Semi-Homemade Holiday

This Christmas I was inspired by Alie, my Grandma and the need to give gifts of love and effort. Not to knock the effort shopping with the masses takes, but I felt the need for personal effort- time, frustration and pride.

Of course, after all my hard work, I forgot to take pictures of most of what I made. But here's the low down on my gifts:

1. Monogram pillows for my mother-in-law found here

2. Jumpers for Pinkie and my niece, Brookie- chocolate brown denim with a blue/green star

3. Half aprons for my sister, Grandma and Janice found at Martha Stewart.com

4. A full apron for my Aunt Kimmie, she requested- pieced together by patterns I found online

Then today, Shanna and I made headbands and ribbon belts. She saw the headbands done on the Today Show and we found the ribbon belts here. They are super cute. I will post pictures soon. Happy New Year!

Is Santa scary?

I honestly do not get why kids think that Santa is scary. What is scary about a jolly man with a big belly and a fluffy white beard? I think he is jolly and I'd like to go to dinner at his house with Mrs. Claus. I bet they have egg nog and chocolate and its very toasty and cozy. We braved the Santa lines at the local mall (not Washington Square, because that line is like 2 hours long). We got our picture with a little bribe-ing. The oreo in her hand gave the lady a small window of time for photo ops. Santa pictures have sure gone up in price though- $24 for 2 5x7's. Yikes!

Family Pictures!

We had our family pictures done by Impression Photography, Tina Humphrey last weekend. I am in love with our pictures. I couldn't be happier. She sent us the entire CD with over 300 pictures on it. These are some of my favorites. My favorites of us three aren't on here because people will be getting those for Christmas and on Christmas cards. I am so happy with our pictures. I don't know how I will choose which to get printed.

fancy french failure

image from Food Network.com

I've failed... not since John and I first moved in together have I made a bad meal. I believe the last one was so under done on the inside, burnt on the outside fried chicken of 2006.

I guess the Coq Au Vin I made wasn't un-edible, just un-remarkable. I'm sad.

I used a recipe from a Low Fat cookbook, is that the culprit?

I didn't have red wine, so I used Chicken Stock, is that the suspect?

I didn't have pearl onions, but regular onion I cut coarsely, are you the problem?

As I type this I now realize, what was I doing making such a fancy French meal

without the right ingredients or a true French recipe???

It was so yuck, I don't even want it for left overs and I love left overs for lunch.

I think a Frosty would cheer me up, but the ground is frozen and cars are sliding, sigh...

Bridesmaid!!!

I'm going to be a bridesmaid!!! Yeah, I've never been one before. (hint, hint- sister get married)

My friend, Tara, is getting married in June in Central Point, Oregon. I'm super excited. Luckily, she picked a great dress and great shoes.

I'm so excited. Did I say that already? Plus, I'm going to be addressing all of her invitations in calligraphy. That's such a nice thing to look forward to during the rain, the late nights studying and more of a reason to say NO to burgers...

http://bridesmaidupdate.blogspot.com/

She's very organized. So she even has a blog for the bridesmaids and a website for the wedding.

A little happy...

A little happy for your day

Menu Planning

I have recently become a menu planner, menu grocery shopper. I got the idea from my pal, Al.

We grocery shop every 2 weeks. I know that sounds crazy! But, we do one big trip every 2 weeks and usually once do a small milk/veggie/fruit trip in the middle.

So, I gather some cookbooks (I have over 20) and browse through to find recipes I want to make. I LOVE THIS PART. I easily spend an hour choosing 10 recipes for the 2 weeks. You're saying, 'Ashley, 2 weeks is 14 days not 10, duh.' However, I am in grad school and I know I will not cook every night- so I throw in a few nights of leftovers, grab your own or John cooks.

Plus, I always make one dessert :)

Left- grocery list broken down according to grocery aisles

Right- recipe list with cookbooks, page numbers, key ingredients written out

Here are a few of what we will be eating in the upcoming weeks:

Beef Stew with Sun Dried Tomato and Chive Dumplings

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Brown Rice

Coffee Cup Souffles

White Bean Tortellini Soup

Gnocchi with Thyme Butter Sauce

Don't you want to come over for dinner?