Five on Friday!

It's FRIDAY! I flew to LA yesterday for work and am en route back home this morning. Someone pass the coffee...and then the wine when I finally land tonight. Since I had a late night event and am 3 hours behind in sleep, you get Four on Friday!

one // My friend McKinsey hosted the girls at her house for a photography class last weekend! The photographer who taught the class was SO good and even had a PowerPoint Presentation followed by lots of guided practice! I am so pumped that I finally know how to change some of the settings on my camera to shoot in manual. Now if I can find some time to practice...

two // Last weekend we filled our freezer with a large batch of delicious chili. Caroline was so excited to "help" dump all the cans into the pot for me so naturally she needed a pic with her masterpiece.

three // Something really awesome happened to me in the Instagram world. Charlotte Parent recently published an article on 10 Charlotte Moms and Dads You Should Be Following on Instagram and listed ME as #2!!!! Never in my life did I think I'd be ranked next to GREG OLSEN! EEEEP! 

Pleated Twead Dress on major SALE // Flannel Shirt -- HALF OFF! // Toms Desert Wedge Booties -- on SALE

four // Matt and I recently went on a shopping spree at J.Crew Mercantile. We brought the kids with us which meant we had exactly 12 minutes to shop, try on clothes and check out before getting kicked out of the store. For this trip we decided to divide the kids and conquer. I was assigned to Caroline which I thought was the better end of the deal until she decided she wanted to pull every sale sign off the shelf, unfold every cardigan within reach and  run between the mannequin legs. Oh, and at one point I intercepted her trying to slip a necklace into my purse. So anyway, I did something out of desperation - I just grabbed an outfit straight off a model in the window and called it a day. And I couldn't be happier. Honestly, I would have never created this outfit myself but I love it.

Happy weekend!

***To link up this week, visit Natasha or April's blog!

Rising Star!

I have some really big news to share!

Matt was recently recognized by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star!! 

 

For the non-attorney readers out there, Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. This selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations.  The Rising Star list recognizes no more than 2.5 percent of attorneys in each state. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger, or in practice for 10 years or less. 

I am beyond proud of this well-deserved award for Matt. He works tirelessly day in and day out to provide the best client service and grow his practice on top of being a Super Daddy too.

Green Goddess Grilled Cheese

Last weekend I made my absolute favorite grilled cheese. Over the years I've experimented with grilled cheese ingredients (here's a throwback for ya) and finally have landed on perfection. I started with the delicious grilled cheese recipe that Lisa made for us earlier this year and slightly adapted it. Her tasty sandwiches totally converted my cooking method from a skillet to a...wait for it...GRILL! Yes, a grill! Fair warning, once you make the switch you'll never go back!

Just look at that!!! I can't get over how delicious every single layer is of this perfect sandwich -- so much goodness smushed between two pieces of bread.

I wanted so badly to capture this blog-worthy sandwich, sliced in half and perfectly layered on a plate screaming to be photographed. However, I was so impatient that I polished off my sandwich while running around the backyard shepherding my kids inside for dinner. And then, at all at time low (or high if you look at it like me), hours later I swiped the cold scraps from Caroline's plate and devoured those too. Whether fresh off the grill or as cold triangles mutilated by toddlers, you'll enjoy this sandwich down to the very last bite...

Green Goddess Grilled Cheese 
Adapted from Lisa's recipe

Ingredients
4 slices Pepperidge Farm Oatmeal Bread

¼ cup pesto

2 slices mozzarella

2 slices provolone
½ cup spinach
1 avocado, sliced
¼ cup goat cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoon butter

Yields 2 sandwiches. 

Instructions
Spread pesto over one side of each slices bread. Layer with a slice of mozzarella, a slice of provolone spinach, avocado, and sprinkle with goat cheese. Top with remaining bread slice and press to seal. Lightly butter both sides of bread and grill over medium heat until cheese is melted (approximately 4-5 minutes). Slice and serve.

Print recipe for Green Goddess Grilled Cheese.