Feather Wreath

Y'all.  Look at this wreath.  Is it not so pretty???  I was browsing the West Elm website and came across this gorgeous feather wreath and it's only $19!  I know Christmas is still a solid 2+ months away, but I already can't wait to decorate for the holidays.  This puppy is going to take center stage and will be hung with some pretty ribbon on the mirror over my fireplace.  Who knows, I may even dress it up by pinning a little cluster of holly leaves or something on it.

 

I already can't wait for this to show up on my doorstep, and I know it's going to take all I have not to hang it up now.  I love that it's something I'll be able to leave up through the winter and not a decoration I have to pack away with the ornaments and stockings.

Here's some other wreaths hanging on mirrors that I think are pretty.

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I kind of want to make one of the ball wreaths for the front door - I just may have to add that to my fall DIY list.

I know I'm crazy for already thinking about Christmas decorating...but seriously...I love Christmas more than I love chocolate.  And that's saying a lot.

Anyone else looking forward to Christmas decorating already??

Tasty Tuesday: Skillet Lasagna

 

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I'm a lasagna nut; it's been one of my favorite foods since I was a little girl.  But a real lasagna takes so much time and effort to make!  I found a recipe for skillet lasagna and made it for the first time last night.  It was delish!  I modified the original recipe slightly, since cottage cheese scares me, so the recipe below is my slightly modified and oh-so-yummy version!

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground beef 
• 1 small onion (chopped) 
• 3 Cloves Garlic (minced) 
• 1 can diced tomatoes (undrained) 
• 1-1/4 cup water 
• 1 cup tomato sauce 
• 1 tbsp dried parsley flakes 
• 1 tsp dried basil leaves 
• 1 tsp dried oregano leaves 
• 1 tsp salt 
• 2-1/2 cup noodles (you can either break up lasagna noodles, or use penne like I did)
• 1 cup skim ricotta cheese
• 1/4 cup fat free grated Parmesan cheese 
• Dash Basil and Pepper (optional) 
• 1 egg 
• Shredded fat free mozzarella cheese for garnish

Directions:
In a large skillet, brown beef with onions and garlic. Drain.  Add tomatoes, water, tomato sauce, parsley, basil, oregano, and salt.  Stir in uncooked pasta.  Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Combine ricotta and Parmesan cheeses in a bowl.  Mix in the egg.  Sprinkle in basil and pepper to taste.

Drop cheese mixture by rounded tablespoons onto pasta mixture.  Cover and cook for 5 minutes more.  Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and serve.

Number of Servings: 6

Enjoy!

Insert "Corn"y Joke Here

Fall has definitely arrived in North Carolina and I, for one, am so glad it's here!  The weather was G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S this weekend - you couldn't ask for a better first day of October!  Perfect for that corn maze I was so excited about :)

Let me begin by reporting that adults were not allowed in the bounce house.  Major disappointment for me...but probably for the best!

This picture looks like we were way out in the country, but the maze was actually just outside of Raleigh.

We passed this sign in the maze (several times) and it cracked me up so I had to get a picture.

There were ten numbered spots in the maze that you were supposed to try to find...we found seven of them before calling it a day.

Yep.  That's (a lot of) corn behind us...

On the way home from the corn maze, we stopped at the pumpkin patch near the house and got some great pumpkins and gourds for fall decorating.  Pictures to come this week!  When we were loading the trunk with the loot, a bus pulled up and it was a bride and groom and their wedding party!  They had stopped to take pictures at the pumpkin patch on the way to the reception - how fun is that for a fall wedding??