More Thanks

I know Thanksgiving is over but I thought this idea was too cute to pass up! I love the idea of displaying old family photos for Thanksgiving dinner. Our Thanksgiving always ends up being a trip down the family tree. This year we ended up having a family history trivia game!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Hope you all have a very Happy Thanksgiving

It's Almost Here....

Christmas! .......did you think I was going to say Thanksgiving??!!

It's official - my Christmas list has been sent off to Santa!

{White wing back chairs for the heads of the dining table}

{Black, framed sea-fans}

{Bamboo blinds for my very naked windows}

This is of course my very selfish, and very unrealistic Christmas list! I really do enjoy the giving part more that the getting part. Is there anything better than finding the perfect gift for someone??

Hope you all have a very {Happy Thanksgiving}

Leavin' on a Jet Plane

We're off to Chico tomorrow and I can't wait! I haven't been back in 2 years! I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday I was watching David graduate - and only the day before yesterday that I was graduating! We're going to be greeted by the most perfect fall weather - cold and windy!

Happy weekend! I'm off to pack my scarves and jackets!

New Obsession

As if I didn't already spend enough time "blog-stalking" I've found another blog that I

L-O-V-E!!! Trina is living my "other life," ...you know, the one where I live on an insanely adorable farmhouse with my husband who does house projects with me. I'm predicting that I'll be up all night reading her entire blog (I have definitely been know to do that!) Trina - if for some reason you're one of my 5 readers (again - hi mom, David, Alex, and Debbie!) you're a huge blog-inspiration!

This is Trina's magazine-worthy farmhouse:

One of the best part about her blog pics, is that there always seems to be fresh flowers. And I'm sure they were grown on the farm!

Go check out her blog A Country Farmhouse

**Reader Warning - you will be sucked in, and you will want to move to a farmhouse in the country!

Kitchens and Pumpkins

My "sneak peak" is still in progress...I promise I will post on that soon! In the mean time, I thought I'd post a little eye candy. It's fitting, in that our kitchen received quite a bit of use this weekend. And ALL involving pumpkins......ok and maybe a little bit of wine!

First let me clarify that this is not our kitchen. However, our kitchen does look very similar. I will post pictures of our kitchen when it has pretty mint green dishes, and well loved cook books stacked in the shelves. Until then feast your eyes on this one! (ha bad joke!)

Our friend Christa brought over all the makings for pumpkin pancakes on Saturday morning! They were fabulous and I could have eaten that whole plate - too bad I had to share....

Sunday night was our weekly "family" dinner. (Everybody comes over to our house and makes a gigantic dinner.) Last week was stew, this week was polla assada! My incredibly talented friend Sara came over to teach me how to make pie this Sunday! I am in charge of pie this Thanksgiving and have never made one. I've heard horror stories about the dough having to be the "right" temperature and "mixing until it feels right." Ummm....I have no idea what the answer is to either of those instructions! In comes Sara!! She is one of the most talented bakers I know (if anyone in the SD area needs cupcakes for an event, email me and I'll forward on her info!) Anyways, our pies turned out amazing! She even fashioned our pie some dough leaves! Here's our result:

The boys loved it, and we decided that this will have to become our new tradition. Or at least for the month of November. Next Sunday is Blueberry pie, and the boys are cooking dinner!

Coming Soon....

hint, hint...

House Stalking

OK....I let it slip in my last post that I house stalk. I was only a little bit kidding when I said I would be across the street stalking that house. I am MAJORLY airing some dirty laundry when I admit that I do this on a regular basis. It's so bad, and creepy I know. One of my favorite places to house "observe" is in old Del Mar. They have the most perfect, untouched, old, original architecture!

These are (almost) my favorite. These little blue cottages (there about 6 of them I think) are all perched on the cliff, looking directly over the ocean. They are teeny, tiny which makes them all the more charming! They all have cute little porches in front, and some of them even have little fire pits!

This is my ABSOLUTE favorite! This house is straight out of Coastal Living! How perfect is it with the American flag out front. They even had a shiny red beach cruiser parked in front but I must have cut it off.

My partner in crime! Check out that cheesecake pose! : )

So if you live in a cute house in the San Diego area, or Southern CA for that matter, and you see a short brunette looking in your window...don't worry, it's just me!

East Coast Envy

It's November! I absolutely LOVE this time of year! I can't wait till it gets crisp and cool here (ha! Crisp and cool in San Diego...right) Anyways, my parents have been in Boston visiting my sister and couldn't be more jealous! This is where I would stay if I were on the East Coast. How cute is this B&B??

Front View: (The view I would have as I was stalking this house from across the street)

The Backyard

Living Room: I would never expect this to be inside that ^ house!

Master B. Ok - the stuffed animal dog has got to go, but other than that - you would have to drag me out of that room!

**I apologize for the teeny, tiny pictures - it's the best I could do!

Sushi & Friends

Our friends Dani and Mike left yesterday, and we're so sad. We did have a ton of fun with them while they were here! Friday night we had the most fun dinner....Instead of going out for sushi, Dani decided to teach us how to make quick, home-made sushi. SO GOOD!! Here's the recipe:

Start with 2 good friends....

Cook white rice as directed (add a little bit of honey and a little bit of rice vinegar to make it sticky.) We bought sushi grade tuna (a little bit goes a LONG way), cucumber, shredded carrots, avocado, shrimp, and siracha. You can really add whatever you'd like to the inside. Dani said she's made it with teriyaki chicken before.

Roll 'em up and VOILA!

And what better to pair sushi and good friends with than champagne!