The Watchmaker's Daughter : The True Story of World War II Heroine Corrie ten Boom by Larry Loftis Read with me! The first pick of the year is The Watchmaker's Daughter : The True Story of World War II Heroine Corrie ten Boom by Larry Loftis. This is a historical non-fiction novel detailing the life of Corrie ten Boom as she navigated the unimaginable hatred that engulfed her life in Holland during the Hitler regime. This book takes you (along with her family and friends) as she resolves to be true to her unwavering faith in God and people. I remember reading The Hiding Place by Corrine ten Boom (published in 1971) as a young student. It is the perfect accompaniment to this month's selection if you have not already enjoyed her book. Carve some time in your "busy" for you to read and make a promise to yourself to make it a habit- 15 pages a day for the entire month of March will equal 465 pages for you!! You are worth it! HAPPY READING!

Birthdays are fun! This is no exception. I am having cake with my coffee today because I'm celebrating the ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY of "As Noted by Me". I've learned A LOT in the last year. I made a promise to keep going, even when it seemed I was being pulled in 10,000 other directions. This is fun and that is what I have kept it! I would have loved to make more posts, make more food, travel more and just do more for me this year, but I am learning to slowly grow into this new adventure. I've have big ideas for my second year coming up! I'm so excited to share a "Book of the Month". With the help of a few of my faithful reading friends, I've compiled a list of books to read each month for the next year (starting March 1st). I will announce the book each month on the 1st, along with a follow-up set of questions or review topics for the book that was just finished the month prior. I'm very excited for it! I also have a monthly "Sips & Snacks" (a wine, cocktail and mocktail) to share and I am hoping to add a food twist each month. For example, the best snacks to have with Merlot. Each wine will have two price points, a sweet spot price range and a special day price range. I have loved finding some great wines for you to try. I will also highlight a cocktail and mocktail each month! Some of them are my creations and some are other creator's favorites that I will share with you. YEAH!!! Cheers! There will be more recipes, more travel and food notes/recommendations, more local highlights , and more "Question of the Week" and "Self-Care Sunday" on my social media platforms too! Thank you for coming along on my first year adventure. I am so excited for year two! Cheers! xoxo - Jos ______________________________

Just checking in with you from the frozen midwest. This month brings so many emotions; a fresh start, staying warm inside, braving the elements to ski or sled, or feeding your belly with a hot bowl of homemade soup. The never ending blah that can often be January in Iowa is upon us. It feels like this month may never end. I feel ya. So here is your gentle nudge to make soup to share with your family this weekend as we all trudge through this never ending January. I wanted to repost my favorite soups that I have shared over this first year: a soup "shuffle" or "recap" of sorts. I am also working on a few new blog additions for next year - a monthly wine, cocktail and mocktail suggestion (paired with some food ideas), a book of the month, and also keeping up with my "Question of the Week" and "Self-care Sunday" on socials. Cheers! Spring is 53 days away!

A few weeks ago, the Horned Frogs from TCU came to Ames on a cold and breezy Saturday. We thought we'd welcome the cold weather (UGH) with some favorite hot soups and slow cooker chili cheese dip. It was a hit. The star of the show was these amazing frog sandwiches my friend Mindy made for the crowd!!! Aren't they the cutest? Chicken Wild Rice Soup Slow Cooker Chili for a Crowd Slow Cooker Queso We love tailgate season!!! Go Cyclones!

It's taken us (three awesome groups) a few years to get this process mastered, but I'd like to think we are getting pretty close to perfection. Each home game presents a new challenge for us (it seems) kickoff times, weather forecast, anticipated crowds, etc. This particular rivalry game, when our friends from Iowa City come to town, is always a mix of :: How early can we all get there and what the heck time do we need to leave? Can we get all of our tailgating spots together? How can we most efficiently serve food to the big crowds that stop by the tailgate during this game? This week, we decided to have a taco bar with the option of walking tacos or taco boats & a huge array of toppings on our ice table. The star of the show was the queso (from a soup crock)! Who doesn't love queso?? We served 30 lbs of taco meat to a hungry group of college kids and friends. Here are some pics of the set up. I have also linked my favorite tailgate finds that we've accumulated over the years. We love tailgate season!!! Go Cyclones!

Everyone has their favorite version of this awesome, feel good soup. Here is mine! I have a great slow cooker recipe, too, but this is my preferred version. I prefer it mostly for the texture of the vegetables over the slow cooker version. This is a Christmas favorite at our house. I like to keep the veggies a little larger than a "dice" for the picky eaters to pick around :) ENJOY!

This pasta dish is the perfect way to use your garden tomatoes and basil. The ingredients sit together and marinate for a few hours to make the most amazing "no cook" flavorful sauce. The hot linguine melts the brie cheese to create a light, creamy texture. I often add grilled chicken or shrimp for extra protein. This dish is Summer in all it's glory! Enjoy!

Big Z Charters 292 Capri Blvd, Naples, FL 34113 (904) 525-4112 Up and early on vacation usually isn't how our family wants to start our day. This was the exception to the rule. I have never had the kids jump out of bed and beat the designated time to gather in the lobby for our adventure of the day. This was the best day we've had on family vacation...EVER! Many of you are starting to plan your winter escapes. If you're in the Marco Island/Naples area of Florida, I highly suggest you contact Big Z Charters to plan the best family fishing experience. We decided to do the 1/2 day, inshore option because of the research we'd done on the fish that were being caught and the season on specific species being fished. We were visiting in late December. Grouper, Sheepshead and Triple Tail were in the majority of fish we caught during our day. Our son, Drew, reeled in a GIANT Triple Tail, weighing in at a whopping 12 pounds. It was a fun one to watch being landed and it was such a great fish to enjoy for lunch at Cocomo's Grill. After our trip ended, Big Z took us back to the dock, filleted the fish& packed them on ice. He sent us off with our catch & a recommendation to have lunch at Cocomo's Grill where they prepare your catch & IT WAS INCREDIBLE. Cocomo's Grill - Marco Island, FL Towne center plaza 1069 North Collier Blvd. #202 Right from the dock, we took our freshly filleted combo of Sheepshead & Triple Tail (on ice) to Cocomo's Grill. You simply walk in, hand your server your catch of the day & select how you'd like it prepared from their menu of options. I highly recommend you give Cocomo's a try, too! We chose the "locals favorite" option of fracaise style and jalapeño encrusted. It was perfection! From the menu: "U Hook It We Cook It" "Bring in your fresh catch and our chef will prepare it for you fried, grilled, blackened or Jamaican jerked. For an additional charge get it how the locals like it, pan-seared or blackened with key lime beurre blanc sauce, francaise or jalapeño encrusted. 10 oz per person and up to 4 cook styles……..Family style or individual." https://bigzcharters.com https://www.cocomosgrill.com

What is Cincinnati Chili? It's a classic, Midwestern favorite you may also know as "Skyline Chili" from a famous Cincinnati restaurant with that name. It is nothing like the chili you and I know from our everyday; it's loaded with savory spices, served over spaghetti noodles and loaded with toppings. It was first created in 1922 by Macedonian immigrant Tom Kiradjieff and his brother, John. They opened a small Greek restaurant called the Empress. The restaurant did poorly however, until Kiradjieff started offering this chili made with Middle Eastern spices, which could be served in a variety of ways. He called it his “spaghetti chili.” Kiradjieff’s “five way” was a concoction of a mound of spaghetti topped with chili, chopped onion, kidney beans, and shredded yellow cheese, served with oyster crackers and a side order of hot dogs topped with more shredded cheese. How to Serve Cincinnati Chili? Cincinnati Chili is unique in how it is served. You will hear Cincinnati Chili fans refer to the "way" they like their chili. Here is the run down - whether you're at home or in a restaurant, this is how you order your Cincinnati Chili: 2-Way : Chili + spaghetti 3-Way : Chili + spaghetti + shredded cheddar cheese 4-Way : Chili + spaghetti + diced onions + shredded cheddar cheese 5-Way : Chili + spaghetti + red kidney beans + diced onions + shredded cheddar cheese Now for the most important part of this blog :: How to Make Cincinnati Chili

It's the most wonderful time of the year!!! ANY and ALL of my friends would confirm I'm that person...THE CRAZY CHRISTMAS LADY! I'm basically Elf, but in female mid-40s form and not so great looking in the green tights running around NYC. I can't really say at what age I became obsessed (or possibly if it's peaked) but I hope our home is a cherished Christmas memory for our kids, just like I was lucky enough to have growing up. The two best places for Christmas are: 1.) Home "I'll Be Home For Christmas" was a song at our December wedding. It's a feeling and not really a place. 2.) New York City If you can fit three or four days in the city to experience the charm that is Christmastime in NYC, I highly encourage you to start planning! I thought today was the perfect time to review my last trip to New York City with my friends - Christmas in July gives you some time to throw together your itinerary! Overall, the biggest tip I can share with you for a trip to NYC at Christmastime is to PLAN! I've been blessed with a girlfriend who is the best in the itinerary game. Plan for some down time, too. It's a little like your first trip to Disney...you are exhausted - there's a lot of PEOPLE...WALKING...BUSY. Let me know your favorite things to do in NYC at Christmastime in the comments! We are planning a trip again in two years and can't wait to add your tips to our list of "must see". Cheers!!! & Merry Christmas (in 153 days) xoxo

We had a day!!! The celebration of our last high school graduate came together with a fun group of family and friends (and a lot of PINK) and just how Miss Reese envisioned it. I was VERY thankful for the help of a girl with ideas and a vision this time around. :) The boys' party was more of a "yes" - "sure" - "ok" type of an event. Here are a few of our favorite things from her day that we've been asked about and I wanted to share. I have provided links, too. APPLE CRISP (the undisputed favorite) This recipe makes a 9x13 pan but you can make individuals like we did for the graduation party! I used the linked ramekins and they were perfect! BALLOON WALL Let's talk about this wall! Jason built this awesome backdrop wall for the balloon garland in two pieces from shiplap so we could move it easily. It turned out SOOOO great! We had our new friends at Boji Balloon Bar create this balloon garland masterpiece for Reese's party. They're incredible to work with and so talented! Give them a try! https://shopbyouboutique.com/pages/boji-balloon-bar-1 TABLE DECOR Reese's theme was pink and it was everywhere. She wanted small bunches of succulent plants, a few small antique framed photos (fit wallet sized photos) and the cutest retro viewers customized with her favorite photos on her tables. It was a perfect combination. My good friend Lisa grows succulents so we dropped the empty pots with her a few weeks before the party and picked them up for the big day. They were PERFECTION. FLOWER CURTAINS We were a bit ambitious and wanted to make our own "flower curtains" for the garage walls. They turned out better than we could have imagined. Jason's patience was the key to these because I'm not the best in that department. We went in search of some longer and shorter birch tree branches and between our friends, family and walking the golf course we found a nice supply. We tied twine in even dimensions across the top and measured to the length we needed at each point in the garage. That was the easy part. Trying a few different ways to attach the flowers to the twine, we decided the best way was to use corsage pins. FOOD Reese's favorite meal is grilled cheese and tomato soup. We made it happen. Our local grilled cheese truck, "GIRL'D CHEESE", was the perfect way to take a little of the food stress off of my plate. We served Campbell's Tomato Soup out of our favorite soup crock (great for tailgates, too) along side the fun grilled cheese menu. It was such a unique food offering. Check out GIRL'D CHEESE if you're in our area and looking for a fun food truck for an event! https://www.facebook.com/girldcheeseokoboji/ Until next time, friends!! I'm working on a "Christmas in July" post for next week with highlights from my trip with girlfriends to NYC last December! Cheers!

They've done it and you have, too. Their first year away has come to an end and you unload that last bunch of "stuff" you don't even know how they fit into that little dorm room. Your mom heart is so full and they're HOME...but then they're outta there before the garage door can shut. They've started their re-entry into all they knew just a year ago. Their friends are waiting and you're standing over piles and piles of their stuff. Let's be honest, it's stuff you would really be fine with never seeing again. SO MUCH STUFF. This is where the battle begins. The battle of your new independent college kid and your house rules. The house that somehow kept running even when they were gone. The house that, more than likely, has a few other schedules to respect and other personalities to honor. Summer is here and let the "growing together again" battle begin. After a few weeks of butting heads, late nights texts and waiting up for them, we had to set a few rules we all could agree upon. How many nights at home are needed and how many nights with your friends are needed? You did your laundry in college so I think you could help out a little here, too. Let's not drop everything you have worn the last day in my kitchen as you run out the door to your tee time, ok? :) This isn't a bed and breakfast. Let them settle in and feel like it's home again, BUT then you need to have the talk. It's important to remind them the world (and your home) doesn't circle around one or two people. Your home still needs to have some structure to allow everyone to have their best summer. Have the talk and set some rules to allow for "growing back together" again.