Favorite You Tube Video

This cracks me up every time I see it!

Just Listed on Ebay

Want to visit the auction? click here!

doh!

I just found out that one of my bestest friends, Alison, had no idea that I was blogging! What a terrible oversight! How could that be??!! Well, I sent her the link so she can see my random online thought process!

Check this out!

I found this today and what a neato tool it is!!
It is called "Spell With Flicker"! I could play with this all day!

In case you need fabric, click I Want Fabric!

What's Cooking this Week

A friend of a friend, Kim, has created a great new blog for those of us who get creative block in the kitchen.
Come join in and share some food inspiration!

My Menus for the week:

(R) indicates that the recipe is below...

1) Liz's lasagna rolls (R)
Spinach Salad (R)

2) Taco Ring (Pampered Chef)(http://www.razzledazzlerecipes.com/pampered-chef-recipes/taco-ring.htm)
Home-made Salsa & Chips (R)

3) Barefoot Contessa Barbque Ribs
Blue Cheese Coleslaw (see last week's post for recipes)
Fresh Fruit

4) Goat Cheese Pizza (R)
Salad

5) Bacon Cheeseburger Meatloaf (http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOOD_9936_35561,00.html)
Salad

6) Quiche Lorraine (R)
Salad


Liz's Lasagna Rolls

Parmesan
Small container Ricotta
2-3 c. shredded mozarella
1 egg
italian seasoning
lasagna noodles

*Boil noodles, drain. (6-8)
* Mix up cheeses
* Lay out noodles, spread each noodle with cheese mixture, then roll up.
* Place in 8x8 baking dish, dump marinara on top, sprinkle with more cheese.
* Bake 350 for 25 minutes or until bubbly and "melty"

Spinach Salad
Dressing:
1 c oil
3/4 c sugar
1/3 c ketchup
1/4 c vinegar
2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp salt

Salad:
Fresh spinach greens
1/2 c shredded carrots
4 thin slices red onion, separated into rings
2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
1 c sliced fresh mushrooms

Fresh Salsa
6 tomatoes
1 onion
2-4 Serrano chile (remove stem and seeds for milder salsa)
1 bunch cilantro (stems removed, rinsed in cold water)
juice of 1 or 2 limes
salt to taste

Chop, dice or mince to desired consistency. Add lime juice, salt and enjoy!

Goat Cheese Pizza
Pizza Crust (boboli)
1 1/2 tsp olive oil
1/3 c mozzarella, shredded + 1/3 c mozzarella
4 slices crumbled, crisp cooked bacon
12 thin slices plum tomatoes
4 thin slices red onion, rings separated
1 lg. seeded bell pepper sliced into rings
1/4 c crumbled goat cheese

heat oven to 500. Brush pizza dough with olive oil. Leaving a 1 inch edge, sprinkle with 1/3 c mozzarella cheese and crumbled bacon. Top with sliced plum tomatoes, red onion, bell pepper, goat cheese, and another 1/3 c mozzarella. Bake 10 to 12 minutes until brown and crisp.

Quiche Lorraine
Pastry for one-crust pie
8 oz (2 cups) swiss cheese, cut into thin strips
2 tbsp flour
4 eggs
1 1/2 c half and half
1/4 c chopped onion
8 slices crisply cooked, crumbled bacon
dash pepper

prepare pastry for filled one-crust pie using 9 inch pie pan.
heat oven to 350. Toss cheese with flour. In large bowl, beat eggs slightly. Add half and half, onion, bacon, pepper and cheese, mix well. Pour into pastry lined pan. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until knife inserted just off center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before serving.

Sooooo Sad

I broke one of my favorite china platters last night. It was really dumb. I tossed the pepper shaker to my husband and he wasn't expecting it and it was a really bad throw and it hit the edge of my platter and broke it. I feel terrible. The platter is part of a collection Vietri serving pieces I received as wedding presents, so we have had them almost 11 years. I am desperately searching for a replacement. So far, no luck. Any ideas?

What's Cookin' in the Kitchen!

A couple of nights ago, we had a feast! We grilled BBQ Pork Ribs and made Blue Cheese Cole Slaw. Both were Barefoot Contessa recipes - and OUT OF THIS WORLD!!

I recommend you give them a try!

BBQ Ribs Recipe:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 small red onion, diced (1 cup)
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon lime zest
1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
1/3 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1/3 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
4 racks country ribs (8 to 10 pounds)


Heat the vegetable oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat, and saute the onions and garlic for 5 to 7 minutes, until the onions are translucent but not browned. Add the chili powder, ground cumin and red pepper flakes and continue cooking for 1 minute. Add the zest and ginger and cook for an additional minute. Add the vinegar, tomato paste, honey, mustard, soy sauce and orange juice and simmer uncovered on low heat for 15 minutes, until thick.

Marinate the ribs in 2/3 of the barbecue sauce for a few hours or overnight in the refrigerator.

Prepare a grill with a single layer of hot coals and then add a few more coals 5 minutes before cooking, which will keep the fire going longer. Place the ribs on the grill and cook for about 25 to 30 minutes, turning once or twice to cook evenly on both sides. Brush with the marinade as needed.

Serve with extra barbecue sauce on the side.


** Now, getting organized ahead of time is something I am working on. So, I didn't marinate the ribs early. I just made the sauce and started basting while the ribs cooked. The flavor of the sauce is outstanding! It got thrown away after dinner, and I wished we had saved it in the fridge for bbq sandwiches!

Blue Cheese Coleslaw:
1/2 small head green cabbage
1/2 small head red cabbage
4 large carrots, scrubbed or peeled
2 cups (16 ounces) good mayonnaise
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons whole grain mustard
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) crumbled Roquefort blue cheese
1 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves


Cut the cabbages in half and then in quarters and cut out the cores. Set up the food processor with the slicing blade (according to manufacturer's instructions) and place the pieces of cabbage, one at a time, lying horizontally in the feed tube. (If they don't fit, cut them to fit lying down.) Place the feed tube pusher on top and turn on the processor. Don't push on the feed tube pusher or the slices will turn out too thick! Continue with the remaining red and green cabbage quarters. Transfer into a large bowl, discarding any very large pieces. Before you pour the dressing on the salad, save a handful of the grated vegetables to decorate for serving.

Change the slicing blade for the large shredding blade and cut the carrots so they also lie down in the feed tube. Since the carrots are hard, replace the feed tube pusher and press firmly with the food processor on. Transfer to bowl with the cabbages.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, both mustards, vinegar, celery salt, kosher salt, and pepper. Pour enough mayonnaise dressing over the grated vegetables and toss to moisten well. Add crumbled blue cheese and parsley and toss together. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours to allow the flavors to meld. Serve cold or at room temperature.

** Again, the flavors only got to meld for about 30 minutes - but the slaw was still dy-no-mite!!


While I was browsing her website, I found a recipe for Tzatziki. If you have never had Tzatziki - you are missing out! It is one of my favorite, low-calorie dips. I have tried making it several times this summer but not quite gotten it as flavorful as I have bought in a store. I love to eat it as a dip with vegetables, but it is also a crucial ingredient in gyros!

What's Cooking in my studio!

I just listed this set on ebay for halloween...


click here to see it on ebay.

Here is my fall collection for Cherry Tree Avenue.




Will be offered for sale soon:

My Studio!

I have been meaning to post this for awhile. I want to show everyone how AMAZING my studio looks. Anyone who has seen it at any point in the past would never believe how incredibly organized it is now. My good friend, Liz, came up to visit and helped me unpack and organize it. I don't feel like I did much, she really cracked the whip and worked magic! Liz is a true miracle worker!
So, here is the before picture:


Here are a few in-progress pictures:



And, ta da...

Free Printables

I love things that are designed to make my life easier! I was reading a blog recently, and ran across this printable grocery list! Here is another one from Working Mom.

I found these great babysitter printables:
Working Mom's Babysitting Checklist
Babysitting Information from Printable Checklists.

I also found this incredible resource for getting organized if you truly want to take household organization to a new level.
Household Notebook: Make Your Own Planner for an Organized Home This is a truly inspiring resource. I have just spent a little time printing everything out, putting it in sheet protectors and assembling my binder. I think this is going to revolutionize our home. I cannot wait to try it out. Through this home organization system, I have also found a Christmas organization system that I have already printed out in anticipation of having a less stressful (and hopefully less expensive due to not duplicate gift buying, etc.) holiday season! As I am looking at my freshly assembled binder, I cannot help but think of a few of my friends who would love to use something like this. I realize it isn't for everyone - but there are people who pay home organizing people big bucks to help them set up something like this, and this online resource is totally free! I just need some notebook dividers and I am ready to rock and roll!!

Chugga Chugga Choo Choo! Jump on the Fabric Train!

Our new fabric store is chugging right along! Need some fabric to feed your addiction? Check us out!! Http://www.iwantfabric.com

We are in the spotlight!

We are the featured blog in this great website Boutique Savvy- check it out!

Sewing Projects for Kids

I don't know about you, but my oldest child, who is not quite 5 years old comes into my studio, sits down and gazes longingly at the shelves full of fabric. Of course, this fills my heart with pride - like Mother, like daughter, right? And, she is always spiriting away snippits and scraps of fabrics to play with. I often find them draped and fashioned around her "babies" (the gazillions of stuffed animals she has and plays with).
She is longing for the day when she can actually sew something herself. So, I have been compiling a list of sewing projects for kids, in search of a good one for a child her age.
Tic Tac Toe Bean Bag Toss
Rick Rack Fish (not a sewing project - more like a craft project - but terribly cute!)
Lunch bag (I am picturing giving G some muslin and some markers and letting her decorate and draw on the fabric and then I will use the new fusible vinyl I found to make the fabric water resistant and protect her design. I will stitch it into a lunch bag for her. This idea could evolve into some great party favors, etc!)
Pillowcase

Do you have a favorite kids sewing project to share?

Some Pictures of the Girls

Just sharing some pictures I took of the girls in the last few days...

(I know, I know - there is a child missing - Olivia was napping!)

Hurry Before You Miss This Great Deal!

I saw a great sale posted on the Madie Jane blog, and hurried to place my order for some shabby t-shirts! Then, I was rushing over here to blog about it so I could share the love with all of you, and with great sadness realized that the sale ended yesterday. So, I emailed Bobbie and she confided that the coupon code will be valid through tomorrow. So, run, don't walk over to madiejane.com and take advantage of the 50% off (yep, you read right - for once, a sale that is a GREAT DEAL!!) by entering "blogsale" during checkout!
I ordered shabby t-shirts for my girls - G, O, and S.
Only ours will be made in the raspberry birds fabric in the upper left corner!

I also admired the baby doll dresses, and was very tempted to order the girls all matching dresses in the freshcuts floral and the raspberry birds.