Stolen Recipe Success: Pioneer Woman Short Ribs

I have finally accepted the fact that I am just not good at taking photos of food.  I love cooking and writing this blog, but taking pictures of the finished product is my least favorite part of the whole process.  I try to set up the scene and snap an appetizing photo, but usually it is dark and the colors aren't quite right and the food doesn't look appetizing.  Not to mention, I am hungry and wanting to eat, which doesn't help.  I don't want to go out and buy a new fancy camera; I don't have time to take a photography class, and the chances of me getting home and getting dinner on the table while there is still "natural light" to help my photos is about as likely as a new Nikon magically sitting on my front porch today when I get home.  So, I hope you all believe me when I say, "I'm sorry that my pictures suck, but I swear to you the food tastes good!"  Which is the most important part, right? 

I said all that to say, SHORT RIBS WITH WINE AND CREAM ARE AMAZING!!!  Did you catch that?  This recipe from The Pioneer Woman totally "made my skirt fly up."  These little ribs are like individual pot roasts on a stick, aka bone.  The meat is tender and juicy and savory and comforting and everything you can ever imagine in the best pot roast you can think of, but it is individually portioned.  I just love them.  Click on over, check out her step by step instructions and MAKE  THESE SHORT RIBS!  They were our Sunday dinner and all afternoon long the house smelled so good from them cooking low and slow and then when we sat down at the table we didn't say a word to each other because we were shoveling food in our mouths enjoying them so much. 

Oh, and the point of all of this, the photo of the ribs...mine is not so good (but my towel is cute):

and Pioneer Woman's is awesome

So there you go, my photos might stink, but I can cook...
Sincerely Loving Food,
Lainey

Christmas Scenes

I am so excited about Christmas!  I mean its the most wonderful time of the year!  I thought I would share with you a few scenes that put some jingle in my jangle every day, and pick your brain for some ideas. 

We hung up lights on Sunday here is the semi-finished result:

First of all that little bit of lights on the left hand side is a pretty bird house that came with lights on it.  We have already moved that to the porch so you can see it better.  Besides that, sports guy and I both agree we need something else, but we aren't sure what that something else is.  Maybe some light up reindeer in the yard playing reindeer games?  I tried convincing him to get on the roof and line it in lights, but that ain't happening.  I mean I love the icicle lights on the porch, but I feel like we need something else.  Any ideas?

I am totally happy with the mantle in our bedroom

 I have had the PEACE stocking holders for years (Target) and I got the stockings from Pottery Barn this year and I LOVE them! (I was going to link over, but they are sold out and I can't find them anymore, sorry)  Paired with some greenery and lights it is so festive!

I made this center piece from 2 old wine bottles, an old beer bottle, spray paint, spray adhesive, epsom salt and some "pretty crap" from Hobby Lobby.  Please disregard the current beer bottle in the foreground and brown paper bag in the background...

I am so happy with how this turned out.  It was super easy to do; I found the step by step instructions on Cleverlyinspired via Pinterest.  Complete cost was under $13 (I already had the silver balls, white table runner, and beads).  I will tell you one thing not included on the step by step: take the labels off the bottles!  I tried a few with labels left on and you can totally see them through the paint, but let's be honest not a big deal - I just grabbed a few more empty bottles out of the recycling bin (its like a never ending supply there) and started over!

Finally in case you are wondering about Ralph, he is growing, and he is a fast learner he is playing fetch and going potty outside!  The pictures below were taken exactly a week apart in front of our couch. 
8 weeks old:

9 weeks old:

Oh Ralph you are growing like a weed!  Tonight we have to take the 10 weeks old pic...updates to come soon!

Sincerely Loving Food and Christmas,
Lainey