From Blushing Bride to Domestic Diva

Filter Fabulous!

2012-01-09T11:19:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh....2012...how did you get here so fast? While others are anticipating the promise and possibilities of a brand spanking New Year I must admit...I am a bit bummed! Year after year, I live for the holidays! I crazily contemplate my Christmas crafts, manically manifest my menus, and devilishly deck the halls with boughs of holly! Now that the Yuletide has passed, I cower at the idea of taking all of my pretty, pretty decorations down and boxing them up until next year. Sigh....But wait, isn't the season of winter worth celebrating too? There are so many magical things that the winter brings- snow, frost, icicles and crackling fireplaces! For those of us living in climates close to the tropics, a winter wonderland may be only a dream or a ski vacation away. Here in Orlando; we are stewing in a steamy 75 degrees on this January day... No snowman or sledding for us any time soon! Upon my web travels, I found this adorable D.I.Y. wreath that may cause even Jack Frost himself to come nipping at your nose. How clever is this craft made out of what else but clean COFFEE FILTERS! What caught my eye about this craft is the wreath reminded me of wintery white carnations- one of my all time favorite, but much neglected flowers. If you are like me and need a little dose of creative crafting to help get you through those post Christmas blues, pour yourself a cup of hot cocoa, sneak into those flannel penguin pj's and fire up that glue gun!

Materials:

* Styrofoam or hay wreath form (Note: If using pressed hay wreath, leave the plastic covering on!)
* Extra large coffee filters
* Hot glue gun and glue sticks
* White craft glue
* Stiff paintbrush
* Glitter
* Bow or ribbon (optional)

Directions:

Stack one coffee filter on top of another. Fold in half and pinch the bottom of both filters in center. Draw hand from bottom to top to bunch into a blossom; squeeze at pinched point to hold shape. Begin hot gluing pinched ends of filters side by side around the wreath form with blossoms pointing outward. Start from the outside of the ring in. Continue this pattern until wreath form is covered with coffee filter blooms. (Note: If you do find small gaps developing, feel free to fill these in with cupcake liners for texture and depth.) If you think your wreath needs a little pizzazz, brush watered-down craft glue onto wreath with a stiff brush and sprinkle with glitter. Use hot glue to attach a bow to wreath, if desired.

For those of you who may be sick of snowflakes and irritated by icicles by this point in the year, this couture coffee creation is changeable! Dust them with a little pink or blue spray paint for a friend's baby shower, incorporate pastel colored cupcake liners for a spring blossoms wreath or even use the natural unbleached coffee filters for a charming rustic look to be displayed all year long. Happy Hot Gluing and Happy New Year, All!

It's A Family Tradition!

2011-12-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

Besides the spirit of giving that fills hearts around the world (and all the clearance sales,) the reason why I love the holiday season so is because of the repetition of tradition! Traditions are constants we can count on, despite what the year has given or taken away from us- we can find a sense of comfort and routine in our family traditions that we hold so dear. For those of you who know me, you are aware that I live in a Hallmark card. Every day is a holiday and every day deserves to be celebrated! Between me and my tremendously talented teacher of a mother, the Dostal/Thornton household has acquired a bountiful bevy of holiday traditions and cultural customs throughout the decades. Some stem back from my mother's childhood, growing up in a modest country home in rural Georgia while some were passed down from ancestor to ancestor in my father's Czech lineage. One tradition that my sister and I developed as youngsters is that we would spend the night under the Christmas tree every December 23. We loved falling asleep in our flannel PJ's, tucked away in our Coleman sleeping bags in the electric glow of thousands of multi-colored lights. That to us was Christmas Magic at its finest...Granted with changes in our lives such a marriages and babies, this routine has been tucked away for the years but not forgotten. We hope that one day; we can pass along this tradition for our children and their children to uphold. Food is generally a huge part of family traditions and holiday get-togethers. The recipe below I am sure has been re-written and re-vamped throughout the years to personal preferences but the ritual ultimately stays the same. As soon as everyone is awake (we are not morning folk), we all gather at the breakfast table still in our pajamas for Mimosas and Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole. Take a peek at the recipe below- hopefully it may appear in a new family tradition for you!

Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients

1 can of crescent rolls

1 cup grated cheese, (Swiss is my mother's preference, but I like a Sharp Cheddar/Mozzarella blend)

1/2 cup grated cheese, additionally for topping after casserole is cooked

1 sleeve of hot breakfast sausage, cooked and drained of fat

1 sleeve of mild breakfast sausage, cooked and drained of fat

2 cups of milk or half-n-half

6 eggs

Butter for greasing casserole dish

Cracked salt and pepper, to taste

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 350*. Grease casserole dish with butter. Press crescent roll dough in the bottom of the casserole dish, forming a crust. Dump both drained sausages into casserole dish and top with 1 cup of grated cheese. Beat eggs, milk and salt and pepper together, pour over sausage and cheese mixture. Bake for 35-40 minutes and top with remaining 1/2 cup of grated cheese before serving. Casserole is best warm!

Cherish your own special traditions you share with your family- hold them close to your heart. Even though every day is not a calendar holiday, there's no excuse not to celebrate it! Life is so precious and goes by so fast...Enjoy the magic and wonder of this Christmas season and here's to creating some new traditions of your own! Happy Holidays, Y'all!

Successful Soirees of the Season

2011-12-06T08:38:00.001-08:00

Like the song says, here we are in the most wonderful time of the year! Parties, people and presents- can it get any better? The holidays hopefully are a time of joy, appreciation and reflection for you, but for many it can mean STRESS! There are gifts to be wrapped, stockings to be hung and of course, family to be entertained and celebrations to be thrown! With so many things to tend to in the month of December, it's no wonder sugar plums are dancing in our heads! We have included a few pointers below that will hopefully make your holiday party planning just a little bit merrier and much less hairier!

You Are Cordially Invited: Holiday party invitations can be offered up in paper post, email blasts, or a warm phone call to your favorite friends. No matter the media, ideally a party invitation should be sent out no less than 2 weeks prior to the event date. A good tip is to invite 20% more than the number of guests you wish at your gathering. Since the holiday season is already busting at the seams with parties, get-togethers and family vacations, you can safely count on 70% to 80% of your invitees attending. Invitations are the perfect way to set the theme and style of your fabulous fete! If you find yourself in a Christmas conundrum and just can't settle on a theme, first find an invitation that tickles your fancy. You now have a color palette, design and motif for your event- let the invitation be your inspiration!

Don't Shop Till You Drop: Plan your party shopping in a couple of trips so you can start with food preparation days in advance. This will also allow you to keep track of how many RSVP's you are actually shopping for to prevent over spending. Lists are so necessary! Plan your menu, and then devise your shopping list based off of your pre-selected recipes. Group the products together in order of the aisles they appear in the supermarket. If possible, avoid weekend shopping excursions or the after-work dinner rush. Orchestrating your grocery run during "off-times" will save you time and a holiday headache!

Food for All: Prepare a menu around a variety of dietary needs. So many people have food allergies and a gracious hostess is sensitive to these needs. Acknowledge guests who may have nut allergies, gluten free diets, vegan/vegetarian life styles and even dairy intolerance. If you have a guests attending whom you know has one of these special dietary needs, you may want to give a courtesy call to review menu with them and let he/she know you have made arrangements for them. Not only will they feel warm and fuzzy, but you can rest assured that everyone will be able to eat, drink and be merry at your holiday bash!

Safety First: Be mindful of food safety by keeping platters small and replenish often. Consider covering platters with plastic wrap right until the very first guest arrives. One rule of thumb in catering is that food held outside of temperature, either hot or cold, must be used within 3 ½ hours or discarded. That means your clams casino cannot hang out on the buffet all evening. Offer hand sanitizer in the restroom and encourage your guests to pick up a clean plate before hitting up the food table again.

Liquor Laws: Everyone likes to imbibe in a cup or two of "Christmas Cheer" during the holidays! When serving alcoholic beverages, be sure to include a variety of food that will prevent punch-drunk party guests. High-protein foods and complex carbs are your best bet. Consider offering an antipasti tray with a variety of meats and cheeses, a carving station with lean proteins such as turkey or pork tenderloin, or a crowd favorite, jumbo shrimp cocktail. Fruits and vegetables containing Vitamins B and C are also great defenses against ho-ho-horrible hangovers. Towards the end of the your swinging soiree, offer rib-sticking treats such a mini-grilled cheeses, breaded mozzarella sticks, hamburger sliders, etc. as send off snacks. These naughty nibbles will be much appreciated by your guests that night and their morning after. Consider ordering custom water bottle labels and setting up a tub of chilled bottled waters by the door. Encourage your guests to take two or three as "party favors" as you send them off. If a guest is not capable of driving home, set up the Aero bed for them in the spare room or arrange for a taxi to take them home. As always, safety first!

Be YOUR Guest: This will be a hard pill for all of my divas to swallow! We sure do love our D.I.Y. projects and concocting all of our favorite recipes, but sometimes you just have to surrender! Consider paying a maid service to come in both before and after your party to take care cleaning out all those hidden nooks and crannies. You may also want to look into having your party catered or perhaps you provide the dessert or your family favorites and entrust a caterer to provide food and service. During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, find some time for you to relax and enjoy the company of your family and friends. This will be money well spent.

We hope these soiree suggestions help make your yearly yuletide gathering a memorable and stress-free occasion for you. Keep in mind however, if the pigs in a blanket burn or if the cupcakes collapse, let it go. Do not stress! Try to focus on the positive and remember, at the end of the day it's all about creating the friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.

Happy Holidays, Y'all!

Turkey Day Table Talk

2011-11-07T13:34:00.000-08:00

The feasting and festivities of Thanksgiving are a week away and even though I know you have talked turkey, have you talked table? As you thumb through the pages of your heirloom cookbooks and seek out the newest recipes from Alton and Emeril, dedicate some of your time to the design of your dining room table. Creating the perfect place setting is key to a well-remembered dinner party as we all know we feast first with our eyes! Our suggestions below will not only entertain but engage your guests at this year's Thanksgiving Day table.

Table Linen- Do you really need one? If your table is a modern glass top or a sumptuous hardwood, you may not require linen. If you are however working with a hand me down dining room set, covered with few water rings and pizza grease stains, let your linen lead the way. Table coverings can be inviting and inexpensive! Better Homes & Gardens has a lovely cost-effective line of linens offered at Wal-mart Stores for under $10.00 a cloth! The Hera of Holidays, Ms. Martha Stewart has her own bevy of brocades and damasks available at K-mart and Macy's for reasonable prices as well. Before you begin looking for linen, be sure you have your table measurements in hand. The same goes if you would like to make your table covering. Stop by the local fabric shop and pick up a few yards of rustic burlap or ecru canvas for a fast cover-up. You may even want to bolster your table in brown butcher's paper. Give your dinner guests colored pens and they can write what they are thankful for this year on the covering. You will be grateful for all the sincere sentiments and the ease of clean-up.

Napkins- Want to really make an impact? Napkin folds! Simple and solid to over-the-top origami, napkin folds can be found all over the web. The secret to making a beautifully folded napkin is your napkin needs to be steamed and starched. This will give it a "back-bone" and aid in keeping its shape. If fanciful folds are out of your league, fret not! This is when the napkin ring is king! Thick gold, orange or brown floral wire twisted and turned in your own circular creation works wonders. No, it's not 1993, but scrunchies with a delicate gold button or small crystal embellishment glued to them will keep your napkin and your crimped pony-tail in place!

Chargers- These over-sized glammy plates are a wise investment for the frequent hostess. For those of you who may be unfamiliar with the charger concept, they are large decorative plates placed under your actual dinner plate. Charger plate etiquette and use varies among caterers and restaurants. Chargers can be removed as soon as the guests are seated or after the salad course or entree course are taken away. Since the plates are not actually used to serve food on, we leave the charger removal at your own personal discretion. Creative chargers come in hand-blown glass, rattan, wood, steel, etc. Melamine and plastic are practical and durable options for a charger. They are not dishwasher safe but can be easily wiped down after the big feast with a damp rag and a dose of elbow grease. Melamine or plastic will also be the most cost efficient option- a huge impact for the slightest charge.

Centerpieces- I like the old adage low and long for holiday and formal gatherings. Since Thanksgiving dinners are usually a time for catching up and conversing with your closet family and friends, you don't want your centerpieces to block your line of vision with your dear ones. Varying sizes of pillar candles with apples and leaves intertwined down the middle of the table will give you a clean and classic look. Gold-painted twigs, branches and acorns add some shimmer and shine to your Turkey time. Trust your family florist to design something elegant and traditional using autumnal colored Chrysanthemums, berries and wheat stalks. You may want to forgo the centerpiece all together and let your food be the focus of your fete.

Place Card Holders- Put them in their place! The best way to personalize a table and make your guests feel a part of the gathering is place cards. These cleverly crafted cards are fashionable and functional. Please consider these "gourd-eous" place card holders we have pictured here. All we did was take a mini pumpkin (this one is actually plastic so I can use them for years to come but the real thing is preferred) and very carefully, slit the stem deep enough to hold a place card. The same concept could be applied to a small piece of Indian corn, a Bosc pear or even a pinecone. A freshly fallen leaf with your guest's name written in gold or silver paint pen is a pleasing place card as well.

Hopefully, these tableside tips will guide you in creating a marvelous and memorable holiday for all. We wish you and your families a delightfully decadent Thanksgiving and are grateful to have your love and support throughout the years!

Night of the Living Bread

2011-10-17T19:50:00.000-07:00

Gather around, boys and ghouls! Halloween may be a kiddy and candy filled holiday for the majority, but what better time to host a party so lively, it will raise the dead! I think the child in all of us gets a little more mischievous and playful around this time of year. Whimsy and wonder lurks around every corner with collections of costumes, cauldrons of candy, and big-grinned jack-o-lanterns watching your every move! Even though we may be a little too old for the tricks, let the treats and eats be your focus this year. Offer to throw a ghastly get-together for your closet friends. Throw a few cob webs on the wall, turn up the “Monster Mash”, and offer a bewitching buffet that will have those goblins screaming for more! The “Skeleton Bones” recipe below is more than easy and won’t “break” your bank for this year’s frightful fete!

Ingredients

1 tube of refrigerated breadstick dough

Coarse sea salt

Directions

Unroll a tube of refrigerated breadstick dough and separate the rectangular pieces. Working with one piece at a time, stretch the dough to lengthen it a bit and then use kitchen scissors or a knife to cut a 1 ½ inch slit in the center of each end. Roll or shape the resulting four flaps of dough into knobs that look like the ends of a bone. Place the dough bones on an ungreased baking sheet, spacing them a few inches apart, and sprinkle on a little coarse salt. Bake the bones until they are light golden brown, about 12 minutes. Makes 12 bones.

These bonafide breadsticks will look just darling on your spooky spread! Serve with "slimy” spinach dip, "macabre” marinara or spine-chilling cheese sauce. Let your menacing mind run wild this Halloween!

Perfect Paper Posies

2011-09-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

As the summer sun sets, and the leaves begin to turn, what will you miss most about these wonderfully warm and welcoming months of summer? Me personally, I will miss the bright blooms of my Zinnias, Marigolds, Gardenias and Hibiscus. These are all floral harbingers that signal the commencement of vacation season and remind me to slow down a bit- it is time to enjoy life! Don’t get me wrong, the seductive gold, bronze and copper hues of the autumn leaves are simply stunning, but every now and then in the midst of a cool fall breeze, I long for the beauty of a bright summer bloom. Through a little ingenuity and imagination, we have found a way to capture the sight and shape (unfortunately, we haven’t mastered the smell) of summer’s finest floral.

Materials:

6 large sheets of tissue paper in varying colors

1 pipe cleaner

Scissors

Tape

Directions:

For each flower, stack 6 different-colored sheets of tissue paper, then fold the stack accordion style the long way. Twist a pipe cleaner around the center. Round both ends of the stack with scissors. For a frilly flower, cut a point at the ends of the stack with scissors. Open the flower by gently pulling up 1 layer of tissue paper at a time toward the center. To add leaves, turn over the flower and use the pipe cleaner ends to attach two 6-foot strips of crepe paper streamers to the bottom of the flower. To add a stem, add your bloom to a bamboo garden stack with a bit of Scotch tape.

From here, feel free to use your fanciful flowers any where you please! Your tissue Tulips and paper Pansies look great as décor for spring time bridal teas, baby girl showers, or any bold birthday bash. Party or no party, may these paper posies keep the spirit of summer living in your heart and soul all year long!

Berry, Berry, Quite Contrary!

2011-07-25T10:40:00.000-07:00

Divas, can you believe how incredibly fast this summer is flying by?! Despite it's prompt passing, I hope you have managed to squeeze in a few juicy snow cones and sand castles somewhere along the way! Whether it's today, tomorrow or this weekend, take a moment to really relish in the "easin' of the season" with our sweet "Berry Bubbler" cocktail. Bright and ripe berries are synonymous with the joys of summer time and are usually at their peak during the warm weather months. We added a "POP" of Champagne and a splash of vodka to this cocktail in hopes that it quenches your thirst! Enjoy this sip of summer before summer slips away!

Berry Bubbler

Ingredients:

Bottle of Brut Champagne or Prosecco

Strawberry puree or strawberry daiquiri mix

Vanilla flavored vodka

Fresh berries to garnish- blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc.

Assembling the Drink:

Fill a chilled Champagne flute 1/4 of the way full with the berry puree and a splash of vanilla vodka. (Unlike most situations in life, more vodka is not always better! :) Gently combine mixture at the bottom of the glass with a drink stirrer or straw. Top mixture with cold Champagne or Prosecco and garnish with fresh berries. Serve pool or picnic side, sip slowly...

"Here's to the bright sunny days and dips in the pool, here's to walking barefoot through green grass that is cool, here's to sleeping in late between the sheets, here's to baseball games and impromptu volleyball meets, here's to early morning fishing with a cane pole, here's to grilling and chilling; can't you smell that charcoal? Here's to watermelon, ice cream and road trips to the beach, here's to enjoying this sweet summer time before it is out of reach!"

Don't Spill the Beans!

2011-07-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

When a dear friend of mine recently asked for some ideas for an inexpensive centerpiece for a bridal shower, my mind began to race! I concurrently was gorging out on a half-eaten bag of Jelly Belly when I found my muse! From jelly beans to coffee beans to black beans, these petite pellets can sure make a statement! When making a floral centerpiece using any type of beans, be sure to double up! What I mean by this is start your design with (2) transparent vessels. You will need a large container and then a smaller container that can nestle inside the larger container. The large container will hold your lovely legumes while the smaller container will actually hold the flowers and the water. Once you have both containers in place, slowly pour your beans of choice into the space between both containers; keep the smaller vase centered as best as you possibly can. As soon as the beans are snugly set, let your imagination run wild! This versatile vignette can be used in conjunction with any party theme or holiday. For instance, vibrantly colored jelly beans and freshly cut daffodils would make an "egg-ceptional" display on your Easter table or at a spring shower. Consider Tulips or even blooming branches as an alternative too! Perhaps at a "wine-down" pairing & dinner, you can use a selection of smaller and larger vases filled with different types of beans- ranging from red kidney beans, to black beans to green peas. Instead of doling out the dollars for flowers, work a few votives and colored candlesticks into the beans for rustic, old-world charm ambiance. One of my favorite centerpieces I have ever contruscted was a selection of vintage coffee mugs (which I bravely bargained for at a local flea market), filled to the brim with whole coffee beans. We placed a square of floral foam underneath the beans so a trio of hot-colored Gerbera Daisies could "bloom" from each mug! Take it a step further and before placing these buzzy beauties on the tables, add a tiny tag to each arrangement reading "Thanks A Latte!" Once the party ends, invite your most cherished guests to take these java-themed keepsakes home with them! Your couture coffee creations will now serve two purposes- how much more financially savvy can you be?!

Limited budgets are almost more fun to work with than unlimited ones as it forces you to use your creativity.
Next time instead of ending up in a soup pot or a candy dish, all of your favorite beans will be gracing your tables in a different way!

"Egg-ceptional" Egg Salad

2011-04-25T13:04:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter, Y'all!

I sure hope this post finds you all basking in the after-glow of a beautiful Easter weekend spent with the ones you love and cherish the most. Another Easter Sunday has come and gone, but as you sweep up the chartreuse green Easter grass and polish off the remaining yellow chick Peeps, you may find yourself contemplating what to do with all those EGGS?! If Peter Cottontail left you with a bevy of brightly hued hard boiled eggs, put those Easter icons to good use! Behold, "The Best Egg Salad EVER!!!" OK, I may be a bit biased but hey, what could it hurt? Only until I got a little older, did I appreciate Egg Salad. In my childhood days, it was always one of those sandwiches that you PRAYED would not be in your lunchbox that day. Now, as my taste buds have matured and ripened, I can appreciate the simplicity of this perfectly composed salad. The recipe below has a few little twists and turns and is definitely not your momma's Egg Salad! Give it a go!

Easter Egg Salad

Ingredients

12 bacon slices

8 large hard-boiled eggs, peeled, coarsely chopped

1/3 cup finely chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped pimiento-stuffed green olives

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

12 slices "Texas Toast" sandwich bread, toasted

12 Butter lettuce leaves

Fresh Tomato Slices (if desired)

Directions

Sauté bacon in skillet over medium heat until brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Combine chopped eggs, celery, and olives in bowl. Mix in 1/4 cup mayonnaise and mustard. Season with seasoning salt and pepper. ( Add a pinch of Cayenne for a little rabbit kick!) Place toast slices on work surface; spread lightly with remaining mayonnaise. Divide egg salad among 6 toast slices. Place 4 bacon pieces, then 2 lettuce leaves atop egg salad on each. Cover with remaining toast slices, mayonnaise side down. Cut sandwiches diagonally in half. Serve immediately.

What are you waiting for? Hop to it and get cracking with this "egg-travagant" version of Egg Salad.

Face It!

2011-03-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Facials are a guilty pleasure for me. I can count on one hand how many times I have had a facial professionally administered. Actually, I can count on one finger to be exact...My first facial encounter was right before I walked down the aisle as a little pre-bridal splurging is always acceptable! Yep- big mistake! For some reason, the idea of a licensed Esthetician poking, prodding, and pinching my enlarged pores (3) days before I hosted the largest party of my life seemed logical?! Fortunately for me, the gal at the M.A.C. counter had seen this all too often and was a pro at covering the after math with a heap of concealer and a stroke of Bronzer. Magic, I tell ya! Ever since then, I have taken my business to SPA de le Casa! I know the idea of an at home facial is not as glam and gilded as a day at the Ritz Carlton SPA, but it is cost-effective and done in the privacy of your own home. Plus, no 22% gratuity necessary and no awkward waffle weave robes! I have included a few of my fave at home facials which can be made from food and other natural items. Take a peek in your pantry or fridge for these treatments that will leave your face fresh and your wallet weighty.

Honey-do: Everyday honey is the "bees knees" for anyone with dry or damaged skin. This syrupy solution is a "humectant" which means it aids in retaining water and moisture. Use a cloth damp with warm water and pat skin to open pores. Smear honey onto skin and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then pat skin with a cloth dampened with icy water to seal your newly hydrated pores closed.

Avocado Aid: It's not just for Guacamole any more! This bumpy and lumpy green fruit is rich in vitamins, A, C, E, iron, potassium, niacin, and pantothenic acid. All these components make it a miracle fruit! Mash the avocado, apply directly to skin, then leave on skin for 15 minutes. Scrape off with a crispy Tortilla Chip ( I am kidding!) Rinse your face with cool water and allow to air dry. You can also use the miracle fruit to strengthen and condition your hair or throw a swinging Fiesta! Ole!

Younger with Yogurt: Your daily pre-lunch break snack is packing some major "skinefits!" Yogurt contains alpha-hydroxy acids, including lactic acid, which are commonly used to help reduce the appearance of fine wrinkles. (Yes, please!) It's also rich in B-complex vitamins, including B-5, or panthothenic acid, which aids in the skin's healing process. Clean face thoroughly, removing all make-up and excess oils, then apply a think coat of plain, non-flavored yogurt to your face and neck. Leave on for 20 minutes and rinse clean.

Egg-ceptional Results: Egg are high in vitamin A, a common ingredient in acne-fighting products. How do you think the Easter Bunny has kept up his good looks throughout the years? For dry skin, spread the egg yolk on your face and neck, leaving it on the skin for 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water. For oily skin, do the same with only the egg white. Wait until it dries and rinse off with warm water. FYI, I am actually yolking it up as I type but now I suddenly have a strange craving for bacon...

Going Grape: These globes of goodness contain powerful antioxidants, called poly phenols, which help combat aging. Grape seed oil or extract is now found is the world's most cutting edge anti-aging products because of it's healing capabilities. Skip the Lancome counter and simply cut one grape in half and rub lightly all over face. Prepare for yourself for a slight tingle as the grape extract gets to work!

Banana Beauty: No monkey business here! Bananas are one of the most nourishing fruits available because they contain magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, iodine, folic acid, and vitamins A, B, and E, all of which benefit the skin. Mash one overripe banana and spread onto face. Rinse off after 15 to 30 minutes with warm water. This is a guaranteed facial that will leave your skin simply "appeeling."

Rosie Glow: Your Royal Highness of Egypt, Cleopatra kept her skin youthful and glowing with the application of a natural astringent of rose water. To make your own sweet smelling splash, place 2 cups of firmly packed fresh rose petals in a saucepan and cover with 2 cups of distilled water. Simmer over low heat until water is reduced by half. Let cool and strain out the petals. Store in sterile jar or bottle. Your house will smell heavenly and who knows, with skin as good as yours will be, your very own Marc Anthony just may sweep you off your feet.

As they say, "beauty is only skin deep" so nourishing from the inside is very necessary. Be sure to always drink lots of water, take your vitamins and wear sunscreen moisturizer. Take some time out of your day to experiment with these homeopathic hints. Just think, one fabulous and frugal facial is only a grocery run away!

Blooming Brews

2011-03-07T10:13:00.000-08:00

A little impish twinkle starts to appear in my eyes this time every year as my fondest holiday swiftly approaches. March 17th, Saint Patrick's Day in Savannah, Georgia is truly at sight to be seen. The spouting waters of our majestic Forsyth Fountain are dyed green, doggies don leprechaun hats and emerald hued eggs and grits are something you would want to consume. For many Savannah Sons and Daughters, Saint Patrick's Day is a time to share in revelry with your closet family and friends and is a time to pay homage to our gorgeous city and rich heritage. Even though we live in Orlando now, I am hoping the Luck O' the Irish will get us a few days off of work next week so we can make it up for the merry-making of the holiday. If not, you can bet your last Irish pound that we will celebrate here in Sunny Florida with sass and style. As I sat here surfing the internet, virtually preparing my Saint Patrick's Day dinner table, I originally desired a centerpiece that exuded class, elegance and panache! Memories of past March 17ths came flooding back to me and oddly enough, the words "class and elegance" just didn't seem to fit...Almost instantaneously, this frothy floral mug caught my eye on 1-800 Flowers and I squealed with delight. I genuinely love the products and quality put out by 1-800 Flowers, but I had to figure out a way to make this myself or what kind of blog would this be?! Here are your DIY instructions for a Saint Patrick's Day Brew that will have all Irish Eyes Smiling!

Blooming Brews

Materials Needed:

* Glass or Acrylic Beer Mug

* Colored Crystals

(Gold for a Traditional Lager, Brown for a Guiness, or Green for a TRUE St. Patrick's Day Brew!)

* 1 Dozen Carnation Heads with 3/4" Stems (White or Green Tinted)

* 1 Block Oasis Floral Foam

Directions:

Cut floral foam into a (1) 1/2" thick circle the diameter of the beer mug. Soak this circle for 2 to 3 hours in water. Fill your beer mug (I found mine at the Dollar Tree) to the top, leaving about 1" for the wet floral foam with your crystals or glass marbles. Top with water and wet floral foam disc. Gently begin pushing your carnation heads into the wet foam until disc is covered. Finish off the presentation with a printed theme tag and ribbon with a Saint Patrick's Day wish or a witty Irish limerick.

I hope this Saint Patrick's Day finds you amongst friends and family and those who love you the most. Where ever you are raise your glasses and sing with me this Irish Toast.

Saint Patrick was a gentleman,

Who through strategy and stealth,

Drove all the snakes from Ireland,

Here’s a toasting to his health.

But not too many toastings

Lest you lose yourself and then

Forget the good Saint Patrick

And see all those snakes again.

'Beannachtam na Feile Padraig!'

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Y'all!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

2011-02-21T19:47:00.000-08:00

The fattest of all Tuesdays is upon us and as the French (and the fancy) say, Laissez les bons temps rouler! For those of us who have never had the chance to experience the bevy of beads and booze on Bourbon Street, home-thrown Mardi Gras parties are a great way for us to relish in the fanciful festivities even though we are miles away from NOLA. A featured dish at many Mardi Gras celebrations is the tri-colored, tear apart King Cake. The origins of the King Cake dates back to pre-Christian religions of Western Europe however, the King Cake is now most synonymous with Epiphany and Mardi Gras. Many moons ago, French settlers brought this cakey custom to Louisiana in the 18th century where it remained associated with the Epiphany until the 19th century when it became a more elaborate Mardi Gras custom. In New Orleans, the first cake of the season is served on January 6, Epiphany Night. A small ceramic (or new age plastic) figurine of a baby is tucked away in the sweet, decadent layers of the cake. The baby hidden in the cake speaks to the fact that the three Kings had a difficult time finding the Christ Child on that fateful night in Bethlehem. By tradition, whoever finds the baby is given the honor of hosting the next "King's Cake Party." The chromatic colors of the King Cake are also rich with sugary symbolism. The royal purple denotes justice, the true green represents undying faith and the bright yellow symbolizes power. Now that we know the roots of this "custom cake", let's get to baking!

King Cake

Ingredients

2-8 oz. cans crescent rolls

4 oz. cream cheese

2 tablespoon confectioner's sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 tablespoon butter

1/3 cup light brown sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Purple, Green, Yellow Icing

Directions

Preheat oven to 350*. Coat a 10-inch round pizza pan with cooking spray.

Separate crescent rolls at perforations into 16 pieces. Arrange crescent rolls pieces in prepared pan in a circle, with points in the center. About halfway down from points, press seams together. Beat cream cheese, confectioner's sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer until creamy. Spread over dough where seams have been pressed together. In a small bowl, using a fork, combine butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over cream cheese. Fold dough points over filling, then fold bottom of dough triangles over points, forming a circular roll, like a king cake. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly. Drizzle King Cake with Mardi Gras colored icing. (Don't forget the baby!)

The recipe above is a fun and fast version of this party pastry and would be a welcomed addition to any of your Mardi Gras themed Fetes. After your King Cake makes its hot debut from the oven, fasten your feathers, hold up your hurricane, and get ready to throw out some beads, Mister- it is time to let the good times roll!

A-weighting Success!

2011-01-10T12:50:00.000-08:00

For those of you who know me, you know food is my folly! Whether it's baked or broiled, sautéed or seared, fricasseed or fried- I LOVE FOOD! As a Georgia Peach, our Southern family celebrations and holidays revolve around food and good times shared in the kitchen. I begin menu planning for these events months in advance and day dream about the moment when all of my food fantasies will come to fruition. The career path I have chosen also exposes me to fine foods and a bevy of beverages on a daily basis. As a catering sales manager in a Four-Diamond Hotel, one could almost say it is my job to recognize and sell good food! With my proclamation of food love now known, there comes a price... Over the last few months, Rick and I have seen our love of tastes materialize into a loathing of our waists! We have both had more fun than a pig in mud packing these pounds onto our person, but now it's time to take control of the situation and get back to where we once were. Both Rick and I are competitors by nature; we are first-born leaders who have always sought for that number one spot in the sun. Instead of just making a trite New Year's Resolution to lose weight, we have turned this feat of fitness into a friendly little wager. Our competition is simple, satisfying and is based on positive reinforcement. We simply have agreed that the individual who loses the highest percentage of their body weight by May 1st, 2011 will get to choose a (5) day long trip to anywhere in the Continental United States. Rick has his heart set on a Pacific Coast Highway road trip in California while I have my sights set toward a Culinary Crusade in the North East. Either way, we will be experiencing the benefits of weight loss and have an awesome trip to look forward to in the fall.
I was once an avid disciple of Weight Watchers and had great success with the program in college. I now plan to use a few of those tactics to help me reign supreme. Here are a few tricks and treats that helped me get through the days, the weeks, and the months that eventually led up to my weight loss goal.

Sweet Tooth: I am pretty sure I keep the Oompaloompas employed at the Wonka Factory with my insatiable love of sweets. They have inevitably been the downfall of all my diets! Instead of my caramel Sundae, I now turn to fat free whipped topping. Crumble a reduced fat Oreo in this fluffy cloud like substance, sprinkle a little unsweetened cocoa powder in the mix and place in your freezer for just a bit. After that first bite, you will feel like you are indulging in a Dairy Queen Blizzard or it's delightfully delish faux, the Mc Flurry. Fat free whipped topping and a maraschino cherry also pep up fat free chocolate pudding if that's more your speed. Other sinless sugary items include a Tootsie Roll Pop, a handful of Jelly Bellies, or a piping cup of sugar free Swiss Miss with mini marshmallows- all coming in under 70 calories! Hopefully these will be the answer to all your sweet dreams!

Midnight Snacks: You have brushed your teeth, put on your jammies, but you are craving something salty before you hit the sack. My savory savior has been 97% Fat Free Butter Popcorn sprinkled with some reduced fat parmesan, maybe some Italian Mrs. Dash and a spritz of spray butter. String Cheese, Mini Rice Cakes, and a Bowl of Healthy Choice Broth Based Soups are salty and sinless snacks. Great for lunch or bedtime, try a Guiltless Grilled Cheese! Spray butter (2) pieces of light white bread and layer with one slice of sharp fat free processed cheese. Grill and gorge guilt free, dahlin's!

Down the Hatch: As a self-proclaimed social butterfly, I enjoy sipping cocktails with the ladies whenever I can. Adult libations like high calorie mixed drinks and frozen daiquiris can really make that calorie count go crazy. A glass of wine or Champagne are usually your best bet, but when you simply cannot go without your favorite cocktail, sip down one of these slimmed down drinks.

Mojitos- White Rum, Sprite Zero, Fresh Lime Juice, and Mint

Cosmo- Orange Flavored Vodka, Light Cranberry Juice, and Fresh Lime Juice

Mimosa- Champagne with a Splash of Reduced Calorie Orange Juice

Bloody Mary- Pepper Flavored Vodka, V8, Worcestershire, Cayenne, Olive Juice, Salt & Pepper

Margarita- Tequila, Lemon-Lime Crystal Light, Reduced Calorie Orange Juice, Fresh Lime Juice

*Pearl of Wisdom* I know many of my gal pals have reverted to drinking flavored vodkas and diet tonic or soda, but please do your research! The majority of the flavored vodkas on the market are actually brimming with sugar. Please refer to the vodka manufacturers' website for calorie info before you imbibe in what you think is a diet friendly drink!

I jokingly told my boss the other day when she asked what my New Year's resolution was that I don't make resolutions, I make life changes. Ok, I know it was a pompous and cheeky little statement, but it's true! Hopefully, without completely depriving myself of my true love of food and fun, I can make a few small but impactful changes to my daily life that will bring me closer to where I want to be!

Cheers to you reaching your goals, whatever they may be this year and this lifetime!

Put Your Best Foot Forward in 2011

2011-01-03T12:56:00.000-08:00

The snowing is snowing and the wind is blowing- there is no doubt that old man winter is in full effect! With the mercury in those thermometers as low as it can go, it's about time to treat those tootsies to a little pedi-pampering. The harsh, frigid and sometimes blisteringly cold weather of the season can take a toll on our skin and especially our frequently flaunted feet. Even though most of us Divas find fantastic coverings for our feet during the winter, like your favorite furry Uggs or a pair of Leopard-print Louboutin Boots (in MY dreams...), your tootsies still require the TLC you would normally lend them at the peak of sandal season! Hopefully, you are not snowed in and could make it to your local nail salon, but if you are, or would just like to take the D.I.Y. approach to fabulous feet, take a few of these toe-pointers for your own good. Your feet will thank you!

*Soak Em'- Fill a small tub with warm to hot water (personal preference), a squirt of your favorite shampoo, and let those peds marinate. You will want to soak your feet for at least 10 minutes to soften the skin before exfoliating, but I bet you won't be watching the clock during this luxe process. If you have them lying around the house, add a handful of those decorative glass stones you see in floral arrangements. Work them around the tub with your feet and toes as they can stimulate your pressure points. A much more cost efficient and less intimidating approach to acupuncture. (Needles scare me, how about you?)

*Scrub Em'- Exfoliate feet using an over the counter defoliant, made with equal parts of Epsom salt, olive oil and hand soap. Pay close attention to heels and tiny toes as dead skin tends to build up there. Trim up those nails and cuticles while you are at it- no monster claws!

*Soften Em'- Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly with a few drops of fresh lemon juice to clean feet. No, we are not making lemonade; the acid from the lemon juice helps break down dead skin and allows the jelly to do its job! (Strawberries would also serve the same purpose, but wouldn't you rather put those bright little berries in a glass of bubbly?) Cover them with your cutest cotton socks and leave on overnight. Wash your feet the next morning and marvel over your smooth soles!

Make a day out of this foot fete, ladies! Treat your feet and yourself to a little R&R. Grab a magazine, light a few candles and push play on your favorite Michael Buble CD! As you sip your Champagne, let all the troubles of the world melt away.This winter your feet will be so fabulous, you will give Dr. Scholl’s a run for his money.

Cheers to posh paws and a bountiful and blessed New Year!

Say Cheese!

2010-12-13T14:29:00.000-08:00

If you have ever been to a swinging Christmas soiree in the South, I can guarantee you will see form of the recipe below on your gracious hostess' table. Whether your Granny calls them cheese straws, cheese bits, or cheese nibbles, no matter how you cut it- they are just down right delicious! (Excuse the crass pun but I just couldn't resist!) This is one of my all time favorite holiday recipes and I have VOWED never to make them any other time of year except during the Yuletide. These naughty nibbles accompany cleverly crafted cocktails and vino oh so well or make the perfect pre-dinner snack. Even if you don't get around to baking up these bits immediately, the dough will store in the freezer for up to a month. I hope these little pieces of pleasure bring a little spice and flavor to your next holiday ho-down!

Cheesy Cocktail Bits

Ingredients

1/2 cup Unsalted Butter (room temperature)
1 cup grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese
1 cup grated Smoked Gouda Cheese
2 cups All Purpose Flour
Pecan Halves
Cayenne Pepper to taste
Salt to taste

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 350*.

Cream butter and cheeses. Slowly add your flour, Cayenne, salt and mix well. Form mixture into tiny balls and press half of a pecan on each ball to flatten. Place on cookie sheet and bake for 15 to 17 minutes until golden and crisp. Allow to cool before serving.

*If you are feeling fiesty, change up your cheeses and see what develops!

It's Beginning to Smell A Lot Like Christmas!

2010-12-06T12:14:00.000-08:00

As we enter the second week of December, the holly jolly holiday season is in full swing for many of us! Our heads begin to fill with visions of sugar plums or the twinkle of the Menorah lights while the sounds of silver bells chime in our ears. Along with the sights and sounds of the holiday, don't forget those nostalgic smells! Unless you are Martha Stewart or June Cleaver, I doubt you spend your days trimming your mantle with fresh evergreen and pine, baking an army of gingerbread men, or tending to an oak fire burning in your hearth every moment of the holiday season. Just because you don't have the time to devote to those yuletide traditions, doesn't mean you cannot bring those memory evoking smells into your holiday home any time you please! This year, don't bother piddling away your pennies on artificial sprays, pricey soy candles, or an antiquated potpourri array (that after a few martinis may be mistaken for party mix...) Begin with a small pot of water on the stove, add in a few heaping teaspoons of cinnamon, allspice, vanilla, maybe some nutmeg too. If available in your refrigerator’s crisper, toss in a few orange slices or maybe a pinch of fresh or ground ginger. After your brew is made, bring your seasonal scents to a simmer and watch the house come alive! Keep an eyeball on your Christmassy concoction though assuring the liquid hasn't boiled completely out of it- the only thing you want roasting are those chestnuts on the open fire! Feel free to cover and store your mixture for several days, rejuvenating it with a little more water and spice to simmer on for your next swanky soiree.

With my sincerest "scentiments", Happy Holidays Divas!

Thanksgiving Pre-Dinner Winner

2010-11-15T17:38:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving, America's Holiday! Whether it's your first rodeo or your fiftieth, the stress of the cooking the treasured Thanksgiving cuisine is generally pretty high. The idea of perfectly preparing recipes, tediously timing their delivery, and pleasing a plethora of palates would make any Iron Chef quiver in their Crocs! Although we may wish for the Norman Rockwell rendition of Thanksgiving dinner, the truth is many Americans are subjected to the limitations of time, money, and ingenuity when it comes to preparing this picturesque meal. In my Hallmark card world, I would spend the day before the sacred event prepping and planning so we could enjoy a lunchtime feast the next day. Thanksgiving evening would be observed by drinking Uncle Jimmy's "special" cider, dancing the Polka, and maybe even a little karaoke by the firelight...Ahhh, the perfect Dostal-Thornton Thanksgiving...My reality is the prep work, the cooking, AND the cleaning will all be done on Thanksgiving day putting meal time closer to dusk. Goodness knows I don't want anyone to spoil their supper, but I always need something to keep these ravenous little piggies at bay! Sound faintly familiar? This year, let's all scrap the store-bought, pre cut, plastic preserved, veggie platters and impress your guests with this modern remake of a Charcuterie plate. The most wonderful thing about this assortment is that it's a NO COOKING REQUIRED appetizer! That's one less dish keeping you away from your favorite football game and those Macy's floats! Yippee! The items listed below are suggestions that can aid you in creating your own Charcuterie. Your guests will have a splendid time exploring their own custom flavor combinations and will be impressed by your gastronomic knowledge. In addition to this artisanal assortment, have a red and white wine available with water and/or tea to keep the thirst quenched and the spirits jolly. Again, the items listed below do not need to be cooked and are probably best served straight out of the can. The beauty of this bevy of eats is simplicity!

Create Your Own Charcuterie Components:

*Smoked Almonds or Mixed Party Nuts

*Whole Green Olives or Whole Kalamata Olives

*Baby Gherkins

*Caper Berries- A bit pricey but worth it for that gourmet touch

*Pearl Onions

*Artichoke Hearts- Available in cans and jars, be sure to drain thoroughly

*Roasted Red Peppers

*Arugula- The perfect edible garnish to "line" your tray

*Fresh Apple and Pear Slices- Don't forget to brush these with lemon juice to prevent browning

*Dried Fruit- Try dried Apricots, Cranberries, Raisins, or even Cherries

*Preserved Meats- Try Salami, Prosciutto or pre sliced Pepperoni

*Cheese- A variety of (3) is nice, Chevre for spreading, Brie for stacking, and Bleu Cheese for KICK

*Relish or Tapenade

*Jam or Preserves- Fig and Pig are a match made in hungry heaven

*Whole Grain Mustard

* Assortment Crackers- Bagel Chips and Pretzel Rod's are also great "vessels"

*Sliced Breads- Consider Rye Toast minis, French bread hunks, and Pita triangles

Start with a beautiful tray; perhaps the one Granny gave you at a bridal shower or a variety of fun and quirky bowls you found at last weekend's garage sale. Be sure to include serving utensils such a spreaders, toothpicks, pickle forks; no silverware necessary. Small paper plates and cocktail napkins make for easy clean up- why not color coordinate them to your autumnal table scape? Also remember to strategically place your plate. If you want company in the kitchen, even those back seat chefs, place this appetizing assortment close to the action. If you would rather fly solo, perhaps set up shop in the living room next to the tube.

Wherever you put this pre-dinner winner, take some time out of your culinary tasks to replenish and refurbish as necessary.

Enjoy Divas and here's to a full, fun, and fabulous Thanksgiving!

Head Over Heels!

2010-11-08T11:21:00.000-08:00

On October 23, 2010, my life was changed forever with the debut of my first niece, Miss Samantha Louise Dostal. I have heard others mentioned how much joy and happiness babies bring in their bundles but until you experience it first hand, I don't possibly think you could ever fathom the sincerity of that statement. I wanted more than anything to be there for her birth, but due to that dirty little four letter word (work), I could not be there the day she graced this earth with her presence. I was able to meet her (2) days after her birthday celebration and could not believe my weary eyes. Not only was my baby sister a mother, but there was this new ray of light and life that would impact our lives and the lives of others for many years to come. It's a mind baffling thing when you try to analyze the concept of human existence, a complicated and trying fact that is all simplified by taking one glance at those seraphim like features on this tiny, innocently beautiful baby looking up at you. In addition to wanting to spend every waking moment with her, I think there's an innate desire in every woman's core to decorate this new princess in clothes and accessories fit for baby royalty. The Dostal-Thornton women had such a wonderful time stocking the closet with pink, frilly things and dressing up this petite little "doll." As we all know, accessories can make or break an outfit, it's just a fact of life! Lately, the craze are these adorably over-sized floral head bands for baby girls, but with price tags of $15.00 and up, what's a budget conscious fashionsita to do? With some ingenuity, and a helping hand from our friend, George Washington, we cleverly devised our own Haute couture head band for Miss Samantha Louise, solely using materials found at our local dollar store! Take a peek below at the steps for making this necessary accessory for the little girl in your life.

Haute Couture Head Bands

Materials:

Mesh Hand Bands

Floral Bushels of Your Choice

Felt in Coordinating Color

Piece of Pizazz (Example: Large Button, Jewel, Feather, etc.)

Hot Glue

Scissors

Directions:

Begin with one bloom from your bushel and remove any of the plastic pieces holding the flower together. Glue your flower back together if necessary. Cut out (2) small nickel size pieces of felt and glue them back to back on the mesh head band. The first felt piece will serve as a base for your bloom and the second felt piece will provide a soft backing for baby's head. Paste your posy on top of the felt base with hot glue. Allow to dry. Finish off the look by adding on your piece of pizazz to the of the bloom. Featured here, Miss Samantha Louise is donning a red button on this hipster head band. (For Christmas, I plan on making her one with a little jingle bell bling, but let your own imagination be your guide! ) After the glue has completely cooled and set, accessorize your angel and get out that camera!

Trust me when I say this project is easy, effortless, and cost effective. We hope you fall head over heels for this floral fashion just as I fell hard for Miss Samantha Louise!

Savor a Flavor of Fall!

2010-09-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

Autumn has arrived and something in the air is electric! The treeline is on fire as the leaves glow like embers in a newly lit fireplace-vibrant hues of red, orange and yellow ablaze! The blistering heat of the dog days of summer has now faded, replaced with crisp and cooling breezes of the fall. Besides the "new look" Mother Nature has donned for the season, I also cannot resist the flavors of the fall! Pumpkin pie, Candy Corn, Thanksgiving Turkey, and my childhood favorite, Apple Cider. There is something about this spicy and soulful creation that reminds me of my Grandmother's kitchen and memorable holidays spent with my family in Savannah. After a recent date night to Bonefish Grill, I was inspired to share a grown-up version of this grog with my Divas! The server at the restaurant insouciantly mentioned their new "Fall Apple Martini" as if he new the less he shared about this apple infused alcohol, the more it would "a peel" to me! (That pun is for you, Ricky!) As demure as his offer was, I bellied up to the bar and could not resist this spicy siren's charms. The drink was refreshing yet heart-warming, with all the right things in all the right places! As any self-respecting bartender would do, they denied me the recipe but they did want to share with me that the vodka used to make this red delicious drink had been infused with 4 different types of apples for 3 days! I say "who has the time" and decided then and there to make a cleverly concocted copy for myself. Give this drink a whirl, I guarantee you will "fall" head over heels for this autumnal elixir!

Apple Cider Martini

Ingredients:

All Natural Apple Cider (Available at Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Publix, etc.)

Vanilla Vodka

Honey

Fresh Nutmeg

Cinnamon Sugar

Red Apple Slices

Assembling the Drink:

Chill your Martini Glasses. Pour 2 1/2 oz of Vanilla Vodka into the shaker. Add 4oz of apple cider
Sweeten with a bit of honey and throw in a few ice cubes. Shake vigorously for a minute until the drinks are well mixed. Style your decadent martini by rimming your martini glasses the cinnamon sugar mix before pouring your lavish libation. Before serving, grate a small amount of fresh nutmeg over the Apple Cider Martini. (I know this seems like a costly and frivolous addition, but trust me- it's the crowning glory to this concoction!)

Top with a thin slice of red apple and serve immediately.

Bottoms Up, Y'all!

Burn, Baby, Burn!

2010-07-19T14:09:00.000-07:00

Ahhh....a day at the beach...Doesn't that phrase provoke many wonderful memories to flood your mind? Perhaps your ideal day at the beach involved strolling on the sand with someone you love, scooping up eclectic seashells, and smells of the salty seawater? Whatever maritime memories came rushing back to you, I am sure a few were spoiled by a wicked case of sunburn that left you looking like a giant molting lobster for a week! Besides the fact the red crustacean look not being featured on the cover of "Elle", severe sunburn can be more than a fashion faux pas. Severe sunburn can lead to blisters, scars, itching, rashes, fever, fatigue, and sun poisoning. In addition to all the temporary tyrants, extended sun exposure can lead to premature aging, skin discoloration, and even skin cancer. With all the knowledge we possess in regards to the harmful effects of those radiant rays, sunburn still happens! As summer is now in full swing, I wanted to share with you all a few homeopathic sun therapies that will help ease the pain.

*Tea Bags- Soak these tea-riffic little packages in ice water and press them against your skin for relief. Teas such as chamomile, lavender, and bergamot, are all known for their cooling capabilities.

*Cucumber Slices- Lay these cool cukes over your eyes and on your skin for a very veggie sensation.

*Frozen Aloe Vera Gel- Nicey and Icey! A great way to heal the hurt!

*Water- Keep your fluids up; water is a necessity! Gatorade, Powerade, and Pedialyte are great re-hydrators as well!

*Milk of Magnesia- Apply a thin layer with a cotton ball directly to your skin for a cooling effect.

*Noxema- Not just for faces anymore! Rub a layer of Noxema to the sun-soaked areas for temporary relief. Warning- this treatment is quite messy!

*Baking Soda- Dissolve some baking soda in water and make a compress using a clean cloth. Baking soda is cooling, calming, and will help your skin retain moisture.

*Potatoes- Grate a potato and apply it to the burned area. The starch will cool and soothe the burn. Thank goodness for taters!

*Aspirin- Aspirin kills the pain and reduces inflammation and redness of sunburn but it must be taken within 24 hours of the burn to receive the full healing qualities.

So Divas, if you are going to sun worship this summer please allow your Cabana Boy to slather you down with some sunscreen before baking. You can thank me later...

A Few "Engaging" Ideas for the Newly Engaged!

2010-05-24T19:57:00.000-07:00

Love is in the air! The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, the blossoms are blooming, and love reigns supreme. Over the last few months, I have had more than a fistful of friends decide put a ring on it. At this time, please allow me to send special shout out to Lindsay,Colleen, and Chasady; three of my favorite friends and now fiance's to the men they love! Congratulations to you all and remember that the best is yet to come! For all those who are newly bethroved, think about taking these thought-out tips into consideration. Before you discover the dress, fret about the flowers, or find yourself in a cake conundrum, here are a few suggestions that may seal your sanity in the many months leading up to your nuptials.

*Start Spreading the News: Whether it's a Facebook status update, a text from your iPhone, or a formal hand-calligraphed announcement, share your news with the world! First and foremost on your list of informants should be your parents, followed by immediate family, then friends. Eager ears will enjoy your engaging news but will not enjoy being kept in the dark.

*Dress Up Your Closet: As your anticipation builds, so should your wardrobe! Over the next year, you will have a slew of soirees to attend including engagement parties, bridal showers, ladies luncheons, a wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner, and maybe even a morning after brunch. You will be the belle of the ball at all of these pre-marital parties, so be sure to dress to impress. Start seeking out stylish sales now and stock your closet full of dresses and outfits appropriate for any of those matrimonious occasions. Your pre-planning will allow you to put your best fashion foot forward and will free your time up for more important items like SPA treatments and wedding cake tastings! :)

*Postage Please: Throughout the planning process, you will find yourself snail-mailing everything from engagement announcements, to save-the-dates, wedding invitations, and thank you notes for shower and wedding gifts! Begin to purchase postage in small increments; a booklet of stamps once every few weeks or so will help lighten your letter sending load. You may even consider adding postage to your wedding shower wants list. No, it's not that baby pink 5-speed Kitchen Aid Mixer with Pasta Maker attachment, but unlike the mixer, I will guarantee you will use the postage!

*Become a Designing Woman: Conceptualizing and designing a wedding can take as much time and effort as Michelangelo gave to painting the Sistine Chapel. Start a Design Board to map out the feel and theme of your wedding day. Start with a piece of heavy-duty foam board, fill it with fabrics, paint swatches, drawings, and magazine photos- anything that helps evoke the feeling of your dream wedding day. Be a Velcro visionary and adhere a piece of the scratchy stuff to the back of your iconic items in case your tastes change as the months fly by. Next time you find yourself strolling the aisles of your local hardware store, select a plethora of paper paint swatches to help you devise your color scheme. Whether it's Goldenrod or Grape, choose your colors wisely as they will play a vital part of the mood and ambiance of your extravagant event . Take your venue color scheme into consideration, but more importantly, stay true to your personality and to your true colors!

* The Write Stuff: A blank journal that you keep by your bedside is the best for documenting late night design concepts, tentative guest lists, or whacky-tacky wedding advice given to you by nutty Aunt Martha. (You don't really have to write it down, but at least humor her.) This journal should be petite and pint-sized as travel is required. Slip this tiny tablet in your beach tote, gym bag, or Pucci purse as inspiration never waits. Jot your ideas as they come to you and organize these impromptu thoughts later.

* Location, Location, Location: As you are floating on cloud nine, tip-toeing through the tulips, and busy being swept off your feet, at least start to think about the season and the venue you would like to host your ceremony and reception. With the wedding market booming, most high volume venues will begin booking brides anywhere from a year to a year and a half in advance. Even though the actual exchange of rings may be in the not so near future, keep in mind the early bird, or in this case the early bride, will get the worm!

*What About Your Friends?: Married friends will be your most reliable resource during your pre-marital planning process. Extend an invitation to lunch to the newlyweds and bring your best Barbara Walters! Prepare a list of questions for the lovebirds- ask them what the most important thing about their wedding was. Do they have things they wished they had done differently? What vendors would they recommend and why? Be sure to listen and learn; writing all these valuable vittles in your journal. Show your appreciation by picking up their lunch tab. A sandwich for sound advice is a decent trade to me!

Being engaged is such a precious time in every couple's courtship. Despite the pressures of planning for the wedding and a new life together, remember to enrich and enjoy this chapter of your fairytale. The wedding day will come and go but it's the love that you share for each other that will last forever more.

Gettin' Dirty!

2010-05-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

Whether you are 9 or 90 years old, the thought of making and eating a "dirt pie" may just bring a smile to your face and a twinkle to your eye! This dirty dish evokes so many fun summer memories for me that I just had to share it with y'all in hopes that it may lead to your own memory making process. Try out this precious and potted dessert at your next family reunion, birthday party, or any lazy Sunday afternoon. This "soiled" sweet is sure to please even the pickiest of palettes!

Dirt Pie

Ingredients

1 package gummy worms

2 packages chocolate pudding

2 lb. Oreo cookies

3 1/2 c. milk

8 oz. cream cheese

12 oz. Cool Whip

1 1/2 c. confectioners’ sugar

3/4 c. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

3 qt. flower pot

1 dirt trowel

1 bunch plastic flowers

Directions

Mix the pudding and milk, then whip in the cream cheese, sugar, butter and vanilla. When mixed, gently fold in the Cool Whip. Crumble the Oreo cookies in a food processor using medium pulse. In the flower pot, put small piece of foil in bottom to block holes. Fill the bottom of the pot with a layer of cookies, then pudding, followed by a handful of worms. Repeat until all the ingredients are used. Be sure your top layer is your crumbled Oreo cookies. Artfully place your artificial flowers in the top layer of your dirt pie and sprinkle the top with a few gummy worms for show. Allow dirt pie to chill for several hours and when ready to serve, spoon out with the trowel.

A fun variation on this recipe is to substitute out the chocolate pudding for vanilla pudding and the Oreo cookies can be substituted for vanilla Oreo cookies. Instead of gummy worms, use gummy fish and other sea life confectionaries. Serve your sand pie out of a plastic sand pail and scoop out using a sand shovel!
Hope you "dig" this recipe, dahlin's!

Strawberry Field Mice Forever!

2010-04-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung and if you live anywhere in the Southeast, you know that means the green fields are dotted with those ruby red gems, sweet, sweet, STRAWBERRIES! Here in Florida, we are world famous for our spectacular Plant City Strawberries. This town is the largest producer of Strawberries and Citrus in the state of Florida, and boy are we thankful for that! Our spring dining regime is filled with menu items such as Strawberry Trifle, Strawberry Shortcake, Strawberry Ice Cream, Strawberry Salad, Strawberry Pie, Strawberry Shakes, Strawberry Daiquiris, and the list goes on says Bubba Gump! As much as I lust for these crimson cuties, I can get berry burn out after a few cases and begin to seek alternative uses for this perfect produce. In addition to this season bursting at the seams with, spring is also the time for fabulous fetes like Baby Showers, Bridal Showers, and Birthdays. In seeking new and inventive ways to put these scarlet sirens to use, I stumbled upon this idea on the World Wide Web. Just imagine how precious these bite-size berry mice would be sitting alongside a punch bowl or hidden among the buffet at your next springtime soiree! A few themes you may want to incorporate them in could be a "Nursery Rhymes Baby Shower." You could use them to play up the beloved "Three Blind Mice" or "Hickory Dickory Dock" Nursery Rhymes. For a child's birthday, consider hosting an "If you give a Mouse a Cookie" Party. This is an absolutely adorable children's book, a part of a series, which would make all the kiddies squeal with excitement! For all you Divas with a more grown-up gathering in mind, display these mice among your Fromage array at your next "Cheers and Cheese" (a.k.a. Wine and Cheese) Party. Even the most sophisticated of guest would enjoy this pop of humor.

Strawberry Mice

Directions

For each mouse, slice a small section from the side of a strawberry so it sits flat.

Press a mini chocolate chip into the tip for a nose, using a small dab of icing to secure it in place, if needed.

Add icing eyes and stick 2 almond slivers into the top of the berry for ears.

For a tail, use a toothpick to carve a small hole in the back of the berry and push the end of a piece of licorice lace into the hole.

Serve these berry cute treats with small triangles of Swiss cheese.

Wherever these Strawberry Field Mice may scurry, I hope they bring a little smile to your next Spring Soiree!

How to Put the "Care" in Career!

2010-03-28T15:50:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, everything's been coming up roses lately as I was presented with a new job for an illustrious hotel here in Central Florida. I am now on week three in the prelude of my profession and I am becoming more and more accustomed to office life with every day that passes.

For many including myself, starting a new career can drastically change your life! You must adapt to a new environment and co-workers, train your body and mind new routines, maybe devise a new wardrobe, and find out how the boss likes her morning coffee from Starbucks! A new job sometimes brings a transition that is difficult and uneasy.

I was deeply touched this week when I opened my post office box to see a large, manila envelope with my name so carefully written on it along with the words "NEW JOB KIT!" Besides from being a stellar person, my dear friend, Amanda Brown has seen me throughout all stages of my life- from being my sorority sister, to my bridesmaid, and now to my best friend who I wished didn't live so far away. The contents of the package were graciously gifted to me along with a sentimental note card that described why she enclosed each item. I was so inspired by this package that I feel compelled to share it will all my Divas!

If you know a close friend, relative, or even the new kid at the office, here are some ideas that could make their evolution in office exec just a bit easier.

*Nifty Note Cards- Amanda gave me the cutest pink "S" monogrammed note cards and said it was to keep in touch and thank all my clients. Even if your filing friend doesn't deal with clients or thank you letters on a daily basis, having a set of classy note cards screams you have manners and are familiar with eloquence of etiquette. "Thank you" is the most under used phrase in the English Language as far as I am concerned.

*Fabulous Frames- Find a few frames for photos to bring your dearest to your nearest location! Photographs of the faces you love the most are a great way to brighten the drabbest of all office spaces.

*Creditable Calendar- Don't have an assistant to "pencil you in?!" Help anyone manage meetings and moments with a whimsical and wonderful calendar!
*Savory Snacks- Fight that 3:00 hunger hound with a vat of hearty and healthy snacks for your friend to feast on. Great office side snacks include dried fruit, nuts, peanut butter crackers, granola bars, and other sundries. These nibbles will also come in handy when that deadline approaches and there's not a moment to spare for a lavish lunch break.

*Memorable Mouse Pad- Bring a little fun along with function by purchasing your cubicle companion a mouse pad with a silly or sentimental saying imprinted on it. Every time they commence their computer work, this mouse pad will hopefully put a little sass and smile into their day.

*Tactful To Do Lists- Everyone from mommies to managers needs a trusty To Do List. These little lists can be found everywhere from your local dollar store to discount dime stores to the finest stationers. If you are a greenie at heart, you may want to consider buying your business buddy a dry erase board- no paper waste included!

*Coveted Coffee Gift Card- For those mornings where your get-up and go has got-up and gone without you there's always COFFEE! Purchase your paper pushing pal a Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts Gift Card for them to use at their own discretion. Who knows, maybe they will return the favor and arrive to the office one day carrying your custom "Skinny Tall Vanilla Latte!"

*Posh Pens- Help your friends find the "write" way to success to with a plethora of posh pens. Writing instruments that are decorative yet functional are always a plus in any Diva's World!

*Basic Breath Mints- The difference between fresh breath and bad breath could be a contract! Assist your filing friend by supplying them with an arsenal of mouth-freshening mints. They will thank you and their co-workers will thank you!

*Celebratory Champagne- Celebrate good times; come on! Landing a new job can be quite a feat, especially these days considering our economic situation. Remind your friend that you are proud of them and their outstanding accomplishment with a bottle of bubbling Champagne. After a long and tiring first week at any job, they may need a drink sooner than you think! :)

Friends and families are there for us see us through our troubles and our triumphs. They are there to celebrate our successes and to mourn our losses. Show a friend or family member your love and support by gifting them with your own cleverly composed "NEW JOB KIT!" It's always nice to know someone cares about your new career!

Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Love is the BEST Medicine!

2010-02-28T11:00:00.000-08:00

Hello Dahlin's! I am writing you this blog as the smell of freshly opened alcohol swabs, latex gloves, and hospital cafeteria Salisbury steak waft through my nose. To our dismay, dear ole' dad had to undergo emergency surgery this Wednesday and we have been busy setting up camp here at the hospital ever since. We thank our lucky stars that the surgery was a great success and his road to recovery at home is quickly approaching. As the days pass, and the sterile, green tiles of the hospital become an everyday sight for sore eyes, I cannot help but think that an extended stay in this massive mansion of medicine would drive even the sanest citizens nuttier than a fruit cake! Now, some people may think, my father included, that lounging around in bed all day, being waited on hand and foot by cute little nursies, and watching unlimited cable television would be the ideal vacay, but I am sure the majority of us wouldn't view this as a wondrous walk in the park! If you have a friend or family member who is sick at home or currently in the hospital, why not chalk up a little cheer and bring a bit o' sunshine to their weary world!

*A Tasty TREATment - Fill a beautiful basket with lots of gastronomic goodies like chocolates, cookies, flavored popcorn, gourmet teas and coffees, crackers, and soups to make their hospital stay (and their hospital food) a little more bearable. Before loading up on these fun foods, be sure to ask if your patient is on any kind of restricted diet and adjust the snacks accordingly. Nurses and immediately family would be your best consults for this!

*Color is the Cure - Never under estimate the power of color in an otherwise bland and boring room. Chromatherapy or more commonly called, Color Therapy, uses color and light to balance energy wherever a person's body may be lacking, be it physically, emotionally, or spiritually. You don't necessarily have to "paint their town red," but pops of pleasing colors through a festive flock of flowers, a buoyant bunch of balloons, or a posh pop-art poster will help add a little fun and whimsy to an otherwise dismal and drab space.

*Get Them the Gossip - Keep your patient up to date with latest news and celebrity gossip by purchasing a few magazines or newspapers from a local bookstore for them to flip through. STAR Magazine will always bring a giggle or a gasp out of celeb-obssessed reader. Or, if your bed-bound buddy loves to read novels, pick up a few of the bestsellers from Barnes & Noble Bookstore to help them pass the time.

*Arm Them With Amenities - A hospital doesn’t exactly fit the definition of "hospitable" so don't expect to see those perfectly placed petite bottles of invigorating rosemary-citrus shampoo or a travel-size sewing kits waiting on your armoire upon your check-in. Pamper your patient and bring them a terry-cloth or waffle weave travel kit filled to the brim with their favorite shampoo, shower gel, deodorant, body spray, toothbrush and toothpaste, an animal print shower cap, scented moisturizers, a bath pouf, and maybe a few grooming tools. If you have a hospital-bound Diva, a few primpin' and preenin' items such as colored lip gloss, blush, mascara, a sassy hair band, and brush would be more than appreciated, dahlin's! (True story, my DAD asked for tinted self-tanner to give him that "after St. Croix glow during his stay!" Ha-ha!)

*Hand-made with Heart - No matter what the occasion or circumstance, personalized gifts are always considered some of the best and most appreciated options. A picture drawn by your child (or you if you are a Monet in the making), a framed painting, a poem, a hand knit hat, or a jar of your annual strawberry jam are ways to show your affection and dedication to your patient. A visit accompanied by a simple cheer-up construction paper card or just an inspirational text message can bring instant smile to your patients’ face as well! This most certainly is a case of "it's the thought that counts."

*AromaTHERAPY - All hospitals and medical institutions have that same sickly and sterile "smell." You know exactly what I am talking about! Help make your patient's room a little more cozy and comfortable by bringing the aromas of the world right into their room. Gel candles are fabulous as they produce pleasing scents without having to be lit. A basket of potpourri, room spray, a lavender filled eye pillow, or a sachet for their closet would also be fabulous fragrant ways to freshen up their hospital suite.

*Musical Medicine - This gift will certainly be music to your patient's ears! Purchase an inexpensive MP3 player or I-pod Shuffle and load it up with songs from some of your hospital homie's favorite artists. You can also bring them a few of their favorite CD's and a small boom box so they can listen to their Top 20 Tunes. Just make sure the noise level is agreeable with your next gurney over neighbor!

*The WRITE Stuff - Supply your patients with writing materials and office supplies such as memo pads, paper clips, pencils and pens, a stapler, scissors, and tape. These can prove to be very useful for them, especially if they are accustomed to working with these items at their daily jobs. It will bring back that sense of work and routine to those idle hands. Also, why not purchase a pack of decorative note cards from your local Wal-mart or Dollar Tree? Your purpose driven patient can get started on those thank you notes for all the glorious get well gifts and guests they have received during their hospital stay. Don't forget the stamps!

*Runway Rx - They may be sick, but who says they cannot be stylish! Patients are generally asked to wear pale and unflattering hospital gowns, which may escalate their sickly feeling. They say "clothes make the man" so put a little pep back in their step with a little closet candy! A hip, patterned bed jacket, a pair of sassy bed slippers or socks, or a colorful shawl can bring a little fashion and fun to your bed-bound buddy. Making them feel more attractive and stylish is a nice way to boost their morale and their mood! In the words of the ever so famous Rupaul, "you better work!"

*Home Sweet Home - For anyone I have ever talked to on a business trip, on an airplane, in a hotel, or in a hospital, home is truly where the heart is. If your patient has a while to go in the hospital, bring the things they love about their home to them. A hand-made quilt from grandmother, their prized pillow, and maybe the secret teddy bear they may still have as a bed buddy would be thoughtful treasures to tote along. (I am 27 years-old and cherish my "Billy Bob" Bear.) Bring their family and friends to their bedside by filling frames with pictures of special occasions, trips, and other happy memories to place around your patient's room. Smaller items such as a prized figurine or a dish garden they used to tend daily are also homey additions to any hospital suite.

*Puzzle Your Patients - Sudoku, crossword puzzle, word search- what puzzle pleases your patient? Simple puzzle books and other energizing enigmas may help fight the loneliness and the boredom of a bed-bound buddy. Be sure to flip through the puzzles first however as they should not require a rocket scientist to solve them. These games should promote relaxation and thought rather than putting the hospital patients under any more stress than they already are.

*Kudos for the Caregivers - The patient of course is number one priority, but it's always exceptional when you can honor the doctor, nurses, or the family and friends who have kept up a bedside vigil for your patient with a small gift or word of praise. Encourage the caregivers to do something good for themselves! If you feel compelled, present them with a gift certificate for a local restaurant, movie passes, tickets to the opera or charity event, or a voucher to put towards a small shopping excursion or day at the spa. Individuals in the health care profession and the dedicated friends and family spend the entirety of their day caring for someone else; it's comforting to know that someone else cares about them!

(Note- Before stocking up on these glorious gifts and goodies, check with your patient's care providers to see if there are any dietary, heatlh, or hospital restrictions that may interfere with your present PRESENT plans. If so, do not get discouraged, just adjust your gracious gift giving accordingly!)

Thanks for all the well wishes and prayers, dahlin's! Dad is a trooper and what we call at our house a "good solider"; we know he will make it through this set-back with flying colors! I hope you do not find yourselves or someone near and dear to you bed-ridden or sick anytime soon, but if by chance you do, may these get well gifts bring a bit of happiness to the hospital room or home of your precious patient!

Wishing you all good health and happiness, always!

Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Feeling Blue...For Dinner???

2010-02-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

Dahlin's, you have spoken and your wish is my command! The following fresh post features one of my absolute favorite recipes from that daring, dark-haired, lovely, loud-mouth, celebrity chef, Rachael Ray! It was definitely love (or maybe lust) at first sight when I initially laid eyes on this recipe. The hands of time stopped and my fabulous foodie fairy-tale had come true! They say "it's all in a name"...Could you possibly go wrong serving up a recipe entitled "Bacon Wrapped Chicken with Bleu Cheese?!?" I admit, Bleu Cheese is an acquired taste for many and much like liver, brussels sprouts, or Aunt Mary's Mystery Meat Loaf, you either learn to love it or hate it! I am sure you can tell by this post that I am definitely pitching for the Bleu Team in this culinary feat. If you feel it would be terribly tragic for you to ingest any of this buttery, blue stuff, feel free to substitute out a milder yet equally delicious cheese like Brie, Provolone, Swiss, or even a Sharp Cheddar. Once you decide on the cheese of your choice; prep your ingredients, pre-heat your oven and put this perfect poultry project to the test!

Bacon Wrapped Chicken with Bleu Cheese

Ingredients

2 large, boneless chicken breasts, skinned
3/4 cup bleu cheese crumbles
1/4 cup toasted pecans, chopped
2 scallions, chopped
4 slices good-quality center cut bacon
1 tablespoon E.V.O.O. (extra virgin olive oil, that's for you Rachael!)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup half-and-half
2 tablespoons grainy mustard

Directions

Pre-heat the oven to 375*.

Butterfly the chicken breast pieces by cutting across the breast but not all the way through. Open the breasts up and pound lightly between parchment paper. Season the meat with salt and pepper. Cover the chicken cutlets with bleu cheese crumbles, pecans and scallions in equal amounts. Roll the chicken, wrap each roll with two slices bacon and secure with toothpicks. Season the outside of the rolls with salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken evenly all over, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a small baking sheet, place in the oven and cook 10 minutes more.

Melt the butter in the same skillet pan the chicken was seared in. Whisk in flour, cook 1 minute then whisk in stock. Let thicken a minute then whisk in the half-and-half and grain mustard, season with salt and pepper, reduce heat to warm.

Halve the chicken and stack to show off the center. Set chicken in gravy or pour over top.

Turn this chic chicken concoction into a masterpiece meal for two by baking up a batch of Pilsbury Grands, serving it up with a side of sauteed spinach and a dollop of cranberries spiked with a bit of ginger or citrus zest to finish the plate.

Home-tested, tried and true, this wowie for a weekday meal can go from pantry to plate in 35 minutes or less. Next time you come home, weary from work and fretful about food, don't be blue; eat bleu for TWO!

Good eatings and be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

"Necessity is the Mother of Invention" - Behold the Official Grand Opening of My Blog!

2010-02-10T10:11:00.000-08:00

First things first; Welcome, Y'all! I am so glad you found me here at "From Blushing Bride to Domestic Diva!" To give you a sneeky-peeky into what this blog will be able to offer you, let me first provide you with one of my favorite quotes, "Necessity is the Mother of Invention." I am inspired by my dearest friends and family who have all either taken the marital plunge or are walking down the aisle as we speak. These gals including my newlywed self need a place where we can learn and share lifestyle tips, including delish yet effortless recipes, inspiration for decoration, posh weekend (or weekday if you prefer) projects and find a hub for household knowledge. My solom wish is for this little blog is to become a place for all women to master our precious art of being a WOMAN!!! We are enchanting creatures, able to plan a fairy-tale wedding for 250 on a slender little budget, cook a rocking meal using only a can of garbanzo beans and left over hamburger meat, have the house looking like a southern living magazine for the bi-annual in-law visit and still manage to throw one hell of a dinner party all while maintaining our grace and charm in a killer pair of stilettos. Once again welcome to the world of blushing brides and domestic divas: where the women rule and all the men drool!

Let It Snow, You're Gonna Glow!

2010-01-09T15:40:00.000-08:00

Just because the weather outside is frightful and the thought of a beach day is so delightful, doesn't mean your skin can't look glow during these frigid winter months! Living here Central Florida means we are usually spoiled with 10 months of summer sun, but not this year. As I sit here typing for you, my thermometer reads 33 degrees! If that isn't enough to keep anyone indoors, I don't know what is?! It has been hard for this beach baby not being poolside at all this winter, but there's a way to get that summer time bronze without stepping a foot outside! I have always been a fan of self-tanners due to the no risk glow they provide. If you choose and use them correctly, they can become your new secret weapon in your beauty arsenal! Take these few tips on tanning from tubes!

* Shopping for Sun - First off, creams or gels work the best for me, especially tinted ones. The sprays are "cleaner" but you run the risk of missing areas as you cannot see where the spray settles. The aerosol sprays tend to be costlier and don't yield as many applications as a cream or gel. As for color choices, here is my theory: "Isn't the reason you are buying the tanner to be darker?" If you are going to buy a self-tanner, don't piddle away your pennies on the "light" version, always choose either a "medium" or "dark" tint level. Go medium if you are fair skinned or if it's your first time using a self-tanner. My favorites include Loreal Sublime and Banana Boat, both in "dark." If you are simply petrified of looking like an Oompaloompa, or worse yet, Paris Hilton, their are moisturizers on the market that offer a HINT of self-tanner. The results are extremely subtle and take anywhere from 6 to 8 days to develop, but they are a nice introduction to the world of self-tanning. Jergens, Nivea and Neutrogena are my top three picks for moisturizing tint!

* Ready, Set, Exfoliate! - It's important to slough off all the dead skin and rough patches from your body so the tanner may develop evenly. A shower pouf with drizzle of body wash or a handful of baking soda in the shower work well for exfoliating all areas of the body. In addition to giving your self a nice scrub down before your bronze up, shave! By removing your hair you are giving the tanner a clean, smooth slate to develop on all while increasing its staying power. If you self-tan THEN shave, you new tan will be shaved away, with stubble and bubbles down the drain!

* Don't Be Shy, Just Apply! - Post shower and shave is the best time to apply your self-tanner. While still in your birthday suit, lather a thick layer of plain, non-tinted lotion or moisturizer all over your nail beds on your hands and feet as well as your elbows and knees. The lotion will serve as a "barrier cream" and prevent color from building up in these traditionally thicker and rougher places of the body. Start with a half-dollar size amount self-tanner on your hands and work from your feet up. Apply more as needed, paying close attention to even application. Areas you don't want to forget are the tops of your feet, backs of your thighs, underarms, and your back. Last but not least, don't forget your face. If it's your first time with a tanner you may want to leave your face out until you see how the tanner develops on the rest of your body. As with any product, keep out of your eyes and blend thoroughly into your hair line. Allow your tanner to dry and then wash your hands immediately, removing all of the tanner from your palms. I then usually squirt a dab of tanner on the top of my hands and rub the tops together, avoiding my palms. This will give your hands a nice, even glow as well.

* Main"TAN"ance - "It will rub lotion on its skin." Sorry, I couldn't resist using my favorite movie quote! Heed the advice however and moisturize everyday to pro-long your glorious glow. If you would like to go darker, repeat these tanning tips until you develop the color you so desire. Eventually, just as the winter, your tan will fade and it will be time to start the process all over again!

I hope you can use all these tips on tube tanning, my little golden goddesses to be! Send us pics on your faux glow!

Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Go Nuts This Holiday Season!

2009-12-21T06:58:00.000-08:00

Before you hack into your ham, tear-up the turkey, or rip into the rib roast, how about a spicy yet sweet snack to hold the troops over until Christmas dinner time? This effortlessly easy recipe hails from my favorite Food Network scientist and chef, Alton Brown and has been an absolute hit every time I prepare it. These delectable little pecans can be served along side your appetizers at any cocktail or dinner party or could be strategically placed around the house in pretty little bowls to keep every one's hunger monster at bay. Alton suggests these piquant pecans would make perfect gifts for anyone on your list- place them in a festive tin box or holiday glass jar first as presentation is key!

Spiced Nuts

Ingredients

1 pound pecan halves, fresh

1/2 stick butter, unsalted

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1/2 teaspoon dried orange peel

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons dark brown sugar

3 tablespoons light brown sugar

2 tablespoons water

Directions

In a large skillet, lightly toast the pecan halves over medium for 4 to 5 minutes, just until they begin to brown. Add butter and allow it to melt. After the butter has completely melted, add cayenne, orange peel, cinnamon, cumin, salt, dark brown sugar, light brown sugar, and lastly, water. Stir until well mixed and water has cooked off. Pour spiced nuts onto a lined cookie sheet and spread them out as much as possible to dry. Cool completely and box up for "tasteful" gifts or drop them in granny's crystal nut dish for pre-christmas dinner cocktail hour. However you decide to serve these nutty nibbles, there are sure to please all palettes!

Eat, Drink and Be Merry this holiday season and be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

5 "Spirted" Gifts for 5 Dollars!

2009-12-07T05:50:00.000-08:00

With the holly-jolly month of December in full swing, the wine flows like water, the beer bubbles as it brews, and the cocktails are being shaken and not stirred. Besides the sound of my waistline and tolerance growing, I also hear my credit card weeping! We all know nothing brings a little Yuletide cheer to a party like a bevy of adult beverages, but these costly concoctions may break the bank! If you are like me, the purse strings are being pulled a little tighter during the many holiday shopping excursions so budget friendly gifts are at the top of my list. Here are some fun , festive, and $5.00+ gift suggestions to help you stock their bar with out hocking your car! Bottom's Up!

Bejeweled Martini Glasses- I know you have all seen them, sitting there glistening in the curio cabinet of a hoighty-toighty boutique, looking to pricey to even touch! Why don't you spare the MasterCard and make this blinged-out-beauty for a fourth of the cost? All you will need is a little ingenuity, patience, and super glue! Visit your nearest discount store such as the Dollar Tree or Big Lots and pick out a well-shaped, clear or translucent martini glass. You will also need to pick up a pack of rhinestones and super glue, which yes- I have found at both the Dollar Tree and Big Lots before! Clean the surface of the glass thoroughly before you commence to gluing and with the assistance of a pair of tweezers, start designing! Anything looks fabulous in rhinestones- polka dots, a swirl or perhaps spell out the word "Diva!" After the glue dries completely, carefully package and present the glittery glass to your guest with a copy of your favorite martini recipe. Be sure to tell the recipient that their new found glass is hand-wash only or else her diamonds may be swimming in the dishwasher!

Bag O' Christmas Cheer- Let's all take lesson from Bacchus and share with the world our love of wine! A bottle of wine is perfect for a hostess gift as they can either chose to uncork it at the party or keep the bottle for their own private collection. Now, what others may call "good wine" doesn't come cheap, but with a little investigative work- the fruits of your efforts will pay off. Comb the discount bins of your local wine and spirits store as many brands are put on clearance to make room for new brands. I guarantee you will find a decent bottle of wine for $3.00-$4.00. Brands such as Sutterhome, Lindermas, Don Luciano, Corbett Canyon, Little Penguin, Andre, and Verdi can frequently be found with a below $5.00 price tag. There is actually a brand at Wal-mart I recently started buying for my "house wine" called "Oak Leaf" which is sold for a whopping $2.97 a bottle! Both the Shiraz and the Cabernet are EXCELLENT for my reddies and I would most certainly recommend the Chardonnay or Pinot Grigio for all my white wine drinkers. No matter the wine, no matter the vintage, your wine needs to be presented glamorously! I have scoped out stunning cloth wine bags both at the Dollar Tree and at Wal-mart, complete with velour lining and rhinestones! If budget allows, tie on a inexpensive ornament or wine bottle opener to your pretty little package and wait for the smiles!

Funky Felt Coasters- This project caught my eye on several websites and I just had to share it with my fellow divas! Depending on the color tastes (or even home decor) of your recipient, raid your local craft store for several sheets of felt in coordinating colors. You will also need thin cork board, tacky glue (or hot glue) and a small hole punch. Cut coaster-sized circles or even squares from your felt and use your hole punch to "design" your coaster. Cut your cork using the same circle or square template you used for the felt and apply a thin layer of glue to the cork. Adhere your felt and clean up your coasters by trimming the edges. For extra flair, scallop the edges of your felt before gluing it to the cork. It allows a little bit of the cork to peek through for a kitchsy and rustic kind of look! Bundle the coasters up with a beautifully tied ribbon or tuck them away in a sheer organza bag. These coasters will be sure to make their debut at many parties to come!

Santa's "Spirited" Stocking- Santa, "candy is dandy but liquor is quicker!" Why not fill all the of age good boys and girls stockings with something they REALLY want this year?! During the holiday season, liquor stores begin going bananas with the sales and end up practically giving away their inventory. In most cases, right near the cash register area, the stores will feature baskets of discounted mini or airplane bottles as my dad lovingly refers to them. I would say this time of year, you could probably find mini bottles going for $1.00 or less, top shelf not included! Dig for the best deal and price depending, stock your soon-to-be best-friend's stocking to the brim with an array of these delightful little bottles. Once again, shop around at those discount stores to find a spectacular stocking to stock with spirits as a part of your gift, you take up the slack where Santa leaves off!

Sassy Salt for Margarita Maniacs- The epicurean in me is a sucker for all the gourmet flavored salts out on the market now. Coconut, espresso, jalapeno and black truffle are just a few infused salts that have been taunting my taste buds! Why not translate this costly, culinary concept into couture margarita rimming salts for the Margarita enthusiast in your life?! Pick up a box of coarse salt from your local grocer and let your imagination run rampant in the spice aisle. A few great combos that come to my mind for Margarita salt would be:

Coarse Salt + Chipotle Powder = Cha-Cha Chipotle Salt

Coarse Salt + Dried Ginger = Thai Ginger Salt

Coarse Salt + Dried Lime Zest = Lime Fresco Salt

Coarse Salt + Red Pepper Flakes = Fire Salt

Coarse Salt + Dried Lemon Peel = Sunny Salt

Coarse Salt + Dried Tangerine Peel = Tantalizing Tangerine Salt

Start with a 1/4 Spice and 3/4 Salt ratio, adjust to suit your taste. Pour your newly concocted custom salts in metal favor tins, tiny cork-topped jars or even a series TEST TUBES. Ideally, your gifting container should be glass or transparent as these salts are not only tasty but beautiful to look at. Be sure to label each flavor of rimming salt and include a recipe for the world's best MARGARITA!!!

Whether your gift ends up being one of these bar-oriented beauties or not, a personalized, hand-written note is always a must. For your recipient to know you took time out of your crazy and chaotic life to sit down, make them a gift and write a simple note of good tidings, can be one of the most heartwarming events of the season.

Let me know how the gifting goes and "be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!"

Variety is the "Spice" of Life!

2009-11-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

With Thanksgiving right around the bend, cooking and food, glorious food is on the brain! As you all may know, I adore to cook it up in the kitchen. It is my stress relief, my comfort, my hobby, my art. Although it is tough to commit to a home-cooked meal every night here at the Thornton Manor, I do vow to whip up anywhere from three to four blue plate specials a week. With that being said, grocery excursions occur about once every ten days or so for us, depending on our schedule. As the trips to the local supermarket came and went, I found my self repeatedly reaching for the same spice, continually combing through the same produce and frequently finding my "buggy" filled with the SAME, expected groceries week after week. How could this be? Was I stuck in the monotony of mundane meal times? Were our taste buds secretly yearning for more? Had we lost our appetites and carnal desires for...FOOD?! If I wanted to save our dinner, I knew drastic measures had to be taken- it was time to "spice" things up! They have always said "variety is the spice of life" so what about bringing another ingredient into the kitchen?! Sounded risky, but alas- this spawned my "featured food of the week" program!

From then on, I vowed to pick up one unusual, but still practical ingredient to include in our meal time regime for the next ten days, or until the next shopping trip. The program's maiden voyage was launched with my favorite herb, Cilantro! This citrusy, bright and bold plant made its dinner debut several times during the week. First, it starred in an easy Asian-inspired salad with pineapple chunks, grilled chicken, whole almonds, diced tomatoes, chow mein noodles and ginger, topped with chopped cilantro, sesame seeds and Kraft's Light Asian Toasted Sesame Dressing. For a side dish to burritos on "Fiesta Friday", (please tell me everyone has at least one food themed night a week at their house- you know you do!) we boiled up some rice, substituting one cup of water for chicken stock and threw in the chopped cilantro. At lunch, this award-winning herb emerged yet again among shrimp, butter, chili powder, garlic salt and lime, lightly sauteed and served hot on left-over mashed potatoes! Now those were some good eats!

The program has gained popularity at our home and has allowed us to experience tastes beyond our wildest imaginations! Starting this Sunday, my feature ingredient will be "bourbon" and I got news for ya, it's not just for drinking any more! Let's just hope it makes it into the food...

Have a "featured food of the week" idea and want to share? Let us know!

Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Howl at the Moon Pies!

2009-10-23T10:04:00.000-07:00

With fall in full swing, an array autumnal activities like pumpkin carving, costume shopping and raking the leaves begin to wiggle their way into your weeks. It's hard to believe we were all just bathing beauties posted up on sunny beaches and now we're in sweaters and scarves! Having a hard time accepting the swift switch of the season now? Just scare up a batch of these fall follies made out of every Southerners' favorite treat (well, besides butter) MOON PIES!!! I would like to preface this culinary craft by saying I sincerely try to post original ideas but I just couldn't resist sharing with you these darlings I found amongst the pages of Southern Living Magazine. Start by purchasing a few Moon Pies, original chocolate was used in this craft. For the loveably odd owls shown here, split open an Oreo cookie, affix each half of the cookie to the Moon Pie using melted chocolate candy coating. (Hint- this product comes in a small, microwavable tub and is usually found near the strawberries or in the baking goods aisle.) For the pupils, consider M&M's, Reese's Pieces, Junior Mints or a combination of all three to give each owl his own distinct look. For the beak, either a piece of candy corn or a bright yellow Runt's banana will do the trick! Chocolate sprinkles or mini chocolate chips can be added for a "feathery" flair. Depending on your region, you may have access to the different flavors of Moon Pies, RC Cola optional! Why not transform the vanilla pie into a ghoulish ghost using black jelly beans and black or red decorator's icing? The orange pie could be converted to a jolly Jack-O-Lantern using the materials from above and green Sour Punch straws as pumpkin vines. Lemon pie could be a full moon with the silhouette of a witch, werewolf or bats (the easy route) drawn on in black piping gel. What ever the flavor, after decorating, insert a small dowel rod into the pie's marshmallowly core. If they last long enough to display, fill a flower pot or even a hollowed out pumpkin first with foam then cover with candy corn. (The foam will serve as a sturdy base for your dowel rods.) Tie festive ribbons onto the rods and press firmly down into the foam. Be sure to showcase your sugary spirited pies at this year's Halloween Party or pass them out to your neighborhood trick-or-treaters . Your Moon Pie masterpieces are sure to make all the good ghouls and goblins shriek with excitement!

Happy Hauntings and be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Words Straight From the Heart!

2009-09-27T15:44:00.000-07:00

Looks like it's a wedding every weekend from now until the dawn of spring for the Domestic Diva and crew; tis' the season, I guess! With 2009-2010 being "THE" year of the wedding, the search of a extraordinary and extra economical gift is inevitable. My creatively crafty mother has always had a way with words and poems. She just has the innate knack, you know? Mother is always being asked to compose a song for this, write a poem for that, you would think the woman is the next William Wordsworth in waiting?! We recently resurrected her talents for a wedding toast poem and boy, was it a home run hit! We placed a copy of this delightful ditty in a sassy teal baroque picture frame, gifted the framed folly to the love birds and it's currently on display in their humble abode. Now, besides the fabu frame hunting at Marshall's and Ross, the TIME is what you must invest in this gift. First off, devise a short questionnaire for someone close to the bride and groom. You want this to be completely customized so be sure to get the juicy details that only they would know about; i.e. where they met, how they spent their first date, how he proposed and maybe even include details about the wedding or honeymoon. If you are presenting the poem as a toast as well, you may also want to incorporate details about your relationship to the bride or groom- the more personal the details, the better! Also, remember the select your words carefully, no rambling and KEEP IT CLASSY! (I know my readers wouldn't think otherwise!) The frame should be unique and exclusive to the couple as well. Use their wedding colors, motifs or their home decor as inspiration! This personalized poem is also a great gift for showers, anniversaries, peas in the pod and even birthdays; get jiggy with it! If you are at a loss for words or the cat's got your tongue, Mother Dostal is always at work in her wordy workshop and would be delighted to devise a custom poem for you! Email her ruthkdostal@yahoo.com for more information.

Here is a copy of her latest literary feat:

Christina, Christina, what can I say?
Who'd ever thought we'd be here today?
Times have passed; it seems like yesterday,
We were carefree teenagers, partying the time away!
A Knight and a Wildcat, who would have guessed,
The bond we would have is really the best!
I bugged you at Bennigan's til you said OK,
The Club One Christmas party, we laughed and we played!
Then on to Orlando, Hawaii, and A-town,
And...Vegas..we won't tell about what went down!
Local fav's--Bar-Bar, Deja Groove, and 51 degrees,
Don't forget Spanky's where we had 'em on their knees.
Rockin' with us as we danced in our chairs,
Flashlights, techomusic--you had to be there!
On the softer side, I know you as a listener, a thoughtful friend.
You've been giving and caring as we got thru tough times and MEN!
It seems the Cosmos matched us Gemini and Libra til the end,
Old Navy and The Limited, and the CASH we liked to spend!
Your favorite color is pink--just right for one so calm,
Your smile is always welcomed--gentle and warm.
On this day of days, You know I hope for only the best,
You sure picked a good one;Mat outshines the rest!
I've known him since 10th grade when we gave Ms. Marshall a fit!
I knew Mat was special and I'm so glad you're it!
The one he picked to spend a lifetime of love,
You're a perfect couple, blessed from above!
I'm handing you over to Mat today, but I hope we'll remain friends in
EVERY SPECIAL WAY!

Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Jeepers, Creepers, Where'd Ya Get Those Peepers?

2009-09-16T13:29:00.000-07:00

Whether you are sleepless in Seattle, wide awake in Wichita or a night owl in Orlando (like me), your precious peepers are bound to face fatigue. Unfortunately, almost everyone is familiar with those dark and puffy rings you sometimes find hiding out under your eyes. There are various causes as to why these ghastly and ghoulish imperfections make their debut. Factors such as too much stress, lack of sleep, sun exposure, nutrition deficiency, age and excessive use of drugs or alcohol are among the top sabotages.

Here are a few home remedies that will get those baby blues, gleaming greens or bashful browns back sparkling in no time!

*Veggie Therapy: Chilled cucumber or potato slices work wonders for your tired eyes! Both veggies contain enzymes which help diminish any dark discoloration. By chilling the slices, the cool cukes and potatoes help constrict blood vessels and decrease puffiness.

*Go Nuts!: Apply a few drops of almond oil around the eyes before going to bed or in the morning after your shower. Almond oil has been used for centuries to combat under eye circles, starting with the ancient Greeks. (Ladies, I prefer the nightly method as I tend to cake on the eye make-up in the morning. Almond Oil + Liner= Raccoon Eyes!)

*A "Tea-riffic" Treatment: Steep chamomile tea bags in boiling water, chill them and apply to your puffy eyes. Chamomile is known for it's oh-so-soothing properties. This treatment is best accompanied by a warm bubble bath and a glass of champagne...ahhhh...

*Don't Forget Your Vitamins!: Applying a cream that has Vitamin E and Vitamin C will also give great eye brightening results. Many of these skin care creams can be purchased over the counter in the cosmetic (a.k.a attempts to turn back the hands of time) section! ;o)

*"Mint" To Be: Crush a few fresh mint leaves, mix with a little water and apply the mixture over your dark circles. Leave the herbal aid on for 15 minutes and wash away. Don't fret, any extra mint can be used for those Cha-Cha Cherry Mojito's you have been dying to make!

*Slow Down the Sodium: Try to reduce the salt intake in your diet to get rid of puffy eyes and puffy everything! As with any ailment, those recommend 8 glasses of water a day will also help ease your eyes.

They say "eyes are the window into the soul" so lets be sure those peepers are pretty! You never know who may want to search your soul next!

Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Chicken Soup for the Sick Soul

2009-09-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

After livin' the life with some fellow divas in "Hotlanta" this weekend, the common cold has decided to rear its ugly head. Leave it to me to catch a cold during the final hoorah of the summer, sheesh! Despite the stuffy nose, scratchy throat, watery eyes and achy muscles, one must always find a way to BLOG! I have continually wondered why we have turned to that steamy, sodium-laden concoction we know as Chicken Noodle Soup for comfort during our sicknesses. It was only until I found and tested this recipe that I truly knew how much solace a piping hot bowl of this magic stew can provide. Besides the homey and hearty taste of the soup, medical research has proved that some components of chicken soup spark an anti-inflammatory effect in the body that could lead to temporary ease of the illness. This recipe also contains fresh ginger which has been used for many moons to cure everything from congestion, nausea, unsettled stomachs and now even heart disease! Whether this poultry filled potion is for you or for a friend in need, consider freezing half of the batch for future use as flu season is upon us.

Asian Inspired Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients

1 pound boneless and skinless chicken, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 cup water

2 medium carrots, peeled and cut into bite-size sticks

3 cans (14 ounces each) chicken broth

2 tablespoons vinegar, rice

2 1/2 teaspoons ginger, fresh

2 ounces rice noodles

6 ounces frozen pea pods, thawed

1 tablespoon soy sauce

Directions

In a skillet, cook chicken in hot oil just until browned. Add cooked chicken, carrots, broth, water, vinegar, soy sauce and ginger into a slow-cooker (crock-pot). Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 4 to 6 hours or on high-heat setting for 2 to 3 hours. Stir in noodles and pea pods and season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and cook for 10 to 15 minutes more or until noodles are tender.

For easy transport to a sick neighbor or friend, ladle this super soup into a large mason jar and put the lid on tight. For added flair, slip a square of red gingham cloth under the lid's rim and tie a copy of the recipe on with raffia. Who knows, maybe a jar of Chicken Noodle Soup for the Sick Soul may land on your doorstep one day!

Thanks for all the well wishes and be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Wedding Day Wares

2009-08-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my husband and I had the absolute pleasure of attending a wedding for a dear friend and sorority sister of mine. The ceremony was held in her childhood church, a stunningly ornate Greek Orthodox Church in the heart of Savannah. We partied into the wee hours of the night at the lively reception in the Hyatt Hotel, overlooking the majestic Savannah River. The bride glowed and the groom grinned; it was truly a night to remember! As I sat in the hotel lobby and reflected on the evening with the bride's mother, she shared with me a meaningful gift idea for any couple getting ready to tie the knot. Ms. Becky explained to me that a close friend of hers brought brunch to the bride and bridesmaids as they were excitedly getting ready for the big event. She told me how very thoughtful and touching this gesture was and how it was certainly a gift that both she and the bride will always remember. Whether you are a bride, know a bride or have just attended a wedding, you know the moments leading up to the ceremony can be quite hectic with emotions and tensions running high. Sometimes things are so bananas, the bride, groom and all players involved forget to stop and smell the roses- they forget to pause and relish in this oh-so happy day. More important than the memories that may be missed, meals are generally missed as well. The stress runs high, the time ticks by and food is a forgotten facet of the day. Crankiness, weakness and lordy forbid, tipsiness may ensue if our bride, groom and wedding party do not eat! For a gift that will be appreciated and hopefully, ingested by all, consider packing a blushing bridal brunch basket or a tray of gourmet grub for the groom! In order to make this venture a total success, find out the times and locations where bride and/or groom are getting ready. The earlier you can drop off your delicacies the better. For ladies in waiting, they may choose to eat earlier than later as not to disturb their make-up. The fellas on the other hand require less primping and do not start getting dressed until later on in the day. Be sure to consider these aspects before making your deliveries.

Think about the following for possible contents in your "Blushing Bridal Brunch" Basket or "Gourmet Groom Grub" Tray:

Champagne (For the Ladies)

Beer (For the Gentleman)

Orange Juice

Bottled Water

Ice

Bagels with Accoutrement (I love that word! Gourmet spreads, cream cheeses and butter would be great but be cautious with jellies and jams!)

Mini Muffins or Pastries

Granola Bars

Trail Mix

Bananas, Grapes, Apple slices and any other easy to eat, non-staining fruits

Cheese Cubes or String Cheese

Finger Sandwiches

Chicken Strip or Lunch Meat Tray (Protein is a must, especially when alcohol is involved!)

Pre-cut Veggies and Dips

Pretzels and Crackers (Non-greasy munchies keep clothes clean)

Disposable Plates, Cups and Cutlery

Mints (An unexpected but very much appreciated post-meal addition)

Trash bag

Napkins or even Wet-Naps if you have access to them

Sentimental card with well-wishes for the happy couple!

To go that extra mile, you may consider packing all these wedding day wares into a hand-crafted picnic basket or insulated cooler for the Mr. & Mrs. to use during their lives of wedded bliss. Yes, this glorious gift is more time consuming than the now traditional Target Gift Card, but the gratitude expressed by the recipients will be invaluable. Feel free to share any of your ideas for wedding day wares or meaningful wedding gift suggestions, the domestic diva is all ears!

Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Oil me up!

2009-08-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

Hey Rachel Ray, your precious EVOO is just for cooking anymore! Olive oil, whether it be virgin, extra-virgin, or pure olive oil has been a staple in Mediterranean households for centuries and not just in la cucina. Although it may be a prominent ingredient in everyday cuisine, this pantry treasure can perform miracles around the house and around the body. See what this little bottle of "liquid gold" can do for you!

Tame Those Locks- For a quick fix to fly aways, drizzle a dot of olive oil in your hand and sparingly run it over your coif. Also, be sure to take some time out of your weekend for this home-made hot oil hair treatment. Warm up your EVOO in the palm of your hand and generously lather it into your locks, paying special attention to the ends. Wrap your hair in a towel or oh-so-fashionable shower cap and chillax for 30 minutes or so. Wash and style hair as normal and watch those locks shine!

Snore No More- Granny never lies! Taking a sip of olive oil before heading to bed can help lubricate your throat muscles, cutting down on snoring. Give it a try- your bed mate will thank you!

Here Kitty, Kitty- According to my pet vet sister, add a teaspoon of olive oil to your cat’s food to help prevent hairballs, as well as promote a shiny, healthy coat. Olive oil is likely to be more gentle on a cat's system than petroleum-based anti-hairball lubricants. Meow!

Better Than Butter- I know, I know...how could a Southern gal speak such words?! Butter most certainly has that undeniable flavor which we all love and crave but how about slathering your bread with a little EVOO every now and then. The health benefits linked to olive oil are overwhelming. This "liquid gold" is rich in monounsaturated fats and contains several different types of anti-oxidants known for their ability to promote our "good" cholesterol (HDL) and reduce the risk of coronary heart disease. I promise I will send this link to Paula Deen! ;o)

Wax On, Wax Off- To polish up your weary wood, use two parts olive oil combined with one part lemon juice. Pour just a few drops on a soft cloth, wipe away the dust, scuffs, and fingerprints, and your wood will gleam. This technique works well for a range of wooden furniture and objects. You can also condition and revitalize leather goods, such as car seats and baseball mitts by rubbing in a bit of EVOO.

Luscious Lips- Pucker up that pretty pout and swab on that olive oil! A Q-tip is a great applicator for this budget friendly balm.

Creepy Creaks- Do the doors in your house sound like they belong in the Addams Family Mansion? If so, try olive oil out on squeaky doors, hinges or anywhere else you might consider using WD-40 or a mechanical lubricant. Once again, olive oil is totally natural and edible of course so no worries about Fido or little Joey Jr. getting their paws into it!

For Spaghetti and Skin- Olive oil is a great skin moisturizer because it contains linoleic acid, a compound not made by the body, which prevents water from evaporating. After showering, rub the oil on your skin just as you would any lotion or moisturizer. Don't forget those knees and elbows. For a diva decadent body scrub, sprinkle in a spoonful of sugar to your olive oil and go to town. The sugar crystals help slough off any dead skin cells while the oil hydrates. All natural and all good!

So the next time you are in the grocery store or raiding your little Italian granny's kitchen, don't forget to pick up a bottle of this stove-top staple. From hair to hinges and cats to carseats, there's no stopping this earthy elixir.

Be sure to stay tuned, dahlins'!

A Salad that SCREAMS "Summer"

2009-07-09T17:32:00.000-07:00

During these lovely days of summer, please make some time to cannon ball into an icy cool pool, sip lemonade on your front porch, count the twinkling stars while laying on a picnic blanket or bite down into the juiciest slice of perfectly pink watermelon you can find! For me, there's nothing that sings the songs of summer like a shiny, emerald green, vine-ripened watermelon! When we were tots, my momma would buy the biggest watermelon she could find at the Piggly Wiggly (our local supermarket in Savannah), put it outside on our newspaper-lined patio table and let my sister and I go hog wild on that fabulous fruit! We would even wear our bathing suits so she could hose us off after we had our fill of that melons' ruby red flesh! The feast of the watermelon turned into a yearly tradition and always signaled the official start of summertime at the Dostal Household. As the years passed, I imagine we "thought" we grew out of this silly ritual. I am sure we were too busy at slumber parties or backwards skating at the Savannah Skate Inn to participate in the watermelon gorge but that summer memory lingers as sweetly in my mind as it does on my tongue. The fact that watermelon is the epitome of summertime for me has not changed. Sure, I would love to invite my 24 year old "little sister" over to oink out on a watermelon in our bathing suits, but I just feel that activity would lack the cuteness and practicality as it once did years ago. To satisfy this carnal urge for this monstrous melon, I have a sassy yet sophisticated salad I like to whip up for picnics, light summer suppers or for any garden dinner party. Please try out this salad for yourself, for your family and for your loved ones before the sun sets on our precious lazy days of summer.

Watermelon and Mint Salad

Ingredients

1 RIPE watermelon
1/4 cup red wine vinegar1 medium red onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
5 ounces feta cheese, crumbledFresh cracked black pepper and kosher salt
Whole mint sprigs for garnish

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the melon, onion, and feta. Pour the dressing over the melon mixture and toss gently until everything is coated and evenly mixed. Garnish with mint sprigs.

Savor the summer and be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!Cut the flesh from the melon and cut into bite size pieces, removing the seeds and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, salt, pepper, and whisk until salt is dissolved. Slowly whisk in the olive oil, a few drops at a time. Add in the chopped mint, taste and adjust seasonings.

Flower Power!

2009-07-07T18:31:00.000-07:00

It is truly amazing what a small bunch of perky little store-bought daisies can do for your spirit! During our courtship, my husband would occasionally delight me with a cluster of neon-dyed blooms called "Crazy Daisies" from our local grocery store. These little bits of sunshine delighted me so much but couldn't have cost more than five dollars a bundle. Besides the radical rainbow of color they brought inside the house, the thing I enjoyed the most about them is their longevity. With the right amount of tender loving care, those posh posies would last two sometimes three weeks. Daisies are a pretty hearty flower but even the most delicate of blossoms will continue to spread their joy if you just take a few minutes out of your day to practice these maintenance tips.

*Always re-cut stems under cold water if flowers are gifted/purchased without a vase. By re-cutting the stem, you prevent air pockets or air embolisms from developing in the stem.

*Trim stems at about a 45 degree angle. This allows maximum surface exposure for the stem allowing water to travel freely up the stem and to the bud. For woody stems like the kind found on lilac, hydrangea and rhododendrons, crush ends with a mallet to promote water flow.

*Be sure to remove any leaves or other foliage that will be below the water surface. Additional foliage in the water leads to rot and decay, not to mention STINKY water!

*Keep flowers out of direct sunlight, need I say more?! ;o)

*Include sprigs of artificial ivy, fern, baby's breath or other silk filler to give your budget buds more "umph." Artificial greenery bunches or "picks" as they say in the floral world can be purchased a craft emporiums, floral supply and my favorite hot-spot, DOLLAR TREE!

*Add splash of sprite to the vase to for a floral food substitute. A teaspoon of bleach or Listerine will ward off any harmful bacteria while the combination of a penny and aspirin will do the same trick. Try all these quirky little methods and see which works best for you!

*Change your vase water every two days or so, beware of murky water! You may want to re-cut stems too if you have time to spare.

*Invest in carnations, alstromeria, chrysanthemums, delphinium and lilies. Roses, tulips and gerbera daises are oh-so elegant but they sport a short shelf life. Orchids are a little pricier than the blooms mentioned above however, if cared for properly, these beauts could last you for three weeks! Now that's more bloom for your buck!

*As your flowers begin to wilt and die, remove these fading flowers as they produce a gas called ethylene which will cause other healthy flowers to wilt too. (Apples produce this same gas keep your flowers away from your fruits!)

I hope you find these horticulture hints helpful and that they keep your buds blooming!

Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Been Thinking Pink...

2009-06-30T19:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been a while, ladies! What can I say but "life happened!" I am back in the saddle and now, I am blogging for a cause. In addition to the plethora of recipes, designer projects and life-style tips I plan to share with you, I would also like to share a way to give back to this beautiful world we live in.

The day after Mother's Day this year, my very own mother, my unbreakable heroine, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. It was and still is hard for me to digest considering all the volunteer work and exposure I personally have given to this disease. As a carefree 15 year old, I worked as a "Pink Lady" at the Memorial Medical Breast Center, dealing daily with patients suffering and surviving the illness. Throughout college, I assisted my sorority with our national philanthropy, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for almost five years, planning and organizing chairtable events. I continued my crusade here in Central Florida by volunteering at our yearly "Race for the Cure." Even though I was rocked to my core by the strength and perseverance of all these individuals effected by this disease showed me, I never once viewed my own mother as one of these statistics. The harsh reality of the disease is that 1 in 8 women will develop some level of Breast Cancer throughout their lifetime- 1 in 8 women!

A link was sent to me by a dear friend of mine for an organization called "Making Memories." On their site, they have partnered with several different vendors and programs to help assist in efforts to increase awareness about these disease and to provide memorable experiences to the women Breast Cancer affects. Two programs that tie perfectly into our blog here include the "Pink Envelope Project" and the "Brides Against Breast Cancer" sale. Please visit http://makingmemories.org/ for more information about each but here are brief explanations for both events below.

Pink Envelope Project- The website suggests initiating this fundraiser at a bridal shower or even a wedding reception. The concept is quite simple- pink envelopes, small donation, changed lives! "Making Memories" will send you their signature pink envelopes to collect donations in from all your shower/wedding guests, perhaps in lieu of gifts?! You could also choose to make a donation of at least $100.00 in advance to the foundation and then pass along a beautiful company crafted favor card to your guests explaining a donation has been made to "Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation" in their honor. Along with the cards, you could attach a pink ribbon key chain, chocolate or charm like the ones seen here for an added keepsake. Your guests will treasure this special memento and love the fact they helped make a difference in the life of another.

Brides Against Breast Cancer- Every girl dreams of the fairytale romance, the magical proposal and then the perfect gown! Would it be possible to have all these things for yourself AND to make someone elses' dreams come true? That is the sole mission of the "Brides Against Breast Cancer" fund. Brides-to-be have the option of purchasing BRAND NEW to gently worn contemporary, designer wedding gowns for a fraction of the price with most of the proceeds going back into the "Brides Against Breast Cancer" fund. Brides who have already taken the plunge can contribute to the cause either by donating their dresses or by participating in a "Brides Against Breast Cancer" trunk sale in a city near you. Please refer to the "Making Memories" website for more information on how to make any woman's dreams become a reality!

Thank you for taking the time out of your hectic lives to read my little blog here. I hope this post has inspired you to lend a helping hand in your community, appreciate life and to make sure those you love KNOW you love them every single day. Each day is a gift- uwrap it carefully!

Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Smelling Like a Rose!

2009-06-24T22:04:00.000-07:00

As I was bargain shopping in the department store the other day, I stumbled upon the sweetest little silk sachets hiding in the linens section. Sachets are generally small bags or pillows stuffed with wonderful smelling herbs or flowers. These little treasures can be tucked anywhere from your linen closet, to your lingerie drawer to the underside of your pillow to add a wonderful scent where ever they may land. The department store sachets looked and smelled so luxurious but they also had a luxurious price tag to match. Of course I wanted my linens and unmentionables to smell just as sweet as these little pricey puffs, I just didn't want to shell out for the scents! Here are a few ways to add a bit of fine frangrance to your drawers, closets and beds with out breaking the bank!

*Next time you are flipping through the pages of Vogue or Cosmopolitan, tear out the perfume sample page and slip it in your lingerie drawer. This also goes for those cute little card stock cut-outs you drench with perfume at the store. Just be sure it's a fragrance you like!

*Bars of soap make excellent sachet substitutes as well! Just take an inexpensive bar of a clean smelling soap and put it in the back of your drawer. A few of my favorite feminine, yet clean scents include Cucumber Melon, White Tea & Ginger, Coconut Lime, Lavender and Lemon Grass. Unused soap works best here! ;o)

*Scented drawer liners are functional and fabulous! I will admit they are a little hard t0 find these days, but they just leave your clothes smelling divine. I have found them at Bed, Bath and Beyond before and other random shops such as Stein Mart, Ross, Tuesday Morning and even Big Lots! If you can find some snazzy ones, consider gifting them to a bride-to-be. They make a great addition to a lingerie shower gift maybe along with some monogrammed linens or other scented home products if you don't feel at comfortable buying someone besides your self undies. Scented drawer liners are just a class act!

*Have the time? Why not put your crafty claws to use and replicate the sachets you admired in the store? All you need is tulle or another fabric that "breathes" and something smelly such as potpourri, eucalyptus leaves or dried lavender to put in it. Vintage hankies make great bases for sachets too! Trace a circle onto the fabric of your choice, cut your circle (no need to cut up the hankies), fill and tie up with a beautiful ribbon. You could also use these for shower favors, maybe adding a rosette for a wedding shower or a baby carriage charm for a baby shower.

Hope these you find these Domestic Diva tips to be "SCENTSATIONAL!" Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Pearly Whites

2009-06-24T21:10:00.000-07:00

Got a hot date? Walking down the aisle? Job interview on Monday? Bring some bling to that smile! If you can't quite splurge on pricey professional teeth whitening procedures, these home spun toothy tips are a sure fire way to get your smile noticed!

*Did you know some tootie fruities can aid in teeth whitening? Strawberries, mother nature's jelly beans are not only packed with a ton of Vitamin C but have been known to brighten up a smile simply by eating them! Who doesn't like strawberries- skip the cream though! The white underside of an orange peel also contains whitening agents- just rub it along your tooth enamel. If you are a true domestic diva, you can mix dried orange peel with your everyday toothpaste for extra whitening power.

*As my mom would say, just do it the "Grandma Rubye Way!" This tried and true method is one of the oldest and most effective ways for everyday whitening. Take your toothbrush dip it into your baking soda stash and starting brushing. Be gentle along the gum line as baking soda is an abrasive. With the soda still on your teeth, drizzle a bit of hydrogen peroxide on your brush and begin brushing again. I like to keep this paste on for a few minutes or so to ensure it's strength. (A great time to do this is in the shower right after you have applied your hair conditioner; when you rinse the conditioner out, rinse your mouth too!) After a week or so of this method you should see noticeable results. I have also heard of people using lemon juice and salt but unfortunately, I can't stand the taste. It's worth a try.

*Drink EVERYTHING out of a straw! Mostly all carbonated beverages and juices contain citric acid in them which stain your teeth. We all know wine, coffee and tea are major culprits too so start slipping a straw into that coffee mug and then start sipping! The classiest girl I ever knew in college even sipped her BEER out of a straw! Laugh all you want, but her teeth were DIAMOND WHITE!

*Don't forget the floss! Sorry to sound like the dentist here but this mouthy mantra is something you have to live by if you want those choppers to shine! Besides the fact you are removing excess food which can cause bacteria growth in your mouth, you are also loosening up stain causing tartar and plaque. If the space between your teeth is clean, your smile will look a million times whiter. Don't forget all the little nooks and crannies!

Happy Brushing and be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

Kiss My Grits!

2009-06-24T20:59:00.001-07:00

Ahhh... Nothing eases the pain of getting up on a Monday morning more than a steaming hot bowl of GRITS! For those of you who may be unfamiliar with this divine concoction, Grits is a thick, corn-based porridge, common to the cuisine of the Southeast. This golden goop is perfect with only a pat of butter and dash of salt but additions such as meats (especially shrimp on the east or gulf coasts), sugar and my personal favorite CHEESE can kick it up a notch! I would say the most important thing about cooking these little beauties is to season them during the cooking process, otherwise you will have a pot of something that looks AND tastes like wallpaper paste. Grits are traditionally served in the morning in southern households and on St. Patrick's Day in Savannah, they are even served green!The good news is grits aren't just for breakfast anymore so please allow me to share a recipe for my favorite lunch or dinner entree:

Southern Style Shrimp-N-Grits

Ingredients
1 cup stone-ground grits
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce (adjust to taste preference)
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 pound medium to large shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons, lemon juice
6 slices bacon, chopped into tiny pieces
1 cup thinly sliced green onions, white and green parts (additional for garnish)
Fresh cracked black pepper and kosher salt

Directions
In a medium saucepan, bring 4 cups water to a boil. Add the grits, hot sauce and salt and pepper to taste. Stir grits well with a whisk. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting and cook the grits until all the water is absorbed, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the butter and both cheeses. Keep covered until ready to serve.
Fry all 6 bacon slices in a skillet, move to a paper towel to "degrease." Add the shrimp to the bacon grease in the skillet and sauté over medium heat just until they turn pink, about 3 minutes. Add your lemon juice, green onions and garlic to the shrimp and remove the skillet from the heat.
For serving, pour your grits into a vessel of your choice (soup bowl, coffee mug or even a martini glass for an appetizer portion) and top with shrimp mixture. Garnish with crumbled bacon, left-over green onions and additional CHEESE if you prefer.

Bon Appetit, y'all and be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

In Distress Over Dad's Day?

2009-06-24T20:52:00.001-07:00

Have no fear, FBBTDD is here!!! As the sultry summer days of June start to pass, each day we find ourselves closer and closer to dear ole dad's day of appreciation; Father's Day. You have one week as of today to purchase the perfect card, send that special gift or prepare your yearly Father's Day phone call. The question is what can you give the man who wiped away all your tears, bandaged all those skinned knees, gave you away at your wedding- the man who was there for you when no other man was? I always say stick with what you know and let cliche's be your guide, "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach!" No matter pop's interest here are a few budget-friendly gastronomic gift ideas sure to please all palettes!

"Around the World in 80 Beers"- Grab an inexpensive galvanized or plastic drink tub (they can usually be found in the garden department or amongst the seasonal items at Wal-mart) and fill it with multi-colored tissue paper, streamers, confetti or even the newspaper funnies for a whimsical touch. Hit up the adult libation section (a.k.a. the beer cooler) and just start going down the line. Purchase any or all of the following: Mexican Beer ( ex. Dos Equis, Sol, Pacifico, etc.), Irish Beer (ex. Guisness, Harp, Smithwicks, etc.), German Beer (ex. Becks, St. Pauli Girl, Spaten, etc.), Canadian Beer (ex. Labatt Blue, Molson Canadian, Moosehead, etc.), Japanese Beer (ex. Sapporo, Kirin, etc.), and by now I am sure you get the idea. If you are lucky enough to have a "World Market" in your neighborhood, this store actually specializes in international food and beverage so be sure to check out their selection. Pack them all up in you festive beer tub and if you have time, perhaps enclose a description of each beer along with it's origin. Dad will appreciate the thought, but maybe not the hangover that is sure to ensue!

"Food for the Fairway"- Is dad an avid golfer, is he just ga-ga for the greens? Pack him a "Food for the Fairway" cooler for his next round and you are sure to secure your spot as the favorite child! Start with an inexpensive cooler and once again fill it with your multi-colored tissue paper or newspaper funnies. For a grassy effect, try using all green tissue paper and shredding a few pieces on the top. Do you have any green Easter Grass leftover- now would be the perfect time to use it! Start packing your cooler with bottled waters, mixed nuts, pretzels, cheese crackers, protein bars, beef jerky and the rest of your pops' favorite snacks. For added kitsch, throw in a jug of Snapple Brand "Arnold Palmer" Sweet Tea and Lemonade mix. Not only is it a thirst quencher on a hot day, but dad will appreciate you "comparing him" to the planet's greatest golfer. If your budget allows, throw in a pack of golf balls, golf tees, a golf towel, sunscreen, bug repellent and maybe a divot tool if available. This gift is sure to score a "hole in one!"

"Lake Break" - If dad's always gone fishing, this gift will surely lure him back in! Start with a Plano or other brand of tackle box and stuff it with a few "Field and Stream" magazines, sports drinks, bottled waters, sunscreen, wet wipes, pocket knife, coffee thermos with a bag of dad's favorite coffee, beef jerky, peanuts and a bag of Goldfish Crackers of course. A few other fishy additions could be a gift card to Bass Pro Shops, a baseball cap, a pair of polarized sunglasses (helps them see out on the water), hooks, bobbers, fishing line and maybe a few lures if you can squeeze out of your dad some of his favorites. Apparently they are very particular about these...With the "Lake Break", dad is ready to "kick some bass" and tell a few fish tales of his own!

"License to Grill" - No cheesy "King of the Grill" aprons here! Start by purchasing a large platter, whether it be ceramic, glass, steel, etc.- just not plastic as it will melt when red hot meat plops onto it off the grill. This platter will be the foundation for your gifts and will also hopefully turn into his favorite meat carrier! Pile up the platter with grilling accessories such as a meat thermometer, grill lighter (one with a long tip), basting brush, meat fork, seasoning salt, unique BBQ sauces and marinades (Lawrys Hawaiian Marinade is a family favorite now), tongs, grill brush, metal spatula, corn holders, kabob skewers, spray bottle (dad can use this for water, olive oil, or even melted butter when he grills) and a hand-written recipe for a meat rub. (On a side note, I found most of these items at my local dollar store, yippee!) Be sure to see if your dad is cooking with gas or charcoal as lighter fluid and charcoal briquettes would be a great addition to a charcoal grill chef. If you have the time and the means, personalized branding irons can be ordered off the Internet or at specialty cooking stores like Williams-Sonoma. After you present this gift, it will be a thrill for daddy-o to grill!

I hope you enjoy making these gifts as much as you enjoy giving them this Father's Day. Be sure to stayed tuned, dahlin's!

She Saves Seashells from the Seashore!

2009-06-22T06:05:00.000-07:00

Even after the sun has set on your day at the beach, bring your seashore memories home with this casual table centerpiece. Start by filling a glass vase or large pillar candle holder with sand; in this case, store-bought sand is my preference. Place a pillar candle in the center of the sand and vase and arrange your beachy bounty around it. In addition to shells you find washed up on the beach, keep your eyes open for bits of driftwood, coral and sea glass; all would make great additions to this centerpiece. I bought over-sized pearl beads and a fishnet from my local craft store and lovingly tucked them amongst the shells I found for some visual interest. Place this arrangement on top of any inexpensive framed mirror and enjoy your sweet seaside memories all year long.

Something to Sip

2009-06-18T16:22:00.000-07:00

With summer in full swing, visions of pool parties, backyard BBQ's and frilly drinks dance in my head. Although I do love to cook, mistress of the grill is not a notch I can put on my belt. Where you can find me is behind the bar, martini shaker in one hand and and a "tasting sample" in the other. Just as beer and wine can be paired with food, cocktails make great additions to any meal. With summer type food consisting of hearty and saucy meats coming off the grill, a bounty of seasonal vegetables and mayo-laden pasta and potato salads, you need quite a versatile cocktail to compliment all these flavors. Just as it has been a staple on every eating table since the dawn of time, sweet tea has found it's way into the world of adult libations. The wildy popular Sweet Tea Vodka is an amazing liquor; refreshing, crisp, familiar and soothingly sweet. Right now there are so many brands on the market, you are sure to find one to please your palette. I must stay true to my Southern Roots and say Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka is my favorite, however brands such as Sweet Carolina, Jeremiah Weed, Burnett's and Seagram's have all produced their own special sweet tea elixir. There is truly nothing more refreshing than a tall glass of sweet tea on a hot summer's day, well except for maybe if that tall glass had just a little vodka in it! ;o) Next time you throw a BBQ, attend a pool party or just sit on your front porch swing to watch the sun set, sip on one of these sweet tea cocktails and let all your cares slip away.

The Southern Belle- Of course you could make this with regular lemonade but doesn't pink sound so much more fun?! These would be a fabulous cocktail to serve at a spring or summer bridal shower.

1 Part Sweet Tea Vodka & 1 Part Pink Minute Maid Lemonade
*Mix both ingredients well and serve over ice in dainty little crystal or other decorative glasses. Dip lemon wheels into pink sugar and garnish glass with lemon and a pink straw.

Plantation Tea- An alcoholic variation of my favorite memories of Hawaii. In restaurants over there, your iced tea is served with half pineapple juice! If this doesn't put you in an island mind set, I don't know what will!

1 Part Sweet Tea Vodka & 1 Part Pineapple Juice
*Mix both ingredients well and serve over ice in a vintage tiki cup and garnish with a cocktail umbrella and pineapple chunk.

Peachy Keen- This is how you will be feeling after one of these; beware!

1 Part Sweet Tea Vodka, 1/2 Part Peach Nectar, 1/2 Part Ice Water & a Shot of Peach Schnapps
*Mix all ingredients well and serve over ice in what else, a mason jar! You can find a dozen-pack of these at Wal-mart in the "Kitchen Utensil" section as they are traditionally used for canning fruit and vegetables. If you garnish with a peach wedge, be sure to smother the cut peaches in lemon juice before hand as we do not want any brown fruit making a party debut. You could also just garnish with a little green mint sprig.

Lethal Lemon Iced Tea Shooters- This shooter was invented at my in-law's house after Valentine's Day dinner. It truly was a night to remember but after these, I totally forgot!

1 Part Sweet Tea Vodka 1 Part Limoncello
*Shake with ice and pour into sugar rimmed shot glasses!

Sip these Sweet Tea delicacies slowly and remember to always drink responsibly. Be sure to stay tuned, dahlin's!

"Necessity is the Mother of Invention"

2009-06-12T13:17:00.000-07:00