Archives for September 2013

Fancy pants.

September 5, 2013 / By Courtney / 5 Comments

Anyone else see the word ‘tart’ in a recipe and frantically run the other way or at least quickly flip through the page? Uh yea, that would be me as well. The word tart just holds a whole connotation with fussy, difficult, fancy, and high maintenance. Not words I want to associate myself with.

Until I met this tart. Life changing.

Tina, my neighbor who you met here, posted the most beautiful heirloom tomato tart on her blog a few weeks ago. So beautiful that any tart anxiety I had immediately melted away. I knew I had to make it, soon.

Plus I’m a sucker for heirloom tomatoes. A huge sucker. I just feel like that needs to be said.

So Labor day weekend rolled around and I emailed Tina to come by to help me. I was ok with attempting one but hey, it’s still a tart. I wanted supervision. The result?

You guys – this could. not. be. easier. I almost felt foolish – like I had to apologize that I made her take time out of her day to babysit my weird anxiety. This dough came together beautifully. It rolled out beautifully. It folded beautifully. Think play dough like ease.

The rest was a piece of cake – beautiful thickly sliced tomatoes, bright herbs, freshly grated gruyere cheese, and bam! You just became one fancy gal. Want to show off at your next get together? Well of course you do. Tina explains it perfectly, right here.

Eat up!
C

wwww.

September 4, 2013 / By Courtney / 4 Comments

How is it already Wednesday? I have to admit – I scrambled this week. Tuesday came around and I had zero pictures prepared. These are random snap shots from our very random Tuesday – from the bus stop drop off to Target to the night ride on the tractor which thanks to M, pretty much made B’s day. If you can, please link up below or post on Facebook. I love seeing you and your little(s) looks each week!

Here is what we wore…

L: We had a pretty fantastic, albeit short shopping date Saturday morning as we had to rush back for football. Nordstroms, cheesecake factory for lunch, and abercrombie. He loved every minute – who needs a girl? We stocked up on new Nikes and long sleeve fall tees from abercrombie (40% off!). His shorts are the usual favs from Old Navy.

B: We started off in a neon crewcuts hoodie (thank you Grandad and Ginger!), pj pants, and his blankie. As the day progressed he went into a crewcut tee that states ‘off the leash at boneyard beach’ which – for anyone that knows B, pretty much sums him up. Gap skull jeans on the bottom thanks to his favorite neighbor kiddos.

C: I looooove the transition to fall and that was made easy today by a beautiful scarf that was a birthday gift from a fav housewife, wink wink. It’s from the Gap and super comfortable! B loved snuggling with it all day. J Crew tee and Joes ripped up jeans (M can’t stand these – what do you think?). Target flats.

Let’s see those looks!
C

Last gasp of summer RULES!

September 1, 2013 / By Courtney / 4 Comments

To be honest, I didn’t have anything lined up for C’s picks this week. I guess even ALFS needed a Labor Day break from all the planning. I was totally immersed in the last weekend of summer that without even knowing it I managed to stuff the essence of it all into a mere 48 hours. Stumbling upon a checked off list you didn’t realize you even had until it was over? Couldn’t have planned it better.

Without further ado here, in no particular order, is our family’s last gasp at summer rules:

1. These ribs. Nothing else needs to be said.
2. You better be wearing white today. Not that I’m against it after Labor Day but you can’t pull of the crisp white summer dress much longer.
3. Heirloom tomatoes. Find them. Eat them. And if you’re daring, do this to them.
4. Throw your kid in the pool, if they like that sort of thing. Mine happen to love it.
5. A fire + s’mores. Thank you, Amanda, for the s’more goodie bag. Genius.
6. A round of golf? Why not.
7. Roasted corn, extra salt and butter please.
8. It’s hot. You better roll your window down and cruz.
9. Big juicy hamburger cooked during a street festival. Bacon and cheese are not optional.
10. Remember the smell of sunscreen on your little one.
11. Get caught in a summer storm – heat lighting is much more entertaining than whatever is on TV. Yes, even housewives.
12. Pick some wildflowers and stuff them into mason jars.
13. Crisp rose wine, extra chilled.
14. Toms wedges. They really are the perfect mom heel.
15. Long hilly walks before morning nap and before bedtime. Gosh these will be missed.
16. Summer sides.
17. Enjoy the humidity. We have a love/hate relationship but in the dead of winter it’s certainly always missed.
18. Organize organize organize. I don’t know what it is but when fall is around the corner I have a dire need to get my house in tip top shape, asap.
19. Rainbow flip flops. We had a rocky start but thank you for becoming my most comfortable sandal ever.
20. Go outside! A lot. There is nothing better about summer than the ability to go outside at almost any given point. It is the thing I will miss most. With two rowdy boys, I’m sure you can imagine why.

So there you have it – isn’t summer a blast? That being said we’ve already enjoyed some of the perks fall has to offer. Football has been killer and you can’t beat back to school shopping…for the boys and mom, obviously.

Happy Labor Day my friends!
C