Girl Friday

I have not done a post in months talking about my weekend.  I am finally posting about my weekend, and it really will not be that exciting.

Tonight it is ladies night, I am meeting a friend for a girls only, let's catch up meal

plus I get to cross off a restaurant that has been on my "must try" list

The rest of my weekend will be all about my kids.  

Saturday, I am taking my 6 year old downtown for the Pumpkin Express

it's like the Polar Express but for Halloween

Then it is all about my oldest son.  He is a sophomore in high school and it's homecoming weekend, and he is not old enough to drive and the hubs is out of town (wow the stars aligned on that one)

First I will be running all over town getting him ready

then we are hosting the pre dance dinner

then it's off to the dance

and then there is the after party.

He is a little bit of wisdom I have learned....Always host the pre dance events.  As an adult I don't want to be involved in the after party shenanigans and be responsible for a pack of teenagers late night.


I will be picking him and his date up at the end of the night.  He is too young to drive, to young to uber it home (and that would be weird with the whole date thing)  so it will be me.

I feel like Morgan Freeman

and Sunday the weekend of my son continues as we go to a college fair. (eek)  Here is what I am discovering....
Being a sophomore is NOT to early to start looking, actually it is time to get on the ball

You have to have so much more then grades on your side, you need sports, you need clubs, you need to volunteer, you need a job, you need lots and lots of extra curricular activities

Getting into a college is MUCH MUCH more difficult then when I went.  Again, in addition to a high GPA you basically need to find a cure for cancer, plus wipe out world hunger.

oy vey!!

Winner, Winner!!

With all the celebrations we've had lately, I hit some out of the park with dinners/desserts I made.

Last Saturday night, the kids wanted to make dinner for their dad for his birthday (what that means is that I do all the work and they take all the credit)  The kids (me) nailed it with the short ribs over potato puree 

Braised Short Ribs

                        2 pounds short ribs

                        3 carrots

                        3 stalk of celery

                        1 small onion

                        6 cloves of garlic

                        6 cups of red wine

                        Brown the ribs in EVOO in a pan over high heat, let them rest.  In a food processor                  

                        add carrots, celery, onion and garlic.  Make a paste.  Transfer the paste to a large cast 

                        iron pot, on the stove top brown the paste, add the wine and mix well.  Add the ribs,

                        transfer to a 375 oven and cook for 2.5 hours.

Potato Puree

                        6 med-large potatoes

                        1 stick of butter

                        2 cups heavy whipping cream

                        Boil potatoes in a pot of salted water for about 20 minutes or until tender.  Drain and       

                        peel off skin.  Using a cheese shredder, finely shred the potatoes into a large bowl.  

                        On the stovetop over low heat melt the butter, slowly stir in 2 cups of cream.  Pour the 

                        butter mixture over the potatoes and mix well.

You're welcome, I promise so worth the extra hour at the gym the next day!!

In addition to this amazing meal the kids prepared they topped it off with an unbelievable dessert

Chocolate Salted Caramel Tart

We lucked out with the weather the night of our birthday celebration, the weather was perfect for dining outside under the stars...

but I swear we've had non stop rain since then.

My son is doing a 2 week exchange with his school in Santiago, Chile.  He called me today and requested that I make something for him when he gets home.

Fresh bread and pate

Seriously!! 

Cleary he is living like a king down there.  

Girl Friday

We have a lazy, low key weekend ahead of us.  

Dinner with friends

(at the chef's table)

A little tennis

and outside!!

 it going to be 55 on Saturday

Sunday I am having my family and my in laws over for dinner.  On the menu

homemade deep dish pizza

This will be my first attempt at homemade pizza, I  had to get a pan which was a lot harder to find then I was planning on

deep dish pan

I did however, have no problem finding the wine

Have a beautiful weekend!!

Girl Friday

I cannot remember the last time I thought "this was the longest week ever,"  Every Friday I think, this week just flew by, and today is no exception.

Tonight the hubs and son have a basketball game, so I am going to take my girls and a friend for a little girls night out

Saturday is the Great Gatsby Auction, I LOVE auctions.  I love the thrill of bidding against others and not knowing the outcome until sometimes the last second.  I have my eye on a few things, I hope I come home a winner.  I at least have my dress

Sunday is going to be cold with the possibility of more snow.  I plan to watch the olympics (the hubs and I are obsessed with curling)

and make this for dinner

Have a beautiful weekend!!

Catch Up Friday

I thought things were supposed to settle down after the holidays and I would have all the free time in the world, well I was wrong.  Time for a little catch up

Last Friday the hubs went into work, my son was off for a sleep over, and I took my girls and headed downtown for a dance workshop/competition for my daughter Libby.  We checked into a room with a view...

then until 10 pm on Friday, and 8am until 6 pm on Saturday this was basically my view...

the things we do for our kids right!!  It was fun to watch the first 2 hours then it got a little old.

Saturday night I snuck away for a much needed break, and headed off to a paddle tennis party.

It was so fun and I was glad to focus on something else besides first position.

The drink of the night after every set....

fireball whiskey shot

This of course made it slightly painful for me to be back downtown at 8m for more dancing...

After a couple hours of being a dance mom again, I snuck away again for one of my girlfriend's birthday brunch...

after my 5 hour brunch I came home and napped for 2 hours, and that is something I rarely do.

Also this week, my little Scarlett turned 5!!  I cannot believe it.  I feel like I just gave birth, time is fleeting when you have kids, I just want everything to slow down.

and since my baby girl turned 5 it is time for her pastel portrait.  I did my 2 older children right around their 5th birthdays so my wall will be complete in about 3 weeks when her portrait will be ready.

I hardly saw the hubs this past weekend so we had a little date night during the week.  We wanted something totally low key and laid back so we saw a movie, one that has some oscar buzz, it's based on a true story, and one that I highly recommend....

We also saw it in a VIP theatre.  Now I am not a big movie person, I would much rather go to dinner and meet up with friends then see a movie, but if you are going to go to the movies, this is the way to do it...

comfy reclining chairs, full dinner and bar menu, and just a push of a button and your waiter is there for your beck and call.  Now that's how you see a movie!!

I popped into Anthropologie this week and pick up the most amazing smelling candle

Volupsa Mokara

and a very cute skirt

I am already planning my Valentine's Day outfit

A couple weeks ago I was at a friends house and we played the most insane game, Cards Against Humanity

The box says it all "a party game for horrible people" this is the funniest, most politically incorrect, most corrupt card game, and I loved every second.  I am fairly certain a group of really drunk guys were sitting around one night and this game was born.  There is a wait list just to order this game, get your name on that list ASAP, mine arrived this week and I laugh every time I just see the box.

One of my New Year's Resolutions was to try 1 new restaurant a month, I know not very deep and it certainly won't make me a better person but there are so many new restaurants I am dying to try.  This weekend I am crossing one off my list...

Nathalie's.  This looks like an old southern home but actually it was a funeral parlor many many years ago.  This place has gotten rave reviews, it was recently opened by a couple who own a farm about 30 minutes south of STL.  The farm to table concept is so hot right now, I love dining at places where not only is my food fresh and organic but I am also supporting our local farmers.

And for Superbowl Sunday I think I am going to hit this one out of the park for our party...

Brisket Stuffed Jalapenos

How can that be bad??

Pack, Unpack, Repeat

I cannot believe I am going out of town again this morning, but this is a very quick trip.  I am taking my girls and my mom and heading down to Silver Dollar City

If you are not familiar with Silver Dollar City the best way to describe it would be a cross between 6 Flags, colonial Williamsburg and Vegas minus the hookers.  It is about 4 hours south of STL in a town called Branson.  The hubs thinks it is totally cheesy ( I completely agree) but my kids love it here.  I don't like going in the summer it is hot, sweaty and crowded but I love going this time of year.

The place is totally decked out in lights

you can ride the Polar Express

there is a Christmas parade

and of course Santa is around

This trip always gets me in the holiday mood!!

I am rolling back in town Friday night just in time to go to dinner with my adorable next door neighbors.  The cutest 80 year old couple ever.  He wears a suit with an ascot everyday and she is always in pearls.  I would love to be as classy as them when I get older.  They are taking me and the hubs to their club which I think has one of the best views of the city skyline

Saturday I am having a little staycation with for a friends birthday.  We are starting off the day with a food tour of the city.  This event is hosted by a local food magazine.  We go to 5 different restaurants within walking distance of each other for a small plate of their best dishes plus a cocktail

then we are hitting up the spa

at the hotel we are staying at for the night

with most likely some late night craziness!!

Have a beautiful weekend!!