2013: Year In Review

I feel like we say this every year..."Where did the time go?...Can you believe we're coming into a new year already?" 2013 has come and gone just as quickly as years past. A lot happens over the course of twelve months however I wanted to take a moment to reflect on those events that I found most important. 

It's The Holiday Season!

This past week and a half has been a whirlwind of holiday activities. From shopping and wrapping to Christmas parties, it has been non stop.  I have been so busy, I have not even had time to sit down and write about all of the activities. So here it goes...

Wednesday the Girls Night crew had our Holiday Dinner. We have made it a tradition to go to this little Italian restaurant in the area. The food is always delicious, the atmosphere is cozy and festive, and the service is always great. We also partake in a little Secret Santa. Just as last year, I gave to the same person who was giving to me. Too funny! I also gave the girls a little hot cocoa kit to enjoy during the cold winter nights. (Thank you Pinterest!)

Cookies! Cookies! Cookies!

There is no better way to spend a snowy Sunday in December than to bake up a bunch of cookies for the Holidays. We spent the morning digging out the driveway after the storm that brought us about 12 inches of snow. After throwing on a cozy sweater, I decided I would spend the rest of the afternoon baking up some delicious treats. This past week I have already made the HERSHEY'S Candy Cane Blossoms that I previously posted, as well as, a small batch of cut out sugar cookies. I might as well add a few more to the list. 

Here is today's line up:
1. Peanut Butter Cookies
2. Chocolate Chip Cookies
3. Cream Cheese Thumbprint Cookies

My Week of Dinners

Another busy week has come and gone. I swear, this happens to me at least once a month. I am jam packed with activities and outings. I can't complain though. Makes for great time with friends and family...and of course an an excuse for a blog post! So here is how my past week went. 

Monday
We had been overloaded with leftovers from Thanksgiving. Instead of eating more turkey and stuffing, I decided to make some homemade mac and cheese. You really can not go wrong with the ooey, gooey deliciousness of baked macaroni and cheese. I like to use crushed up oyster crackers and bread crumbs to make for a crunchy topping. 

Leftovers Galore!

Image found off Google.

I figured I might as well round out the Thanksgiving Series with what some people say is the best part of Thanksgiving...leftovers! As I have previously mentioned, I hosted the meal this year. My mom decided that she wanted to make a smaller turkey at home so that they could have their own leftover turkey sandwiches. This in turn left myself and Nick with a good amount of food in the fridge. I was determined to use all of it though in one form or another. Neither of us like waste and I also did not want to have to eat a Thanksgiving dinner every day. So, with the help of the internet and my somewhat creative mind, I created a few other concoctions with all of the remaining dishes. 

Apple, Sausage, and Pomegranate Stuffing

I wanted to try and make a fun stuffing recipe this year. My family typically enjoys your traditional home style stuffing. However, I wanted to reach outside the box. There are just so many options. Whether it's the type of bread, the add on ingredients, or even the texture. I decided to do a spin off of the well known apple and sausage stuffing by adding in dried pomegranates for a little tartness. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone already. A month of preparation, changing the menu at least four times, coming up with the perfect tablescape...lots of work went into the day but it was all worth it. My work began Wednesday night. My sister came over and we cut up the vegetables and cheese for a little appetizer platter. I made the cranberry sauce, along with the croutons for the stuffing. Plus, I had made the Pumpkin Pie Lasagna  Tuesday night to give me a head start as well. Doing all of this prep work ahead of time saved me the headache on Thanksgiving day. This also allowed me to have a dinner out with the family and meet up with some friends who were in town for the holiday. 

I started my day out early to get a walk in with the dog before all the cooking started. The turkey went into the oven just at 11:00am allowing me to enjoy some brunch with the twins. From here we just continued cooking throughout the afternoon. I had a cheese and crudite platter along with shrimp cocktail ready for when the rest of the family arrived. With a little help from the twins and my mom, I was able to get the rest of the meal cooked and on the buffet just after 5:00pm. Everyone seemed to enjoy the meal.

Pumpkin Pie Lasagna

Last week the office had a pie contest. Yes, it is as amazing as it sounds. I was good though and only tried one of the pies. I really had no choice since the person who made it sits right across from me. This pie was pretty much staring me in the face all day. Now I must admit, I am not a fan of the traditional pumpkin pie. I know that may sound un-American and a few of you are gasping in disbelief. But it just has never been my thing. However, this delectable treat that my coworker made forced me to reconsider my distaste for the pumpkin flavor. This pie is more of a layered trifold. There is whipped cream, mousse, more whipped cream, graham crackers, and chocolate. I mean really, how can you go wrong. I retrieved the recipe and now I must share it with all of you. It is quite simple and can easily be made in advance. A perfect dessert for Thanksgiving. I insist that you try this. Share it with your guests or keep the whole thing for yourself. I will not judge you either way. 

Thanksgiving Preparation

Norman Rockwell's "The Thanksgiving Picture" (1942)

I would say that Thanksgiving is the biggest and most highly anticipated dinner party of the year. People spend weeks preparing for this event. The guest list, the menu, the entertainment...there are endless things you could spend time on to plan the perfect day. Creating this American tradition can become very daunting and stressful. However with a little planning and preparation you will be able to enjoy the company of your guests and savor your delicious meal. 

Friends-Giving!

This is the first holiday season in our new home. Naturally, I am very excited about this. Anyone who knows me is aware of my love for this time of year. So when my mom had asked me to host Thanksgiving this year, I jumped right into. After agreeing, I decided I should have a test run. It would after all be my first Thanksgiving dinner that I cook entirely on my own. This is when I decided I would host "Friends-Giving"! We like to have "family" dinner whenever possible, so why not host the biggest dinner event of the year! This way I could test out some of my recipes on a large group of people and have fun while doing it. 

Keep Calm and Play On

Image found off google. 

I have been kicking a soccer ball around since the age of five and haven't stopped since. I played in a recreational league throughout my youth. Once I was old enough, I was a part of a travel indoor and outdoor team. By the time I had reached high school, I had already been playing for 10 years.

My Week of Dinners

I figured I would make this topic a monthly occurrence. It seems that once a month I have an overload of dinner events in one weeks time. This is a perfect opportunity to share with all of you and document it for my own memories. 

Monday
Nick and I had his uncle and family over for dinner the night before. I haven't made my own spaghetti sauce in quite a few years. I figured this was a great time to break out my old recipes and see what I could concocked. After a few twerks, I think I came up with a pretty decent sauce. To go along with the sauce I made turkey meatballs, spaghetti, and Caesar salad.  Of course I made too much, so we had the leftovers for dinner on Monday night. 

Quattro Meets Kato

It is strange how social media can connect people in so many different ways. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter...they are all a part of our every day lives and can bring you in contact with the most coincidental situations. We had a pretty crazy experience this past year that brought together Quattro and his brother. 

It's a Mexican Fiesta!

Every quarter my LM ladies and I like to get together outside of the confines of work. A time for us to actually see each other rather than communicating through instant messenger. A time for us to talk about something other than spreadsheets, numbers, conference calls, and reps. This weekend was our Q3 (a little late...oops!) gathering!

Happy Halloween!

Image found on Google from wall sizes.com

Ghost and goblins and witches...oh my! It's that time of year again! I love this holiday. It is an excuse to dress up and eat lots of candy. What more could a girl want? This year is extra exciting for me. Being that it is our first year in the new house, I am very excited to be handing out candy to all of the trick-or-treaters in our neighborhood. Since we were on vacation this past week, I did not have a lot of time to prepare. Therefore, pretty much all of my decorations, baking, and pumpkin carving occurred last night. And of course, I documented the activities. 

Sunshine, Friends, and Food

This past week I was able to enjoy the sunny, warm weather on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Friends of ours were married last weekend on the beaches of Longboat Key. It was a beautiful wedding with their closest family and friends. Unfortunately I was unable to attend the wedding due to the fact I was in a wedding myself in New York. However, I joined everyone the day after and was still able to spend time with friends and the newly married couple.

Happy Birthday Quattro!

If a stranger were to walk up to our dog, I am pretty certain they would not realize he is just one year old. The day we picked him up at 8 weeks old he was smaller than my parents 12 pound Bichon. Today on his first birthday, he is pushing 75+. Now I must confess I am writing this post from Bradenton, FL. Therefore I will not be spending my babies first birthday with him. As any mother would be, I am quite distraught about this. Luckily he is with my parents for the week, so he will get the attention and love that he needs! 

A Visit to the Vineyards

I have previously posted about my friend Cara's bridal shower. We in fact hosted two showers for the bride-to-be since her family lives in Upstate New York and the grooms family lives in Downstate New York. Both went off without a hitch. The next scheduled event was of course the bachelorette party. The MOH planned a wonderful weekend for the bride and her friends. We kept it small and intimate with just the bridesmaids. Liz arranged for a limo to pick us up in the morning to take us out to Long Island vineyards. Anyone who knows Cara is aware of her love for wine. So this was nothing but perfect. 

Autumn Chicken Stew and Pear Salad

Girls Night has been a tradition for over four years. What started out as three friends going out to dinner every week, has now turned into five friends eating in and enjoying each others company. Since Deirdre, Tara, Dianna, Sabrina, and myself are all in the same town again we like to make time for each other once a week.

Happy Birthday Mom!

I know everyone says this about their own mothers, but mine really is one of the strongest and unselfish people I know. Between working her day job, serving the people of her village as Mayor, and keeping tabs on her four kids who are all over the East Coast, I would say she has a lot on her plate. Despite all of that, anyone who knows her is aware of her caring and giving nature. She will be by your side at the drop of a hat in your time of need. She will talk to you on the phone for hours on end just to keep you company. I want to thank her for all that she does for me and our family! And for being someone to aspire to. 

Today I wish my mom and day of relaxation. To brush away her worries about others and focus on herself. Nobody else deserves that more than her. 

Happy Birthday Mom!

The Fundamental Things Apply

When we decided to start the renovations on the house, the bathroom was pushed to the back burner. We figured we would wait to save money at the present moment and complete it at a later date. However, as we started getting into the demolition we quickly realized it was something that had to be done now otherwise we would be living in a war zone. Boy am I glad we did. The bathroom is one of the fundamental rooms in the home. Being without it for any period of time would have proven to be very difficult and stressful. 

National Taco Day

Just your typical Friday afternoon. Sitting at work while wasting away after the busy week in my trail. Naturally, my mind was wondering and was trying to decide what to make for dinner. It was then that I was made aware of a very interesting, yet fun fact. Today is National Taco Day! So of course we had to have tacos tonight. I personally am a big fan of fish tacos. My friends Deirdre and Dan really know how to create an amazing meal with Dan's fresh caught fish. I would have loved to recreate their recipe tonight.  However, Nick is not a fan of the creatures from the sea, so we stuck with the plain ole' tacos. I substituted turkey meat though being that I do not enjoy ground beef. 

My Week of Dinners

This week proved to be a very busy one for me. Three dinner dates, two nights of babysitting, a Dawson's Creek marathon, and a random pizza night with Quattro. I figured I would take this opportunity to document my week of dinners. 

Pear & Gorgonzola Flat Bread

I have made this flat bread a few times. Most recently was with my LM ladies, Theresa and Sarah. We had just finished a full day hike up in the Adirondack's and we were famished. So we decided to make this and another flat bread. Something a little lighter, but still delicious. This particular flat bread was a big hit.

Meet Quattro

Anyone who knows me, whether having met me five minutes ago or has known me my whole life, is aware of my love for dogs. I love dogs of all shapes and sizes. They are man's best friend. Someone to come home to who is so excited to see you no matter what kind of day they have had. Someone who depends on you and is loyal to you. The relationship an owner and a dog has is unlike any other. So, because of all that I have always wanted a dog of my very own. Not one to share with my siblings or parents. A dog that I can say is mine just as I am his. 

After we closed on the house, I thought it was finally time for me to get a dog. I was constantly pursuing various breeder and adoption websites looking for the perfect canine. I drove Nick crazy with the picture messages and emails I would send him of the most adorable little puppies on a daily basis. After some major arm twisting and constant pestering, I finally got Nick to agree to getting a dog. The dog after all would be living in OUR house, so I could not really go out and get a dog without him knowing about it. He had two conditions though. It had to be an Alaskan-type breed and his name had to be Quattro. For those who are unaware, Nick is an Audi enthusiast so that name was nothing but fitting for our future dog. So my research began. I learned about a handful of breeds that would fit Nick's criteria: Siberian Huskies, Samoyed's, American Eskimos,  and Alaskan Malamutes. I learned about their temperament, their health, how trainable they are, their eating habits, and personalities. You name it, I read about how it pertained to each individual breed. Finally, we came to the decision to get an Alaskan Malamute.  This breed is often confused with the Siberian Husky. "Awww look at the husky!" is a running joke in our house. They are the largest of the Alaskan breeds. Strong. Dependable. Smart. Loyal. Perfect for us!

Then came the more difficult task; finding a breeder within driving distance. I had been in contact with a breeder in Northern Vermont that had a liter coming in the next few months. However, one day I came across another breeder in Buffalo, NY. And wouldn't you know it, they were having a sale on their remaining two puppies left from a recent litter. The puppies would be ready for pick up in a week. This was it. I had found our dog. I immediately sent Nick the picture of "Gray Star" (as he was known to his surrogate family) and he too agreed that this was the dog for us. I called the breeder and placed the deposit.  We were able to pick him up two days before Christmas. It was a dream come true. I believe my Facebook status that day was "Today is the day all of my dreams come true..." Nick and I set out early in the morning on our journey to Buffalo. I was so excited the entire way out there. I could not wait to hold this little guy in my arms. As we pulled into the driveway, I could see two little puppy heads pop up form the kennel. My heart stopped. I could not contain myself. After a few breathing exercises, we got out of the car and went to the front door to meet the breeders. As soon as I walked in the door this adorable, fluffy creature came walking towards us. I was hesitant to pick him up at first, but then remembered that he was ours! 

After the breeders showed us Quattro's parents and giving us the details of his diet and development process, we were on our way back home. Being that he was so small, Quattro rode on my lap the whole snowy ride. We became comfortable with each other pretty quickly. 

He was introduced to a lot of people and four legged friends almost immediately. It was a little overwhelming at first for him, but we thought it was best he get used to other people and other animals as quickly as possible. Luckily being that it was Christmas, he had ample opportunity to be around others. The first two days were a lot for him and us. A lot of crying (on his end) and sleeplessness (on our end). But I must say, Quattro was defiantly the best Christmas gift ever. 

Pistachio Cupcakes

Last October I was asked to make cupcakes for my childhood friend's wedding. The couple asked that I mix up the flavors for the 100 plus cupcakes I was to make  under one condition...I must make a pistachio cupcake! You see, the groom LOVES pistachios. Not just the nut in a shell either. He loves the ice cream, the muffin, the pudding...really anything you can flavor with pistachios. At the time, I had never made a pistachio cupcake but I am always up for a new recipe. So I did as any normal amateur baker would do, I turned to my Pinterest friends. After looking at dozens of recipes I was able to come up with one that I thought would work best. 

(Not so) coincidentally, Nick was the photographer for this very same wedding. A baker and photographer under one roof. Not too bad huh?  Anyways, since I was also a guest at the wedding Nick had asked his brother to help by being the second shooter. This is where Matt (the brother) experienced his very first pistachio cupcake. It was love at first bite. For months he talked about this cupcake and how he couldn't wait for his birthday so that I could make him his very own batch. Well, his birthday had come and gone and I still had yet to make Matt his cupcakes. In my defense he was out of town the week of his birthday so I just never got around to doing it. But enough is enough right? Tonight I decided to fulfill his wishes and make a batch of pistachio cupcakes.  (Mostly to get him to stop bugging me about it!!)

I hope you enjoy them as much as he does! 

Cupcake
Ingredients
1 box of white or yellow cake mix
1 package of instant pistachio pudding
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup club soda
3/4 cup chopped pistachios

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Mix together cake mix, pudding mix, oil, and soda until well blended. Stir in 1/2 cup of chopped pistachios.
Pour batter into cupcake liners about half way. Bake for 18-20 minutes. 
Let cupcakes cool completely. Frost with buttercream frosting and top with remaining chopped pistachios. 

Buttercream Frosting
Ingredients
1 cup of unsalted butter (softened)
3 cups of powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 T milk
green food coloring (optional)

Directions
Cream together the butter and sugar until well blended. Add in the vanilla and milk until combined. Add more milk if needed for smoother consistency. 

For a green tint, add a few drops of green food coloring and mix until blended. 

Servings: 24-28 frosted cupcakes

We've Got Magic to Do

(View from the backyard after burning some of the demo materials)

As I previously stated, Nick and I purchased our first home just over a year ago. We had been toying around with the idea, but had decided that we should wait to save up for a more significant down payment. However, we then found this house. Nick pretty much wanted the property for its garage. Being that he owns 3 (now 4!) cars himself, it was suitable for him to have a fairly new, 4 car garage that is pretty much the same square footage as the home. Seems reasonable right? Sure, why not. Anyways, the exterior of the home was in pretty good shape. New siding, new roof, etc. etc. Then you walk inside the house and this is where the fun begins! We were immediately welcomed by the sweet aroma of stale cigarette smoke. Then, behold a house that has not been updated since the 1970's. I'm sure you can picture it...shag carpet, wood paneling, styrofoam beams painted to look like wood...it was a beaut! But, Nick just wanted that garage! So we accepted the challenge. We figured we could update the interior with our skills (or lack there of) and make this house our home. 

Demolition began almost immediately. We could not wait to tear up the carpets, the flooring...the walls. We demoed the entire kitchen and bathroom straight down to the studs. Low and behold, the wiring had also not been updated, probably since the house was built. Plumbing needed updating. Cha Ching! Cha Ching! Cha Ching! I felt like I was on the show on HGTV Love It or List It. Every single time they work with a family, Hilary always seems to come across some disaster that would take away from the families original budget. Anyways, this did not get our spirits down. Luckily, between Nick's technical skills and the help of family and friends we were able to get things done. 

Everything went smoothly until that dark day in October. The day the building inspector from our town showed up at the house stating that we did not acquire the appropriate permits for the work we were completing. Unbeknownst to us, we needed three separate permits (electrical, plumbing, AND building). We were also made aware of the unknown fact that a licensed electrician and plumber would have to complete all of the work being done in the house (even if you were changing a light fixture). And of course we were charged with fines for not having the permits to begin with. Being naive does not get you off the hook. Trust me, we tried! This event proved to be a major set back in our project. If you are not already aware of this, skilled laborers are not really on a timely schedule. They complete jobs on their own schedule, at their own pace. October quickly turned into April before we were seeing any real results. I'm sure you can imagine our frustrations. 

Finally, the interior jobs had been completed. The plumbing was updated, the electrical work was safe and secure. Time to continue on with insulation and dry way. Oh wait...what's that? You need an inspection for insulation too? But of course you do! Boom, another set back. At this point we getting tired of waiting. Since we both have full time jobs (Nick's consisting of lots of overtime), we did not have the time nor energy to get things moving. This is when we decided to hire a contractor to come in and complete the dry wall, painting, and flooring. We figured he would get things moving along. Done by the end of May he said! That's right, you guessed it. He did not complete his sub par work until the end of June. A few more inspections, some more painting, and three rooms of carpet later we were finally able to move! Exactly one year and five days after our closing date. 

So, after my long and detailed story, what have we learned today my friends? First and foremost, NEVER expect your projects to go as planned. Always take into account surprises and hiccups to show their ugly faces all along the way. Secondly, when completing any home renovation, even if it seems to be a minute detail, be sure to check your local building code. You do not want to run into our situation where you are not only set back on time but a lot more money. Lastly, have patience. There were many times I wanted to scream, throw something, I even cried at work. Do not let it get the best of you. Keep your eyes on the light at the end of the tunnel. It will be worth the wait to see the results of your very own hard work. 

I'll be sure to post more detailed entries focusing on each room and how we turned this 1970's smokers paradise into our home. 

Cara's Bridal Shower

               (Myself, the bride, and the MOH Liz)

Today I co-hosted a bridal shower for my very dear friend Cara.  Cara, Liz, and I have all been friends since high school. I have been so happy and honored to be apart of this special time in her life. This shower was the second of two bridal showers. The first was held in downstate NY for the grooms family and friends. Though today's shower was a bit smaller, I am pleased to say it turned out quite well! 

We kept the decor very simple, but charming. The center pieces consisted of a charger plate, mason jar with wild flowers, tea lights, and pictures of the bride and groom throughout the past five years of their relationship. We were able to get all of the pieces fairly inexpensively. The Christmas Tree Shop sells all of the items at half the cost you would normally pay. The flowers we were able to purchase in bulk at the local farmers market for a fraction of the price at a florist. The MOH also came across a pretty heart-shaped wreath that we decorated with some of the flowers. We used this for the back of the brides chair as a small, inexpensive touch. 

Yours truly baked the dessert, vanilla cupcakes with buttercream frosting. The wedding favors were DIY as well. We packaged cookies into a cellophane decorative bag and tied it together with a handmade flower and bow. 

We organized two games for the ladies to partake in, as any traditional shower should. The first was "Finish the Song Lyrics". I had printed versus from various love songs and left out a part of the lyric. The woman with the most correct answers at each table was awarded the floral center piece! Also, naturally, we had bridal BINGO. By using the centerpieces as the prizes, not only were we able to get rid of 8 vases of flowers that neither Liz nor I wanted to truck home, we were also able to keep spending minimal by not having to buy additional gifts to give away. 

I feel that any event, in this case a bridal shower, can be completed on a budget. We were able to cut costs by doing a lot of the details ourselves. Be creative! There is a whole world of ideas out there by just simply searching the world wide web. When in doubt, scroll through Pinterest to get your wheels turning, then let your creative mind do the work. 

About

A wise young woman once told me that every person should have a blog of sorts at some point in their 20's. Being that I am well into my upper 20's, I figured I better get a move on. So here we go...

I reside in upstate NY. In mid 2012, my babes and I bought a house and renovated the entire thing floor to ceiling (more on that to come later). Outside of fixing up the house and my day job I mostly tend to our beast of a dog, Quattro. I play soccer a few times a week, bake and cook often, and travel whenever time and money allows me to. 

Essentially Jackie is just as it sounds. I will delve into my every day life as a home owner, "mother" to an Alaskan Malamute, baker extraordinaire (well maybe that's a bit of a reach), and will share with you any helpful tips and tricks I have on travel and entertaining. 

I hope you enjoy!