My favorites of 2012

10.  Irelyn's surprise 8th birthday party

 

9.  Watching butterflies grow from caterpillars

 

 

8.  My Dad's 70th Birthday

 

 

 

7.  Our vacation to the Central Coast in August

 

 

6.  Wine tasting in Santa Barbara for our 11th Wedding Anniversary

 

5.  Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland Passes

 

4.  Slammers Soccer Camp in the summer with cousins

 

 

3.  Trips to the San Diego Zoo and Aquarium of the Pacific

 

2.  Lots of soccer...

 

1.  Family time :)











 



Holiday home tour

Today I'm linking up with Kelly at Kelly's Korner She is doing a link up Holiday Home Tour. 
Here are some Christmas details in my home

Candyland Tree

 

Our advent calendar.  Behind each door is a little ornament to hang on the door.

Our Christmas tree filled with ornaments from my childhood, my husbands childhood, and a new ornament each year for my 8 year old daughter

Our stockings that my mom and I made 3 years ago.

 

Wreath on my front door that my daughter and I made

 

 

Our staircase with tons of stuffed animals!

For Our Tummies on Tuesday

Delicious Chicken Noodle Soup...love

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons EVOO
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 medium carrots, cut diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 2 celery ribs, halved lengthwise, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 quarts chicken stock. I like to use Organic Better Than Boullion.  It comes in a jar.
• 8 ounces dried wide egg noodles, rotini- any shape really
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cooked chicken
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Place a soup pot over medium heat and pour in the oil. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, celery, and bay leaf. Cook and stir for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are softened but not browned. Pour in the broth and bring the liquid to a boil. Add the noodles and simmer for 5 minutes until tender. Fold in the chicken, and continue to simmer for another couple of minutes to heat through; season with salt and pepper.

Delish!

Learning for a lifetime

Have you heard of Coursera ?  This is what is says on their website:

"We are a social entrepreneurship company that partners with the top universities in the world to offer courses online for anyone to take, for free. We envision a future where the top universities are educating not only thousands of students, but millions."

How cool is that?  College level courses, taught by top professors and you can learn anything.  You can take a guitar class, learn about astronomy or about finance.  I have already signed up for 2 classes!

Learning keeps us young.  Try Coursera and let me know how it goes. 
www.Coursera.org

What I Wore Wednesday

I'm linking up with Lindsey at The Pleated Poppy today.  I love What I Wore Wednesday :) Its a fun way to check out new styles

 

Top- Old Navy

Tank- Nordstrom

Skinnies- Kohl's

Boots- Kohl's

 

That was easy, and reasonably priced :)

 

My necklace today...love

Tiffany and Co. Keys.  A gift from my daughter and husband.  A little one for her and a big one for him :)

 

For our Tummies on Tuesday

Thank you Trader Joe's for this easy recipe

Lemon Chicken with Couscous
1/4 cup olive oil
2-3 garlic cloves
1/3 cup white wine
lemon juice and lemon zest
3 chicken breasts
1 tsp thyme or 2-3 fresh sprigs
1/2 tsp oregano

Warm the oil in a pan, add garlic, wine, lemon juice and zest.  Place chicken in a corningware dish or pan.  Pour oil mixture over chicken.  Season with salt and pepper.  Add thyme and oregano.  Bake for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.

Serve with couscous.  Add cranberries and almonds to the couscous for added flavor.

xo Devon

Christmas Tree Wonderland Supporting Orangewood Children's Home

Today I am attending Christmas Tree Wonderland at the Hilton is Costa Mesa. Christmas Tree Wonderland is charity event put on by La Casa Auxillary.  All of the money raised is donated to Orangewood Childrens Home. This event typically raises close to $20,000!  I have attended this event for years and I love to see all the beautifully decorated trees in the auction and as raffle prizes. The auction and raffle prize room is full of Christmas trees, fun raffle prizes and 25-30 silent auction items. Each year I try to win the Huntington Harbor yacht cruise- no luck yet. Last year I won the most beautiful candyland tree. And they year before we won the money tree!   Here are a few photos from the event