11.14.2013

Indy for FCA

Greetings from the fabulous city of Indianapolis!


I am here for work for 3 days - hints the silence on the blog - so just wanted to tap in and say hello! I am at the FCA Midyear meeting and Board Meeting.... then off to Auburn for the big AU/Georgia game this weekend. Can't wait to be back on the plains and enjoy some "reunioning" with my fellow CWE'ers from 2005.

Enjoying some great food and lots of communicating! If anyone wants to follow along via twitter #FCAMidyear. Hope to join in on Friday for the 5 on Friday link-up, hope to see you there!

During out lunch break today we stumbled upon a scavenger hunt proposal on the streets of downtown Indy. {didn't catch the actual proposal, but I am certain it was awaiting "Jessie" just around the next corner.... too bad we couldn't follow along.}

Happy Thursday!

xo, trace

11.11.2013

Veteran's Day Sweets

Happy Veteran's Day!

To all our service men and women, thank you! Thank you for all you do each and every day. Thanks to you, we are able to live in the home of the free and the land of the brave. Especially to my PaPa who fought in WWII, to my Paw Paw who served many years in the Army, to my Pops who served in the National Guard and to my brother who served in the Navy. I am forever grateful for your service and am so very humbled to have you in my life!

Today, I wanted to say thank you to our troops and share some "sweet" ideas for celebration.




...and my favorite. These abordable shortbread cookies


I hope everyone had a wonderful day celebrating our troops! 

xo, trace

11.08.2013

5 on Friday

Cheers to the ladies that started 5 on Friday! I love reading others favorites on Friday and gathering fun recipes, sales, styles and decoration ideas. Thanks for sharing ladies!

Now for my 5 on Friday.

{one} Advent Calendars

unknown. 

I'm on the lookout for a great advent calendar that we can have for every holiday season. I love this one above I found on Pinterest, but I couldn't find where it came from. Thinking about asking the sister in law to make me one. {hint, hint}


{two} Gold Rimmed Glassware


I am in love with these glasses - they would be so perfect paired with our beautiful china. 
{that is still in storage} Hey, a girl can wish right?

{three} S'mores


I've been dying for s'mores lately... and I'm hopping this weekend they finally happen. 
How cute are these mini-s'mores above?  Precious! I can't wait to make them for my N&N's!

{four} Antique Candle Holders

unknown.

How beautiful are these candle sticks? I have been on the lookout for antique holders like the ones above - maybe it's the old soul in me, but it's one of the very few things I wished we had gotten for our wedding and didn't. Why does my mom have like 15 pair?? 

{five} My Awesome friends




"Sometimes,' said Pooh, 'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.” 
― A.A. Milne

I thought I would keep the thankfulness going from last week's 5 on Friday and throw in a lil thankfulness today. I am truely blessed with such a wonderful assortment of friends. I am been reminded at every turn this week that I am surrounded by the best group of friends and family a girl could ask for... they are there to lift me up, make me smile, bring me to tears {of joy}, and tickle me silly over nothing at all. Thank you lord for giving me so many blessings of friendship - near and far. I am truly thankful.

Happy Friday!

xo, trace

11.07.2013

CMA Top 5

Yay for Thursday!


You guys would be so proud, we had Salmon for dinner last night {my first time} and I loved it! It was actually pretty tasty - which could have been the Bourbon glaze - but still, I ate it. All.  That's big steps for this gulf coast gal... pink fish is just weird to me. But since J loves it, I'm happy I can cook it for him at home now - and eat it too!


After enjoying our delicious Bourbon Glazed Salmon, we turned on the CMA's. Let me just say that I love country music! Love the glitter, the sass, the cheesy love songs and the sad ballads.  They all just take me to a happy place. So I thought I would share my top 5 from last night:

1. Blurred Lines and the Duck Song - priceless. {sorry for the terrible Youtube, but It gives you an idea of how awesome it was. haha} I'm not sure Carries loved ole Willy gyrating up on her, but sure was great entertainment.

2. Loving Little Big Town's new hit, Sober. Wow. What a great song! They hit a home run with that one.

3. T-swift rocked Red... probs the best performance I have seen from her. What a cool award too... so good to see artists getting recognized for "keeping it classy" and not getting trashy. Sorry, don't mean to hate - just sayin.

4. Everybody's Got Somebody But Me, by Hunter Hayes is precious! His songs just make me want to get up and dance a jig {or two}.

5. Luke Bryan. Man. Drink a Beer just brings me back to my college days at home with my folks... sitting on the dock drinking a beer. The tribute to his brother and sister. Tears. I can't imagine... but some how I know that's exactly where I would want to be. His opening act with FL/GA line was pretty legit too.

BONUS...  how precious is George Straight? What a cutie... Even after all these years. Still going strong! Did anyone else watch Pure Country weekly because their mom was so in love with good ole George?? That would be me. Loved that movie!

I think I could have just re-posted the 3 hours of CMA's... but I thought I would save you the time and give you my own re-cap.  It's almost Friday... I'll be back to link of with the gals for 5 on Friday! Join us!

xo, trace




I went shopping.

I did a little lot of shopping this past month. But, they were all fabulous buys... so I wanted to share. 

Picked up this super soft sweater at Target last week. On sale for $17.99

Found this lil party dress at Kohl's of all places - on sale and an
additional 20% using my shopular coupons.


Then I stumbled across an Athropologie sale... and I got excited.
I bought this lil red number below {along with the necklace}
for all those lovely holiday parties coming up.


Also picked up this cut bangle for $7.99.

This may have been my favorite Anthro purchase... perfect for holiday parties {dressed up or down}.  


My last purchase was a big one - but the most exciting! I finally splurged on a Barbour jacket for myself and I am in LOVE!! This jacket is fabulous... it's light weight, casual & dressy, and keeps me super warm... even in these 40 degree temps. Love it. 


So November will be a non-shopping month for me... But I'm already working on Christmas happies. :) 

Hope you all had a great hump day! 

xo, trace

11.05.2013

Tasty Tuesday: Sausage, Kale and Lentil Soup

Happy Tuesday... and Election Day! I voted. Have you?? 

Even got my sticker to prove it!

In honor if Tasty Tuesday, I thought we would start a Soup Swap!  Since this was Meg's idea... I thought she would enjoy the tag - now it's your turn. {when you get back on your feet}  Today, I'm sharing a Sausage, Kale and Lentil Soup we tried last week that was super easy, healthy and delicious. 

Sausage, Kale and Lentil Soup


Ingredients:
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound hot sausage, bulk or casing removed
 {I used turkey}
1 onion, chopped

2 ribs celery, chopped
1 large carrot, peeled and chopped

1 large Idaho (russet) potato, peeled and chopped into small dice

1 Fresno or Holland chile pepper, thinly sliced or finely chopped

2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves picked and finely chopped

2 large cloves garlic, chopped or sliced

1/2 tablespoon ground cumin

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 bundle Tuscan, black, or dinosaur kale, stemmed and very thinly sliced

1/4 cup tomato paste

1 cup white wine

Freshly grated nutmeg

1 3/4 cups lentils

4 cups chicken stock

2 cups water



Directions:
In a soup pot or large Dutch oven, heat 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. Add the sausage, breaking it into pieces, and cook until lightly brown. Add the onions, celery, carrots, potato, chile pepper, rosemary, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper, and cook to soften, 8 to10 minutes.

Wilt in the kale, and season the kale leaves with a little freshly grated nutmeg. Stir in the tomato paste for 30 seconds, then add white wine. Cook to reduce by 1/2 and stir in the lentils, stock, and water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, and simmer the soup until the lentils are tender, about 35 minutes. Serve immediately or cool, store, and reheat. 

OR... you can place everything in the crock-pot and cook on high for 6 hours, which is what we did and it was great! You don't have to brown your meat {onions and garlic} first.. but you could if you want that crispiness to it. 

{modified from Rachel Ray}


Weekly Meal Planning:
Sunday: Buffalo Creek Burgers and Smashed Potatoes
Monday: Sausage, Kale and Lentil Soup {leftovers are wonderful}
Tuesday: Jacyees Meeting 
Friday: Date Night! 

Hope everyone is having a great Tuesday! I am loving daylight savings time and the beautiful mornings this week. I know, it's a trade-off for leaving work at dark... but it does get me to 
bed earlier too, which I do not mind at all. 

xo, trace

11.01.2013

Five on Friday

Well, Hello November! Very excited to have you here today... and what a beauty you are. It's just the perfect fall day outside... and a Friday to boot!! Also, Happy All Saints Day for you Catholics out there. We had a fabulous October and I am so very thankful for a happy November ahead. You know the drill... it's 5 on Friday.


{one} Aztec Prints


I picked up a fun new scarf last weekend... and I am loving the aztec prints. Watch out wardrobe - you have some new kids in town to play!

{two} New Sheets


I finally splurged on some snuggly new sheets for our bed - and I can't believe I waited so long. It just makes it that much harder to get up in the mornings... bring on daylight savings, I'm tired of seeing pitch black skies at 6 a.m.

{three} Desktop Backgrounds


Maybe I am the only one... but does anyone else change their desktop background according to the season?? I just loving living in the season - even when I'm staring at my computer screen... since that usually consumes 8-10 hours of my day {only during the work-weeks}. If you're searching for a new look for November, meet Tidy Mom. She creates new fun backgrounds for your computer, iPhone, iPad, etc. Downloads are free too!

{four} Blacklist


I'm not really much for TV shows... and at first, I was very disturbed by this show... but I can not stop watching!! I want to know what happens with her husband... is he for realz?

{five} Good Health 



A little dose of thankfulness this week... I just wanted to share how grateful I am to have my health. Sometimes I complain to myself about the early morning workouts and achy body... and then I am reminded how lucky I am to have those. To have two legs that can run and a happy, healthy heart to enjoy this beautiful life. Thank you lord for blessing this family of ours with good health.

Looking forward to drinks with the boss after work today and then we're off to First Fridays tonight on Washington street. Hope everyone has a fabulous daylight savings weekend ahead!

xo, trace