Simplify: Tip #39

image via

"The art of art, the glory of expression and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity."
-Walt Whitman

Blogger Book Fair:K of Blog Goggles

It's Wednesday, so you know what that means: another installment of the Blogger Book Fair! Take it away, Blog Goggles!

The Piano Teacher, Janice Y.K. Lee

Set in the expat community of Hong Kong in the 1940s and '50s, The Piano Teacher has everything I look for in a novel: crazy love triangles, death and poverty, rich people leading fancy lives, and events and places I can relate to. It's been one of the most popular reads in Hong Kong for months, but the summary on the back made it sound so boring that I never picked it up (same thing happened with the Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao... big mistake). Luckily, my mom (visiting from the States) left it in my apartment. Moral of the story - if you're at all curious what life is like in Hong Kong, read this book, then add 50 years of modernity (but keep the champagne and beach). If you're not curious about life in Hong Kong, read it anyway, because it's a fabulous book.

The Fifth Child, Doris Lessing

I love horror and sci fi. I also love great literature. Put them together and you get The Fifth Child. In short, the Lovatts have the perfect life until their fifth child is born. He's creepy and awful, and basically ruins everything. But in a wonderfully creepy and thought-provoking way. If horror isn't for you, I'd love to recommend anything else by Doris Lessing. She's awesome.

Bonk: the Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, Mary Roach

Before Bonk, I'd read Roach's Stiff, which discussed death and corpses in a way that gave me nightmares for weeks. Luckily, Bonk inspired a different set of dreams. It's a nonfiction book that explores the burgeoning field of sex research in the most entertaining way possible - in part, anecdotally. Roach is witty and insightful and fun, and I will definitely read anything else she comes out with (as long as they do not involve any more dead bodies).

In Other News...

Natalie wants to be a future Hot Dog On A Stick employee.

This was the doughnut birthday cake my adorable husband made for me

I'm growing out my hair and had it died it dark for fall. What do you think?

Kara likes to scrunch her nose when she smiles now.

Raising Foodies Cooking Group- Week 2

This week I decided to cook with another meat I have never cooked myself before: turkey. I found a recipe for Turkey Parmigiana that seemed simple enough and gave it a shot.

Adult Version:

Kid Version:

Recipe:

8 oz. spaghetti
4 turkey breast tenderloin steaks (about 1 pound total)
1 tbs margarine or butter
2 tbs grated Parmesan cheese
1 14-oz jar tomato and herb pasta sauce
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook turkey in margarine or butter for 10-12 minutes or until tender and no longer pink, turning once. Sprinkle turkey with Parmesan cheese. Spoon pasta sauce over turkey. Cover and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until heated through.
3. Sprinkle turkey with mozzarella cheese. Cover and let stand for 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Serve with hot cooked spaghetti.

This week's recipe was definitely not as successful as last week's. I did not like it at all. Something about the turkey really grossed me out and it didn't seem to go right with the spaghetti and sauce. I think I'll stick with turkey on Thanksgiving with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy thankyouverymuch. The other thing I didn't like is that the Parmesan had a hard time sticking to the turkey. It kept falling off and there didn't end up being much of a crust at the end. I thought it was strange that I didn't have to dip the turkey in egg beforehand. Perhaps it didn't stick because I used Kraft Parmesan from the plastic tube and not freshly grated?

My husband thought it was okay, but wasn't thrilled either. I think I freaked him out when I kept asking him "Does it look cooked all the way?"; "Are you sure?"; "Here have some of this piece, it was smaller and seems more cooked" I have a hard time with cooking cuts of meat properly. It always seems to take twice as long as they tell you in the recipe. Is it just me or does it happen to you guys too?

The girls ate mostly the spaghetti, but ate some pieces of the turkey and seemed to tolerate it okay.

Overall, I give this recipe a "C". I probably will not be cooking it again.

I finally picked up the book Deceptively Delicious the other day (I know it's been out forever) and plan to try a recipe from there next.

Window Seat

Via MyHomeIdeas

The perfect little place to start your day, no? A cup of coffee and the sun streaming in. Ahhh....
Hope your Monday morning is off to a good start.

Gone But Not Forgotten

Nothing used to get me in the fall spirit more than receiving my September, October and November issues of Cottage Living magazine in the mail. I'm still mourning the loss of my favorite mag-it ranked higher than Domino for me. I've mentioned before my all-time life goal is to live in a cozy little cottage someday, and nothing got me more excited about it than the pages off that magazine. Thank goodness that you can still peruse some of the images from Cottage Living on myhomeideas. I present you with the perfect fall visual feast:

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Cooking Results Are In!

Well I managed to make it through my first recipe pretty much without incident. Steaks seem pretty easy to cook, but I did end up having to cook them for almost twice as long as the directions said. And are you supposed to cover them while they cook or not? I wasn't sure so I did a little of both. Ha! That's the other problem I have with cooking, I get so technical wondering if I am doing everything right and it takes the fun right out of it. I am a definite follow the directions to a "T" kinda gal with no experimentation whatsoever. Hopefully that will change as I get more comfortable with cooking in general.

SO the moment you've all been waiting for! Behold my attempt at Filet Mignon with Rosemary & Mushrooms:


And here is the version my girls got:

The score:

Husband-Loved it! Thought it was such a treat to be getting steak, and thought it was soooo good. (At least that's what he told me!) He gave me an "A"

Natalie-I was surprised she actually ate all of her meat and said she liked it. I gave her BBQ sauce to dip it in and did not give her any of the mushrooms or sauce because I knew that would be pushing it. Of course she left a few green beans on her plate, but overall she did a great job.

Kara-She liked it too. Since she still can't talk I don't get much complaining from her! When she is full she just starts throwing pieces of food on the floor.

Me-I thought it was yummy too. The mushrooms and rosemary really did it for me. And it smelled so good while cooking! I also liked that it was versatile in that for the grown ups we could add the mushrooms and sauce and we could give it to the little ones plain.

I'm not doing anything fancy for side dishes right now. Baby steps, people! I'll let you in on my dirty little secret:

Blogger Book Fair: Maegan of Little Twig Birdhouse

This week's guest at the Blogger Book Fair is dear sweet Maegan, pen pal extraordinaire, avid book reader, aspiring writer and blogger at a little twig birdhouse. She is also 35 weeks pregnant and just moved into her first home! Congrats Maegan! You can read more about her exciting life at her blog after checking out her book suggestions:

Marching Powder by Rusty Young
This book is amazing, I could not put it down. It's a true story about South America's strangest prision. Inmates in this prison are able to come and go, hold down jobs, invite friends over, have family live with them . . . but it is definitely not all "happy go lucky", there is a dark side. This is not an upbeat read, but it is an eye opener and a very though provoking story.

Stone 588 by Gerald A Browne
I have read this mystery / suspense / drama filled story numerous times. Stone 588 is a diamond of rare quality, has healing powers that only the owner knows about, but when it is stolen from him, the mystery begins to find the theif, and there is murder, double cross, and intrigue. A very clever and exciting read. This was my first read by Gerald A. Browne, but have since read all of his novels, and this remains my favorite. It is a masterpiece!

Early Bird by Rodney Rothman
Looking for a quick and funny book? Rodney Rothman is the answer. He took the wish we all have: "I'm so tired of working, I wish I could retire early" to the next level. Rodney retires at age 28, moves to Florida and finds a roommate at a retirement community. The adventures and stories he has over the next 6 months are absolutely laugh out loud!

The Shell Seekers by Rosamund Pilcher
One of the best books I have ever read! The main character is Penelope, the novel is beautifully written and shifts easily from past to present, recounting Penelopes life and that of her three children. The story begins with Penelope's news to her children that she has suffered, and is recovering, from a heartattack. The reactions of each adult child to this news is different, thus delving into the past of each and understanding their family dynamics. For those who like "family saga" novels, this one is outstanding.

Thanks Maegan for stopping by today!
BTW, I will be posting a new list every Wednesday. I am continually looking for lists, so please email me if you would like to participate!

Raising Foodies Cooking Group- Week 1

Lately the guilt has really been setting in that I don't try hard enough to cook nutritious and delicious meals for my family. I've thought long and hard about why the motivation just isn't there and here is what I came up with:
Growing up, my dad was a real meat and potatoes kinda guy. Practically every meal had to have a certain variation of the two. I, on the other hand, never cared much for red meat. I would hide chunks of it under my napkin to avoid having to eat it. Needless to say there were lots of meal time power struggles for my mom between giving my dad what he wanted, but trying to make a few things I would like too. Meal time just was never very fun. It obviously scarred me for life, because here I am twenty some years later at a stand still at what to cook. I hate that feeling of uncertainty I get wondering if a recipe I make will please everyone. Then the utter disappointment when someone inevitably doesn't like the meal. For a family of four finding meals that everyone enjoys is nearly a mission impossible. So I pretty much threw in the towel and gave up.

When I ran across this idea for an online cooking group on Raising Foodies I decided now was my chance to get back in the right frame of mind and start having more fun in the kitchen. I am prepared for many failures, but also look forward to the successes and the feeling of accomplishment that I will get from at least trying! Time to get my lazy butt back in the kitchen!

Tonight I am trying this recipe which, ironically, involves cooking steak, which I never do. Ever. Seriously. What's wrong with me right?!

image via (although not the same recipe)

Filet Mignon With Rosemary & Mushrooms

1 tbs. margarine or butter
1 tbs. cooking oil
4 filet mignon steaks, cut 1 in. thick
2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
2 green onions, sliced
1 teas. dried crushed rosemary
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 teas. pepper
1/3 c dry sherry, dry red wine or beef broth (I'm going w/ the beef broth)

Directions (Makes 4 servings):
1. In a large skillet melt butter. Stir in cooking oil. Add steaks to skillet and cook over medium heat to desired doneness. (8-11 minutes for medium rare and 12-14 minutes for medium). Transfer to a serving platter, reserving the drippings in skillet. Keep steaks warm.

2. Stir mushrooms, green onions, rosemary, garlic and pepper into reserved drippings. Cook and stir over meduim-high heat for 3-4 minutes or until mushrooms are tender. Reduce heat.

3. Carefully stir in sherry, wine or broth. Cook and stir about one minute more or until heated through. Spoon over steaks.

Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens 30 Minute Meals-those little magazines you can buy at the checkout stand at the grocery store.

I plan to serve it with garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and salad.

Normally I will be posting the pictures and outcome on Tuesdays, but I am a bit behind this week and just got to the grocery store today to buy the ingredients, so I will post the results tomorrow! Wish me luck!

Changes

I mentioned recently I moved a few things around my house and thought I would give you a looksie.

Here is where my Nana's wingback used to be, but I was so sick of seeing it covered in a blanket (it needs to be re-upholstered) that I moved it to our master where I won't be giving it the stink eye all day. I brought out this white chair that had been in Kara's nursery. I wasn't using it much in there anymore, so I figured I would try it out. I plopped on a pillow I got for $3 at Kohl's. That's right, only 3 snaps, they have amazing clearance there sometimes. The green lamp is killing me now that I switched things up, so I need to find a new one to go there. Something like this.

I also scaled the gallery wall way down. It ended up being too much for me visually. I spray painted the brown frames white for a more cohesive look, but decided to leave the gold frames for a little bling.

In my big white frame, I switched out the artwork to this swatch of wallpaper I bought at Targhetto a while ago (holla at my girl Debbie for that nickname).

Did a new little layout on top of the curio.

I purchased new candlesticks for the mantle, also at Targhetto, for a mere $4 and $5 each on clearance! Oh man, I am a clearance whore aren't I? Whatevs, at least I admit it.

Lastly, I bought this little beauty at Walmart of all places. I love oak trees and I love black and white photography, so I couldn't pass this winning combo up no matter where it came from.

I'm too lazy to upload before pics, so if you want to check them out, look at my posts here and here

Jillib Designs Clutch Giveaway WINNER!!

Happy Monday everyone! I'm excited to announce the winner of this gorgeous clutch from jillib designs:

Random.org picked #22, which is "she"! Congratulations! Please email me with your mailing address and Jill will get the clutch out to you.

For those of you that missed my interview with Jill, maker of this clutch and other pretty things in her etsy shop, check it out here.

Simplify: Tip #38

via

"A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think."

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Interior Infatuation: Greg Natale Design

Well, it's once again in the 90's in my neck of the woods, and is set to reach the 100's by the weekend. I'm pretty bummed as I am ready to bust out the sweaters already. I can only wear the same shorts/tee/flip flops combo so much! So to help cheer me, and hopefully you, all up today I am bringing you some fall reminiscent interiors from Greg Natale Design.

Blogger Book Fair: Ali of The Way I See It

I have more great contributions to the Blogger Book Fair lined up for you all. Perhaps I will make it a once a week feature until I run out of peeps. I realized I forgot to post my list over the weekend, so mine will be coming soon too. The more the merrier, so send me your lists, because everyone is loving all the great suggestions!

Today we have Ali of The Way I See It. Take it away Ali!

Change of Heart, by Jodi Picoult
Like all of her novels, Ms. Picoult once again tugs at your heart strings with this one. The book poses some serious questions regarding life, good vs. evil and love. Read it and weep, but definitely read it!

The Septembers of Shiraz, by Dalia Sofer
A man is captured in Tehran with little explanation and is forced to suffer through death, torture and anguish, not to mention time away from his family. Aside from being beautifully written, this is an informative book that everyone should read.

The Friday Night Knitting Club, by Kate Jacobs
Think Steel Magnolias with a twist: a knitting club run by a yarn owner raising her young daughter. A wonderful read about the bonds between women.

Oooh, these all seem like wonderful books to read while cozied up next to the fire this fall and winter! Thanks for the great suggestions Ali!

Obsessing Over: The Kitchen Tool Of Champions

So as many of you readers already know, I hate cooking. I am horrible at it, and just can't find the gusto in me to try and make it work. So I make the same five or so dishes that I know how to make (which are mediocre at best) and then cross my fingers that my hubby will take us out to eat on the weekends-which is quite often the case because he is sick of my five mediocre meals. That being said-I love kitchens. Love them. Ironic right? Kind of like how the only class I ever got a "C" in was Spanish and now I can't communicate with my husband's grandparents. Anywho, another thing I love are kitchen gadgets. Oh, kitchen gadgets you taunt me so. I can only imagine all the fun things I could do with you if only I knew how. I've been lusting over a KitchenAide mixer forever and nothing gets me more giddy than seeing one tucked away in the corner of a kitchen:

MyHomeIdeas

I see you, little silver guy in the left corner. What's going on over there?

Domino

Hmmm, another silver one. Popular color choice.

MyHomeIdeas

Wait a minute, you're not a KitchenAide! Imposter! Oh well, you are cute too, and possibly even better than a KitchenAide, what the heck do I know?

MyHomeIdeas

Silver again? I'm looking for some colorful ones here guys, throw me a bone.

BHG

Ahh, there we go-orange! You sure do liven up that corner, you glorious piece of machinery, you.

Canadian House & Home via Peacock Feathers

Gunmetal gray, you slay me.

MyHomeIdeas

Yellow fellow, I am dreaming of all the pumpkin spice loafs you have whipped up with your mixing power.

Well, after years and years of oogling, a finally have one to call my very own! Meet Sally:

Ain't she a beaut? I named her Sally so I can sing "Whoooooaaaa. Sally. Whew. That girl!" whilst mixing.

Go, Sally, Go!

I'm hoping Sally's presence will instill the cooking and baking desire in me that I lack. Spoken from a true shopoholic, right?