11.30.14

I can mark another thing off the bucket list!  Chop your own Christmas Tree....well I didn't actually chop it down....but my hunky husband did.  It was almost dark, so the picture quality wasn't the best but it was a fun experience and at least we can say we did it!  

Piper was so excited and acting a little wacky to be honest....and she refused to wear her coat.  I promise I don't make my child freeze.  

Piper offered lots of support and patting.....Kyle I am sure really appreciated it while he was trying to saw the tree!

Now for some pizza and Polar Express while we decorate our tree :)

11.26.14

Our first snowday!  

It's our first snow day of the season.  We went outside to snap a few pics but are going to head back out later after naps with our snowgear and sled/saucer.  Kyle got to work from home and my brother Drew is in from Boston....so Piper is just loving this day!!

 

11.4.14

This might be the most random post ever....just feel like I had a lot of things to blog about but not enough time.  So I am just jotting some things down I want to remember.  

Today Piper and I were leaving to go to ballet class at 4:00 and the sun was setting.....that's just weird.  It is dark so early!  But it is really nice getting up early and the sun is already up. Speaking of getting up early...Piper is going through some really weird sleep issues.  She has always been a great sleeper and stayed in her room and bed.  UNTIL.NOW.  I thought for sure Halloween and trick or treating would knock her out for a solid nights sleep....no way...she came in my room at 3 am ready to party!  After finally getting her to stay in her room and back to sleep I snuck out in the wee hours for some coffee and breakfast.  I think we all know that being tired and cranky + hormones was a dangerous situation for the first person that got up.  I needed some real caffeine! 

 I always get so excited the day after Halloween because all the Christmas decorations are out in stores.  I have strict rules of no Christmas music or decorations before Thanksgiving but I have a confession...I  bought a Christmas pillow and I already put it out!! I am counting down the days until I can go Black Friday shopping :)  I could have gone crazy at Target because they have some seriously cute things for the Holidays this year. I also saw Toms is doing a collaboration with Target and I am pretty excited about it.  

And because I am rambling about the most random things today ( I swear I had more things to say when I sat down), I have the best crock pot recipe to share. I have been craving warm comforting foods lately b/c its been so cool and this one is guranteed to make your belly warm and happy!   We all love this one and have had it on repeat every week for the past month.  Piper asks for it at least 3 days out of the week for dinner, today she told me she wanted it with "corn on the hog."  I modified the recipe from this Tone It Up recipe.  The original includes cinnamon and Pinot Grigio.  I know the alcohol cooks out but here in good ole PA wine can only be purchased at a liquor store and ain't nobody got time for that! I tried cinnamon the first time I made it, and it smelled heavenly, but it just wasn't for me.  

White Bean Turkey Chili

1 lb. Lean Ground Turkey
2 Tbs.Olive Oil
2 Cloves Garlic, finely chopped
1 White Onion, diced
3 Cans Navy Beans (15 oz.)
1 Tbs. Cumin
1/4 cup Sweet Corn (I actually just use a whole can)
3 cups Vegetable broth
Oregano
+ If you like spicy add in a little chili powder and cayenne pepper ;)

Saute garlic. Add ground Turkey into the skillet. Cook on medium heat while breaking the meat up with a spatula. Remove from skillet and place in crock pot. Saute onion until it turns clear. Add to crock pot. Add in the rest of the ingredients.  Cook on low for 6 hours or so.

We like to top ours with Shredded Monterey Jack cheese and a dollop of plain greek yogurt.

11.1.14

Halloween and the Pumpkin Patch

Piper and I FINALLY got around to going to the pumpkin patch.  We had been trying to plan something with Dad on a weekend but it just hadn't worked out yet....so we had to go by ourselves during the week.  I thought it would be empty in the middle of the day on a Tuesday but nope, there were buses and buses AND buses of kids there. It was fun and we spent a good portion of the day there. 

Piper asked me to take a picture of her with the giant 500 lb. pumpkin (I think b/c she saw some other kids taking a picture by it first!)

 This little boy asked me to take a picture of him....haha.

The farm we went to didn't have a pick your own pumpkin patch so we stopped by one closer to us on the way home.  We were both tired and cranky....and I think she knew I was getting ticked off at her for not listening, so she started giving me some seriously whacky faces....it worked and she def. made me laugh.  And I think we waited waaay to late to go to the patch....it wasn't very pretty and ps...pumpkin stems have some sort of pokey hairy stuff.....it hurts!!! I had to scrub our pumpkin down when we got home.  I think I am cool with this one time experience....we can just buy from the bins from now on :)

Piper wanted to be Anna from Frozen for Halloween of course!  She had a dress up dress already and wanted to wear that so I was happy b/c that was easy.....but then she told me she needed a cape and a hat.  So I made them for her.  I think this project was a little beyond my skill level, but I had fun making it for her and she had fun being involved with the costume making as well.  I have never really been a huge Halloween fan and haven't gone all out for costumes before, so I figured I probably won't be able to put this much time and effort into a costume again.  She helped me paint her rubber boots to look like Annas and we found the right blue mittens just in time the day before! We had many discussions about those.....she wanted me to get it right!

She is just not into picture taking.  I get dead eyes not looking at me and forced fake smiles all the time....she is impossible!

Piper and her friend Kate.  I know I am biased, but these 2 made the cutest Anna and Dorothy.  Piper is currently obsessed with Wizard of Oz (and Legends of Oz) and wanted to be Dorothy too......she tells me everyday that she is going to be Dorothy next year.    We went trick or treating with Kate in her hood since our community isn't very trick or treat friendly.  We saw a few other Annas yesterday but mostly a LOT of Elsa's :)

A few months ago Kyle and I were watching some old Friday Night Lights because we couldn't find anything else to watch and I mentioned how I had always thought it would have been fun to be Eric and Tami Taylor for Halloween.  He loved it and wanted to do it this year.  LOL...I tried....this was my best I could do Tami Taylor outfit and hair.  
Texas Forever!!

And we have yet to carve our pumpkin!  This weekend is supposed to be full of football, hanging with friends and lots of etsy orders....maybe we can squeeze it in!

10.19.14

 Another fun weekend for the books!  We were originally supposed to go to Boston to see my brother Drew, but he decided it wasn't a good weekend for us to go so we decided last minute to head to NYC!  I had seen the Central Perk pop-up shop for the Friends 20th Anniversary and really wanted to go.  This weekend was the last weekend and it had crazy long lines.  I woke up late, we missed our early train and the next train took way longer than it was supposed to so we ended up in the city much later....and way too late to get a pass to get in.  So we settled for some Artichoke Basile pizza, and Magnolia cupcakes (and banana pudding) in the park.  We relaxed, Piper chased and "watered" pigeons and played on the playground.  We had fun until we were pooped....literally. Pooped on by a pigeon that is, in my hair and down my back.  

I asked her if she wold let me take a quick pic of her smiling and she started giving me all these sassy poses.....I totally died!

 We just did a few fun things that night around town and had some dinner at a place near our hotel that Kyle could watch some football at.  

Don't be fooled by her overtired and hungry face.....she loved the carousel.  It's the oldest and cutest little carousel in Bryant Park that plays the sweetest little music.  

Sunday was a beautiful day, a little chilly and windy, but still beautiful.  Thanks to this super awesome world game Piper got in one of her Kiwi Crates...she has been asking to go see the Statue of Liberty.  So we decided to take her.  We just did one of the boat tours that takes you around the Statue and a few other places instead of going on the island.  And that's when things got super weird!  

This sweet older woman (who didn't speak English) asked if she could take a picture of Piper.  I said sure, but realized she wanted a picture WITH Piper.  Ok why not.  Then all of these other Chinese people with her all crowded around and were taking pictures of her and all wanted pictures with her.  It was about 10 people who kept picking her up and taking pictures and it really made me uncomfortable, and I was worried about her, but she handled it like a champ!  I really thought she would freak out or get upset, but she was polite and sweet and humored them. 

 She loves getting a turn with the camera.  I love all the random pictures I find on my phone and camera.  

We were by Central Perk again today, so we got a better pic even thought it was closed. 

I have been dying to try the Butcher's Daughter, so we grabbed some brunch and then some hot chocolate for the ride home. (Confession, I totally went to this shop for the cute cups)

As we were packing up Piper wasn't cool with the fact that we only stayed one night.  She said next time we should stay 10 nights.  Totally down with that idea Piper :)