cookie jar predicament

I am looking for a cute, nontypical cookie jar. Unfortunately, I haven't found one that my husband also likes and that is the right price. I love this owl from Anthropologie, but A says it gives him the creeps:

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I, of course, love this cornishware, and I thought it would be so adorable to have "dolce" printed on it. But the price + the shipping was just too much for my confectionary creations.

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So, for the time being I will pine away for the owl, and look for other solutions. By the way I realize these are complete opposites, but that is just the way I am. When I go out for dinner I'm not sure if I was chicken or fish, even though they are completely different tastes, they are both delicious. Said thoughts apply to design in my world as well.

Oh, hello, and who are you again?

I don't know if you can officially call me a slacker, considering, well, no one reads this. However, I felt guilty to myself to neglecting this, mostly because it is fun. Anyway, it isn't so much that I haven't done anything, as I haven't posted it. I thought about going back and posting everything, but that seemed tedious and unnecessary. Then, I thought about starting fresh, but that somehow left something out. Instead, I'm going back a little, and slightly out of date for the next few posts. Today: holiday goodies all bagged (canned) up:

The cans are from Michael's. The tags were from this blog (free template), the ribbon was Target. The peppermint bark and caramel corn recipes both came from the awesome blogger Orangette.

Hopefully, I'll be back soon with a post on Polyface Farms which we visited to get our Thanksgiving turkey!

I'm finally reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle

And it has changed my life. With my new found love for documentaries and docudramas, my eyes have been opened to how our food is made and abused, and it is changing me. Hence daydreaming about farms, and trying to buy my fruits and veggies in season. I'm not totally there, but it is a step by step process. Although fingers crossed the farm will happen some day.

However, Adam and I really lucky because we live next to the Falls Church Farmer's Market which is rated the best in America. And it is open year round with grass feed beef, fresh eggs and milk, and whatever might be in season. Here was our first adventure there:

This will be eggplant parmesan tomorrow night!

Best chocolate milk in the world, and we are having swiss chard salad with our eggplant!

Better than candy.

Fresh mozzy went on our pizza last night, and it was heavenly.

Three kinds of pears...so good.

Adam's hot, hot pepper plan that is supposed to be fruitful all year long.

This became kale chips, a need to go a little lighter on the salt, but so good.

Fresh basil and heirloom tomatoes were the other ingredients on our pizza.

Three weekends ago...

I bought my last basket of peaches from the farmer's market (tear), and made this blueberry-peach crumble...it was amazo! There is something about the little personalized dishes that makes it seem so fancy, I wonder why?

Peaches I'll miss you...apples and pears, so nice to taste you again.

where have i been...

....Daydreaming about farming.

These captivating pictures help. The farmers are young and beautiful, the food amazing looking, the landscape is intoxicating, and the animals adorable. It makes me yearn for a different life. In fact I've been thinking more and more about settling on a farm someday. I can love clothes and want chickens, right?

Yes, please.

Chocolate puddin

My dad will not eat instant pudding. My husband was baffled by this, because he loves snack packs. I tried to explain that it is because real homemade, stovetop pudding is just so delicious you don't want anything else after you've had it. Although, I've eaten my occasional snack pack in desperation. However, it then occurred to me that maybe making my own pudding isn't as hard as I think. So, I used the internet and found this recipe...clearly this woman understands me (see "you can make it easily on a weeknight" and "the second step can be skipped if you are lazy"). Hence, the most delicious dark chocolate pudding on a Monday night!

I just wish my pictures were as pretty as the ones on smitten kitchen!

The Julia Child solution:

The PROBLEM:

All of this was disorganized and hard to get to, but when renting, what can you do, you can't create more space...or can you? Vertical is always an option.

Oh Julia you've taught me well! I should also say that while Julia Child gave me the idea to hang pots from a peg board, my mother showed me how! And, my husband did all the hard work, aka building the frame, anchoring it to the wall, and making everything fit on the peg board! Thanks family!