Suburban Homestead

Scottsdale's Antique Trove

Earlier this morning, while grabbing coffees in our hotel's lobby, we got to talking with a pleasant fellow behind the counter. He had lots to share with us about this and that, the hotel, and the town. When he asked us if we liked to go antiquing we got all excited and started chirping in unison: "We do! We do! We do!"  So he told us about the Antique Trove, properly warned us of all the time we would need to make our way through it, and then even drew us a map of how to get there. (I didn't even know people still knew how to draw maps!)

Let me say that I think I could really benefit from some instruction on how to effectively photograph an antique store. These photos do not even begin to do this place justice. From the moment we walked through the front door and saw deep aisle after deep aisle laid out before us, we knew we were in for something spectacular. So we gave each other one last look, confirmed we each had a phone on us for the inevitable, and went our separate ways.

Here are some of the highlights of our visit:

*El Sol* Vintage Medallion

When I first made it to Palm Springs last year, I took an hour or two to myself, wandering through stores housing retro wares. My favorite, out of all of them, was a tiny hole in the wall called Bon Vivant (457 N. Palm Canyon). Small as it was, this gem still managed to pack a large punch with a bunch of vintage items offered at very reasonable prices. The man behind the counter was sweet and chatty, and I left with eight stainless steel tumblers that we use for unbreakable kiddo milk and water cups. Last month, when I returned to Palm Springs for the second time, I made sure to go back to Bon Vivant. This time I fell in love with one of the many vintage medallions on display. I call this guy *El Sol* and I wore him on a bright spring day recently. He reminds me of something Alexander Girard might have created, or something my mother might once have worn, in the decade before I was born. :)

Fabulous Friday

Way back when I was pregnant with number two, and having mad cravings for French bread with butter, fettuccini Alfredo and anything with chocolate, I got a very specific craving for a chocolate and caramel coated apple. I had been introduced to the idea at a friend's wedding not too long before, where every guest left the event with an apple rolled in caramel and M&M's. Madness I tell you. An on-line search for ANYTHING close to the memory led me to the discovery of Mrs. Prindables.

That was six years ago and I've been a big fan of Mrs. P. ever since! Once a year, I order us one of her gift baskets, and I love giving them as gifts too. I recently sent one to my niece and nephew for their birthdays, then went ahead and threw four more into my shopping cart for us and our Friday night dinner.

The best part about this story is that our four petite carmel and chocolate covered apples arrived today, right before I headed out to attend a friend's luncheon where she gifted everyone with - Anyone? Anyone? - a signature Mrs. Prindables apple!!

Favorite Things

Clockwise from top left: We love A World of Food by Carl Warner. Trina Turk's Resin Ball Ring. Love Hasbeen's Peep Toe Super High in Silver. Every morning I take my coffee and cream in a pink mug with Blossom and Bill on the front. Kitchen Aid Stand-Up Mixer in Raspberry Ice. I slather on Verde Olive Oil Body Balm by McEvoy Ranch everyday. Happy Weekend!

Rustic Modern Clubhouse Remodel

Last month, I went back to Denver to install my first clubhouse and leasing office. This project was SO MUCH fun! Heavily driven by a tight budget and time-line, the late 1970's architecture of this large scale apartment complex spoke to me -- and when it did, it told me to not deny it its right to be a little funky. The exterior's mansard roofs, *glory days* rock facades and retro globe lighting fixtures could not be denied. With a tenant base of mostly young families, I suggested we just have fun with what we were given and not try to make it look like something its not.

While new siding and paint is being applied to the exterior (pictures on that later), it still has a fun vibe with some of its original details. I wanted to bring some of that same flavor to the interior spaces when remodeling both the clubhouse and the leasing office.  The complex is also ideally located on the outskirts of Denver, between parkland, farms and other apartment buildings, so bringing in the whole *rustic* vibe was just another no-brainer.

Here it is today:

I missed getting a good shot of the built-in bookshelf and media center I designed, but here is a detail shot. Made from reclaimed wood, we stained this a walnut color and painted the wall behind it to offer a bit more contrast for all the colorful books. This apartment complex is located in an incredible school district and the property just comes to life with kids once school lets out. I wanted to give these kids a place to come and flip through picture books that would give them windows to other areas of our world. I filled the shelves with books on travel, good eating, animal life and American pop culture.

The *before* shot above shows the original kitchen, equipped with a refrigerator, oven, sink and microwave. Because those big appliances rarely got used, I suggested we downsize the kitchen to just a counter area for coffee with a small refrigerator.

I love this little stool with its quilted detail on top. I found them on Overstock for about $80 each. There is one at each end of the table.

You can *kinda* see the built-in above and to the left.

I also redid the leasing office, which is right off the clubhouse. I couldn't get any great pics of it though because there was still a lot of cords and files out when I left. Hopefully on my next visit I can get some better pics of it.

iGrill, therefore iAm

Daddy got a new gadget at the iPhone store.

It’s called the iGrill and it comes with a tiny iProbe that meatsits your dinner while you go off and enjoy your friends and family. When your meal has come to temp, the iProbe tells the iGrill, which tells your iPhone to tell you to come back to the heat and take all the credit for a job well done.

And we thought we had it made with an electrical thermometer fork!! We tried it out last night with friends and it worked great. More importantly, they brought their Boston over and we forced a doggie playdate on the girls. (Although, now that I think of it, there may have been a little teeth gnashing involved.)

Ruby was so flippin' sweet and so INCREDIBLY cute, I wanted to take her for our own.

Here's where we ate our iMeat after we fed the kiddos their iFish:

Happy Easter!

We hope your Easter is filled with sunshine, blooming flowers, and of course, lots of chocolate eggs.

I'm a tad bit sad that we aren't having family and neighbors over for our annual Easter brunch, but we are off on a wild adventure this morning instead. I can't wait to take you all along with us! xo

This day last year: "Egg-ceptional Day In The 'Burbs"

Apple Canister

How cute are these apple canisters? I just picked up a couple at The Container Store ($16) and filled them with new crayons for the kids of some of my garden loving gals. Happy birthday, kiddos!

New Couch Pillows

This weekend, I dusted off my sewing machine, and stitched a bunch of pillows for a girlfriend who was looking to add some color and pop to her living room.

I love sewing. Once you master the invisable zipper, pillows are a relatively quick project that provide big returns. Needless to say, the whole experience opened up a can of worms for me, and now I want to sew all new pillows for my living room couch.

It was so easy and sewing is sooooo therapeutic...

Ooooommm....ooooommm...

I've since delivered these to their new home but am now on a mission to brighten our living room (just a couple notches ;) with some new and colorful, hand-sewn pillows.

It just never ends...

Puerto Vallarta: What I Bought

Whenever I travel internationally, I always have to do a little shopping. For me, it's never been about acquiring, but about discovery, and bringing the taste of a foreign culture back home to always remember a trip by. I love beautiful things and I am happy finding them in the appliance section of a Japanese department store, the seconds room of an Italian manufacturing plant, or off a Mexican cart. There is beauty at every turn.

When my reaction to an object is visceral, I know it's one that needs to come home. Like that funny, winged cupid at top center. I have no intelligent explanation for my feelings, but my heart started to race when I spotted him, and I couldn't stop smiling. The woman photographed here painted all her pieces right there on the street. I wonder what her whole story is, and I wish I could have communicated how much I loved her work beyond just a smile and a "Gracias".

Pretty Little Hen Soap

I have to share the sweetest gift I received from a friend...

...French-milled soaps is the shapes of a hen and her eggs!

I just put them in the hall bathroom, only to remove and shelve them. I've decided these sweet smelling soaps need to save themselves for Easter!

by Gianna Rose Atelier

I Met Trina Turk!!!

My all time favorite name in fashion is Trina Turk. I remember discovering her line fifteen years ago and thinking - "My gawwwd - this woman has been reading my diary!"

Flash forward to 2012 and I still love me some Trina. Honest to goodness, I gave great consideration to naming my daughter (then the dog), Trina, but couldn't get much support from my other half.

She came to speak at the SF Design Center on Tuesday and I was ready-to-go in my vintage Trina Turk dress, equipped with my SLR. This was no occasion for just an iPhone camera.

After the talk, while gathering in front of the meet-and-greet location with my girlfriends, Trina walked by. I'm pretty sure we bum rushed her... at least, I did. She was so sweet, asking all our names, and thanking us sincerely. I got in a verbal vomit, professing my love for her, color and pattern. I want to say there were maybe even tears streaming down my face, but it's really all a blur now.

A big thanks goes out here to some guy named *Donald* who stood nearby with a hand on the Bible, swearing he knew how to use a camera. Oh, Donald, if you only knew how much your arrogance cost me!!!  ;)

(Sniffle, sniffle.)

Homesteader Finds at Anthropology

I stumbled into an Anthropology while in Portland this week and found their shelves stocked full of great finds for the homesteader.

Like this chalkboard jars, $10. Wouldn't you just love for a friend to gift you one of these, filled with his/her homemade jelly?

Crossed Spoons Plate Holder, $20

Owls are everywhere these days. Owl Canister, $68

Beautiful glassware. I love the shape and subtle color.

How fun would it be to give (or receive) one of these candles?! Pollen Arts Nostalgia Jar Candles, $25-60

Country Life Teapot, $248 (Hey, the matching mug is only $98 ;)

Very cute book, Farm Anatomy: The Curious Parts & Pieces Of Country Life, by Julia Rothman. $16.96

I Heart Antiques

On my way into the Petaluma Seed Bank the other day, I was stopped in my tracks while looking into the window of Chelsea Antiques. I have a real soft spot for 20th century Americana and this place has a lot of it. Here's a snippet of what I saw:

21 metal basket bookshelf, $780

I love everything here a little bit, but I love those two wire baskets with handles A LOT! $40/each.

I'm not quite sure what these adorable panels were used for, possibly scenery for a child's play?

This sculptural polar bear bookshelf really caught my eye! It's by the French company ibride and was on sale for $2400, marked down from $3400. Wow! I did some research on it when I got home and discovered it's just a few years old, released in 2009. I also found it new for $1800, if you're interested. ;)

I heart antique produce scales. Would love one in my kitchen!

Donkey and metal arrow sign.

Vintage carnival signs.

Zinc bottle carrier from France.

Not the best picture but I loved this rusted out old automobile grill. Sometimes the strangest things can make really striking and affordable wall art.

Chelsea Antiques

148 Petaluma Blvd N.,

Petaluma, CA

707-763-7686

Petaluma Seed Bank

I love this time of year. Or should I say, since I discovered the Petaluma Seed Bank, I love, LOVE this time of year!!!

Situated in an old corner building, one I can only assume use to actually be *a bank* (duh), is an absolute treasure trove of heirloom seeds from around the world.

Around. The. World!

I’ve seen seeds there from Afghanistan, Northern Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia.

Every year, when the Seed Bank's over-sized, glossy catalog leaps out of my mailbox, and into my little wheelbarrow, my neighbor's words ring in my ear – “That book is like porn for gardeners."

And the store is even better, because unlike the catalog, where there is not room for every plant description to be accompanied by a color photograph, in the store, that’s just not an issue.

Here is what I picked up yesterday when I was in Petaluma:

More beets! I grew all of these last spring with great ease and success. We devoured every last one of them in the form of juice and salad and I can't wait to do it all again!

I wanted to try this Banana Melon SO bad last year that I planted every seed, got all starts going, and then killed them once they were transplanted outside. I have to get some of this exotic looking fruit in my garden this year.

We had surprisingly good luck with watermelon last year even though we had a mild summer. Our garden faces south and no longer has to compete with any shade during the day since we lost all our 150-year-old Oaks last year. (Mixed emotion facial expression goes here.)  It's a recipe for success. However, I only planted exotic varieties of watermelon last year - albino and orangelo - you know, just to be different. Neither had very good flavor until late in the season (October), so this year I decided to go with a sweeter, more tried and true variety - red.

OK - I'm SO excited about this package of 25 Tomato Reisetomate seeds! I have seen this variety in the catalog for two years now but it's always been sold out. I just think it's terribly cool looking. They had it in stock yesterday at the store and so I grabbed one. The man at the store told me they don't taste very good (after all, they are mostly skin) but that they make good decorative pieces (ta-da!!).

And last, but not least, I spotted these great veggie markers. I've tried several different kinds of metal markers in the garden but they always fade, and never hold up. I love how these are just so simple, and a compostable product at the end of their life too. I started to grab a bunch but they didn't have all that I required, and they added up quickly. When I realized they were just simple cuts of wood with names stenciled on in ballpoint pen(!), I vowed to make my own this year.

I should have lots of extra tomato and melon starts this year. So if you are nearby us, and something looks interesting, let me know. I'd be happy to give you some!

I Love This Guy

As I finish packing up the last of the Christmas decorations, there is one item I've decided must stay out all year.

This little incense smoker is too cute to only enjoy one month out of the year. He's staying out here with me.

Light up a little incense cone to fit inside him and watch the smoke rise out of his tiny mouth - just like he's smoking a pipe.

He's made in Germany by Erzgebirgische Volkskunst. Check out their full line of smokers here

Happy New Year!

Happy 2012! How appropriate that my new calendar starts the year off with a chicken!!

My Favorite Gift

All the presents have been opened, and we are now happily doing the things we love: playing, napping and blogging.

This Christmas was egg-ceptional in that the kids initial reactions to seeing the Christmas tree this morning were, for the first time, satisfying and rewarding. In years past, I've always found myself a bit saddened that they never seem as thrilled with their surprises as I'd hoped. "Hey, Mom. Look. It's a pink bike."

Wa-wa-wa-waaaaa.

This year they were great -- thrilled, gleeful, thankful, surprisingly patient.  :)

But what I really, really, really want to share is the most incredibly thoughtful, generous and creative gift my kids received from their Granny.

You may have heard of Heifer International, an organization that provides livestock to families in the third world to help improve nutrition and generate income in sustainable ways.

I've been familiar with this incredible organization for years, and have held onto their catalog as a reminder of a great gift to give.  I just haven't ever done it yet, for reasons I now know to be silly.

See granny gave my kids the gift of a pig - donated to a poor family in need, and did so in their names. And to mark the gesture, she gave them several pig related gifts so that they could "remember all day the pig present" that they gave to another family in a different part of the world.

I have tears in my eyes (again) as I write this. What an incredible Christmas gift for anyone to receive, but to give it to children, in such a fun and creative way, was absolutely heart-warming. I will have to steal this idea and encourage you to as well!

Their piggy gifts included bacon gummy candy, piggy bath scrubs, piggy booties for a baby doll and piggy banks filled with chocolate coins.

Thank you, Granny Alexis!!! You are the absolute BEST!  xoxo

Favorite Gifts to Give

Every year, Daddy receives holiday gift baskets from various business associates. Occasionally, there will be a lovely box of Harry + David fruit and nuts, if we're lucky. But more often than not, the boxes contain mass quantities of not-worth-the-calories dark, chocolate fudge, brownies and cookies. Right now I have a 12" pecan pie, "Made in Texas", that I'm wondering what to do with.

And it always makes me wonder, who is in charge of ordering this stuff?

I'm guessing whoever is in charge of ordering is just sending out the same thing to every client. And I understand why this must be, but at the same time, I just cringe at all the waste.

I have never asked Daddy what his office sent to their clients in the past, half-scared to know the answer. Instead, I offered to take over the ordering this year, in an effort to lighten the world a few more mommies having to dump seven pounds of mediocre dessert food (to their chickens).

Walking through the San Francisco Ferry Building recently, I got the idea to send out gifts from local producers.  Not only would we be sharing our favorite foods from home, but we could keep the money local while supporting small business.

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Here's what I sent:

If you are a business associate of my husband, and you have 2+ kids, I sent you Miette Bakery's Valencia Hamper.

Gosh - I wish someone would send us one of these! (Anyone? Anyone?!?)  I know it is on the sweet side, but it's Miette, so that makes it OK.

If you are an associate of my husband and you are married with a grown child or two at home, I may have sent you a Cowgirl Creamery Holiday Collection,

or a sampler from our favorite local spot, Rustic Bakery.

For small offices with several people on staff, I sent the Miette Holiday Box.

If you are a single woman, or mom, I sent you a selection of body products from McEvoy Ranch, as well as a bottle of their olive oil.

And if I couldn't figure out much about you, I probably sent you a little taste of California in the form a gift box from my favorite olive oil producer, California Olive Ranch.

On a more personal note, I also wanted to give gifts to all the wonderful service providers in our immediate life: the dog walker, the gardeners, etc. In the past, I have always given them cash but with the introduction of Milly's dog walker, who takes her for an amazing 4-5 hours a day, 2 days a week, and with whom I have more of a personal relationship with, I wanted something a tad more thoughtful. So to all these people I gave $25 gift certificates to Rustic Bakery. I love that I get to share one of our favorite spots while supporting a local business, owned and operated by women supporting our local agriculture.

Fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

Happy Holidays! 

Pretty Little Boxes

I wanted to share some great *fun food* finds that are out for Christmas and that have found their way into our kitchen.

Peppermint Stick Clif bars for my peppermint obsessed kid. A box of 7 was only $5 at Target - a far cry from the regular $2.50/bar at the grocery store.

Trader Joe's Gingerbread House - $7.99. It's just cute.

As is the Trader Joe's Gingerbread Man for $3.99. Every kid gets their own!

And tucked away in the back of the broom closet is a little something for mom and dad - chocolate covered Oreo cookies in various flavors - like peppermint (for mom) and peanut butter (for dad). This things are so amazing, I just can't be asked to share.

 

The Games We Play

The Thanksgiving Day deadline I set to have our garage converted into a playroom was, for the most part, met. (I'll post the results when it's *fully* met.)

One important component I saw for the playroom, especially on the holiday, was to have a short stack of board games that could be enjoyed by all the cousins, across a ten year age span.

So I purchased It's A Dog's Life, Simon Flash, Scramble and Twister, and considered the job done.

But then my mom had the sweetest idea - to have my dad bring his chess board over in hopes that he could teach his grandsons to play...next to a roaring fire, eating cookies and drinking milk.

No, Dad never taught his grandsons to play chess that night (wha wha wha whaaaa... ;), but he did bring over a STACK of our old family board games, boxes I hadn't seen in years!

Seriously, the man with the pipe, and the woman in pink, to the right of the pizza parlor pendant -- those were my parents!

Little did I know how well received those old school games would be at our house. The seven year old is in love with all things board games right now and we just can't deny his endless requests to play. On Saturday afternoon, I listened to his daddy spend over two hours straight, teaching him everything he wanted to know about the game of chess. It was the sweetest thing - the patience, the enjoyment and the bonding.

(sniff-sniff)

Guest Bath - Before + After

I've been helping a couple friends with some interior design projects and pulled this Makelike 'Lush' wallpaper for one of their entryways.

I thought it would just be incredible on all four walls, enveloping one into a cozy dream-like state before moving them towards a calmer, more subdude living area.

It didn't end up making the final cut for said entryway...but somehow, it ended up making it's way into our guest bath.

For me, it was a haunting pattern. I just couldn't get it out of my mind. I found relief when I held a sample of it up in the guest bathroom - I just knew it would be a great addition.

But I delayed in pulling the trigger, and I'm glad I did because several days later, I found it offered on a sample sale site for 50% off. Into cart. Checkout, please!

This day last year: "What I Saw At SFMOMA"

Chalkboard Decal

I have been wanting a chalkboard in the kitchen area for some time. I'm sad to say that I lose track of food all the time, and have wanted a place where I could make *food notes* to myself and my family. Something like "Tuna salad with celery and olives" would be code for "celery is on it's way out and you better sneak those home-brined olives into some dish if you want anyone to actually eat them".

What I originally envisioned was a rectangular chalkboard with either a distressed frame made of reclaimed barn panels (a girl can dream!) or some totally over-the-top Rococoesque frame to off-set the *agrarian chic* look I strive for around our dining area. But then I discovered Wall Candy Art's chalkboard decals and this beauty seemed to do the job for a lot less hassle and money.

I just set it up and my first post is our Thanksgiving 2011 menu. I will be looking at it all week while working on my om's and breathing exercises. I like that the kids have it as a sweet reminder of our holiday to come.

This day last year: "Persimmon Pops on a HOT November Day!"

Kiddo Bath - Before + After

You may or may not remember that I suffer from a condition called OCDD. (For more information click here.)

I've had what you might call a *flare-up* in recent weeks. The impending holidays always throw me over the edge and I've been running around like a *chicken-with-its-head-cut-off*, nesting, so that I we can roost comfortably, all winter long.

Nothing gets me checking off boxes or nesting more quickly than the promise of dinner quests, or a newborn child. (Am not pregnant.) I may curse them in the hours before their ultimate arrival, but I relish every anxious moment of preparation leading up to said moment.

Meet Dian. She hangs wallpaper! And she does it very, very well. Yesterday she came over to help me with wallpaper project #4 and 5.

This is wallpaper project #4: "Jazz In Central Park" by UK designer Lizzie Allen.  It took me a long time to choose exactly which design of hers I wanted to hang. Because I studied design in London, while in college, the city nearest and dearest to Lizzie's heart, is close to mine as well. In the end, NYC won and I don't have any regrets.

Happy, happy wallpaper!

Lord help me should the two-year old take a crayon to this wall like his sister did a Sharpie to the kitchen cabinets.

Alexander Girard's *Fruit Tree*

I am a huge fan of Alexander Girard's art. We have his floor tiles in the kid's area, a friend gave me his beautiful alphabet blocks which sit on display in the living room, I covet his Madonna bike and recently released nativity scene.

So I was over the moon when I received an email from MAXIMO Design about the sale of his only-sold-in-Japan suitcases, a collaboration between his estate and the company Effy. How did they know I was in need of carry-on suitcase?! 

Here is Milly standing guard over my new suitcase in what has always been my favorite Girard print - *Fruit Tree*. (Our recently planted persimmon tree stands in the background.)

Now if I could just take a vacation...

My Newest Melamine Tray

When I was at IKEA last week, in search of a an affordable train table, I came across a giant stack of these beautiful melamine trays. They are very Charlie Harper, don't you think?  At just $6.99, I picked up two, one for the kids to use in their coming-soon-art-and-craft-room, and one for me, to add to my growing melamine tray collection.

A Beautiful Train Table

Even though I value wide open spaces, free of kids toys, I have secretly always wanted a train table. Behemoth as they may be, a train table can entrance any child for hours upon hours. The only problem was, I could never bring myself to spent hundreds of dollars on something as unattractive as this.  The only train table I've loved, cost almost $1000 (and can be viewed here).

Then I had an idea - what about taking one of those great LACK coffee tables from IKEA and turning it into a train table?

$40 later, we had a beautiful one that I was happy to share our living space with.

Things That Make Me Happy

It was a very good weekend. There were many things that put a smile on my face...

No. 1 - My 20th high school reunion!  Seems a crying shame that you go through school with 300 people, during some of the most formative years of your life, and that you then only get several hours to catch-up with them every ten years. Can't wait for the next one!

No. 2 - Martha Stewart's DIRT CAKE!  It's meant to be served up in a terra cotta pot, but I took a tip from a girlfriend and did it in dump truck for the 2 year old's birthday. Happy Birthday, Baby!  You bring me smiles everyday!

No. 3 - Free, organic fruit from someone who had no need for it. :)

No. 4 -The Missoni for Target collection - the colors, the quality and the way my little, spicy meatball wears it so well.

No. 5 - Our homegrown albino watermelon and the way it finally tastes good after a week of hot, hot weather.

No. 6 - This puzzle showing the incredible artwork of Charlie Harper.  Perfect for a drizzly, Sunday morning with kids.

Missoni for Target

I had a post all ready to go for this morning, letting you know that I was out...that I was at Target for the Missoni *drop*...that I wanted everyone out of my way - "hey, hands off, Lady! That zig-zag picture frame is mine!"

But then something amazing happened. I had a really bad dream... that lead to something really good!

I dreamt that I *skipped school* to do my shopping online but that the Target website had sold out.

And then I woke up. It was 3:45am and I remembered the online promise of Target: "We'll be up bright and early!"

I thought: In order for them to fulfill their promise, they must mean, bright and early East Coast time, right?

And so I tippy-toed downstairs and got online. Missoni for Target, bright and early. :D

I came, I shopped, I knocked it out of frickin' park with a new 28" zig zag bike.

As I type, it's 5:47am.  Ebay is filled with overpriced Missoni for Target products, and target.com is down, experiencing technical difficulties.

Something tells me I was just part of something very big in the design world.

But the best part is, I don't have to take two hours out of my day to drive to the nearest store.  My shopping is all done.  My zig-zag velour running suit is on it's way and I'm just sipping coffee, catching-up on *stuff* wondering why I don't wake up at 4am more often. You certainly can get a crap-load done when you don't have kids to tend to.

Here are some other beautiful items from the collection to get you started this morning:

 

(Frozen) Mini Hamburgers

If you walked around Big John's Market with me, then you'll remember the spaz attack I had in the frozen food isle when I discovered the box of ten mini burgers.

*Made from scratch, and with love* they are not, and yet I couldn't help but get excited about the possabilities.  ;)

Fresh from the box, they actually looked really good! No squished buns, no broken patties, just cute, frozen sliders. (Look at that mini piece of bacon!!)

We tried the bacon-cheeseburger version, as well as the blue cheese burgers with poppyseed buns. They were both surprisingly good and the kids went crazy for them, mostly due to their size, I'm sure.

On my way out of town, I grabbed four more boxes to bring home and store in the freezer.