Reader Favorites: Top 10 Posts of the Year

Since today marks the last day of 2010, I thought I'd share your top ten favorite posts of the year. All in all it's an accurate summary of what this blog is all about--delicious desserts, pretty interiors, fun parties for kids, practical tips, great food, fashion and a little parenting mixed in for good measure. Thank you for leaving comments when you do, for the helpful emails and great advice. I appreciate you and wish you a Happy New Year!

Beginning with your absolute favorite post at the top:

1. Lemon Cupcakes with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
2. Recipes to Love (my all-time favorites now conveniently located in the side bar)
3. Guide to Safe Seafood
4. a Cherry Birthday Party
5. How to Enlarge Photos on Blogger
6. Gorgeous Home Offices + Craft Spaces
7. Solving the Halloween Candy Conundrum
8. Pretty Baking Cups
9. J.Crew Factory Going Online
10. a Lego Birthday Party

Sweet Anthro Sale

Had to let you know...Anthropologie is discounting clothing-related sale items an additional 25% off right now. I'm not sure when the promotion is ending, so hurry in if you have a Christmas gift card to cash in. I just purchased a pair of pants there for just $22, which is 75% off its original price. Yup...pretty happy about that. I can't pick up a pair of pants at Target for any cheaper!

Now off you go to find some great deals for yourself. View online here (limited selection), or hit the racks in-store.

Loft Design By

I love the simple styling of the French line Loft Design By; although honestly it's tough to resist any line of clothing with stripes and cognac leather (my favorite color to accessorize with black, gray and navy). I dream about visiting it one day and who knows, perhaps it'll be great enough to make it into my Paris Guide.

You can view more of the entire collection and purchase many pieces online here.

p.s. cute logo too, yes?

Mast Brothers + June Taylor = Perfection

If you're lucky enough to live in New York, or to be visiting the Big Apple this weekend for New Year's Eve, be sure to pop into the Cool Hunting for Gap pop up store on 5th Avenue. You mustn't step onto the plane without picking up one of these amazing chocolate bars--a collaborative effort between Brooklyn-based artisanal chocolatier Mast Brothers and gourmet jam favorite June Taylor (her jams and marmalades rock this world!). I'm jealous to be missing out as the store closes on January 2, but happy to know one variety is available online here.

Don't even get me started on the packaging...



















Cool Hunting for Gap--a pop up store
Hours: Monday - Saturday from 10am - 9pm / Sunday: 11am - 8pm
680 Fifth Avenue (between 53rd and 54th)

image 1 - Mindy Best / image 2 - gadabout.com

The 1-Minute Rule

Do you ever feel paralyzed by your to-do list? Or at the very least, overwhelmed with the number of tasks you'd like to/need to accomplish? I certainly feel that way sometimes, particularly since moving to Seattle, but this little tip recently published on lifehacker is helping me overcome this temporary paralysis. Basically you learn to get in the habit of using a few minutes here and there to do something--bring down laundry, clean a bathroom vanity, take out the trash, fold a couple of towels, etc. I find the sense of accomplishment feeds on itself and soon enough I am crossing out my "to-do"s faster than I can say, "I am overwhelmed by all that I have to accomplish today". Since we all have a couple of minutes here and there, I think many of you will find the 1-minute rule quite helpful.

Read about more organizing tips here.

image by Stephanie Brubaker

Favorite Easy Appetizers for New Years Eve

I know we just finished with Christmas, but New Year's Eve is on Friday night if you can believe it! Isn't it amazing how a new year creeps up on us so quickly? In order to give you ideas for an impromptu New Year's Eve fete, I'm sharing my favorite easy appetizers over at Zupas today, including a killer recipe for guacamole...a crowd pleaser to be sure! In my experience, appetizers are the ideal food for a New Year's bash--especially if everyone brings their favorite.

View these easy, delicious appetizers here.

image by Stephanie Brubaker

Outer Space Birthday Party

For his sixth birthday, my son requested a "space" party, thanks to his recent infatuation with a book about outer space and some flash cards I purchased for him from Target's dollar aisle (which we used for a simple, decorative banner). I happily abliged and was secretly thrilled he chose such a fun theme. I immediately jumped on etsy to see what I could find--it turned out to be a great starting point.

I found these wonderful, vintage outer space flash cards that I initially purchased for the invitations--they ended up serving as thank you notes, which was just as great. I also found vintage outer space stamps on etsy--unused and ready to hit the mail.

























Since the party began at 10 o'clock in the morning, I couldn't justify filling them up entirely with sugar, so I served them fun snacks my son likes to munch on at this time of day. His favorites are: cheese sticks, pretzels, clementines (which conveniently resemble planets!), apple slices tossed with Meyer lemon juice, celery and carrots. I've said this before, but I'm always surprised how much kids love reaching for those healthy snacks. They downed those yummy treats in minutes! My son requested a cake this time, not cupcakes (drat!), and while it was delicious, it wasn't the best-looking cake I've made (I over beat the frosting in the mixer--darn buttercream!). I'd definitely make it again, keeping a closer eye on the frosting next time. The kids LOVED those grownup orange sodas too...those were definitely a winner with all of the children.
















































One of my son's birthday presents was a "moon" tee purchased at the local space-themed boutique (seriously, how lucky to have moved to a city that boasts such a fun shop!). Fun stickers served as prizes for the games we played, which included "Pass the Plutonian" (a spin on spoon races), and "Hot Potato" (with an inflatable astronaut subbing for a spud). The kids loved both of these a lot and wanted to play them over and over with slight variations each time.














































Instead of real ice cream, I bought astronaut ice cream instead. How cool to be able to try genuine space food, right?!

For party favors, we wrapped up one of these foam maps for each guest. I used the remaining vintage space cards as gift tags thanks to a tiny hold puncher and some ribbon. It really was a lot of fun to plan...now off to plan my daughter's birthday party. Having 3 of my 4 kids right around the holidays definitely keeps me on my toes when it comes to planning birthdays!

Christmas Report Card

Merry Christmas friends! How are you? How was your Christmas? Did you love that Christmas conveniently fell on a Saturday? I hope yours went more smoothly than ours...

If there were such a thing as a Christmas Report Card, I would surely receive an "F" in the following categories: holiday cards (and obligatory family photo), entertaining, acts of charity and handmade gifts. December 2010 was a challenging month for me and coming down with the flu the day before Christmas certainly didn't help. At least next year I have all of my return address labels, holiday cards and even holiday stamps on hand. I'll have no excuse to not send them out! To all of you who sent our family a Christmas card, despite not receiving one from me two years running, thank you so much. Now that's true friendship!

Have a wonderful week as you recover from Christmas hoopla, and prepare for the New Year celebrations ahead next weekend. Make sure you allow some downtime for yourself somewhere in between!

xo

image of Hable Construction stockings via inhabitots

Sponsor Highlight: Alex and Alexa Designer Children's Clothes

If you're looking for discounted designer duds for your little guy or gal, Alex and Alexa is the place to start your search. You'll find little sneakers by Burberry, outerwear by Marc Jacobs, and even undergarments by Petit Bateau. Not feeling spendy? No problem. You can still find pretty little pieces for under $25, like this cute dress from Spanish label, Mayoral. There is truly something for every budget and it's all adorable. I dare you to make it through the "dresses & skirts" without drooling. You'll wish they came in your size!

Don't forget to hit their sale section too--you can view it here.

Holiday Activities in Seattle

We've amped up our holiday fun this week thanks to this helpful post over at Little Red Wagon. Candy Cane Lane was such a delight last night and I highly recommend a jaunt over to the Ravenna if you're in Seattle city limits (a quick stop at Molly Moons in either Wallingford or Capitol Hill first wouldn't hurt either!). Keep in mind that it starts at Ravenna & 21st, not 20th like many of the websites indicate.

via Black Eiffel; image by Little Red Wagon Photography

Let them Eat Cake

Over at Zupas today I am sharing a round up of pretty cake stands inspired by this beautiful buffet. What a sight to behold, and so utterly scrumptious!

You can view my picks here.

image by Monika Elena via Sugar City Journal

Holiday Favorites

Some great picks over at Babble for the holidays and beyond. All attainable by Christmas either at a retail space or online. Here they are...you'll enjoy them!

This is my favorite Christmas book. It's out-of-print, but available online. And you can still get it in time for Christmas! It's the most heartwarming story--it brings me to tears every time I read it and I'm not the type of person that cries easily. You'll love everything about it.

Every apartment-dweller needs this on their counter.

The perfect addition to the kid's table at Christmas. Order 'em quick!

Danyelle really is amazing--check out her great idea for reducing indulgence at Christmas. Next year I'd like to be more organized and really make this happen.

Every designer needs this game for their toddler. Mine has been playing hers all.week.long.

Word up: Tolix chairs on sale!! Details here.

How to make gingerbread men in a snap...save yourself some serious time here. Less time spent baking = more time to decorate, which is the best part of gingerbread making, right?!

Modern Moroccan Rugs

Purchasing a rug is kind of a big deal. The type of rug you choose exerts great influence over the rest of the room and is therefore something you want to consider thoughtfully. While I've been scouring the internet over the past few weeks in search of the perfect area rug for our main room, I keep finding myself drawn to modern rugs with a Moroccan flair. I love the graphic presence they have in a space and their surprising versatility.

Here are some of my favorite picks available right now--all of which are affordable! They are all really pretty and thoroughly fabulous. I'm hoping to save you several hours of searching with this tidy list :)

(r.i.p. fabulous versions from West Elm and Pottery Barn)

1. Fallon rug (if you're in Utah, see it in person at Alice Lane Home)
2. Cambria rug
3. Safaveih rug
4. Fez II rug
5. Marrakech rug
6. Juliette rug - great for the kitchen sink area
7. Dresden rug - the chocolate/blue colorway is perfect for a little boy's room/nursery

image via casa sugar via Kelly Wearstler

Menu of the Week

A few notes on what we ate last week in case you're looking for something new to make for dinner! Have a great weekend and don't forget to enter the DownEast Basics Giveaway, which ends tonight! Enjoy...

Baked Polenta with Sausage with Tomato Pepper Sauce - If you love polenta, you'll enjoy this winter casserole too. This was our first family polenta experience and our family was split on the matter. I did enjoy having something different though. I followed their recommendation to buy the polenta already made (on sale at Whole Foods that week!), which made things easy. I added very little of the red pepper as my kids don't enjoy anything spicy (and either does nursing baby Gray!) and a little extra salt and pepper to the polenta slices.

Winter Squash Soup - This is my favorite squash soup ever. I typically skip the croutons in the interest of time and it's still awesome. If I am making it for company, I like to add a dollop of creme fraiche and minced apples (tossed with a little lemon juice to avoid turning brown) or a sage leaf.

Baked Salmon with Capers, Garlic & Parsley, Roasted Red Potatoes with Herbs, Salad - Not my favorite salmon recipe. I say if you're spending money on good, wild salmon, go for a sure winner. Next time I'll make one of my two standby salmon recipes--Hazelnut Encrusted Salmon or Herb Crusted Salmon.

Vegetarian Tortilla Soup - My oldest daughter went crazy for this soup. I omitted the zucchini in the interest of my children and added frozen corn instead. This is the type of recipe that allows room for changing measurements too (i.e. adding more beans, zucchini or corn than it calls for).

Baked Ziti with Spinach + Tomatoes - a true family favorite, which is why it has a permanent place in my "recipes to love" section. It makes enough for our family plus a nice lunch the next day. Use the best sausage you can for this recipe. Here in Seattle I like the sausage at Rain Shadow Meats, Whole Foods and PCC.

Black Bean Tacos with Avocado and Fresh Fruit - a quick, easy vegetarian meal my kids just love.

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting - I purchased all necessary ingredients for these, but ended up not having time to make them. That being said, I'm determined to make them again soon as they are amongst the best cupcakes I've ever made (it's that cardamom I tell ya--it's my favorite spice these days!). Romina, you've done good!

More "menu of the week" posts here.

image 1 - Iain Bagwell for Sunset Magazine / image 2 + 3 - Stephanie Brubaker

Silk Jewelry

A beautiful discovery this week...naturally dyed silk jewelry by Tinctory. Her brooches and necklaces are stunning with a capital "S". I could stare at this image for a very long time; aren't the textures and colors exquisite? And while I've never worn silk jewelry, I do rather like the idea.

image via tinctory via sam's notebook

DownEast Basics Holiday Wardrobe GIVEAWAY

The winner of the DownEast Basics giveaway is this lucky family. Please send me your contact info asap!






















































Trying to figure out what to wear to a holiday party--be it Christmas or New Years--is something almost everyone deals with during this time of year. It's as if we subconsciously feel the need to add one more thing to worry about...funny how that works! This week's giveaway, sponsored by DownEast Basics, is aimed to alleviate some of that holiday stress by presenting you with four lovely and affordable options for your holiday wardrobe. The winner of this giveaway will receive each of these items to enjoy! Aren't they pretty? And they aren't just for the holidays--they are pieces you'll enjoy well past these next few weeks.

I've had the opportunity to review each of these items in person and I have a few notes to share with you:

Little Black Dress - styling reminiscent of Jackie O and subsequently feels very classic. The pretty organza layer adds a element of elegance.

Cardigan - would also be cute with a white, v-neck tee and some jeans. Runs small. A nice transition into Spring as well.

Gray Silky Skirt - I love that it's gray...a nice change. It's perfect with that red or wine-colored top. It's nice to have a pretty, non-black option (I tend to load up on black, but am always grateful for other colors to wear with black too).

Posy Top - like the cardigan, this could also be dressed down. Pretty enough to stand alone, or be used as a layering piece. It's super soft and very comfortable too--also very transitional.

You can view the full line here. There's a lot to love and it's all affordable! Enjoy and good luck friends~

Giveaway Guidelines:

- You have 3 days to enter this giveaway (closes Friday, December 17th at midnight).
- Make 1 comment on this post to enter.
- Anonymous comments will be ignored so make sure we know who you are!
- The winners will be chosen via random.org and announced on Monday, December 20th at the top of this post.
- Winners, please respond within one week of the winner announcement to secure prize. Thank you!

Camano Island

Some images from a recent excursion to Camano Island up north...

Highlights included:

* my nephew finding a live starfish on the beach
* lots of driftwood to climb on
* an empty beach
* Johnny's Burger Stop - who knew a burger joint attached to a gas station could be so good!

For the Love of Mushrooms

I recently spotted some exotic mushrooms at my local Whole Foods--varieties I've never seen before--and quickly decided I wanted my next post for Zupas to be all about mushrooms. Have you ever seen a blue-footed mushroom before? Not this girl. Boy, who knew mushrooms were so cool?

Anyway, today at Zupas I'm sharing my top 3 mushroom-related recipes including a stellar quiche recipe, an impressive make-ahead dish and one of the easiest and tastiest appetizer recipes I've ever consumed. You'll love 'em!

Discover them here.

Baby Gray

My little Gray is growing up way to fast. I can't believe how much he's grown in the few weeks since Justin shot this image of him and I. It's a bit of a shame that so many life changes are happening at once as I'd like a lot more time to just enjoy him. It's a daily regret. However, I am trying to be more conscientious about taking video and pictures.

Last night he did the cutest thing he's ever done in his short, little life thus far. He was in his bouncy seat hanging out with his dad and big brother while they tried reading a book in French. As if he wanted to listen too, he tried his best to lift his head--so much that it looked like he was doing a sit up. It was amazing! Everyone came in to watch to see if he'd do it again. And he did. So we all cheered for him. He looked around at all the faces staring at him and then decided to do it again. So we cheered. Press repeat 16 times and there ya have it--one of his finest baby moments yet (and on video!).

image by Justin Hackworth

Mid-Century Modern Stockings + the Best Maternity Line Ever

Lots of great links to start you off well-informed this week:

* Wouldn't you know it...I discover the most stylish maternity line AFTER I've concluded my childbearing (it's highly likely you've never seen it before either). The Alanis Morissette song, "Isn't it ironic" comes to mind. I'm seriously bummed. Some have said just knowing it exists will change their life. See for yourself here.

* A cute Tolix stool knock-off for half the price. Pretty color too!

* Prettiest Christmas stockings on the web (and I know it's true because I spent waaaay too much time searching hi + low for them). If you're in the market for new stockings, be sure to take a peek at my picks...I know you'll love them!

* Feeling crafty? Here are 3 of my favorite DIY Christmas Stockings.

* Skip Hop just came out with adorable baby bedding for little girls and it's one of the sweetest nursery bedding lines I've ever seen.

* Elf candleholders for the little kid's table at Christmas. They are inexpensive, vibrant, and will keep the kiddos amused.

* A pretty, sculptural, and useful tchotchke for your mantel. Is it me or is it difficult to find pretty things to adorn one's mantel?

Pie-Shaped Packages in the Shop {+ FREE Shipping}

Make or buy a pie (I made this delicious pie for the shoot) and then slice it up into wedges for gifting purposes. Slip one slice into each box, wrap it up nicely, and attach a simple holly leaf, jingle bell, or gift tag. Keep the edges straight and clean, or use scalloped or zigzag scissors to create a decorative edge. These unique packages make the perfect gifts for teachers, neighbors, friends, co-workers, etc. because they are sweet...simple...affordable...and guaranteed to make someone smile :) Their cuteness cannot be denied!

Sets of 12 and 24 are available, with FREE Priority Mail shipping available for all orders of 24 or more. Each set of 12 includes the 12 boxes, 4 giant sheets of parchment paper for wrapping, and 7 yards of red and white baker's twine. If you order 24, then all of the quantities double. Get 'em while they're hot! Limited quantities available.






































Also available are the cute cherry lollies I procured in Europe for my daughter's Cherry Birthday Party (which is my favorite party to date). I think these lollipops are the most precious little things...right up there with the pie boxes for sure! Like the pie-shaped packages, you'll enjoy FREE Priority Mail shipping on orders of 24 lollipops or more.

All of the goodness pictured can be procured here.

Gamestop GIVEAWAY

Oh Megan, you're a lucky girl...your # came up!



















Let me preface this whopper-of-a-giveaway with an itty bitty confession--we actually don't have any video games in our home right now. This is, if you will, my first foray into the world of non-board-game gaming :) So you may be wondering why I am hosting this giveaway. Well, just two days ago my oldest daughter had the opportunity to try out the new Kinect at the Microsoft campus with her Dad. She said it was really cool. Like really :) So, I mulled it over and finally decided it could be a fun game for our family and that we should give it a go. We do, in fact, have a long, gray winter ahead...

For this week's giveaway, GameStop & TodaysMama are teaming up and would like to give one of you readers a $250 gift card to GameStop. Yup...you read that right. Two hundred and fifty dollars! Isn't that so nice of them to share their stockpile of gifts with me so I can share them with you? How fun it would be to pick up the new Kinect for your family? To celebrate this generous giveaway, they asked me to answer a few holiday-related questions:

1. What is your holiday wish for your family? oh ya know...just peace, love and happiness!

2. What is your Christmas morning tradition? a nice, big breakfast.

3. If you could ask Santa for one, completely decadent wish this year, what would it be? a vacation involving a beach and a virgin pina colada in hand. A well-toned, mega-in-shape body would be nice too :)

4. How do you make the holidays special without spending any money? focus on gifting, baking and the Savior. Not shopping day in and day out.

5. What games did you play with your family growing up? all sorts of board games. I'd like to revisit Battleship again with my kids.

6. Where would you go for a Christmas-away-from-home trip? La Maisonnette bien sur!

7. What are your top 3 items on Gamestop? If I had to choose, picking up the Kinect for my kids, the Art Academy game and the Dance Party Bundle looks like a good time for all.

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below as usual. If you'd like to enter their huge grand prize giveaway, you may do so here. Good luck!

Giveaway Guidelines:

- You have 3 days to enter this giveaway (closes Friday, December 10th at midnight).
- Make 1 comment on this post to enter.
- Anonymous comments will be ignored so make sure we know who you are!
- The winners will be chosen via random.org and announced on Monday, December 13th at the top of this post.
- Winners, please respond within one week of the winner announcement to secure prize. Thanks!

{Disposable} Hemstitched Linens on a Roll

I just unearthed my modest supply of MyDrap linens-on-a-roll yesterday and was reminded how much I love them. Originally discovered at Paris' Merci boutique, I've enjoyed using them for entertaining time and time again (you can also wash them and reuse). In the past I felt a tinge of guilt when I gushed about them on this blog as they weren't available in the US at the time. Well, things have changed! Wonderful news...all these gorgeous hemstitched linens are available online in the US now and they offer more colors than I ever spotted at Merci. Just look at those pretty hues. All I can say is "luscious". I wonder if Santa could fit one of those rolls in my stocking...my guess is "yes".

How to Open and De-Seed a Pomegranate

This week's Zupas post is a real gem if you love pomegranates, or want to love them :) You'll be a pro at opening and de-seeding a whole pomegranate in just 5 minutes. And there's a wooden spoon involved...

Read up on this easy tip here (thanks Monique!).

image by Stephanie Brubaker

Favorite Movies to Watch During the Holidays

Since our Christmas will be very simple this year (the best kind in my book), I am hoping for more time to bake, celebrate and gift and watch holiday movies! Less time shopping = more time to relish in the holiday spirit. We recently watched "Dan in Real Life" and I was again reminded how much I love that movie, especially during the holidays for some reason. Now, this isn't a "holiday" movie per se, rather, it feels appropriate for this time of year as there is a heavy emphasis on family relationships and supporting one another. It's also humorous, and there's no doubt we could all use a little comedic relief in between all the holiday hoopla. Plus, what's not love about Juliette Binoche and Steve Carell?

I've created a tidy list of movies that I love watching during the holidays. Feel free to add your own picks in the comments. I would love to hear what your favorites are as well!

1. Charlie Brown Christmas - remember watching this when you were little? Well, it's still cute. We bring it out each year (I even store it with the Christmas decorations).

2. It's a Wonderful Life - a good reminder to be good, loyal + generous in all aspects of life.

3. Miracle on 34th Street - the sweetest Santa Clause ever. He will always be real in our home.

4. White Christmas - my sisters and I love watching this together (we loved singing the "Sisters, Sisters" song as kids). It makes me want to hole up in a country inn somewhere in New England for Christmas. Someday perhaps.

After the Kids are in Bed:

5. Dan in Real Life - in addition to all the good things I mentioned earlier in this post, it's also one of my all-time favorite movies. I hope Ben and I are the kind of parents depicted in this film. And I also hope that someday when my children are adults, that they enjoy visiting us too. Love the family talent show gig.

6. The Family Man - puts life in perspective and what it's all about. It's certainly not money or material possessions.

7. Edward Scissorhands - all that silently falling snow seems so perfect for Christmas, and winter in general. It's been awhile since I watched this, but it's on my list this year. Time to update the Netflix queue!

Sponsor Deals + Discounts for You

Thinking about holiday gifting now? Here are some special deals and discounts from the wonderful shops that sponsor this blog--created just for you!

Vandalia Letterpress - Please use the coupon code "MODO10" at checkout to receive 10% off your entire order. FREE shipping on all holiday cards.

Persimmon & Pink - Please use the code "HAPPY25" at checkout to receive 25% off your entire order through December 8th.

Type Type Type - Please use the code "STEPHMODO2010" to enjoy 20% off all gicleé and 2011 LDS Young Women prints. Code good through December 2010.

In addition, Tiny Prints is offering a deal of the day on their website. Check daily for the current promo.

Real Life Home No.1

We all love a pretty design magazine...oh yes we do! Though sadly there aren't enough of 'em around anymore. But before we start feeling depressed about the rise and fall of Domino, Blueprint and Cottage Living, let's talk about where can draw inspiration for our interiors--real life homes. Homes designed and decorated by people like you and me--people who can't afford to, or choose not to hire professional designers to outfit their living space. People who mix new, vintage, and secondhand items to create a beautiful, comfortable space.

I draw considerable inspiration from sneak peeks offered up on blogs and I have an inkling that you do too. From here on out, I will occasionally feature a real life living space and continue, indefinitely, with this series. I hope you'll find it as inspirational as I do!

And with that, I'll introduce the first "real home" of the series, which happens to be owned by one of my talented sisters. When my sister, Cherilee, moved to Seattle, she decided to fill her home with color in attempt to counteract the gray outside. She's executed this nicely whilst filling her space with vintage mid-century furniture, quality reproductions, and Ikea pieces. Oh, and we can't forget her fabulous couch that she picked up for a song (baby not included :).

My 3 favorite details:

1. Orla Kiely wallpaper at the end of her hallway
2. the white fireplace
3. mid-century dining chairs--a few new, a few vintage

I also have to add how much I love her modern chicken coop. Chickens never had such a stylish home!

Menu of the Week

You may have noticed I haven't featured a "menu of the week" post for some time now...like 2+ months at least. Well, to be honest I haven't been the most avid cook--between a newborn and a move there have been more frozen pizzas consumed around here than I care to admit! We are starting to get settled here in Seattle and amidst the unpacking, painting, and decorating, I am trying to get back into the kitchen again. I miss the process of preparing a delicious meal for my family and am ready to start sharing great food with you again. As promised, I am posting the menu we enjoyed last week so I can share recipe notes and feedback.

Herbed White Bean & Sausage Stew, Butter Lettuce Salad w/Balsamic Vinaigrette, Crusty Bread - really enjoyed this meal and will definitely make it again. Perfect cold-weather food and I just love white beans!

Rigatoni with Sausage, Tomatoes + Basil - a family favorite we return to after a couple of nights of trying new recipes. Everyone loves this meal--especially the kids.

Pasta Sauce with Ricotta, Olives + Fennel - a more sophisticated pasta for adults--kids not so much. My first attempt at a Daniel's Dish recipe from Elle Decor.

Cheddar Corn Chowder, Sour milk biscuits (so easy and so good!) - once you invest in a bag of organic, frozen corn from Costco, this is a great soup to make over and over. While it tastes better with white cheddar, you can substitute the same shredded cheese used in quesadillas if you already have that on hand. I add extra red potatoes for color.

Easy French Bistro Meal - I made this so often in France last year and I can't help but think of being there whenever we eat this for dinner. Try roasting winter's root vegetables with this comforting meal now that December is upon us.

Blueberry Cornmeal Pancakes - because we all need to have breakfast for supper ("brupper") at least once a month! :)

You can view more "menu of the week" posts here.

image 1 - Martha Stewart / image 2 - Stephanie Brubaker / image 3 - Jonny Valiant for Elle Decor

Affordable Holiday Decor + a $600 Mid-Century Sofa

Really fun Babble posts this week--most of them home-decor related. Can you tell I'm in the throes of this myself?

1. Affordable Modern Area Rugs + $1 shipping (yes, even for a heavy rug!)

2. I sat on this sofa last week and love almost everything about it. It's so tough to find such a pretty piece of furniture for the almost unheard of price of $599 (and no, it's not IKEA).

3. Wanting to decorate for the holidays, but not spend a lot of money? Opt for these pretty {and cheap} ornaments --for just 75 cents each, why not?

4. A fabulous Eco-friendly Holiday Hostess Gift - one he/she will use year-round. And those are the best kinds of gifts!