Summer Adventures

It's been quiet around here for awhile. We last left off mentioning an upcoming bathroom reno. Well, our house had different plans as our kitchen started falling apart. Right as we were looking into quotes for the bathroom, it seemed like something would break or go wrong in the kitchen almost on a weekly basis, so the bathroom project was put on hold as the kitchen moved up the priority list. We're in the saving phase of that project. That's party why it's been pretty quiet around here. ... no projects to share. 

Our family also had some other exciting news. My sister and her bf bought a beach home at the beginning of the summer, so we were fortunate to get lots of invites and spent many fun days with them by the water. We've had a blast relaxing this summer spending time with lots of friends and family, but we're excited to start working again on some projects around here and some fun projects for the beach house!

Here's a glimpse of what we've been up to....

 We celebrated my mother's graduation... a life long dream of hers. We are so proud!

We even were able to pull off a surprise party with friends and family. 

 I took a girls trip to Disney with my mother, sister and niece. We had a blast!

 We spent lots of time at the beach house with friends and family.

 We took our first trip to Martha's Vineyard. We had never been and our friends gave us a full tour of the island. We just went for the day and had a blast checking out all the different areas, including the location where jaws was filmed. 

We also got to invite my in-laws to the Beach House and spent a week with them showing them the area and they taught me how to golf! 

 We celebrated my birthday over the summer with family. 

 As part of my birthday gift, my sister took me and my mother to see Finding Neverland with Jeremy Jordan (also from Newsies and Smash). It was amazing and a highlight of the summer. It just got picked up for Broadway in the Spring! 

We also attended a few weddings. We're so happy for all of our friends! We had so much fun celebrating with them. 

It's been an amazing summer. Probably the best one yet. What have you all been up to? 

Mother's Day Tea

Last mother's day, my sister and I took my mom to tea at a really nice hotel in Boston. She loved it, so we thought we'd do the same this year. Then we got a great surprise when we learned our brother and his family were making a quick trip home. We decided it would make more sense to have tea at home.

We got a little crazy and went all Martha Stewart, which is kind of typical when the three of us are working together.

The menu included homemade apple cinamon scones, chocolate chip hazelnut scones, chicken salad sandwiches, cucumber sandwiches, blt puff pastries, fresh berries, desserts from Sugar bakery in Boston, including lots of mini pastries and tarts, cucumber lemonade and an extra special glass of iced pink lemonade for my niece.

 

It was a pretty nice spread, but....



It was really the people that made it so nice. having all of the fam together was great.

 

We took a bunch of photos, so I thought I'd share, especially since I haven't had anything fun to share in months.

How were your mother's days?

O' Christmas Tree

Clark: We're kicking off our fun old fashion family Christmas by heading out into the country in the old front-wheel drive sleigh to embrace the frosty majesty of the winter landscape and select that most important of Christmas symbols.

Audrey: We're not coming all the way out here just to get one of those stupid ties with Santa Clauses on it are we?
Clark: No, I have one of those at home.

Jim  and I bought our first tree together last year. It was probably my most exciting newylwed moment. After about 7 years of dating, 5 years of living together and 2 months of marriage, we finally did it. Not only did we buy it, we also cut it down, true Griswold style. Except, instead of driving to the middle of no where, forgetting an ax, and having to dig it up- we just drove to the local Christmas tree farm and used a sawzal. Maybe it wasn't true Griswold style, but it was as close as I'll ever get.

We made an event out of of it. Jim and I had really wanted to cut our own and while we were chatting with some friends, we found out they did too. So we did a little research, picked a place and planned a date.
We started off by stopping at Starbucks to get some hot chocolate- true yuppie style. I used to buy my tree in the parking lot, but after we moved to the burbs I felt the need to be a bit more fancy. Starbucks seemed more appropriate than Dunkin Donuts.

Once we bought our  hot chocolates and lattes, it was time to take care of business.

We drove for about 20 minutes (this is how you know you live in the burbs), then pulled into the tree farm's parking lot that looked packed. Luckily this was decieving and it wasn't too crowded. We were all amped up thinking we'd find the perfect tree in no time. We were sadly mistaken. Instead we roamed the farm for over two hours finding short trees, fat trees and short and fat trees.

Nothing that fit my images of "Griswold style" tree. If we wanted to go "Charlie Brown style", there were quite a few of those. I wanted big and perfect. Not too skinny, not too leafy.

Jim told me we had to go "where no man has gone before- you know, like outer space" to find the perfect tree. By outer space he meant down the hill and to the trees near the main road. I have to give him credit, he was right. After the two hour search, we finally saw some decent trees.

After we thought we found the one, we got a call from my sister and were told they found tons of amazing trees. So we dropped ours like a bad habit and headed to the other side of outer space. There they were...they were magnificiently...short. But they had to do, as they were the best on the lot. They didn't look so bad.

It was pretty appropriate that out of all the trees on the lot, my sister and I chose two trees next to each other. Typical.

I decided I wanted to cut our tree down. Jim laughed and said alright, I told him not to worry, I'd start it and make it easy for him and let him finish up.

But, since we had  a sawzall I was able to do it all by myself. Even thought it was ridiculously easy, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment.

So much so, I felt the need to carry the tree over my head in victory to the car. Until Jim let me know I looked  ridiculous. So I put it down and realized I had about a hundred pine needles in my hair.

While the guys packed up the car, my sister and I picked out our wreaths. We both debated going basic and decorating our own, until I found one that fit our red, white and snowflake theme. Once my sister realized she'd have to decorate hers on her own, she went pre-made, too.

When we got the tree home and set it up, I realized just how small it was. I should have figured this out by the fact I could lift it over my head. Oh well, Jim thought it was perfect and it grew on me.

Around the time we went to get our tree, I realized we didn't have the tree basics. I told Jim, "we really need to get a tree skirt". He told me, "Our trees gonna be a man, it won't wear a skirt." Where does he come up with this stuff?

And that is the story of our first Christmas Tree.

Have you ever cut your own tree? We're going for round two this weekend, it'll probably become a tradition around here.

Christmas Baking Extravaganza

It's that time of year! As the holidays quickly approach, I've been planning my upcoming weekends and it's time to plan out a cookie date with my family.. Every holiday season my mom, sister and I have a cookie baking extravaganza. It goes on for days. We pretty much set aside a few Sundays in the month of December for cookie prep.

We have the system down. We spend the first day making all of the doughs. Last year we made sugar cookies, chocolate chip, snowballs, molasses, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter blowouts, peanut butter kiss, mint chocolate, and Cinnamon sugar to start. Then these all get frozen until ready to bake. Last year we decided to do double, sometimes triple batches of each cookie mix. We then divide them up and labeled freezer storage bags, so we know which is which later. The second day we get together is to make the Sugar Cookies. These are the most time consuming, but they last longer than the other cookies.

Last year, my Mom decided to make our annual event a bit more special. When we arrived at my sister's house, she had a surprise for us. She bought matching holiday aprons from Etsy seller momomadeit.

I love anything cheesy and over the top when it comes to holidays, so I loved it.  Good job, Mom. Once we were all decked out in our new attire it was time to cut, bake and decorate.

My Mom always gets stuck with the "boring" jobs. She rolled out all the dough, while my sister  and I got to do the fun parts and decorate.

 

Most of the cookie cutters have been around longer than I have, but a couple years ago my mom gave me mitten and snowflake cutters from Crate and Barrel. I think these are my two favorites.

My mom is partial to the nostalgic ones and loves the holly and the tree.

After lots of rolling dough, cutting out shapes, and sprinkling non perils, sprinkles and jimmies, it was time to get these guys in the oven.

We have a big cookie debate every single year on the length of cook time. I like mine kind of fluffy, so a bit undercooked, while my mom and sister like theirs crispy. Usually they ignore me and make them all crispy, but last year we compromised and made about a 3rd the way I like them.

These ones were perfection:

After lots of baking, we took some time to get a couple photos in front of the tree with our new aprons.

I can't wait for this years bake-a-thon.

What holiday traditions do you have with your family?

Let's Get Cooking

I absolutely love to bake, but I don't consider myself a cook. I'd like to change that. I grew up with a mom who was an incredible baker, so I was always in the kitchen with her making delicious treats. When it came to meals, our family dinners were pretty basic. This was mostly due to me being a finicky eater. When I moved out of the house, I pretty much knew how to make poultry and pasta dishes.

J grew up in a more adventurous home and loves trying new things. Luckily, he's got me to try new things too and I'm no longer a finicky eater, but I'm still not so adventurous in the kitchen. To help me get over my fear, my sister, friend and I decided to take cooking classes awhile back.

At first, the class wasn't what I expected. I was thinking we'd be in a big classroom, watch a demonstration, then start to cook ourselves. Instead we followed a recipe and the instructor came around to make sure we were following along and would give us tips as we went.

The food we made was incredible, but I was a little disappointed in the format of the class- at first. It's been a few months since the class and I've noticed I'm definitely more adventurous cooking at home. I've realized all I need to do is follow the recipes. Once I get comfortable with the basics, I get more adventurous. Which is pretty much how things were when I started baking.

Taking that class definitely boosted my cooking confidence in a short time. I'm no longer afraid to tackle any dishes and I'm really starting to enjoy cooking- almost as much as baking!

My new favorite dish actually came from the class. We took a Comfort Foods Class in our area (at the BCAE). Every thing we made in class was amazing and I have since made multiple times at home. I was expecting mac and cheese, but our instructor definitely stepped it up. My favorite dish was the french onion soup. I've always been afraid to make french onion because it seems kind of fancy and complicated. After taking the class, I've realized that while it is time consuming, it is probably the easiest thing to make. It tastes so good, so it's worth the time.

If you want to try it out, here is the recipe.

Easy French Onion Soup
6-8 Servings
4 tbs. (1/2 stick) butter - I use salted
1 tbs. olive oil
2 lb. yellow onions, thinly sliced
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tbs. all-purpose flour
2 quarts beef stock
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 tbsp. Williams Sonoma Beef Demi-Glace
1 tsp. freshly ground pepper
6-8 french bread slices
1/2 cup gruyere cheese, grated
1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

Carmelize the onions. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter with 1 tbs. olive oil. Add the onions and cook, stirring occassionally, until golden, 4 to 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook, stirring occassionally, for 15 minutes. Uncover, add the sugar and saltand cook, stirrign occassionally, until the onions are carmelized, about 25 minutes. Add the flour and stir for 2-3 minutes.

Simmer the soup. Add the stock, wine and demi glace. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add the black pepper. Reduce the heat to medium, cover partially and simmer until the onions begin to break down and melt into the broth, about 45 minutes.

My only recommendation is to make double, it's that good! It's also a great make ahead soup. I like to make it in advance when we have guests coming over. It's super impressive and easy to heat up. The flavors intensify over time, so it tastes just as good or better.

Where did you learn to cook? Do you consider yourself an amateur or a bit more adventurous?

Getting Thrifty

As soon as I finished renovating our dresser, I knew I wanted to try out some more renovation projects. So when we were on our way to the movies this past weekend, we came across a thrift store and I asked J to stop. I thought he was only humoring me, which I'm sure he was at first, but I think J and I found a new hobby.

As I perused the vintage frames and furniture, he kept pulling me over to show me some cool antique gadgets he'd found. Usually he's not much of a shopper, but when you have random oddities, it definitely keeps him interested. We had totally different ideas of what was purchase worthy, but it was fun none the less.
I was especially excited about this trip because J is really hard to shop for and now I know where to go for future fun purchases. Although, I'm still not exactly sure what his taste is. He was fascinated with an old fire extinguisher, record player, fan and brewery glasses. I'm not sure I would ever think to pick those out, but at least I know where to go and I have a new shopping buddy....at least for thrift stores.

We only left with one item, an old mirror with a beautiful ornate frame.

We're planning to transform it a bit this week. They had so many pretty frames and I was hoping to get a few for a collage wall. Since it was our first time looking through a thrift store we decided to only get one. We're hoping to check out a few others to see how the prices compare. The one we went to was in a nice area and some of the prices seemed a bit high. We're going to check out a few other places this month to make sure we're getting a good deal.

I found this website that lists thrift stores nationwide, you just enter your zip code and it will list all of the thrift shops in your area. There are a bunch near us that we're looking forward to checking out.

Do you and your spouse share any hobbies?