Belle Cuisine à la Campagne

I have a special treat!

For Christmas, our family is traveling to Mom and Dad's house. They've been working diligently on their fixer-upper. Actually, to be more accurate, they bought a house, gutted everything, and are slowly, but surely seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

I'll be featuring their work-in-progress over the next few days as they've done a beautiful job...too bad I don't have the "Before" pictures. Just imagine UGLY...and now it's GORGEOUS =)

Just Like A Good Neighbor

Well I was horrible last year and didn't do a thing, but this year I decided to put together some goody platters for my neighbors. A chocolate dipped pretzel assortment, candy canes, and my favorite Reese's Piece's candy bars...yum!

I wish I'd taken a picture of my favorite platter (that one was reserved for Mrs. B across the street) because the platter was in green, lime green, red and white with Santa's face smack dab in the middle and a candy striping rim. The towel I bought to coordinate had a lime green background with a script "Ho Ho Ho" across the top and another big Santa face at the bottom. Both Santas were adorable!

Another Homemade Gift

Dear Friend and I decided to do homemade Christmas gifts this year. And since she was in town this past weekend to host a Lingerie Shower, I went ahead and gifted early before I skip out on town for the Holiday =)

She's a huge Auburn fan so I sewed a dish towel and rag set appliqued with an orange and blue Auburn print. I think I'm getting the hang of this!

Here's the lingerie shower...can you find the preggers?

Little Boxes On The Hillside...

"...little boxes made of ticky tacky. Little boxes on the hillside, little boxes all the same. There's a green one, and a pink one, and a blue one, and a yellow one..."

Appliqued Dish Towels

Ingredients:

• sewing machine
• white dish towels
• Amy Butler fabric scraps (her fabrics are great!)
• trim of choice for the "grass"
• Heat N Bond (or a comparable fusible web)
• iron
• card paper & pencil for house pattern

Easy Directions:

1. Pre-shrink your fabrics (in the laundry) then iron the towel and fabric scraps.
2. I went ahead and applied Heat N Bond to my fabric scraps. Follow directions for your fusible web (will be on the package or on the web paper) and apply to the wrong side of your fabric scraps, leaving one side of the backing paper on.
3. Cut out your card paper using basic geometric shapes. For each towel I used 4 triangles and 8 different sized rectangles (4 small for the doors and 4 large for the buildings). These shapes will be your patterns.
4. Trace your pattern on the fabric's paper side and cut out your pattern.
5. Arrange your patterns to form houses on the bottom center of your dish towel. When you're satisfied with your layout, remove the paper backings and fuse the fabric to your towel (following your fusible web directions).
6. Here are my 4 towels so far:
7. Zig-zag stitch around your outline to secure the fabric in place (and to prevent fraying). *Note: this uses a ton of thread!
8. When all of your houses are zig-zagged, measure and cut your trim for the bottom of the dish towel. Sew this along the bottom of your towel
9. Et VOILA!

Craft Notes: There's almost a rhythm to zig-zagging the outlines and remember you don't have to cut your threads until the end; this will save you time. Also, the picture doesn't show it, but the green ric-rac is a lime green and I preferred the sunny ruffled yellow. Experiment with your fabrics and trim...have fun!

My SC chickies received theirs last night so that's why I can post today =) Mammie Kay (Mom's mom) will get one and I think the last one's for keeps.

Party Time

It's our fifth annual Supper Club Christmas Party!

And we're going a little "A Christmas Story" style with the menu. Read: a non-traditional Chinese menu. This was the faux invite first sent out; it was a joke, although I hope they don't find everything else as tacky :)

Here are the real invites:

"All We Need Is A Wood Chipper"

That's what sportscaster Eli Gold said in regards to the Iron Bowl.

Still No. 1, and still undefeated. The Auburn Tigers were dominated at Bryant-Denny Stadium today.

Alabama 36 ... Auburn 0

ROLL TIDE!

Happy Thanksgiving

Fire in the Oven

Did you know when a recipe calls for parchment paper that it doesn't mean "wax paper"?

I discovered that this morning as I diligently preparing baked goods prior to the big schabang this Thursday. Yes, wax paper can burn at 400 degrees...and while there are some Google searches that said I could substitute the two, clearly this was not a good idea.

Now my house has a hazy hue throughout and smells like burnt paper and melted wax. On another note, I'm hoping this Baked Brie Food Network recipe turns out well and my Muirhead Deep Dish Pumpkin Pie smells duh-lish!Two down, eight more to go. Oh and I've added spiced mulled cider to the list. I forgot I have mulling spices and the fancy schmancy spice strainer ball to go with =)

What A Slacker!

So I know I've been slacking on posting for this blog. With Baby on the brain, I think I'm officially morphing into a "Mommy Dork."

Also, it's been a bit of a whirlwind around here with work travel last week, preparing for guests at the house this week, hosting Thanksgiving, and then turning right around and getting Christmas decor up for our Supper Club Christmas party the following Monday. Plus I have to pre-ship my gifts before Christmas, which means I need to finish shopping ASAP...darn all those baggage fees!

This Week

I think I'm "in the clear" for Thanksgiving decor. I'm keeping things simple and will try to cook as much as possible in the days leading up to Thanksgiving so I can enjoy the company on the actual day. Pink Pimpette's dad is bringing the turkey and dressing (the toughest part!) so here's my menu list of the side items and such:

What are y'all doing for Thanksgiving?

Travel plans? Cooking plans? Recipes to share? Ideas to make things flow smoothly?

Bright Copper Kettles and Warm Woolen Mittens

These are a few of my favorite things:

1. Mason in my Belly: Yeah, that's right. I kinda like him in there...all warm, cozy, and protected. Plus last night I made the grave mistake of looking on YouTube for birthing/delivery scenes. I was traumatized...and yes, I was brought to tears and not the sentimental kind, they were the fearful/dreading kind. I've still never seen that "Miracle of Birth" video everyone talks about and I don't look forward to any part of the whole delivery thing if it's anything like the clips I saw on YouTube. Mason can stay in there thankyouverymuch! But back to the warm-fuzzy-favorite- I really like the little guy in my tummy. He's happy, I'm happy, everyone's happy. Let's keep it that way.

2. Precor Elliptical Machine: Since I can only run a couple of miles now (no I'm not giving up, it's just that this watermelon belly is really tearing up my joints), I've turned to the elliptical machine and it's a great way for me to fit my cardio in and not worry about my joints. I'm still trying to get in at least 5 miles each night whether it be through running or doing the elliptical machine or a combo, but one advantage with the Precor is the super-convenient touch bars that allow me to monitor my heart rate.

3. SugarBoo Photoboxes: These are the large wooden quote frames seen in boutiques across our landscape. It's a great wall statement and have some of the most endearing quotes surrounding the photo square. BUT they're ridiculously expensive upwards of $250 a frame (at 20"x20" outside measurements for a 4"x4" picture). I wonder if Dad could make the frame and Mom could paint/design the finish... (HINT HINT!)

4. Free Printable Gift Wrap: Yep, it's FREE just click HERE

5. Tyler Candles: The Tyler Candle Company is based out of my hometown Tyler, Texas! These are also found in local boutiques. While I haven't checked the pricing at the boutiques, I found two Websites with very reasonable prices for these candles Here and Here. I finished off Limelight yesterday and have a Lipstick candle to try next =)

6. Fall Colors: And it's right outside my window =)

7. Fridays: 'Nough said.

Copping A Feel

Last Saturday I finally gave in and used a spa gift certificate that I received as a Christmas gift...last year. Thank goodness I'd saved it though as I was having some back pains and the relief of a 60 minute massage was readily welcomed.

But I hesitate in sharing this next part because overall it wasn't really that bad, but here it goes:

Being a prenatal massage, this particular spa had me laying on my side with my back as close to the edge as possible. Halfway through, I switched sides to have my other half massaged. At one particular point, the masseur (male masseur that is) began rubbing my belly, he inched his hands up...right up to under my boob. I daresay he definitely circled from my hipbone, up around the bellybutton and then finished off touching the bottom part of my breast in this motion.

Whew- I feel like I'm writing a harlequin novel!

This whole time, the running joke inside my head was, "Oh Mason, I'm so sorry that you and Mommy are getting violated!"

It wasn't a horrible experience, but the closest I've ever had a masseuse/masseur touch my boobs was just around my clavicle and it wasn't even that close. This guy definitely kept touching the bottom of my boobs. And I know they've grown large, but it was a bit unnerving as they're still my boobs and I didn't want a stranger- man or woman to touch them!

I definitely could have said something and he would have stopped, but I thought that it might make things a little tense and could ruin the rest of the massage- I typically make it a point to try and not talk to the masseuse/masseur while they work their magic. Oh well, just thought I'd share.

Maybe it's TMI! =)

Sweaty in Style

Yesterday I felt fabulous sporting a Lauri dress I bought on Saturday from Soca Clothing, it was a peacock blue jersey dress with long billowy sleeves, a romantic scoopneck, and the length was long enough to be a dress but could have also been worn with jeans. I paired it with brown opaque tights and high-heeled boots, topped off with a funky chunky pearl and gold chain chandelier necklace. I wish I'd taken a picture because I love that outfit.

Feelin' fashionable

Feelin' sassy

Feelin'...what sweaty underarms?!?!?!

I was MORTIFIED when I realized the absorbent jersey material wasn't very forgiving to my elevated pregnant temperature. The weird thing was I felt cold most of the day; I don't typically perspire (unless working out) and other than fragranced lotion and perfume, there was never a need for additional smell-good stuff to stick on my body...until I became pregnant. And now I sometimes forget (another pregnancy symptom) to put on anti-perspirant deodorant.

photo via DailyMail

XOXO Signed,

Sweaty in Style

Remembering Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been a very casual affair for our family- READ: shorts, t-shirts, and of course the littlest brother wearing a hat at the table...Emily Post would freak!

Dinner is served late in the afternoon, more like a "lupper" {lunch+supper}, and everyone convenes at the table as we inhale a feast of turkey, dressing, cranberry sauce, and other assorted dishes.

Last year it was great to get all 7 (now 8...and soon be 10) of our scattered family together and like always, we celebrated with a ceremonial roundtable sharing of what we're thankful for, of how we feel blessed. It was great!

Thanksgiving 2007

This year, Pink Pimpette and my brother will be flying in for Thanksgiving. And while my family will be split across several states, I have the honor of Pink Pimpette's family joining us at my home =)

For 2007, Mom was in town to cook the turkey, dressing, side dishes....ohhhh okay I admit she did it ALL (well I did the sweet potato casserole), I'm taking the "Pot Luck" route this year and enlisting the help of Pink Pimpette's father. There's no need in stressing out. And this way I can concentrate on making things look pretty!

Last year, I had a simple brown and white theme: brown placemats and napkins with brown and white polka dot napkin ties, white Ironstone dishes, and then Arthur Court pieces were used for the serving platters. With a large family, food has always been the centerpiece as it's often difficult enough to maneuver elbows, large platters, and all the assorted dishware without adding candles and other decorations. Although I think this year I might add some sort of decorative flair...away from the hubbabaloo of the feast (perhaps on the buffet).

I love this centerpiece idea:

photo via Domino

Matchy Matchy

If I get these for the little guy...

Don't you think Mommy needs a new pair of shoes too?

When I Get Back To Skinny

Well, that's a little deceiving as I've probably not been "skinny" since 13-yrs of age. That aside, post-baby fat, I cannot wait to order these economical creations...I present to you PROJECT COUTURE VINTAGE.

Stylish, vintage-inspired clothing at ridiculously low prices. She accepts PayPal, e-mail here for more info & sizing availability.

$19

$25

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$48

Happy Shopping my Skinny Minnies!

...just know that I'm terribly jealous =)