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

thanksgiving tablescapes

this year, i'm not cookin

so, i'm not setting a table... which i enjoy

but i thought i'd share some of my 

thanksgiving tablescapes of the past

2010

2009

 

how are you decorating your table this year?

you have a little over 6 days to decide!

later gators! 

-erin

six

cooper you're six!
as each year passes

i both celebrate and get a little sad

just a little

my sweet little baby

has become

my sweet big boy

who's goofy

and source of so much joy

and sometimes, just sometimes he's reflective

and enjoys time to himself

there's no other way to say it....

he's just a really great kid.

 in honor of t. cooper deegan's 6th birthday

here are 6 things i love about him

1. even at the ripe-old-age of 6 

he still loves to cuddle with his mommy and daddy

2. he's so sensitive. you can easily put a smile

on his face and just as easily bring him to tears

3. he's a great brother to his big sister and baby brother

they will forever have him steadfast at their side

4. he's a true lady's man

he knows he's adorable, and works it

5. he has an engineer's mind

he can sit for hours building lego houses, 

houses that are so creative and detailed

6. he has opinions and expresses them well

sometimes a little aggressively, 

but you always know where you stand with coop

coop, you are my little man 
and i am so lucky that i get to be your mommy. 
every day you amaze me and make me so proud
until the end of time you will be my baby 
(even when you have your own kids)
i know you're growing up 
and i know one day i'll have to let you go
but until then, please understand 
i'm going to hold on as tight as i can 
and stock up on cuddles, hugs and kisses 
because i love you that much


have a wonderful birthday my darling boy
i love you to the moon and back again! 
xoxoxoxoxo - mommy