Lady Nine

When Jon and I moved in together, we had a coffee table way before we bought a couch. There would be nights we would sit on next to the table, and eat dinner while watching our favorite shows.  Once we got a couch, we decided to forego the coffee table and got two small ottomans with trays for entertaining, storage, and/or sitting. A few months ago, Jon and I were doing some weekend shopping at West Elm when we came across this coffee table. Jon looked at me and said, "This is an AMAZING coffee table!"  Now for anyone that knows Jon, he's a pretty easy going fella, and does not have a strong opinion about home decorating or furniture for that matter. He was so into this coffee table, I was totally shocked.  He said, "We have to get this!"  Since it was a little bit of a financial investment for us (our previous coffee table was from Ikea), we decided to think about it for a little bit. Weeks later, Jon was still talking about the coffee table.  So when We...

I'm usually pretty good about following recipes.  However when it comes to soup, I feel like all the rules can go out the window.  Soup is so versatile and easy to make, it's a great addition to your weekly menu. Since I can never cook for two people (I think that's one reason Jon married me), there are plenty of leftovers for lunches or even to put in the freezer for a busy week ahead.  For this soup, I made up the recipe since I couldn't find one that I wanted to make. So I'll do my best to get all of the details written out for you, so you can try it at home.  Have fun and feel free to add or omit things to your liking!  Buon Appetito! Angelina Zuppa Zuppa Makes: 6-8 servings 3 Tbsp olive oil 1 yellow onion diced 3 garlic cloves small diced 2 lbs sweet Italian sausage casings removed 2 tsp salt 2 tsp pepper 2 tsp dried oregano 3 tsp dried thyme 2 tsp dried basil 2 tsp paprika 1/2 tsp red pepper chili flakes 2 bay leaves 1 Zucch...

It's official; fall has arrived! The nights are cool and pumpkin spice is the new black.  It's my favorite season and I am excited to change my style, home interior and eating habits!  We had a lovely weekend filled with visiting friends, late brunches, and a bonfire at my sister's house. Hope you had a great weekend too! Soup season! Recipe coming Wednesday Shopping at Jonathan Adler My new autumn tea from Teavana My brother-in-law showing us his farm . Organically beautiful.

A few weeks ago, I made zucchini bread using applesauce as a healthier alternative to oil. However, I was left with quite a bit of applesauce and wasn't sure what to do with it (plain applesauce straight out of the container didn't sound appealing).  I stumbled upon this recipe from a favorite blogger of mine, and the results were perfection! The only alteration I made was to add raisins instead of walnuts since that is what I had in the pantry. It was an easy and delicious cake to make on a rainy night. prep time mmmmm...batter... special cake tools cream cheese frosting YOLO

Years ago, my close friends and I started a weekly get together we affectionally call Wine Wednesday.  Initially we used to gather around the TV and tune into one of our favorite shows like Project Runway or Top Chef.  Then we realized that we were not watching much of the show, and ended up just talking and catching up for a few hours (husbands included). With such busy schedules, it was a great way to stay connected and enjoy a mid-week mini-party. As we continue the tradition (it's my turn to have everyone over tonight) I have learned a few tips and tricks along the way to make the night easy, fun and stress-free!  Hopefully this will inspire you to host your own Wine Wednesday to get you through the work week! Clean the day before.  It's so much better to have your house clean so you can just prep the food before your guests arrive.  Since it's a mid-week party, you only have a few hours before people show up.  If you are pressed for time, at l...

Clearly... age is just a number. Today is my 29th birthday.  Technically, it's also my twin sister's birthday which is a bonus since we usually get double the birthday desserts.  It's my last birthday before my hit a major milestone. I took a stroll down memory lane and tried to find pictures from my 20th birthday.  I definitely found some pictures of Annie and I that could easily be used as blackmail at a later date.  Looking back, I see a young college girl with eyebrows that are too thin wearing a "I sold my soul to rock and roll" T-shirt (trust me, it was a good look at the time).  I also see someone who has so much to learn about this world and how she fits into it. I truly enjoyed my twenties.  I went to college, graduated, traveled to Europe a few times, met Jon, got married, and began my professional career.  I've come to realize that most of my learning has been the later part of my twenties. After 25, I begun to feel more comfortable wit...

Appetizers for a night with my gal pals After pulling together photos for this post, I began to realize that my life has a lot to do with food.  Haha, what a wonderful life! Hope everyone had a great labor day weekend!  Ours was filled with lots of memories, laughs, and a few glasses of rosé.  Now that summer is winding down and the mornings are cooler, I look am really looking forward to the changing of the seasons and the upcoming holiday season. Tomorrow is my last birthday before I enter my 30's. I think it's time for me to make  a list of all the things I want to do before I hit that milestone; stay tuned for that.  Here's to a short week everyone; hope you get to do something special today! Jon's painting at the MN State Fair. So.Proud. Pearls that my sister found in her mussels at Burch . Bowl of French Onion Soup at Salut . Homemade arugula pesto for an easy weeknight meal Bowling at Elsie's . Secretly ...