happy weekend!

This weekend I'm taking a class on "healthy soups". I love hat and sweater weather but it does inevitably lead to colds or flu season and I'd like to be prepared. I'll fill you in on any great recipes on Monday. Have a good one!

golden(doodle)

Back to healthy and enjoying the colors and warmth of fall...it's been gorgeous here! If you 've never tried you MUST make Ina's Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup. So delish! The only change-up we made was not to add the quantity of shiitake mushrooms suggested...guess we're not the earthy type.
Got a busy week but lots of fun things being planned. Hope you have a great week.
*hello 7 month old Lola

everyone knows it

I've been battling a cold for the last few days. You know the drill. Goes from your chest to your head to your nose and now I'm just a mess. I pity the next person with their fingertips on this keyboard. The worst part is I created the most delicious salmon cakes (thank you Ina Garten) and couldn't taste them. I caught the scent for a moment and then it was gone.
Our neighbor told us that she hasn't had the sense of smell/taste for years. How awful would that be? You would miss out on some "natural" odors that most don't want to smell but I would kind of like to know if my house smelled like fart or not.
But missing the taste of chocolate. coffee. a great burger. italian. My bestest friend from work (who no longer works there ~damn you Amy!) and I once talked about that if you HAD to lose one of your senses what would it be?

lazy lola

Six months old, 42 pounds...this girl has got to get her zzzzz's to keep up. I debated showing this but her paws were strategically placed and I know you only come to the blog for the great articles anyway.

pumpkin time

Lovin me some fall. Don't you just love the change of seasons? Not just the glorious weather we're having but the vegetables, the soups, the colors...nothing like it. Have a fall filled weekend!

fall break

Love having fall break and this year was especially fun. The Benson family got together in Portland to celebrate Tyler's 30th birthday (surprise!) and see the sights. We rented a house in the Hawthorne neighborhood via VRBO (have you ever rented a house in another city?) which was perfect for parties, babies, and hanging out.

Made it back home yesterday and am fighting a cold (boo!) but planning on doing a little R&R for our last few days of freedom break.

change in the weather

brrrr...got cold, wet, and windy here. Hold on to your hats.

sweet as pie

 Fall is finally here and I made my FIRST ever cherry pie --the crust and all! Thanks to Ina Garten for her pie crust tips...it turned out beyond fabulous. What's your favorite kind of pie? And speaking of...have you seen our "sweet as pie" shirt in the DOTS shop? delicious as well.

did she or didn't she?

The other night when husband went to bed early and I had a boatload of ironing to do; I clicked on Oprah's finale show that's been saved since forever on my DVR to watch once more.
Oprah and I go way back and I remember how powerful the last show had been and sometimes you want (and need) to hear a positive and inspiring message.
Show's over, feeling good, and I remember Miss O giving me (and the world) her email address to keep in touch...so I did.
Short.
Sweet.
Just a "yo" to the O.
Wake up the next morning and "what?!" there's an email from Oprah in my inbox. Seriously? And it could have been a reply from her:

Got your email.

Thank you for watching the finale. I could feel your beating hearts, along with mine, through the TV screen.
I'm off to take a little rest, and then I'll get busy working on OWN.
Take care of yourself.
I'll write soon,
Oprah
 
so; color me doubting Benson but does everyone get the same email from the O or did she actually read mine and type away in the morning? Want to find out as much as I do? Her address is: oprah@oprah.com Go on now. You've got a letter to write.