The Friday Night Knitting Club

I stayed up late last night to finish this book and I was in tears by the end! It's about a strong woman named Georgia who is raising her teenage daughter alone in New York. She owns her own business- a knitting shop where the real magic of the book begins. The Friday Night Knitting club is formed with a few random acquaintances (all knitters or at least want-to be's) meeting to knit, eat, and enjoy each other's company every Friday night. Throughout the book you get to know each of the characters and their struggles and triumphs. By the end you get a glimpse into each of their lives and learn the value of love, friendship, and appreciating who you are.

I liked this book, especially the main character Georgia. An emotional ending, but one where when I closed the book I had a warm feeling inside. That's what this book is like, a warm cozy blanket keeping you satisfied. I don't knit, but after reading this book I sure wish I did. Overall a good read, one I will definitely recommend to my book club.

The Regal Beagle

Last Tuesday my east coast booger Erin and I went out for a yummy little dinner at a new restaurant in Coolidge Corner: The Regal Beagle. It was so cute and cozy inside and the menu is fun and delicious. The walls are lined with a red decorative wallpaper which makes you feel as if your in an old saloon. They pass out postcards with the picture of dogs playing poker (above) and it's the perfect way to describe the atmosphere of the restaurant.

Here's a look at the menu:

Yummy.

Yummier.

Yummiest.

It was so fun to try a new place and catch up with my pretty Aaron. She's such a special friend. I love her so.

red velvet goodness.

Today Wyatt and I made Barefoot Contessa's red velvet cupcake mix. Goodness gracious... Mmm! This is the second time we've made these cupcakes and they are really good. Wyatt has a HUGE sweet tooth just like me, so we make a pretty good pair. Someday I might try making these homemade, but for now the mix is just fine (especially when baking with a 3-year old). You can get the boxed cupcake mix online at Ina Garten's website or through Stonewall Kitchen. The cupcakes are super moist and delicious and the cream cheese frosting is incredible. I guess with a stick and a half of butter anything will taste amazing. (!!)

Mmmm!

photo from cupcake bake shop by chockylit

BEAUTY.

I've been poking around online and in different stores for the perfect shoe for Bailey's wedding. She gave us the option to pick our own shoes (with a few limitations and guidelines), which in one way is really awesome, but in another way it means I have to make a decision on my own!

Today, I found them. I found them and I love them.

Peeptoe Bow Pump from Ann Taylor

I think I really struck gold here, people. Aren't they a beauty? They will just go so nicely with my navy Sophia dress. And I will absolutely wear them again. And again. And again. Amen.

Billy Boots

Today was a day for rain boots. Or Wellies. Or Galloshes. Or as my cousin Peggy informed me, which has become my personal favorite: Billy Boots.

I got a pair of Hunter billy boots this past summer and I have never looked back. I used to have a really cute pair of j.crew billy's that were navy blue with pink polka dots). Nothin' but precious. However, they were cheep and extremely non-durable (Sorry, j.crew. You know I love you). The rubber cracked and the water got my feet wet and to put it kindly, they were terrible. My Hunter boots are great-- and stylish too. And they keep my feet dry, which is definitely an improvement. PLUS Bella Swan wears the exact same color boots in Twilight that I have (which is just so totally cool).

Also, if you're like me and enjoy accessories you can get some warm hunter fleece socks. They fit snugly inside your boots and keep you nice and toasty.

Go colorful. Go bold. Go Hunter.

Blades of Glory.

I don't how many of you know this about me, but I used to be a figure skater. Watching the Vancouver Olympics is just bringing me BACK. Back to the days of Salt City Stars, axels and double salchows, multi-colored skate guards and SP-Teri's. Sweet sweet memories. I might not have been Olympic material, but I sure did have fun.

Oh, for the love of Silver Blades.

Me in Lake Placid

circa 1994

Happy happy, Hannah!

Happy 27th, Han!!

Hope you had a fabulous day with so much happiness.

Did Hobart give you kisses for me? I told him to.

Love you to pieces.

If I could, I would give you a hug just like this:

xoxoxoxo.

Bachelorette for Bailey!

Tonight starts the bachelorette festivities for Miss Bailey Clare!

Very much looking forward to this celebratory weekend.

CHEERS!

Fingers (and toes) crossed.

(I choose Caribbean!)

How awesome would it be if I won one of these Le Creuset dutch ovens?

OMG I would freak out.

I would be so overjoyed.

I might faint.

Please, please, please, pretty please with a cherry on top let me win.

A great little Saturday.

Last Saturday, Andrea and I met up for a lovely brunch and strolled around Beacon Hill and downtown Boston for a good part of the afternoon. We went to Panificio on Charles Street and had a delicious meal with huge coffee cups filled to the brim. I had eggs benedict and it was great. Just so great.

After catching up over eggs, pancakes and coffee we decided to take the plunge and head down Charles Street. LOVE. Second Time Around treated me very nicely-- I found a pear of j.crew dream cords (a really pretty rich green) and a pear of AG chocolate brown cords. STEAL! That was my clothes shopping for the month and I am ever so pleased.

I also got a steal on a pair of great ballet flats. Moxie was having a super shoes sale and I found some black leather fs/ny flats for 40% off! Yipee! I tried them on for size and then bought them instantly. There was no way I was leaving without those shoes. Double steal. YES.

I don't just think I'm in love with these shoes, I KNOW I'm in love.

After all my frivilous shopping (still following the rules though, I promise) I found Hannah and Todd shooting the wedding registration gun at Macy's. What a dream. Picking out all those glorious pots and pans and such. I think I was more excited than the two of them combined when I first got there. I mean seriously though, it's so exciting! New Stuff! It was fun to help them pick out things they wanted, such as which Le Creuset color to go with. Glory.

What a great little Saturday.

A Valentine's Day Brunch

Check out this FRENCH TOAST.

Oo la la...

Yeah, I'm pretty happy about it.

For Valentine's Day we went to Brunch at Brookline Lunch. A fabulous choice on both our parts.

I gave Zan this card on Valentine's Day.

I found it while shopping around Beacon Hill on Saturday and I bought it instantly. These collectors postcards made by Kittywake Card Company feature pictures and art from around Boston. Anything about lobsters just remind me so much of Zan and so I thought this card was perfect. Especially the inscription on the back:

"The Candy Cane or Polka Dot Lobster is exceedingly rare, found once every several billion lobsters. Like others mutant lobsters, the landing of a Candy Cane by the lobstermen of New England is considered a harbinger of good fortune and happiness."

We were planning on having lobsters for dinner, but didn't get to James Hook Lobster Co. in time before they closed. Double Dang! No matter though, we may not have had good fortune with eating lobsters but we sure did have a lot of happiness. ♥♥♥

I love....

After doing my daily check-up on my favorite blogs, Pioneer Woman (man, I love her) wrote out a list of things she loves in honor of Valentine's Day. Well, I had so much fun reading her list, I've decided to make my own. Here goes...

I love, I love, I loooove...

My mom and dad.

Chocolate chip cookies.

Lululemon pants.

Handwritten letters.

Finishing a good book.

My apartment.

Zan (and the way he just fell asleep on the couch).

Summer.

Ice cold milk.

A Little Princess.

Hallelujah.

Good music.

Chapstick.

Taking hot showers (and my bathrobe).

Outdoor showers.

Skiing.

Hobes and Willy Smith.

My So Called Life.

Taylor Swift.

Flip flops.

Fridays.

Saturdays.

Holidays.

My little sister.

Clothes right out of the dryer.

Teaching.

My Grammy.

Getting a mani/pedi.

Chatham, Cape Cod.

My Girl.

My blankie.

Peanut butter and jelly and potato chip sandwiches.

Hot chocolate with mini marshmellows.

My MacBook.

Skaneateles Lake.

Dancing.

Good people.

Being cozy.

My aunts and uncles and ALL my cousins.

Vintage things.

Musicals.

Taking pictures.

Fancy jewelry.

Eating out.

Eating in.

American Idol.

Christmas Eve.

Happy people.

Annie's mac and cheese.

Ginger ale.

Blogging.

Kleenex.

Zyrtec.

Gertrude Hawk Smidgens.

Interior decorating.

Harry Potter.

Quilts.

J.crew and Anthropologie.

RUDY.

Raspberries.

Memories of London and Venice.

Dressing up.

My birthday.

My friends.

pretty in pink.

Took a browse through j.crew tonight while watching the opening ceremonies for the Olympics in Vancouver. Everything (well almost everything) that caught my eye just happened to be a shade of pink. How fitting, Valentine's Day is just around the corner. ♥

Here are the items I will be dreaming about tonight:

What a gorgeous sweater. I love the bit of extra fabric tied around the neck. It's so elegant.

Cute little t-shirt. Lace and beaded applique. Very lovely.

This lightweight beach dress is precious. The little ruffle at the bottom is my favorite part.

The color of this skirt is very old fashioned to me. I think it would look so great with just a simple cream t-shirt. Or the authentic fleece popover (see below).

That's all I've got for the pretty pink. Here's some more items I love (not pink, but still pretty):

The ballet flat. Classic.

Here's the fleece popover in ivory. I have this in red and it's so cozy.

The golden cocktail skirt.

Yes, please.

Chocolate Chip Scones

For a few days now, I have been craving scones. I think it was after I had a delicious cinnamon scone in Starbucks one morning. After I finished the delicious scone I thought to myself: I bet I can make scones too. You know, because I am a baker and all.

So I set out to find a scones recipe. After googling "recipe for scones" and coming up with NADA I decided to turn to Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen Website. It sure has a lot of tasty recipes. And there it was, RIGHT on the top of the page! Chocolate Chip Scones. I looked no further. I had found the jackpot.

Delicious. Tasty. Easy.

Oh. So. Pretty.

I'd like to take this opportunity to present you with the prettiest dresses of all time:

Longing-For-Yellow Dress

With its bold belt, classic v-neckline and softly pleated skirt, this brocade frock from Moulinette Soeurs fulfills your dreams of sunny hues and warmer days.

In-A-Moment Dress

The look of a crisply pintucked top paired with a corduroy skirt, all in one stunning ensemble frock. By Maeve.

I just really want these dresses. I just do. And that's the truth.

Anthropologie, why do you torture me so?

Making bread.

So last week I got this email from my friend:

Well of course from her excitement I absolutely had to try making the bread for myself. You know, just to make sure it was true. Up until two days ago the only bread I've ever made is banana bread and corn bread. But really, who are we kidding, those are both more like cakes (sorry if you think otherwise).

Anyways, I followed the directions and made the same changes my friend made and TA-DA! The bread came out INSANELY professional and RIDICULOUSLY delicious. Whoo!

I am a real live baker. Check out the pics... so easy you can make it too!

RECIPE

Speedy No-Knead Bread

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 packet (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast (follow directions on the back of packet)

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

Oil as needed

1. Combine flour, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add 1 1/2 cups water and stir until blended; dough will be shaggy. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Let dough rest about 4 hours at warm room temperature, about 70 degrees.

2. Lightly oil a work surface and place dough on it; fold it over on itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest 30 minutes more.

3. At least a half-hour before dough is ready, heat oven to 450 degrees. Put a 6-to-8-quart heavy covered pot (cast iron, enamel, Pyrex or ceramic) in oven as it heats. When dough is ready, carefully remove pot from oven. Slide your hand under dough and put it into pot, seam side up. Shake pan once or twice if dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes.

4. Cover with lid and bake 30 minutes, then remove lid and bake another 15 to 30 minutes, until loaf is beautifully browned. Cool on a rack.

Yield: 1 big loaf.

Thanks Cal and Thanks Mark Bittman!!

Off to the mountain!

We're off to Stratton to ski the slopes tomorrow! Hope you're having a good weekend!

Sammiches.

I decided to make ham and swiss sandwiches today... a forever favorite of mine. We debated whether to go to Mr. Bartley's in Cambridge for lunch today, to eat burgers, but I'm really glad we decided to head to Whole Foods to get our own supplies. A wise choice, I say. I used Applegate Farms honey ham and swiss cheese and Iggy's rye bread. The sandwiches were delicious (always are). I remember back in high school my sister would always make one of these after school. Every day I would ask for a bite and I would open my mouth as wide as I possibly could and take the most humongous bite ever. She would get mad of course, but still the next day she would let me take a bite again. I would always promise I would take a small bite, but alas, I was a little liar and I never kept my word. I just couldn't help myself, the sandwich was and IS truly the best. Meg wasn't here today while I was devouring mine, but if she was I'd like to think I would have given her a bite.

MAYBE. We will never know.

School Days....

I can't stop laughing. I found my old pictures from my toddler and elementary years. HILARIOUS!!!!!!

1 Year Old

(top right)

2 Years Old

3 Years Old

Kindergarten

First Grade

BROWNIES

Oh, yes. I made brownies the other night. I made my special recipe. It's so delicious, it's by Duncan Hines. Do you know it?

All you have to do is mix eggs, water, vegetable, oil and brownie mix and your done. I'm sorry if you're one for homemade brownies. I appreciate that you make them homemade, I really do. But for me, this stuff is magic. The brownies are so gooey and moist and delicious. Plus the batter is insane. I could eat the whole thing with a spoon. YUMM-O. Yummmmm.

I love you, Duncan Hines. You rock.