Coco Kitty Relaxing Inside

Coco Kitty Relaxing Inside

Jan 5, 2018 · 23 Comments

Coco Kitty Relaxing Inside

Coco kitty is an indoor/outdoor cat. She comes and goes at will, but we do bring her inside every evening (except for the couple or so times a year when she gets all full of herself and won't come in at night.) But all of that has changed with these last two weeks of weather! No, we don't have snow or blizzards like some of you, but we've been so cold. Our average high is in the 50's and we are barely making it into the 20's! Coco has apparently decided that this is not for her. She has not gone outside for days! This is the first time in years that she has stayed inside 24/7!

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Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats with Maple Syrup

Jan 4, 2018 · 5 Comments

The Instant Pot makes a healthy breakfast so easy, like these Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats with Maple Syrup.

This warm and creamy pressure cooker oatmeal is just what you need to start your day!

orange bowl filled with steel cut oats with text overlay reading instant pot steel cut oats

If you are looking for healthy, yet comforting and delicious breakfast, you have come to the right place!

Use your Instant Pot (or any other pressure cooker) to make this rich and creamy oatmeal!

Naturally sweetened with maple syrup and currants (or raisins) it is the breakfast you can feel good about!

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Books Read in 2017

Jan 2, 2018 · 6 Comments

Books Read in 2017

It's that time of year again! Time for annual Books Read post for this year, Books Read in 2017. I have reviewed almost all of these books on Amazon. To see which books I have blogged, click here - blogged book reviews. The highlights of the year are books #11, #22, #42, #45, #46, #61, and #62.

1. The Impossible Fortress by Jason Rekulak. ⅘

2. Nightbird by Brian Freeman. 4.5/5

3. The Good Daughter by Alexandria Burt. ⅘

4. A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Ragbourn. ⅘

5. Assuming Names by Tanya Thompson. ⅘

6. Everything Belongs to Us by Yoojin Grace Wuertz. ⅘

7. Rare Objects by Kathleen Tessara. ⅘

8. The Three Theban Plays by Sophocles ⅘

9. Always by Sarah Jio ⅘

10. The Confessions of Young Nero by Margaret George. ⅘

11. Edgar & Lucy by Victor Lodato. 5/5

12. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson. ⅗

13. The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo by Amy Schumer. ⅕

14. I'm Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham. 4.5/5

15. Himself by Jess Kidd. ⅘

16. The Day I Died by Lori Rader-Day. ⅘

17. Anything is Possible by Eizabeth Strout. ⅘

18. The Night the Lights Went Out by Karen White. ⅘

19. Miss You by Kate Eberlen. ⅘

20. Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. 4.5/5

21. Sleepless Nights and Kisses for Breakfast by Matteo Bussola. ⅘

22. Rise and Shine Benedict Stone by Phaedra Patrick. 5/5

23. Not a Sound by Heather Gudenkaf. ⅘

24. Secrets of Southern Girls by Haley Harrigan. ⅘

25. The Simplicity of Cider by Amy E. Reichert. ⅘

26. The Gypsy Moth Summer by Julia Fierro. ⅘

27. Beginning French by les Americains. ⅘

28. The Hollywood Daughter by Kate Alcott. ⅘

29. Nevertheless: A Memoir by Alec Baldwin. ⅘

30. Two Nights by Kathy Reichs. ⅘

31. One Perfect Lie by Lisa Scottoline. ⅘

32. Startup by Doree Shafrir. ⅘

33. The Only Child by Andrew Pyper. ⅘

34. Each Little Lie by Tom Bale. ⅘

35. Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker. ⅘

36. Mrs. Fletcher by Tom Perrotta. ⅘

37. Girl in the Snow by Danya Kukafka. ⅘

38. The Walking Land by Callie Bates. ⅘

39. You by Caroline Kepnes. 5/5

40. See What I Have Done by Sarah Schmidt. ⅘

41. All the Dirty Parts by Daniel Handler. ⅗

42. Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent. 5/5

43. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss. 5/5

44. P.S. From Paris by Marc Levy. ⅗

45. The Resurrection of Joan Ashby by Cherise Wolas. 5/5

46. Sourdough by Robin Sloan. 5/5

47. Lie to Me by J.T. Ellison. ⅘

48. Just Off the Path by Weston Sullivan. ⅘

49. Don't Let Go by Harlan Coben. ⅘

50. The Visitors by Catherine Burns.

51. Sleep Like a Baby by Charlaine Harris.

52. The Dark Lake by Sarah Bailey.

53. The Welcome Home Diner by Peggy Lampman.

54. The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

55. Beasts of Extraordinary Circumstances by Ruth Emmie Lang. (⅘)

56. The Only Girl in the World by Maude Julien. (⅗)

57. The Doll House by Phoebe Martin. (3.5/5)

58. Red Mountain by Boo Walker. (3.5/5)

59. The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. (⅘)

60. The Broken Girls by Simone Saint James (⅘)

61. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee. (5/5)

62. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng. (5/5)

63. The English Wife by Lauren Willig. (⅘)

Kitty Cats and Boxes

Dec 29, 2017 · 19 Comments

I don't know about you, but I've started planning my new year. New resolutions, new word of the year, new way of thinking. I will probably be doing a blog post on it, so I won't go into super duper detail now. I plan on making next year the best year ever. My husband is a couple of years from retiring (if he holds out that long) and I've started slowing down my photography business and I want to have everything in place for us to do what we want to do. Getting our house and our lives in order.

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Instant Pot Ground Pork and Pasta

Dec 28, 2017 · 33 Comments

Use your Instant Pot to cook this delicious and easy Instant Pot Ground Pork and Pasta. The pasta cooks with the pork and picks us so much more flavor! Post may contain affiliate links.

Instant Pot Ground Pork and Pasta

To say that I love my Instant Pot would be an understatement. I love, love, love my Instant Pot. Whenever I want an easy dinner, a dinner that I don't have to stand over the stove watching it, or peeking into the oven to check doneness, I turn to the Instant Pot. Some weeks, I cook entirely from it. Last week was one of those weeks. So much to do and stress over, that I needed cooking to be easy. What I love about the Instant Pot is that it can do almost anything I ask of it. One dish pasta meals are now my go to. I found this recipe in one of my favorite Instant Pot cookbooks, The Great Big Pressure Cooker Book. I can't say enough good things about that book, with 500 easy recipes, there is something for everyone!

Click here to pin this Instant Pot Ground Pork and Pasta now!

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Christmas Cats and The Christmas Tree

Dec 22, 2017 · 20 Comments

A few photos of Luxie and Coco our Christmas Cats and The Christmas Tree.

Christmas Cats and the Christmas Tree

One of my goals for 2018 is to get my digital photos organized. I had them scattered on a bunch of different drives and not very well organized. I've got them all in Lightroom now, with most of them keyworded. I also have the back up drives in Lightroom, so backing up is just a matter of drag and drop now. Baby steps, but it's not even 2018 and I've already started so that's good!

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Sicilian Style Spaghetti | Recipe Redux

Dec 21, 2017 · 13 Comments

Cauliflower and pasta gets jazzed up with anchovies, raisins, and pine nuts in this Sicilian Style Spaghetti from Tyler Florence. Post may contain affiliate links.

Sicilian Style Spaghetti

One of the downfalls of being a food blogger is that it feels wrong to make a recipe more than once. It's all about the new recipes, the new material. But what happens when you open your fridge and see the cauliflower from your CSA sitting on the shelf and you remember that one recipe from Tyler Florence that was so good? Well, you go back on your blog and find it on December 17, 2008, and the photos that you were oh so proud of then, are now simply terrible. Ah, those early days of food blogging. Then you decide that you have to make it again, you owe it to the world to take a better photo so that people might be enticed to make it.

Click here to pin this Sicilian Style Spaghetti now!

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Boozy Cranberry Muffins

Dec 17, 2017 · 35 Comments

Do you want a Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert that everyone will be talking about? Everybody loves Cranberry Muffins, but everyone really, really loves Boozy Cranberry Muffins!

Plate of muffins with bottle of cranberry liqueur behind it.

First make amazing cranberry liqueur.

Okay, people. Did you make the Cranberry Liqueur that I told you about? If you didn’t, stop reading right now. Go to the store (or your freezer if, like me, you have your own private stash of them) and get some cranberries. Get it all set up steeping and then come right back here to see what is in store for you.

Now, why did I tell you to do that?? Because it is amazing. It is so good! The liqueur itself is fabulous and I have huge plans for Cosmopolitans by the fire.

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Canteperdrix Ventoux 2015

Dec 16, 2017 · Leave a Comment

A weekend wine review of Canteperdrix Ventoux 2015.

Canteperdrix Ventoux 2015

Canteperdrix Ventoux 2015, Rhône Valley, France. A blend of Carignan, Grenache, and Syrah. Wine Awesomeness. They say: Two wine cellars came together merging the best parts of each to become Demazet Vignobles - the producer of this wine. In the Provencal region, "mazet" is used to describe a small house that is common to the area. So "demazet" or "deux mazets" means two houses and stands for the union of these two houses.

Rhône wine are known for being big, but not too big. They are like the Goldilocks of the wine world, just right. With this wine on the nose: Sweet spice, nutmeg and fresh ground black pepper. On the palate: Fresh earthy mushrooms, rye bread and strawberry jam with soft sandpaper-like tannins. This wine feels warm and plush on your tongue.

We say: unusual, plum and earthy. Enjoyed it. Very food friendly.

If you'd like to read more about this vineyard: Demazet Vignobles.

Luxie and Coco Christmas Cheer

Dec 15, 2017 · 27 Comments

A few photos of Luxie and Coco with some Christmas Cheer! Post may contain affiliate links.

First let me begin by saying yes my JOY blocks are a little jumbled. That would be because they are knocked over at least once or twice a day thanks to Coco and Luxie. For some reason, they love the dining room table at Christmas time! They rarely get on the dining room table any other time of the year, but at Christmas, I regularly find both of them sleeping on the table.

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Luxie and Her Christmas Tree

Dec 8, 2017 · 24 Comments

For various reasons, we will not be putting up our live Christmas Tree until next weekend. For now, it rests with the trunk in a big pot of water under the porch, getting a nice long drink. But I didn't want Luxie to have to wait so long, so her little Christmas tree is up and ready! Actually it's not just her tree, Coco claimed this tree when she was a kitten. So, they share it.

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Frozen Chicken Breasts in an Instant Pot

Dec 7, 2017 · 21 Comments

Frozen Chicken Breasts in an Instant Pot! Frozen chicken breasts cook up perfectly in an Instant Pot!! No need to spend time defrosting.

Frozen Chicken Breasts in an Instant Pot!

Please excuse the terrible photos in this post! I wasn't planning on blogging cooking frozen chicken breasts in an Instant Pot, I just took the photos so that if it worked I could show Mr. Sidewalk Shoes.

It worked so well, I decided I just had to blog it. I know the photos are horrible, and perhaps I'll do it again and update them, so if you are looking at this sometime in the future and the photos are gorgeous, that's what I did.

But really this was just so easy and such a game changer!

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Tuxedo Cat in a Tree

Dec 1, 2017 · 23 Comments

Tuxedo Cat in a Tree

Patchouli goes out side a couple of times a day. She is happy staying inside when it is too hot or too cold, but in the spring and fall, she really enjoys spending time outside. Unfortunately, she is a huge chicken and all the other kitty cats know it. Even though she is bigger than all of them, she is a lover not a fighter. As soon as she is approached by another cat, she cowers and yowls like she is being killed. If she would just turn around and give them a slap or two, I'm sure they would leave her alone. But she doesn't. She cowers or runs.

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Easy Eggnog Panna Cotta

Nov 29, 2017 · 15 Comments

Easy Eggnog Panna Cotta - the easiest no-bake Thanksgiving or Christmas dessert ever!

Store-bought holiday eggnog makes this make-ahead dessert extra easy!

Two small jars of Christmas panna cotta with a bow around one.

Okay people, even though I consider myself the queen of simple, I have outdone myself with this.

A 2 ingredient make-ahead holiday dessert. Yes, you read that right - just two ingredients for this Thanksgiving or Christmas panna cott!

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Slow Cooker Spiced Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes

Nov 26, 2017 · 13 Comments

Slow Cooker Spiced Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes. This yummy beef stew will become a family favorite! If you are looking for a delicious take on a crockpot beef stew, this is the stew for you! This beef stew has fall flavors with butternut squash and sweet potatoes and warming spices of chile powder and smoked paprika, but it's great year round.

Post may contain affiliate links, full disclosure on side bar.

Click here to pin this Slow Cooker Beef Stew now!

Crockpot Beef Stew

I love a classic beef stew, don't you? Carrots, potatoes, celery and beef chuck all cooked to mouth watering tenderness. Pure comfort food. But sometimes you want something a little different. Change things up a bit with your stew. That's where this Spiced Beef Stew with Sweet Potatoes and Corn comes into the picture.

This recipes takes your regular beef stew and turns it into a warm, spicy stew with fall and winter flavors. Sweet potatoes, butternut squash and corn pair beautifully with the smoked paprika and ancho chile powder.

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Baby Kitty Luxie - Our Calico Kitten

Nov 24, 2017 · 26 Comments

Some photos of Luxie when she was a kitten!

It seems like every year around Thanksgiving, I start getting that end of the year - starting a new year buzz. Probably what fueled it even more is that I ordered my planner for next year. That always starts me thinking about goals and dreams. The one that is always at the top of my list is decluttering. Both physically, mentally, and digitally. I want to pare down. Live with less. Enjoy life more. <Insert your favorite cliche here.>

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Coco Kitty in the Fall

Nov 17, 2017 · 26 Comments

A few photos of our calico cat, Coco enjoying the fall weather!

Did you miss the kitties the past two weeks? We've been on vacation! Mr. Sidewalk Shoes and I went up to the Pacific Northwest and proceeded to eat and drink our way through Oregon. It was wonderful. Even with a constant threat of rain, we managed to hike in the redwoods, walk on the beach, visit some wineries and breweries and eat, and eat, and eat.

We have a cat/house sitter so the kitties were able to stay home. Even though they were very well taken care of, they were very happy to see us and have been extra cuddly and attentive. We came back to a yard full of leaves, it seems that fall occurred while we were gone.

With Coco's warm coloring, she is definitely a fall kitty cat! She loves playing in the leaves. Chasing them. Attacking them. She has also realized that they make a good camouflage and I caught her several times yesterday, hunkered down in the them, hoping to fool Mr. Chipmunk who lives in our woods.

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Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent

Nov 14, 2017 · 1 Comment

A book review of Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent. Post may contain affiliate links.

Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent

You know when someone completely unexpectedly commits a horrible crime and the new reporters spend days interviewing people on television? They interview neighbors, friends, old teachers. Everyone expressing shock, maybe some hinting that they might have seen this coming. Well, that is Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugget.

The story opens with the line, “I expected more of a reaction the first time I hit her.” With that sentence you are off and running into the story of Oliver Ryan and his wife Alice. It turns out that he didn’t just hit Alice, he actually beat her severely enough to put her in a coma.

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Winter Solstice Brew

Nov 13, 2017 · 107 Comments

Brandy gets all wintery in this Winter Solstice Brew with flavors of anise, cinnamon, vanilla, orange and black pepper! Makes wonderful homemade Christmas gifts!

Post may contain affiliate links, full disclosure on sidebar.

Winter Solstice Brew

According to the weather forecasters, it’s going to be a cold and snowy winter. I’m ready for it. I made this Winter Solstice Brew from Jam It, Pickle It, Cure It: And Other Cooking Projects by Karen Solomon towards the end of the summer. I’m kind of like a squirrel, only instead of nuts and berries, I tuck infused alcohol into every nook and cranny of my house.

Click here to pin this Winter Solstice Brew now!

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Rock Point Pinot Gris 2015

Oct 28, 2017 · 2 Comments

A wine review of Rock Point Pinot Gris 2015.

Rock Point Pinot Gris 2015

Rock Point Pinot Gris 2015, Gold Hill, Oregon. Wine Awesomeness. 100% Pinot Gris. They say: on the nose - Smells like a straw hat in late summer, the aroma of yellow pastures enveloping you. On the palette - Light body with a crispness that waltzes slowly to the back of the palette. Also: While California tends to dominate west coast wine production, Oregon has it's own thing going on. This wine comes from an area with rich pioneer era history. With lots of gold mining, territory wars and development of the railroad. We say: a little sweet with some citrus and green apple. Lovely sweet and tart combination. Very easy drinking.

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Coco Kitty Drinking From Faucet

Oct 27, 2017 · 28 Comments

You'll notice I titled this post, "Coco kitty drinking from faucet." Because that is what is happening. But some of you observant people may have noticed that Coco looks a little bit different. Yes, the full title of this post should be, "Coco kitty drinking from a faucet and what happens when you have a cat that likes to roll on driveways and you have neighborhood children that like to use sidewalk chalk to draw artwork on their driveways."

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The Visitors by Catherine Burns

Oct 24, 2017 · 4 Comments

This is a book review of The Visitors by Catherine Burns. Post may contain affiliate links.

The Visitors by Catherine Burns

I don’t know why it says about me, but The Visitors by Catherine Burns is my kind of book. Creepy, disturbing, and upsetting.

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Fiamma Pizza Company | Eating Out in Chattanooga

Oct 21, 2017 · 2 Comments

Fiamma Pizza Company Chattanooga TN

I have been wanting to eat at Fiamma Pizza Company ever since they opened. I love pizza. I adore pizza. I could eat pizza every day for the rest of my life and be happy. Truth be told, I am not that picky about my pizza. It's like donuts, even a not so good donut is better than no donut at all. I feel the same way about pizza. However, when I find a pizza I love, it's like I hear angels singing. Well, angels were singing at Fiamma Pizza Company.

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Coco Kitty Helping with Bullet Journaling

Oct 20, 2017 · 24 Comments

I know most of you are used to seeing Luxie kitty helping me in the morning with my daily gratitude journaling and my bullet journaling. The other day, though, Coco surprised me by jumping up on the table and settling in for a while. It was so unusual for her, I jumped up and grabbed my camera.

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