Recipe Review | Trader Joe's Italian Sausage and Spinach Soup

With a couple inches of snow dusting the world outside my window, I thought today would be a great day to share one of my family's very favorite (and super easy!) recipes for soup. I found this recipe years ago in a Trader Joe's Fearless Flyer mailer. We've been enjoying it ever since. While I no longer need it (because it's that easy to remember), I still have the clipping in my recipe box all these years later.  Here it is:  I have modified it over the years.  We definitely prefer brown rice (holds up better in the leftovers and adds a nice nuttiness). Know that brown rice can easily take 45-60 minutes to fully cook on a low simmer. When I can't find the TJ's sweet...

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Things I Love Thursday // 1.23.14

Hopping a plane (like, right NOW) to sunny California to celebrate one of my absolute favorite people Fancy fingernails ~ Feeling the fingernail playfulness these days… now if I could only touch it up and/or take it off when it starts chipping…  My fantastic birthday gift of Darby Smart (post of our first project coming soon) ~ Seriously, such a fun surprise to receive (monthly!)  Second graders ~ Seriously. G just had a friend over for a play date last week and the girls spent their time "researching" endangered animals. Then they selected one in particular to focus on for their "Non-Fiction, Informative" poster. They took their finished report to school the next day and were...

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Recipe Review | Voltaggio Brothers' Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Sherry-Dijon Vinaigrette

I know, I know… you hate brussles sprouts. But wait! You haven't tried these ones yet. Yo, that's BACON and tart apples up in there (smokey, crunchy, sweet). Yum.  If you watched Bravo's Top Chef Las Vegas (season 6), then you're already familiar with these two. They are Michael and Bryan Voltaggio and both found themselves in the top 3 finale. Ultimately, Michael won the competition and his brother took second place. Good stuff! Here's their recipe for a delicious and satisfying veggie dish (+ bacon).  Caramelized Brussels Sprouts with Sherry-Dijon Vinaigrette  (via Cooking Channel) ~ What you need for the Vinaigrette: 8.5 ounces of canola oil 6 ounces...

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Harry Potter Birthday Party | Part I

This little sugar wanted the same themed birthday party her sister had at 7 years old. Which was great because I'd done all the planning beforehand and even saved a lot of the "stuff."  It was a Harry Potter-Faux Slumber-Movie Party! "4:30pm - 8:00pm Wear your jammies and bring a special blanket, stuffie, or pillow to cuddle while we watch the movie." Hedwig balloons greeted the guests and were scattered all over the house. And each guest got to leave with one too. Homemade quills, paper plates, and play-doh were all we needed for a couple quick games Pizza came next. I'd also planned to serve "Butter Beer Floats;" however, these 12 were already so wound up I decided against...

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Things I Love Thursday // 1.16.14

My birthday-gifted Anthropologie Calligrapher Canapé Plates {swoon} ~ I thoughtfully received: T, G, J, and P. I cannot wait to fill in for our middle names, favorite letters, states we've lived in… Whatever excuse I can find! LOVE these.  Reaching for my sunglasses instead of an umbrella when I leave the house ~ Listen, Charlotte can get real cold and the fluctuation between the daytime high and the middle-of-the-night low is more extreme than anything I'm used to; however, even when it's 27 degrees at 9am, the sun is regularly out on display--bright and shiny in a crystal blue sky. It's breathtaking and I am trying to be present and appreciative.  Trader Joe's Green Goddess...

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Things I Love Thursday // 1.9.14

Spending a sunny weekend in southern california with three of my favorite people and receiving the best gift I could have in the days leading up to my 40th birthday ~ One girlfriend's husband snuck a sweet card and a photo of the four of us girls into her suitcase. The picture was taken almost exactly 10 years ago. It is stunning proof that the last decade has been more than kind to all of us, compelling me to happily welcome what the next decade has in store…  Plus all the other delights I enjoyed on our trip!  Coming home from a four-day trip across the country to my sweet and goofy family Sharing my birthday with my youngest monkeygirl and celebrating the sweetly fierce,...

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