toulouse petit

"Daytime drinking has never been been so dignified, fun, and guilt-free...."

Who wouldn't love a restaurant with a motto like that?  I had a long, indulgent breakfast this week at Toulouse Petit Kitchen and Lounge.  It sits on the corner of Queen Anne Blvd. and Mercer Street in lower Queen Anne [Seattle].

The rustic art-nouveau decor invites you to linger over your press coffee and make tough menu decisions!  Sweet or savory?  I went with savory this time!

Eggs Benedict with Dungeness Crab and Fine Herbs.

It was so incredibly delicious!  Our waitress offered her Top 5 menu items.  

• Cured Pork Cheeks Confit Hash
• Duck Confit Hash
• Spicy Shrimp Creole and Eggs over Creamy Grits 
• Eggs Benedict with Dungeness Crab with Fine Herbes
• Crème Caramel French Toast

Even better, Monday-Friday [8-11] is Breakfast Happy Hour.  Most items are only $8.  SO grab a friend [or a few] and head to Toulouse Petit for a mid-week breakfast! 

well, I love a rainy night

::Maya Angelou::

[via]

Exactly, right?  

This quote is poignant to me.  You can shine during life's moments of frustration or you can let it get the best of you [and bring out the worst].  I think what it really comes down to is how do you deal with events out of your control.  Big or small, these are the moments that test us.  

We are facing a very soggy Halloween Night.  With any luck it will let up and the kids can have a dry night of fun.  But most likely it will be pouring.  My boys are ecstatic about the day.  I have no control over the weather.  So, I will pull on my Hunter boots, zip up my North Face shell, grab the lantern and brave the night with them.  

You can tell a lot about a person by the way she handles a rainy day. 

hApPy hAllOwEEn

[true blood] mini pumpkins

How about something little to get you in the mood for Halloween night?  I don't really like carving pumpkins, but these little cuties only took about 15 minutes.  15 minutes for all three!

I found the inspiration on Pinterest, which led me to Martha Stewart.  

You will need mini pumpkins, plastic vampire teeth and a red Sharpie marker.  Simply cut out a rectangle-roughly the width of the vampire teeth- scoop out the seeds and pulp, and shave down the sides so that the teeth will slide all the way in.  Draw two red eyes and you are done!  [Martha used map tacks for the eyes and provided a template for the mouth....but I went rogue.]

happy haunting.

lunchbox love

Who wouldn't want a little love their lunchbox?

 It is easy [takes less than 30 seconds] and the little dose of love goes a long way!

My oldest taped his favorites into the back of his homework journal last year.  [Talk about making my heart melt.]

Here are a few resources so you can find [and give] lunchbox love too:
1.  Tiny Prints.  Personal lunch box notes for your little monsters.
2.  Say Please.  Positive notes and fun trivia.  Space on back to write your own message too!
3.  Good Stuff Products.  Mommy's Messages.  You can choose from tongue twisters, jokes, and love notes.  My kids love the jokes!

pass it along

 

Ever have a cluster of days that make you feel not so great about yourself?  Something crawls into your head and you just can't shake it.  You might find yourself spending extra minutes in front of the mirror examining all of your imperfections and beating yourself about this or that.  Work harder, drink more water, wear moisturizer, find a better shampoo, get a haircut.

My mantra today, this week, this month.  You are beautiful, pass it along.

[Be gentle with your spirit and give yourself a break.  Remind someone else of her beauty.  She may have forgotten.]

pumpkin cake cookies

I am always on the look out for quick and simple desserts.  Recipes that are semi-homemade, like these pumpkin cake cookies, are my absolute favorite.   I have linked the recipe, but you don't really need it.  It is 3 simple ingredients.  Dump, mix, and bake! 

Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix
12 oz  Libby's 100% Pure Pumpkin [ a little less than one can]
1 Tbs. of All spice or Pumpkin Pie spice

Dump cake mix into bowl, mix in pumpkin and spice, drop spoonfuls of mixture onto baking sheet and bake @ 350 degrees for 10 minutes [or until toothpick comes out clean]. 

PS.  When I made these, I doubted the recipe and thought I must be missing a step or key ingredient.  Trust the simplicity.  That is what makes it perfect. 

mom's night(s) out

For the first time since June 2004, I had the house to myself all weekend.  No kids, no husband, just me.   I had 48 hours with absolutely no responsibilities [other than being a responsible adult].  The quiet was deafening at times, but my iTunes library helped with that.  How did I fill my time? Let me tell you- it wasn't difficult.  I filled it with all the things I once took for granted.  Reconnecting with a dear friend, sleeping in, watching movies past midnight, window shopping, afternoon talk shows, long conversations over delicious meals.  Funny how a little space allows you to linger in things that once were, but reveals to you how much you love what is.  

[rainy night out in the city I love.]