happy highlands

joy to the world!

its officially after thanksgiving so we can now all listen to christmas music and put up decorations without getting nasty looks from people!  i think everyone has that one song that gives them chill bumps when you sing it at church on christmas eve or in the car on the way to work...for me the second joy to the world starts playing my tone deaf self starts singing! normally i get some weird looks from people [sid] when i start belting it out but it is by far my favorite christmas song ever [tied with 12 days of christmas if you do the special e.joye dance]....

to davis family thanksgiving i brought my mother's [mueller pasta box] home made mac and cheese--it tastes so much better when she makes it so thats just what i had her do before we left for highlands on wednesday am! 

mac & cheese (amazing!)

what you need...

2 tbsp corn starch

1 tsp salt

½ tsp dry mustard

¼ tsp pepper

2½ cups milk

2 tbsp butter

2 cups shredded cheese

8 oz elbows, cooked 5 minutes and drained

what to do...

In medium saucepan combine first 4 ingredients; stir in milk. Add butter; stirring constantly, bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil one minute

Remove from heat. Stir in 1¾ cups cheese until melted. Add elbows. Pour into greased 2 qt casserole. Sprinkle with remaining cheese.  Bake uncovered in 375 degree oven 25 minutes.

Trick is not to over cook the noodles! Might take more then 5 minutes, but DO NOT cook them till they are soft.  Also milk burns if you don't stir it constantly! It will taste burnt if you don't watch it!

he rules the world with truth and grace and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love......JOY TO THE WORLD!!!

gobble gobble

happy thanksgiving!

some of my many things to be thankful for this year [and always]...

amazing people in our lives

 

our new home

an amazing husband



a great family



the best friends a girl could ask for



a pup on the way

a great group of junior league friends

percy pink

fun trips and special memories

good morning

is there ever something that you see or do that makes your mind flash back and think of someone...well today is a sunflower [kate] kind of day...


carrie pulled together some of the most beautiful flower arrangements i've ever seen for our party last friday--she comes in with my 2 bottles of wine from trader joes, a bouquet of flowers and a wad of sticks and branches from our yard. she's used to me giving her crazy looks by now but i just watch in wonder as she put together arrangements that put professionals to shame! can't let them go to waste--bringing the arrangements [minus bowl of leaves] to my parents so that someone can enjoy them while we are in highlands...


happy almost thanksgiving

the crazy mom

yes i am the crazy mom to be...wilson is going to be so spoiled rotten though with all the planning! i do not really know how people get their first dog totally on a whim! this has been a very thought out experience to say the least! his monogrammed collar and leash is waiting for him in his puppy play date bag with his fleece blankey grammie guertin made him!

i have my final 4 dog books to finish reading as well as books on cd to bring to highlands this week for thanksgiving to take final notes on the "wilson" legal pad [joe feels sorry for him for that].  he's already enrolled in puppy class and is going to be the cutest, smartest, doggie out there [aside from percy my mom reminds me or he will be the cutest boy and percy the cutest girl]...

anyway hope you enjoy seeing his cute pics as much as i do...these are from saturday (11.20.2010)...one of his brothers was off to san diego yesterday and hopefully wilson doesn't realize that we are delaying his arrival! at least we know tandy will be his entertainment until wilson comes home in just over 2 weeks! 

hello wilson! over here!

sid's latest comment--did you get a dog without eyes?

hes already losing some of his puppy color! he'll be wheaten color in no time!

my new favorite lounging outfit!

yes, i may be in a constant state of amex probation but scarily enough i'm the queen of card not present transactions aka online shopping(thank you to my BAMS job for my credit card lingo)...lizzie called the other day saying she found an ornament that fit me perfectly "on dasher, on dancer, on visa, on mastercard"...pretty sure i need that too! 

my new recent find that i am officially in love with is from "Bloomies" [thanks gabby] aka Old Navy for those of you who know the story behind that one! of course this is a justified purchase as i needed some sort of  "take wilson out on AM walks" outfit.  although some people on our street run down the driveway in towels with a towel on their head, i refuse to be the crazy neighbor in the pajama dress walking the dog! 

especially for those of you who are tall--get the tall version of these old navy fleece drawstring pants (there are 2 types online...these are NOT the 100% fleece pair as I would be one static ball).  They feel like sweatpants and have a little fleece in them on the inside.  mine are about 4 inches too long which i love! 

Women's Drawstring Fleece Pants

when they go on sale (like today) 30% off and free shipping, hit it up and give them a try!

holiday count down

happy silver sunday! tonight this family is having a fresh shepherd's pie, asparagus, and garlic bread on china and silver--it has been the first day that i have had in a really long time to just lounge!  who knew watching tv and eating kettle corn could feel so productive. it really is that time of year again...elf, home alone, and the holiday on three times a day!  tomorrow my [paternal] grandmother flies in and i am doing the honor of picking her up from the airport. we are then going to come back to our new house and show her around before heading up to my parents.  i cannot wait to see her and this is what i have really been looking forward to about this week.  


for an after dinner treat, i am going to be bringing a new recipe...


Coconut Dream Bars

1 cup flour
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup softened butter or margarine
2 eggs
3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 1/3 cups Coconut
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts


Combine 1 cup flour and 1/4 cup brown sugar. Add butter and mix until well blended. Press into greased 9-inch square pan. Bake at 350 F for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat eggs until thick and light in color. Slowly beat in 3/4 cup brown sugar and continue beating until mixture is light and fluffy. Mix 1/4 cup flour with the baking powder & fold into egg mixture. Mix in coconut, vanilla and nuts. Spread over baked crust in pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes longer or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars (about 2 dzn)

i'll let you know how they turn out!