Five on Friday

I'm linking up again today with some of my favorites: Katie, April, and Christina!

ONE

A HUGE shout out to Kate for designing my Keep Your Fork Cheesecakes logo! And a HUGE thank you to all of you who have been so supportive! I'm excited about this next step!

TWO

This little cutie is nine months old! I absolutely cannot believe it!

THREE

So looking forward to a little family treat tomorrow morning! We're taking Chandler out to breakfast for the first time. We will, of course, be ordering pancakes!

FOUR

I finally wore my new booties and I LOVE them! I am now pretty much wearing them everyday! This is probably my new go-to girls night outfit...comfy ponte leggings, mixed media tunic, and my booties!

Shop the look:

FIVE

It's Friday, y'all and that in itself is enough!

Exciting Announcement!

This month, I'm launching a little business! 

I'm excited to announce that Keep Your Fork Cheesecakes is up and running!!!!

This whole idea got started this summer when I decided to master the sour cream cheesecake with raspberry sauce from our favorite restaurant in St. Simons Island. The restaurant recently changed ownership and the cheesecake didn't make the cut (Umm...yes...they are insane for not putting it on the menu).

This sour cream cheesecake with a chocolate crust and raspberry sauce is my dad's FAVORITE, so I set out to make my own to surprise him for his birthday and it was a hit.

I'll be the first to admit that cheesecakes are notoriously difficult and this has not been an easy journey...though given we now have a cheesecake in the house just about all the time, I'd say it has been an enjoyable but tricky journey. And my waistline is ready to get this business up and running!!! I need to put a little space between the cheesecakes and my fork!

Why the name "Keep Your Fork"?

Well, Adam and I hosted a dinner party about a month ago and as we were clearing plates and asking our friends to "keep your fork" it just kind of happened. It was a group discussion for about .5 seconds before we all voted and decided that was definitely going to stick!

Where did the logo come from?

My amazing friend, fellow blogger, and sorority sister, Katie at Farm to Fête designed this logo and I am in LOVE! She is so talented and I enjoyed working with her so much that I've already signed her up to do Chandler's first birthday party invitations! Be sure to check out her Etsy shop!

I'm excited and very nervous, but I can't wait to share these desserts with you! 

For information on pricing, flavors, etc. visit the "Keep Your Fork Cheesecakes" page listed on the right side at the top of my blog. (Or just click here) 

Roasted Tomato Soup

This time of year is my favorite time of year for soup! I love the cozy feeling that a good soup gives you. And it seems to warm you from the inside out! We've been hit with a little cold snap here in South Carolina and Adam and I have spent the past few days being very cold! 

Those of you who know us very well will be shocked to hear that we have turned the heat on already! We normally wait until late November or even December, but for some reason, we've been cold lately. (Not to mention having a baby around does make you extra aware of the temperature!)

So one of my favorite soups for this time of year is my Roasted Tomato Soup. I have adapted a recipe from The Italian Dish. We made it this weekend and it did not disappoint. Nothing like a soup night! The best part is that this recipe makes enough for several meals, so we'll be eating tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches this week!

For Soup:

4 pounds tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise

5 garlic cloves, unpeeled

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 medium onion, chopped

2 teaspoon dried oregano

2 teaspoons sugar

3 cups chicken stock

1 tablespoon of butter

To Make Soup:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Arrange tomatoes, cut sides up, on a large baking sheet lined with heavy duty aluminum foil. Place the unpeeled garlic between the tomatoes.  Drizzle 3 tablespoons of the olive oil all over the tomatoes and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Roast tomatoes for 1 hour, let the tomatoes cool, and then peel the garlic.

While the tomatoes and garlic are roasting...I highly recommend pouring yourself a nice glass of wine and snacking on a little antipasto platter. Once you're sipping on that glass of wine, proceed to the next step!

Cook onion, oregano and sugar in 1 tablespoon of olive oil and the butter in a very heavy pot over medium heat, until onion is soft, about 7 minutes.  Add tomatoes, garlic and stock and bring to a boil. Then turn the heat down and let the soup simmer for about 15 minutes.

Place an immersion blender into the pot and puree the soup. If you do not have an immersion blender, puree the soup in batches in a blender. Once the soup is pureed, bring it back to a simmer and add salt and pepper to taste.

Serve soup with crusty bread (I like to top mine with cheese...).

Buon Appetito!

The Itch

This time of year, I get the itch to travel. I seriously think it's genetic...because my dad gets it too.

As soon as the weather starts to turn cooler, my thoughts slowly slip away to England. Starting when I was ten years old, my family traveled to England once a year for buying for our antique store. Now, once I got married things changed a little. I mean when you and your spouse have full time jobs it's hard to pick up and leave for two weeks in the middle of October or November...and now with a baby...woo! I can't imagine. But, that said, my thoughts are always there this time of year.

I want to stay at The George of Stamford and have tea on the patio or by the fire...

I want to wander through an antique fair...

I want to stay at the Manor House at Castle Combe...

Man, I've got the itch.

Where does your mind wander when you get the travel bug?

Five on Friday

I am linking up again today with some of my favorites, April, Christina, and Katie! This week's Five on Friday is a baby edition! Enjoy!

ONE

We started this morning off with a great run and some fun time swinging in our front yard. I can't get enough of this cutie pie! She is so much fun!

TWO

Earlier this week, I placed an Amazon order for some baby instruments. I was looking for instruments that were similar to what Chandler uses in her music class and I hit the jackpot! We've been shaking maracas since the day they arrived!

THREE

FINALLY, we are starting to see some fall weather around here! We enjoyed some great time outside this week and we're looking forward to lots of time outside over the weekend. 

All those toys and she wants to play with the package of Boogie Wipes...?? 

 FOUR

Pancakes...she has decided she likes them...need I say more?

FIVE

These cool evenings have made way for nice, relaxing family walks after bath time and just before Channy heads off to bed. There is no better way to spend an evening...I'm sure of it!

What do you guys have planned this weekend? 

How are you celebrating this amazing fall weather?

8 Months!!

This post, like all of our monthly updates seem to be...is long overdue! 

We had a great month and Channy is still the happiest baby around. We are so thrilled with the way that she is growing up! 

Here are a few pictures from Chandler's eighth month...

First visit to the lake.

Lots of fun with Aunt Alli

Sink baths are the best for splashing!

Happy girl with sleepy eyes!

Playing with stacking cups.

Taking a selfie to send to Daddy.

Breakfast with Daddy at Brueggers!

Afternoons in the swing.

Trying on new hats for fall.

Taking an intermission from Mass for some outside snuggles with Mommy.

Post Mass nap in her dress...happy babe!

First trip to the Greek Festival...not so sure about the crowds.

Our sweet baby continues to be a great sleeper and is slowly getting out of her yogurt rut and eating a wide variety of food. 

She has three bottom teeth and so far it doesn't look like we'll be expecting any top teeth anytime soon. We're slowly learning that Chandler shows her affection by "hugging", while also biting your shoulder. Let's hope we can kick that habit before she goes to school...

This month we started attending Music Together once a week and Chandler loves it. It is a great time for her to be around other children and hear music, as well as learn about music. She has a great playful spirit and I have so enjoyed watching her soak up all of the sights and sounds in class.

Chandler, we love you so much! You are growing up so fast and we are so proud of you, but sometimes we just want time to slow down so we can take more time to savor all of the wonderful things about you. You are our sweet, music-loving, bouncy baby and we would love to keep you that way forever. But, we know you have to grow up and we can't wait to watch you do that too! We love you so very much!

Confessions Pt. 2

It's time for another Confessions post...

The hubs and I signed up to run an 8K right before Thanksgiving and I'm freaking out...today I ran two miles for the first time in a couple of months and that's the furthest I've run since BEFORE I was pregnant...

Every time the seasons change, I feel an overwhelming urge to shop...it nags at me all day long and I pretty much have to make myself stay at home so as not to give into the itch.

So in my last confessions, I said that I was worried our little one would turn into yogurt...good news...she's not done it yet! Also, she has decided to expand her pallet and is now eating vegetables, fruits, grains and of course, yogurt. You'd think that would put my mind at ease, but now I'm all stressed about what to feed her and if I'm feeding her the right things.

Every afternoon, I plan to paint my fingernails that evening, because who doesn't like painted nails...and every evening I decide to sit on my lazy rear and not paint my nails...I might have some motivation issues...

Nap time is hands down my favorite part of the day, that said, every time nap time occurs I have a crazy inner struggle over how best to spend it...be productive and do the laundry, clean the house, etc....or finish read the book I just started.

In my last post, I think I divulged that I hate unloading the dishwasher...WELL...we've been under a boil water advisory for over a week now and I'm now recanting...I would LOVE to be able to unload the dishwasher. Among other things, the heating element in our dishwasher no longer works, thus while everyone else is using their dishwasher because it gets hot enough...I am boiling water three times a day to do the dishes. Boo...

And my last confession for the day...I feel guilty about the above statement because I am safe and sound in my house. Our house that was not affected by the flood at all...our perfect house...where my biggest issue at the moment is that our dishwasher kind of stinks at its one and only job...

I need to be more like the Totino's pizza lady...let it go...it's just stuff!

Prayers

It has taken me quite awhile to get around to this post. The past week has been a rough one, to put it mildly, for our community. No post can give either of the terrible events the attention they deserve, but I'll try.

In the middle of last week, we lost Forest Acres Policeman, Greg Alia. Though I only met him once, through mutual friends, I remember the conversation we shared about raising newborn babies and how, though it is difficult, it does get easier. He talked about his son Sal, who was only a few months old at the time, and we commiserated over the lack of sleep. I could tell, even in our short conversation, that he loved his wife and his son and was a true family man.

He is not someone who will be forgotten. His life made an impact on those he encountered, and his story will make an impact on so many more. He left behind his beautiful family, Kassy and Sal. If you would like to support the Alias, you may do so here.

Shortly after Officer Alia's funeral, Columbia experienced torrential downpours and flooding. Adam and I are so lucky to report that our home sustained no damage, but we know of so many people who are now dealing with a great loss.

I am so proud at how our state and our city have rallied to gather food, water, clothes toiletries and cleaning supplies all over for those in need. Our church, Trenholm Road United Methodist Church is still collecting these items. We have a long way to go in terms of clean up and repairs, but we are slowly making progress and the overall attitude of everyone I talk to is hopeful and positive.

To say that it has been a tough week would be an understatement. Pray for South Carolina, pray for those in need. There are many ways to help in South Carolina for those of you in state and out of state. If you are interested, please contact me and I will be happy to walk you through the options.

Thank you for your prayers.

Five on Friday

We're soaking up some much needed family time, while the ground is soaking up a whole lot of rain and we'll be back for Five on Friday next week!

Pay a visit to my friends April, Christina, Katie and lots of others for Five on Friday!

Happy Weekend!