pasta fijole soup.

Disclaimer: I have no idea what "fijole" means/is! Apparently something delicious.

This soup is so good. It's been my choice for numerous birthday gatherings and it's the perfect lunch on a cold day. Or a summer day. Or any day. 

On the downside, this is one of my mom's recipes that has no measurements. (Who in the world makes a recipe with no measurements?!) You might have to go a little bit Julia Child on this one but it's definitely worth it.

So here is what you need:

spicy sausage

hamburger

onion, chopped

celery, chopped finely

carrot, julienne cut

one can (14-15 oz) Italian stewed tomatoes

one can Swansons beef broth

V8 (vegetable juice, sometimes we use the Trader Joes brand)

garlic clove

crushed basil

one 15 oz can kidney beans

chile powder

pepper

salad pasta 

Saute sausage, hamburger, celery, and onion together, adding minced garlic for last few minutes. Drain grease. Add carrots, stewed tomatoes, broth, V8, kidney beans, and spices (to taste) and simmer until carrots are done. Add cooked, drained salad pasta and serve. Also good topped with parmesan cheese.

joy to the world.

image from her blog

Angela Hardison, an awesome designer, made this "Joy to the World" print and has the pdf free on her blog here! So simple, so pretty.

december you are off to a lovely start.

diana photo from last winter

drinking too many cups of Trader Joes sipping chocolate.
making Christmas wishlists.
making birthday wishlists.
feeling like I'm making too many wishlists.
baking cookies.
listening to the She & Him Christmas album on repeat.
attempting to tackle the never ending pile of homework.
reading blogs when I should be tackling said never ending pile of homework.
soaking in the magic of Christmastime.

that's what I've been doing lately!
what have you been up to my friends?

Dear Megan,

photo taken on my diana f+ camera

Sometimes I like to imagine that you get things done on time and are great at time management.

But really you are an awful procrastinator. 

Sometimes I like to imagine that you read poetry and are enthralled by the beauty of the words.

But really half the time you have no clue why they're talking that way or what's going on.

Sometimes I like to imagine that you love to drink hot cups of tea, any kind, in big mugs on rainy afternoons. 

But really you think most tea tastes like nasty flavored water.

Sometimes I like to imagine that you don't care about what you look like or what other people think of you.

But you do. You really do.

Sometimes I like to imagine that you always put God at the center of your life.

But sometimes I think you love other things more. 

Maybe someday things will change.

Someday soon.

the perfect day for...

...raspberry hot chocolate and slipper socks. 

amen.

I want to be the moon

"If you are the Sun then I want to be the moon

I want to reflect the light that shines from You."

"Sun and Moon" by Phil Wickham

playlist for a fall day

pressing pause

"Rejoice in the Lord always. 

I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

(Philippians 4:4-7)

An amazing God we serve, no?

___________________________________________

Well I'm back. College apps, SAT prep, and life have been keeping me pretty busy. I'm glad to say that things are starting to slow down (a wee bit). 

pretty desktop wallpaper

from here

from here

from here

dreaming, dreaming.

I've been day dreaming about France lately.
Maybe it's the beautiful architecture, or the art, or the food (who am I kidding, I'd go just for bread and cheese) but I would love, love, love to go to France someday. Someday soon, preferably.

all photos from this lovely blog

What have you been dreaming about lately?

A cure for the easily distracted...

I found this video via bleubird and fell in love. I think this was made for me. Little quirky videos are my favorite.



video:
Miranda Joy
"A Handy Tip For the Easily Distracted"


Happy Sunday!

cupcakes and precal

One of the major benefits of going to a school downtown is the local shops and restaurants. During a moment of weakness, the best friend and I decided to run down and grab cupcakes before PreCal and it took us all of 2 1/2 mins. New record.
Sometimes all you need to endure a cold, rainy day and an extremely boring math class is a cupcake.

I highly suggest it.


Also, hello October! You are going to be a stressful month. I foresee lots of cupcakes in the near future...