What we've been up to the past 6 weeks... Celebrating our Saints!

So anyone who knows my family know that we are crazy Saints fans... i mean, its practically our namesake. The St. Philips have been Saints fans through the good (though, there wasnt much of this), the bad and the ugly (there was a lot of this).

Superbowl Sunday 2010 is a day that will live in infamy for the "Saint"Philips. We were absolutely over the moon that our beloved team won the Superbowl. We've been through so much heartache for this team, that it was hard to believe we'd ever be a winning team, much less Superbowl Champs.

We were so Jaded that we even contemplated not letting my husband on the Saints bandwagon during the playoffs bc of his sports team's bad luck. Lets face it, his teams (The Texans and Baylor) dont have a good track record. My grandpa asked him to take a walk for 3 hours during the first playoff game bc he was worried about his karma. True story... Sounds like a true Saints fan doesnt it?!

But Ben proved his "New Dat" status and made great company in the St. Philip branch of the Who Dat Nation. The past month was filled with email wars, nola.com daily visits, lots of gumbo, and of course screaming our heads off at our TVs. Here's a few pics of our Who Dat Parties this past month.

Disclaimer: Saints Fans Fashion Rules are that there are No Rules. BeDazzels are Stylish, Cheatah and Saints Snuggies are acceptable, and Tacky Shirts are Good Luck!

GEAUX SAINTS!

Hayley and Mom show off the Saints Snuggies and Blankets!

The Three (soon to be four) girls Saints Fans... dont have a pic, but you should see Hayley's Gold Toms Shoes... amazing!

At Baylor, we called it Double-Greeking... when one wears more than one Sorority logo... Double Greek Equals Fashion Faux-paux. Double-Saints Gearing is absolutely acceptable in our Fam!

Lil Deuce and Nana and Paw. Nolan learned the Who Dat Song and Pants on the Ground in one day! He's so lucky to have Aunties that teach him so much!

BeDazzeling is coveted when it comes to Saints Gear

Singing the "Get Crunk" song with your entire family led by your Dad is totally normal. Dancing with Portable speaker is recommended to help get in the game.... or get crunk.

Notice the Shirt with Fleur D Lis and my Maiden Name written across my husbands chest. Yes, my family reunion made shirts with the Saints Logo. And Yes, Ben wore it with pride!

Can you believe they had these in Dallas! Definately a New Dat city!

The infamous, now good-luck wings. It will become a tradition to make wings for big games, it just worked.

Even Walker wanted in on the Game. This is right before he asked his dad to pass him his bottle. ha!

My partner in crime... Dillow is very helpful when it comes to the deep fryer.

Our Superbowl Mascot! Walker was such a good Saints Fan! He only cried once when I started screaming during the onside kick! Sorry Walker, couldn't Help it!

Can you Believe this Picture?!

Ben and I pulled out the trusty smoker today and filled it up with all sorts of yummy things today... one including a pork shoulder. We tried it out again... on a quest to perfect the recipe. I think we're getting close, but thats not the point of this post.

Check out this picture Ben took tonight. I was pulling the pork and getting ready to make sandwiches when Ben decided to snap a few pics. He somehow caught the most perfect pour in action. I am so impressed with the pic! Thinking about submitting it to the Pioneer Woman for one of her photo contests... maybe I'm so enamored with it bc Ben took it, but nonetheless, its pretty darn cool.

Here's to a 20X of many pork butts and photo ops!

My Sorry attempt at a Birthday Cake

So, I had this grand idea to bake the Cover Cake of the December Southern Living for Ben's Birthday. I thought, i can follow a recipe well enough that i can do this with a little bit of extra effort.

I have never been more wrong in my life. I'm working on a Letter to the Editor that includes a requested phrase "Beware of Flying Icing" or "Do not attempt at Home without Professional Supervision" or "Prepare to fail you sorry thing!"

I'll let the pictures speak for themselves, but I'll replay one scene for you. I have two horrible looking chocolate cake layers, a not so fluffy chocolate ganace layer in between, two batches of horrible white icing that half of it is in my hair, the other half on the floor, i'm trying to cover the ugly crumbly sides of the cake with the icing but it has hardened and wont move.... and then my husband, the birthday boy walk in during the chaos! He had to help me clean the kitchen and get the goop out of my hair before our guests came over. How do you spell Disaster? C-A-K-E!

THis is what its supposed to look like...

Here's some happier moments from his Bday.

Turkey, Fishing, Rockband, Golf, Playdates, Christmas China?! We've been busy!

We've been having lots of fun the past few weeks. We went to Palm Springs for our Family Fest Thanksgiving with the Grimsleys. Beatles Rockband, Gingerfizzes, Golf, Shopping, Cooking, and a Jackpot on the nickel slot machine... we covered it all!


Family Fest Beatles Rockband


Dad's Smoker... im very proud. Turkey, Brisket, and Pork Butt all in one week. THe neighbors all stopped by bc they could smell the meat all the way form the street!



Saints are 10-0!!!





We were singing Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, and Nolan said out loud "Marshmellow Pie?!" It was precious!



Family Fest

Sunrise on Black Friday... Hayley dragged us to Best Buy to look at TVs... yes, she didnt pull the trigger and buy anything, but at least i got this pic!

Kenny and Nolan riding bikes on the Norman Cartpath

He was peddling so hard up the hill daddy had to help! SO CUTE

Nolan catching the ball...almost! I caught the miss in mid air... and he's wearing his Reggie Bush Jersey too!

The Trot that never was... we made Tshirts with cute sayings for the Turkey Trot, but we showed up and the event wasnt until the next day! But at least We looked good!

My Darling "Cousin-Nephew" Hunter... his shirt says "Chick Magnet"!

Nolan and Daddy Fishing! I love the pond's reflection.

Boys going to Golf

My Mom's amazing backyard in the desert

Nolan and Kenny Catch a fish on Hole #7 of the Norman Course

Walker Zolfo came over for a "Playdate" at my house! Too bad there's nothing for him to play with... we'll work on that!

Nolan on the Driving Range... loved the clouse and the green... this is not photoshopped... pretty proud!

My holiday table... im so upset that my Christmas china pattern is discontinued from Williams SOnoma... oh well, i'll just have to get another one!

Some of the presents under the tree.. still shopping!

So what....

So what that my Christmas tree is up by November 17th... with new bows and new garland decor... so what?! To me, once Halloween and my birthday are over, its Christmas. Even Starbucks uses their red cups in the beginning of November.

I'm planning on outside lights this weekend, decorating by spiral trees in front, and finishing all the little cutesy stuff by Saturday. Including... my Christmas China! Ben never understood Christmas China... he would say, so then what do you use the regular china for? It was one of those "you're over-ruled" moments. Regardless, i'm thrilled to get into the Christmas Spirit!

I'll post pics once everything is in place. I still have all the mess that the Christmas boxes bring.

The Challenge update

So when I contemplated my recipe challenge, i didnt account for my travel. I've traveled during the week for the past 5 weeks, so i have to give myself a little bit of slack. I dont want to be the girl from the movie, exhausted at midnight making a chocolate cake or coq au van.... not going to happen.

I have managed to squeeze in a few- including this fabulous "The Ultimate Rigatoni" recipe. Its a baked pasta dish that could feed an army. It was delicious and looked so Italian and rustic.

Here's the link on food network- Tyler hits a homer on this one.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/baked-rigatoni-with-eggplant-and-sausage-recipe/index.html

Papa- Papa- Razzi!

I never thought I'd be able to relate to a Lady Gaga song... but people are singing the Papa Papa Razzi song to me... well thats because Ben surprised me for my golden birthday with a fabulous Nikon DSLR camera. Its safe to say Im obsessed. I took 1200 pictures in 7 days. Yes, obsessed.

Since I work from home and dont see anyone living until Ben gets home, most of my pictures are of my gardens and plants. But when i get around people, the paparazzi in me cant be controlled.

Here are a few of my fave pics I've taken so far. Unfortunately, halfway through our halloween party, i figured out my focus was on manual... so i got some good ones, but not a lot.
Enjoy... plenty more to come.


Walker Zolfo, the sleeping angel


Beautiful Melissa, the Bride to Be



Proud Papa, i caught Matt in the middle of a belly laugh


My Caladiums nestled in my pittosporums

My fav rosemary... trying out that zoom effect thing

Sweet Potato Vine... going to die when it gets below freezing, but i'll enjoy while i can

My Roses.

Jello Shots in Action...

Darling Walker

Baxter, the firstborn