create the life you love

A Little Project

Last spring, these moss covered letters (larger size) were being sold in the Pottery Barn catalog for almost $80! I have wanted to make my own version ever since seeing them in the catalog, bought the supplies way back then .. and finally got around to making my own.

This 'G' was a gift to my friend Ginny to put in her shop, Ginny's Orchids ..

I also plan on doing the word 'Joy' for Christmas!

Happy 4th!

Valentine's Gifts

For my sweet goddaughter

 

Some sweet treats ..

 

More Recipes

First, I do have to mention, since I know some of you are wondering if I actually eat any of these meals ... no, I do not. None at all with the exception of the homemade tomato sauce which I put on grilled chicken. I don't even get to eat the shell fish plain, since I am allergic to shell fish!

I still love to cook though, and had such a wonderful time cooking with my boys

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This is another recipe I have shared here on my blog in the past and it's a favorite of everyone who tries it. I am always giving out the recipe. Not even sure of the 'real' name.

 

Hot Cheesy Dip

8 oz. cream cheese softened

1/2 cup mayo

Beat together in mixer

Add:

5 oz. shredded swiss cheese (1 bag)

Place in baking dish. Sprinkle with Hormel bacon bits on top.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Serve with FRITO'S! Other crackers and/or pita chips are fine too, but my boys like it best with the Frito Scoops.

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This next recipe, Connor and I made together. He peeled all the shrimp too ;) and we added about 2 lbs of shrimp instead of the 1 lb that the recipe calls for. We also added a bit more red pepper flakes, since my guys like things spicy.

Linguine With Shrimp Scampi (Ina Garten)

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt plus 1 1/2 teaspoons
• 3/4 pound linguine
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 1/2 tablespoons good olive oil
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic (4 cloves)
• 1 pound large shrimp (about 16 shrimp), peeled and deveined
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
• 1/2 lemon, zest grated
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)
• 1/4 lemon, thinly sliced in half-rounds
• 1/8 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

Directions

Drizzle some oil in a large pot of boiling salted water, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the linguine, and cook for 7 to 10 minutes, or according to the directions on the package.

Meanwhile, in another large (12-inch), heavy-bottomed pan, melt the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat. Add the garlic. Saute for 1 minute. Be careful, the garlic burns easily! Add the shrimp, 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt, and the pepper and saute until the shrimp have just turned pink, about 5 minutes, stirring often. Remove from the heat, add the parsley, lemon zest, lemon juice, lemon slices, and red pepper flakes. Toss to combine.

When the pasta is done, drain the cooked linguine and then put it back in the pot. Immediately add the shrimp and sauce, toss well, and serve

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I have made this recipe many times and it's a winner. The sauce is very light, fresh and delish! I even like it by itself or I put it on a grilled chicken breast.  Griff doesn't like tomatoes or red sauce, so I just make his without - just the chicken and cheese. Barret made garlic bread to go with this meal, but it was his own 'concoction' with lots of garlic and butter and I am not sure what else. It took him longer than it took me to make the entire dish!

 

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Chicken Parmesan (Southern Living)

Yield: Makes 2 servings (I double it or triple it)

Ingredients

• 1  cup  Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
• 2  tablespoons  all-purpose flour
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground red pepper
• 2  skinned and boned chicken breasts
• 2  egg whites, lightly beaten
• 1  tablespoon  olive oil
• Tomato Sauce **
• 1  cup  shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4  cup  freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

Combine breadcrumbs, flour, and ground red pepper in a small bowl, and set aside.

Place chicken between two sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap, and flatten to 1/4-inch thickness, using a meat mallet or rolling pin.

Dip 1 chicken breast in egg whites, and coat with breadcrumb mixture. Dip again in egg mixture, and coat again in breadcrumb mixture.

Repeat procedure with remaining chicken breast.

Cook chicken in hot oil over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until done.

Place chicken breasts in a single layer in a lightly greased 8-inch square baking dish. Top evenly with Tomato Sauce and cheeses.

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until cheeses melt.

**Tomato Sauce

Yield: Makes 1 1/2 cups

Ingredients

• 1/2  small onion, chopped
• 2  garlic cloves, minced
• 1  tablespoon  olive oil
• 1  (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano
• 1/4  cup  red wine
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground red pepper
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/4  cup  chopped fresh basil

Preparation

Sauté onion and garlic in hot oil over medium heat 5 to 7 minutes or until tender. Add tomatoes, wine, and red pepper; simmer 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Add salt and basil.

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Penne alla Vodka with Scallops (Park Avenue Potluck Celebrations)

I received this book for Christmas and it is so beautiful. The tablescapes, home decor and recipes - all fabulous. I can't wait to try more recipes.

** I also wanted to mention that the proceeds from this book supports Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital and their Fight for Cancer **

Herend's Queen Victoria china

I absolutely love Herend china and have a few pieces, as well as a collection of Herend animals my boys have bought me over the years. Oh, how I yearn for a full set of this china.

 

Barret and I made this together and again, we doubled the amount of scallops to 24 (big boys, big eaters). We also added just a little extra of the oil, butter and chili flakes since we had more scallops to saute (and again, they like things spicy). They all LOVED this dish and I will definitely make it again.

 

Makes 4 to 6 main-course servings, 8 as a first course

12 sea scallops
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter
2 leeks, cleaned, trimmed, and finely chopped
2 shallots, minced
2 tablespoons dry vermouth
1 cup vodka
½ teaspoon crushed red chile flakes, or to taste
1 cup fresh or canned tomato puree
½ cup crème fraîche or heavy cream
Salt and freshly ground white pepper
1 pound penne
1 tablespoon minced flat-leaf parsley leaves

Trim the small ridge of tendon from the side of each scallop. Pat dry the scallops with paper towels. Place a large sauté pan over high heat, add the oil, and sear the scallops a few minutes, turning them once, until they are lightly browned. Remove the scallops to a dish. Lower the heat and add the butter. When it has melted, add the leeks and shallots and cook until the vegetables start to soften. Add the vermouth and continue cooking until the vegetables are very tender but not browned.

Pour in the vodka, add the chile flakes, and simmer until slightly reduced. Add the tomato puree and crème fraîche and simmer for about 5 minutes, until the mixture is well blended and pink. Season with salt and pepper to taste and add more chile flakes if desired. Set aside until just before serving. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the penne. Quarter the scallops and add them to the warm sauce in the sauté pan. Add the penne to the boiling water and cook for about 8 minutes, until al dente. Drain well. Fold the penne into the sauce and gently reheat the contents of the pan, stirring, until the ingredients are well combined. Taste and add more salt and pepper if needed. Divide among individual plates, top with the parsley, and serve.

 

ENJOY!!

Wrapping & Baking

Busy day trying to get it all done. I managed to wrap a few gifts, with many more to do. These are all for my goddaughter. I chose a Lilly theme (love these 2 Christmas papers). I bought her a few Lilly items, including the paper doll set and activity book. Also, a few outfits and accessories for her American Girl 'just like me' doll that I bought her for her 5th birthday.

 Once again, excuse the bad photos. This little Olympus point and shoot stinks (!!) - the photos always turn out blurry and the colors are all off. My husband bought it last year for his trip to the Keys  - it is a waterproof/shock proof camera and may take good 'wet' pictures, but otherwise, NOT!

 I did order my new camera today and it will be her tomorrow! An early Christmas gift and I think the first thing I will photograph is these gifts (again, properly).

  (terrible photo - colors all off)

As for baking I made a few items and the dough for sugar, cut out cookies which I will tackle tomorrow.

These are two of Griff's favorites ...

 
 

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday!

 

A bit of pink at home

pink damask coolers ...

pink spatulas ...

my 'queen bee' tea set (on pink gingham check) ...

ETA: the pink spatulas are from Williams Sonoma and the crown tea set from Home Goods (both purchased this past spring)

 

Visit Beverly's blog for more of pink saturday!

RC Sweet Potato Recipe

I had a few requests for this fabulous recipe. I have made this many times and it is always a huge hit. My guys like it for dessert, warm with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream.

RUTH'S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE SWEET POTATO RECIPE

Yield: 6 servings

3 cups mashed sweet potatoes

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 eggs, well beaten

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter

Crust Mixture:

1 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup flour

1 cup chopped pecans

1/3 stick of butter, melted

1. Combine crust ingredients; set aside. Heat over to 350 F

2. Throughly combine mashed potatoes, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs and 1/2 cup butter. Pour mixture into buttered baking dish

3. Sprinkle surface of potato mixture evenly with the crust mixture. Bake 30 minutes. Let set at least 30 minutes before serving.

Recipe Cards

I am participating in a fall 'foodie' swap, so I created these recipe cards with a few of my favorite fall recipes ... Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins, Pumpkin Cake and Ruth Chris Sweet Potato Casserole.

More Pink

I also made some pink cupcakes for my goddaughter's birthday and some cupcake toppers!

S a l m o n

 

Yet another salmon recipe that I made a few nights ago ... and quite delicious!

 

Broiled Salmon with Lime and Cilantro

Ingredients:    4 pieces of salmon ( I use wild salmon, about 4 ounces each)    1/2 cup Cilantro Leaves, finely chopped    1 Tbsp Olive Oil    1 Garlic clove, large, fine chopped    1/2 tsp Salt    2 Tbsp Lime Juice Directions: Combine cilantro, garlic, lime juice, oil and salt in bowl. Reserve 2 tablespoons. Pour remainder over fish in bowl. Let stand, covered, 10 minutes. Spray broiler rack with nonstick cooking spray. Place salmon on rack. Brush with 1 tablespoon of marinade. Then broil 6 inches from heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Turn steaks over. Brush with remaining tablespoon marinade. Broil 3 more minutes or until cooked through. Serve broiled salmon with thin lemon wedges.

The 4th

We had a very quite 4th of July with just Griff home. Miss the older boys, but I have to be thankful that Griff still (sort of, but not really!) wants to 'hang' with us ;). Truth be told, most of his friends were away, so he was stuck with us. A round of golf at the country club for the guys and then later in the evening, we went back for the firework show - all 3 of us on the Vespa - what a ride!

 

 

Photos

Just a few photos to share. While I have been an avid photographer for many years now, I recently started shooting pictures of my everyday life. I try to find the beautiful things around me and capture it in photos. And ... I will admit that part of the reason this came about is due to my lack of 'real' subjects ... um, that would be my family! I do not have anyone to photograph!! Although Griff is still around (but not all that much!), he was so over me and my camera years ago :(.

 

 

 

 

 

  

  

{  c o c k t a i l !! }

 

~

Also, I would like to invite you all to my new flickr groups. I currently 'host' - am the administrator of two groups. One is 'Youth League Lacrosse' (doubt if many of you all have lax photos??), and the other group is none other than ... 'Preppiness' :). Please feel free to join in and post your photos! Or, if you haven't yet, just come visit flickr ... so much to see and some amazing photography.

Lovely Lavender

GOH SIOK HIAN From Malaysia 

 

 

While I have always loved the fragrant smell of lavender, lately I have found some wonderful products for my home that I have become 'addicted' to ...

The following from Method - I have found a few of these at Whole Foods and others at Target

 

 

Just can't get enough of this spray

 

 

 

 

These two products from Aura Cacia are available at Whole Foods. I use the drops on my sheets and linens and the mist on everything, including myself!

 

 

Shift Dress Cookie Cutters

Many of you have asked about my Lilly Pulitzer shift dress cookie cutter. Although they are no longer available through Lilly, my friend Lori found a very similar one (looks esactly the same to me) at Copper Gifts. This site has quite a large selection of great cookie cutters. I need to actually start making cookies, instead of just collecting the cutters ;)

***

Be sure to check back tomorrow. I will be having a little give away ... sorry, not the shift cookie cutter, but something equally as nice (at least I think so!).

Beautiful Things to Share

I meant to post these Easter ideas the week before Easter not the week after, but completely forgot. Now you all have a heads up on decorating for next year ;)

The following from Martha Stewart ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

Room Service Home ...

 

 

 

Westeria ...

 

 

Williams Sonoma (I believe most of these items are now on sale) ...

 

 

 

 

 Better Homes & Gardens ...

 

 

Lilly Pulitzer 'Happy Easter' ....

I am getting very creative with my dinners - A little contest ...

 

All by shear accident, but Griff noticed it the other night when I placed this on a plate.

First person to guess correctly what this is and what shape it is in, will win a little prize -not the above! ;)

 

ETA: Okay, Lee Anne was the first to guess Florida and some type of fish (true) and Glenna was second and guessed Florida and Tuna - Exactly!

So ... I am going to consider you both winners since Lee Anne was first and technically fish is correct. Glenna was the second to guess it correct and gets the added bonus by naming the fish - tuna!

Both you gals email me with your addresses. please!

Orchids

I have a love for orchids and almost always have a few in my home. One of my good friends, 'the orchid lady' has been selling beautiful orchids at our farmer's market for over 20 years now. She also has many personal, as well as business clients in which she provides service to- including me. I usually just drop one of my pots at her house (she lives just a street away) and she fills it with beautiful orchids that same day - such service! Most all of my orchids are phalaenopsis orchids, and most often white.

A few of my current plants

  

   

 

{ I love this pot, it holds 3 orchid plants }

   

 

 

{ Lilly in her favorite spot - she loves it when I open the kitchen window & she likes to 'bat' at the orchids }

 

 

Lilly actually fell out the window the other day and I ran outside to get her, but somehow she managed to jump back in! By the time I got back in the kitchen she was back in her window spot.The window is about 4 feet high?! She is quite the jumper.

Pink Saturday

Happy

Pink Saturday!

Some Valentine's treat's that I made ...

 

 

 

 

{ westies }

 

Thanks to our hostess, Beverly at How Sweet the Sound

{ scroll down for more pink! }

Valentine's Day Gift

Before I knew about my surprise Valentines trip, I told Dan that I wanted a new vacuum for Valentine's Day - seriously! Yes, he thought I had lost my mind asking for an appliance for a gift ;). To be honest, I also wanted a new area rug for our foyer to 'go along' with the vacuum. I have had the same housekeeper for over 10 years now and she is such a dear women ... but, she and vacuums do not get along! I think I have gone through 4 or 5 in these past years. Bless her heart, she always gets so upset and feels terrible, but they all have broke when she was using them - the last one a few weeks ago. I admit that the last 2 vacuums I purchased have been cheap, but I figured, give it 6 months to a year and it will be history. So, I bought a Dyson as a combined Valentine's gift for myself and Dan - my 'combined' gifts are always a big hit (not!) with him - at least it wasn't a new outfit or jewelry ;)

Last Friday, since we were away and it was Doris' day to clean, I hide the new Dyson. I didn't want her to use it without me giving her a 'lesson' first!

The new rug under the Dyson ...

 

Pink Saturday

Happy Pink Saturday. Just look at this gorgeous hydrangea I purchased yesterday ...

 ETA: I was surprised to see that I won a few 'awards' at flickr :)

I have post lots of PINK this past week too - just scroll down for more pink delights. Also, visit our lovely Pink Saturday hostess, Beverly for much more.

Closet Organization

I have most of my closet put back together - still working on a few areas. Thanks for all your input on hangers. Those space savers seem popular. For now, I am using my faithful white, plastic hangers since I have so many of them and don't know what to do with them all! Many of the items I placed back in my closet still need to be altered, including my beloved Lilly dresses and skirts. I've been taking in a few items almost every week to my seemtress.

While cleaning out and purging, I realized that I don't have a single pair of pants to wear (besides a few new pairs of jeans and new work out shorts and tennis skirts). Really, NO bottoms what so ever - short, skirts or pants that fit. Need to seriously work on this - especially the bermuda shorts since I wear them almost year around.

  

  

  

My jammies :) ...