Life Lately | Merriest of Merry!

The house has been full of a lot of Christmas cookie making, wrapping of special gift's and holiday music on repeat. My Holiday favorite's have been on repeat throughout our home and our little one's footsteps pitter-pattering back and forth dancing is just the cutest sight to see.

 It is so hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. Here's to wishing you and yours the most merriest! Merry Christmas!

Life Lately | Sunday Afternoon

What a nice Sunday afternoon, well spent walking the streets of Dumbo. This has always been one of my most favorite treasured spots in the city. Justin and I decided to drive in to go to church at Brooklyn Tabernacle and then spend the afternoon taking our time putzing around those cobble stone streets. Blake loves playing at the playground there and of coarse his eyes light up like a christmas tree when we head towards Janes Carousel. Afterwards, we headed back to our car and snagged a few slices of pizza and a warm cup of coffee for the road. I just love a good weekend with my family and though always so sad to see it go, it sure makes a long week worth all the while.

52 Project | 52:47

19 months | 52:47
Playing in the backyard leaf piles. Of coarse, an extra laugh or two from dad being goofy!

Taste: Recipes | Suppertime Beef Stew

Well the chill in the air sure has me begging to curl up on the couch, wrapped up in a blanket with a mug of tea. I know we have not had the snow fall, like some midwestern folks, but we do have that wind and cold rain to hint to us that winter is coming.

What better way to keep warm, than to make stew, a crock pot stew! What an easy and hearty supper this was to make and enjoy. Crockpot's are just the best and the smell that fills the home is even greater! Feel free to get creative and add anything else, maybe potatoes, crushed tomatoes, whatever else your tastebuds are craving. I kept it simple with some groceries that I picked up at my favorite Trader joes and dug out the bag of frozen snapped green beans from my parent's garden, I had tucked away from my last visit. We all loved it and even a certain little boy had grabby hands for the spoon to dig in. ha!  Enjoy!

Market List:

Beef Stew

1 package of Beef Stew Meat

Beef Broth

1 frozen bag of  peas

1 frozen bag of green beans

1 can of mushroom soup

1 package of  mushrooms

1 bag of carrots

(feel free to add potatoes, if you want it extra hearty and filling)

1 white onion

Beef Stew Recipe

Brown and make sure beef stew meat is cooked well and toss into crock pot

2 cups of beef broth

2 cups of water

add your can of mushroom soup (i used portabello mushroom soup) 

wash well and toss in package of mushrooms

peel and chop/cut 4 large carrots ( i used a variation of colors to add different taste)

bag of peas

bag of green beans

chop onion and add to recipe

salt and pepper and let sit and simmer up to 5 hours

*I like to sprinkle some fresh mozzarella cheese on top and fresh bread or rolls complete it

52 Project | 52:46

52:46
A comfy and slow monday morning around the house. Blake took a brief pause while playing with his truck to look out at the rain falling. I do believe we will be saying goodbye to the last bits of fallen leaves and hello to stark bare trees.

52 Project | 52:45

52:45
This dinosaur is always a favorite for Blake when we hit this particular playground. It is so cute! He likes to rock it back and forth and make a little sound, but the sun setting and the stillness to his little boy excitement, was a perfect snap!

Nesting | DIY Holiday Wreath

Okay, So I guess it was the fact that almost all of my pumpkins from Halloween bit the bullet and the old wreath I had hanging had to be thrown away, I needed something to spruce up our front door. I wanted a new wreath that would transition from November into the holiday spirit of December. I love the holidays, everything about it makes me so giddy and this year is by far, the best. We were unpacking and really trying to feel things out last year. Though we did have a tree up, there was a lack of holiday cheer. Moving in was exciting but unpacking with a baby and a husband with a busy schedule, not so much. This year, BRING IT ON! Now that we are officially settled in, we can transform our little gingerbread house into a Christmas Wonderland. (I think you can sense the excitement!)
As I strolled down Trader Joe's aisle, completing my shopping list with my little guy, I spotted the beautiful eucalyptus and berries and knew I wanted to make use of those items. I had some leftover billy bob's at the house and all I needed was a frame for the main piece.
I picked up the eucalyptus for 2.99. I stopped by the craft store for a 4.99 wooden wreath and a pack of wire rim berries that were 50% off for 2.99.
I cut and added pieces of the eucalyptus and weaved it in between the spaces of the wreath frame, naturally allowing it to take formation. The few berry pieces that I cut, I were able to make use of the metal wiring in it, which made it easy to wrap around in spaces of the wreath. Next, I added a few pieces of the pretty, dried billy bob. That yellow really added in a nice pop.
I have a berry tree here, so I intend to cut pieces and slowly add much more red and orange berries and a few more things to encourage the Holiday Spirit, once Thanksgiving is past. I hope to show more around the home with you. For now, I'm enjoying that wonderful eucalyptus scent ,each time I arrive and leave at the doorway!
Enjoy making your own wreath and get creative! It is such an inexpensive and yet pretty way to add some flair to any door.

52 Project | 52:43

52:43 | 19 months

Getting pulled by dad on a wagon at a local farm. Though a brisk day out, it was a beautiful, sunny one. Love watching you take it all in and soak it up, while giggling and smiling away.

Life Lately | Farm Fun

We took off for a windy and brisk Sunday drive and headed off to check out a farm, nearby. It was about an hour away, but we were taking advantage of Mr. Daylight Saving's and making the best out of the long day. What a pretty, golden sunlight and yet brisk and windy day! Luckily we came prepared with mittens and an extra warm jacket for Blake, just in case.
It really reminded us of our hometown in Pennsylvania and any place with chickens and goats makes me happy. One day, a dream of my very own chicken coop will come true. I cannot express to you the balance of living in the suburbs, and having the city and yet the country roads, all within reach of us. I sure get homesick and lonesome at times. A good dose of a drive home to visit family in PA always seems to help but finding farms like these are a great way to soothe a lonesome 'homesick' heart.
We walked around the farm, watching Blake roam the fields and wave to the chickens to feeding the goats. Though the wind started to pick up and the sun was slowly setting, we made sure to pick up a few goodies to take home with us and warm up with a mug of hot apple cider.
This time of the year is just so wonderful and it was so great to see Blake running around in the hay tunnel, playing peek a boo with Justin and watching him smile at the farm animals. I'll take rosy cheeks and wind blown hair any day, as long as I get to spend time with my guy's. I hope you all adjusted to the time change and were able to sneak in a little extra fun for your Sunday, as well.