Fall

I decided that Friday was the perfect soup weather.  After perusing the internets I settled on a Roasted Tomato Soup recipe.  I was a little nervous as I'd never made homemade tomato soup before and the canned soup isn't exactly my favorite.  After one bite I was smitten - not only was the recipe simple, it was also delicious and hearty.  This one is definitely going into our fall rotation.

 Elo enjoying a mid-morning nap in the sunshine (about 10 seconds after this jackson hit her with a rolling tackle and now he is napping in the sunshine, just heard a little snore. . . . .)

Halloween fun @ the Birusingh's

Though we did not sweep the costume contest this year, Waldo & Wenda still had an amazing time.  There were some awesome costumes and there were some not-so-awesome costumes.

At the end of the night I was happy to be wearing something warm and comfortable. 

Way too many half naked ladies tottering around on 5" heels -- what were they thinking?!?!?!

 

The Rachel Zoe Project Season 4 - The Crack of Salamis

One of my favorite reality TV shows is the RZP. She manages to do it all - career, marriage, and mommyhood all while looking bananas. One the season finale she made a special salami recipe (video below):

**WARNING: This video has crude language. Not suitable for work or those easily offended.

The Rachel Zoe Project Season 4 - The Crack of Salamis - Video - Bravo TV Official Site

I have come upon a recipe for "Crack Salami" that I can't wait to try!

Apricot Baked Salami

1 large soft salami (2 lbs)

1 1/2 cups honey mustard

1 1/2 cups apricot or peach jam

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. In a small sauce pan, over medium heat, combine mustard and jam. Stir constantly until mixture is well combines and bubbly.
3. Place salami on wire rack on a cookie sheet. (Hint: Spray the cookie sheet with non-stick baking spray for easier clean-up.) Make 6-8 diagonal slits in the top of the salami. Brush mustard mixture onto salami.
4. Bake for 1 hour basting every 15 minutes. Remove the salami from the oven and place on a cutting board with a knife to let your guests serve themselves. Serve with crackers or rye bread

Outfit of the Day

On my favorite blogs the blogger-girls always post pictures of their outfits. 

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so here I go. . .

Jacket: bought by mom, Arkansas

Blouse: Ann Taylor Outlet

Pants: won from Lands End

Shoes: JC Penney

Accessory: Miss Elo

"everyone will be famous for 15 minutes"

while partaking in the Yelp festivities I received a FREE Andy Warhol makeover. 

we're like dopplegangers.

Jackson likes the new 'do

Yelp!

Despite not having a costume, I had an absolute blast last night at the Yelp Halloween party.  Food, dancing, desserts, drinks, and a photobooth.  Stayed tuned for more photos!

The rule of 3's

Numero uno: My car got hit in the doctor's lot

Numero dos: Our heater went out on the coldest day of the year

Numero tres: Felipe got a flat tire on the way to work

You know how they say that bad things come in three's?  I think we've fulfilled our quota.  Luckily the heater got fixed straight away thanks to an amazing MIL and Fel's flat is already changed thanks to some handy urology residents.  Now I just have to find a week when I don't need a car. . . .

In the meantime I'm wondering what three good things are coming our way.  I've got my fingers crossed on one. . . . .or maybe two:)

Caramel Corn

Just made this awesome new recipe I found.  Caramel corn in 15 minutes - sweet!  I think this may be my new favorite winter treat.  I'll let you know if it passes the taste test.  Doubt it will be as good as great gma's, but it certainly whips up in a jiffy.

Plants

I completed my PALS certificate a few hours early - to my delight the weather was a sunny 70 degrees.  I decided I needed to recharge my Vitamin D so I stopped at Walmart to pick up a few new plants.  All of my lush plants from our old duplex have since withered and died with the low light.  This time I was smart and tried to pick ones for shade - green thumbs crossed!  I also picked up 2 bags of daffodil bulbs to plant out front for some early spring color.  Of course my main goal today was to plant the honeysuckle "borrowed" from my grandma's neighbor.  Unfortunately the ground was too hard and neither the honeysuckle nor the daffodil bulbs made it into the ground.  I'm waiting from some rain. 
Check out my handiwork - the big one is called a money tree.  I hope it brings some good luck our way!

Reading is Fun: The Awakening

This week I finished another book, this one was quite short and happened to be a rather tragic romance written over 100 years ago. I was fascinated by how progressive the female author was for her time.

From a website devote to Kate Chopin (the author):

From The Awakening: "Even as a child she had lived her own small life all within herself. At a very early period she had apprehended instinctively the dual life—that outward existence which conforms, the inner life which questions."

This morning I awakened to a house that was a mere 54 degrees.  Brrrrrrrrr!  Our poor geriatric heater went out  lateyesterday.  Three cheers to my generous mother-in-law who met the repair man at our house and supervised her work.  $400 and a new motor later I am sitting cozy!

Reading is Fun: Fight Club & Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs

During our trip to Playa Mujeres I managed to devour two books.  Unfortunately both of them were "man" books, not a single romance novel in sight.  On the plane to Mexico, Felipe "borrowed" the book I brought (should have known better than to bring a book he would like so much) so I started with Fight Club.  It was a quick read and quite disturbing.  It was so much better than Choke, the Chuck Palahniuk novel I read last week.  Brad Pitt is so good looking, I think I'll rent Fight Club to check out the movie-version.

Next, I switched to Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs which was a rather entertaining collection of essays. 

From the review:

Countless writers and artists have spoken for a generation, but no one has done it quite like Chuck Klosterman. With an exhaustive knowledge of popular culture and an almost effortless ability to spin brilliant prose out of unlikely subject matter, Klosterman attacks the entire spectrum of postmodern America: reality TV, Internet porn, Pamela Anderson, literary Jesus freaks, and the real difference between apples and oranges (of which there is none). And don't even get him started on his love life and the whole Harry-Met-Sally situation.

Whether deconstructing Saved by the Bell episodes or the artistic legacy of Billy Joel, the symbolic importance of The Empire Strikes Back or the Celtics/Lakers rivalry, Chuck will make you think, he'll make you laugh, and he'll drive you insane -- usually all at once. Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs is ostensibly about art, entertainment, infotainment, sports, politics, and kittens, but -- really -- it's about us. All of us. As Klosterman realizes late at night, in the moment before he falls asleep, "In and of itself, nothing really matters. What matters is that nothing is ever 'in and of itself.'" Read to believe.

My fave chapters examined important topics such as Saved By the Bell and Real World.

Playa Mujeres - Day 4

Meet Larry, the camoflague lizard.

Enjoying our morning coffee - - too bad I didn't get a picture of the 4 chocolate croissants I ate!

Meet Larry the Lobster, my dinner.

Playa Mujeres - Day 3

Two of my favorite men. . .

And 2 hot ladies. . .

 A view from the top. . .

Playa Mujeres - Day 2

I think the pictures say it all.

Playa Mujeres - Day 1

Day 1 at Excellence Playa Mujeres - so perfectly named.

The Garber's didn't quite get it together for the first shot. . . .

. . .3 cheers!

On my doorstep

We got another produce delivery today - 3 bananas, 2 gala apples, 2 white peaches, 1 bunch red chard, 1/2 lb green beans, 1 acorn squash, 1 head leaf lettuce, and 1 pound fingerling potatoes.

We sauteed the red chard with some bacon and garlic ala this rachel ray recipe - amazing!  No vampires will come by the Rosso house tonight. 

Right now Fel and I are curled up in front of the television watching Mission Impossible.  Tom Cruise has been an odd bird for quite some time.  

Signing off to go on an icecream run. 

(We cleaned the gutters today which more than deserves a sweet treat.)

Reading is Fun: The Virgin Suicides

I'm starting to remember why I don't read critically aclaimed books - much for the same reason I don't go to theatre or the symphony.  I must prefer my entertainment to be mindless.  Reality tv, the latest adventure movie, and the weekly gossip mag are much more up my alley.  Nonetheless, I'm determined to broaden my horizens and continue on the literary journey.

Book 2 was The Virgin Suicides - rather dull and depressing.  Its the story of 5 sisters who all commit suicide over the course fo a year.  The book is not about their lives nor their suicides, its told through the eyes of boys living in their neighborhood who are infatuated with them. 

Perhaps I would prefer the movie - I loved Marie Antoinette (also directed by Sophia Coppola) and have always been a fan of Kristen Dunst and Josh Hartnett.

Home Sweet Home

Today we CLEANED the garage.  Melipe does not mess around.  After a strong cup of coffee we put on our work gloves and started moving stuff out.  Once everything was out, we had our first suprise.  Just as Felipe was about to walk under the garage door, the cable snapped and it came crashing to the floor.  A few choice words, 30 minutes, and a phone call to my mom later we were finally able to pull the release lever to manually raise the door.  Luckily the house door from the garage was unlocked or we might still be there. 

We demo-ed half of our work bench and put the other half on the curb with a "free" sign.  People have a hard time passing up free.  I'm hoping its gone by the morning, fingers crossed.  Next we swept the floor and the walls and then applied a coat of primer.  After a much needed lunch break run to jimmy john's we applied the 2nd coat, put some shelves together, and moved everything back in.  The pictures really don't do it justice, perhaps the bruises and paint splattered across my legs and arms and bandaid on my thumb would paint a better picture? 

Nonetheless we are sore, weary, and altogether proud of ourselves.  My massage tomorrow is going to be all the better. . . .