Perfect Christmas Morning Breakfast #1

I love to have a big, festive breakfast on Christmas morning after all of the presents have been unwrapped.  But I don't love to prepare a big, festive breakfast on Christmas morning after all of the presents have been unwrapped.  That is why I love this recipe.  I can put the pre-assembled casserole in the oven when the kids first sneak down to get a peak at the tree, and breakfast will be ready when the last gift is unwrapped.  If you want, slice some bananas and strawberries the night before and have them waiting in the fridge, too.  This recipe turns out beautifully and has always gotten rave reviews.

Oven Puffed French Toast (serves 6 to 8)
Toast:
8 slices French bread, cubed
6 eggs
1/6 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cinammon
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups half-and-half

Topping:
1/2 cup firm butter, cubed
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup walnuts

Place bread slices in a single layer in a generously buttered 9x13 pan.  In a large bowl, combine eggs, spices, vanilla and half-and-half, mix well.  Pour egg mixture over bread slices.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  Before baking,  baste unabsorbed liquid over bread.  Combine topping ingredients with pastry knife just until the mixture has a coarse texture.  Sprinkle over bread slices and bake in a preheated oven at 350 degress for 40-60 minutes.

Note:  I assemble the topping ingredients the night before and save the mixture in the refrigerator until I am ready to put the casserole in the oven.

Enjoy!

Love, 40

A Great Christmas Eve Tradition - The Gift of Matching Holiday Children's Pajamas

Though I have never been organized enough to follow it, I love the tradition that many families have of gifting each child a pair of holiday-themed pajamas on Christmas Eve.  Allowing the children to open this gift the night before Christmas gets the holiday off to a kick-start, satisfies the little ones' desperate pleas to start opening presents, and makes for picture-perfect photographs the next morning.

You can deck the kids out in anything from perfectly matching flannel p.j.'s to adorably coordinating longjohns.  There are styles for everybody in your family - from the youngest babe to Mom and Dad.  And, if you are like me and don't like to sport Santa and his reindeer after the 25th, there are options available that will look perfect on Christmas morning AND on the wintery morings to come.

Here are some of my favorites:


 
 
From stripes to snowmen to pefectly gift-wrapped presents, Garnet Hill has it all.

Hannah Anderson has an adorable selection of Christmas and seasonal-themed pajamas for big and small alike.

I also like the striped pajamas at Crew Cuts and the flannel snowflakes at Land's End.

Sweet Dreams!

Love, 40

       

It's Here! My NiceRink Ice Skating Rink!

My husband surprised me (after many e-mails to him that not-so-subtly hinted that I really, really wanted an ice rink) and bought the family a NiceRink ice skating rink!  The rink is being constructed as a type.

Cool Find! A Wall-Mounted Fishbowl

I was reading The Selby recently, and came across the cool and fun digs of Keith Abrahamsson and Kate Young.  When I saw the picture of their wall-mounted goldfish bowl, I knew I had to have one.  I mean, how cute is this?



Perfect for a child's room, I can also see one mounted in the kitchen or family room or even in the powder room for a little humor and entertainment.

You can buy one here.

Love, 40

Disappointing....

I know I am going to get a lot of sh*t from 40 for this, as she is no fan of Angelina (and that is the most polite way to put it)- but I am going to post this anyway.  I think that Johnny (my all-time favorite favorite) and Angelina are the two best looking people EVER.  Absolutley beautiful.  Both of them. As in when I heard about this movie, I wondered if I could even handle watching it, they are that pretty.   (I am so sorry 40).  So, what the hell is going on here?  Why does neither one of them look all that attractive?  Is it possible they somehow cancel each other out?

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

I'm still here, blog!  I haven't forgotten you again, I promise.  It's just that I have been so busy working on my final projects for school.  I am currently wrapped up in a project  improving an intersection near my home.  That's right, an intersection.  Hours and hours of work on an intersection.  Doesn't it sound fascinating?  The sad thing is, it is fascinating to me.  I am a transporation nerd.  A complete and total geek about it.  I came to this realization slightly later in life.  I don't know how I missed it before because looking back the fascination was always there.  As a suburban kid, I used to love to ride the commuter train or the L into the city (made me feel "urban"!) and as a college kid, I loved road trips. Absolutely LOVED them!  Read On the Road a million times.  (Well, also because I love Jack but we're talking about transporation right now).  Yesterday, in the midst of an insane day that involved my son's first day at a new daycare/preschool and meeting with my school partner among other things, I took four L rides and three bus rides, some with my son and some alone.  It was the best part of my day.  No joke.       Well, more about all that later.......... 
So anyway, I am just checking in.  Sorry to be so neglectful.  You're welcome, 40, for the virtual birthday card.  I knew you would like it!  I love the square wreaths you posted but I think I'm more a circle person today.  Which is odd because usually I prefer squares.

By the way,if you like this picture, you can buy the poster here.
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