happy wednesday...

for some reason i jumped out of bed today thinking it was already thursday and thursday was the day i had my super early meeting... once i was up and in the shower i realized ugh.. i could have hit the snooze button. today is only wednesday, a short week which now feels like a long one.

that's how winter can feel sometimes.

this past weekend was filled with football, warm fires and some relaxation.  we celebrated some birthdays, took long walks and made some great food.  aren't long weekends the best?

i got to thinking it would be fun to plan something fun to do each week to get me through these long winter days.  i have my oscar club which is really fun.  last night we saw american sniper it was intense.  i tend to slouch down in my seat and pull my scarf up to my eyes during many of the hard to watch scenes.  the one good thing about this movie club (besides the fact that i love all these crazy girls) is  it forces me to see movies i wouldn't normally see, it pushes me right out of my comfort zone.  this movie did just that.  i imagine what these guys go through but when you see something like this it just makes you more aware of how much they sacrifice for our freedom long after their service is done. so thank you to all who serve to make our lives better.

during the long winter months when the sun sets at 4:30 and it's bitter cold i can tend to get melancholy and quiet ( i know you don't believe me) but sometimes i do.

so i remind myself to do something fun every single week to brighten up the day.
drink champagne on mondays -  celebrate the beginning of a new week.
write a love letter -  it doesn't have to be a romantic one, it can be to a friend, a child, your mom. think about how often you look across from someone and think wow they look great today, what nice eyes, their hair looks so nice, what a great smile but... we never actually tell them.  perfect time is now.
buy flowers -  it totally works - every time.
light candles -  i do this all the time and it works all year long for making ordinary days feel special. make this dessert -  it is smooth chocolaty and it really feels like an indulgence.

                                        mocha chocolate mousse with irish whiskey.
                                                  from what katie ate (pictured above)

INGREDIENTS

• 170 g 1 1/4 c  good-quality dark chocolate, broken into small pieces
  170 g 1 1/4 sticks  unsalted butter
  3 tablespoons good-quality instant coffee granules, mixed with 2 tablespoons hot water
  4 free-range eggs, separated
  2/3 cup (150 g) caster sugar, plus 1 tablespoon extra
  2 tablespoons Irish whiskey (or dark rum)
  Pinch fine salt
  Whipped cream, to serve

METHOD

1. Bring a medium-sized saucepan of water to a gentle simmer and melt the chocolate, butter and coffee in a heatproof bowl that fits snugly over the pan without touching the water, stirring occasionally. Carefully remove the bowl from the heat and set aside. Keep the saucepan of water simmering away.
2. Place a few handfuls of ice in a large bowl and half-fill with water. Set aside nearby.
3. Sit a heatproof bowl that will fit into the bowl of ice over the saucepan of simmering water and add the four egg yolks, caster sugar, whiskey (or rum) and 1 tablespoon cold water. Using a balloon whisk or hand-held electric beaters, whisk for about 3 minutes until the mixture thickens, becomes paler and has a similar consistency to that of runny mayonnaise. Remove the bowl from the heat and place it in the bowl of iced water. Continue to whisk for a further few minutes until the mixture thickens and cools slightly, being careful that no water accidently gets into the mixture. Add the chocolate mixture to the beaten eggs and stir to combine.
4. Whisk the egg whites with a pinch of salt until just stiff and frothy. Add the extra tablespoon of caster sugar and beat again until just glossy.
5. Using a large mixing spoon, add one spoonful of egg whites to the chocolate mix and fold it in gently. Gradually fold in the remaining egg whites, taking care not to over-mix.
6. Transfer the mousse to a jug, then pour into individual serving jars or glasses. Place in the fridge and chill for 3–4 hours before serving. Serve topped with a thick layer of whipped cream

love sent, xo