November Overview

Thanksgiving Day

November is coming to an end as we roll into the final month of the year. I am blessed to have so many reasons to be thankful this year. Mark and I had our first Thanksgiving together and we both agree it was our best ever. We spent the day with some some of my family and the evening with his. We felt filled to the brim with love! 

We also celebrated both of our fathers birthdays this month, had a special dinner with our siblings, hosted our dear friend Amber from Kansas City for a few days, took a day trip to KC to eat amazing vegetarian food at Eden Alley and stock up on tea for the winter from Phoenix Herb Company, and still managed to spend time with our family and friends in between.

Yesterday we finished trimming the tree and putting out the Christmas decorations. Mark picked out the tree and it is beautiful. Our next project is to hang some lights and garland on the upper back deck looking out toward the river. I am also looking forward to choosing a few cookie recipes (sent from my dear friend Amber who happens to be an amazing baker) to try and wrapping the presents piled up in the 'Christmas Room'. (a.k.a. the guest bedroom). The Christmas cards have been mailed, a successful Thanksgiving come and gone, and the holiday music and movies are in full swing here at Chigger Chalet (the not so fancy name we call our home). November has been a great month and I am looking forward to sharing more with you as we finish out 2012 here in the land of Oz. 

~Love & Light~

Our Christmas Tree

PS To view our entire Thanksgiving 2012 photo album visit our facebook page.

It's Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas

Lights at Finley River Park

The holiday season is in full swing at our home! The guest room has been deemed the "Christmas Room" and is steadily being filled with wrapping paper and gifts to be given. I've started double checking and collecting addresses today so as to begin filling out Christmas cards and I plan to look at holiday bread recipes over the next few days. I don't have all of the gift shopping done but I have made  a substantial dent in the list and I feel calm and stress free.
We have some exciting holiday events happening here in Ozark and Springfield during November ( I haven't forgotten Diwali this Friday) and I thought you might like to hear about them.

Tonight! repeat TONIGHT (Nov. 15th) is the Mayor's Christmas Tree Lighting in Oz. The tree lighting takes place at 6pm at the OC (1530 W. Jackson) and then a bus will transport everyone to the Finley River Park for THAT lighting ceremony and Santa will be there too. Mark and I plan to just step out onto our back deck and watch the lighting at the Finley. We have been enjoying the best view in town of the Finley River light display for a week now! We call it Christmas town...kinda feels like we are living in a Tim Burton movie. You drive your car through the display from one end of the park to the other. It is donation based admission and is open until January 8th. The lights turn on at 6pm every night and the park is open until 11pm (1075 N. Riverside).

This coming Saturday in Springfield will be the One Stop Christmas Shop Festival at the University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center (333 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy). From 8am to 3pm you can browse the booths showcasing wares from over 100 different vendor's. Admission is ONE DOLLAR or two non-perishable food items for the Ozarks Food Harvest Fundraiser. I am hoping to pick up a few gifts from local businesses.

Also, this Saturday (Nov. 17th) will be the annual Ozark Christmas Parade. It begins at 6pm and this year's theme is the "12 Days of Christmas". The parade runs from 3rd St. to the Downtown Square.
Get out and get in the spirit!

~Love & Light~

Lights at Finley River Park

Diwali

Diwali (Indian Festival of Lights) begins tomorrow and I found a restaurant here in the Ozarks that throws a party to celebrate! Diwali is the victory of good over evil or light over darkness. It has a major religious significance for Hindus. For more information on the festival check out www.diwali2012.in.

Honestly, I was a little surprised that one of only TWO Indian restaurants in Springfield has a weekend celebration for Diwali. I mean, we aren't exactly crawling with Indian people here in the land of the hillbilly. BUT now I am super curious to see who will show up to this shindig at Gem of India. The celebration is this weekend, the 16th and 17th, from 5pm to midnight. They will have a grand buffet, DJ, belly dancers, a curry eating contest and more! I have no idea what to expect but I'm sure it will prove to be entertaining and at the very least we will get to fill up on a lot of decent Indian fare. The address is 211 W. Battlefield in Springfield, MO. I'll see you there! Happy Diwali!

~Love & Light~

Lunch At D'Arpino's

We ate at THE BEST little Italian Cafe in Springfield on Saturday. (It definitely qualifies as one of 'our places', so I had to share). If you want authentic Italian in a charming atmosphere D'Arpino's at 3014 S. National in Springfield, MO. is your place. Don't be fooled by the strip mall it sits in because once inside you will be transported to a darling family owned/operated cafe unlike the other Italian joints in town. The owners, Mark and Mary Ann D'Arpino opened the business in 2004. While sitting in the dining area you can watch them cook your meal. I enjoy seeing my food being made as I wait, it is the best way to assure the food is being prepared well and in this case, with love. The cafe was intimate (but not small) and clean. The music playing was nice but not too loud. Our server (one of only two on the floor) was very kind and attentive. She told us about the two specials being served that day and that is what we decided to order. Mark had the pork chop with a side of spaghetti and I had the stuffed eggplant with a side of spaghetti. The meal was preceded by caesar salads and super delicious garlic bread. 

caesar salad and garlic bread

pork chop, stuffed eggplant, and spaghetti

If you live in the Springfield area, do yourself a favor and eat at D'Arpino's the next time you're craving Italian food. You'll be glad you did! 

~Love & Light~

The dining room

D'Arpino's Italian Cafe

3014 S. National

Springfield, MO. 65804

Hours:

11am to 9pm - Mon. thru Thurs.

11am to 10 pm - Fri. and Sat.

           Closed Sundays

Phone:

417-889-9898

She Drives Me Crazy

Our hound Penny is the cutest dog in town (smelly mouth and all). I really do love her but half the time I am trying to hold back my desire to strangle her (this is a figure of speech PETA, relax). She is almost six months old and is still way more puppy than adult. She is curious about everything, wants to put all things on the floor in her smelly mouth (shoes are her favorite snack), and has somehow managed to teach herself how to open the trash can lid. These things I can live with and I know that as she matures she will be less ornery BUT her most annoying habit is her inability to let us sleep in the mornings. Now, Mark is a Godsend and gets up at the crack of dawn to take her out to do her business but if once back in her playpen she decides she doesn't want to go back to sleep, NO ONE sleeps. She cries and barks and slams her body against the pen. It is absolutely impossible to sleep through this racket. Then once she drags you out of bed she wants you to run around and play with her for HOURS! She never seems to tire!

As I type this she is eating wood chunks off the fireplace hearth. Is this good for her health? It couldn't be any worse than digesting the sole of a shoe or passing the bits of plastic she swallows because she EATS her toys. These little details would have worried me when we first brought her home and I would have gone out of my way to prevent them from happening, but currently as long as she isn't peeing on the floor or eating the furniture, eh...she's fine.

I really, really do love my hound dog and I know if I keep telling myself this over and over again I won't have room to think anything else. On the bright side I have a new mantra for meditation class.
I DO love my dog. I DO love my dog. I DO love my dog. I DO love my dog. OMMMMM.

~Love & Light~

Penny (a.k.a. Beelzebub)

Tis The Season

Yesterday we celebrated Samhain and the day before that I turned thirty three. We certainly had fun wrapping up October! Today, November 1st, is the official first day of the holiday season. I spent some time this morning taking down the Halloween decorations and thinking about the busy season ahead.

This is going to be the first Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year that Mark and I spend together. We are very excited to start creating our own traditions. We are also feeling very grateful to be home and celebrate with family and friends. I can't remember the last time my sister, Sara, and I were in the same room for a Christmas celebration. That changes in 2012!

Between the run around of gathering gifts and being spread thin jumping from party to party, we often forget the true joy of the holiday season, being with the ones we love.  Making memories and sharing laughter and joy are the special moments I am looking forward to with anticipation. I hope all of you have as great a time preparing for the coming Holidays as I plan to!

~Love & Light~