Hot Cocktail: Cran-Apple Cobbler

The last thing I like to do is get stuck in a rut even it's with cocktails. I have my favorites but I like to expand my favorites by ordering or making different ones. Sometimes they're not so great but others are.One that I find absolutely delicious is the Cran-Apple Cobbler (from cocktailtimes.com). So delicious that I'm going to serve it at my upcoming party this Saturday.Cran-Apple

ALERT! ALERT! ALERT!

At last Kraft has made it easier to use Carmel Candy in our Fall & Christmas baking or candy making...
Look at that package...It says UNWRAPPED CARMEL BITS!!!!!
Now part of the work making my Carmel Krispies is done for me...

I noticed when I started to post this, that it is my 51st post....Thought it would take me longer than this to get there...
In honor of this I am going to tell you how to make your own....
Prim Linen Spray:


You can make this spray for ironing, to freshen sheets and towels in the linen closet, on old textiles to freshen them, as an air freshener or as I like to do, spray onto my prim items I have made...For this I use a scent that goes with what I made...

Ingredients:
4 ounces of distilled water (tap water will cause it to become cloudy and over time plug up the sprayer)
1 ounce of 100 proof rubbing alcohol (DO NOT USE ISOPROYL)
10 drops of an non staining essential oil
5 ounce spray bottle

Mix the essential oil into the alcohol, the alcohol will take on the scent of the oil...Slowly add the distilled water, stirring constantly...Fill the spray bottle..
Store in a cool dark place and shake the bottle before using....You might want to test on an inconspicuous spot before spraying...
Use these non staining essential oils for the linen sprays..
lavender
juniper
eucalyptus
rosewood
peppermint
You can use regular candle scents for your prim items...Just don't spray them and then put them in the oven, as the heat will make the smell evaporate....
If you want your item to appear like it has rust spots on it, then after spraying sprinkle on some cinnamon and spray again and let dry....Then it really smells good and your customers will love the smell

Event: Slane & Slane Jewelry Sample Sale

What:Slane & Slane Jewelry Sample SaleSlane & Slane’s design inspiration is rooted in classic architecture, mythology a love of animals and spiritual influences. Eighteen karat yellow gold and sterling silver jewelry with a special finish that is unique to Slane & Slane.Prices 50% to 60% OffTheir famous Bee rings from originally $220 retail now $110. Column Pave Diamond Bangles $1300 retail now

Ann Taylor LOFT Launches Program to Support Teachers

'LOFT Loves Teachers' Initiative Provides Retail Discount and Educational FundingNEW YORK, Ann Taylor LOFT, a division of Ann Taylor Stores Corporation (NYSE: ANN), announced the re-launch of the "LOFT Loves Teachers" program.Just in time for the fall season, LOFT Loves Teachers is a membership program exclusively for educators. Beginning September 30, 2008, educators who visit AnnTaylorLOFT.com/

For the Beauty Who's on a Budget: Avon's Glimmersticks Eye Liner

I'm always on the lookout for great products and what I like right now are the Avon Glimmersticks Eye Liners. They are easy to use, goes on smooth, doesn't irritate my eyes (contact wearer) and affordable. I couldn't ask for anything more.Available in five rich shades (Starry Night Blue, Emerald, Cosmic Brown, Blackest Black and Saturn Grey) for $6.00 each or current promotion 2 for $6.99. This

Get Ready for Fall by Fall Cleaning Your Closet

This is just the time to get started on your fall home projects. Why not get your closet ready for fall and winter by fall cleaning your closet yeah it's not as catchy as spring cleaning but it's still quite necessary.So here are few quick ways to get your closet ready for Fall:1. Organize into piles. Take each item and place into one of three piles: Keep (things you love), Donate or Trash. Make

Fred Jordan Missions' and Foot Locker to hold Annual Back-to-School Giveaway for Underprivileged Kids

5,000 Underprivileged Kids Receive Brand New Athletic Shoes, Clothing & School Supplies at the Fred Jordan Missions' 20th Annual Back-To-School Giveaway105,000 Children Have Been Helped Over the Last 20 Years Because of a Unique Partnership Between Foot Locker and the Fred Jordan MissionsWHAT: Several thousand of Southern California's underprivileged children receiving brand new athletic

Julie & Julia: Two Lives, One Passion

Photo from Flickr public files uploaded by lammoreauxMeryl Streep as Julia Child in the upcoming movie Julie & JuliaThere's an entertaining movie coming soon to a theater near you. I was privileged recently to screen a work-in-progress about Julia Child and blogger-author Julie Powell.The Julie/Julia Project and My Life In France inspired this movie, written, directed and produced by Nora Ephron,

Peach Dump Cake....Easy & Ummm Good!!!

This is for Pam....She doesn't like apples and wanted something made with peaches....



PEACH DUMP CAKE:

1 box cake mix (yellow cake mix or white cake mix)
1 can of chunky yellow cling peaches, drained
1 can of crushed pineapple, drained
1 stick of butter
1 - 1 1/2 cup of crushed nuts of choice (walnuts or pecans)
1/2 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 350.
Lightly grease (bottom only) of a cake pan (13x9).
Melt cubed butter in microwave and set aside.
Open canned peaches, drain and dump into cake pan. If desired cut peaches into smaller pieces, no need to do this prior just cut them while they are in the pan.
Sprinkle entire (dry) cake mix on top of peaches.

On top of cake mix add crushed drained pineapple
Sprinkle desired nuts on cake mix.
Pour butter evenly over nuts.
Sprinkle brown sugar over the top
Bake for 45 mins to 1 hour.
Cake will appear wet and uncooked but once cooked it is delicious, almost cobbler in nature. It is especially good served warm a la mode

Style and Focus News Bites 9-29 Websites and Fragrances

** Web site helps young women with 'high tastes and low budgets' make the most of both. PoorLittleRichGirls.com was created by a group of friends who love the high fashion however their budget couldn't quite give them the high fashion perks. The Web site helps hip young women find places to score $3 cocktails, $20 blowouts and other moderately priced must-haves. It's the newest Chicago-based

An Apple A Day!

Here's a handful of ideas to make use of autumn's abundance of apples..

Sprinkle thin slices of apple lightly with sugar, then saute in butter for 5 minutes, until golden...Fold into mashed potatoes.

Cut small cubes of apples and celery, then combine with walnut pieces...Toss with mayonnaise and season with chopped parsley, salt & pepper...This is a great salsd.

Substitute chopped apples for chopped celery in tuna salad..

Instead of lettuce, thinly slice apples on a turkey or ham sandwich..Top with mayonnaise or honey mustard.

Paul Newman, Food Lover, Philanthropist, Dies Chocolate Cake Recipes Named After Famed Actor

In MemoriamPaul Leonard Newman1925-200883 Years YoungFrom Flickr's public files uploaded by TUKKAPaul Newman passed away on Friday after a battle with cancer. For the last 25 years, Newman and co-founder A.E. Hotchner, brought the American public natural and organic foods long before they were popular and donated 100% of after-tax profits to education and charities worldwide through the Newman's

Tis The Season For Apple Pies!! Yes By Golly It Sure Is!!

Apple Pie!!
I do very little baking now days, but every once in a while I'll bake an Apple Pie…
I make a pretty good pie crust, but I'm usually making a crust for a savory dish. I had a whole bag of apples, so it seemed like a good time to bake an apple pie...


This is my favorite pie crust....I use to make so many pies, (14 pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving) and this one was so fast, easy and turned out perfect every time...

OIL PIE CRUST:

1 c. flour, plus 2 tbsp.
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. oil
2 tbsp. cold water

FOR TWO CRUST PIE:
1 3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. oil
3 tbsp. cold water
Mix and roll between wax paper.


APPLE PIE RECIPE:

INGREDIENTS
7 tart apples, peeled and cored
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, or to taste
1 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon corn starch
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
salt to taste
2 recipes unbaked pie shells
1 tablespoon butter


DIRECTIONS
1.Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2.Cut the apples into 1/4 inch slices.
3.In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, cinnamon, flour, nutmeg (or apple pie spice), and salt; mix thoroughly. Pour the spice mix over the apples and stir until the apples are coated.
4.Line one crust in a 9 inch deep dish pie pan. Place the apples in the pie crust. Dot the apple filling evenly with butter. Fit the top crust over the apples. Press the crust down gently and cut 3 or 4 slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape while the pie bakes
5.Bake in the preheated oven 50 minutes, or until the crust is golden brown. Check the pie after the first 30 minutes of cooking: if the crust is already browned reduce the heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) to allow the apples to cook without the crust burning.


Baking Apple Pies!!
Baking apple pies is a rather straightforward technique, but a few tips can help to make your pies come out looking and tasting perfect.

1. Preheat the oven to the temperature the recipe you are following recommends. Most apple pies bake at a temperature of between 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Some recipes call for baking the pie in a 450 degree F oven for the first part of baking, then turning down the oven to about 350 degrees F. This helps set the shape of the crust in recipes that contain a lot of fat; it can keep your crust from slouching.
2. To add a richer color to a double-crust or lattice-topped pie, brush the top crust with milk or lightly beaten egg before baking.
3. Baking a pie with a raw apple filling will take about an hour. Always bake pies on a baking sheet to prevent spillovers in the oven. Apple pies cook for approximately 45 minutes. When using a pre-cooked filling, pies can bake at a higher temperature for a shorter period of time, just enough to thoroughly bake the crust and heat the filling.
To check the doneness of the filling, insert a knife into the center of the pie. If it meets with little or no resistance, the pie is done. If the pie is not quite done but the top or edges are becoming too dark, loosely cover the top of the pie with aluminum foil to shield it from the heat. A glass pie dish is a great way to ensure the bottom crust is fully baked; using a baking stone or pizza stone is another trick. Baking on a stone ensures that the bottom crust on even the juiciest apple pie will be done when the top is brown.
4. For shine and sparkle, thin a quarter cup of light corn syrup with very hot water. When the pie is done, brush the thinned syrup over the top of the crust. You can add granulated sugar or decorative sugar at this time. Return the pie to the oven for two to three minutes to let the glaze dry and set. Once the pie is done baking, carefully remove it from the oven. Let the pie cool to room temperature before slicing to allow the filling to set

Corn Tassel Wreath Anyone!!!

I just have to post this, so if you can get the tassels you can make your own...Isn't it just Prim Beautiful!!!...You will find how to make it by visiting Four Fifty Three Blog .....

Victoria's Secret Sexual Secret Perfume, Better Than Being Bare

A seriously sexy fragrance worth adding to your arsenal of seduction is Victoria's Secret Sexual Secret ($48.00 for 2.5 oz). This sultry yet fruity scent includes accents of lotus flower, pink mango, white musk and more.For seduction on the go, a mini purse spray is included.

Friday's Fashion Pick: Romantic Dinner Date

It's Saturday night and you have the perfect evening planned with the perfect date. But what are you going to wear? Set your date's heart a flutter with a sweet and sexy lace dress. Accessorize this romantic fabric with gold hoops, a clutch and black pumps or strappy sandals.Vampy Lace Halter Dress $159.00 bebe

My Soothing Waterfall & Pond!!!!

My soothing noise maker......I love the sound of the waterfall!!

When I am in the gazebo I can see and hear the falling water...The gazebo has a hanging chandlier and there are lights on the pond, so sometimes I am out there late at night enjoying my books, music and the waterfall!!!

I will also enjoy talking to my friend Carla, in WV as she is a night owl just like me...One of the nice perks of living in a small town....

You can see that fall is here and of course here in Minnesota the pond plants and fish must be brought inside so they don't freeze....
I have my tank set up and ready for the fish to be brought inside....The plants will be clipped back and then put into plastic bags and stored in a small room under the basement steps.....I drain the pond, catch the fish and then fill the pond back up and put a pool mattress into the pond and a blue tarp over that, to keep the fall & winter debris out of the pond....Dakota, my lovable Lab, will do you know what there, when it freezes and this keeps her off that area....It is just closer for her than going to the back yard....I

t looks so bare when the gazebo and pond are done for the summer...and it also brings thoughts of shoveling snow...My granddaughter's husband Kevin keeps my driveway plowed during the winter...such a nice guy!!!

My Gazebo That Brought Me So Much Pleasure!!!!

Next week I have to pack up everything that is in the Gazebo....store for the winter and then take all but the frame down and store it till next April, or if the weather was like it was this spring, till May....

I hope my ferns live inside, but I doubt they will....I know as soon as the fronds start to lose their leaves and make a mess they will end up outside to freeze....

It isn't even down yet and already I am missing it.....I spent many a morning having my coffee, reading and watching the birds...Had a beautiful flock of Orioles eating the grape jelly and orange halves, they brought me so much pleasure.....Well they have been gone for over a month now, the geese are flying south, nuts and leaves are falling, the nights are getting cooler...so time to part with this bit of pleasure for this year.....Till next year..

Pumpkin Facial Mask & Pumpkin Sugar & Spice Scrub

Autumn can play some nasty tricks on your skin with its winds and chilly weather,and since I am on this PUMPKIN streak I thought I would give you these great treats using pumpkin.
The perfect icon of the season, to help nourish your skin beautifully, sloughing off dead cells to reveal the fresh new skin underneath.
Pumpkin, after all, contains lots of anti-oxidant vitamins A and C, as well as zinc and beneficial alpha-hydroxide acids.
Here is how to make a nourishing facial mask and a sugar and spice scrub using Pumpkin!!!....

Pumpkin Facial Mask:

2 teaspoons cooked or canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon honey
1/4 teaspoon milk (or whipping cream, if your skin is very dry)
1. Combine ingredients and apply to a clean face with gentle circular motions, avoiding the area around your eyes.
2. Allow mask to remain on skin for 10 to 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water, pat dry, and apply your usual moisturizer.

Pumpkin, Sugar, and Spice Scrub:

1/2 cup cooked or canned pumpkin, pureed
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1. Combine ingredients in a bowl.
2. Stand in a tub or shower stall and use a damp washcloth to scoop some of the mixture up. Apply to body, starting with your feet and working your way up, but avoiding your face. Scrub gently using circular motions.
3. Rinse with warm water and pat dry

How to Contact Style & Focus PR for Freelance Services

Contact Style & Focus Lifestyle PR for Marketing, Public Relations, Promotion and Editorial projects.Style & Focus Lifestyle PR is a strategic and creative freelance based company catering to small businesses in the Lifestyle, Fashion and Beauty market. We provide clients with original ideas, services and personal attention through promotion and increased public awareness.Areas of Interest:-

An Easy To Make PUMPKIN CORNBREAD!!

The onset of fall has got me on this pumpkin kick. So I was looking for different pumpkin recipes the other day and came across this one in the Country Living Magazine....Once I saw it I just had to try it. I've never even heard of pumpkin cornbread before, so my curiosity was definitely piqued.

Quick & Easy Pumpkin Corn Bread!

Indgrents:
1 box cornbread mix (8.5 oz.)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 cup can canned pumpkin
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 8 x 8-inch square pan or 8-inch cast iorn skillet.
Mix the cornbread, following directions on the box.. Add vanilla then nutmeg. Mix together. Add pumpkin to mixture then pour into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until knife comes out clean.
Makes 6 servings

Are we Overloaded with Celebrity Product Promotion?

by Style and Focus Lifestyle PRThis might sound strange coming from someone in Marketing & PR but there are too many ads featuring celebrities as well as there are too many celebrity products being aimed at the same target market.A few questions that come to mind are: Do we really need to see so many celebrities in ads to purchase a product? Are companies relying too much on the celebrity

The Flavor Bible Giveaway Winners!

5 Winners The Flavor BibleCONGRATULATIONS!!Moon MaidenBlonde DuckLaurenTamyReneeI've contacted each one of you via comment or e-mail.Contact me with your address so that Hachette can send you this wonderful book.Congratulations! Enjoy!!

BIRCH BERRY FARMS NEW SHOPPE!!!!

My good friend Renee, of Birch Berry Farms has opened a shoppe!! Three drum rolls please!!!!......This month she is featuring BURNISHED Sliver and has some exceptional pieces with great patina, to delight your eyes...Be sure to visit her shoppe...Just click on Birch Berry Farms to go there....

Tone & Burn While Watching your Favorite TV Shows

Did anyone catch Smallville, Supernatural or Burn Notice last night? Since I'm on the road I wasn't able to watch them but I did tape them. This season Clark suppose to fly, we'll see.The Fall TV season is here and with all the hours you're going to be logging infront of the TV you might as well squeeze in a little exercise. A quick and effective calorie burning workout from SELF magazine will

Message: Away on a Business Trip

Sorry for the lack of posts this week, I'm on a business trip. Will have new posts on Monday. As soon as I come back I'm helping a friend with a press release workshop. It's basically showing people the best ways to write a press release and how and who you should contact and a few more things.Until MondayS&FP.S.Send all questions, news or press releases, lookbooks, etc to: styleandfocuspr@

Thirteen To Try This Thirteenth Thursday Thirteen

Boy that headline is a tongue twister!Even if you can't say it fast 13 times, here's13 FUN Things You Can Do On My BlogThis is my 13th Thursday Thirteen!!Visit other Thursday 13 participants.Enter a great giveaway. Five WINNERS!!Read the book review of this great giveaway;Join the Need To Knead Bread Roundup;Participate in the 100 For The Sweet Tooth Meme;Check out all the great recipes from

SLOW COOKED PUMPKIN BUTTER!!! YUMMY GOOD!!

If you have enjoyed pumpkin butter from farms stands, and wanted to make your own, but thought it might be too difficult; guess again!
These step-by-step directions will make it so simple, anyone can make better pumpkin butter and at a much lower cost.

Now, with a crockpot, it's easy!

A side benefit is that your house will smell wonderful while it is cooking - much better than potpourri!

Ingredients

8 cups canned pumpkin
4 cups sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
6 tablespoons of lemon juice

Directions

Add the lemon juice to the pumpkin and spices.
Set the crock pot on low or medium heat.
Cover it loosely or use a large pot splatter-guard. It will spatter as it boils slowly, so I also cover nearby surfaces with towels. You don't want to seal it tightly because you want the steam to escape so it can reduce in volume and thicken.
Leave it to cook for 6 - 8 hours. How long depends on the size and power of your crock pot, and how thick you like it, If you want to stir it occasionally, that's fine but not necessary.

Spoon hot pumpkin mixture into sterilized, very hot, pint or half pint jars , filling to within 1/4 inch from top. Remove air bubbles; wipe jar rims. Cover at once with metal lids, and screw on bands.

This is like eating Pumpkin Pie on toast….

***Prepared this way, the jars have a shelf life of 6 months in the fridge. Note that it should NOT be stored on the shelf, unrefrigerated!!

Eat With Joy, Drink With Cheer

Photo by imapix in Flickr public files; Graphics by Joy Of DessertsHappy Word-Filled Wednesday to all! I have a giveaway this week, so be sure to click on the link to find out what you could win! There will be 5 winners. I have also started a new meme in celebration of my 100th post. It's fun, it's sweet and you don't even need a food blog to participate, just a sweet tooth. :-) I hope

Halloween Came Early For Me...Just Look At What I Received Yesterday In The Mail!!

My good friend Renee, from "Birch Berry Farms" sent me this gorgeous knitted wool pumpkin, that she knitted and then needled felted, a bar of her Pumpkin Soap that she hand makes (check her soap out on Etsy), and some luscious smelling potpourri in a silver antique soap dish...It came wrapped in orange tissue paper and inside a large cellophane bag tied with raffia...I was so surprised when I opened it and saw this lovely gift from Renee....She is just the best....You can find her on Ebay, Etsy and of course the
WSOAPP SHOPPES
..Be sure to look at her goodies and her soaps! You will be glad you did...Just click on the words Ebay, Etsy and WSOAPP SHOPPES to go there!!!!!

Domino Magazine's Time Saving Closet Clutter Solutions

Have a hard time getting out the door on time? Your closet may be the reason. With Domino Magazine's Closet Clutter Solutions you will no longer be the last one to the office or late for a party because you can't find what you're looking for.But, before you begin organizing, assess your morning routine and see how you can free up for time.Lacking a closet or in need of a great way to organize a

The Flavor Bible Giveaway From Hachette

GIVEAWAY!! GIVEAWAY!!Five lucky winners!Hachette USA is generously and graciously giving away 5 copies of The Flavor Bible to Joy of Desserts readers. Tell your friends! Click the link for my review of The Flavor Bible.Just leave a comment and you are entered! Only one comment per blog. If you do not have a blog, be sure to leave an e-mail.If you post about this giveaway with a link back here,

Bread Roundup, Meme, Giveaway! You're Invited!

You're Invited!!Lots of fun coming this way at the Joy of Desserts blog. You are all invited to the Bread Roundup Tamy and I are hosting on October 15, 2008. We are looking for all kinds of breads, both sweet and savory and we look forward to your participation. Click on the link for details on the Bread Roundup. Special thanks to Mere for posting about our roundup in this week's Scrumptious

100 For The Sweet Tooth To Celebrate 100 Posts

100 For The Sweet ToothA Meme To Celebrate 100 Posts This is my 100th. post!! Yay!!It seems 100 posts on the Blogosphere is a milestone people celebrate, so I too will keep that tradition alive. For you today, I have the obligatory list of 100 items. I am tailoring it for this blog to be a list of 100 For The Sweet Tooth!I have linked the recipes I have already posted on this blog, so if

Butter, Butter, Butter; Apple Butter That Is!!!

When apples are plentiful in the fall it seems you can't find enough things to do with them! make a whole pile of apple pies for family get togethers, apple slices for the grandchildren, apple cake, apple cobbler, apple bread or jelly; but here is something old that is new again.....APPLE BUTTER!...What could be more fall-like than apples, sugar and spices slowly cooking all day long? So I made a big batch of apple butter! The aroma that this makes as it cooked away in the crock pot was amazing. It does’t take much to get lots of flavor, it is a mix of sweet, tart and spice all at once; I was also drying apples and my home smelled sooo good...All the neighbors came over to see what I was cooking;
This Apple Butter is so easy to make, using your crock pot!
Now if you don't have Apple trees in your yard or have an orchard nearby, check out your local farmer's market...This time of year they always have Apples & Pumpkins...I am lucky as we have about 4 orchards nearby..
This recipe makes a small batch, so you don't really need to give it a water bath...just store the jars in the fridge...or if you want to give as gifts, then you will need to give them the old water bath treatment for 15 minutes!
SLOW COOKED APPLE BUTTER!

10 t0 12 large cooking apples (14 cups)...I used Winesap apples
2 cups apple juice or cider
3 cups white sugar ( I am diabetic so I used Splenda in one batch)
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

INSTRUCTIONS:

Core and chop unpeeled apples (bite size)
Combine with the apple juice or cider
Mix sugar (splenda) with the cinnamon & ground cloves
Add to the apples in the crock pot
Cover; cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 4 hours (the 10 hour one was better)
Remove cover and drain the apples
Put into blender or food processor and blend on high speed until smooth
Return apples to slow cooker
DO NOT COVER and cook on low for 1 hour or till it is the desired consistency
Mine took 1-1/2 hours;

Storage of Apple Butter:

While the mixture is very hot ladle the cooked Apple Butter into sterilized half-pint jars, leaving a 1/2" head space.
Put the lids on and then tighten the rings but not to tight.
Process in boiling water canner for 15 minutes
Remove from water bath and set on a dry cup towel till cool and lids pop closed..
Store in a cool dark place
OR:
You can just put into the sterilized jars, cover with the lids and rings, let cool and store in fridge...If you like Apple Butter this will go fast!

I got this recipe from Home Cooking and made a few changes;

Next I will do the Slow Cooked Pumpkin Butter and is that good.

Just like having pumpkin pie on your toast!

The Flavor Bible Ignites Culinary Passion, Creativity

Don't let the cover of this book fool you. It is not just about a few spices and flavorings. This meticulously crafted and photographed encyclopedic tome is for the serious cook, the culinary scholar, the passionate gourmet, the food historian.It is for those looking to take their cooking and eating to a level beyond ordinary.This luxurious, hardcover book deserves an honored place on the

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Looking for an eyeshadow kit that will take you from day to night. One to try is the Encore Eye Palette by Smashbox ($32.00, Ulta stores or ulta.com). It features 5 shimmery eye shadows (that you can blend for a different effect) and 1 creamy black eye liner that will take you from the office to the glitz and glam of the evening.It'll give you that little bit of a wow factor be it subtle for day

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You have plans to meet the girls for cocktails and you want to look dazzling and fresh. But, what to wear? Something flirty, sophisticated and comfortable; you want to be able to enjoy every laugh, update and gossip without feeling hassled by what your wearing.You'll turn heads by pairing a blazer (just incase it's chilly) with a sexy yet sophisticated top and jeans. Accessorize with a slim

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Here are more options for that classic closet staple, the Trench Coat.MICHAEL Michael Kors Three Quarter Length Trench Coat$73.00 saleNordstromBurberry London All Weather Poplin Trench Coat$1,195.00NordstromGold-rimmed Button Trenchcoat$198.00Banana RepublicJessica Simpson All Weather Belted Trench Coat$178.00NordstromLondon Fog Faux Silk Trench Coat$168.00NordstromJuicy Couture Skirted Trench

Handbag Pick: Jada Loveless Clutch

Leighton Meester of "Gossip Girl" was seen at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week carrying a Jada Loveless Josephine turquoise alligator clutch. The bold color of the clutch adds a spark of fun to her conservative attire.If the designer version doesn't quite fit your budget here is an affordable option from Old Navy:Women's Reptile-Print Clutches$14.50 sale(Photo Credit: Leighton Meester (

Style Piece: The Trench Coat Part 1

There's nothing more classic than a Trench Coat. From adding an air of mystery to creating a more polished and professional look.With so many different styles available, you have the option of finding a trench that will fit your style from conservative to fun and flirty, short or long in traditional shades or vibrant colors, prints and patterns. As well as fit into your budget.The Trench Coat is

Happy Hour Drink: Chocolate-Covered Strawberry Martini

Maybe since I've been craving a hot chocolate today, I thought I would post this stylish afternoon cocktail. EnjoyCredit: Cocktail.comIngredients:3 oz. Stoli Strawberry vodka1 1/2 oz. Godiva Chocolate liqueurIceGarnish: chocolate-covered strawberry or a regular large strawberryDirections:1. Combine vodka and chocolate liquer in a shaker with ice.2. Strained into a cocktail glass.3. Garnish with a

My Latest Obsession: Simple Yet Sexy Party Tops

Simplicity can be sexy because it keeps your admirers' attention on you and not on some over-the-top fussy piece. It also gives you a more polished and pulled together look.A-line Tank Pleated Bra Top$42.00Victoria's SecretElie Tahari 'Muriel' Blouse$248.00NordstromSexy Ruffle-front Tank$42.00Victoria's SecretAntiqued-gold Sequin Tank$400.00J.CrewKLS Capped Sleeve Blouse with Stones$99.99

Exhibit: Road to Freedom: Photographs of the Civil Rights Movement

What:Road to FreedomPhotographs of the Civil Rights Movement, 1956 -1968Experience history through stirring pictures that capture and document the process of the Civil Rights Movement. This exhibition features work by more than twenty photographers, such as Bob Adelman, Morton Broffman, Bruce Davidson, Doris Derby, Larry Fink, James Karales, Builder Levy and Steve Schapiro.Also included are the

Another Great Give Away!

Char from The Pickled Pepper Patch is giving away this great medium sized breadboard, faux cinnamon rolls that she makes, two aged wooden spoons and a wooden bowel to the very lucky winner. I just love it!!! Stop over for a visit she will draw the name on September 15th. Her link is in my Favorite Blogs...She also has a great tutorial for making luminaries and some freebe graphic images...Be sure to check her out!

Take A Quick Look At My CLEAN Craft Room!!

Thank goodness that job is done..

Took me over a week to clean and rearrange everything..

Gave away twice as much fabric as you see here, but it went for good causes!!
Chemo Patients Caps were made from the knit fabric..
Somalian Women are being taught to sew..
A Women Church Group is making quilts..

and Disadvantage Kids are learning basic sewing...

My hat goes off to all these Women for giving of their time

and I have a nice clean work space!!