Package delivery!

Today I got home and saw a package on our doorstep...that sneaky mom of mine!  I opened it up and this is what I saw.

A garlic crusher and another package in cute polka dot tissue paper.  Back story on the garlic press per my phone call with my mom tonight: I mentioned wanting this a year ago and my mom tried to order it for me for my Easter basket last year, but it was out of stock.  She signed up to get an email notification when it became available and every three weeks from then until just recently she got an email saying it was still out of stock.  When she was finally notified it was in stock she snatched one up for me!  Looks like I need cook something with garlic soon! 

This super soft poncho was in the tissue paper.  My mom knit it for me!  I LOVE it!  The lady next to me on my flight from Paris to London last fall had one on just like it.  I described it to my mom when we got home and little did I know she was going to make one for me!  I can't imagine the time she spent knitting it for me.  I put it on right away tonight!  

That's my mom...always thinking of others!  You're the best, mom!!  

Monkey Bread

I had a request for the monkey bread recipe that I made for the Super Bowl.  It's SUPER easy and smells amazing as it's baking.

Monkey Bread

My great grandma Dingler's recipe

3 cans of biscuits (regular sized ones)

2/3 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

2/3 cup chopped nuts (I use pecans)

1 1/2 sticks butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cut each biscut into 4 quarters.  Put into a covered bowl with 2/3 cup sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.  Shake well.  Put biscuits into a buttered bundt cake pan layering with chopped nuts.  Melt butter with brown sugar and remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon.  Pour mixture over biscuits.  Bake for 20-30 minutes.  Cool in pan for 20 minutes.  Turn out onto plate.  Good hot or cold!

Weekend roundup

We had a fun weekend discovering some "new to us places" in California!  

Jon planned a surprise belated Valentine's Day dinner in Santa Monica for Saturday evening.

We walked the pier and rode the ferris wheel.

He made reservations at The Lobster.  I started off with a delicious wedge salad.

Here's my lobster!!!  He was fantastic!  So sweet and buttery!

Sunday we turned the Jetta in (our lease was up).  It was a bit sad driving away and leaving her in the dealership parking lot.  We still don't know what we are going to get to replace it so we are just renting a car for the time being.  After that we came home and took a nice bike ride and went to Balboa Island.

The ferry ride was fun.  Short, but sweet.

We had to stop and get a frozen banana from Dad's thanks to Natasha's recommendation!

It was so tasty!  It reminded me of the frozen bananas at the ice cream store my grandparents used to own when I was younger.  

Friday's Fancies - Hollywood Glam

The Oscars are this weekend so {av} picked Hollywood Glam as this week's theme.  My twist on it is what I'll be wearing while watching them!  While it's certainly less than glamorous, it will be comfy and pretty.  I'll even jazz it up with a bracelet from the new Jess LC Flea collection. Maybe I'll paint my nails...if only I had the new Laura Mercier spring collection.  I am loving the colors!

outfit

30 days and counting!

One month from today, the four of us will be reunited again!  

I can't wait for my sister, Kate, and brother-in-law, Geoff, to come visit!

Guess we better start making a list of the places we want to show them!

Sweet Treats!

Way back in October I entered a giveaway from Elle Sees featuring Sift! Dessert Boutique...and, I won!  Tristen, the awesome baker behind the goodness, was in constant contact with me since then regarding when the Mandalay Siftees would be shipped.  Well, they were at my door when I got home today!!!  After opening the box, this is what I found!  YUM!

 The timing ended up being perfect- I didn't need them in November or December because I had enough holiday treats and with moving in January it would have been a challenge to ship them to the right address.  Tristen is super sweet and shipped them to me all the way from Atlanta.  Thanks to Elle & Tristen for these delicious treats!

He's back!

After a long 7 days, Jon is home from Germany!!!!  Wilma has basically forgotten about me and is attached to Jon's hip.  We celebrated with a dinner of homemade lasagna and garlic bread!  

Friday's Fancies - Let's Fly Away

One might think the logical vacation place for the middle of February would be somewhere warm.  A year ago, shoot two months ago, I would have agreed.  But, now that we live in SoCal, I will admit I'm missing the snow (a wee bit) and it would be fun to head to northern Michigan for a long weekend.  Just curling up with a good book near the fireplace sounds good to me!

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Check out the other Friday's Fancies to see where everyone else would want to go!  Wilma and I can't wait for Jon to get home Sunday evening!!!  That will be the highlight of our weekend.  We miss him!

Valentine's Day date

Wilma is my date for Valentine's Day.  Jon is in Germany for business so we're having a girls night.  Kicking back and watching a movie with a glass of wine.

Even though Jon isn't here to celebrate, he certainly didn't forget!!!  I got an email from him to look in his closet for a present.  What did I find?  A David Yurman bag!!!!  This beautiful bracelet was in it!  I am in love with it!  And, totally spoiled!  

Happy Valentine's Day!

Source: blog.evablackdesign.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Pictures

Saturday

Morning walk as a family

Crabs

Wilma loves running after the pelicans

Rolls Royce at the grocery store

Valentine's Day package from my parents

Crispy Rice

Lollipops

Crunchy

Beagle

Friday's Fancies - Red & Pink

Today's Friday's Fancies theme is red & pink.  I tried to keep it comfy-casual, but of course I had to add some hearts in there for Valentine's Day!

outfit

And, a rose on the ballet flats!  Hey, Valentine's Day only comes around once a year so why not live it up?

"It's Halftime in America"

I may be a bit bias from my previous life at Chrysler, but this Super Bowl commercial wins in my book.

It's already Monday?!?!

I think this might possibly have been the fastest weekend ever!

Friday night we went out for Mexican to SOL with some friends.  Um, hello bacon and shrimp guac and awesome shrimp tacos!

Saturday was the SoCal blogger meet- up.  I was lucky enough to drive down to La Jolla with some girls and we stopped for a great brunch along the way in Del Mar.  There were so many people at the meet-up (I finally got to meet some bloggers I have been following forever and some new ones too!) and such awesome swag and raffle items.  In fact, I won two gifts!  This print from Orange & Park and a bracelet from Bohemian Honey Boutique.

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Sunday was laundry, church, and a bit of baking for Meg's Super Bowl party.  Along with all of the awesome food Meg made (bbq chicken sandwiches, potatoes, chips & salsa, homemade pretzel bites and dip, raspberry lemonade bars, and brownies), I brought monkey bread and caprese skewers.  Everything was delicious and it was great to spend time with Meg and her husband, Sean, and their friends Gerardo and Lindsey.    

Friday's Fancies - Spring Fever

What a week...I'm so HAPPY it's Friday!  I'm thrilled to be "meeting and cubicle free" for two days!  Tonight we are having dinner with friends...I can't wait for Mexican food and margaritas!  Tomorrow is the SoCal blogger meet-up!  And, Sunday we are going to a Super Bowl party (I have high hopes for Madonna)!  Busy, busy this weekend!  

outfit

I just wish I had this spring outfit to wear tomorrow...I'm still not sure what I'm going to pull out of my closet!  Happy Friday and have a great weekend!  Oh, and don't forget to head on over to {long distance loving} to see the other spring ensembles!

Happy Birthday BFF!

Source: someecards.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Happy Birthday to my best friend, Laura!!!  I love all of our crazy times 

together and how we act around each other!  Our friendship is one in a million!  Love you BFF!