January: an overachiever ♥

Oh January! 

Once again you have overachieved!  The cold, the snow, the ice….you are so good at this!  January never fails to succeed at making me not wanting to leave the house.  Under a warm blanket watching TV is where I want to be.  Unfortunately life carries on in January and I’m forced to put on boots and a hat (ugh) and go out into the cold.  It’s not my favorite but we do what we have to do, knowing my cozy spot will be there at the end of the day.  I appreciate it more these days. 

I’m grateful for the bright sunshine that comes through the windows in the morning warming up the room.  And also for flowers!  Spring flowers in the winter are just delightful, aren’t they?  The other day I picked up some tulips at the grocery store.  I told Rob I did it for my health.  

These are medicine ♥  

I’ve got little bits of Valentine’s Day scattered around the house.  Hearts make me happy and we definitely need happy in the dead of winter. Now that John is older he doesn’t have Valentines parties at school anymore.  I used to love helping him write little Valentine cards to his friends.   This year I decided to write my own Valentine’s cards and send them out.  Something I haven’t done in years.  I ordered these beautiful vintage ones from Victoria Trading Company.  I wish I had all your addresses so I could send you one! ♥♥♥

So January, I hope you are proud of yourself!  You’ve done your job.  I’ve gained 5 lbs from sitting on the couch watching TV and not wanting to move.  I’m hoping to gain some of my mojo back as we head toward Spring (fingers crossed!).   But first….

Tonight is Rob’s birthday so I must leave room for cake.  And then Sunday is the Super bowl, so... there’s that.  And then in two weeks is every chocolate lovers dream come true…Valentine’s Day.  

Yup, I’m doomed! (yet not complaining at all….: ) 

Happy last of day of January, my friends! I hope it was a great month for you!  Tonight we will be celebrating Rob’s birthday with take out from his favorite restaurant!  I suggested going out to eat but it’s so cold out he preferred staying in.  Ok by me ♥    We’ll have cake and ice cream and then watch a movie in our cozy spot (it’s waiting for us!).

Also, don’t forget to look for the full blue moon tonight and make a wish!

 I’ll see you all in February! ♥♥♥

Xoxo 

Andes chocolate mint brownies ♥

I love decorating for Valentines Day! ♥  

All the pink and red hearts look so pretty against the January snow.  The colors instantly brighten my days (which lately have been cold and dreary...)

I made this little set up on my coffee table today.  What do you think?  I'm smiling, how about you? 

And speaking of Valentine's Day, we are only a few weeks away!  I was trying to think of some special treats to bake and I remembered these brownies I made for Christmas .  

Chocolate + mint = perfection! ♥ 

All you need is a brownie mix and a package of Andes chocolates.  

Bake your brownies as you normally would.  

*side note, my friend Billie Jo taught me to always add an extra egg to brownie mix to make them more cake-like.  I always do this and they come out great every time! Less gooey and more delicious! 

Just sayin...* 

While they are baking, unwrap the chocolates because you will need them as soon as the brownies are done.  

(I ate a few along the way...who wouldn't, right? : ) 

When done, remove the brownies from the oven and immediately cover them with the chocolates (in a single layer).  Within a few seconds the chocolate will begin to melt.  

♥

With a spatula, smear the melted minty chocolate over the brownies Willy Wonka style,  so it's nice and smooth ♥ 

Set aside to cool completely.  I put mine in the fridge so it would set faster ♥

Once completely cooled and the chocolate is hardened, use a serrated knife to cut the brownies.  

What you are left with is a delicious chocolate brownie with a thick layer of chocolate mint on top! 

Definitely Valentines day appropriate! ♥♥

Make them for your loved ones and Enjoy! 

Have a great day friends! We are half way to Friday!  I hope these brownies last till then.  

( probably not : ) 

xoxo

A Word on Lucy ♥

I Love Lucy!

 

♥

 

My favorite TV of all time is I Love Lucy.  I'm sure I've mentioned it before.  I've loved Lucy since I was 9 years old and I still love her.  I watch I Love Lucy every day and laugh, smile, cry...just as if I had never seen it before. 

 

There is one particular episode where Lucy learns how to play golf that is so funny I literally belly laugh....even though I've seen it a million times!  Just thinking about it makes me start chuckling....: )

 

Lucky for me Lucy has been in reruns for my entire life! I've always been able to find her somewhere and make here a part of my day.  I currently watch I Love Lucy on The Hallmark Channel every morning from 5am-8am.  I watch the first 2 episodes while I have my coffee and the rest play in the background while we get ready for work and school ♥

 

 

 

 

 

The "classic" shows are the best, don't you agree?

 

 I wanted to jump into my TV and live back then.  I still do!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The I Love Lucy show aired from 1950 - 1957 and was definitely my gateway into loving the 1950's.  I fell in love with the clothes, makeup, and hairstyles of the times.

 

 

 

 

 Lucy was a flawless beauty! 

 

Definitely my style icon ♥

 

 

.

 

 

In real life Lucy was a serious woman. 

 

She was a real woman.

 

She was a perfectionist.  She was a wife and a mother.  She had insecurities. She did not have a perfect marriage. She never graduated high school. She was a business woman and the first woman to ever own and run her own TV studio.  She was a pioneer for woman in comedy.

 

Lucy once said "I'm not funny, what I am is brave".

 

She was ♥

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Did you know that Lucy was 40 years old when I Love Lucy premiered? 

 

She was age 40 and 42 when her children were born. 

 

Yes, she was!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucy and Desi were married for 20 years before divorcing in 1960. 

(I'm still not over it)

 

 

They maintained a loving relationship until Desi died in 1986.

 

 

 

 

 

Lucy will never know the countless hours of laughter and joy she has given me. 

 

She helped shape my childhood and view of the world. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This one was on this morning! Lucy meets Bill Holden.

Remember the Hollywood episodes?  

 

 

 

"I've got an idea!"

 

 

 

 

I always cry during this scene ♥

 "We're having a baby, my baby and me!"

 

 

 

 

 Friends forever!

 

 

 

 

"Do you pop out at parties? Are you unpoopular?"

 

 

 

 

 

Lucy passed away in April of 1989.  I was 15 years old. I still have the newspaper clippings tucked away in my scrapbook. 

 

 

What was your favorite TV show as a child? Is it still your favorite today? 

And can you say Vitameatavegamin without laughing? I can't ♥

 

 

Thank you Lucy! We love you~

 

xo

 

 

"I Love Lucy was never just a title"  - Desi Arnaz

 

 

Emotional eating....cherry coffee cake ♥

Hello Everyone! Happy Friday! 

This week I've been feeling a bit of the January blues.  You know what I mean, right?  I've reached that point in the winter where the prettiness of the snow has worn off and now all I'm doing is wishing for spring! I've been able to pacify myself with Netflix but sometimes even that doesn't help.  Which leads me to my next resort.  Emotional eating.  Sigh.  I am so guilty of this.  When in doubt I turn to my pantry.  The other night after a New Jersey Housewives binge I actually found myself eating Toll House chocolate chips straight from the bag.  Oh dear.... 

I've been trying to stay on the positive side of things.  I know winter will indeed end one day and it will be warm again.  That's good to know.  The snow is very pretty, but only if I don't have to drive in it....(FYI - the reason for some of my crankiness this week), and Valentines day is coming up in a few weeks and I really do LOVE Valentines day.  I've already taken out my Valentine decorations to cheer up the house and that has help a little bit.  Hearts always do ♥

So anyway, instead of eating chocolate chips straight from the bag I decided to do some baking.  One night I noticed a can of cherry pie filling sitting on the shelf.  Hmmm....looks good.  What can I do with it? My first thought was cherry pie, but for the first time in I think FOREVER  I didn't feel like making a pie crust.  

(I know, 50's housewives everywhere are shaking their fingers at me...)  I wanted something quick and easy.  I decided on this cherry coffee cake because it's easy to make and perfectly acceptable to eat for breakfast as well as dessert.  That's exactly what I need right now! Bring it on! 

Before...

I made the batter Wednesday night and baked it as soon as I woke up on Thursday morning.  I don't know if it was the sweet aroma of the cherries but my mood was definitely improving.   I was able to bake this and let it cool all before I left for work at 8:30.  I cut a small piece and brought it with me.  It was delicious.......

Instant happiness! ♥

After...

So does this mean my whole mood and personality is defined  by my food choices?  If that's the case I better have cake everyday!  What about you? Are you an emotional eater like me?  And why do those chips taste so much better straight from the bag?  Oh man.  Spring better hurry up and get here soon! ♥

Ooey gooey goodness....:) 

It's so yummy and not overly sweet! If you are tired of the cold and wishing for spring I strongly suggest this cake.  It will remind you of sunshine, jelly beans, and daises.  All things spring, which is right around the corner...sort of ♥  

recipe from Bunny's Warm Oven... 

Happy a happy weekend, friends!  xoxox  

5 Questions ♥

Hello Everyone!  Let's have some coffee talk  ♥ 

I came across this list of 5 questions on Pinterest and just for fun I thought I would answer them on my blog today.  Here goes…

If money didn’t matter what is one thing you would splurge on right now?

A five star  two week Disney World vacation. Seriously, it’s my favorite place on Earth!  I would love to eat in all the nice restaurants without even looking at the prices!

 If there is one thing you could learn how to do what would it be? 

Play piano.  I’m in awe of people who can play instruments.  I wish I took lessons when I was little.  

Also, sewing.  I’m no good at it. 

Do you have summer plans? 

YES! We have plans for a weekend in June on Cape Cod and also a long weekend in August in New Hampshire.  Both are family trips and I couldn’t be more excited.  Thoughts of making s’mores around a fire pit on a summer evening is getting me through the cold days of January. 

What is your favorite movie ever?  

Hmmm…this is a hard one because I love so many movies!!!  Sleepless in Seattle holds a special place in my heart though.  I just love that one. The soundtrack is pretty awesome too! 

(Nat King Cole's Stardust is one of my favorite songs and I first hear it in this movie....♥) 

Name a random fact about you: 

Well, I’ve never read a Harry Potter book.  That’s pretty random (and shocking to some people : ).   

Other than that…sometimes I like to have cereal for dinner.  Not because I’m lazy, I just really like cereal.  For dinner ♥

I would love to hear your answers to these questions in the comments or post them on your blog! 

Happy Wednesday! xo 

Happiness is....a three day weekend!

Hello Everyone!  How was your weekend?  Mine was very good! It was a three day weekend and we had no particular plans.  On Saturday John and I ventured out into the cold to the movies, but otherwise it was pretty quiet around here.


And I couldn't have been happier.  Here's a little peek at this past weekend.....

Happiness is a cute apron.

Happiness is chocolate cake with sprinkles, and a cherry on top. 

Happiness is a movie date with your best friend.

Happiness is a charming, heartwarming movie (that I highly recommend : ) 

Happiness is finding a little bit of spring at the grocery store....on a snowy, 19 degree day. 

My weekend.  Nothing special. Nothing fancy.

But finding happiness in the ordinary :) 

Happy new week, my friends!  It's back to work tomorrow and we are expecting more snow on Wednesday! eeek! 

Also, in case you didn't know, you can follow me on Instagram and twitter for daily musings....but it's mostly coffee & pie pictures, let's be real! LOL 

xo