Comfort food

Friday was the beginning of a very sick weekend in the Wickers household.  First Bronson was sick, and then of course I got sick.  Roman seemed to dodge the germ bullet, but I consider myself the lucky one.  I managed to get 12 hours of sleep on Friday night and another 10 hours on Saturday.  Needless to say I am well, very well rested and ready to kick this week off.

Before I was struck down with "the sickness" I managed to whip up a pot of my favorite chicken soup.  Most people when they are sick can't fathom eating, I on the other hand become ravenous and require rib stickin' food.
Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice Soup
1 Tbs. olive oil
4 carrots diced
4 stalks celery diced
1 large onion diced
1 cup wild rice
1 large can cream of mushroom soup
1.5 qts. chicken broth
2 cups cooked kale ( I always have this in the fridge cooked and ready to throw into some recipe.)
2 cups shredded chicken

Saute carrots, celery, and onion in large pot until onions are translucent.  Add chicken broth, cream of mushroom soup, shredded chicken, and rice, bring to a boil and then reduce to low and let simmer for 30 mins.  Add kale at the end and season with salt and pepper.

This soup has a very rustic feel to it and is mmmmm-good.  I don't even want to know what is in cream of mushroom soup (I have never bothered to read the ingredients), but it makes this soup so delicious.  My father-in-law made a version of this soup for me when  my husband and he was the one who introduced me to adding a can of cream of mushroom to chicken noodle soup.  Thanks Mr. Wickers!

Flavour Thesaurus

The Flavour Thesaurus: A Compendium of Pairings, Recipes and Ideas for the Creative Cook.
I must have this book. There is just one problem, I am not interested in the version available in the U.S. I want the coloful U.K. edition.  I prefer the "flavour" of the U.K. cover over the "flavor" of the U.S. edition.  I know I am not alone.

Have a wonderful weekend!

YAY!

 I am a huge fan of Aurelie Bidermann's jewelry, but it's not really in the budget for my summer wardrobe.  That's why when I stumbled upon a DIY this morning I jumped for joy and just had to share it with you.  It's safe to say that I will be making a few of these bracelets this weekend.

Click here for the full DIY

images and DIY from HonestlyWTF.com

Thank you!

I was so touched by everybody's lovely comments yesterday.  Thank you so much for your kind words and offers.  The blog world is so amazing and filled with some of the kindest bunch of strangers who feel like old friends.   I have managed to pull myself out of the slump with lots of prayer, family, friends, and learning to give my burdens to God.  No matter how much I try to control, the truth is I have no control, and that is where my faith steps in and my hope is restored.

Have a wonderful day friends!

image from Mr. A Hayes print shop

Drained

Have you ever been so emotionally drained that you can barely put a sentence together?  That's how I have been feeling this past week.  There are some changes on the horizon and it's all very exciting, sad, nerve-racking (or is nerve-wracking?), and just plain crazy all at the same time.  I don't even know exactly what these changes are, but I know they are a comin'.  I wish I could share more with you, but the time isn't right.

Any who, I am hoping that when all is said and done I will go from feeling like this....

...TO THIS!

Is this not the most amazing before and after transformation of a garage?!  Definitely inspiring.

Have a beautiful week lovelies!

images from hashai blog, discovered via making it lovely

I have been inspired

Enough said.

image from Odi et Amo blog

Focused Finds

I am obsessively collecting all sorts of vintage cups, containers, and bowls.  I scored this silver set while thrifting last week, and have no intentions of polishing any of these pieces.  They are all tarnished to perfection and will be perfect for the project I have in mind.

Along with the remnant that I scored Saturday (resulting in the resurrection of the "simply summer" booties) I also took home the cutest set of vintage pink and white striped bedding (never opened, still in the original packaging!!!), and over 10 yards of this gorgeous floral print.  The floral fabric will be debuting somewhere in our home, in either the form of  drapes, roman shades, or a slip cover.  I can't decide, but I am leaning towards some sort of window dressing.  Any suggestions?

Lucky lady

Before we hit the beach Saturday I hit up an estate sale and struck gold.  I found a remnant of fabric from one of my favorite pair of booties that have been sold out for months.  Lucky me...LUCKY YOU!  I am happy to announce, the "Simply Summer" booties are out of retirement and available again.

I came across other fabric finds which I will share with you later, but first a funny story. Last Thursday while walking on the beach I lost one of Bronson's shoes (my favorite shoes of course).  I didn't discover the loss until we got back to the car and I was too lazy tired to walk back and try to find it.  So...on Saturday as we were walking on the beach, I spotted Bronson's little shoe on top of a rock waiting for me.  What luck!  I always seem to lose things at the beach (I lost my wedding ring last year), but the important thing is that they always seem to find their way back to me.

I'll be back tomorrow with more of my fabric finds from the weekend.  I hope you had a lovely weekend!

Have a great week!

Happiest place on earth...

...although you can't tell by these photos.  We celebrated Bronson's birthday with a trip to Disneyland, and contrary to these photos Bronson had a blast.  He seemed to have the most fun waiting in line and skipping from ride to ride.  I was pleasantly surprised at how patient he was.  I was also surprised that he managed to keep his wits about him from sun up to sun down (literally, 6:30 a.m.-10 p.m.) with only a 30 minute nap.  The kid was so high on happy he wouldn't couldn't sleep, and with not one single meltdown we were happy to let him take it all in.  (We wanted our money's worth, I forgot how expensive that place is.)

 We thought for sure he would knockout out on the way back to the hotel, but no such luck.  In his own little language he seemed to review the day and all that happened.  What a wonderful experience for all of us.

Favorite Finds {series}: Kendall K.

 1.) the perfect tweed blazer: Found this little vintage gem at a thrift store for $12. Perfect fit, color and fabrication! I just LOVE it when that happens.

2.) Fur collar: This real fur beauty was found a couple years ago and now seems to be quite trend relevant. I just pin it on to any of my coats and it adds instant glamor.

3.) Chest of drawers: I was able to finagle this piece of furniture down from $80 to $50. I was 21 years old and it was my first real price negotiation. I'll never forget it, felt so accomplished after that! Plus, it's something I can see us passing on to our grand children.

4.) Antique heirloom: This ring was given to me by my mother-in-law before she passed away. Besides the sentimentality, the best part is that my best friend/sister-n-law has the same ring in a different color.

Thank you Kendall for sharing your fab finds!  For those of you who aren't familiar with Kendall, she is a very talented young lady and designer.  I met Kendall last year, and have had the pleasure of hitting up some estate sales with her--she has a good eye...as you can tell from some of her finds.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

On my list

For six years, we have been trying to find just the right plant/tree to put in our living room, and I believe we have finally settled on a winner.  The fiddle leaf fig.

I love how it spreads itself around the room...I love this room.  I want to curl up in that big chair over there and nap like a cat in the sun.

This is more the size and shape that I need the plant to be. I must be sleepy because this room also makes me want to curl up like a cat and nap--it looks so warm and cozy.

images from pinterest

The List

This year I was inspired by my husband to create a "list" of wants and needs. Roman is very methodical about his purchases, and almost never impulse buys--we couldn't be more opposite, but that's one of the things I love about him.  For a few years now he has been urging me to make a list of everything I want, since there seems to be something new every five minutes.  Well, I have finally broke down and made a list--several in fact.  Here is just a sample at what's made my list(s).  I am going to try my hardest to stick to the list, allowing myself only five impulse buy "coupons" for the year.  I have been wandering around my house wondering what we really need, and what I really want.  I have rummaged through my closet and wardrobe and made a detailed list of wants and needs.  And, I surprised my husband by including an electronics list (it's the shortest and the priciest).  Surprisingly my lists are not too long, but they have me thinking about what I will be spending my money on in the future, and I am happy to forecast that I will be very satisfied with my purchases.  I am sure I won't be able to knock everything off the list, but at least it will help me stay focused on the things that I want and need, and not the things that retailers try to convince me I need.

1. Havaianas black Brazil flip flops.  2. Books, I don't necessarily want to buy more books, unless their cook books, but I thought I would share with you one of my resolutions for the new year--read 2 books a month.  3. A dutch oven.  Enough said.  4.  Who doesn't want an ipad?  5.  I will be renewing my subscription to Saveur magazine that my mother bought me last year (one of your best gifts mom).  If you get a chance, you must buy Jan/Feb issue of the mag.  It's the Chef's edition, and it's filled with interesting little tidbits.  I have dogeared almost every page.  6.  I am not sure Tom's will bring back these fabulous colors, but I need them to, and I  "need" two pair, preferrably the orange stripe calypso and the navy stripe calypso.

I plan to carry the idea of "the list" into my thrifting as well, I call it "focused finding".  I will be keeping an eye out for very small vintage plates (I will share with you in another post why), along with vintage bowls, cups, and vases.  I already know what I will be gifting to all my friends for Christmas this year, but I need to get a head start by collecting such vintage chingaderas.  Oh and of course textiles will remain on the list...duh.

What's on your list ?

images from pinterest: plates, bowl, fabric