Holiday Decor Wrap-up

Well this post is only a few weeks behind. sigh. I feel like 2015 is already getting away from me and it's not even two full weeks into the New Year! So, quick! before any more time flies by, here is a quick review of our holiday decorations this year :-)

Snowflake Tree - main colors where white and green this year

It was a lovely holiday season filled with family and friends and travel!

Weekend Travels

As Matt has been spending his weekends working on Grad school, I've been traveling! This past weekend it was to RI for the day. I brought Reesey-face with me and we had a great time toodling around with my parents. Brunch at the Modern Diner - which is awesome! - then running some errands for Halloween and fall decor. We also made a stop at DSW - always dangerous!

 Mum found this red Sperry's in the clearance section!

 SUPER cute with plaid down the sides :-)

 I found a pair of Charcoal grey wool Sperry's which will be great as the weather turns cooler.

 I took this picture in JoAnn's for Kel ;-)

 And the reason for being at JoAnn's was a Halloween pattern (no dice) 

and some leaf garland to update my fall grapevine wreath (success!)

I left the ribbon on from last year and just added 2 garlands of leaves and berries. 

The leaves help the wreath show up against the black front door. 

(My handsome Reese too!)

Next up: I've picked up a couple new things for Halloween/Fall for the inside of the house too! Right now they are all massed on the mantle, but I hope to have them organised soon to show you!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy Independence Day! It's raining and cloudy today but this weekend should be beautiful so we will BBQ and set off our fireworks this weekend.
I hope you all have a safe and happy 4th with friends and family!

“You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.”
― Erma Bombeck 

When you just HAVE to have Pizza :-)

This recipe is Paleo. I love that. It means I can have pizza, enjoy pizza and not be eating crap! The crust is made from almond flour, extra virgin olive oil and eggs. (I put the exact recipe at the bottom of the post) What you choose to put on it for toppings, is of course your choice :-)

This time around I made a double batch and Matt and I topped our own pizzas. This is waaay too much food for us, but we wanted leftovers for lunches - it reheats well in the microwave and even better in the toaster oven if you like your crust a bit crispy!

Matt looooves his red sauce, can you tell? :-) But there is also chicken sausage, caramelized onions, bacon, kale, mushrooms, diced tomatoes, black olives and diced orange peppers. His pizza had the same toppings all over the entire pizza.

I decided to split mine, 1/2 chicken sausage and 1/2 bacon and then I piled on the toppings. ALL of them: caramelized onions, kale, mushrooms, black olives, diced orange, red and yellow peppers. Plus a little bit of low-fat shredded cheese as a treat.

Reese was sad, no pizza for him :-(

Perfect Primal Pizza (from the Primal Blueprint aka www.marksdailyapple.com)

2 cups almond meal flour

2 eggs

2 Tsp Extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp salt (optional)

-mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. This should give you a ball of 'dough'. If your dough is too 'mushy' add a bit more almond flour.

-grease pizza sheet or use a non-stick baking sheet

-press dough onto sheet evenly so it's about 1/4 inch in the middle and 1/2 inch at the edges

-put crush into the oven (350F degrees) for 15min or until just golden brown

-add pizza sauce, toppings, cheese, etc

-put back into the oven for 15 more min 

I let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and eating :-) 

Enjoy!

Paleo Mayo & Weekend Travels

Spring is here and with warmer temperatures come my two favorite lunches! Tuna and egg salad. Mmmmm! and pickles! :-) I know. They are both a bit polarizing as some love and others hate, but I love them both and they aren't bad for you by themselves - it's what you put with them!
Enter Paleo mayo. I know, I was dubious too - which is why I got a recipe from a Paleo friend who's husband is a much better cook/chef than me! He's also not afraid to try new recipes, which, sometimes, I am.

The recipe can be found here:
http://thehealthyfoodie.com/fail-proof-home-made-paleo-mayo-whole30-compliant/
and it is NOT hard!! I promise! I made both tuna fish and egg salad with this and it was super tasty! The recipe states that you can add other flavors to it and Paleo Friend confirmed that you can easily spice it up with cumin or smoked paprika and a spicy mustard or garlic or pesto or.... :-) you get the idea!

In other news. I went to Connecticut this past weekend.

THIS is Sandlin. 

He is now 5 months and growing like a weed!

He's not sure about the camera though. And he's not the smile-liest of babies

more of a thinker. His expressions are wonderful and inquisitive!

He's a big fan of Mom (Catherine)

and he looooves to be moving, bouncing, jumping, swinging

When he does smile it lights up his WHOLE face!

Super cute and contagious with those dimples!

and his head is covered in the softest peach fuzz :-)

I'm already jealous of his think, long (blonde!) eyelashes!!

I had a great time! 

Thanks for letting me come visit and steal some snuggle-time!!

Green is making a come-back!

The yard is starting to grow again :-) It makes me so happy to see progress in the garden beds /trees, especially after the crazy winter we had! 20 year record for bad winter in NH for those keeping track!

lilacs and daffodils along the garage

flowering pear tree w/dogwoods in the background

iris and possibly flox (against the rock) in the triangle bed

buds on the maple tree in the triangle bed

iris in the all-but-empty raised flower beds along the back of the house

This is going to be completed this spring! I can't wait!

lilacs planted last summer along the back fence

Salmon and Kale in coconut cream sauce :-)

it was SUPER delish

and not all that hard either

kale was steamed, salmon was baked in the cream sauce

TA DA!

I've been pretty good about keeping up with my new recipes every week. I don't always use a new one every night, but I try to incorporate them in each meal - the sauce was new for this meal :-)

Dinners last week

My goal last week was to have something different every night. It sort of worked? We managed to try 3 new meals/recipes. The two pretty ones are shown below. The third, while it tasted delish, didn't photograph well and looked kinda like mush - LOL!

 Monday: steak w/yellow pepper, onion, pineapple over romaine hearts

 Wednesday: chicken fajitas in bib lettuce wraps

Thursday (not shown): cauliflower risotto w/mushrooms, chicken sausage, onion and broccoli

For those curious people, Tuesday was leftovers and Friday was Thai take-out!

OK, crazy catch-up!

This might be a long post - picture heavy with few words - but I'm sure you'll enjoy the slideshow from the past few weeks!

co-workers daughter Fawn visited on 3/28/14

Brunch w/Mum at Modern Diner on 3/30/14

visit w/Catherine & Sandlin on 3/30/14

loving my white tulips! 4/1/14

baby shower gift for Ashley & Billy 4/2/2014

Reese (left) and Jonas (right) hanging out - practically holding hands!!!

 new gluten-free, vegan, no-bake chocolate peanut butter balls

I tried out for our double-date night with Ashley & Billy (4/2/14)

They were SUPER delish!!

Sooooo, Matt and I went away for a long weekend to sunny, warm Cozumel :-)

 sunset view from our balcony

we had what they called the Junior Suite! 

 drink/entertainment center

 hammock and chairs on the balcony

 new towel animals every day :-)

 the weather was wonderful! NO bugs!!

And while we were away enjoying the BEAUTIFUL blue water, pools, sunshine and temps in the 80's

Reese was home hanging out with Jordan!

and snuggles with Melissa and Fawn!

So that pretty much brings us up to date. It's been a bit crazy the last few weeks and it looks like things won't be slowing down any time soon so we are SUPER grateful for the long weekend away :-) First time in 4.5 years!! and well overdue :-)

I'm hoping to be patching walls and painting this weekend so I'll be sure to post pics - below is a current pic of our soupy/swampy backyard!