Fabulous Halloween Decor! Make It Happen!

Godmother of Landon adores Halloween, and truly before I discovered her love for it, I wasn't that into it. Halloween had just seemed like a cheap holiday. That was until I saw it could be fabulous. (Hello, pumpkin snake!)

Remember my Halloween Dinner Party? Again Godmother had a major hand in that.




Anyway I now look for fabulous creative Halloween decor to get inspired by or to execute! For today I will post inspiration and then tomorrow? My decorations!!!

The Mrs. Likes....POP CHIPS! (and some other things too)

Oh...my...goooodness. I know, you've had potato chips before, but these? These are so gooood!!! I had to try them and see what the hype was about. Not only are they delicious, but they aren't fried or even baked!

More than half the fat of fried potato chips, trans fats, and cholesterol!!! Helooooo! Healthy and yummy? Come in every flavor imaginable? Heaven. I like the original flavor and parmesan garlic!!

Have you tried them? DIVINE!

What else am I loving?

William Sonoma Olive Oil Hand soap. Okay fine you pay more, but it smells so good, and makes my hands so smooth! I say if you're going to splurge do it on something you're going to use every day!!



What else am I loving?

My Lilly Pulitzer Giraffe print loafers! Just like my Bonanno's in the summer, these are my winter favorite and so comfy!!




What are you loving these days!?

Don't miss my Halloween decorations tomorrow!

The Mrs Likes....Ken Done

While in college I came to know about Ken Done, the artist from Australia. He had a store near our school and I walked by it all the time staring at the colorful art, prints and T-shirts inside.

Coming from a family of painters, my Grandmother and Mom could be a little snooty when it came to art. They HATED artists like Thomas Kinkead. (Have to say I am not a fan though). They thought he had no talent and was not a real artist.

Ken Done was selling T-shirts and umbrellas so I knew that maybe this wasn't going to be like having a Degas. One thing I have learned though, is that if you love something, you love it. No matter the cost or what it is. If it makes you happy to have it around then who cares what anyone thinks!

For years I tried to find prints of my favorite Ken Done painting, "Sunday". I loved that it has a view of the beach, a painters paints and brushes laid out (just like my mom and Grandmommie would do), and that it was called Sunday.

Finally, after stalking the Australian website, I bought one. Not a big one, but still a numbered print. This is really a dream come true for me. I can't wait to have it framed and hanging in my house!

The Mrs Likes.....Charm Bracelet

This week, I thought I'd tell you about some things I just adore. I think HIGH on the list is my charm bracelet. Given to me when I was in my late teens by my step father, I didn't realize how much I would come to love it.

At first I thought a charm bracelet was jewelry. Now I understand that it is a scrapbook of your life. A bracelet that reminds you of all the milestones and important moments.

The charms I have on the bracelet are so special to me:

A starfish for our wedding day in Malibu. We also had one on our wedding invitation.

A coin from Italy from my trip with my grandmother. We went to Rome, Florence and Venice just the two of us.

A giraffe for my safari trip to Africa. I have gone twice now and it was the trip of a lifetime.

My sorority letters; Kappa Alpha Theta. Being in a sorority gave me the confidence and friends I had longed for.

A cruise ship for my love of travel. My first cruise was in college with a bunch of fun girls.

A high heel shoe for when I graduated college.

A hat for my love of fashion and all things girly. I wore hats all the time in college!

And the last two, the most precious. Monogrammed charms for Landon and Coco's names and birth dates.

I still need a charm for my honeymoon in Greece, which was my favorite place I have ever been.

This bracelet is a page from my life. I can't wait to give Coco her bracelet at sixteen, and to see all the wonderful things she will do.

Real Housewives Of ATL- I Love it when you call me Big Papa!

I am religiously watching and loving RHO Atlanta and waiting for OC, NY, and NJ to start! I Want to know about fights and new babies in NJ, crazy Tami and now single Gretchen on OC, and of course how Bethenny is leaving and I miss JILL ZARIN!! (PS I follow all these people on twitter)

Anyhoo, I have been loving ATL. Some highlights?

Nene- She looks like a tranny now, which I love but...she seems so weird and has changed. Acts so high and mighty. Kim was smart to kick her off the song, after all she was the one who made fun of Kim! That's what you get! She seems more bitchy and two faced now. Miss the old "tell it like it is", honest Nene. Seems like her hubby is more in the background now that Dwight is on the show more. Dwight running the charity marathon in those heels was the best thing I have EVER seen. Those skinny legs! I honestly choked I laughed so hard. I like that Nene is giving back. PS her alter ego was FREAKY!

Lisa- It's interesting to hear more about Lisa's background. She's half black, half Asian and parents been married forever. Still distraught over brothers death. Worried about hubby, wants another baby. She became more real. She's a little fighter. She was abused before too. Her line Closet Freak, is weird and tacky. Not loving it. I do like how tough and business she is. I do feel like I never see her kid though. Does she spend time with him?

Shere- She hasn't changed a bit and I love it. Gotten a little more ghetto, trying to pull Kims wig off and acting crazy with party planners. It's all about her all the time. Love how she came late to Lisa's show, such a jealous bitchy move. Her having Dwight to boss her around about her show is priceless. He out bitches her!!! This fashion show better be A-Maze-ing, or she needs to hang the fashion thing up. She is all talk! She by Shere? Where the hell is it doll?

Kandy- I love her. Sure she looks like a cartoon character and sounds like she has marbles in her mouth, but I adore her. I think she's a damn good singer. Anyone who could make Tardy for the Party a hit is a genius. Now I could talk some stuff about AJ but the man died. Very sad. Said though in a report he was ex fiance? Do they break up this season? Anyway sad for his kids and Kandy. Tough. Love that she gave Kim and piece of her mind for not showing up to her show. Congrats on Capital Records Kandy!

Kim- Oh Kim. She is my favorite. Not just because her boobs look like to buoys out to sea, but because she can rock a wig can't she? The way she prances around with her short dresses, wig, and white wine make me just smile. The cursing and crap parenting? Brilliant. Those daughters are going to rule her in a few years. Kim cannot sing, we know this, so I love she has a hit song. On to BIG PAPA. Big ring, proposal, love of her life? What about the wife? I guess if you are that rich you can have two? No idea. Apparently he is a real estate developer Lee Najjar. I think the current wife kinda looks like Kim, and ironically is named KIM! Still, I love it when she calls him Big Papa, everyone needs a Sugar Daddy right?

Can't wait to see all the drama on the other housewife shows!!!

Not So Fabulous- Not Taking Care Of Yourself

The soar throat started on Monday. I did what all Mothers do. I ignored it. Suffered through. Pushed on. The next day it was the same. Wednesday was no better, actually worse adding coughing incessantly to my "To Do" list.

It wasn't until yesterday, talking to sister in law the pediatrician, that I realized how crazy I was. I had been working in the morning, then had headed to a meeting in the afternoon. On the way back I told her about my razor blades in the throat.

SIL: How many days now?

Me: Four.

SIL: Did you ever think you might have strep?

Me: Um, what?

SIL: Four days of soar throat? Sounds like strep.

Me: What happens if I leave it unchecked?

SIL: If you don't take anti biotics, you could get really sick and have a heart attack.

Me: Gotta go, calling my doctor.

Even later, feeling worse by the second, I was trying to find a way to still make the Mom's Night Out I planned work. Not because I needed a glass of wine, but because I felt BAD. Didn't want to let people down.

Note to self: wouldn't you be letting everyone down if you died of a heart attack?

Me: Oh yeah, I guess you're right.

Live and Learn.

Traditional Chili Recipe!

Since the link didn't work, here's hubby's standard chili recipe we make once a month. Delicious and make with ground turkey!


Chili Shrugged...

aka

Clubhouse Chili (with or without beans)

1 lb. Ground Beef (Turkey, Wild Boar, Venison, etc…)
1 Yellow Onion (Chopped)
4 Garlic Gloves (Chopped fine)
2 Cans “Ready-Cut” Tomatoes
1 6oz. Can of Tomato Paste
6 oz. Water
6 tbsp. Chili Powder
1 tsp. Salt
1 tbsp. Black Pepper
1 Bay Leaf
1 tbsp. Olive Oil

2 Cans Kidney Beans (Optional)

Start by heating the olive oil in the bottom of a large pot. Brown the meat and then remove from the pot.

Add the garlic and onions to the pot and sauté until the onions turn clear.

Add the meat back to the pot and stir.

Add the two (2) cans of “Ready-Cut” tomatoes and stir.

Add the tomato paste and water and stir until the paste has dissolved.

Add the Chili Powder, Salt, Pepper & Bay Leaf and stir.

At this point, if you don’t like beans, you’re done…let it simmer on low for an hour.

If you like beans or want to extend the chili, rinse the beans in a colander and then add them to the pot and stir.

If the chili is too “wet”, simmer it with the lid off the pot. If it’s too “dry”, add small amounts of water until the consistency is right for you.

You can add chopped onions, cheese, or sour cream to the top if that’s your sort of thing…

Chili Cook Off Winner In My House!

Hubby has earned the title Chili Master, after winning a very fiercely competitive contest at a friends house last weekend.

We have a regular chili recipe that is quite good. Posted it before here, but....hubby is Top Chef. I mean he's Rick Bayless, Tom Colicchio...hell he's Eric Ripert!

So I said to hubby, why not win this thing? You are Top Chef! Regular old Chili will not do! He fought me at first (he always does), but then he went to the grocery store and got inspired. He created his winning chili, but not without killing me first.

He bought hot chili peppers and blackened them in the kitchen on the stove and had me choking all the way in the bedroom. I almost pulled the plug but he headed out to the grill.

The party we attended was competitive. There were three judges, one of them a caterer, and the two others were our hosts and serious foodies. They were judging on consistency, taste, after taste, and aroma. They even wanted us to name our chili. We had heard a couple dropped out so we made both the old standard and new winning chilis and brought them over.

We named the old standard one "Chili Shrugged" (after Atlas Shrugged) and the new winner "Fear and Loathing in Las Chili". The other chilis were named with great creativity (Chili Vanilli was one, and the winning name HOMEWRECKER), it was really funny.

I started trying to buy the judges, flirt, you know play dirty. Everyone was having a swell time. Our hosts had salad, corn bread, cole slaw and beer and wine. We all waited while the judges sampled the chili. I brought in Chili Shrugged and curtsied (I was told this earned me five extra points), hey, I was raised right.

I noticed, that Chili #8, "Fear and Loathing in Las Chili", was the only bowl licked clean. I knew we won. The secret? Hubby used rib eye steak. YUM!

Hubby was so proud, he has never won anything for his cooking. He even thanked me for inspiring him. A fabulous evening and so darn fun.

Here's the recipe!

Fear and Loathing in Las Chili

4 Ribeye Steaks (Approximately 2” thick)

6 Habanero Chilis

6 Red Chilis

1 Large Yellow Onion

5 Cloves of Garlic

6 tablespoons of Chili Powder

1 Teaspoon of Cumin

1 Teaspoon of Oregano

1 Teaspoon of Paprika

1 Teaspoon of Sea Salt

1 Teaspoon Black Pepper

2 Tablespoon Brown Sugar

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

12 oz. Can of Tomato Paste

28 oz. Can of Peeled & Diced Tomatoes

24 oz. Spring Water

Grill steaks until medium rare and set aside.

Cut open peppers along one side, lengthwise, and remove seeds from peppers and flatten them. Grill them until they are blackened, but not dried out. Mince and set aside.

Chop the Onion

Mince the Garlic

Saute the Onion and Garlic in a skillet (cast-iron preferably) until the Onions are browned.

In a large pot, combine Onions, Garlic, Peppers , Tomato Paste, Water, Peeled-Diced Tomatoes, and all Spices and Brown Sugar.

Stir and Simmer.

While the base is simmering, trim the remaining fat from the Ribeyes, and cut the Steaks into ½” cubes and set aside.



Simmer the base until it cooks down to a thick sauce.

Add the meat and simmer until the meat is soft.



Serve HOT!

Octoberfest! Landon and Coco's Costumes

Landon and Coco will be representing the sea this Halloween, Landon as Nemo, and Coco as either a mermaid or an under sea princess! Grandma is making her costume and I can hardly wait to see!


Haven't decided on decorations yet, will be unearthing them this weekend. Either way I am doing this pumpkin snake this year for sure!



More on decorations this week!!!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a post on the Chili Cook Off Winner living in out house! Recipe posted tomorrow!

Octoberfest! Get Your Halloween Costume!

So it's October! Time to get your hiney in gear and think about your kids costumes (or yourself for that matter!). I have seen some adorable costumes. Just had to share! I like the catalog "Wishcraft, for Chasing Fireflies".

For babies:
Squiggly Piggly (above) and baby bear!



Little crabby...



and Baby Blossum:




For bigger kids:









Tomorrow I'll tell you what Coco and Landon will be!