my favorite new arrivals from the gap

 

I have a confession, I want everything that Gap has for the springtime. All the pastels, the florals all of it. I haven't really been into the Gap until this year.  They've had some great sales and they've really drawn me in. So without further ado my favorite items from the Gap as of late. All can be found at this page.

First and my most favorite, these driving moccasins in cobalt blue. I have been lusting after them for a good month and still need to bite the bullet and buy them. I'm not quite sure how I'd style them which is mainly the reason I havent purchased them yet, any suggestions?

Second this gorgeous dress. I think the color is so pretty and could be styled in a few different ways. Then there is this pretty striped cardigan, who doesn't love stripes? Plus it looks so warm! This tote is so pretty in all the colors and I tend to lean towards the same style of bags (oversized totes). While I do love patterns (mainly stripes/polka dots) I don't own anything floral. This shirt has convinced me its worth it to make the leap and try out a new pattern.

My mom has the next shirt in this color and after she bought it, I immediately regretted not buying it for myself. Along with cobalt blue, this color has become my new favorite color. Next this pretty little shirt, the color is called azalea and it just looks so comfy without looking sloppy. Last are these socks, I usually stick to black or white socks but am slowly stepping out of my comfort zone and have been buying lots of striped/polka dot/ animal print socks. I really love bees as well. 

What are some of your favorite pieces for spring? Is there anything you've had your eye on for spring that you just have to have?

My Wish List

Yes, I realize Christmas is just 4 days away and I already have my Christmas present (4 new tires for my car) which I desperately needed. It's still fun to put together a wish list of things I would ask for or start thinking about purchasing for myself.

1. Sugar lip tint. 2. An Everlasting Meal (a book I've been meaning to read) 3. Boyfriend Jeans from the Gap. 4. A monogrammed sweatshirt. 5. Moto boots, I just recently realized I have no black flat boots. 6. A pretty Kate Spade purse. 7. Pretty driving loafers in my new fave shade of blue also from the Gap. 8. Finally some pretty dainty jewelry like this scalloped bangle from Kate Spade. 

Now that I've shared my dream wish list this year, I want to know what is one item you really dream about getting for Christmas?

A personal plea

I think I am one of the few people that has not started listening to Christmas music, gotten my Christmas tree, or done anything to start decorating for Christmas. Truth is our Thanksgiving decorations are up and will be up for another week. I hate how there is a push to spend as little time as possible on Thanksgiving and rush into christmas themed activities. There is still a whole week left in November, lets continue to celebrate the current season before jumping into the next.

butternut squash before and after roasting 

One way we can do this is making these biscuits. I made them quite a few weeks ago, when we were experiencing Hurrican Sandy and there was nothing else I could do. They are unpretentious and still totally delicious. Hot out of the oven with a dab of butter, I ate a few too many this way before even letting my family know I had made them. When you go to the blog to check out the recipe, make sure to stick around a bit and look at the wonderfulness that is Food Loves Writing.  Reading Shanna's blog has made me want to try things I would never even consider eating ( I'm talking about this speedy chicken tikka masala)

cutting biscuits 

Maybe you will fall in love with Food Loves Writing as much as I have and check out her ebook. I bought it a few weekends ago and read it in one sitting, I just couldn't tear myself away. But most of all I hope you appreciate the end of the Fall season with these butternut squash biscuits. 

* I ended up using all purpose flour because it was all I had and they tasted just fine 

** you could also try using different squashes or different flours such as whole wheat.

bits and pieces

Here are some bits and pieces of my current life. Courtesy of instagram. I know I say it all the time but I'm really gonna try and blog more regularly. For now enjoy these lovely collages I've made of my favorite pictures currently from instagram.

 My new favorite sandwich , peaches put up and a peach and blackberry pie I made and then devoured.

 Current songs on repeat and  a favorite read

 The little boy I babysit reading in his corner, my cousins new puppy, and old photos instagrammed

 Shorts that finally fit again, a mess on my bed and my favorite shorts from the gap

This summer has totally gotten away from me. Hopefully I can make the best of the rest of it. I have a trip to visit my friend planned and the Jimmy Buffett concert before school starts. Before then lets hope I can squeeze in some fun crafts and baking projects. Hope all of you readers have been enjoying your summer!

The One Where I Discuss My Obsession Nora Ephron

I can remember the first time I saw You've Got Mail. I was probably in the 1st or 2nd grade and anytime I went over to my very best friend at the times house it would be a guarantee we would at some point between the Mary Kate and Ashley movie marathons take a break for some quality time with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. I was obsessed, the movie was perfect even in my 8 year old eyes. Years passed, I stopped being friends with that girl and I was gifted You've Got Mail for Christmas. Immediately I was once again entranced by those three words "You've Got Mail". Looking back, it's silly to think at such a young age I loved that movie, but I feel as if her movies are timeless. They could happen anytime and I wish sometimes they would happen to me. Eventually I went to college and one of the few things I gained from my freshmen roommate besides an addiction to anything Grey's Anatomy/Shonda Rhimes was an introduction to Ephron's other works, When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle. Yes yes I know it took me forever to branch out and incidentally I saw Julie&Julia that same year (fate maybe?? jk). But really I may have a record for the number of times I've seen You've Got Mail and frequently quote it as I watch. So I thought what better way to share my love for Nora Ephron and what turned into a love for Meg Ryan then sharing some of my favorite quotes from the movies. Enjoy!

Let's start with my favorite You've Got Mail quotes and work our way down.

"Don't you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand, this not knowing has its charms. "

Joe Fox: You know, sometimes I wonder...
Kathleen Kelly: What?
Joe Fox: Well... if I hadn't been Fox Books and you hadn't been The Shop Around the Corner, and you and I had just, well... met...
Kathleen Kelly: I know.
Joe Fox: Yeah. I would have asked for your number, and I wouldn't have been able to wait twenty-four hours before calling you and saying, "Hey, how about... oh, how about some coffee or, you know, drinks or dinner or a movie... for as long as we both shall live?"
Kathleen Kelly: Joe...
Joe Fox: And you and I would have never been at war. And the only thing we'd fight about would be which video to rent on a Saturday night.
Kathleen Kelly: Well, who fights about that?
Joe Fox: Well, some people. Not us.
Kathleen Kelly: We would never.
Joe Fox: If only.

 "What will NY152 say today, I wonder. I turn on my computer. I wait impatiently as it connects. I go online, and my breath catches in my chest until I hear three little words: You've got mail. I hear nothing. Not even a sound on the streets of New York, just the beating of my own heart. I have mail. From you."

Now a few from When Harry Met Sally

"I love that you get cold when it's 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you're looking at me like I'm nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it's not because I'm lonely, and it's not because it's New Year's Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

 Sally Albright: Well, if you must know, it was because he was very jealous, and I had these days of the week underpants.

Harry Burns: Ehhhh. I'm sorry. I need the judges ruling on this. "Days of the weeks underpants"?
Sally Albright: Yes. They had the days of the week on them, and I thought they were sort of funny. And then one day Sheldon says to me, "You never wear Sunday." It was all suspicious. Where was Sunday? Where had I left Sunday? And I told him, and he didn't believe me.
Harry Burns: What?

Sally Albright: They don't make Sunday.
Harry Burns: Why not?
Sally Albright: Because of God.

"I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible."

and the quote that inspired the name of my blog and probably my love for daisies

"Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower"

I don't know about all of you but my plans for the weekend include cuddling up in a blanket watching these two great movies. 

instagram update

Just a few pictures from my instagram. Lately I've been babysitting, potty training, shopping even though I told myself I was on a shopping hiatus and attempting to organize/clean the mess I call my room. Somehow my normal neat and OCD tendencies stop right before I enter my room, so if anyone has any ideas to help that would be great.

 new favorite essie color; cascade cool and my obsession with old navy continues

 the world's prettiest package from Ashley. She is awesome and you need to check her blog out ASAP

 The most creative ice cream flavors ever in this book, I have about half flagged to try.

 Zucchini pancakes, we have zucchini growing like crazy in our garden

 Meatless monday, cucumber tomato salad and sauteed corn 

Tomorrow I'm taking the kiddos to visit our friends that live near LBI and then Thursday I'm going with my mom and grandmom on her casino trip to Atlantic City. It should be a pretty interesting week.

Dinner, A Love Story

Last week, I went to the library on a whim and struck gold. I had seen a few people talk about this book and instantly knew I had to pick it up and I was so so glad I did. While the other books where kinda underwhelming this one stood out in my mind. I can not wait to buy it and have it as my own. All of you should go out and get Dinner: A Love Story. 

 The author used to work for Real Simple, which is part of the reason why I love her so much. The book is organized, has great information, tips and advice on how to get dinner on the table every night. What I think my favorite part is, is the stories that go along with each of the sections. It starts out with meals Jenny and her husband cooked together when it was just the two of them and it continues with meals they cooked as their family grew. It's a food memoir and cookbook all in one which I absolutely love.

The recipe that hooked me immediately was her lazy bolognese sauce.So simple and fast to throw together, not to complicated and clear directions any one could follow. After reading the recipe I knew it was one I had to try right away.

 Lazy Bolognese from Dinner: A Love Story

A few glugs of olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste
1 pound ground turkey or beef (we used beef)
1 T tomato paste
1 tsp fennel seeds (we didn't have any so I skipped this)
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup dry wine
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes in their juices
dried oregano
1 pound short tubular pasta (ziti, rigatoni, penne)

Add oil to medium saucepan on medium-low heat and add onion, garlic, pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. Cook until onion has wilted (about 2 minutes).

Push onion mixture to side and turn up heat slightly. Add ground meat and break up with fork as it cooks. Once most of pink is gone stir in onion mixture. (make sure to strain out the grease if using beef)

Add tomato paste, fennel seeds, sugar and wine, stir everything together. Raise heat to medium-high and cook until most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir in tomatoes and oregano. Bring sauce to a boil and then turn to low heat and simmer uncovered for at least 30 minutes.

While sauce is simmering, start water for pasta. Toss sauce with pasta and serve.

Everyone in my family loved this sauce and I can't wait to make it again. Hope you enjoy!