.adult cozies.

since my return from banff, all i seem to be wanting is more and more cozy jackets or layering peices to wear around the house. it's also an added bonus when they are actually stylish enough to wear outside of the house too!

the buffalo check as seen on our wee man jack, is making a huge comeback and i seem to be draping myself [and my entire little family] in this pattern whenever i can, whatever color it comes in. i also still can't get enough of the aztec pattern popping up all over the place. it's stylish, trendy, classic, and colorful all rolled into one! one other trend, that i have completely gone crazy over, is the leather detailing on bits and pieces. like that leather sleeved sweater or vest. gorgeous, slightly subtle, and a tad bit edgy. the vest is currently in shipment and i am dying for the door to ring with it's delivery.

above are some of my favorite 'adult cozies'. a few that i own and a few that i am completely lusting over. and a few that are on sale now too!

tell me friends. what trends are you dying over right now?

links:

no.1] Milly crew neck montana sweater

no. 2]  Eddie Bauer stine four pocket field jacket [currently on sale!]

no. 3] Pendleton the portland collection  wallowa cardi 

no. 4] Generation Love  bobo italian faux leather sleeve sweater 

no 5.] Asos sweater with navajo pattern [currently on sale!] 

no. 6] BB Dakota jetta vest 

no.7] BB Dakota elijah color block sweater [currently on sale!] 

no 8.] BB Dakota stone shawl jacket [black + white version on sale!]

.banff, 2013 [and jack's first trip!]

what a marvelous weekend we just had. banff was a sheer joy and it was such a great idea to get away after the busy holiday season [thanks pete for planning it all].

we spent 4 days and 3 nights in the majestic mountains with our family and i feel simply refreshed. their's just something about that crisp, fresh mountain air that sneaks into the lungs and rejuvenates your soul.

and it was jack's first trip! which was so fun! i considered it a mini test trip before we fly out to phoenix in a few short months with the little man and it went so well. the wee boy slept the entire way home [4 hours!] without making a single peep. such a good boy. 

daddy was also pleased as he believes our jack-bugg enjoyed those big old mountain peaks almost as much as he does and is already planning on how he is going to teach jack to ski. i actually had to remind the man that our son is just holding his head up, let alone about to strap on some skis and ride down a steep hill! oh, a man and his son. or maybe it's a man and his sports!

sigh....i am already a worried momma and he's not even walking yet.

banff was a beautiful as ever. i simply love that place. this time around we stayed in canmore, a short 20 minute drive from banff in the loveliest of condo's. pete's amazing at finding these new places to stay at and i'm never dissapointed. we also found a delicious new restaurant called crazyweed [if you're ever in the canmore area, i highly recommend]. 

for the most part, the boys all skiied and the girls strolled around canmore/banff browsing the quaint shops, which suited us all just fine.

all-in-all, a very relaxing getaway weekend.

.2013.

and yes. we realize that having our 2 1/2 month old watching an ipad app already may be a tad bit wrong, but 4 hours in a car is hard work for a little one. and his parents!. so, thanks nicole and fisher price for the suggestion and helpful aversion. it was like 20 minutes of quiet, and as we all know that's totally like 2 hours in baby-time!

hi ya'll! 5 days into 2013 and I have yet to say hello!
yeesh. so much for new years resolution #3 [which was blogging more frequently! ha!]. oh resolutions, how quickly they get ignored. anyways, i do want to blog more and give a little more tlc to my darling fancy napkin, but it's going to have to wait till i return. see husband and i [and husband's family] all decided to start the year off right and head to the mountains for a extra long weekend. probably best idea ever, right?!

so in the meantime, know this. i have big plans, dreams and hopes for 2013. personally, professionally and creatively. i just know it's going to be a good year.

and i can't wait to have you all follow along. xo friends xo.
[that's total hugs and kisses friends. hugs and kisses]

.thank you 2012, it's been swell.

i just wanted to pop in and say 'thank you 2012, you've treated me to one of my most favorite years yet' [minus a very close 2010 when i married my best friend].

*we got pregnant and then 10 months later welcomed our sweet little boy into the world [we love you jack bugg!], we toured europe for a month, watched our best friends marry, had many fun dinners with my sister and her boyfriend in their new townhouse, and snuggled my fathers new puppy.
we have also had the pleasure of watching all of our family and friends send nothing but good vibes to our new little family of three. the support and love has been incredible.
yes, 2012 has indeed been a good year.

so good bye 2012 and welcome 2013! i can't wait to see what you have in store for us! cheers!

.kale and brussels sprout salad.

To be honest, this salad sounded rather 'interesting' the first time my husband suggested we make it. And I admit it, I was skeptical.
But after trying it, it has quickly become my newest favorite salad. So incredibly delicious. I highly urge you to think of this recipe the next time you want a new side dish with dinner. Especially when feeding a large group......I'm thinking easter, christmas, thanksgiving perhaps?
Healthy, Easy and a total crowd pleaser!!

Kale & Brussels Sprout Salad

[original recipe found here]

ingredients:

1/4 cup fresh Lemon Juice

2 tbsp Dijon Mustard

1 tbsp minced Shallot

1 small Garlic Clove, finely grated

1/4 tsp Salt, plus more for seasoning

freshly Ground Pepper

2 large bunches of Kale [about 1 1/2 pounds total], center stem discarded, leaves thinly sliced [yes, raw]

12 ounces Brussels Spouts, trimmed, finely grated or shredded with a knife [and yes, believe it or not, RAW!]
1/2 cup Purple Cabbage, finely chopped or grated [OPTIONAL]

1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided

1/3 cup Almonds with skins, coarsely chopped

1 cup finely grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese

directions:

1] Combine lemon juice, dijon mustard, shallot, garlic, 1/4 tsp salt, and a pinch of pepper in a small bowl. Stir to blend; set aside to let flavors meld. This can be made way ahead of time and actually tastes better the longer it sits.

2] Mix thinly sliced kale and shredded brussels sprouts in a large bowl. I also thought that it would be nice if you wanted to add some purple cabbage for color, but this is totally optional.

3] Measure 1/2 cup oil into a cup. Spoon 1 tbsp oil from cup into a small skillet; heat oil over medium-high heat. Add almonds to skillet and stir frequently until golden brown in spots, about 2 minutes. Transfer nuts to a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle almonds lightly with salt.

4] Slowly whisk remaining olive oil in cup into lemon-juice mixture. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. 

5] Add dressing and cheese to kale mixture; toss to coat. Season lightly with salt and pepper. Garnish with almonds.

DO AHEAD: Dressing, Kale mixture, and Toasted Almonds can be prepared 8 hours ahead. Cover dressing and kale mixture separately and chill. Cover almonds and let stand at room temperature.