favorite things

every now and then

i like to put together a list of my favorite things

things i already have

things i'd love to have

blah, blah, blah

here are my current loves...

twist & twill blanket

gray and white... love it!

gretel home - $139

basay basket

perfect for the bathroom with rolled up towels

crate & barrel - $70

rhino

i got him for christmas for the dining room wall

we call him "horny"

z gallerie - $50

hammam stripe hand towel

can have a stitched monogram or large digital print monogram

i'm diggin the digital print!

west elm - $10

homegrown monogram mug

i got the "e" for christmas. it makes coffee time so lovely.

anthroplogie - $8

missoni travel tote

still available online from target.

i get so so so many compliments.

target - $50

classic aviator sunglasses

circa tom cruise in his top gun days.... um yes please :)

bloomies - $139

return address stamps
can also be used as a bookplate

emilie friday - $50


that's all for now.

i'm sure this list could go on and on and on!

-e 

photo of the day – twas the night before christmas

i sneaked down after santa's visit :)

merry christmas to us

over the years santa has been increasingly 

generous to my children.

i guess his funds are depleting,

because hubby and me kinda get the shaft.

not this year :)

instead of tons of gifts under the tree, we chose only a few meaningful gifts,

then splurged on a new piece of furniture for our home.

a dream come true... right!?

this is what santa ordered from west elm...

parsons media collection from west elm

this is a much needed item in our new home.

right now we're using a rinky-dinky-tiny ikea cabinet.

which is a problem because...

a. like i stated above it's rinky-dinky- tiny

and is to small for our tv and our family room

c. it's from ikea and it's seen it's day

see it  on the back wall? 

it worked in our old family room (as seen in the above photo), 

but our new family room is 2 stories high 

and makes the media cabinet appear very tiny.

i will take some before and after photos once it arrives.

i can't wait!

xoxo - erin

urban outfitters

did you know that urban outfitters 

had a blog?

i had no idea. 
yesterday i was perusing

& i found it a bit young for me.

but it was fun & full of great images.

then i ran across this image.

i guess the photo of my master bedroom has made it's rounds around the internet. 

usually in relation to tracy melton's artwork (above my bed).

which i adore

if you want to check out the urban outfitter's blog

here's a link.

if you want to check out tracy melton's artwork

here's another link. 

hope you're having a nice week.

the week between christmas & new year 

is always a weird, hibernating kinda week for us!

cheers - erin

old christmas cards

over the years, i've tried

to have creative christmas cards

this year is no different

here are a few cards from over the years

2006

2007

2008

(when i was pregnant with max)

2009

on the inside, it said....

"we have no idea what's been going on!"

2010

i was tired, cranky & lazy and didn't send out a card...  ooooops!

2011

i got a little backlash from this year's card.
but... i assure you it was all done in fun.
the children had a ball and we would never, ever abuse our children.
so... lighten up people. enjoy the holidays and laugh :)

xoxo - erin

holiday gift wrap

every year (i try)

to create fun/original

holiday gift wrapping

this is my 2011 

gift wrapping...

(thanks to mrs. brownstone for a little help!)

 i used the good-ol' hot glue gun 

to attach the tags to the clips

otherwise, the tags kept slipping off the packages. ack!

here are some other wrapping ideas

i found on pinterest...

twine & candy canes... cute

lov it! 

popsicle sticks as tags

  love the tag & ribbon!

 old photos

layering paper, ribbon & twine :)

a new take on a old classic... love the glitter letter!

this could be altered to make adorable holiday gift wrap!

that's all for now friends.

let's try and stay stress-free

(ya right!)

 cheers - erin

sunday's dinner

Creamy Chicken Marsala Pasta

 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts; cut into bite sized pieces

10-12 oz sliced mushrooms

1 small onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 cup Marsala cooking wine

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 pound penne or rigatoni + water for cooking

1 cup Parmesan cheese

5 tbs unsalted butter

salt & pepper to taste
chopped fresh parsley for garnish

________________________________________

boil water and cook pasta according to the directions.

melt 1 tbs butter on (med-high heat) in a large skillet until foaming. 

salt & pepper chicken and saute until lightly browned. 
transfer chicken to plate for later.

melt 1 tbs of butter in skillet. add garlic, mushrooms & onion. 
cook for about 10 + minutes until slightly browned. 

add cooked chicken back into the skillet. 

add the marsala, chicken broth & cream, bring to a boil. 

simmer until sauce is is slightly thickened.

drain pasta and reserve 1/2 cup cooking water. 

return the pasta  to the pot with 3 tablespoons of butter. 

add the mushrooms/chicken mixture & 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese. 

cook until the pasta has absorbed some of the sauce, about 1 minute, 

adding the reserved cooking water if needed.

Season with salt & pepper. 

Serve with additional Parmesan cheese & a garnish of chopped parsley. 


recipe adapted from "what's cookin, chicago" (http://joelens.blogspot.com)

the entire family enjoyed it.

well... max only ate the warm crusty bread with butter

and reilly & coop avoided the mushrooms.

it has a great flavor & it's easy to make!

bon appetit!

-e

absent but happy

sorry it's been awhile.

i've been enjoying a little time off

to work

and 

to go here

hawaii!

needless to say, 

i was in heaven

we spent the thanksgiving holiday

with my family on the big island

we stayed on the property of the mauna kea
on the kohala coast

we did bunches of nothing
dan golfed
we lounged by the pool and the beach
we ate yummy food
and we geared up for a busy holiday season.

i'll post more photos soon.
but until then ALOHA!

xoxo- erin