Saturday, December 29, 2012

Italian Beef Sandwiches

If you're looking for something REALLY good (and really easy!) to serve at your New Year's Eve party, or while watching a bowl game, you may want to try this...

Ingredients
Beef roast
2 cans beef broth (or one big carton)
1-2 packets Italian dressing mix
Sliced peppers (to taste)

Directions
Place the roast and sliced peppers in a crock pot
Add the broth to about halfway up the sides of the roast
Cook on high for 4 hours, then turn to low
Shred the beef with a fork
Serve on toasted sandwich rolls, with or without cheese (I used provolone and it was delicious!)
Enjoy!!


Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Merry Christ-mouse!

I learned to cross stitch here in Iowa when I was really young.  So, when I saw this little kit in Goodwill a few weeks ago (for 38 cents!),

I started feeling nostalgic.

And, I had a mouse in the house, so it was perfect!

(Yes, I had a mouse in the house.)

Luckily, that mouse is gone (may he rest in peace), but I still have this one...
Much cuter!
I hope my friend Winavie at Lemons & Chambray found some great Christmas deals too!

Next month - Happy New Year!  (It's time for resolutions!)

Merry Christmas!



Let it snow!
Let it snow!
Let it snow!
Season's Greetings from Bellevue

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Meatballs

When I was growing up, we'd always eat "munchies" over the holidays instead of dinner - Chex Mix, cookies, covered pretzels, veggies & dip...

and meatballs.

Ingredients
2 lbs lean ground beef                            
1 package Lipton Beefy Onion Soup             
1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs  
1 egg (beaten)
2 jars Heinz Chili Sauce
1 small jar grape jelly

Directions
Place the soup mix in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to smash up the onion bits
In a bowl, mix the ground beef, bread crumbs, soup mix, and egg
Shape into small meatballs
Or have someone else do it. Yuck!
Place the meatballs on a cookie sheet,
and bake in a 350 degree oven until the meatballs are cooked (approximately 30 minutes)
In a slow cooker, add the chili sauce and grape jelly and heat on high
Add the drained meatballs to the sauce and heat through

And finally, according to my dad...
Enjoy, they are great.

Friday, November 30, 2012

How did you get to work yesterday?

I took this...


These seats are way better than First Class...

Or you could stretch out...

Bellevue!
I may never fly commercial again.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thankful

I have A LOT to be thankful for this year.

I'm home!!

And, even though the thrift stores in Iowa aren't quite as nice as New York City (no Prada), I still manage to find a few things I "need".

Now, I'm not a religious person (AT ALL!), but I've always liked these...

And when I saw it at the Goodwill in Davenport, it looked like this!

It's brand new and that price tag says $3.95.

The original price tag on the box says $40, and on Amazon right now, the Wilton Armetale Give Us This Day Bread Serving Tray, Rectangular, 9-1/4-Inch by 6-1/2-Inch by 1-Inch, is over $32.

So, not a bad deal!

But now that I have somewhere to go for Thanksgiving, I can't just show up empty handed, so I went to the expert...
I think this was about $1
In the chapter "Our Farmhouse Thanksgiving for Eight" I found this recipe...

I don't know who Laura is, and I don't live in a farmhouse, but it sounds delicious!  (We'll see!)

And finally, our local radio station plays this song every night as it goes off the air (at 10pm!  So cute!)...


I read that Perry Como performed this on his Thanksgiving special, so it's only appropriate to listen to it today.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Don't forget to check out Lemons & Chambray!  I know Winavie has a lot to be thankful for too!

Next month - Happy Holidays!!!

Sunday, November 11, 2012

A Walk in the Park

I do miss Ft. Tryon Park, in my old neighborhood in New York City, but luckily Bellevue State Park lies just along the southern edge of the town I live in now.

After a particularly hot and dry summer, nobody knew what to expect this fall.

But, it was beautiful!

And, on one recent sunny day I took a walk along the Meadow and Quarry trails, just beyond the Butterfly Garden.

Quarry Trail
An unexpected pop of red
Pretty
Some people hike this park every morning.  I'm not one of them (uh, no), but I do plan to get back up there often!

Friday, October 26, 2012

Trick or Treat!

Everyone knows thrift stores are a great resource for Halloween costumes, but during a recent trip to New York City, I stopped into the Goodwill on 23rd Street and saw this...

(Yes, some people go to the Statue of Liberty when they visit New York City.  I go to Goodwill.)

I've always wanted to try one of these.

And it was only $2!

I found the perfect pumpkin at the farm,

and got to work.

It was easy!

And the end result is...
Spooky

Can't wait to see what Lemons & Chambray found this month!

Next Month:  Thankful!

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Mill Creek Farms

When I finally decided to leave New York City, I asked a friend if I could work for him on his farm.

He wrote back "Yes, you're hired!  We need you!".

The problem was, they couldn't actually pay me.

So, I got a "real" job.

But I still spend quite a bit of time here...



Flowers outside
Flowers (and a butterfly) inside
The ducks spend the day at Mill Creek
Nightly roundup
The cabin
I'm so lucky!

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Let Them Eat Cake

I love to bake, and have been waiting for an excuse to make this cake, as seen on Posie Gets Cozy.

Well, yesterday was my friend HP's birthday, so...

My cake
doesn't quite look like hers.

But, it was good!!!  (And very symbolic!)

HP owns a small farm...
with a Farmall tractor
and a pumpkin patch
some Indian corn
and a frog, rescued from my basement (ewww!)
The cake was delicious (even though I forgot to add the teaspoon of vanilla to the frosting), so why wait for an excuse?

Enjoy!

Saturday, September 29, 2012

Third Time's a Charm



Goodbye New York City.

I'll miss you, but I'll be back!

(to visit)

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Back to School

I graduated, ummm...

a while ago.

And, I don't have kids.

What I do have (now!) is space for an office in my new house.

So, I needed a desk!

I went to several thrift stores, and saw several desks.  But they were all big and ugly.

Then I went into a Goodwill As-Is store and saw this...
Small and pretty!

I love the legs...

But not the mis-matched hardware...

With a little paint and some new hardware, though, I think it'll be perfect!

The price was marked $75.

Now, I'm not usually one to negotiate at a thrift store (it's for charity!).

But $75?!?

And, it  is  will be so pretty...

So, I asked.

And I got it for $25!

(I probably could've gotten it for even less, but, you know, it's for charity.)

Hopefully Lemons & Chambray found some cute back to school deals too!

Next month:  Happy Halloween!

Sunday, September 16, 2012

On the Road

It started out innocently enough...

But then things started to go wrong...

Really wrong...

So, so wrong...

But, a mere 6 hours later...

I was back on the road!

In a way...

This can't be good...
(It wasn't.)

This can't be good either...

(It wasn't.)

But the next day, it was all worth it...

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