3-1= 2

We're missing a child this week.  After a fabulous Christmas in Kentucky, we headed home with only two carseats in the middle row, instead of three.  Maddox was invited to stay a few extra days with GranJan, Papa, and Auntie Jourdan and she heartily accepted.  I haven't even caught her on the phone for more than a few seconds these past few days; she's been having the time of her life!  I have to say, it is odd without one of your children around even though having Henry and Harper here leaves plenty to do!  I miss my little helper and all of her funny faces and quirky sayings.  The upside of the situation is that I have found time to do some major cleaning and purging of a few rooms in our house.  Over the last few nights, I have cleaned out Maddy's closet, under her bed (ugh) and re-organized the play room.  Let's see what the big girl says when she gets home this afternoon.  Can't wait to see her!

 The play room shelves were a complete disaster when we left for Christmas.  Now, there is a sense of organization!

 I created a little office space for myself on the opposite side of the play room for my new Matilda Jane Clothing business.  Sent a few emails down here today while the babies played contently.  Genius!

. . 

To-Die-For Tiramisu

I'm going to go ahead and make a big statement here.  This is quite possibly the best tiramisu you'll ever have and I will also predict it is the easiest you'll ever whip up.  No ladyfingers to find (or make, ugh), no baking in the oven.  Just a coffee pot and a mixer is all you'll need.  Perfect for a small holiday gathering.  I made mine this morning and will savor it with my husband tonight after the kiddos hit the hay.  Enjoy!

 You'll need:
3/4 cup of egg substitute (I researched this the safety of uncooked egg substitute here and found it to be perfectly safe (unless you're pregnant- sorry friends!).
1 cup espresso or strong coffee, cooled 
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp Kahlua (could also use brandy or cognac or you could eliminate alcohol entirely)
8 oz Mascarpone cheese Mascarpone is an Italian sweet cream cheese that you can usually find this time of year with other hard and soft cheeses in your local deli.  It is oh-so-yummy.
2 tbsp cocoa 
1 package Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies (I use these instead of ladyfingers and think they're the best!)

 

Step 1:  Combine eggs, 1 tbsp espresso, sugar, and Kahlua into large bowl and beat 2-3 minutes.  Add Mascarpone and beat 3-5 minutes more.  (Should look like the picture above when it's done).

 Step 2:  Quickly dip each Milano cookie into remaining coffee and layer on the bottom of a small serving dish.  I use three cookies per ramekin.

 

Step 3: Spread Mascarpone mixture on top of cookies and sprinkle with cocoa.  Refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. Serves 6. 

A New Spin on Christmas

I love decorating for any season or holiday but inevitably, decking the halls for Christmas is a bit different when there are two 13 month-old children in the house. I began thinking about these must-do changes a few months ago when my best friend and I took a trip to the Country Living Fair in Atlanta and saw dozens of vendor booths with amazing holiday ideas. Oh, that gorgeous Christmas pillow with hand-sewn ribbons and jewels? Yeah, that would be destroyed in five minutes in my house. Those glass ornaments? Shattered. That one-of-a-kind ribbon? Torn right off the tree. I began to regain hope when I stopped at a vendor who sold mostly vintage paper products and suddenly the ideas began to flow. What if I could substitute paper for glass this year? Between that and the conviction that decorating could be done on the cheap and with existing items and outdoor flora and fauna, I have to say I am pretty pleased with how it all turned out. (My wallet is happy too).


Our mantle all decorated for Christmas. I lieu of typical greenery, I chose a neutral color scheme.


Right next to some old skates I picked up at the thrift store a few years ago, I added some season
appropriate vintage flash cards.



This one helped mommy decorate the Christmas tree last week. Since we went to all paper, I let her choose ten of her favorite Christmas ornaments to adorn her own small tree in her bedroom.



Found old-fashioned word and trivia cards at The Fair. In case you're interested, rococo means fancy style of ornamentation with curves and shell work. Who knew?

Couldn't pass these up!



I've been putting magazines in this old tool box for the past few years, but decided that it would look nice as my table centerpiece this Christmas.



Had to have this ornament, circa 1985, out somewhere in the house. Actually a real flip book, I used to look at this for hours as a kid.



Didn't want to pack away all the "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments either, so I rounded them all up into a vase.


Gained some further holiday inspiration with two friends, Stephanie and Serrine, on a Historic Inns Tour a few days ago and had fun too!


Came home from the tour and made this. My dying mums were replaced with greenery found in my own backyard. Pine, boxwood, holly, and magnolia leaves (okay, I had to ask the neighbors for those) are all arranged right in the dirt. Serrine promises they'll stay fresh for weeks!


What new ideas are you incorporating in your holiday decorating this year?

The M Cafe

While driving away from the drive-thru coffee shop earlier this week, my daughter sighed and said longingly, "I really want to do that one day." 'That' in which she is referring to is being the barista, the maker of all things delicious in this world. Becoming a barista when she grows up has replaced Maddox's old dreams of being a waitress. And she has determined that her coffee shop will be called The M Cafe. These are big dreams, folks.

While this mom can't visit coffee shops as often as I used to, I am a paying customer of The M Cafe at least twice a day in our house. The service is bad, the drinks are inadequate, and many times I am forced to sit in a child size chair, yet The M Cafe is one of my favorite places to hang out. Just yesterday, I ordered a tall dry cappuccino and received a venti mocha with cream and cinnamon. Talk about miscommunication! And should I try to let Henry or Harper sip my special treat, Miss M herself screams, "Don't let the babies drink that latte! It's not good for them!" You'd think the surgeon general was giving orders or something.

Here are a few other problems with said cafe. Sometimes I wait for hours to receive my drink. If daddy is around, my order is forgotten entirely. Also, the espresso machine is broken far too often and I have to settle for tea. Cleanliness of The M Cafe leaves a little to be desired. M reuses cups without washing them out and I've personally watched her sneeze into the creamer. Finally, acceptable currency leaves a little to be desired. Some days I can pay her in play money. Other days, she will only accept candy. The best is when she pays me for my patronage.

For now, The M Cafe lives on in Maddy's imagination. But today, we went to a real coffee shop in town and watched intently as the barista made my pumpkin pie latte. M and I drew a diagram of the experience then talked about it all the way home. The dream lives on. . .

The Best You Ever Tasted

The heater was cranked in the car this morning and all my kiddos were wearing jackets. Fall has arrived, friends. That can only mean one thing. It is time to share my pumpkin soup recipe with the world. My pumpkin soup is not only a staple in our house during cooler weather, it is also my go-to meal for friends needing a little pick-me-up. Because it is in season, I substitute butternut squash for the can of pumpkin in this recipe. Wishing you all the warm and cozy feelings this little autumn delicacy provides!

Spiced Pumpkin and Shrimp Soup:

2 medium onions, sliced
2 medium carrots, sliced (1 cup)
1 tbsp fresh cilantro
2 tsp fresh grated ginger (must be the real ginger root- yum!)
1/2 tsp ground allspice
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp butter
1 14oz can chicken broth
1 15oz can pumpkin (or 1 butternut squash cooked and pureed)
1 cup milk
1 8oz package frozen peeled and deveined cooked shrimp, thawed
Plain yogurt or sour cream (optional for topping)

1. In a large saucepan cook onions, carrots, cilantro, ginger, allspice, and garlic in hot butter, covered, for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring once or twice

2. Transfer vegetables to a blender container or food processor bowl. Add 1/2 c chicken broth and blend or process until nearly smooth (***Warning- do not blend a mixture that is very hot. I have done this and I had food all over my kitchen cabinets, counters, and floor- ha!)

3. In the same saucepan, combine remaining broth, the pumpkin and milk. Stir in blended vegetables and shrimp; heat through and enjoy!


To really get in the spirit of fall, pick up a copy of the book Pumpkin Soup at your local library and learn how the Duck, the Cat, and the Squirrel made it "the best you ever tasted." Maddox loves the book and the soup!

My Favorite Fall Gal

Well friends, fall is upon us and I have spent the last few days switching out my closet to reflect the cooler temps. What I've realized (along with so many of you ladies) is that I don't need to accumulate another stitch of clothing this year. There is more than enough already and truth be told, I need to pack up a big ol' giveaway box. It can't hurt to look at the fall fashions though, right? In doing so, I've noticed a few things. Beautiful warm colors are in. Rusty reds, mustard yellows, deep teal blues. Leather is back, but not just in jackets, boots, and bags. I've seen many skirts and dresses in leather or with leather detail. Finally, hems are getting longer. You'll find many dresses in a mid-calf length this fall, not flattering on everyone, but worth a try especially with great boots.

All of this brings me to my new favorite designer, Maggy London, sold at Nordstrom. I love Miss Maggy, not just because the line stays on the edge of fashion, but also because it fits well and is affordable. I have bought a few pieces in the past and am tempted once again by these little cool weather beauties:




Love the color of this dress and the neckline. Throw a belt on at the waist and you're set. No other accessories needed.




This one is edgy, but I really like it. It is a black/brown combo, made from a faux leather, making it much more affordable.





Another one with the leather detail.



This was me this summer in my Maggy London dress. Bought it last year just before I found out I was pregnant. ha! It had to wait a while, but I loved wearing it this summer.




This one looks a lot like my dress in the pic above, but is from a different designer and sold for over $300. I only paid 1/3 of that price. Really affordable and stylish!



Happy Fall Fashion Hunting!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Back to School!

This morning, I dropped Maddox off for the first day of 4 year-old pre-school. That little gal is so independent. Quick kiss on the cheek and she was off. I realize that the first day of pre-school is not the first day of kindergarten, so I shouldn't be sad and I'm really not. We were both ready for school to begin! I'm just a bit reflective this morning on how quickly my daughter is growing. Is it bad to want her to stay little forever? I suppose that sentiment is why I still allow Maddox to say okey-mo instead of oatmeal, Gumbo instead of Dumbo, and glitter instead of litter ("Mom look, somebody glittered on the road!" haha). Not quite ready to correct those things just yet. :)

By the way, on the drive over to St. Thomas, Maddox promised she would make friends with a new kid at pre-school today so they don't feel lonely. Precious girl.

We heart Jacquie!

A few nights ago, we said a fond farewell to our summer sitter, Jacquie. She headed back to school Friday to start her sophomore year at Liberty University, promising to babysit again when she is home for weekends and holidays. Jacquie is adored by my children and her trustworthiness allowed me to get a few hours away each week so this mom of multiples could feel a bit more sane. She saw us through those frustrating days of early mobility and the crankiness that comes with teething. She did my dishes and folded my laundry. She stayed late a few times so my husband and I could go on a date. . . Sigh. I will miss her. We love you, Jacquie!

What a Peach!

My children have a new summer love. . . peaches! We did some picking last weekend at a local farm and Henry and Harper nearly knocked each other over fighting for the peach. After a few seconds of that, we decided there was enough low hanging fruit to go around, and they each got their own. Now I know that Virginia peaches are probably not the same as South Carolina or Georgia peaches, but I haven't seen any packages in the mail from my deep south girls (Laura? Gwen?), so we have to settle for what we can get! Seriously though, they are amazing and just a perfect way to end the summer. Of course, I had to go home and make a peach pie!

Two tips on peaches:

1. If you are like me, you want peeled peaches for your pie. I recently learned that boiling the entire peach for 2 minutes, then putting in a bowl of ice water, helps the skin separate from the flesh, and makes peeling a cinch!

2. Peach juice stains clothing! I mean, really stains. Especially when your children are just devouring the fruit with both hands and the juice is running down their faces! A few months ago, my mother-in-law gave me a bottle of Lestoil with her seal of approval. She was spot on (or off, depending on how you look at it). A little bit of this deep cleaner removes virtually any stain. If you can't find any in your local supermarket, you can buy a bottle here.

Peach juice all over the front equals. . .


. . .a few drops of Lestoil when we get home!



Enjoy your last few weeks of summer, friends!