One Sassy Lady

Today I want to pay respects to those people out there who pursue their life's path to the fullest extent and inspire us all.

On one of the morning shows I occasionally watch, I was introduced to one amazing lady. At 101, Sally Gorden is still walking into work each day with a jaunty step and no plans on taking a break. What struck me most about this woman was her zest for life.

I also loved that she sported a wide-brimmed hat and huge sparkly earrings for her tv appearance....


You can't help but love that, right?

Interested in the interview? click here

Color In Your New Year's

For those of you who are over the 'little black dress' and want to make a bright splash on your night, here are a few sweet little numbers that are full of color!










What are you wearing for New Year's?

Once again the joys of a New Year approach and with them come parties. With parties swiftly approaching, the inevitable question must be asked ..what will I wear?

Are you the type who pulls on a simple cocktail dress you already own and go a bit crazy with the latest accessories? Or do you shop like crazy for a little something new in the form of a dress or separates ?

Since Coco Chanel, the little black dress has always been a classic choice.Here are a few adorable ones I found in a variety of price ranges that may begin to help you with that all important clothing decision...
 



See the next post for the next installment of New Year's suggestions...

Infomercials...

Infomercials make me laugh...every time I see one for a seemingly useless object I totally crack up.
This one strikes me as rather bizarre. Not that having something stir your sauces while you do other things is a useless idea, but the "robostir" simply looked so strange that I couldn't help but laugh.

Merry Christmas to All!

First of all I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas. I hope that everyone has managed to get thier fill of Christmas tv specials, cookies, lights, shopping, gifts and eggnog.

Enjoy your day (I know I will)

Throw yourself a Cookie Swap party for the holidays! (Warning Recipe EXTRAVAGANZZZZA)

Last night brought a bit of a crowd into my apartment. This wasn't just for any holiday party...no, folks it was for a Cookie Swap. It was a devious device used to get a good variety of cookies floating around without spending weeks baking cookies. The whole game was as follows; everyone brings some cookies (homemade, from a tube, from the local market) and a container to carry cookies home in, the cookies get set out on a table to be sampled, everyone loads up containers and carries home what cookies they prefer. We ended up with a pretty good spread of cookies. I brought Coffee Spice Shortbread with Crystallized Ginger and Ambrosia Macaroons to the party. They both turned out pretty well, but if you are anti-ginger or anti-orange  you may not want to bake both of these.

To counteract the sugar rush that would ensue after an evening full of cookie sampling, we had a table full of savory treats. We had some healthy snacks in the form of some Crudites and Dressing,  some delish Baked Brie with water crackers, Cheese Puffs ( which were A-MAZING! best fresh out of the oven with a bit of butter), I also made some Herbed Goat Cheese Tarts in little mini pie crusts (which are always a hit - pretty much a standard make at parties I throw).

Some other quick apps that can become standard at your next party....

Lightly Roasted Asparagus
   Take one bunch of asparagus and wash. Hold both ends of each stalk and snap. It will naturally break at the point you need it too, and the tough ends are gone. Put your asparagus on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil and roast in the oven for 4 minutes at 400*F. It will be lightly roasted and still crisp. Great with dip for parties.

Puff Pastry Twists
  Thaw your frozen puff pastry according to directions. Fold out and drizzle with olive oil or brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with garlic powder and chopped fresh herbs of choice ( I like Oregano and Thyme). Cut into 1 1/2 inch ribbons, twist and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350*F for about 15 - 20 minutes. They are done when lightly brown and fluffy.

 Roasted Gnocchi     (warning: when this gets cold, it gets a little tough - make sure it is served hot) 
    Get a package of gnocchi, preferrably potato - it's usually near the pasta at the grocery store, and place on a baking sheet. Drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake at 350* for about 20 minutes or so. It will be done when the edges are just a bit brown. Serve hot with marinara sauce as a dip.


   Now you know some of my entertaining secret recipes...make these and people will rave.

                                                   Have a Happy Holiday season folks!

Shoe Discovery!

My heart stopped a little when I came across these...
Pretty Amazing...yes?

Five Tips To Make Your Next Holiday Trip an Amazing One!

The holidays are a time of joy, laughter and getting together with friends and family. Lights, food, laughter and traveling, whether by plane, train, boat or car. This past weekend, I joined the mass of holiday venturers in a trip of my own to visit the fiance's parents. Here are my pieces of advice for amazing and successful travels....

1. Late flights are amazing! It was my first time flying at night, and watching the lights as I took off and landed warmed my heart. Despite the holiday season, both my flights were half empty. I lucked out with a window seat with an empty seat next to me both flights! It probably helped that I flew up at 9:40pm on a Thursday and scheduled to fly back at 9:00pm on a Monday( my flight got delayed quite a bit and I actually left quite a bit later). The only downside, of course, is that you get in pretty late, especially if a flight gets delayed. But if you are a night person like me, it's ideal.

2. If you go to touristy areas of New York (or any city for that matter), be prepared for tons of crowds. And people all standing in the exact same spot, taking the exact same picture. We ventured into Bryant Park and people-watched a little bit. I promise you, a lot of these people photographing those on the ice did not know anyone out there...


3. Any time you go into a well-populated areas, keep your eyes open and you will make interesting discoveries...

Hello Kitty statue in the middle of a courtyard.

Rather creepy puppet stall in Bryant Park.
4. Don't be afraid to go out on a limb and try out recommendations by friends and other sources, you may find a new favorite. Examples, this weekend's thumb's up go to ... the Brooklyn Flea Market, amazing cheese at the Grand Central Station Market and the cutest little restaurant called Alice's teacup.

Ecstatic over a completely amazing Swedish cheese gotten at the Grand Central Station Market ( it had a revolutionary caramel-ly flavor to it and was only $6 for  a block of it!)

One of the many Alice in Wonderland inspired pieces of decor inside Alice's Teacup
Amazing butterscotch scone was served with fresh cream and preserves. Along with it I had some amazing black tea with mulling spices.
Cait's scone was full of pumpkiny goodness!

5. Accept with open arms holiday traditions, and even holidays, when you are a guest, especially when they are soon-to-be family members. While I was up in Long Island, I got to experience my first Chanukah celebration. It was a beautiful and rewarding experience and enjoyed every minute of it!


In short, keep these pieces of advice in mind and you may have a wonderful holiday experience!

Super Amazing Yummy Pie!

Things have been really crazy on this end; I'm just now posting about Thanksgiving ( I know, I know!)

I whipped up a ...wait for it....Apple Pie with Oat Streusel!

Well, I actually made this amazing goodness from the November 2010 Bon Appetit (suprise, suprise) to bring to Thanksgiving with the fiance's parents. Yes, not exactly a great idea to bring an untried dish to a dinner with the future in-laws, but it turned out AMAZING. Feel free to try this delish recipe.

Random Find of the Day....


And the random find of the day today is....a 1943 gas mask. Brought to you by Shopgoodwill.com

to check it out and make a bid...click here