{image via toast}

a relaxing, meditative weekend, with a slight chance of showers…actually a whole week off! (we start school earlier than most in so. cal. to have this week off…so worth it, i tell you!)

tonight may or may not be the end of football season for us. it’s bittersweet. we want andrew’s team to win of course, but then…there’s the possibility of all this extra time with him again…

hope that you have a lovely, relaxing weekend, too, before we stuff ourselves on thursday!

there are just too many things in blogland that delight me right now, but here are a few…

{baby animals via unruly things}

{dessert night/recipe swap party idea via tangled and true}

{chore chart by modeco kids via apartment therapy}

{grab bags for those less fortunate-a great teaching tool for our kids-via wide open spaces}

{coulson macleod prints via design sponge}

{and this sneak peek via design sponge}

and, yay!, a new baby for the daddy diaries…

good stuff, no?

ashley is a foster mom like me, and i have followed her journey for awhile. she and her husband had a scare this week and thought for sure that their son would be taken away very soon. i thought about them all day yesterday and my heart was broken, but i prayed and prayed, as did they and others who know them and who know of them.

and guess what? God answered prayers.

simply amazing. now i’m crying from joy!

we seriously have the kindest, gentlest (sometimes most mischevious) dogs around. and they just adore each other (most of the time).

simple and easy. take any branch, and have loved ones fill out tiny cards of what they are grateful for. a little reminder of what’s important in the midst of the holiday rush, no?

i have been having major internet issues at home, so posting will be light, but i did want to check in and tell you about a great class offered at jessica sprague. it’s free, too! the catch is that registration ends tonight – Monday night, 11:59 PM EST.

boo. i can’t afford the looks i love at heidi merrick, even at half off. but i love to peruse the sight for inspiration.

yay! i found a heidi merrick skirt at target in a beautiful ikat print just like the one above. can i justify another skirt purchase???

{via 101 cookbooks}

we’ve been in a big-time soup mood lately. since j loves broccoli (we call them little trees), i thought i’d try out cream of broccoli soup this week. this recipe is from how to cook everything by mark bittman, and it was simple and delish.

cream of broccoli soup

• 1 lb. of broccoli florets
• 1 large russet potato, peeled and chopped
• 4 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 1/4 to 1 cup half-and-half , cream, or milk
• a grating of nutmeg
• salt and *white* pepper

Add the broccoli, potatoes, broth and bring to a boil. Don’t worry if broth doesn’t completely cover broccoli. Turn heat to low, cover, and simmer until the broccoli and potatoes tender, about 15-20 minutes.

Cool lightly and blend the entire mixture off heat until a smooth puree is achieved.  Return to low heat and warm through but do not boil. Add the cream. Add nutmeg and adjust salt and pepper.

next time i’m trying this recipe from 101 cookbooks.

happy eating! thanks to joslyn from raising foodies for hosting this cooking club. it’s been fun!

a very low-key weekend, however, i have started compiling holiday lists galore. we’re talking menus, gifts, and a general to-do a mile long. but…i love it so bring it on! (real simple’s holiday checklist is a great help, too).

some ideas i’ve started compiling for neighbor gifts…

{diy s’mores kits via twig and thistle}

{hot chocolate tins via blond designs}

and ideas for a holiday table…

{via real simple}

{chelsea protects me from the particular bad essays.}

this weekend is an essay-free weekend. i am caught up (until next week when another essay will be assigned. ha!) no plans as of yet, which is nice for once! 

and if you were wondering if i drink wine while grading essays, the answer is no, although that might not be a bad idea and it might boost the grades a bit. that would be pomegranate juice, which is really good for you and is really yummy. pom wonderful sent me some and everyone in our house loves it.  i plan on celebrating national pomegranate month and national adoption awareness month by baking these babies using the juice.

hope you have a wonderful weekend!

{via}