are a list of things I'm comme ci comme ca:
1. My I-Phone is drenched in sweat and is currently making random face time phone calls
2. I made a peach cobbler that was fine- a little too "doughy" not that sweet- edible but fine
3. I made a teriyaki glaze for our chicken dinner tonight and it just wasn't glazy enough
4. I ate four cookies today and now I feel overly full and not comfy in my jeans
5. I tried to curl my hair - the "loose waves trend" and instead of looking beachy and cool I look like Hillary Clinton's long lost Republican twin.
6. My back kinda hurts
7. My cucumber seeds started to grow little green leaves -- not huge growth but still some growth

I realize the above is a very half empty type of gal and I know I can spin each of those things into a glass half full statement.

Example:
Half Empty: "I tried to curl my hair - the "loose waves trend" and instead of looking beachy and cool I look like Hillary Clinton's long lost Republican twin."

Half Full: I tried to curl my hair - the "loose waves trend" and instead of looking beachy and cool I look like Hillary Clinton's long lost Republican twin which is kinda cool because then in some cosmic way I also look like the funniest sister girl Amy Poehler. And Hillary is a bad ass chick so "aint no thang."


Also, did you know that Mother's Day is coming up???? I am at a loss for gifts. I was going to have floppy straw hats monogrammed for all the lovely mamas in my life but my own mother threw a wrench in that plan...as she does not wear hats nor like anything floppy. Back to the drawing board... For myself I have asked my wonderful children to have their father pick me up a classic...
Wayfarer

Meh Meh Meh time to open a bottle of wine

Did You Eat?

Escarole...
Soup that means more to me than just amazing flavor. The look, smell and taste are home. This is how I make it...

Back in the day this soup was "a lot of work" - Jane Fusco. Now a wonderful grocery store called "Wegmans" does all the work for me. You can buy a large bag of Escarole leaves washed cut and cleaned. This alone makes the soup totally worth making. Before, you bought the greens in cases and had to soak them, rinse and repeat. The green held onto a lot of sand and dirt so you really needed to clean them before cooking.

Okay... so in the soup there are mini meatballs (you need to make them). Today
I used ground turkey but you can also use veal/pork/beef mixture to make mini meatballs.
 I took my pack of ground turkey and added breadcrumbs, eggs, pecorino romano cheese, salt and pepper, garlic, and grated onion. I mixed them. Using a cookie scoop I scooped little tiny meatballs and placed them on a baking sheet and baked them in the oven until golden brown on top.

While I made the meatballs, this is what was happening on the stove:
I took a large pot filled it with water.
I placed 3-4 split bone-in chicken breasts in the pot of water and turned it on med-high
I boiled the chicken breasts.
After they were cooked,  I took them out of liquid shredded them.

Soooo ----Now in total you have a pot of chicken stock-like liquid
Shredded chicken
a baking sheet of mini meatballs
2 large bags of escarole greens

Put all of those items into the pot of liquid. The escarole greens will wilt down-you may have to cover with a lid to make the process move faster. Give the pot a nice stir. Season with salt and pepper if you haven't already done so.

Now here comes the part you may not want to do but I am telling you, it is a must.
Take a small bowl- whisk 2-3 extra large eggs with 1/3 cup Pecorino Romano cheese. When your pot is up to a bubble, pour in the egg mixture and mix or whisk it into the soup.

I put the lid on and let this all come together on low for about 20 mins...

Serve with grated cheese...yum

Then  you make brownies in mini muffin trays and your boys tell you when they are finished!

Gardening Galore

I can not believe it is already Tuesday! How was your weekend? Ours was jammed packed with mulch, weeding, planting, and watering. We are trying to get the yard in tip top shape for the upcoming summer. When Michael and I purchased our house we were excited that had some property with it. I dreamt about having a garden and planting flowers on the weekend but then the reality sets in... you have to remove winter and fall's leftovers before you can "spring" forward. So we put on our gardening gloves and hit the dirt! Thank goodness for you tube is really all I have to say. On you tube you can look up anything, which we have, from installing a shower head to Edging Flower bed.

Picking up the old leaves was the worst! We have a lot of crown cover that grows quickly which is a blessing a curse. the blessing is that it is very low maintenance and the curse is that the leaves from the trees get caught in it.

 Since the deer population is HIGH in our area, I decided to plant some Hydrangea in planters this year. I have every intention of bringing them into the screened porch at night so the little Bambies don't eat them...stay tuned on that one...we'll see how long until I just say ..."ah lets just see..."

We also decided to try and grow tomatoes and cucumbers this year. Again, I am using the container method. These I will definitely have to carry into the porch at night...the deer, rabbits, and chipmunks will certainly feast on these. I really hope this works out. I have always wanted a full fenced in garden but since our back yard isn't quite ready I am starting here. 

Dreaming of Greenhouses...

We have two tree peonies that are in much need of pruning and fertilizing...I hope they bloom like they did last year. Last year they bloomed with huge hot pink flowers that we were able to clip and float in a large bowl. It was so pretty! 

 Next tackle...getting this yard cleaned up. We are taking out three little trees soon and having some stumps ground...we need grass seed and a good cut....

New Doors?

Since we bought our home we have done some renovations and home improvements. It has been such a wild remodel ride! Currently we are searching for some new doors for the front and back of the house. I had no idea buying new doors would be such an expense or that there would be so many options. There are so many things to consider when choosing a new door like "What type of door?" There are wood doors, fiberglass, metal, etc.... Typical me, I really only care about the style but I also know the quality does matter. I mean this will be our home's front door for the next 30 some years...right? Stain colors have been the hardest decision for me.... we could have chosen to paint the doors but non-commital me just could not decide. Also I have always loved the way a rich stain can bring out a doors character. Here are a few options we are choosing from...

8 window pane 

6 window pane

12 window pane

4 window pane 

Lilly Hits the Target!

Are you guys so excited Lilly Pulitzer for Target this Sunday? I am I can not wait and the look book looks awesome! The shifts are so cute and the prices are even better! I won't even try to describe it when Philly Mag's article says it all!
Here is Your Lilly Game Plan

Love me some Lilly....