What a Week

I am happy this week was short with Monday's holiday, I am ready to bid it a fond farewell.   My youngest was SICK with a crazy high fever and no other symptoms that lasted for 3 days.  Apparently it is really going around and not just in New Jersey which I was able to gather from handy dandy facebook.  I hope this nasty virus doesn't come to visit your house, it's no fun at all.    She missed the whole week of school and probably could have returned today but I decided it was just best to stick a fork in this week and we'll start fresh on Monday. 

In other news... I'm told from some very reliable sources that the totally delicious Shamrock Shake from McDonalds is back.  I went out in search of one only to be told that our local NJ franchise "does not have them yet"  - what are you waiting for folks, I need to get my shamrock on!!!  This news was delivered yesterday around noon and here we are a full day later at 3pm and I am still not over it.   I now have the recipe in my hot little hands - so take that McDonalds!  If you would like to join me and have one too, here is the recipe

I'm still cleaning out the dreading sewing room.   It is taking forever and is long overdue.   I am really trying to weed out and get organized this year.   One great side effect of cleaning is that you find items you COMPLETELY forgot you even had!    Look at this cute little flower I made today out of felt scraps - I love working with felt!  I am working some felt flowers into our hair accessory line and will probably debut them in the etsy shop, so I'll keep you posted on that!  I think it came out pretty cute....

I'm making a delicious chicken and broccoli stir fry tonight that I am told is excellent and I'm charging my camera up so stay tuned - hopefully will get this up over the weekend. 

Last but not least - while I should be cleaning my house in all my spare time, I have been making some etsy treasuries of some of my amazing finds ;) This is the one I made today - it's one of my faves! Check it Out Here! There sure is a lot of talent over there on Etsy!

Cheers to a fabulous weekend for all!! xo, Brie

A week in bullet points

• Life has been hectic around here.
•  Basketball is still going on and it's basically March madness come early around these parts. 
•  I didn't post my meal plan last week as it was most unimpressive.
• I read another book by Sara Gruen (Water for Elephants) called Ape House.  I didn't necessarily NOT like it, but it was no Water for Elephants.
• I've been weeding out the sewing studio - it's in quite a state of sadness, finding lots of small amounts of oldie but goodie fabrics so I'm making some limited edition items to put in the xoribbons etsy shop
• I've been updating my etsy shop (linked) new products, more organized, shipping worldwide now - holla!!  ;)
• discovered my 6 and a half year old decided to shave her legs in the shower and thankfully was not hurt (razors are now up even higher than they were in the first place).
• Last but not least - I bought the dress you see below completely on impulse and triggered by a facebook sidebar ad.  How fab is that?  Keep in mind that at this point in time I have absolutely NOWHERE to wear it.  I couldn't resist the amazing savings and am hopeful a fantastic event is on the horizon for me.  Worst case scenario, I pull a Ms. Havisham and wear it around the house.  

Here's the link - they are going fast!! My size is already gone so now I'm EXTRA happy I went for it :)   http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/suzi-chin-maggy-boutique-charmeuse-shantung-halter-dress/3169605?origin=category&resultback=6965
xo, Ms. Havisham

Water for Elephants

Have you read this yet?  You should!  I loved it, gave it the full five star review. I knew a movie was in the was in the works but I had no idea an actual trailer existed until just now - I approve of the casting :)  I will most definitely go see the movie when it comes out! xo, Brie



I think Christina must have read it before she made this video ;)

Barbeque Beef Short Ribs in the Crock Pot

This one is a keeper!! 5 out of 6 in this house loved dinner last week and 1 out of 6 nibbled on snacks all afternoon whenever I had my back turned so she "wasn't hungry".


I picked up some boneless short ribs at costco and the pack contained 6 BIG short ribs and the cost was around 25 dollars.  I ended up cooking all 6 because I have never made them before and I was afraid they were really going to shrink up after cooking all day but they didn't.  Next time, I think I will try to make this stretch to 2 meals (cook 3/freeze 3)

Here is the incredibly complicated recipe -

I took the short ribs and put them in the crock pot raw

Mix up these ingredients in a bowl.  I liked it because they were all  common items that I already had in the house.

I'll post the link at the bottom again with all the measurements of everything

Pour the mix over the short ribs and cook in the crock pot all day!   It just doesn't get easier than that....
The recipe calls for crock pot low setting for 8 hours.  I put mine in around 9am and checked them at 3pm - they were definitely cooking, but not hitting that "fall apart" stage so around 3, I bumped up the temp to the high setting. 

By 6pm they were perfectly done.  I served them with mashed potatoes.  I highly recommend this easy recipe :)  I'll definitely make these again!

View the complete recipe HERE
xo, Brie

Meal Plan Monday

I LOVE Julia Child and I love her funny valentines - also wonder who took this pic?!?

I have been among the missing.   My camera card port decided to no longer accept my xd card and I couldn't find the usb cord ANYWHERE - I have a short ribs recipe to post (and it's a good one) and you know how I love me some pics!!   I ripped this house apart trying to find it but came up empty handed so I was forced to order a new cord.  It arrived Saturday and GUESS what I found this morning in my junky drawer???  Now I have 2 cords - hooray!  I also had a NASTY case of the flu and was achy all over that even my teeth hurt.   So that's that.... now onto my unimpressive meals for the week b/c I have so much laundry to catch up on from being sick, I can't imagine I'll get to the store until later this week. 

Monday  - chicken casserole with rice - this is your standard crock pot chicken with sour cream/cream of mushroom soup deals and to be honest, I don't really like it.   My appetite is still sub par from the flu but the kids like it plus it's easy so who am I to argue with this. 

Tuesday - Linguini with Clam Sauce, salad

Wednesday - Hamburgers

Thursday - soup and sandwiches

Friday - London Broil, homemade mac and cheese

Sat - Kev's Birthday and we're having a family party, how is my boy turning 12 already, HOW?! 

Sunday - make your own pizza night and salad

So there you have it, I don't really have time to try something new this week but I will make an extra effort to do so next week - I promise ;)  If you saw the mountain of laundry that awaits me you would understand!  Have a wonderful week :)  I'll try to get that short rib recipe up tomorrow!  xo, Brie

Meal Plan Monday

Menu Tuesday here - I was hoping to try a few new recipes this week but we are having some more winter weather this week.  The snow doesn't really bother me, the snow days from school don't bother me - the schools hesitating to call days off now because we've used so many already DOES bother me and the mania at the grocery stores prior to these weather events is making me mental.  I just refused to do it yesterday - so while I have the stuff to try one new recipe this week, my other one will have to wait until next week when I can get to the store :) 



Basketball is winding down so my driving here there and everywhere is starting to calm down.  We'll get a nice break until baseball time in March :)

Monday - spaghetti and meatballs, salad

Tuesday - Short Ribs in the crockpot (recipe is linked) mashed potatoes, corn

Wednesday - Chicken with Broccoli (recipe is linked) with jasmine rice

Thursday - London Broil on the grill, baked potato, salad

Friday - Ravioli, salad, bread

Saturday - out

Sunday - Super Bowl Sunday

I picked up the short ribs at Costco this weekend I'll post this recipe tomorrow.   First time making this, so we'll see.... xo, Brie