A food related photo everyday until 2012. Here’s week 49:
350/365 Family lunch at A16.
I love lists, Friday!
- I can see a lot of myself in this video. Oh boy.
- Spiked Almond Joy MILKSHAKES?! Sign me up!
- I want to eat EVERYTHING on this blog. This will help with my New Year’s resolution to eat healthier.
- For the Dexter lover in your life…this is BRILLIANT.
- Time Saving Tips for Holiday Packing & Shipping. YOU NEED THIS GUIDE.
- This video pleases me like you wouldn’t believe. The sugar part is my favorite.
- 12 Happiness Habits for Busy People Hallelujah!
- For last minute gift prettiness, here’s a beautiful Glitter Clothespin & Bag DIY
- Girl crush alert! Girls with Glasses Show, where have you been all my life?
- I hope my 41st birthday looks this awesome. Happy belated Birthday, Hula!
But wait! There’s more!
– Joy & I celebrated our 30th podcast this week. That’s a lot of podcasts! This week you asked for holiday stress relief tips & tricks and we delivered! Check out #30: TAKE IT EASY. I may or may not have used my Oprah voice.
– If you’re a paper lover or someone who needs to shop for one, check out The High Straightenence Gift Guide! It’s full of my favorite things.
Here’s a little sneak peek!
White Chocolate Peppermint Pretzels
I dropped Cooper off at preschool yesterday and immediately headed to the post office to mail packages & pick up stamps for the holiday cards I have yet to send out. The line at the post office went smoothly and the lady who helped me was an absolute dream. Hooray for excellent customer service! Then I went to pick up a few groceries and just when I was ready to tackle another item on my TO-DO list, my car wouldn’t start! For the first time in my life, I ran out of gas. I KNEW I should have stopped at the gas station before I got groceries but I felt like I’ve been pushing EVERYTHING in my life to the limit lately, I assumed my car would push too. Thank God for husbands who come to the rescue!
Emails piled up in my inbox, clean laundry overflowed in baskets on my living room floor and then one of my cats puked on my stairs (which I stepped in!). To combat the stress, I took a break and went out to lunch with Casey. We went to get fancy sandwiches and fresh air but after THREE attempts at making my sandwich without mayo and over an hour of my limited time wasted, I felt like throwing in the towel. It just wasn’t my day!
Instead of tackling my TO-DO lists when I got back from the sandwich fail, I made these white chocolate peppermint pretzels instead. Getting lost in dipping pretzels into creamy melted white chocolate, studding them with cracked candy canes and lining the rods (haha, rods!) up into organized rows, made me happy. And then… I got a call from preschool telling me that Cooper needed to be picked up ASAP because he contracted pinkeye. It’s a good thing I got at least one solid thing done that day…
What’s my point? There’s no doubt that the holidays can be stressful. These little obstacles in life are only as big as we make them.The pressure we put on ourselves this time of year has the power to erase the holiday spirit we’re supposed to give & receive. Relax!
If you’re stressing out because the clock is ticking and you haven’t figured out what to make for the holidays, just make these easy white chocolate peppermint dipped pretzels. They’re therapeutic and they pose as little reminders of how sweet, savory & crunchy life can be.
Remember: Make things simple and give yourself permission to slow down!
Pasta Fagioli Soup
I’d like to introduce you to my mom’s famous (to our family) Pasta Fagioli soup. During the winter, my mom makes this soup like it’s going out of style. Over the years, she’s learned a few things while making this soup: always make a double batch & it’s nice to add more pancetta. The double batch thing is important because she can pull some out of the freezer on a whim for my dad or she can be prepared for when my brother comes home from New York and raids her fridge (he inhales this soup, even when it’s cold!).
For years I was reluctant to try this soup; I don’t know why. I guess have weird issues with hot tomatoes and the thought having beans with pasta kinda weirded me. I dunno!
One day last year I was hanging out at my parents house and my mom convinced me to some. Let me tell you I how dumb I felt for wasting many years of my eating career without this soup. It was AH-MAZING. I am a changed woman.
This is one of those recipes that instantly becomes a staple in your life. You’ll go on auto pilot when you’re grocery shopping and always buy the ingredients so you’re never too far from a batch of this soup. Heck! You might even have some stocked in your freezer for a moment’s notice like my mom.
It’s hearty, comforting and pleases all the men in my life; I like that in a soup.
GIFT GUIDE: FOR THE MAN
The other day I was showing Casey a gift guide I saw online for men and he said “I would never want you to buy me any of that stuff!” I happened to like all the items on said gift guide and was wondering if it’s because the list was made by a woman. So I asked him to come up with his own Gift Guide and here’s some of his suggestions. A guide FOR THE MAN, by a man. Enjoy! CONTINUE READING
SPROUT STUDIO GIVEAWAY!
IT’S GIVEAWAY TIME AGAIN!
Today I’d like to introduce you to a talented friend of mine, Jenifer Solomon Lake- owner of Sprout Studios!
Jenifer makes the most amazing pieces of jewelry. She’s got such an incredible eye for color, it’s no wonder she’s an art teacher!
365- Week 49
A food related photo everyday until 2012. Here’s week 48:
340/365 Eating an almond biscotti in a random alley in North Beach.
