Stranded!

Well....I don't know about you, but I could use something other than politics to talk about today. So why not a little fashion! Today I am linking up with two of my favorite bloggers Mix & Match Mama and A Little Bit of Everything. These girls pick a fun topic each month that highlight items to take if you were to be stranded on a desert island. I love reading them and thought it would be fun to link up with them too!

So here it goes... the 3 pieces of outerwear I could not live without!
One...
My denim jacket. I got it forever ago at Old Navy and it never goes out of style! I am sure they may have tweaked some of the styling over the years, but here's the link for their current style. It's perfect in the Spring, Summer and Fall. I have worn it to work, with shorts and it's perfect with a dress. I just love a good denim jacket!!!

Two...

My olive military style jacket. This jacket is another piece I can wear multiple seasons. It is super soft and the color is a great neutral that you can wear with so many things! This was a steal at Marshall's....so glad I got it! I linked up a similar one here.

Three...

My NorthFace Vest. This is my favorite thing to wear most of fall and winter. I don't like a lot of layers when I am out running errands or doing stuff with the kids and this is the perfect solution. It fits so nice and has deep pockets that zip, so I am never worried about losing my keys or phone. I just love this vest! Here's the link for this favorite vest! I have it in black.....I would love one in the Rabbit Grey too!

And after looking at these pictures, I apparently love scarves too! Ha! I guess I could do a segment on my favorite three scarves!! I also drink a lot.... I think I have a coffee cup or a water bottle in almost each picture....and one I am even holding a bottle of wine! But really I like to capture nail color and bracelets in outfit pics :)

Well I hope you enjoyed a little pop of fashion in the blog today. When I started writing I knew that most would be devoted to family and food... but I love to throw a little fashion in there now and again! Next month the girls are hosting their Stranded edition with the 3 Christmas Movies you could not live with out. That should be fun!

Post your comments below with your favorite outerwear pieces! Holidays are coming and who doesn't love looking at recommendations for great pieces!!!

Enjoy your Wednesday friends! We will be back on Friday with some tips on how to keep the kids' stuff organized! I don't know about you, but the papers that come home each day can get a little out of control! Hope to see you then..... there's always room for one more at our family table.

xoxo

Genevieve

Weekend Wrap Up #5

Oh hey Monday! After a busy week with Halloween, it felt good to have a low key weekend and an extra hour in the day on Sunday! Maddie had a long week too and was happy to hang out on the patio this beautiful weekend!

Here's a peek into life with us over the last few days! Luke has been obsessed with reading lately. He just can't read enough. We have been making weekly trips to the library and he loves it. He puts his wallet in his pocket and loves scanning his card and checking out his own books!

Friday night Ella and I went to a fundraiser for my sister's dance company "Moving Miracles". We go every year and Ella just loves it.

This is me, along with Ella, my sister Emma, and my mom.

My mom organizes the basket auction and it's the highlight for Ella. She helps sell tickets and also loves to buy tickets to win things herself!

Ella and my Dad selling tickets!

So happy she won! A movie basket!

Saturday was a much needed house day... taking down Halloween decor, cleaning, laundry and grocery shopping.

Doesn't get much better than Wegmans and hot chocolate.

We had some good friends over for pizza later that night. So fun to catch up with them and the kids were so excited to see each other! Love a night in with friends!

Luke got to raking the leaves Sunday morning after church. He said he was going to start a business with his friend Nathan raking leaves. He raked for almost 11 minutes, so I am not sure how the business plan looks!

Sunday afternoon was a family hike....sorry for the picture overload below. So much cool scenery to check out!

Behind this waterfall is the "Eternal Flame". Always stays lit, due to natural gas running through.. it's pretty cool to see

A family selfie!

Ella wanted an action shot of kicking leaves! I swear she can extend her leg past her head!

After our hike we had ice cream...outside....in November...in Buffalo...Yay!!!

So that was our weekend. I hope you all enjoyed your weekends too! Here's an idea for a delicious Meatless Monday! Click on the picture for the link to recipe!

I'm linking up with some other bloggers on Wednesday for a fun post! If I were stranded on a deserted island, what 3 pieces of outerwear could I not live without??? This was a fun post to do! Think about your 3 favorites....what would you take? Hope to see you then....there's always room for one more at our family table!

xoxo

Genevieve
ps-Don't forget to vote on Tuesday!

Shrimp "Fried" Rice

This is one of the most requested dinners at our house. It's a cleaner version of the traditional fried options you might get with your Chinese Takeout.

Ingredient List
5-6 cups of chopped veggies of your choice (peppers, broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, spinach)
1 small onion chopped
3-4 TBSP EVOO
1lb peeled & deveined shrimp
4-5 cups of riced cauliflower
2 eggs
Liquid Aminos or low sodium soy sauce
Salt & Pepper to taste
Chopped scallions

Preheat oven to 425. Line a pan with foil and place your shrimp in a single layer. Drizzle with 1-2 TBSP olive oil, season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Heat the remaining olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the onion and cook until softened. Add your veggies, cover and cook 5-6 minutes. Add 2 TBSP of liquid aminos and toss to coat. Transfer to a bowl. Put your shrimp in the oven and roast 5-6 minutes (or until pink).

In the same pan, add your cauliflower, cover and cook about 8-10 minutes or until softened. Move the cauliflower off to one side. In the open side, crack in 2 eggs. Break up the egg and cook over med-high heat until no longer runny. Mix the egg and cauliflower together and season with salt and pepper.

Place some of the "fried rice" on your plate and top with veggies. Add a few roasted shrimp and sprinkle with scallions.

Enjoy!

November Tips!

Happy Friday friends!!! Gosh this seemed like a long week! Ready to enjoy this first weekend of November with my crew. Ella and I are heading to a great fundraiser tonight, we are planning on a family hike tomorrow, taking down Halloween decorations, and looking forward to meeting my girlfriend for a Sunday morning run!

As we start November, I thought I would share a few of my tips to help make the holiday season a little less crazy or maybe a little more organized. Here are a few things I do this month to ease the load of December's hustle and bustle!

A Christmas List

This I actually start a little earlier in the year. I keep a piece of paper in my wallet with those I need to buy gifts for. As I see things in store or hear them talk about something, I write it down. I also check off things if I purchase them... this helps to keep tabs on what you have and still need to get.

Schedule

There are lots of fun holiday things to do and see! We like touring the lights, ice skating, visit to Santa, family visits, holiday parties....it can get hectic. Schedule out what you want to do and when you want to do it. Be sure to leave nights for doing nothing buy enjoying your own Christmas decorations with your kids, popcorn, and fun Christmas movies!

I just LOVE this time of year!!

Pantry Stock up

I love to host holiday parties and also love holiday baking. Try to plan out what you are baking and what you might need for parties and get some of your pantry items now. Baking supplies, spices, frozen items, etc. are all good things to stock up on early in the season. And it will make for a lighter grocery cart as you battle your way through the produce aisles on the day before Thanksgiving!!

Wine & Gift Cards

Now you're talking my language! November is the perfect time to stock up on some extra bottles of wine. Great to have on hand if you need a last minute gift, something to bring the hostess, or need a glass for some late night wrapping! This is also a great time to grab gift cards you might need. We usually do gift cards to our local coffee/lunch spot for teachers, bus drivers and our mailman. Grab them now to check that off the list. 

And why can we not just get the sale price??? Why do I have to send away for a $7 check?

Wrapping Paper, Tape, Scissors

If you did not stock up on wrapping paper at the end of season last year, get it now. The selection is great this time of year. While you may pay a little more than waiting for the sale in mid- December, I like to be able to wrap when I have  few extra minutes. Have your paper, extra tape, scissors, Sharpies, and whatever else you need ready to go so you can wrap as you buy.  ***always buy an extra roll of tape....I always seem to run out at the worst time!

Stamps/Packages

Make a stop to the post office this month to pick up stamps and shipping materials. That place is just going to keep getting busier, so grab your stuff now to avoid the rush!!!

Elf on the Shelf

Does this little Elf make an appearance at your house after Thanksgiving? Does the thought of what tricks he will do or where he will hide each day stress you out??? Make a plan now. I write out the dates from his arrival to his departure and fill in what he will do or where he will hide each day. If he brings "special things" throughout the month, get that stuff now. That way each night you can check the list and sleep more soundly! Now remembering to check the list each night.....that's another story!!!

So while these tips may not be earth-shattering, they are some little things that can help make December more fun. I have worked in retail my whole life, so I know all about the craziness of the holidays! I have found that with a little planning....it's a lot more fun. I like to get things all wrapped up (literally!) by December 10th so we can really enjoy those weeks leading up to Christmas. Its such a magical time with the kids and really is "the most wonderful time of the year!". And yes I sang that as I typed!

I hope you have a fun weekend planned and don't forget to "fall back"!  We will be back on Monday with our weekend wrap up and a delicious recipe for Meatless Monday. See you then....there's always room for one more at our family table.

xoxo

Genevieve

Thankful Tree

It's Wednesday..... and what a long week this is! As much as I dread it getting dark so early, I am looking forward to the clocks falling back his weekend.

Pretty much sums up how I was feeling yesterday..........

A few years ago a good friend told me about a thankful tree she does with her kids. It's really a cute idea. We have a tree silhouette hanging in the kitchen and each night at dinner we add a leaf to it. We each write something we are thankful for and put it on the tree. Its fun to look back and see what we have written.

The fist week you will find some pretty traditional things, but as we get closer to Thanksgiving everyone gets a little more creative and unique with their thinking.

It doesnt have to be a tree....you can just write it down a piece of paper or make a paper table runner and add something each day. The point is that in the craziness of everday life, it's nice to stop and appreciate the things we have. I hope you can all take a minute to appreciate what you have this month.....a little gratitude can go a long way!

Tonight I am thankful for a simple dinner plan! A day of travel for work, Paul at a dinner meeting, and two kids off to religion class.....a make your own pizza & salad bar is the perfect fix for dinner tonight.

Flatbread pizzas cook up in 5-7 minutes and they are a healthier version of the pizza you would pick up at your local pizza shop! Load up your salad with veggies and dinner is served!

We will see you back here on Friday where I will be sharing some of my "to-do" list for November, to help keep the holidays a litle more organized! Be sure to tell a friend to stop by too....there's always room for one more at our family table!

xoxo

Genevieve

Spooktacular Halloween Night

What a fun night! But gosh today is going to be hard! #latenight #toomuchcandy
Not looking forward to getting the kids moving this morning. Much appreciation to all the teachers out there today....going to be a long day! I strongly believe Halloween should be on the last Saturday of October every year! Who is with me?

The kids looked great heading off to school to celebrate with their classmates.

Of course we had a fun Halloween dinner! E & L requested Mummy dogs. We also had "broken bones", which was roasted cauliflower. 

After dinner we got back into our costumes and got ready to go Trick or Treating.

We put Maddie in her costume too.....

She is licking the peanut butter off her nose....it was my bribe to get her costume on!

Paul usually takes the kids through the neighborhood with some of the other Dads while I pass out candy, but he got stuck at work.....bummer! So thankful for great neighbors that took Ella and Luke with their kids. I stayed at the house to pass out candy. I love seeing all the kids in their costumes!!

Ella and Luke came home and immediately started sorting their candy. My brother and I did this every year too! I think it was my favorite part of Halloween night!

This makes it much easier for me to decide which piece to eat...instead of digging through the pumpkin pail!

Well that's a wrap for Halloween 2016! And I kind of feel like this......

I absolutely LOVE the Christmas season....the sounds, the food, the colors, the traditions...the magic of it all!!! But I won't start blogging about Christmas....yet!

 Join me tomorrow as I share our family's thankful tree.....there's always room for one more at our family table!

xoxo

Genevieve