White chocolate pumpkin cheesecake? Heck yeah!

I'm kind of getting in to baking cheesecakes. You might say I'm becoming a cheesecake geek...and we already know I love pumpkin...see here: pumpkin cream cheese muffins....so when I saw a recipe for a white chocolate pumpkin cheesecake with an Oreo crust on thebakingpan.com, I could not bake it fast enough. Seriously. I mean, white chocolate would be enough in itself, but add the pumpkin? Umm,...and Oreos? We had friends over last week from out of town. The guy never eats dessert, but he ate 4 pieces of this. Then he ate two more the next day. I live next to my sister's family, and I also live next to my parents,(it sounds crazy, but it's awesome) and we hail from a family of dessert people. Whenever we are all together, including my 98 year old grandma, there is literally a silence that falls over the room when the Dawson women are eating dessert. It's probably the only time no one talks. My husband would gladly attest to that. So when this cheesecake was in my fridge, there was a stream of people coming in through the sliding door for "just one bite.." (another Dawson term. We would never actually get a plate, just straighten up the sides. 41 times) I could go on and on about this cheesecake, but instead, I will just give you a link to the recipe:

White chocolate pumpkin cheesecake

Happy fall y'all!

Glitter pumpkins...so sparkly!

Everyone knows there are all types of pumpkins...short, fat, round, white, bumpy, sugar, you name it, someone grows it. They are perfection for a thanksgiving centerpiece, mixed with leaves, candles, and pine cones. I have seen some really ornate centerpieces, and I have to say, for me, the more simple the better. But simple + sparkly? Does glitter not make everything better? I say yes, and when I first discovered the Martha Stewart glitter pumpkins, I was in love. Simple...sparkly...autumn-like...add some candles and glow in the season. Here are some images of what other people have done with glitter pumpkins:




I kind of changed up the way Martha does it....the first time I did these I was short on time, and supplies. I do love her glitter, and you can find it on Martha Stewart.com or Amazon for around $7-$9. It's expensive but will last for years. Here is my list of what you will need...(don't tell Martha, don't think I would want her mad at me! That would not be....a good thing.)

1 can spray adhesive
multiple colors of Martha Stewart glitter (I use Fire Opal, Brownstone, and Bronze)
Small pie pumpkins
brown craft paint

Hold the pumpkin by the stem over some newspaper. Spray the entire pumpkin, except the stem.
Sprinkle on the glitter over a separate area of newspaper, don't be sparse! After you sprinkle, grab the sides of the paper and form a line with the fallen glitter.You can pour it right back into the container.
Let dry for approx. 1/2 hour. Paint the stems with brown craft paint.
Done! How easy was that?

Lasagna Soup.....perfect for fall!

What's extra gooey and super comforting on a freezing fall evening after soccer practice? (I know I keep referencing soccer practice, but as you mom's know it pretty much rules my world...)Lasagna soup. That's what. A couple of years ago, while sitting in the waiting room of the kid's dentist office and flipping through a copy of "Family Fun" magazine, I spotted this picture....

I thought about ripping out the page and stealing it, as I knew I had to make this, but I was a little worried I would get ratted out by another waiting room mom, or maybe the cops would get called, or worse maybe my mom would get called...(my imagination can go a little crazy, especially in the waiting room of a dentist...the fear kind of takes over my body)...so I took a way more rational approach and asked the receptionist to copy it for me. I made it that very night, and have been making it ever since. My kids love it, my husband loves it, and it makes enough for two dinners. Serve it up with some toasted Italian rustic bread with a little butter and garlic salt, and pack it in their thermos the next day! Seriously, make it already.

Lasagna Soup

2 tsp olive oil
1 1/2 lbs Italian sausage (bulk)
2 onions finely chopped ( I use one)
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
2 Tbs tomato paste
1 28oz can diced tomatoes
6 cups chicken broth
2 bay leaves
8 oz fusilli pasta
1/2 c. finely chopped fresh basil
8 oz ricotta
1/2 c. grated Parmesan
1/4 tsp salt
pinch of pepper
2 c. shredded mozzarella

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the sausage and saute, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon, until the sausage is no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess fat from pot. Add the onions and saute until softened, about 6 minutes. Add garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes and saute for 1 minute. Add tomato paste and saute until paste turns rusty brown, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes with their juice, the broth, and the bay leaves and bring the soup to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. Add the pasta, then increase the heat to medium high and boil soup until the pasta is tender to the bite, following the time recommendations on the pasta package. Discard bay leaves, then stir in basil. if desired, season with salt and black pepper to taste.
In a small bowl, combine ricotta, Parmesan, the 1/4 tsp salt and pinch of pepper. To serve, place a scoop of the ricotta mixture into each bowl, ladle the soup on, and sprinkle with mozzarella.

Traditionally, meat sauce is supposed to be served with red wine, but this fall wine was spectacular with it!

Healthy smoothies your kids will actually like!

Like any other mom, I am always trying to find ways to get my kids to eat more vegetables...I have sneaked them in soups, spread them on crackers, even joined the "sneaking pureed vegetables into everything you bake" movement. I went on a two day puree marathon, and a year later, it is all still in my freezer, like crusty, freezer burned, mystery bags of grossness. The one thing my kids seem to love is smoothies. Not the green smoothie my husband makes every day at 3 o'clock....(seriously, he's like a rain man smoothie making machine....3 o'clock, must make smoothie, must make smooooothie...) but smoothies that are sweet and actually taste good. I have tried to get on board with my husband's smoothie, but it literally tastes like grass....and not in a good way. I had finally determined that green smoothies were not my thing, when my cousin Steph introduced my to the best thing ever....EVER....a green smoothie that actually tastes great. You know that feeling late in the afternoon when you lose energy and wish you could have a latte, or take a nap? That is the time you make one of these bad boys and it gives you that energy buzz to get you motivated, to get you psyched up to exercise, clean the house, or finish that smoothie blog you started....they are that good. Anyway, I figured if I like it that much, maybe my kids would drink it. Sure enough, they all love it. My daughter drinks one everyday after school and before soccer, and my rain man husband calls down from his home office every day (3 o'clock sharp) and asks "is it smoothie time?" That's not code for anything...he really just wants a smoothie. I feel less guilty about the other things I eat (1/2 a white chocolate pumpkin cheese cake....post to come soon), because I know I'm at least getting a whopping amount of things that are good for me. Since starting the smoothies, I have been researching other smoothies that are great, and came across the oatmeal smoothie. This one is perfect for busy mornings, and the oatmeal in it makes it super healthy and filling. As I have posted about before, getting healthier works by going slow, adding in one great thing at a time, and working out one bad thing at a time...you don't need to feel you are on a "health kick," let's face it, those never last, but adding more vegetables to your body, which naturally allows for less junk during the day.....never in a million years after making fun of my husband for so long did I expect to turn into rain girl....here are the recipes!

Steph's Green Smoothie

2 heaping handfuls of spinach (you can throw in some kale or parsley if you have it)
1/2 avocado
1 handful shredded carrot (trader joe's sells them pre shredded)
1 handful frozen mango chunks (also trader joe's)
1 handful frozen blueberries
1/2 inch of peeled ginger root
1 cup ( I use a little more) of almond milk (I use vanilla for sweetness)
Blend all ingredients, drink immediately, feel awesome

This recipe can be changed up to allow for what is in you freezer, peaches instead of mango, raspberries or blackberries instead of blueberries, a banana, really anything you have on hand.

Oatmeal Raspberry Smoothie

One banana
1 handful frozen raspberries(or any other frozen berry)
1/2 cups plain greek yogurt
1 TBS honey
1/2 cup old fashioned oatmeal
1 cup vanilla almond milk

Here's a few links to some others that are fabulous:

Healthy Pumpkin Smoothie
http://redheadrecipes.com/?p=13520&cpage=1#comment-7483

Dr. Oz Vitamin C Smoothie (for cold season)
www.doctoroz.com/videos/dr-oz-s-vitamin-c-smoothie

The Ikea Expedit, oh how I love her!

A few months ago, I was staring at the wall of my guest house, thinking it needed something....It currently housed a little desk, mirror, and chair, and really didn't get much use, nor did it go with the light and coastal theme I had going on in there. I had been thinking maybe a vintage hutch I could repaint, and I asked my cousin Kris (an interior designer) her thoughts. She stared for a long time before saying, "you know what would be perfect for this spot, one of those Ikea cubey shelfy things..." Neither one of us knew the proper name for these, but I knew immediately what she meant. The only time I had seen them in person, they were in someone's playroom, shoved full of toys and knick knacks, and not looking like the beachy vision I had in my mind for that wall. I started googling images of the shelf, which I found out is called the Expedit, and had no idea there was a huge Expedit fan base...there were hundreds of pictures, some were how I had seen them before, but some were done so classy and modern....Kris was onto something. Oh, and here was the other problem. I was on a budget. A big budget. And what would I possible store in 16 baskets? Later, as I went into my small mechanical room to get the vacuum, I tripped over all my kids art stuff, you know, the stuff they bring home, and you can't throw it away? The plastic containers of crayons, pencils, craft paper, paints, piled up and screaming for a new home. I had a light bulb moment, and decided the expedit would be perfect...I could turn it into the craft-o-matic 3000, and finally get on the road to organizing my life. Even though they are only $129 at Ikea for a 4 by 4 unit, I noticed they were all over craigslist for around $50-$100 bucks. I waited and found a white one for $45. I went back and forth about what type of basket to use, they have so many options...(even the Target Itso baskets fit perfectly)...but I loved the seagrass baskets, and had to pay full price at $12 a pop, but love the way it looks. It matches my guest house perfectly, and has become a one wall art studio for not only my kids crafts and art supplies, but all of my scrapbook stuff, craft paint, glue guns, wrapping paper, playdough, I could go on and on! I fit so much in there, and still have 4 empty baskets. I even got out the label maker....if you knew me really well you would know this goes against everything I stand for....I am one of those people who can keep my house kind of clean, but if you opened any drawer or cupboard, stuff would just fall on you...it's bad. I'm not kidding. But this shelf inspired me to label all their art supplies, and I find they actually do so many more art projects, just knowing they can access what they need, and clean it up easily, it just goes right back into the right basket. I have since seen these as changing tables, shoe storage, entry tables, you name the space, they have an expedit that will fit. Can you tell I'm a little excited about these? How can you go wrong for 45 bucks! Here are a few images of other expedits....where can you use one in your house?

Simple things we can do to live more organically...

In and earlier post, I started a weekly list of tips....easy and inexpensive tips to making your home more clean, organic, and environmentally friendly!
Tip #2) BPA-get rid of it! Back in the 80's and 90's, no one ever heard the terms "BPA free or free of Phalates." We drank from plastic bottles, sippy cups...we just didn't know better! In the last 10 years, BPA (also known as bisphenal A) has been listed as a "toxic substance" by the FDA. It has been proven to leech out of plastic, into the liquid, and therefore into the bloodstreams of people who drink from and eat off of it. It is highly estrogenic, and in high amounts can lead to the build up of these toxins in the body. The good news? BPA free plastic is now readily available, and inexpensive. Switch you babies and kids to bpa free bottles, sippys, water bottles, better yet, stainless steel. My little boy Wiley has a stainless water bottle with a non leaking spout he brings in the car, and loves it! Some of my favorite websites are Kleen Kanteen, and Sigg. I purged my kids lunch boxes of plastic baggies after a friend turned me onto to these!

http://www.easylunchboxes.com/

They are a bento style BPA free dishwasher safe tupperware that stack easily, are super cheap, and leave no plastic in the landfills! We also bought the insulated lunch pack that stacks three tupperware, so we can head to the park, or on the road, and they each have a snack. (It is also a great website for lunch ideas!) I also have recently found BPA plastic snack cups and bowls at Walmart. Like I said, it's everywhere! Our family had also been eating on some super cute melamine dinnerware for the last two years....seemed like a good idea, as the kids could drop it and bang it up, and we could carry it onto the patio without the fear of it breaking! Alas, after much research I decided it had to go, as ceramic and glass really is the most healthy way to go, and we cheaply replaced it all at once with a couple of these great sets from Home Essentials at Target: http://www.target.com/p/Room-Essentials-Glazed-Stoneware-16-pc-Dinnerware-Set-Vintage-Teal/-/A-11509079. I feel much better about it!

Coveting fall comfort....

What have I learned in the thirty something years that I have been getting dressed? You can't be something you're not. You can try, but inevitably, your own sense of self will prevail. And you know what? That's a good thing. Like most women, I do love fashion, and while I have friends who manage to pull off every day swankiness, (you know the type, cute skirt, boots, hair perfected, matching bag,) I am not one of those women. My style has always been ruled by comfort. I remember my best friend and I in high school, vowing every year that "this would be the year we will be uber stylish," making schedules of the cute outfits we would wear, which included a skirt at least once a week, and applying makeup every day, and actually getting up early to do our hair. Without fail, halfway through September, the plan would be scrapped, in favor of waking up 5 minutes before departure, pull on my Levi's, throw my hair in a pony tail, and scurry out the door....I have truly learned my lesson through my teenage and adult years, that yes, I love cute clothes, but they HAVE to be comfortable and cozy. My style of a mom of three who lives on the beach in a small town and drives soccer carpool, consists of jeans, cozy boots, flip flops, sweaters, tank tops, exercise clothes, a casual coach bag, and not a hot off the runway fall blazer with riding boots....I mean come on, I can't blog about what I'm not, but I CAN blog about what I am! That is a fashion lover who is on a mission to be myself, be comfortable, be casual and still have style...Here's wishing you a cozy, comfy, be yourself kind of fall!

Bag-Coach Chelsea
Socks, gloves, hat, scarf-Etsy
Boots-Frye
Stackable rings-Coach
Jeans-Hollister