For Sale

Beautiful blue Ralph Lauren Polo wool crew neck sweater... You can find more of my online sales here. 

Monday

Positive thought to start the day: 

How lucky am I to have such a beautiful family and so many amazing life friends?! 

I've been blessed with an abundance of wonderful people that surround me. 

That thought alone is enough to put anyone in a good mood. 

Flea Market

Yesterday: We opted not to roam too far from home and ended up at Flea World (followed by slices at Anthony's - excellent pizza). Like most Florida flea markets, Sanford's is full of in your face kitsch, which in it's own dysfunctional way is kind of charming. 

This time around we left with jalapeño stuffed olives, horseradish pickles, french burnt peanuts, green tomatoes and palm readings. According to Madam Kathrine's daughter (the locals will remember those commercials from when we were little) I have a lucrative business opportunity coming in October, I need to watch my blood pressure and a woman I know will deceive me... I'd love to go back for that Schwinn.

It Feels Like Fall

Tell me those aren't amazing boots... Thorogood's- $44.00 on Ebay (which is a great price). They would be perfect for today. 

I actually have my windows open (and my "Autumn Leaves" Yankee Candle lit and a cinnamon stick in my coffee).... It's Still September - open windows before mid October is unheard of in Florida. Crossing my fingers that this trend continues. 

On rainy Saturdays like this yard work is out of the question and I already cleaned the house which means we have an entire day open to enjoy... What to do??? Linda's Diner for Breakfast? A little Halloween shopping? Head over to the Willow Tree later for cold beer and a stroll down 1st? Maybe a quick road trip to Cassadaga (today is perfect for it)... So many possibilities. 

Banana Bread Bars With Brown Butter Frosting

You know how most banana bread recipes end up falling a little short? They smell amazing while baking and taste delicious hot out of the oven, right? But once the bread is cool it starts to taste like ... well... disappointment. 

Not this batch.

This is, hands down, the best banana bread (more like cake but not quite) that I've ever made/had. I know I've done well when the entire family goes back for seconds. Fair warning - make this when you have a full house so you're not tempted to eat it all. 

The recipe is as follows: 

Ingredients:

Banana Bread Bars:

1-1/2 c. sugar

1 c. sour cream

1/2 c. butter, softened

2 eggs

1-3/4 (3 or 4) ripe bananas, mashed

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

Brown Butter Frosting:

1/2 c. butter

4 c. powdered sugar

1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

3 tbsp. milk

Directions:

1.  Heat oven to 375F.  Grease and flour 15x10-inch jelly roll pan.  For the bars, in a large bowl, beat together sugar, sour cream, butter, and eggs until creamy.  Blend in bananas and vanilla extract.  Add flour, baking soda, salt, and blend for 1 minute.  Stir in walnuts.

2.  Spread batter evenly into pan.  Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.

3.  Meanwhile, for frosting, heat butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until boiling.  Let the butter turn a delicate brown and remove from heat immediately.

*The only problem I encountered was having to add extra milk and extra vanilla to the browned butter / sugar mix. I didn't measure, just put enough of both in to bring it to a desirable taste and consistency. Other than that, this recipe is easy and delicious. A new family favorite!

*Recipe courtesy of Life's Simple Measures

Warped Speed

*Thrifted vintage cups and saucers

There are so many things I want to photograph, write about and make but there is no time. None. By the end of the day John and I are spent... I'm not saying this is a bad thing, it means our life is busy and full. I'm just saying that it would be nice to have some balance. Maybe equal parts of quite to match all of the crazy. 

Thursday

He comes back tonight (been gone since Tuesday on a work trip to Raleigh). I don't like when he leaves. I'm stuck driving, cooking, cleaning and keeping the peace between 5 kids. I epitomize the frazzled mom look. I wanted the big family and I got it. 

Mostly, I don't like when he leaves because I miss waking up next to him. I miss his familiar warmth and scent and the way he latches on to me and says "five more minutes". Five more minutes of alone time together before the kids start to wake up and the cats let us know that it's time to eat. Five more minutes before the coffee starts to brew and the phone starts to ring. Five more minutes of alone time together before the life we created won't allow it.

(Currently both the dogs are camping out on the bedroom floor and the 12 year old is hogging the bed. It's nice but it's not the same.) 

Friday

It's time to go back. This is a need not a want.

This past week (like all the others) has flown by. 

This past week is the first time I looked in a mirror and thought "I look old". In the past I've noted that my reflection was overweight and frumpy. I can own those things. I can change those things... But age? Age is a different creature all together.  You can restrain age for a while but, eventually, it's going to get you... And there is nothing you can do to stop it. (Midlife crisis anyone?)

This past week I saw a flickr of what could be in regards to the business I've wanted to start for years. (If it was possible to procrastinate while procrastinating, I would).  Needless to say - I'm motivated. 

This past week I decided that there has to be some sort of balance between being a fashionista  (keeping my weight down / wearing nice clothes) and being a foodie. I'm making it my mission to find said balance and liveitbreatheitbeit (love to bake, love to cook, love to eat.... Love clothes.... Do not love the size I'm currently wearing. Most definitely do not love rotating the only 3 outfits that fit). 

This coming weekend = sleeping in with my guy, deep cleaning the house, shopping for (more) Halloween decorations (because the three big boxes I already have are not enough), Sunday afternoon football, possibly baking some oatmeal cookies and then riding my stationary bike for the next 90 minutes, possibly getting out at sunrise to take some photos. Cheers. 

Yard Sale Finds: Wooden Antiques

Hand carved praying Mexican monks and a solid wood desk. I paid a total of $3.00 for everything. **happy dancing**

Starting Today

I'll let you know how it goes. :)

Thrifted: Sisal Market Tote

I owned one of these in the 80's and used it (religiously) until I accidentally left it behind at a party (never be found or seen again). I've been searching Ebay and Etsy for something similar... There are many cute ones to choose from but they don't run cheap. I found this bag for right over $5.00 at a local community thrift. Leather straps and all... It's even the colors I wanted. 

So True

Morning walks, time with my kids, unexpected surprises (spotting a Barred Owl perched on a fence), the warmth and familiarity of walking through the side door and into your home, dogs and cats happily greeting you, morning showers, mid-day phone calls from old friends, the smell of dinner baking, kisses from the man you love when he gets home from work, the smell of clean sheets as you fall asleep... 

I feel blessed that I am aware enough to appreciate the little things that really aren't that little. 

September Soundtrack

September 1st = dropping a small fortune at Yankee Candle on fall scents, crockpot dinners (even though it still feels like summer outside), seasonal decorations, mums on the doorstep, football games on the television echoing through the house, 30 days until the greatest month of the year (30 days until it looks like the Great Pumpkin went spastic in our home), 60 days until my birthday, 61 days until Halloween and roughly 91 days until us Southerners can walk outside in the morning and note a difference in the air. Finally.