Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Gobble, Gobble!

Check out this awesome centerpiece idea from Parents Magazine! Isn't he adorable?

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Update your bookmarks

One of my favorite bloggers is switching locations! Be sure to bookmark the new blog, Pretty Good. Beautiful, wonderful photographs to make you smile.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Oh, green...

The most fantastic shoes I've seen in ages...And, you should see the dress! Click below to drool....

Sunday, November 9, 2008

I've found the most amazing house

I'm mesmerized by this tiny little house in the Catskills (formerly a one-room school house.)

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Apple cranberry brandy pie


I tried out this incredible pie from Sunset magazine this weekend, and I think I've found a definite win for a Thanksgiving pie. Delicious!


Ingredients

1/4 cup brandy
1/4 cup currants
1 1/2 cups fresh or thawed frozen cranberries
About 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
6 tbsp. plus 1 cup unbleached or all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. finely grated fresh orange zest
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
6 cups sliced peeled Granny Smith apples
(about 2 1/4 lbs.)
10-inch pie pastry for a single-crust pie
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter, cut into chunks

Instructions

In a bowl, combine brandy and currants. Cover; let stand until currants are plump, at least 1 hour or up to 1 day.

Pick through cranberries, rinse, and drain.

Preheat oven to 375[degrees]. In a large bowl, mix 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar, 6 tbsp. flour, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. With a slotted spoon, transfer currants from brandy (reserve brandy) to sugar mixture; add cranberries and apples and mix well. Add more granulated sugar if desired. Pour filling into unbaked pie pastry and drizzle with brandy.

In another bowl, mix 1 cup flour and brown sugar. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender or rub with your fingers until mixture forms small lumps. Sprinkle topping over filling. Set pie in a foil-lined 10- by 15-inch baking pan.

Bake on bottom rack until juices bubble, 55 to 65 minutes. If pie browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil.

Printing Project I

I'm helping my best friend with some printed items for her wedding in two weeks, and I'm therefore giving my new printer a run for the money. Project #1: these little tags for the favor bags.


Eleni's

How cute is this box of wedding cookies from Eleni's New York? I don't know how I resisted it when we were in New York recently. It would make a wonderful surprise wedding treat.


I'm also LOVING these Obama cookies! Great for that upcoming inauguration party in January.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Vote!


I'm off today and we'll be hitting the streets trying to get out the vote. It could be all about PA today! Fingers and toes are crossed.

Monday, November 3, 2008

My love affair with a printer

As you may know, I'm an editor on an amazing and wonderful social networking site, Kirtsy. There are many perks to the job, not least of which are the FABULOUS ladies that I work with. Another recent perk was an introduction to the One2One Network, "a national matrix of thousands of socially-connected women who actively promote products and services they believe in."

The introduction came with one pretty spectacular bonus ... a new printer! I was in desperate need of one. Mine was kaput, and I have been forced recently to print invitations and the like from an area printer. Well, phew, those days are in the past. I now have Epson's Artisan 800 All-in-One printer.

You may think I'm just saying fabulous things because I got a new printer ... I'm really not that easily won over, and I totally would have been a crank if this thing wasn't so ridiculously cool.




Here are a few of my favorite features... 1) It has a flat, touch screen. Seriously. 2) It has two printing trays, so I can keep photo paper in it at all times, and switch out my card stocks as needed. 3) The color is AMAZING! I've printed several test pictures, and they are completed lickety-split with absolute flawlessness. You'd never know this was a home printer. 3) It's sleek and easy to use. My husband and I have been fighting over it lately. (No surprise that I usually win out.)

In addition, the printer is WiFi, so I'm literally hooked up now and it's printing upstairs. Pretty stinkin' cool!



So, if you're in the market, be sure to look here for more information! Also, stay tuned because I'm be featuring some printing projects in the next few days!

From time to time you may see product reviews from me now, but I promise you this ... I will not be biased. If I don't think something is up to par, I'm going to warn you! And, if you're interested and have time, be sure to check out the One2One Network and sign up to participate as well!