I love New York (and my sisters)

The weekend after Thanksgiving I had one of the best weekends all year, in NYC with my sisters.  No kids and no husbands just a whole lot of Soteriades estrogen packed into a single hotel room for nearly 4 days.  It was magical.

I've been on plenty of trips with friends since college but had not been on a vacation with my sisters as adults.  Both shameful and hard to believe considering we talk to each other at least every day, usually more than once.  We finally broke the streak and took time together to visit Rockafeller Center and that incredible tree...

Observed (and indulged in) the replenishment of the morning goodies at Dean & DeLuca...

Shopped and shopped and shopped some more...

Met new friends in Little Italy....and drank martinis

Visited the Waterford ball that will drop on New Year's Eve...

Partook in the insanity at Macy's Harold Square...

Ate dessert after midnight

Laughed until we cried...

And looked fabulous in Central Park.

I can't wait until next year.

Butternut Squash Soup

On the first weekend that actually feels like fall I couldn't resist making my favorite soup...(photo will be posted later)

(warning this makes a LOT of soup, but I like having it around for a few days)

-1 large sweet onion

-1 stick of butter (8 tablespoons)

-2 medium sized butternut squash

-4 cups of water

-2 cloves of garlic (minced)

-black pepper

-cayenne pepper

-6 chicken bullion cubes

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cut the squash in 1/2 (lengthwise) and place them cut side down on a baking sheet.  Bake for 45 min.

While squash is baking, dice the onion and saute with garlic and 1/2 stick of butter in a large stock pot until onions are clear.  

Once squash is done baking, scoop flesh into food processor (or blender) add 1 cup of water and blend until it's just slightly chunky (if you prefer soup w/o chunks,  then puree away!).  You may need to do 2 separate batches.

Transfer squash from food processor into stock pot and add 2 more cups of water (assuming you added 2 c of water during the puree step).  Add chicken bullion cubes.  Add 1/2 stick of butter.  Add teaspoon of black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper to taste.

Cook on med/low until soup begins to slightly bubble (20 min).  Serve with crusty bread or crackers.  Then retire to the couch for nap.

Thanksgiving denim

A visit to Cleveland this weekend inspired another weight loss motivation challenge between Karen and me. This type of commitment between the two of us is not new...we tried it last year and results were ahem, inconclusive.

Here's the new wager/contest/commitment:
By Thanksgiving 2008 (10 weeks away), our goal is to eat healthier and workout 5 days per week with the intended consequence of weight loss
-Jamie = 8% of current weight
-Karen = 11.6% of current weight

Of course these percentages were derived from actual pounds we'd like to shed from our current physiques and of course, those will not be publicly posted on this blog.

The prize:
Whomever achieves their goal, receives a $200 shopping credit toward a new (and bootylicious) pair of jeans from the other participant. If we both achieve our goals, well then we'll be having one heck of a fun day of shopping!

In the meantime, if anyone knows how to induce an aversion to sweets, chocolate and all things delicious please call me asap!

Sparkles the Dolphin

Sparkles the dolphin was created during our trip to the grocery store tonight.  Who knew you could get so many great things at Kroger?!

6, 4 and 1

Annie, Jack and James are 6, 4 and 1 this year and have changed so much since the last blog photos at Christmas time.  They were especially excited for Aunt P's wedding.  Where's Jack in his white bow tie looking dapper like his little brother?  Unfortunately he tossed his cookies minutes before the ceremony and spend the evening napping in the wagon over in the corner :-(

Jack was in full effect earlier in the weekend however, sans bow tie...

Beautiful Day

The blog has been overly neglected in 2008, perhaps because the family activities have been out of control.  Last week I downloaded more than 5 months worth of photos...more postings to follow.

A few photos from May 25, 2008 when PJ and Jason tied the knot.  The weather could not have been better, and the bride and groom could not have been more beautiful.

How many brides get caught on camera singing, "apple bottom jeans...boots with the fur...." minutes before walking down the aisle?