Fall wallpaper

image from poolga.com

First, let me say that these iphone backgrounds are gorgeous (I've posted about these before) but check out poolga.com if you haven't already. Before you say to yourself, 'I don't have an iphone, I can't use these!' think again!! Got a printer? The ipad version of the images is high enough resolution to print and keep in a small frame. I would say if you don't have a printer you could send the image to print at wallgreens, but I think they have reservations about printing artwork (sometimes). Otherwise, there's always the $1 color prints at kinkos.

Per usual, I'm getting around to changing my desktop background for the next month's calendar just before months end. However! I discovered that smashing magazine's desktops come without the calendar! So, so need to change 1/mo., just 1/season which is much more fitting! If you're looking for a fun October wallpaper, go here and peruse. Lots of spooky options, so most are definitely seasonal. Having a halloween gathering? Get one of these spooky beauties up on your screen for a little decor ambiance.

example of wallpaper option without calendar, great right?!

Thankful for...

Family! Friends! 5ks! Dairy! and Puzzles! This year we gathered at my parents home again to celebrate the most thankfully delicious holiday of the year. Tripp and I began our holiday on Tuesday, bringing David and his gear for one long sleepover. On Thursday, in keeping with tradition, Tripp and I suited up at 7am for a chilly 5k with Brock and Lindsay and the rest of athletic Naperville. It's exhilarating to hussle with fellow families before the big feast, however the exhileration only lasted about 1.5 miles before Tripp and I took a shortcut back to the car. Next year we'll win that thing!

Joined by the usual suspects, new babies and new loves, our thankful friends and family stretched two full tables. Having cooked a lot of the sides prior (and baker-square catered dessert) Mom and Dad were able to focus on the turkey and it was INCREDIBLE. Thanks to Ina Garten and her inspiring use of truffle butter, that Turkey was the best yet. Normally, I'd be restricted be restricted by David's aversion to dairy, but the boy is cured and I enjoyed everything to the point of stomach ache.

Aside from eating, there was some serious puzzling going on in the basement. Brock had picked up a 1,000 piece puzzle at walmart, but having had the sales associate get and put it straight into the bag, no one was to have the ease of looking at the cover! With the collaboration of an engineer, analyst, accountant, teacher and manufacturer, the puzzle was complete that evening.


This holiday was also marked by David's first meeting with his Aunt Cayte and Uncle Jacky. I've never seen him warm up to a person so much as his Aunt Cayte, but since I believe they share the same eyes, that's just expected! Cayte and Jacky blessed us with 5 days of time together and whole lot of laughs. This was our niece Grace's first thanksgiving as well, and she just gets cuter by the holiday. We're a growing bunch, making this holiday more joyful than ever. Also, mom has a new Keurig which Tripp and I both feel is the bomb.

B-Reds Lentil & Sweet Potato Dish

Since going non-dairy while breastfeeding, I've recieved some great wholesome recipes from friends. Becca Redinger was wonderful enough to share this lentil & sweet potato recipe she'd made up with me, and came over help me cook it! Book club agrees this one's a healthy hit:

Ingredients:
1.5 c. Quinoa
1 c. Red Lentils
2 c. Green Lentils
3 Sweet Potatoes cut to 1" cubes
1 Onion chopped
Handfull Raisins
Parsley (fresh or tube)
Dash of Lemon Juice
Cinnamon, Salt, Pepper to taste

Boil about 6 cups water, add quinoa and lentils and cook about 15 minutes. Until lentils begin to fall apart. In a separate pan, saute onion in olive oil 5 min. - set aside - then saute sweet potato in olive oil for up to 20 min. until soft, add water to pan to steam a bit. Combine all cooked ingredients into a large soup pot. Add parsley, lemon juice, cinnamon and salt and pepper to taste. Serves about 8.

David's first Boo!

David's got out his Halloween gear, a gift from Laura Waldrop - queen of holiday decor! His Halloween day costume is yet to be revealed... check back in on Monday for those pics and more

Change of seasons, change of sites

This Fall, instead of renewing our mac-web subscription, we're giving the blog world a go! The goal is to get photos and updates of our growing Grant family on an easier regular basis. Now, the designer within is going to fight me (Laura) to tweak away at this layout and graphic look, but hopefully I'll be able to surrender to the blessing of blog simplicity. Hoping that even Tripp will be inspired to take part in this method of sharing. Goodness knows, David's going to make sure his mark and spunky Kodak moments are all over these pages. Thanks to everyone that follows along with us here!