It's That Time of Year

Christmas will be here before we know it.  I thought I would share a few of my favorite Christmas blogs.  Most, I admit, come from my beloved sister-in-law Marianne Strong!

I wish I had stairs for the world to see, but mine are behind a door!  This and many other ideas come from the "Will You Help Me Robert?"  post.  "White Christmas" is another one of my favorites!

Sassy Sites! has a post that includes 130+ ornament ideas. 

And this is my new wreath for Christmas.  I found it on Pinterest. 

I hope you had a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. 

Thanksgiving

They who give have all things; they who withhold have nothing.

- Hindu Proverb

Happy Thanksgiving from my house to yours!

It Looks Great, but Beauty Doesn't Last

Haverty's has beautiful furniture, but let me tell you, it falls to pieces! 

When do You Put Your's Up?

I see people putting up their Christmas trees already.  Someone asked me when I was going to put mine up.  Well...I have a hard enough time getting through one holiday at a time; I can not even think about the next one.

Well, last year all of the lights on our wonderful pre-lit tree blew out.  So, I am debating getting a new tree or maybe, we will get a live tree.  Actually no... EAM is still really little and may put needles in his mouth.  So, in reality I guess I am buying a new tree or just wrapping strands of lights on the one we have.

I wonder if I can get by with this tree? Probably not. 6 kids will be very disappointed with such a tiny tree.

So, if I by a new tree I guess it will be one like this.

both tree found here

May I Have the BEST Wine from Your Cellar?

Maybe some day I will have a wine cellar like one of these.

But for now, I wonder if I can do one like this in my non-functional fire place?

I feel a project coming on!

NOTE: All photos found here

Take a Seat

Why is it so hard to choose a chair style? 

I love all of these styles. 

I am not sure where to credit these chairs.  So let me know if you know.  Want to always give credit where credit is due.

Rugs Galore

While we have not officially picked out a paint color, I am looking at rugs for our office.
Here are a few that I really like.









Rugs found here, here and here

50 Shades of Gray

I am not talking about the books, I am talking office colors. My business partner wants gray...and gray is a fine color. The problem is there is not JUST gray. There are a million shades of gray. Photo from flickr

What's Cooking Friday

Well, I am not going to tell you what is for dinner tonight.  I am going to tell you what Hails Bells and I started this morning and will finish up sometime today---CINNAMON ROLLS

A few years ago, I bought a cookbook called Pioneer Woman.  These are some of the best recipes EVER!  But there is one thing is this cookbook that is like no other...CINNAMON ROLLS. 

Go buy the book, read the blog, watch the show.

Recipe  and photo is all credited to the Pioneer Woman!

A Place to Lay my Head

I am in desperate need of a new comforter/bed spread/whatever for my bed.  I have found a few that I really like, now it is time to convince the hubby.

The first one I found on Pinterest and the last three were found at Horchow

I am so Proud...

To call Marianne Strong with Marianne Strong Interiors, Family.  She is one of the most beautiful people, inside and out, that I know.  She lives in Birmingham, AL, and she teamed up with St. Vincent's Health Systems and the Talk of Alabama to give away a nursery.  She designed a beautiful nursery too.


Below are the links to the blog posts and pictures:
St. Vincent Nursery One  Two  Three

There may be more pics and posts about this project. 

What's Cooking Friday

Today we are having Thai Chicken Noodle Soup.  The recipe below comes from Fitness Magazine, but I tweek mine slightly.  My husband does not like and I am allergic to peanuts, so I do not use the peanut butter and peanuts.  I add about a half a can of coconut milk (unsweetened) and the juice of a lime.  I also try to get fresh bean sprouts instead of canned and use a can of straw mushrooms diced.   

Thai Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon sesame oil

• 4 cloves garlic, minced

• 2 teaspoons minced ginger

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1/2 cup natural chunky peanut butter

• 1 cup crushed tomatoes

• 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

• 1 tablespoon fish sauce

• 6 ounces rice noodles

• 2 cups shredded green cabbage

• 1 cup canned bean sprouts, drained

• 1/4 cup chopped scallions

• Chopped cilantro (optional)

• Chopped peanuts (optional)

Directions

1. In a soup pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger and chicken. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until chicken is no longer pink on the outside.
2. Dissolve the peanut butter in the crushed tomatoes; add the mixture to the soup pot along with the chicken broth and fish sauce and bring to a boil. Add the noodles; reduce heat to a gentle simmer and cook 5 minutes. Stir in the cabbage and cook another 5 minutes. Stir in the bean sprouts and scallions; turn off heat.
3. Ladle soup into bowls and top each with cilantro and peanuts if desired.

My New Bathroom

OK...Not really, but it would suit my husband JUST fine. 

* I do not know where photo comes from, but this is FUNNY!*