New Furniture!

So the Mister and I got some new furniture this weekend. Our house finally feels like a home, and it is about time too!

We have been here nearly a year now! I can hardly believe it. Since we have moved in we have made several new friends and hosted many parties and family gatherings We decided we can comfortably sit about 8 people at the table, which is far more than our old table. With our new big table we will be hosting the next two major holidays with our joined families. A first as a married couple! I am so looking forward to the holidays this year! In fact, when my brother-in-law asked me what I am most looking forward to with marriage I said, "Our first Christmas together."

Hallo-weenie

Somehow in my life I have surrounded myself with folks that love to get the crap scared out of them. They go to scary movies and laugh "because there hasn't been a scary movie created since The Ring." Mr. Haire has to go on Scary Movie dates with the neighbors and I stay at home and watch Notting Hill or The Wedding Date.

To them, Halloween is all about scary movies, haunted houses, and saying "Bloody Mary" in front of the mirror with the lights off. Well that last bit might be an exaggeration. But to me, Halloween is all about wearing a colorful wig while passing candy out to the Trick-or-Treaters, carving pumpkins and wearing my scary ghost socks and pajama pants while watching the Today Show Halloween specials. I am such a skirrdy cat that I am afraid to look at some of my favorite blogs. For example, CromeYellow has posted their 11 Must Watch Halloween Movies List. So if that is your thing, take their advice, they are experts. If you are looking for something a little more mild, my Halloween movies include:

• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Hocus Pocus
• The Frighteners
• The Craft
• The Others

Now, I know those may not be considered scary, but they are the ones I know won't give me nightmares. At least they haven't in the past. How Mr. Haire ending up with such a weenie I don't know, but I just don't do scary!

Here are some pictures from our Pumpkin Carving session with our neighbors and dear friends "The Kims."

Mine is the happy one in the back.

(pictures from Mrs. B. Kim)

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween, and I really hope you don't find your Happy Pumpkins smashed in the road Tuesday Morning!

The "mis-matched" bridesmaids

Pros:

• Each girl finds a fit she is comfortable and confident in- we all have different bodies, how could one dress be flattering on every girl? 

• Each girl gets a color she looks best in (within a range)
• Makes your wedding more personal
• The gals can do something to match your wedding theme too! Vintage, cocktail, modern, the options are endless! (My girls went for a garden-vintage theme)
• If your gals are scattered across the states like mine were, they don't have to worry about which store they can get THE dress at, and which dye lot was used, is the right dress going to come in at all? Etc.
• It can be in their price range. There is nothing worse than have to make your friends charge for your day. 
• They just might wear that dress again!

Cons:

• It can really stress your girls out picking out the right dress. The pressure is on them instead of you, and sometimes your gals may just rather you pick for them. Talk to them to see if they are up for the challenge!
• They have to send you pictures for approval. I received so many emails and picture messages with the dresses... I really liked that part because I never get to see these girls anymore.(I suppose this could be a pro or a con, depending on your stress level) I would love to share a few of the horror stories, but I might get shot...
• Online shopping isn't the best suggestion. I suggested ModCloth to my girls because there are so many amazing dresses on there, but none of them worked out, whether it was the wrong color, too short or too revealing. They all found their dresses at Dillard's, Macys, and other major department stores. If you are a frequent online shopper, and you know what you are dealing with, then I say go for it!

Tips :

• Get them a few pieces to unify them. I did matching necklaces and shoes- these also served as their bridesmaids gifts.

Necklaces: Forever 21 Shoes: White House | Black Market

• Give your girls some examples, options and a good idea of the color range you have in mind.
• Give them some freedom, they have your best interest at heart.

Here is our Wedding Party. I think it was a great group, and I really love how all the photos turned out with the mis-matched dresses.

 

photos by: Stephanie Patterson

Curry Pancit

Ingredients:
1 Package of Rice noodles
1 Onion
3 Cloves of Garlic
1/3 of a Cabbage- Sliced
2 Cups Chicken Stock
2 Stalks of Celery Chopped
1-2 Carrots Chopped
1 Green Onion
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
Olive Oil
5 Tablespoons of Curry (optional)
 
Chop your onion and crush your garlic, then chop that up.
Throw some oil in your wok and toss your onion and garlic in and saute them.
The onion and garlic should pop and sizzle for some time. (My cat attacks my legs when I cook onions. It makes her eyes burn)

 

After your onions are nearly browned, add your chicken broth. 
 
Throw in the rest of your chopped and sliced veggies.
Soak your noodles for about 10 minutes until they are softened and loosen up.
Keep the vegetables cookin' until you can nearly smell the carrots sweeten up.
Add in your soy sauce and curry if you like.

Stir in your softened noodles and let your flavors meld together. Salt and Pepper to taste and serve when it is all hot and soft!

 I made this dish with Red Curry, but I think next time I will try Yellow Curry. It may suit the vegetables better.

While cooking this dish for the working P-Funk I drank my red wine and listened to Anthony Bourdain "No Reservations" in the background. I have decided he is my new cooking buddy, and one should always have a cooking buddy. Do you have one?

Spaghetti Squash Dinner Last Night

There were quite a few changes to the recipe that I listed below for the Spaghetti Squash, like add diced sauteed mushrooms*, garlic, shallots, and put the Parmesan crisps on top of the dish (as well as in the dish). And it was a hit! What I didn't do was take out the seeds... which was not pleasant. My Mother-in-Law (MIL) was over for dinner and she told P-Funk to get at $100k job so I am able to stay home and cook these amazing meals every night. I said, please do.
Because this dinner was a hit, I will be doing a tutorial on it soon, but tonight, Curry Pancit. Stay tuned!

And until then, cheers!

*This is the only way P-Funk will eat mushrooms

Dinner Plans for the Week

Well, turns out, being unemployed gives one a lot of spare time. With all this spare time, I have found the luxury of meal planning. This Saturday night I sat in front of my Pinterest with my hot apple cider and looked at all the options I have Pinned.It is still in the high 80's, nearly 90's here in AZ, but I have found I am still longing for all the Fall flavors, so without further adieu, here is the meal plan for 10/24-10/28:

Italian Spaghetti Squash, with Parmesan Crisps

Source: marthastewart.com via Emily on Pinterest
Source: italiandish.squarespace.com via Emily on Pinterest

Curry Pancit- a spin off of this recipe 

Calzones

Source: squidoo.com via Emily on Pinterest

Fajitas

Source: parentsconnect.com via Emily on Pinterest

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