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.

 

Life Lately | November Promises

I read these beautiful words one morning, while drinking my coffee and the words resounded into my heart.

Gracious God,

Thank you for the gift of today.

Refresh me. Invite me to discover your presence

In each person that I meet

And every event that I encounter.

Teach me when to speak and when to listen

When to ponder and when to share.

In moments of challenge and decision

Attune my heart to the whisperings of your Wisdom.

As I undertake ordinary and unnoticed tasks,

Gift me with simple joy.

When my day goes well, may I rejoice.

When it grows difficult, surprise me with

New possibilities.

When life is overwhelming, call me to

Sabbath moments

To restore your Peace and Harmony.

May my living today reveal your Goodness.

Amen.

-Pat Bergen, C.S.J.

I don't know how you feel, but it sure is a gift to awaken each day, a new day, with a healthy and fresh start. That whole passage is beautiful but those precious 5 words, "Gift me with simple joy" spoke to me. Sure, we all get led into the pressure's of the everyday need/want mentality. How can you not, we live in a crazy world. The trick is shutting it off and finding the solace of desiring your own life.

This month of November, I want to simply start it off right with as much Thanksgiving and gratefulness in my heart. Seeking only to be happy with what I have. A cozy and warm home filled with snacks and food to curl up on the couch as a family. The weekend's where time is never an obstacle and we truly get to sit down and converse over the day, watching our little one dig into his basket's of toys to find that perfect one to coyly look up and hand to us, with an eagerness to allow us to join in on his creative world of play. Oh his little mind...
Those moment's are good enough for me, a lasting joy! So for this month, I am eager to keep faith and join in on seeking happiness in all things. My wish for you, is to find that joy and hold onto it as well. Allow November's Promises to really seep in and smile, because you have more than enough, you are enough, life is good.

photo via Pinterest

52 Project | 52:43

52:43

Stacking rocks whenever he get's a chance to. Wherever we go, he digs his little hands into the dirt and clenches the best ones to stack. Stacking with dad is always better though!:)

Life Lately | Halloween Fun

We had a great time in our new home, trick or treating. Last year, we were eager to find a new place to call our home and we were so unsure if we should have looked into the city, or find a home in the suburbs. It was a tad stressful looking at homes and our first one at that. Coming from being a renter and dependent on someone else to do things for you, it can be a shock looking at something that is utterly all yours. Alot of projects and the sense of overwhelming and anxiety struck me a bit and besides a few minor headaches, we have had a great first year in our little gingerbread home. This is the first start to the holidays that I can truly get into the spirit of things around here and really eager to keep our home cozy and decorated to the hilt! We started off our Halloween morning with a little pumpkin paint art. Blake had so much fun painting on the paper and gushing the colors together in his hands. We pulled one of the mini pumpkins off the porch, where Blake could freely paint with it. I thought it would be great for each holiday, to try to have some fun creative outlet to make art and for him to play with and incorporate the associated colors with each season passing. It will be great to add to his childhood treasure box I keep for him. 

I just am in awe when I see how much Blake has changed and how amazing the growth and change in everything from his tiny hands to his little laugh. When I look back at last year, Blake and I went trick or treating without Justin due to an overload of projects but oh no! not this year! Justin was away on business in LA mon-thursday and he had taken off for Halloween so we could spend it together as a family. We went hand in hand and enjoyed the whole experience together. We snapped a few pictures quickly of our Lumberjack outfits. There was a lot of chasing around our little busy-body to get him into his outfit ( I am sure any of you with children know that one all too well) played some spooky and fun Halloween music. Yes, Monster Mash, Ghostbusters & Werewolves of London, sure made it in the mix! We snacked on sweets and watched our little lumberjack run around pulling his hat on and off. He now says 'hat' and want's to do it himself, whenever we are headed out the door. We walked around our neighborhood a bit and then drove into town to see if anyone was still out and about only to find the chill in the air and smell of a light frost sent us back to the car for warmth and hungry bellies eager for pizza. I hope you all had your very own spooktacular Halloween fun!