I'm a babywize mom

I know, I know. It's controversial and some people are against it, but it worked perfectly for me and I have a well behaved, well rested little girl because of it. I was so excited when I found this blog. She helps support families who have embraced the system and also has some great info regarding the misunderstood aspects of Babywize. Please take a look at it if you have ever considered following the babywize program.

(Taylor; the afternoon we brought her home from the hospital. Lucy Faye ( our golden) was welcoming her to our family)

Corn Chowder

I made this soup for a girlfriend this weekend. It has been a family favorite for a few years now. Thank heaven for Tyler Florance. I use his recipes more than any other chief. They consistently turn out perfect and yummy... and he is kinda of dreamy himself....

2 tablespoons butter
Extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves only
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
6 cups canned vegetable stock
2 cups heavy cream
2 Idaho potatoes, peeled and diced
6 ears corn
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
Directions
Heat the butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a soup pot over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme and cook until the vegetables are good and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Dust the vegetables with flour and stir to coat everything well. Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to a boil. Add the cream and the potatoes, bring to a boil and boil hard for about 7 minutes, until the potatoes break down (this will help to thicken the soup and give it a good texture).
Cut the corn kernels off the cob and add to the soup. Season with salt and pepper and simmer until the corn is soft, about 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the parsley and give it another little drink of olive oil. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.

Lovely

I adore this wedding from Snippet and Ink. The wedding invite was made on thin pieces of wood. The colors are perfect. Take a look at the rest of the photo's here.

Will you go on a picnic with me?

Must have Baby Slings

(Photo courtesy of Serena and Lily)

I was obsessed with my baby sling when Taylor was first born. I literally searched every where for a style that I liked and sadly had to settle with a bright colored ( clash with everything) sling. I was so excited when I saw these Serena and Lily slings. They are beautiful, practical, machine washable and stylish for both boys and girls.

Taylor in her sling watching the sunset from outside our house.

Ohhhh Goodness

Take the time to read this. I Like like to imagine my Tutu ( grandma) putting up with this shit. Oh just the thought of it makes me double over with laughter.
{Text below}

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal ready on time for his return. This is a way of letting him know that you have be thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they get home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh-looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people.

Be a little gay and a little more interesting for him. His boring day may need a lift and one of your duties is to provide it.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives. Run a dustcloth over the tables.

During the cooler months of the year you should prepare and light a fire for him to unwind by.

Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too. After all, catering to his comfort will provide you with immense personal satisfaction.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer or vacuum. Encourage the children to be quiet.

Be happy to see him.

Greet him with a warm smile and show sincerity in your desire to please him.

Listen to him. You may have a dozen important things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first - remember, his topics of conversation are more important than yours.

Don't greet him with complaints and problems.

Don't complain if he's late for dinner or even if he stays out all night. Count this as minor compared to what he might have gone through at work.

Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or lie him down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him.

Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soothing and pleasant voice.

Don't ask him questions about his actions or question his judgment or integrity. Remember, he is the master of the house and as such will always exercise his will with fairness and truthfulness. You have no right to question him.

A good wife always knows her place.

I'm O-V-E-R cupcakes

This whole cupcake craze is driving me crazy. All these little shops are popping up with cupcakes that taste, well.... just fine, but are you really willing to spend 3.50 on one little cupcake. Please, we are in a recession people!

I propose Bunt Cakes. Much more darling and more than 3 bites.

How darling for your next little party. Different bunt cakes on beautiful little cake plates. This picture is from someones wedding. This totally inspires me, so lovely... so not cupcakes.

as a side note I am super over the whole frozen yogurt thing too. Didn't we do this in the late 80's circa golden spoon?

This picture from cup of joe

Fog Linen Work

I just found this little lovely. Where have I been? This product is clean and simple, I adore the gift wrap and wire goods they would fit perfectly in any home.

http://www.foglinenwork.com/index_en.php

The photography is perfection

Yep I tryed it... nope I didn't like it

Remember my little post about these babies? I was thrilled to declutter my laundry room cupboards and only have these little things, stain fighter and bleach. So minimalistic, I was giddy just thinking about it.
Sad news... They suck. First of all the scents are horrible, they all smell like bathroom freshener. After my first load ( I have been using them for two weeks now) I had to rewash everything. Every ounce of clothing needed to be pretreated for stains, even the little things didn't come out on the first wash. Hello, I have a toddler everything has a little smudge on it.
There is also no fabric softener and very little static guard. Now I'm stuck with these things until they are gone and I'm still adding softener, extra stain treatment and a dryer sheet to every load. What I thought was a time saver turned out to be a bigger... longer mess. Yuck!

This week for Dinner.

Sunday: (Father’s day request) Skyline Chili
Monday: Chicken Noodle Soup, parmesan bread sticks and sharp cheddar cheese.
Tuesday: Pork Chops, Garden salad and corn on the cob
Wednesday: Spicy Shrimp and Scallop skewers. Rice pilaf, and peas
Thursday: Portobello Swiss burgers, tatter tots, and steamed vegetables.
Friday: Left over’s
Saturday: Date Night

My Little Peanut

I think she is lovely

This week for Dinner

Sunday: Chicken Cordon Blue, Wild rice and peas
Monday: Bone in rib roast, mashed potatoes and green beans
Tuesday: Seared Scallops, Mushroom and lemon couscous, and spaghetti squash
Wednesday: slow cooker Italian chicken, butter fettuccini and mixed green salad
Thursday: French dip sandwiches, baked sweet potato fries, corn on the cob
Friday: Out of Town!
Saturday: Out of Town!

My lovely

This is my little Taylor when she was 10 months old. I needed a little pick me up... this always does the trick.

Guess who is coming in October?

besides my birthday....

Summer

I love the 50's. I think I was born in the wrong decade. This is a picture of my sisters and I.

( Allie, Caitlin and me) gossiping par usual

This is lovely

A mans self reflection before he dies.

Last Day Dream [HD] from Chris Milk on Vimeo.

New at The Pickled Bean

Pretty Lady Clip Holder. Check it out on my Etsy site... www.thepickledbean.etsy.com If you would like to order this in a particular color scheme reach out to me via email!

So cute... so free

How cute are these free labels from Creature Comforts?


http://creaturecomforts.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/03/free-printable-mailing-labels-aqua-orange.html

Here are the instuctions...
Download Download Free mailing labels-aqua and orange (prints six to a sheet)
Print onto standard-weight paper or any other paper of your choosing (you can also use adhesive label paper if you want to get fancy)
Cut the labels out along the outside edges
Affix them to your packages and envelopes using a glue stick
Address and send

This week for dinner and a lovely recipe

Sunday: Bone in Rib Eye steak with peppercorn sauce, Mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus
Monday: Southwestern Chicken Salad
Tuesday: Slower Cooker Beef Stroganoff and steamed peas
Wednesday: Pork Tenderloin, Baked Potatoes and corn on the cob
Thursday: Shredded Chicken Tacos, black beans and rice
Friday: Personal size pizza and garden salad
Saturday: Leftovers

I had quite a few emails asking for the lamb chop recipe from last week. It was amazing, full of flavor, great as leftovers and easy to make. I got this recipe from my good friend Christy ( I think she got the original from Tyler Florence, but I’m not sure)

Lamb Chops w/Lemon Basil Sauce
1C lemon juice
1/3C olive oil
6 sprigs fresh rosemary, bruised
4 cloves garlic, chopped
2t salt
freshly ground black pepper
8 rack lamb chops (cut chops into 8)
1/2C chicken stock
2T butter
1/2C loosely packed basil leaves

In a large dish, combine half the lemon juice, 1/3 cup olive oil, rosemary, garlic, 1t salt and pepper. Add lamb, turn to coat and set aside for 15 min.

Preheat large skillet over med-high for 1 min. Season lamb on one side with salt and pepper. Cook season side down in oil until crisp for 2-3 min. Season top side with salt and pepper, cook until just firm to about 130-135 degrees, about 1-2 min. Transfer to a platter and cover with foil.

Sauce: pour off fat from pan. Return skillet to med. heat, add chicken stock and lemon juice. Simmer until reduced to a glace, about 4 min. add butter until melted. Add sauce to blender with basil. Serve with lamb.

A little bee problem...

We have a little bee problem and by little I mean I beehive with over 10,000 bees. When the "bee man" came to help us even he was shocked. A beehive that large in a residential neighborhood is a huge hazard. They believe that it has been growing ( in our tree) for the last fourv years. Because the California honey bee is on the endangered species list getting rid of our little friends has been quite the task.

That big black dot in the middle is our beehive 20 feet in the tree about the size of 2 basketballs. YIKEES

Laundry Room

I love to be organized. You live a simpler life when every pencil and rubber band is in its perfect place. Recently I have been thinking a lot about how I would decorate and organize my own home ( if we can ever tear our self away from our rented Beach House)
This is my dream laundry room. {Pictures via design sponge} Perfection brightly lit and white.

Welcome June

I love June.

I can almost smell the roasted corn, and tanning lotion. I think I will make fresh pink lemonade this week.

A lovely inspiration

I am hopelessly inspired my J. Crew. If I could afford it, it would be the ONLY place I would shop. The look is exactly my style. Here are some of my new favorites…. Swoon

New weekly post….This week for dinner.

This is a lovely little list of our dinners for the upcoming week. I got his idea from a few blogs that do the same thing. I love to hear what other people are making for their families. I feel like I often getting in cooking rut and I need a little inspiring. If you see something you would like the recipe to just leave me a comment and I will add It to the recipes I feature on The Pickled Bean.

Sunday: Spinach and Mushroom Stuffed Shells and roasted brussel spouts (strange combo but it was a request from my husband)

Monday: Basil and Lemon Lamb Chops, Cucumber couscous, butter nut squash

Tuesday: Shredded Beef Enchiladas, Mexican style rice, Black Bean and Corn

Wednesday: Mustard Roasted red Snapper, Asparagus and butter and lemon fingerling potatoes

Thursday: Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Tatter tots, and toss salad

Friday: Left Over’s

Saturday: Date Night. I have the best coupon for by one entrée get the second entrée for free from one of my favorite restaurants. I can’t wait.

• Yes my 15 month old daughter eats all of these things. Her favorite Lamb chops, black beans and butter nut squash, but she will eat anything.