{leaves crunching underfoot}

Today was one of those days I just reeeeeallly did not want to take my dog for a walk.

I was elbow-deep in projects and planning {okay, and napping and reading} and my bundle-of-energy goldendoodle, staring at me, tail wagging, desperately needing attention, sort of threw a rock in my spinning wheels.

I finally gave in to his laser-beam puppy dog eyes following me throughout the house, grabbed the leash and out we went.

GORG-eous fall day!

So, thank you, Colbie love, for getting my butt out of the house...and for sitting patiently on the sidewalk while I snapped the above photograph, as well as this lovely bumble:

Here is my own adorable bumble, bright orange Halloween leash and all...

PS: How do you like my new fall inspired blog-look?

Doesn't that foamy cappuccino makes you want to snuggle in a cozy sweater and walk to the coffee shop

{leaves crunching underfoot}

?

meatless buffalo chicken salad

There are things I really miss since becoming a pescatarian. One is going to BWW's and eating buffalo wings and celery sticks with blue cheese dressing. Oh, and drinking plenty of ice cold beer while watching the game...

...so gooooooood!

Then found a recipe that cures my longing for these fun nights at the sports bar -- and completely meat-free!

Actually, the original recipe contains meat, which was slipped to me by my sweet hubby who had ripped it out of his Men's Fitness magazine. {SO many delish and "manly" recipes in there!}

So I made the vegetarian version. SO GOOD. So easy. So surprisingly healthy!

Ingredients (serves 2):

2 meatless chik'n patties (I like Morningstar Farms Original)

1 bunch romaine lettuce

2 stalks of celery, thinly sliced

1 whole carrot grated, or a handful of baby carrots chopped (I always have baby carrots on-hand, so I used these)

2 green onion stalks, thinly sliced

crumbled blue cheese

hot sauce, your choice

light ranch or blue cheese dressing

1. Wash your romaine, remove excess water {break out that salad spinner you never use!} and tear the leaves into small, edible pieces.

2. Chop your veggies!

3. Combine all the veggies with the lettuce. Arrange mixture on large plates for serving.

4. Slice warmed chik'n patties, arrange "meat" slices on top of greens.

5. Sprinkle blue cheese crumbles on top! Be generous!

5. Drizzle hot sauce over entire salad, especially on chik'n slices. This will give you that delicious hot wing flavor!

6. Finish with a drizzle of your ranch or blue cheese dressing...you don't need a lot, there will already be a lot of flavor.

7. ENJOY! Don't feel guilty...there are less than 400 calories in this meal. Tastes like junk food, but is actually pretty healthy. I drank with white wine...but for that sports bar feel, indulge in a tall, cold beer!

{Have a fantastic football Sunday!}

something other than a wreath

Whenever the season changes I usually run out and buy a wreath. Wreaths, I feel, make your front door look warm and welcoming. It says, "Hello friend, come on in!" Or it would if it could talk.

Lately, since becoming a surfer of the blogosphere, I've been seeing other ways to make your front door exude warmth, especially in the cozy autumn season.

So I abandoned my typical fall wreath for this $3 metal hanging basket I found at the local St. Vincent DePaul store {fantastic, by the way -- check yours out! Ignore the smell and delight in the deals.}

(FYI: You can also find similar metal hanging vessels at your craft store.)

I liked this one because of the super cute sunflower affixed to the front!

The red color didn't work for me, though. So what did I do? You know it! I spray-painted it, using the same dark bronze color I used for my porch lights.

Then I added three sprigs of silk foliage I got for .99 each at Michael's.

Arranged my foliage...and I was finito! How is that for easy?

All for $6 and about ten minutes.

That includes the paint drying.

Which you know I waited impatiently for. Toe tapping.

What fall decorating project will you do this weekend?

rollercoasters

"Courage is being afraid, but going on anyhow."

Dan Rather

That quote pretty much sums up my day of riding roller coasters.

:o)

before and after: {dining room!}

What follows is my dining room journey...

This was my dining room when we moved into our Victorian, shotgun-style, early 1900's-built home:

The previous owner had painted the ENTIRE 1st floor mustard yellow. Not a bad color, but not my flavor. I wanted something a little more modern. More dramatic. More spicy. But not mustard.

Deciding on the new hue took some time. I knew I wanted green. Vibrant green. But then I thought: perhaps neutral is better...safer. As you can see, we had a range of choices from the very palest olive to a sassy green apple to a bright lime green:

After much debate about what kind of vibe we wanted to have in this very central room, we decided we wanted {vibrant and full of positive energy.} So we went with the brightest, boldest green: Jalapeno Jelly (Valspar)

You can see the color difference from the mustard in this pic:

To get this bright green color to work, I knew my accessories would have to be more natural, less colorful! I wanted to tone down the "Christmasy" look that was created by the green's contrast with my beloved rust-red chairs. I found these natural fiber runners at Target for 14.99 each. Then I fell in love with this wine jug from Pier1. $49.99 - a definite splurge, BUT I had a gift certificate...

{I am a complete sucker for wine jugs.}

I added some bright red silk dahlias and ta-dow: dramatic centerpiece. I feel the bottle and colors work well with my wine theme, including the chianti bottles I display on our bar area.

{The large chianti bottle, by the way, is empty. Was consumed by my beautiful famiglia in the candlelight of an Italian restaurant on the night I graduated with my BA in English. Such a warm memory - I will cherish this bottle always!}

Finally, the dining room is how I want it. (At least, for now.)

The before:

The after:

I will be honest: our choice has been met with mixed reviews. Jalapeno Jelly is not everyone's favorite flavor. Most people give me the: "Oh, I like it! But I'd never choose this color..." Which I think might be a polite way of saying "Um, hideous." :D

But I like it. Hubby likes it.

And really, when it is your home, that is what truly matters.

sweet, solo saturday night

Don't you just love alone time?

Last night was my night alone. Hubby was out-of-town at a friend's wedding party, and since I am still working the night shift {yes, even on Saturday nights} I got the whole night to myself (well, until it was 11pm and time to go to work - drat!)

I love my husband dearly, and I also have a blast hanging out with friends...

...but I luuuurve my {alone time.}

Since babies are looming on our marital horizon, I have to take advantage of alone time. Not so sure I will get much of it when there are kiddos around! I'm sure all you mamas out there are nodding right now thinking, "Tru dat, G" or whatever language you speak in your head.

Here is how I spent my sweet solo hours:

1. Went grocery shopping. Surprised? Well, this was not the rushed, unorganized kind I do after work on a Monday. First, I sat in my kitchen, planned the dinners I would cook this week, and thoughtfully wrote out my grocery list. Then I went to our new, beautiful, swanky grocery store (can grocery stores be swanky?), went to the in-store Starbucks {I consider this swanky}, got my mild hazelnut misto, and strolled at leisure through the aisles. No rush, just taking everything in. Actually reading labels. This is how I like to shop.

2. When I got home I knew I wouldn't feel content about my evening until I did a project, so...I organized my massive pile of recipes I've ripped out of magazines that have been haphazardly shoved in random cookbooks!

I know this seems lame {nerd alert} but it made me feel soooooo goooood to get all these random recipe clippings organized into categories, hole-punched, and place neatly in a binder.

3. Settled in on the couch, indulged in a "meal" of veggies, Triscuits, and {delicious} roasted garlic hummus, while flipping through two magazines I splurged on {Martha Stewart Living and House Beautiful - to inspire!} and watching a chick flick I grabbed from Redbox.

Perfect night all to moi.

So my question is:

What do you {or would you} do with an entire evening by yourself?

I would love to know! Leave a comment below...

:o)

PS: When in Rome=worth renting - very funny, very cute romantic comedy. I was weak - from laughter and Josh Duhamel. ;)

{take a moment}

We have {so much} planned for this weekend...it is kind of exhausting just to think about it! Dinner out with friends, a wedding celebration, our annual King's Island date {bring on the fear and adrenaline rushes!} However, I am determined not to let the weekend fly by in an instant...but slow it down and enjoy every moment.

{roadside wildflowers in minnesota}

Even though your weekend may be packed with events, take a moment to just relax and enjoy something beautiful. Even if it just reading the paper and sipping your coffee on Sunday morning. Which is lovely in and of itself.

:o)