Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat! Last night we decorated our pumpkin. See pictures below. Based on my kids' costumes, can you guess who we pull for? Today we have Harrison's party at his preschool. Should be fun! I have a big pot of chili (thanks sweet pea chef) in the crockpot right now for dinner and tonight we have some neighbors coming over for a cocktail. Several of us on the street are going to have treats for the adults as well as the kids. I'm making this drink-Caramel Appletini's for the adults-should be yummy! I love Halloween so much, especially now that I'm a mommy and can experience it through my children's eyes! It should be fun on our street with so many kids-I just hope I don't run out of candy!

It's the great pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

We headed to the pumpkin patch this past weekend. Thought I'd share some shots of the boys. They are getting so big... It was finally a "chilly" day, so it really felt like fall. I made a batch of chicken tortilla soup in the crockpot last night...ahh, I think fall is really here. I also made some yummy pumpkin bars and will post the recipe later. Tonight we are carving our pumpkin-so I'll post pics of that tomorrow. Happy Halloween!

Is that Brit-Brit and K-Fed?

Here's a picture of us from the Halloween party.... It was a great party-the fun included jello-shots and karaoke (and that's all I'm going to say about that), as well as some really funny costumes, good libations and great food. I must admit Dan looked alot like K-Fed, all the way down to the tatoos. It was pretty funny! I even had my bad nail job, bag of cheetos and starbucks cup. It was fun times...and interesting to see our neighbors in a "different" light! I hope we do it again next year.

Oh! So that's why....

I haven't lost the baby weight yet. Last night Dan had some reception at work and brought home cupcakes from this place. They catered the event-let me tell you, they were the BEST cupcakes I have ever eaten-EVER! (And I've eaten my share of cupcakes in my lifetime...) I'm kind of a cupcake snob and don't usually partake in storebought versions. Of course, I couldn't resist even though my neighbor had shared some gingerbread-stout cake earlier...so I wonder why the scale doesn't budge? Could it be because I'm stuffing my face with sweets?....um....yeah. I guess in my head I validated it because "if it came from Whole Foods, it MUST be good for me", right? It is definitely true that FALL does make you fat. Too many good foods to resist. So, next time you're at Whole Foods, please do not stop until you get to those cupcakes...I promise you won't regret it. By the way, the picture above is taken from a Whole Foods somewhere. If you look carefully, you will see the ginormous cupcakes....

All dressed up...and somewhere to go!

Dan and I are going to an adults only Halloween party this Saturday night-I'm so excited. I LOVE Halloween. We are going as a celebrity (ex)duo...who could it be?
Any costume ideas to dress as these two?

TAG..you're it!

I was tagged a while ago by Clemsongirl and the Coach, so here goes...

1. Who is your man? husband Dan, the love of my life

2. How long have you been married? 8 years ago this month

3. How long dated? Dated 2 years, engaged for 14 months

4. How old is your man? 32, 3 months younger than moi

5. Who eats more? Ummm, has anyone ever seen Dan-even though he's thin, he DOES eat more than me!

6. Who said "I love you" first? me...I wear my emotions on my shoulders

7. Who is taller? Dan

8. Who sings better? I'd have to say me, but I really can't carry a tune..

9. Who is smarter? ummm, I'd say Dan on some things, me with others

10. Whose temper is worse? We both have strong tempers, but I'd have to say mine

11. Who does the laundry? I do, but he does help fold it

12. Who takes out the garbage? Most of the time he does...

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do always...

14. Who pays the bills? He brings home the bacon, but I pay the bills.

15. Who is better with the computer? I'd say he is, but I'm not that bad either.

16. Who mows the lawn? He does...I've actually never mowed a lawn, EVER

17. Who cooks dinner? Me, after our maid quits every day

18. Who drives when you are together? He does-but he'd rather I do sometimes since I like to tell him HOW to drive alot.

19. Who pays when you go out? ummm, I don't bring any CASH into this household, just spend it

20. Who is most stubborn? He'd say me, I'd say him

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Usually him

22. Whose parents do you see the most? Mine, since his live in Iowa

23. Who kissed who first? I think it was mutual

24. Who asked who out? I did and he had to CHECK HIS SCHEDULE-hehe!

25. Who proposed? He did

26. Who is more sensitive? hello! me!

27. Who has more friends? me

28. Who has more siblings? we both have the same

29. Who wears the pants in the family? It's an equal opportunity household :)

Now I tag...
Lovely London
Confessions of a Slacker Mama
Deep in the Heart of Texas
Sweetpeas and Pumpkins
somewhere between pinot and pacifiers
Junebug and Sweetpea

could he BE any cuter?

Sweet little Jack...Harrison wouldn't sit still and Brady was moving around too much. I think we may have a future Tiger on our hands! Go Tigers!

running for the pink...

Tomorrow I'm running The Race for the Cure with a friend of mine. This is the 6th time I've run the race but the first time in S.C. I usually do the one in D.C. in June, but since we have moved can't do that anymore. I'm looking forward to it. I always like this race and seeing all the survivor notes that people wear. Good times for a good cause! Although my grandma did not have breast cancer, she did have brain cancer-so tomorrow I will be running in memory of her...have a great weekend everyone!

"Boo" grams

As my neighborhood "social" chair (not really, but one of my neighbors has deemed me that), I decided to start the "boo" gram going on my street. For those of you who don't know what that is, you make (or buy) a little goody for two neighbors, put a "boo" picture on their door, ring the doorbell and run like the wind so they won't know who put it there. The idea is for them to spread the Halloween cheer to two other neighbors....the fun is seeing how far and wide it spreads. No one in my neighborhood (except B) knows about this blog...so that's why I'm sharing my secret that I started it (and B I didn't pick you because I knew you'd be out of town the next couple of days, I know you will get "boo'd" soon though). I spread my cheer last night and it was not so easy to be sneaky! So why don't you print out a "boo" pic, I found it at here, make or buy a goody and spread a little Halloween cheer of your own!

He's created a monster

Harrison, as some of you know, loves trucks and cars-as most boys do! Daddy and Harrison love playing cars together. Harrison has a ton of matchbox cars, so Daddy has started teaching Harrison the makes and models of different cars. For example, "Harrison, this is a Hummer or this is a Porsche"...you get the drift. Harrison has gotten quite good at naming his different matchbox cars. Last night while I was getting dinner ready, Harrison was sitting at the kitchen table. I watched him run to the window, thinking he'd seen a dog or someone walking by-he had the biggest grin on his face..

"Harrison, what did you just see outside?"

"Oh, mommy it was a Mercedes!"

(as he grinned ear to ear)

I was thinking it was just some random car.

Then I look out the window, and sure

enough it was a convertible Mercedes,

just like his matchbox one!

My friend told me that on the way to school the other day, Harrison saw a Hummer drive by and pointed out that he saw a Hummer. I think Daddy has created a little monster...

FALL...where are you?

OK, so my house smells like pumpkin pie-thanks to my Yankee candle, my english muffin is spread with pumpkin butter, and I did a pumpkin mask on my face last night (it was an Oprah fave a couple of years ago)...but what I'm wondering is, "Where is fall?". It's so HOT outside! The mornings start out cool (think 50's, but by the afternoon it's in the 80's). Today my sister and her little boy came over to go to the Boone Hall Farms pumpkin patch with us. I had ideas of taking great pictures of the boys in front of haystacks and pumpkins...well, it was 100,000 degrees out and everyone was HOT! So, we stayed for a little bit and left to go eat lunch. All 4 boys were well-behaved considering they are all 3 and under. I think we were rather brave to take them, but you have to get out right? Hopefully, this heat wave will end and fall will arrive...until then I wish I was here...

"celebrity" spotting

A great time was had by all this weekend. It was so nice to catch up with my friend J at her baby shower. I got her little girl the cutest Clemson overalls ever. She will look so precious in them at her first game next fall!

On Sunday we went to the children's festival held in our neighborhood. Harrison had a great time looking at the animals and playing games. I even ran into a guy I went to high school with and hadn't seen in 14 years! He told me that he had 4 kids-3 girls and a boy. It still amazes me that after moving back to S.C.-wherever you are you will ALWAYS run into someone you know...such a small world (or state) for that matter.

I also met a local celebrity at the festival. She was there with her family and I kept staring at her thinking I KNEW her from somewhere...then I realized who it was. Dan and I love "The Real Estate Pros" on TLC which used to be "Flip this House" on A&E. It features this company from Charleston. It was Dawn Nosal from the show. I love her on the show and I think she's hilarious. The best one is the one they shot in Clemson where she hung out with the sorority girls. She was super nice in person and told me that she was pregnant again and that they were going to start filming season 3 soon. Yea! Can't wait to tune in....

Here is a pic of Harrison as he ran an obstacle course at the festival. I think we may have a future runner on our hands. Look at that determination!

It's finally "chili" time...

As I headed out the door for my morning run at 6:30 am-the temp said 50 degrees...brrrrrr it's cold and I am so excited. It made my run so much better. I LOVE this time of year so much. I do miss the leaves changing in VA, but I just love the coastal breezes this time of year too. And like my friend in Texas says, no leaves to clean up.

Anyhoo, today I'm making a batch of white chili for a neighbor who has 2 small children and recently had back surgery and is flat on her back for 3 weeks. What a perfect day to make it as it feels like fall has finally arrived! Of course, I'm making enough for my family to eat too. White chili is one of my fave fall dishes...so I will share it at the bottom of this post.

Tomorrow I am going to a baby shower for my friend J at this place in Columbia. The whole family is driving over so they can see grandma and grandpa while we are in town. Sunday we are going the Children's Festival, which Harrison has been talking about for days. Everyday he asks if "we are going to the petting zoo to ride the ponies and go down the big slide"? It's so cute! Well, it's another jam packed weekend, but should be a good time, now off to make that chili! Here's the recipe:

White Chicken Chili

INGREDIENTS:
16 oz or so of canned white beans
2 large onions, chopped
1 stick unsalted butter
1/4 c all-purpose flour
3/4 c chicken broth
2 cups half and half
1 tsp Tabasco
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin (I usually put in more)
1/2 teaspoon salt (I usually put in more)
1/2 teaspoon pepper (I put in more)
two 4-oz cans whole mild green chilies, drained and chopped
5 boneless, skinless chiken breasts (about 2 pounds)
some extra butter and oil to cook them in
1 1/2 c grated Monterey Jack
1/2 c sour cream

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Heat a large skillet (I like cast-iron) over moderately high heat and put in some butter and oil. Meanwhile coat your chicken with salt and pepper and maybe some chili powder. Throw them in the skillet and resist the urge to turn them over. Leave them for five minutes, or until nicely browned, then flip them. Leave it there until browned and then flip them every few minutes until they are done (which you can tell by poking a knife into the thickest part and seeing if it's white instead of pink).

2. Remove the chicken from the pan. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, shred it with your fingers and set aside.

3. While waiting for chicken to cool, cook the onion in the same pan with 2 Tbs of butter until softened.

4. In a heavy pot, large enough to hold all the ingredients, melt remaining 6 Tbs of butter over moderately low heat and whisk in flour. Cook the roux, whisking constantly, for three minutes. Stir in the oinoin and gradually add the broth and half and half, whisking the whole time. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes, or until thickened. (It will be nicely and obviously thick.) Stir in Tabasco, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper. Add beans, chilies, chicken and cheese, and cook over moderately low heat, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. Add sour cream. May be served immediately -- though like all chilis this tastes awesome the next day.

5. Serve with the usual chili garnishes--cilantro, cheese, jalapenos, tomatoes, etc.

Truly a classic!

Today as I was cleaning out my bedside table, I found my old Ray Ban Classic Aviators from HIGH SCHOOL. They are truly a classic! I can't believe I saved them after all these years-now they are back in style, or were they ever out of style? As I was watching the Hills the other day, I saw that my girl "LO" was sporting these and they looked pretty good on her. I remember thinking, I wish I hadn't thrown mine away...little did I know they were tucked away in my bedside table. I feel like I found a treasure, and they are still in mint condition. It really made me feel old when I realized that they were about 17 years old-almost antique standard....YIKES!

Well gotta run, the boys are napping-that means laundry to fold, brownies to make for a neighbor, and Gossip Girl to catch up on. I know, I know but I LOVE it!

Things are a changin' around here....

We have a very picky eater in the Magnolia household....he's 3 years old and his name is Harrison. I had heard of Jerry Seinfeld's wife Jessica's new book Deceptively Delicious before she was on Oprah yesterday and thought it was a marvelous idea. Our son is told everyday of his life to eat his vegetables, but he doesn't. He is extremely picky and it is driving me nuts. I LOVE the idea of hiding vegetables in brownies, cakes, chicken nuggets, EGGS, etc and I will definitely be trying this and still offering a side of vegetables. Tonight my son doesn't know it but his mac and cheese will be mixed with a serving of the twins butternut squash...(I don't think he will even notice the difference). I think Harrison's issues are all about the texture of foods...he's pretty picky about the texture of things...always has been. The book is on it's way to the magnolia household and I can't wait for the whole family to try these recipes since they are mostly low fat-I mean who can resist a "doughnut" made out of sweet pototoes? Sign me up-I'm ready to be deceptive! Anything to get a vegetable into my son's mouth!

somewhere in these hills...

Despite a HUMILIATING loss to Va Tech this weekend, we had a wonderful time in Clemson. It was so great to walk around campus and downtown and relive those college days. My girlfriends and I even walked in the library to smell the "old book" smell that it has. It was fun to reminisce about the good ole days! Tailgating in Clemson is the best...we had so much fun eating good food and just hanging out and talking. After the game Dan and I went to Greenville to stay downtown for the night. Downtown Greenville has to be the cutest area. Our hotel was very nice and in a great location, however we were too exhausted after the game to even walk around (we didn't get to Greenville until about 11:00 pm). After a nice breakfast, it was time to get back to the Lowcountry. Mom and dad reported that all the kids were great and mom even said she wasn't as tired as she thought she would be! All in all a great weekend-but too bad there will be a VA Tech flag hanging from my house this afternoon....sigh. I guess we Tigers were OVERRATED!

amphitheater in Clemson

weekend getaway

Dan and I are off this weekend for a little alone time. Grandma and grandpa have graciously offered to take care of the kids at our house this weekend, while we have a little getaway to Clemson/Greenville. We are headed to the game tomorrow night and are going to meet up with some friends. I'm looking so forward to it!

Hopefully we will win the game against VA tech-if not we made a bet with our neighbors who went to Tech that if we lose, we have to hang a VA Tech flag on our house for a week. However, if we win they have to hang a Clemson flag! Should be interesting....GO TIGERS!

the picture says it all....

photo courtesy of People.com

Oy Vay! This is what we woke up to...

Apparently the twins got these mosquito bites yesterday afternoon when I picked up big brother from preschool. It was pouring down rain and the mosquitos by his school are so bad. I feel like a Britney Spears mommy because they got so many. It's so weird because it happened yesterday afternoon but they didn't "show up" until this morning! My heart just breaks everytime I look at them...

Last Night's Dinner

We had a fabulous dinner last night at home. We put the kids to bed, turned on some music, opened a great South African sauvignon blanc and ate a nice dinner. We decided since we are going away this weekend sans kids (thanks mom and dad) that we would cook dinner at home. I tell you, sometimes it is the way to go. I made Grilled Scallops with Coriander Butter Sauce, risotto and green beans sauteed with shallots and garlic. We had the other Peanut Butter Pie (that I made for the neighbors the other night) for dessert. It was so yummy! I felt like I had dinner at a five-star restaurant. I even pulled out the fine china-great because it's dishwasher safe. The best thing about it was I still didn't have to do the dishes (thanks sweetheart!) Here's a picture of our dinner...

Happy 8th Anniversary!

Today is our 8th wedding anniversary. It seems like yesterday that we were walking down the aisle at St. Mary's Church in Georgetown. We have been so blessed with so many wonderful things in our lives. Here's to many more sweetheart. I love you so much!

Family Photo Shoot

As some of you know, I'm very interested in photography. One of my friends is also interested in it (we actually have the same camera) and took pictures of our family this weekend. I'm very happy with how they turned out. I took pictures of her family a couple of weeks ago in this same park-great trees for pictures! Here are a few from the shoot, you can check out more here.