Fallish Weekend

Nashville, you did me right this past weekend. 

Your weather could have fooled me, feelin' like it's October already.

We took full advantage of the dip in temperature, and enjoyed some much needed family time.

Thanks to a team member friend of mine, we were gifted with six end-zone seats to the Vandy football game. With a chill in the air, football just felt...right.

Of course, we needed our fall drinks from Starbucks to keep us warm! (Holla if you're a fan of the pumpkin spice latte!)

Not pictured: us chugging our beverages after taking this photo, as the security man told us we could not bring our drinks into the stadium. Classy, I know.

I mean... really? Geez, I love this guy.

He went to work at 7:00 on Saturday morning, so that he could meet us at the game later in the day.

He's just the best.

The whole clan.

After the game (which ended up being an exciting one in the 4th quarter), we came back to La Casa Darcy to continue the fall shenanigans. The guys tossed around the football while I got the chili on the stove.

That's right- we made white chicken chili, courtesy of Paula Dean. It was DELISH! You can find the recipe here.

(Serve with jalapeno cornbread- Mmm, mmm, good!)

And what's a better finale to a family fun day than playing Mexican Train? We snacked on magic mix and shared some laughs.

I really could not be more thankful that my brothers live in town, that Jon and I get to be involved in their lives and them in ours, and that we see each other throughout the week. 

This season is going to be one to remember.

And this fall weather? You just keep it comin', Nashville.

autumn & spice and everything nice

Y'all.
Today is September 1st.
September!
If you can't believe August has already come and gone, raise your hand. (Two hands raised high.)

I am not complaining; I am merely stating that summer flew by!

Although summer was full of fun, friends, food, and frolicking (I like alliteration, okay?),
I.cannot.wait.for.fall.

I know, I know... Fall officially doesn't begin until September 23rd. But in my heart, fall begins September 1st. TODAY.

I have been planning ahead for the next few months in the Darcy household, and it's going to be a good time all around.

Fall is my absolute favorite season. (Can I get an amen?)

Just think about all the Autumn goodness to come:

pumpkin spice lattes
pumpkin spice doughnuts
pumpkin spice cream cheese
pumpkin butter
(Let's be honest- anything with pumpkin flavoring, really)
pumpkin patches
pumpkin carving
caramel apples
kettle corn
hayrides
corn mazes
drive-in movies
football (Yes, Mr. Darcy, I'm excited for your favorite sport)
BOOTS
cuffed skinny jeans with ankle boots
flannel shirts
oversized cardigans
leather jackets
(I mean, fall has the best clothes. Am I right?)
fall home decor
autumn spice candles
candy corn
pine cones
leaves in brilliant, warm shades
jumping in am oversized pile of leaves
crisp skies
chilly nights

Fall even has its own smell, doesn't it?

I. can't. wait.

If you're a fellow Fall-fanatic like me, what are you most looking forward to?

Fabulous photo from this cute photographer's site.

(This phrase will probably end up in our home. Like tomorrow.)

Engagement: Parker & Heather (Part 2)

When Parker asked me if everyone could come to our house for dessert following his proposal to Heather, I screamed yes without any hesitation. 

And since the bride-to-be's favorite desserts are doughnuts, I knew what we had to pull off - a good ol' fashioned doughnut bar.

Start with everyone's favorite milk selections: chocolate, whole, and almond.

(Of course we served coffee and water, too. But no matter how old you are, nothing tastes better with a fresh doughnut than ice cold milk.)

My favorite party paper suppliers for this event were Target and Hobby Lobby.
I wanted everything to "look" like Heather's taste. I was excited about the paper supplies I found.

I saw this idea on Pinterest. I had no idea how cute they'd be in real life, though!
Diamond ring skewers to pick up the doughnut holes - Adorbs, right?

And the sweetest part...the doughnuts.
Heather's favorite place in Nashville is Fox's Donut Den in Green Hills. So of course Jon and I made a special trip.
They are the best!

Again, thank you Target for the adorable, feminine paper supplies!

The paper fans hanging on the wall are in the Martha Stewart party line at Joann Fabrics.
(They may or may not still be hanging in our kitchen because I like them so much.)

My first attempt at chalkboard art - Parker and Heather's love story (in Park's words).

I mean, what's a party these days without a banner strung across the mantle?
This one is a chalkboard banner, so I can supposedly wipe it off and use my chalk pens for another event.

(And special thanks for DJ Jon for creating the playlist for the evening.)

The Three Amigos! My three favorite people in the entire world (after Jon of course.)  :)

Heather and her parents. We really love them, too. And we are gonna dance at this wedding reception!

Parker and our super proud parents. Thanks for such a great night, Mom and Dad.

These people are my loves.
Every single day I thank The Lord that they are my family.
It goes without saying that each one of us can't wait to officially make Heather our sister.

Engagement: Parker & Heather (Part 1)

About a year ago, my younger brother (I can't really say "little" brother anymore) announced he was saving his money for a very important purchase...an engagement ring. 

At that point, he had been dating his then girlfriend for three years, so a proposal was definitely on the horizon. However, I don't think anyone can be fully prepared for a younger sibling to announce that he will be proposing in the near future. 

My response? 

I screamed. I laughed. I cried. The whole bit.

I was ecstatic!

It has been so fun to witness Parker go through the engagement process: ring shopping, proposal planning (and changing plans...several times...), and finally coming up with the perfect proposal plan. 

So, here we are... a year later. 

Parker and I met for lunch one day, then drove to the jeweler for him to pay for the most exciting purchase! (It was pretty cool that he purchased the ring from the same place Jon purchased mine. He worked with the same jeweler Jon used, and she was ecstatic when I arrived with him to make the purchase.)

Look at this smug face... He's saying, "That's right. I just bought some major bling."

I mean, yowza!

Fact: Parker's twin brother, Jordan, went with Parker to pick up the ring after the ring had been set.
I raced to meet them right after work.
Jordan confessed to me that he teared up four times at the jeweler!

I love their love. And I love how excited he is for his brother.

Parker did a fantastic job of planning the proposal. He even invited both sets of parents to be here in Nashville for the evening... and no one leaked the surprise, which was maybe the biggest surprise of it all!

After Parker popped the question (I'll let them tell that part of the story), they arrived at the restaurant to find both families awaiting their arrival.

Surprised? Yes, Heather was.

And the reaction was beautiful to witness.

(These photos were taken with my iPhone, so please forgive the blurriness.)

The whole evening felt surreal.

To finally inherit a sister- I couldn't be happier.

To watch my brother love a gal as much as he does- I couldn't beam brighter.

To see my family prepare to welcome Heather into our family- I couldn't be more excited.

To see Parker interact with his new in-laws and see how much they already love him- I couldn't smile bigger.

The evening was perfect.

Let the wedding planning begin!

Brinner Remix (and a recipe for breakfast pizza)

At Las Casa Darcy, brinner is a regular go-to on the weekly meal plan.

Brinner * Breakfast foods that are so scrumptious, but no one really has time to make them before rushing off to work, so they make for delicious, inexpensive dinner options instead!

A couple of weeks ago, we served a "Brinner Remix" at one of our weekly sibling dinners. We gorged on a Pancake Bar and experimented with a new recipe, Breakfast Pizza.

Pictured below: Some of the yummiest toppings for your family's Pancake Bar:

strawberries

raspberries

blackberries

bananas

chocolate chips

peanut butter (not picuted)

butter & syrup - duh (not pictured)

Mr. Darcy is the Flapjack King. 

No, seriously, I've never loved anyone's pancakes more than his.

Because gluten does weird things to my body, I shy away from it as much as I can. Have you ever tried Pamela's gluten free baking mixes? SO yummy! Like, we love this pancake mix more than any others! (Pamelas is sold at Publix, Kroger, & Whole Foods.)

And for the experimental recipe... It was so good. I mean ridiculously good.

But after you see the ingredients, how would it not be? (And soooo easy.)

Yes, of course I'll share the recipe with you...

Breakfast Pizza:

Ingredients:
1 lb. sausage, browned
1/2 green pepper, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1 can white sausage gravy
2 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded
10 oz. fancy shredded hashbrowns
8 eggs, scrambled
Publix multi-grain pizza dough

Idea:
We didn't add bacon, but that would've been yummy, too.

Directions:
Prep pizza dough - add flour, stretch, flip... You know the drill.
Brown sausage in a stovetop pan (do not over cook. This will cook more in the oven.)
Chop the green pepper and onion.
Scramble the eggs (soft scramble- they'll cook more in the oven.)

Layer the pizza in this order:
sausage gravy
eggs
hash browns
sausage
onion
green pepper
cheese (cover it!)

Bake the pizza at 425 for 15-20 minutes, and voila!

This is not the healthiest recipe, but it's comfort food at its finest!

What other toppings will you try? Any family breakfast favorites that would be good additions?

This Guy.

This guy brightens my entire day just with his smile.

This guy makes me laugh until tears are streaming down my cheeks.

This guy is my teammate in all things.

This guy is my biggest cheerleader.

This guy loves me better than I deserve.

This guy is the absolute best part of me.

He is my best friend. My husband. My love.

I adore him.

Love someone today. 

And tell them that you do.

Recipe: Spinach Alfredo Lasagna

Friends, if you are looking for something delicious for dinner- something without a ton of prep time but the flavor to become a family favorite- I have a recipe for you. It's a remix on a classic favorite:

Spinach Alfredo Lasagna

'Nuff said, right?

I first had this amazing dish when my friend, Jenny, made it for for our small group, and I HAD to get the recipe. I think I've made it three times since then! 

Here are the players:

12 oz. lasagna noodles

1 lb. sausage (either Italian or just mild sausage)

10 oz. frozen spinach (thawed)

1 c. shredded mozzarella 

1/2 c. shaved parmesan 

2 c. shredded cheddar

1 1/2 jars alfredo sauce (yes, you can use canned)

15 oz. ricotta

1 egg

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

Directions:

Soak the noodles in boiling water for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a skillet, brown the sausage.

Drain the noodles and set aside.

Drain sausage. Add spinach, alfredo sauce, salt and pepper.

In another bowl, combine the egg and Cheddar, then add the ricotta and parmesan cheeses. Mix well.

In an ungreased 9x13 baking dish, layer 1/3 of the sausage mixture, 1/3 of the noodles, and top with 1/3 of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers two more times. Top with extra mozzarella cheese.

Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Let stand for 15 minutes before cutting.

Serves 8-10.

Notes: Barilla makes a lasagna noodle that does not require boiling and layers without soaking. Jenny says these noodles work just fine!

Also, I normally prep the lasagna the night before, so once we get home from work, I can just pop it in the oven. So delish!!!

If you try this recipe, let me know what you think! And I'll pass your compliments along to Chef Jenny. :)

Home: Living Room Redo

I'm a gal who loves change. 

Combine that with my love for interior design, and I'm happy as a peach by simply moving around a couple picture frames. 

Because of this, Mr. Darcy is used to coming home and finding decor in new arrangements throughout the house.

Due to the fact that we currently rent our town home, we are unable to paint or do any "major" DIY design changes. However, a couple weeks ago, we sold our old couch and purchased some new-to-us furniture. Rather than just swapping out the couches, The Hubs and I decided to flip the entire room.

On a Saturday afternoon, we both sketched out our ideas for new furniture arrangements, and then we presented our ideas to each other. The Hubs impressed me with a couple good ideas, and we combined our efforts to fully maximize our living room space.

Well, what do you think?!

Click here to see what the room looked like when we first moved in.

Man! We didn't realize how huge this living room was until we moved our furniture around.

Moving the TV above the fireplace was one of the best space-savers. Also, it is much more conducive for movie nights with family/friends.

This red sofa is my favorite- it's so long and so deep. It's literally the perfect napping conch.

Jon calls this his "Man Chair". (No seriously, he kicked me out of the chair so he could practice his bass playing skills.)

We just love this large Ikea coffee table, given to us from some sweet friends. It was the perfect addition, and it the second shelf houses our laptops and my Real Simple magazines perfectly.

Our teal flea-market-find now houses all of the electronics. And holla- my record player is now back in motion! The sheer curtains also hide any cords from the TV to the outlet. (Ain't nobody got time for cords hanging out all over the place.)

This gallery wall is one of my favorite additions to the room. More about this detail to come!
These two white chairs form a quaint reading nook, of which I am currently blogging from (since Mr. Darcy kicked me out of his man chair).


It felt so great to take the time to sketch the room, and use the best of both of our ideas to maximize the space. It was a total team effort!

We love our new-to-us furniture, and this room is now our favorite room in the house. In the mornings, I love to just sit in this room and prepare my mind for the day.

So, whether it's rotating all the furniture in your space, or merely swapping out a few accessories, I challenge you to change something in your home decor. The freshness may inspire you in more ways than one!

Chirp.

Well, I finally did it....

For a while now, I've been pinning pictures of teal-painted kitchen tables. 

It became very obvious that I developed quite a liking to this "look".

This is the Lenox fine china set we registered for our wedding 2 1/2 years ago. 

The pattern is appropriately called Chirp.

Little did I know how prophetic this Chirp pattern would be.

My Mother-in-Love (yes, that's what I call her) gave this table to my husband during his bachelor days. We decided to keep it after we got married (although I don't think Mr. Darcy quite envisioned the plans I had for his table).

Enter my newest obsession- Annie Sloan chalkpaint. 

I have yet to master the dark wax (or the clear wax, for that matter), but I am loving how easy it is to maneuver this paint. 

And the color choices? Way too fun to stick to the neutral tones.

Am I right?!

One Saturday, while The Hubs wasn't home...

I covered our tile kitchen floor in plastic and let out my inner Picasso...

It was interesting crawling around the kitchen floor, trying to adequately cover each inch of the table and in between every crevasse of the chairs. (I know one thing- next time I'm investing in knee pads!)

However, the hard work was totally worth it!

Here's the (somewhat) finished product...

Well, what do you think?!

One day, when we own our own home, my dream kitchen will have gray walls, white cabinets, and lots of crisp white accents. Then our breakfast table will truly pop!

Remember the predecessor of this whole project- my Chirp fine china?

Well, if you ask me, I'd say the whole color-coordinating worked in my favor.

I was pretty giddy when setting the table for dinner last week. :)

Oh, and Mr. Darcy? Don't worry...he loves how his table turned out.

I say somewhat finished because I'm still considering adding the Annie Sloan dark wax, which would create a distressed look. What are your thoughts?