Yummy Soup and A Rainy Seattle Day

Today's weather is so blah but you know what?! I LOVE it! I am a huge fan Fall days sometimes. The kind that make you want to cozy up with some good music, bake, build forts with your kids, wear socks, snuggle and watch a movie, and eat homemade soup and bread... mmmmmm. 


Last Saturday I made a batch of Zuppa Toscana soup, just like the kind at the Olive Garden. It turned out so yummy and SO simple! Here is the recipe I used:

• 1 lb Italian sausage (I like mild sausage)
• 2 large russet baking potatoes, sliced in half, and then in 1/4 inch slices
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup bacon bit (optional)
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups kale or 2 cups swiss chard, chopped
• 2 (8 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 quart water
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream

Directions:

1. 1
   Chop or slice uncooked sausage into small pieces.
2. 2
   Brown sausage in your soup pot.
3. 3
   Add chicken broth and water to pot and stir.
4. 4
   Place onions, potatoes, and garlic in pot.
5. 5
   Cook on medium heat until potatoes are done.
6. 6
   Add sausage and bacon.
7. 7
   Salt and pepper to taste.
8. 8
   Simmer for another 10 minutes.
9. 9
   Turn to low heat.
10. 10
    Add kale and cream.
11. 11
    Heat through and serve.
    
    
    
    
    
    Buon Appetito!
    
    
    
    

So Fresh...

And So Clean Clean!

 I love my homemade laundry detergent. My friend Diana was the one who got me to actually put my foot in the door and try out this recipe. It's beyond easy. Is that even possible? Here's the recipe that I got from this site (one of my faves I use often).

I bought all my ingredients this time around from WalMart. I don't usually shop there, in fact I boycott the place, but I had a return to make (when we were camping on Labor day, the closest store was a WalMart) so I figured I'd check the prices... WAY CHEAPER! So, I swallowed my pride. I use an airtight tupperware container and an extra TBS measuring spoon that I store in there.

Good Luck!

I love me a good buy!

**This post was originally written in May-when I actually did the shopping-it's only taken me a whole summer to finish it**

Last Saturday my awesome partner in crime let me go shopping SANS kids for 2 hours (I could have shopped all day but I needed to get back to nurse little Van)! It was AWESOME! I only went to one thrift store but it didn't matter... because I had no grabby hands touching everything, begging to "get it! get it please!" no baby being sad because he was in the car seat too long! I looked through at least 95% of store. Serious. Because I could. I was feeling really good with my haul and then I got to the dressing room. Let's just say that wasn't my proudest hour, realizing how much baby baggage I still have to lose but I still got some awesome things! 5 out of the 8 tops I got are Banana Republic and I got an amazing J. Crew skirt! I also took some time to look through boy clothes (of course!) and got Mason and Van some great new clothes (and by new I mean some of the were BRAND NEW-tags on and everything)! Here are a couple of my faves:

Banana Republic white sweater navy blue trim ($3)- perfect for an afternoon on a yacht?? Haha in my dreams.

Banana Republic silk top ($5)- Luuuurve this one!

Teal/Aqua linen skirt with vintage like flower ($3). I happened to have a matching flower from H&M ($1) that I've used to put on my necklace while wearing this skirt...super cute!

I am in need of a few more staple pieces in my wardrobe and will hopefully be off for another solo shopping trip this weekend.

ps- did I mention that because I donated a load of stuff before I went in the store that I got a coupon for an additional 20% off?? Woohoo!

Life as We Know It...

IS CRAZY! Keeping up with my 2 boys and my 1 man are exhausting. I have been working full time this last 2.5 weeks and all I can say is I will NEVER complain again about being a SAHM. Now that my days are back to casual waking in the morning, cooking breakfast, playing at the park, scheduled nap times, happy boys playing in their room, grocery shopping and laundry during daytime hours... I couldn't be happier.

This guy just potty trained...

This guy is walking...

This guy also just turned 10 mos... and loves the mirror (his father's child for sure)

And they are still my faves...

And now that summer is over I should probably post about our summer antics.... next time.