Butternut squash, chickpea and tahini salad on the horizon

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For our Meatless Monday main tonight, I'm going to try a warm butternut squash and chick pea salad with a tahini dressing. It's a Molly Wizenberg dish I found on Orangette  (her blog); as I've never been disappointed by anything of hers, I have the ingredients and wanted to try something new, I say yay! Later this week I'm going to make a spinach-phyllo pie which is always a delicious meal.

Do any of you have a frisky dog at home? If so, have you ever tossed him/her an empty plastic seltzer (or the like) bottle? Hilarious. Percy is running around like a rabid dervish, the bottle hanging from his mouth, tail straight out behind him in his wake.

80s music rocks, Em-i-lis playlist of the day, make-your-own Spy Case for a 5-7 year old

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Mercifully, the boys returned to school today. Deep exhale! I have spent such a fun morning wrapping many of our Christmas gifts. Usually I do this while listening to holiday music, but today, I have rocked out with the Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill, Snoop, Bon Jovi and even Vanilla Ice. Nothing like it, people. If you grew up in the 80s, or even if you didn't, try listening to this stuff and just see if your mood doesn't soar. Em-i-lis' 80s (and a few later) playlist: Jump- Van Halen Insane in the Brain- Cypress Hill Lay Your Hands on Me, Bad Medicine, Livin' on a Prayer, Shot Through the Heart- all Bon Jovi Straight Up- Paula Abdul Ice, Ice Baby- Vanilla Ice Gin and Juice- Snoop Dogg Pour Some Sugar on Me- Def Leppard Groove is in the Heart- Deee-Lite Get It Together, She's Crafty, Brass Monkey, Intergalactic- all Beastie Boys Jump (For My Love)- Pointer Sisters Holiday- Green Day I Love Rock and Roll- Joan Jett ~~ Do you have a spy/detective-loving youth in your life? When my eldest is not a cowboy, he's a detective. As I found when searching for good police birthday party supplies and ideas, I have found the pre-made spy kits and cases to be equally lacking; so, once again, I have created my own. All of this is available on amazon and at Restoration Hardware (a great source for cool little gifts of the stocking-stuffer ilk) and together cost much less than one of the "sets" out there. Also, you can personalize what's included.   Here is an aluminum case with two combo locks: super cool feature for any young spy. It comes with some pockets inside, but you can also get some foam to make insert-specific holding places (this is our plan): one nook for the spyglass, another for the voice scrambler, etc.

And here are the spy supplies: mystery book, spy watch, spy glass, voice scrambler, pocket magnifier/light.