Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me!

The lists are long (and getting longer with each day we creep closer to holiday d-day!), but today is my birthday, so screw it all! 

What better way to celebrate then chucking the chores and taking a few minutes (maybe more) and doing just for me.

First up...30 minutes on the stationary bike "warming up", then sweating thru an hour of Body Sculpt class. Some might question the "present" in this (I know I do!), but isn't it a gift to squander a little extra time whittling the post-Thanksgiving waist & thighs on the day you mark getting one whole year older.

Next up...after much debating with myself, I delayed getting to my lists for a few more minutes, opting instead for holiday season twinkly toes.

And it wouldn't be my birthday without my FAVORITE cake...Vienna Cake, or as I always called it growing up, "Aunt Blythe's cake", or as my Mother called it..."that damn cake".

It's an old recipe, handed down thru my Aunt Blythe's family. 

It is complicated - there's flour sifting, egg white beating, sugar syrup making, and lots & lots of folding in.

It is temperamental and unpredictable.

Some years the cake blossoms in the oven, only to cave in on itself while cooling. 

Some years the cake slips out from it's tube pan with minimal coaxing, other years it holds on like a stalactite in some dark & scary cave.

Some years it hides enormous air pockets, despite all your best efforts, only to be discover upon de-panning.

Some years its custardy sauce is silky smooth, other years it's a lumpy mess.

It rarely comes out aesthetically perfect, but it always tastes sublime.

I'm no baking history expert, and my attempts to find a similar recipe have been fruitless. It's not angle food, chiffon or sponge. With its 11 beaten egg whites and measly cup of flour, it's more like a souffle.

Aunt Blythe's Vienna Cake has become my baking holy grail, each year I refine the recipe and technique, making notes for next year, but it's my annual indulgence, something I do just for me, and it wouldn't be my birthday without it.

Please pray, make a sacrifice or offering to the baking gods!

There's still "real" work to be done, emails to answer, showers that NEED to be taken, school pick ups, homework, swim lessons, and a naked Christmas tree the Baron & Master are dying to decorate.

But wait...before I get productive, I think I'll take a cyber-detour and blow my birthday moola on that iPad I've been longing for!

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me!

P.S. I'm not sharing the recipe just yet, I don't want to be deluged with frustrated queries, comments & curses. How 'bout we see how things go this year, and if all goes well...

Thankgiving Plan of Attack

I love cooking for a crowd! I love planning, prepping and cooking a feast, and I have been deprived of the pleasure for too many Thanksgivings.

Then, quite unexpectedly, I found out this weekend the MIL's side of the family has cancelled their annual Thanksgiving gathering . . . sorry for them, but yipee for me!

So, much of my weekend was consumed leafing through my recipe binders, making grocery lists, determining what can be prepped or prepped in advance, and making my schedule for the week.

Yes, that's right (and I'm sure it comes as no surprise to many of you) this gal loves to make a plan!

Here's the rundown on tomorrow's menu . . .

Melt-in-your-mouth Cheese Crackers (thanks to Pinterest), along with a platter of antipasti, of course.

Source: kathdedon.wordpress.com via Lollie on Pinterest

There's a 22# bird nesting in my basement fridge, and come Thursday morning, he will begin his transformation.

Last year I tried Cook's Country Old-Fashioned Roast Turkey, 'cause even if I'm dining elsewhere, I still need a bountiful supply of leftovers for Turkey & Biscuits and Turkey & Wild Rice Soup.

I tested this Old-Fashioned Roast Turkey recipe last year . . . poultry perfection, moist & flavorful.

Source: cookscountry.com via Lollie on Pinterest

There will be Dressing with Sage Sausage & Dried Cranberries, of course. (No, I do not stuff my birds. Just too high on the "ick" scale for moi. Sorry!) 

This afternoon I made Cook's Country's Delmonico Potatoes. (They're cooling in the kitchen now, and boy do they smell tempting. Just a spoon, please, surely no one will notice!)

Source: cookscountry.com via Lollie on Pinterest

The extra effort is so worth the final creamy, tangy, potato goodness. And they reheat beautifully - I'll slide 'em in the oven tomorrow while the turkey is "resting".

French green beans sauteed in olive oil, garlic, rosemary & cracked black pepper. A bit of butter & a squeeze of lemon to finish.

And now for yet another of my culinary confession . . .

Source: google.com via Lollie on Pinterest

Please, don't judge! And don't tell anyone! 

For dessert, my very own recipe for Cranberry-Apple Crisp with Pecan-Oatmeal Topping, with a mega scoop of Ben & Jerry's Vanilla snuggling up beside it. (It's too late now, but I'll be sure to share it with y'all before the next round of holiday gatherings commences.)

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for so many things, big & small, and I won't bore all you busy folks with a detailed list, but one I must share is my sincere thanks to each and every one of you that swings by this little spot on the blogosphere to see what's on my mind or stuck in my craw.

Now, it's back to the kitchen for this Housewife (aka The Scullery Maid) -- there is still tonight's dinner, laundry, cleaning and set up to be conquered before bedtime! 

Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours!  

And enjoy your post-Turkey nap tomorrow afternoon! You deserve it!

Laugh at the Housewife's Expense

Last week, while working on some updates for this site, I came across this...

OMG...what's with the fuchsia lipstick & pursed lips?!

My first instinct was to burn this cringe-inducing image of me in full, late-80's regalia, then I remembered my Oscar post and the blogger got the better of me.

This snap was taken just before a military ball I attended with my General Dad and UOW (ultimate officer's wife) Mom in Vegas. Little did I know I'd be going to the Oscars a few weeks later.

So go ahead, take a break from your pre-Thanksgiving lists, errands & chores and enjoy a giggle at my 80's fashion-victim expense!

Today's Pin

Today's fab pin come from to you via "Why didn't I think of that!" board...

Source: apartmenttherapy.com via Lollie on Pinterest

I have never met a bed skirt I liked. They are always too ruffly, lacey or boxy.
Currently, we have a plain white bed skirt around our box spring, but thanks to our perpetually shedding Border Collie, who seems to think the space under our bed is the ideal "den", it is constantly coated in awful, ick-inspiring black fur.

So, I L-O-V-E this oh-so-simple solution!!

I don't have a lovely walnut frame to show off, but who cares! A fun fitted-sheet covered box spring (with few millimeters of metal frame showing) will be SO much better than the grubby, hairball masquerading as a bed skirt we have now!

This "pin" also gives me an excuse to upgrade our unappealing plastic "under bed" storage bins! 

Grabbin' my Bed, Bath & Beyond coupons now!

Photos will follow!

Have you "pinned" any fab ideas, solutions or inspirations lately? 

Please, feel free to share! 

Just paste the link to your pin in a comment!

It's a small purl, after all!

A few weeks ago I spotted this fab scarf on Pinterest...

Source: etsy.com via Lollie on Pinterest

Such simple, yet stylish scarfing...perfect Christmas presents for the MIL and her two sisters!

So off to consult with the always helpful ladies at my local yarn shop, Black Sheep Knitting Company.

Their seasoned eyes quickly deciphered the stitch pattern (broken rib, I believe is what they said), we made a plan, and I selected three color variations of Malabrigo's worsted merino wool yarn.

Malabrigo's Whales Road, Amaroso & Loro Barranquero

Then, during a fractured play date pick up chat with a bloggin' pal, she mentioned her post "10 on 10/10/10", which included knitting herself a scarf...the very scarf I sought. It's a small purl afterall!

Source: store.cocoknits.com via Lollie on Pinterest

The "fear of commitment cowl" from Coco Knits!

This afternoon I finished the last of the 3-Sisters Scarves! 

Now I just have to find the bold buttons.

So what's next on my knitting agenda?

There are a few more Christmas presents (but those I'll have to keep under wraps until after the holidays 'cause those recipients read this blog, unlike the MIL & her sisters).

This evening I started a Zig Zag Scarf for no one in particular.

 

Be nice to this elf and it could be yours! 

So who's crafting this holiday season?

What projects are on your list?

Please, share with the gang!

We are always looking for inspiration!

Fall has Fallen, Almost

It's almost Thanksgiving, we've had our first snowstorm, and the wonderful old maple that dominates our yard has lost all its yellow, orange & red foliage, but as I walk around our neighborhood or drive around town, I am in awe of the fall foliage stragglers.

It makes me wonder if they were just waiting for all the visual noise to die down before these divas of deciduousness started to sing -- like any self-respecting diva, they did not want to share the stage. 

And oh what an amazing encore they are putting on for us!

Happy Birthday, Pop!

Back home in Boston today, and what a treat it was to have my two mini-men climb in bed & snuggle with Mama this morning! 

As my oh-so-wise Mama says, "If you never get a chance to miss someone, you miss the chance to be reminded just how much you love 'em."

Now I'm busy, busy, busy -- uploading snaps, speed blogging, and hoping to be done unpacking before it's school pick up time. 

It's amazing how much work getting ready to go & then settling back in actually takes, but this trip was oh so worth a wee bit of extra effort...

I got to be home in CA with my family, and our wonderful friends, to celebrate my Pop's 80th birthday!

Two cakes for a Pop's that's just too sweet!

When one's roots are stretched 3,000 miles, you all too often miss the truly special occasions, but not this time!

Happy Birthday, Pop!

Flyin' with David & his Twisted Critters

In my rush to escape the momhood, I forgot my "trip read", The Paris Wife: A Novel, so I found myself hastily scanning the shelves of the bookstore in the Logan terminal.

While fending off the offers of assistance from the obsequious staff, my eyes alighted on David Sedaris' books and I decided it was high time we got acquainted.

Yes, that's right folks, I am embarrassed to admit this lover of humor, clever observations, satire, snarkiness, sarcasim, and wit has never cracked open one of Sedaris' books.

I picked up Sedaris' latest, now in a wonderful in the hand paperback, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modest Bestiary, and boy am I glad we (David & I finally met!

I could fumble about for the words, but the publisher offers up a selection of wonderfully eloquent words...

"This fictional collection of wonderfully twisted animal tails includes a sycophantic baboon, a cuckolded Irish setter, and a rabbit who becomes a tyrant when he tastes power."

Pam Kelley, Raleigh News & Observer

"These tales are toxic little treats, fun-size Snickers bars with a nougaty strychnine center."

Leah Greenblatt, Entertainment Weekly

My only complaint...Sedaris' rascally critters grabbed my hand and raced me down their twisted paths far too quickly.

Luckily, the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport had a bookstore, and the equally annoying clerk chirpily showed me to the Sedaris shelf.

Up next...When You Are Engulfed in Flames.

I think I may have yet another addiction to contend with!

Dream Wheels

BMW, Mercedes, Bentley, Rolls, Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari...the wheels upon which many automotive fantasy turn, but not for the Fortuitous Housewife.

My dream car certainly isn't a mini-van -- I got weepy just driving to the car dealer to look at the boxes on wheels -- but my car dreams are still relatively modest.

The week after college graduation I started shopping for my first car (one I didn't have to share with the family). My parents had lots of advice about what I should look for, but I was determined to find the car of my dreams...a Super Beetle Convertible.

I had a fairly limited budget, and my always supportive folks tried to temper my enthusiasm, both of them feeling fairly certain I wouldn't be able to find my "dream ride" for what I had to spend, but once again I proved them wrong!

This was a bit before the internet, Cars.com or Craig's List, if you were looking to buy a used car you got yourself the newspaper classifieds and a red marker (just like in the movies!) and starting circling prospects, making calls and crossing off the losers.

Well I did it! Just two short weeks after graduation I pulled into my parents driveway, happily (and a bit smugly) sitting in my new (to me) 1973 orange (with a black top) Super Beetle Convertible.

Unfortunately, I have no pictures of my beloved Bug, but this one serves as a lovely example.

She was by no means perfect -- her breaks were always questionable, the clutch cable loved to snap at the most inopportune times, and she was no climber (hills were a major struggle, often surmounted at a mere 5-10 mph) -- but she was a glorious ride up PCH on a sunny CA Sunday afternoon, heading to Gladstones for margaritas & chowder.

We eventually parted ways (an evil boyfriend convinced me I need to buy his newer used car!), I still miss her, and often say that someday I will be reunited with a 1973 Super Beetle, someday, and I will never part with that dear buggy.

Then, a few weeks ago, while strolling around Beacon Hill on an architectural tour, I spotted this gem...

Fully restored, pristine white, white, white!

As others strolled by, barely giving her a glance, I had to stopped and admire her simple perfection, and take a few snaps. 

So what piece of your youthful, carefree, pre-Momming days do you dream of, long for, hope to have again?

Howlin' Good Fun

I pinned these Candy Corn Cookies from Kathie Cooks a few weeks ago...

Source: kathiecooks.blogspot.com via Lollie on Pinterest

and decided it was time to actually make one of my pins -- some for the Master of Mayhem's preschool class' party and the rest for the Baron of Boredom's gal pal's party this weekend.

They were easy to make and tasty, only adjustment I made was pressing them into sanding sugar before baking (instead of regular sugar).

They were a big hit with both audiences.

Only note for next year -- double the recipe to make 'em bigger (the single batch makes a cookie just a tad bigger than a single-bite).

And then I really got craft courageous when we also attempted these Jar-o-lantern from Family Fun magazine.

The boys had a ball making them and our perm-a-pumpkins turned out great! 

We covered miles of our neighborhood last night, scrambling over & around branches felled by the snowstorm, Mama's poor feet were throbbing, knocked on m-a-n-y doors , and ate enough candy to require an intervention.

The Ninjas are history...

and I've been informed next year we'll be visiting Hogworts -- now that's a costume plan I will gladly hop on a broom for!  I get dibs on Hermione -- I'll finally get a chance to put my prolific frizz to good use!

Now it's time to start preparing for the foodie Olympics - aka Thanksgiving!