Trendy Wednesday - Fabulous Fall Boots

I went for a walk with Beignet this morning, and what do you know, there was a bit of a breeze.  I wouldn't say it was a cool breeze exactly, but it was a breeze none the less.  I don't know about you, but I am so ready for Fall!!!  I keep reading about everyone tasting their first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the 2010 year, and I cannot wait to be sipping on one myself.  I simply can't bring myself to get one when it's still in the 90s though. 

Soon enough those cool breezes will be blowing through, leaves will make that rustling sound as they fall to the ground, and I will be wrapped warming in a ruffly sweater tasting the blend of pumpkin spices and warm coffee.   All these images of Fall make me very ready for boot season.  This year there are so many beautiful options.  Here are a few I found fabulous!

Bowtied-Beauty Boots
Bows on boots - I've died and gone to heaven!!!

Pebbled & Primped Boots

Attention in back!!!  Aren't these ruffles just the cutest?!  I tell you, Anthropologie never fails to have the best in boots each and every Fall!  PS - I'll take the whole ensemble to the right!  Adorable!

Accoutrement Booties

I love the rich color of these booties, and the heel height gives you a little boost without being unbearable to wear.

Steve Madden Maryn Wedge Boots in Stone

When you're looking for more than a little boost, but you're leary of sore feet, a wedge is the perfect way to go.  The Maryn wedge boot would be my choice.  It comes in multiple color options, and I love the detail at the heel that makes the boot appear to drape like a legwarmer!

Steve Madden Fiana Taupe Suede Booties

These are just plain H-O-T, hot!  I love everything about them!!!  The foldover fabric, the bow in back, that heel!!!!  Talk about a showstopper!!!

Do you have a favorite pair of Fall boots we should know about???

Tasty Tuesdays: Pioneer Woman's Mushroom-and-Swiss Sliders

There are a few things that I simply love.  Some items on this list are football, The Pioneer Woman's blog, and beef sliders.  So when you find the latter of these two things in one place and they'd work perfectly at your next tailgate party, I think they are a must share for Tasty Tuesdays!!!  Do those sliders look anything but AMAZING?!?!  For more photos of a step by step method to the Pioneer Woman's slider making madness, you can access her recipe HERE...

From the spicy sauce to the flavorful mushrooms and the tasty melted cheese...  Mmmmmmm...   I can't wait to make these!

• Ingredients
• ⅓ cups Mayonnaise
• 2 Tablespoons Ketchup
• 1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (less If You're Sensitive To Spice!)
• 4 Tablespoons Butter
• ½ whole Medium Onion, Finely Diced
• 8 ounces, weight White Mushrooms, Chopped Finely
• ½ cups White Or Red Wine (optional)
• 4 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
• Kosher Salt And Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 2 pounds Ground Beef
• 4 Tablespoons Heavy Whipping Cream
• 4 dashes Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt
• Freshly Ground Black Pepper
• 4 slices Swiss Cheese, Cut Into Four Squares
• 8 whole Dinner (or Slider) Rolls, Split

Preparation Instructions

In a small bowl, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, and cayenne. Stir together until totally combined. Set aside. (This is the spicy fry sauce.)

Melt butter in a large skillet. Add onions and cook over medium heat for five minutes, stirring frequently. Add mushrooms and toss around, then add wine (if using), Worcestershire, salt and pepper. Cook for several minute over medium heat, or until all liquid has evaporated. Transfer mushroom mixture to a separate bowl, scraping all contents from the skillet.

Mix ground beef, heavy cream, Worcestershire, and salt and pepper in a bowl. Use your hands to thoroughly mix ingredients. Form 1/4 to 1/3 cup of the meat mixture into patties, making an indentation with your thumb to keep the patties from plumping too much when they cook. In the same skillet as the one used to cook the mushrooms, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium to medium-high heat. Add four patties at a time, indented side face up. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip. Spoon generous portion of mushroom mixture on each patty, then top with one or two squares of Swiss, depending on your preference. Place lid on skillet and cook for an additional 2 to 3 minutes, until burgers are cooked through and cheese is melted. Remove to a place and keep warm while you repeat with the rest of the meat mixture.

Toast halved buns under the oven broiler. Spread generously with spicy fry sauce. Place patties between buns and serve immediately with fried onion strings.

GIVEAWAY REMINDER!!!!!

Don't forget that you can make your next tailgate foolproof by winning these two amazing products simply by entering my KIWI camp dry products HERE!!!

We'll draw a winner this Friday in time for your tailgating weekend begins!

A New Day

Good morning!  I hope this weekend treated you well.  We were so grateful for all of your kind messages.  You have no idea how much brighter our weekend was because of all of you.

One lesson we most certainly learned, is that even when you think you've had the world's worst day, you have the chance to wake up the next morning and get off to a new start.  That's what we're doing.  No negativity, no moping, no pouting.  (Although, I will admit, that's how I spent most of last Wednesday and even some of Thursday).  By Friday, we went on a house/rental hunt, and we walked away with a few nice options.  There's light at the end of the tunnel, and we can see it.  And the Saints won!  Can't get better than that!!!

So I hope you'll enjoy a little bit of sunshine this morning.  I sure did enjoy the sunshine you brought to me last week.

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

The Facts of Life: You Take the Good, You Take the Bad

 

The Bad

The last 48 hours have been a bit of a roller coaster.  You see, just before we got on the road to head to New Orleans, we learned that the seller of the house we are under contract for is backing out of the sale. My little heart is broken.  It was the first house I have seen that I really loved.  It was a house I pictured living in for a long time.  And I am so sad that it will not be ours.   

About three hours into our drive, a car swerved into the right lane, and we hit a semi tire in Mark's Mini Cooper.  Ouch!  The a/c went out immediately and there were pieces of the car dragging the ground.  We pulled off the road and were able to get the car into drivable condition, but on our stop, our dog Annie peeped on me.  So we spent the five hours after that in a teeny car with no a/c smelling very badly.   

The Good

We are alive to see another day.  I have to tell you that when I think about what could have happened when we hit that tire, it makes my stomach turn.  I feel so grateful that we are safe and that we made it safely to New Orleans.  

We had a great day tailgating for the NFL Season opener.  The city was as alive as it has ever been.  There were people everywhere in black and gold.  It was pure happiness.  In the Dome, they projected the Dave concert on the big screens.  When Kermit Ruffins and Trombone Shorty joined him on stage, the Dome went crazy!  And then the Mardi Gras Indians...  And seeing how gorgeous the city looked with the St. Louis Cathedral peeking out over the crowd.  It made me realize that a house does not make a home.  We are coming HOME!  After seeing New Orleans look as proud and joyous and regal as it looked last night, I could love in a tent as long as I live here.

The Saints win, the Saints win!!!  It was an ugly win, but they count just the same.  The best part of the game actually happened before the clock ever started.  With a crowd of over 70,000, the Saints dropped the World Champions banner.  It was a moment I had hoped for all my life.  To see it happen before my eyes was so emotional.  And one of the greatest moments I have had in the Dome was led by the greatest QB in Saints history.  Just before the game started, Drew marched to the 30 yard line, raised his arms and signaled to the fans to start the "Who Dat" chant.  Imagine 70,000 people chanting in unison.  The sound filled every space and void in the stadium.  It was chilling.

So now we have set out to find a new house.  We will spend the rest of our weekend enjoying this city and all it has to offer knowing that it is home.  

Road Trip: Our Journey Home Begins

Tomorrow, Mark and I are taking the first step in our move home.  We will be driving his car and our dog, Annie,  to New Orleans.  We should arrive on Thursday around lunch just in time to make our way downtown for a little Who Dat Nation tailgating. The whole city is gearing up for the season opener versus the Vikings, and I am just so excited to be in that number!!  Don't forget to enter my tailgating giveaway HERE!!

Our road trip starts tomorrow.  Our team's road to the repeat begins on Thursday.  It's gonna be one heckuva ride!

Here's to the open road...

 

To wind in your hair...

 

To quality time together...

 

To reaching your destination...

 

Who Dat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tailgate GIVEAWAY Fit for a Champion

With the college football season already underway, and the 2010 NFL season kicking off Thursday, parking lots nationwide will soon be flooded with fans and tailgaters ready to celebrate their teams!!

I'll be headed home in just a few days to watch the Saints take on the Vikings.   New Orleans promises to provide the ultimate tailgating experience - complete with the NFL's first-ever parade to ring in the 91st season, followed by a live concert in Jackson Square by The Dave Matthews Band and Taylor Swift. 

 

 

Whether you'll be tailgating in New Orleans or any other football town, you know that you can plan for just about everything (decorations, food, favors) except Mother Nature. But with these two AMAZING products, your tailgate party will remain high and dry no matter what the weather!

*       KIWI Camp Dry Fabric Protector: Don't let wind, rain, sleet, or snow spoil a perfectly good time. Stay dry by spraying KIWI Camp Dry Fabric Protector on all of your synthetic, nylon and Gore-Tex fabrics. From hats and jerseys to umbrellas and ponchos, this fabric protector is the perfect solution for repelling water, dirt and stains.

Perfect for...

        

*       KIWI Camp Dry Heavy Duty Water Repellent: For the ultimate water protection, try using KIWI Camp Dry Heavy Duty Water Repellent. The silicone content instantly bonds to materials, creating an extremely tough water barrier. It's the perfect solution for protecting chairs, tarps, car mats and rain boots.  Imagine how perfectly clean your Hunter boots will stay with a few sprays of this product!

Try it on...

   

To qualify for the giveaway all you have to do is...

Follow KIWI Camp Dry on Twitter HERE

 and

 "Like" KIWI on Facebook HERE

Leave a comment letting me know you've entered!  

I don't know about you, but I am READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!  And a good tailgate too!


Click photos for links!!!

Guest Post: The Icing on the Cake

Today I'm so excited to be guest posting for my dear friend from Pink Champagne while she is on her honeymoon.  For some baking tips from my pastry chef sister, my dad's buttercream frosting recipe, and more beautiful cakes just like this one, head over HERE...

And have a GREAT weekend!!!!!!!!!!