#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Food and Life

Review: The Pop Shop {Collingswood, New Jersey}

December 28, 2012 · Narrative

PS - Outside sign
Now if you happen to find yourself at the Adventure Aquarium and need a bite to eat, you’re in the perfect area to check out The Pop Shop. Located just four miles away in the cute downtown of Collingswood, it’s a little throwback joint that has received some national acclaim by being featured on Food Network’s Throwdown with Bobby Flay. If you’re not familiar with the show, the chosen restaurant dishes up the dish that they are most known for, and Flay then competes, using all of his chef prowess (and two helpers) in a throwdown, to see whose end product really is the best. When The Pop Shop competed, it was with their grilled cheese (they offer 31 varieties of it!).

PS - interior-001

But beyond the brush with fame, The Pop Shop was popular in its own right. Soda fountains, decorating reminiscent of the 1950s, and breakfast served all day, it’s a cute spot with a fun, cheery vibe. They have won numerous “best of” awards for their pancakes and their grilled cheese. On street parking and an easy-to-find location, we were lucky enough to snag a booth with no waiting. Although we had to ask for them, they have soda jerk hats and crayons to keep the kids busy while waiting for food.

PS - front counter-001

PS - cuteness-001 - Copy…

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Review: Grilled Cheese at the Melt Factory {Morristown, New Jersey}

December 12, 2012 · Narrative

GC - outside-001

If garlic is one of my love languages, grilled cheese is certainly right up there. When I was home sick from school as a child, I could always count on grilled cheese, tomato soup, and ginger-ale, and getting to curl up in our beige colored, well-loved recliner in the family room. To this day, it remains a meal that is total comfort food for me, and reminds me of childhood instantly.

So when we were in Morristown recently for the Gingerbread Wonderland exhibit and needed a kid-friendly place for dinner, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to give Grilled Cheese at the Melt Factory a try. Located on Morris Street, just steps away from the green, it is a great location … you can grab a bite, check out the Christmas lights on the green, warm up with a hot drink at Starbucks and finish off with a dessert at one of the many places along South Street.

GC - kitchen-001

Started by a young 20-something, the idea for Grilled Cheese at the Melt Factory was originally born because the owner wanted a place for people to get a quick bite after the bars in town close. I suppose business plans have been built on less. This, of course, also explains the super late hours (open until 3 am on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday) and the breathalyzer by the front counter.

Mission statement aside, how can you resist a build-your-own grilled cheese sandwich? The restaurant offers 23 different sandwich combinations on the menu, but you can also mix and match your bread and insides at will. And that actually proved more delicious than what the menu board offered.

I ordered a PB & J for Madeline, and Nick went with #23, the “Avocado,” which is grilled chicken, mozzarella, tomato, avocado and Ranch dressing. It is worthy to note that while the menu says “avocado,” it is actually guacamole and had a little bit of a kick to it. Two totally different things. I went with the roasted vegetable one (#16), because I was trying to stay virtuous, combined with the goal of trying something different.

All good.

But what was even better?

When one of our friends put together his own concoction … pulled pork with coleslaw and Cheddar. Amazeballs.

Like seriously, go for that alone.

GC - delish-001

…

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Comfort Food: Grilled Cheese, Bacon, and Avocado {Kraft Singles}

May 29, 2012 · Ad-Free, Narrative

perfection
When it comes to comfort food, grilled cheese is probably in the Top 5 for me.  When I was a kid, a grilled cheese sandwich and a bowl of hot tomato soup did wonders.  Well, that and the fact that my Mom would make it for me.  These days, it’s a go-to request from Nick too, although Madeline has yet to jump on the bandwagon.  She’s fickle about cheese.  Considering the insane cravings I had for cheese during my pregnancy with her, this surprises me to no end.

Over the years, I have made a variety of incarnations, and although I like to use other “more grown-up” cheeses, I always go back to the classic Kraft slices.  Because that’s what my Mom did.

The first time The Ex and I went on a cruise, before we were married, we stopped at a little dive restaurant in Bermuda and had the most amazing bacon and avocado sandwiches.  We actually smuggled some back on the ship before we left the port.  They were that good.  And that’s another favorite sandwich to this day.  I mean, really, avocado?  Bacon?  How can you go wrong?

So when Nick asked for a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch yesterday, I decided to make a new kind… grilled cheese with crispy bacon and avocado.  It seriously may be the best grilled cheese sandwich to date.  It was the perfect way to combine some favorite old memories, and just the thing our lazy Memorial Day afternoon called for.

best grilled cheese ever

What is YOUR favorite kind of grilled cheese sandwich?

…

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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