Holy Sausage!!

Last night on the Food Network, our great lifelong friends had a segment on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives! It was so fun to see them on TV talking all about their Kramarczuk family sausage and cafeteria/deli business up in Minneapolis. They had lots of face time and Nick even showed Guy Fieri how they make all their yummy sausage. Watching them made me want to open my own deli! However, I think I'll leave that up to the Kramarczuks! Instead, I'll leave you with a recipe that I tried last week and is now a Davis family favorite.

If yall want to view the episode again it comes on today at 1Pm and then again on Sept 10 9PM. (Yall did an amazing job and I can't wait to see yall this weekend!)

Spinach-Black Bean Lasagna

2 eggs, lightly beaten

15oz carton ricotta cheese

10oz package frozen spinach, thawed and well-drained

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 tsp salt

4 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

2 (16oz) cans black beans, rinsed and drained

2 (10oz) jar of pasta sauce

1/2 tsp cumin

9 lasagna cooked noodles

Stir together first 5 ingredients and 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese; set aside

Mash beans in large bowl, stir in pasta sauce and cumin

Spread 1/3 of bean mixture on bottom of lightly greases 9x13 baking dish

Layer 3 noodles, half of spinach mixture, and 1 cup Monterey cheese, repeat layers

Spread 1/3 bean mixture; top with remaining 3 noodles and remaining bean mixture.

Bake, covered at 350 for 1 hour

Uncover and top with remaining Monterey Jack cheese; bake 5 minutes until cheese melts

Sneak Peak

Happy Monday! I hope you all had a great weekend. We had a great weekend with the in-laws! I think we walked the length of Manhattan and saw some great sights while doing so! Had some great food, rooftop fun and wonderful convos! However, I don't have any pics to share. So on a different note, here's a sneak peak at something I'm working on...

Friday Fun Day

Happy Friday! Do you all have fun plans this weekend? We've had some great weekends this month and this weekend will be right up there. The in-laws are coming to town to visit the new digs! We have reservations tonight and then we're going to show them our new town the rest of the weekend. The weather is amazing with the highs being in the low 80s and clear skies. Bring on the weekend! I hope you have a wonderful and relaxing weekend.

Next week is the launch of the Fall Collection!!

Here's what last week's Friday was for us...

Hooray!!!!

Check it out!! (Look closely)

"Are you kidding me????"

"Oh no wait, this could be fun! I'll have someone to boss around!!"

Well, there you have it - Sis is pregnant with numbero 2!! The little guy is going to be a big brother! They told us over 4th of July weekend but had only just found out so it's been a secret for a while until Sis was able to tell work. It's been quite hard to keep this one quiet but I did it AND NOW I get to tell everyone! We are so excited! It's going to start getting crazy in the Spencer(grandparents)/Smith(parents)/Davis(proud uncle and aunt) household...

For some unrelated news, I'll be launching the new Fall line next week!

Farm Finale

Are y'all tired of our trip to Indiana yet? Well, today is the last day because tomorrow I have some big news to announce!!!!

So to finish the trip up, I'll take you to my Uncle's incredible farm. Going to the farm and being with cousins used to be one of my absolute favorite things to look forward to all growing up. When I say "growing up" I actually mean still to this day. It brings back so many awesome memories riding/driving the 3 wheeler (no, I do not mean 4 wheeler) around the farm, picking any kind of berries and eating them straight from the bush, playing in the gift shop and obviously acting like I owned the place when customers would come in (even though I was only 8.) I can't explain how much fun it was and still is!

So of course yet again, Sister and I were excited to show the little guy the farm and again see his reaction to another one of our favorite memories. Needless to say, he loved it! But that was a given. So here are the last pictures of Indiana... Enjoy and come back tomorrow for the exciting news!

Papa and Kirby in their usual spot by the gift shop

Sis and little guy picking raspberries

Uncle Kyle picked a baby pumpkin for the little guy

The beautiful flowers I got from the gift shop

Check out all those melons

Just some of the candy in the shop

Spencer Farm fresh salsa, jam and butters - yummy!

So if you're in the area go check out Spencer U-Pick Farm

Tractors and Now Fairs

Since I showed y'all all about our ventures with the tractors yesterday, today I'll let y'all experience the Indiana State Fair. Before you start to judge, the state fair is one of my favorite things (if you remember last year's post of the North Carolina State Fair!) I love the people watching, the food, the animals, the rides and of course all the other sights that go along with fairs in general. It's such a fun time and great for the whole family - which is exactly what the Spencer side of the family did.

The three Spencer brothers and most of their families (although now that half are married it makes it a bit harder for everyone to get together) met up at the fair and we went to town! We started at the giant foot long corndog stand, then moved to BBQ, then to the all famous dairy barn for milkshakes. After we downed all this we made our way to all the barns. There's some history here - my Uncle actually used to compete in the sheep show competition. Isn't that crazy?! So after we walked through the barns and the little guy saw lots of new animals that he was enamored with we moved to the rides. However, by this point it was around 10pm on a work night...meaning we only rode 2 rides and those consisted of the carousel and the bee ride with, of course, the little guy. We all slept quite well that night and I'm ready for next year!!

I just really wanted you to get the full experience of being at the fair...doesn't it look yummy?! :)

Naaaayyyy says Mr Ed

The largest pig ever - it couldn't even stand to eat

Baby cow with a baby boy - little guy was fascinated

Before we took off!

Such a little dare devil!

Tractors and More

I'm back and have so much to blog about! I'm trying to figure out a way to do this so it all makes sense. It will just have to be over the next couple of days. All my travels were so much fun and were a great way to bring the summer to an end. The first trip was down to Florida for my great friend's bachelorette party. We all had a wonderful time together, however in the midst of all the fun I forgot to take pictures! Ugh However, I did get TONS of pictures during my trip to Indiana to visit my dad's entire side of the family (my parents and sister were already up there)

I have such a love for Indiana! Besides how beautiful it is with all the fields of corn, soybeans, mums, etc but its also where I have come since I was born to hung out with all my great cousins! There's so much to do up there. Go to the lake, play on my uncle's farm, play in my grandparents pasture, and again the list goes on. This is why Sister and I were so excited to see how the Little Guy liked his first trip to Indy. Needless to say, he LOVED it! I've always said I wanted to live there one day and I haven't changed my mind. I even asked my parents to move there. haha

To sum up the trip, it was a tractor filled, fair riding and eating, family experience of a lifetime! I didn't even realize how many tractors there were until I was looking through the pics last night. So for now, here are pics of...

See if you can tell who loved the tractors (besides my uncle who owns the tractors)...

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The Flitty Flare

We're still in the 1970s. Here comes the bootcut flare bottoms! After the past 6 years of the skinny pant and jeggings we're moving back out. Don't throw out those skinnies though - they're still here (which is great since they're perfect for winter boots.) The flare is definitely not as wide as it was in the 70s so the bell-bottoms you wore for Halloween probably won't work. :) But be on the lookout since they are making their comeback.

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

Back in Time

I think we're heading back in the 1970s. I'm fine with this since I've always had somewhat of a fascination with the 60s-70s. However, we're only going back for the fashion! This season the clogs are back. That's right, CLOGS! Yes, I know that they have been here since this Spring but they are all the rage for Fall. It seems like anything goes as well. So here are a few of awesome ones...Go get your clog on! :)

Furry Friends

Well, it looks like fur and shear ling are now making their way back into our wardrobes. Not the fur like you're thinking but in a more subtle way. Like the lining of a jacket that actually shows, vests, boots, or bags, etc. Don't worry all you animal lovers - it doesn't have to be real fur to be cool. Faux is totally fine! Maybe you can go raid your Aunt or Grandma's closet and see if you can tailor the old fur coat into something a bit more wearable this season. Like this...

Gray Matters

The new "neutral" color for Fall is gray! It had its coming out last year but this year it is full-blown here and here to stay. Gray is everywhere you look. In my opinion this is awesome! I love gray and all the color combinations you can mix with gray. If you don't know, I'm a neutral/black wearing girl. I'm quite comfortable in blacks and love gray since I can wear a pop of color with it and still blend in just a bit. So here is lovely little gray storyboard for you all...

I hope everyone had a nice weekend! I'm still traveling and now on my way to Indiana. So on Thursday I will be back with new stories and pictures from the weekend, etc. However, now for the fashion posts I told you about last week. Again, sorry guys!

So as you know, this year is the year for over-the-knee-boots. Now I'm not a huge fan of this look since it reminds me a little of Pretty Woman. ;) However, this doesn't mean that I won't jump on the bandwagon in a while but I just don't see it right now. If I were back in high school or college then I would have jumped and I mean plunged head first immediately on this trend. I guess you could say that I've become a bit more conservative in my age and marital status. Haha Ok, so if and I do mean if I were to jump on then here are a few that I might consider...

LD Tuttle

Frye

Joie

As you can see, I did not choose any heels...Pretty Woman

Girls Just Wanna have Fun!

Happy Weekend! I'll be celebrating this wonderful friend on her bachelorette weekend, just at a bit hotter beach. Don't think we'll need our sweaters this time! :) (However, this was 2 years ago in January in South Carolina.)

These two will become official in less than a month!

Weddings and Travels

Remember that wedding I did for Memorial Day with the awesome brooches? Well, the bride turned Mrs. just sent me a picture of all her gorgeous bridesmaids with the necklaces. At some point when life slows down and I actually stop traveling (that would be in Nov) then I'll be adding a new wedding page to the website. But for now, the pictures will be here on the blog. I'm working on a couple of weddings right now which will be fabulous additions to the page...these brides are so original and fun to work with!

I'm leaving for Florida today and will be on the beach with my old roommate (before I became a Mrs) It's her bachelorette weekend at the beach and I can't wait to hang out with she and her friends! After the weekend, I'm going straight to Indianapolis to see my dad's side of the family! I have always LOVED going up there and still do. All the cousins are about the same age so we've always hung out like friends which is absolutely awesome! I'll be sure to have some fun pics when I get back but for the next 5 days the posting will be from a schedule about fashion - sorry guys who follow...not going to be very exciting for you. To all you females I hope you enjoy!

Jacket on My Back

So its getting to be that season where we begin to think about Fall (and football!) And with Fall comes Fall clothing!!! Fall clothing is one of my favorites since there is so much you can do with all the layers...multiple outfits underneath each other. The transitional pieces can always be tricky (at least for me) but this year it seems like the designers are trying to help us out a bit. They all have some sort of jacket type piece which seems to be tailored and shorter than last year. It seems to be more flattering than the boyfriend jackets from last year (although they're still around most are belted for some shape) I also am loving the new collars on the jackets! Now that we're up here in the north, maybe I'll invest in jackets for the first time in my life! Here is a very small selection from various designers I'd like to invest in...

Mr and Mrs Part 2

So on top of the incredible wedding festivities, there was fun back at the house with the little man! He stayed home with their awesome Nanny while we celebrated but we got to see him bright and early in the morning and in between getting ready. Since the house carried sound like water the little man was demoted to going outside as soon as he woke up so the whole house didn't have to wake up at 5:45...which actually is little mans dream since he LOVES being outside. Then while I was getting ready for the wedding the family took the little man to Tweetsie which is a kiddie/family railroad type park. (You should check out the website) They have a carousel there and little man loves carousels almost as much as he loves being outside.

I've always said that I would pick a beach house over a mountain house but this weekend made the decision a bit harder...but being a Florida girl and loving the water I'll still pick the beach with the mountains being a close second!

Little Man is doing the round and round motion with his hands which goes with the song 'The wheels on the bus goes round and round"

If you look at Papa's face then you might think he's having more fun than little man

Bright and early on the steps of the house in his PJs

Getting dirty in the his PJs - such a dream

Mr and Mrs Weekend

The past 4 days were so much fun! The wedding was in the North Carolina mountains which seriously could not have been prettier. It was gorgeous (with incredible weather.) On Thursday night there was a barbecue on top of a mountain with an awesome band including a banjo! Friday morning we had the bridesmaid luncheon on top of a mountain overlooking the other side down onto a lake! The luncheon was so sweet and the food was awesome. We had only a couple of hours before getting to the rehearsal so we sped home and played outside with the little guy. He loved climbing the rocks and "running" down the big hills out by the house! Then we got back in the car and went to the rehearsal at the most interestingly old church. It was made by stone and wood back in the beginning of the 1900s. They had to take each load of stone up the mountain and then go all the way back down to get the next load! Holy cow! The rehearsal dinner was my favorite setting of the wedding weekend - they were all incredibly cool though. It was in Diamond Creek up by the horse stables and this open rustic bar outdoor seating area that of course had an amazing view! You actually walk through the stables (where there was another awesome bluegrass band) to get to the food seating area. The dinner and toasts were so sweet! I cried but of course did not give a toast. If you do not know this about me - I am TERRIFIED of toasts - I didn't even give my sister one at her wedding and I was the maid of honor. I instead do cards. haha So after the big lead up the day had arrived! My dear friend was about to become a Mrs! She looked breathtaking and everything was perfect! Then in another spectacular location, we danced and talked to the night away with old friends! The weekend couldn't have been better. As Sis said at the toast - We gained another great guy into the Spencer/Cheney family! Enjoy the pics - there are a ton...

(My camera wasn't working for the 1st two days... boo)