Tips: Dressing for a Friend's Wedding (Celeb Stylist Tips, Yoplait Light)

 

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Weddings on your calendar this spring and summer?  Not to worry, celebrity stylist, host of the Style Network’s show “How Do I Look?” and Yoplait Light Two Week Tune Up spokesperson, Jeannie Mai, provides her expert advice on how to prep for a wedding this season.

Color and cuts: When it comes to being a guest at a wedding, think about the colors of celebration. Bright jeweled colors of turquoise, royal blue, purples, or even pinks are gorgeous, and create an inviting ambiance towards the family and friends around you. Because weddings can run long, and you're never sure how long you'll be standing or sitting, make sure what you're wearing is comfortable. Fashion forbid you wear anything that's going to have you fidgeting or adjusting and not focusing on the festivities!
Day vs. Night: Day weddings give you that perfect excuse to wear a fabulous frock. Think breezy, hemlines that end above, at, or below the knee - they can all be appropriate. The only day don't? Thick lycra or opaque tights. Unless you're a 9 year old girl hunting for Easter eggs.  Night weddings are definitely a reason to vamp up your look. Dresses can be flirty and fun, but makeup should definitely be enhanced for the lights. Be brave with a bolder lip, play up those eyes with false lashes, dare to go there! A wedding is just another word for a party :).
Cooler/ Warmer weather: For cooler weather, think layers. If you're wearing a dress, it's essential to have accessory pieces to keep you warm like a cashmere wrap, shawl, capelet, or cardigan. Blazers look great over dresses with the sleeves rolled up, and leather jackets can totally play up a cute frock. For warmer weather, think open toed or strappy sandals to keep your look cool, and definitely wear your hair up. The worst is feeling your hair stick to beads of sweat running down your back. Ick!

Tune Up ahead of time: Everyone wants to look and feel their best before attending a wedding, so think a few weeks ahead to ensure you feel your best on the big day. For example, the Yoplait Light Two Week Tune Up plan is a quick way you could lose 5 pounds in 2 weeks (find more details on the plan at Yoplait.com) for that added boost before attending any big event.  You can find more of Jeannie’s fashion tips at Facebook.

 

~I was not paid or compensated for this post, just passing on information.

Beachy Bounce Hair at Home

                             

Beach hair without the sand. Sexy yet casual, loose waves are the perfect style for the hot summer months. Even if you can’t make it to the islands this summer, you can still get textured, tousled waves with expert tips from Edward Tricomi:

"The salt in beach water roughens hair up, giving it texture and a certain look women love. It’s a great alternative to straightening hair and worrying if it’s going to withstand the humidity and frizz. Getting the look at home without taking a trip to the sandy beach is simple," says stylist Edward Tricomi. "By using a combination of the right styling products and techniques you could create the same effect easily, no matter your hair texture.”

• Step 1: Start by spraying a volumizing spray on damp hair at the roots and hairline. The spray boosts lift at the roots, creates the right amount of bounce and volume without the stickiness of salt water, imparts shine and de-frizzes strands. 

• Step 2: Using bobby pins, secure hair in loose spirals all around the head. 

• Step 3: Allow hair to air dry or speed up the process by blow-drying; then remove pins and shake out hair using fingers. “It is best to blow-dry hair on high heat for a shorter period of time rather than exposing your hair to medium heat for a longer length of time” explains Tricomi. 

This is also a much safer alternative as hanging in the sun can dry and damage your strands.  If you opt to bathe in the sun, Tricomi urges that you protect your hair and scalp by using a leave-in product with SPF.

Hair tips from Edward Tricomi

How I Keep My Family Happy

For me being a mom is a super big responsibility. I’m the one that keeps our household running smoothly. I’m the one that provides order. Yup, you’re right, I’m tooting my own horn here. I don’t think I’m any different than any other mom. If we don’t get the ball rolling, things don’t get done. So, I guess what I’m saying is making our home a safe haven from the world is how I keep my family happy.

I’m a stay at home mom, so I have time to do most of the housework. My kids still have a few chores, but over the years I’ve learned that it’s easier to do things myself instead of waiting for a kid to do it. That doesn’t mean that I don’t ask the kids to help with things around the house. I think it’s important for kids to learn how to do household chores. Part of being a family is working together.

In the scriptures the Lord (D&C 132:8) says that my house is a house of order. I think as a mom that’s one of my main jobs, to keep things running smoothly. Keeping the house picked up and the meals prepared at the normal times helps keep things running smoothly. I think that makes my family happy.

I have learned over the years that yelling at my kids doesn’t really accomplish anything, so I will talk sternly to them, but I don’t raise my voice. In return, I have two amazing teenagers that don’t talk back to me. This in itself helps all of us to get along better together and makes us all happy.

I also keep my family happy by being constant. I will always listen to what they have to say and I’m always in a cheerful mood. The cheerful mood part is just me, I’m just a very upbeat person.

I keep my family happy by helping to keep us all on schedule for all of our activities and by making our home someplace where my family wants to be. I want our home to be a place to escape to, not a place where my family wants to escape from.

I would love to hear your tips on how you keep your family happy!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Farm Rich blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Be A Snow Queen, Not A Snow Flake

Winterizing your Makeup with Dimitri James

Pale, dry skin….foundation colors gone awry….and fine lines that are not so fine. Winter isn’t pretty. But  Dimitri James, founder of Skinn Cosmetics, offers additional winter beauty tips and techniques designed to make make up work for, not against your skin.

Problem:   Color won’t stick to pale, dry winter skin.   Have your favorite blush and bronzer gone south for the winter, just when you needed an infusion of warmth and color the most?  Read on.

Solution:   First, exfoliate away those excess dead skin cells that skin produces to protect itself from the cold.  Then, try mixing a drop or two of a natural essential oil like neroli oil or rose hips oil with your favorite moisturizer before you apply it to your face. The extra oil will super-hydrate the skin and help offset winter dryness, and your bronzer and blush will adhere better and last longer.

Another proven method is to first apply a cream blush or bronzer to your cheeks and face then top with a very light dusting of your favorite powdered blush and bronzer. This layering technique will make your color cling beautifully all day.

To try:  Skinn Cosmetics Derm Appeal Microdermabrasion System

Problem:  Foundation takes on an orange cast by the end of the day.  There should be an orange “caution” sign for this all too common cosmetic problem

Solution: In the winter, women tend to wear more foundation and oilier skins tend to produce more oil in response to the dry, cold air.  Oils in foundation and oils from your skin oxidize during the day and turn orange. This is why we see that tell-tale orange “line of demarcation” at the jaw line as the day progresses.

The solution is using a purple-toned makeup primer under your foundation. The best ones are silicone based for flawless, smooth make up application.   Plus, the purple color  counteracts the orange in the skin caused from oils oxidizing.

To try: Skinn Cosmetics Orchid Gel

Problem:  When skin is dry, foundation and powder seem to exacerbate fine lines and wrinkles.

Solution:   Keep skin super hydrated during the colder months.  Here’s a great emergency skin rescue tip Dimitri has shared with his Hollywood clientele:   First, thoroughly cleanse and exfoliate skin.  Then fill a clean sink or large bowl with hot as you can take it water.  Add two tablespoons of sea salt to the water and two tablespoons of glycerin.  Then splash the skin with this hot sea bath mixture 30 times and you will see even the driest of winter skin look super hydrated and plumped-up smooth!

Then, add just a drop of rose hips oil to your moisturizer before applying to your face. Adding a drop of essential oil to your moisturizer rather than to your foundation will work better because moisturizer mixed with foundation may conflict with he foundation's emulsion system and create a less than perfect deposit of pigments on the skin which can create a blotchy look.

The same holds true for concealers - adding a little rose hips oil to your eye cream will soften those little dry lines around the eye and prevent concealer from looking lined. Plus the oil will eventually seep into the concealer and keep it smoother looking all day.

SKINN Cosmetics is a line of premium skin care and color cosmetic formulas developed by professional make-up artist Dimitri James. SKINN formulates and manufactures all of its own products, using highly active, concentrated natural ingredients and avoiding excess water, fillers or packaging.   Skinn is able to offer top quality products at affordable prices - with most products retailing around $30. All Skinn Cosmetics products are available for purchase online at www.skinncosmetics.com or by tuning in to Shop NBC.

A Few Tips To Keep Your Nails Looking Good!

The holidays are here which means it’s time to add a little something special to your look. Put the perfect amount of twinkle in your step with perfectly primped, bedazzled toes. Take my advice and follow these steps to perform an at-home pedicure that will leave your feet healthy and lookin' good - with a touch of sparkle for a little holiday cheer!

TIP ONE: Milk It

After removing nail polish and spraying feet with an antiseptic, soak feet in water and milk. Adding milk is a crucial step as water can strip skin of moisture and leave feet drier. Milk naturally exfoliates and nourishes the skin and it’s right in your refrigerator.

TIP TWO: Care for Cuticles with Caution

Lightly shape the toenails by cutting nails back slightly and massaging toes and feet with cream or oil. After feet have soaked for a few minutes, push back the cuticles – do NOT cut them. Cutting them creates more hangnails and can even lead to infection.

TIP THREE: Scrub Wisely

Lightly buff the nail plate while it is still moist with a cuticle cream or conditioner. Then buff the skin on your feet by applying a foot scrub and massaging the formula deep into the skin, concentrating on trouble spots.

TIP FOUR: Pick Your Shade and Polish Away!

Choose from a range of rich, eye-catching colors for a unique style all your own. To stick with the holiday spirit, I recommend a shimmery metallic, bold bright hue, or a festive red. After applying color, add a top coat. Then  place a beautiful, sparkling Swarovski crystal creation on the nail of your choice for a little holiday cheer. Your Bedazzled beauty can range from a single stone to a cute cluster.

Put on your party shoes and show off those sexy toes this holiday season! And please don't forget to visit As U Wish Nail Spa if you are in the neighborhood!

Happy Holidays to All!

~Skyy Hadley - owner, As "U" Wish Nail Spa (Hoboken, NJ)

~I was not paid or compensated for this post, just passing on information.

Organization Tips For Winter Closets!

As the temperatures drop and the snow starts to fall, what was once neatly tucked away in the far corner of the closet now needs to be ready to go everyday. From coats to scarves, get all of your winter essentials organized with our helpful tips and tricks, Home Made Simple has more ideas!

Ideas For Christmas Storage!

Wrapping paper, bows, decorations—oh my! The holidays are full of seasonal cheer, and with it comes the need to tame increased clutter. From storing bows to holiday wreaths, Home Made Simple will help show you how to give items a home you can easily access for years to come.

BUBBLY BEAUTY BENEFITS For Your Hair!

Ok girls, if anyone tries this let me know. We never have alcohol in the house, so I won’t be able to try this one.

Champagne is not just for sipping this New Year’s Eve!  You can pop your bottle earlier in the day this year to prep for the big night out.  Hair expert Joel Warren shares a tip on how your favorite type of bubbly can help you achieve the ultimate look to ring in the New Year:

Joel Warren of Warren-Tricomi Salon explains that champagne makes for an excellent hair treatment, especially for blondes.  Champagne can help you achieve smooth silky hair by mixing one-half cup of your favorite champagne with on-half cup of hot water.  Distribute the mix evenly throughout your hair and let it marinate while you are preparing yourself for a night of luxury.

The Power of the Purse

How to wield a bag for financial, personal defense

By Hollis Colquhoun

Your purse has power squared for your personal & financial self-defense.

First, it holds the resources to make you a powerful consumer. Studies have shown that women and their wallets control over 80 percent of consumer spending. In general, women buy most of the household and family items, including major appliances, vacations and automobiles, so they carry a hefty financial weight in the operation of the economy.

The best method for using your spending power, particularly for larger ticket items, is to take your time and not make impulsive decisions. Comparison shop, gather information, work within your budget and after a lot of thought and number crunching, make a purchase.

Your purse is also an effective weapon if you are alone, on the street or in a parking lot, and the victim of an attack by a thief or mugger. Most women have large bags that hold a multitude of essential items: wallet, journal, cell phone, cosmetic bag, keys, snacks, water bottle, etc. Consequently, your purse wields a decent amount of real weight.

Contrary to some opinions, the best defense against an attacker is not a can of mace or keys in between your fingers. Both of these defenses take time to set up and bad guys won't wait while you dig in your purse for the can or stick the keys through your fingers.

Rather, the best way to use the defensive power of your purse is to move with speed and the element of surprise. Swing your purse like a chain with an iron ball attached and aim for the head. Wing it, let go, and then run in the opposite direction.

About the Author: Financial survival counselor Hollis Colquhoun is an expert in "financial self-defense" for women and author of the new book, Women Empowering Themselves: A Financial Survival Guide. Hollis wrote the concise, pocket-book manual to help women take charge of their finances and overcome money anxiety disorder (M.A.D.). Hollis, who holds black belts in Karate and Taekwondo, combines martial arts principles with over 20 years experience on Wall Street and with her work as a financial counselor to help women of all ages and situations achieve financial security and independence. Contact Hollis at WomenEmpoweringThemselves@gmail.com.

Get Fit For 2011~Heidi Klum’s Secrets!

                                            

Heidi Klum looks ready for the holidays in a gold sparkly dress on the December cover of Self. In the interview, Heidi answers questions from Self readers about growing older, keeping marriage fresh, and her secrets to a healthy lifestyle. Here are the highlights:

• On her favorite exercise: "One of the best parts about season eight of Project Runway being taped in New York City was that I went running every morning. I had a watch that counts the miles and the little thing you put on your shoe that measures each step. Over seven weeks, I ran 120 miles! I don’t love running, but I do like to see everything getting tighter and toned."
• On getting older: "The ultimate beauty secret for a woman getting older is, 'Don’t be too thin!' It is always better to have a little meat on your bones. When you are just muscle, you end up being gaunt in the face, and that makes you look older by 5 or 10 years. I don’t think of getting older as looking better or worse; it’s just different. You change, and that’s OK."
• On her secret to staying fresh: "Sleep! I get up at 5:30, so I’m exhausted early. I go to bed at 8:30 most nights. Also, before events, I may get a spray tan. I like how it looks, but sometimes I leave gold shimmery marks all over!"

Southern Spoon Bread, Smores & Jose' Jalapeno on a Stick?

The kids wanted to make smores after lunch a few Sunday's ago. We used a candle, bamboo skewers and chocolate chips melted on graham crackers in the microwave! They were yummy!






This is one of my dad's favorite breakfast treats. You could also serve it with a dinner. It only takes 40 minutes to bake, and if you like cornbread, you'll love this version! I fixed this for breakfast along with sausages and eggs for Father's Day.

Southern Spoon Bread

3 cups milk
3/4 cup cornmeal
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter
3 eggs, separated
3 teaspoons baking powder

Set oven to 350 degrees. Heat milk, cornmeal, butter and salt until thick. In a small bowl whisk egg yolks, add a couples of spoonfuls of the cornmeal mixture, then stir whisk the egg mixture into the cornmeal mixture in the pan. Set aside. Whip egg whites until they form peaks. Whip in baking powder. Grease a 12 inch pie pan or a 8x8 square pan. Fold egg whites into cornmeal mixture and pour into prepared pan.

Bake for 40 minutes. Let set for 10 minutes, then cut and serve with butter, jam or honey. This is best served warm.




My kids got such a kick out of Jeff Dunham's comedy routine Jose' Jalapeno on a stick so much that they put their sausage on a stick and go through part of the comedy routine! We joke around a lot at our house!

Turkish Towel Company Review

 

The Turkish Towel Company encompasses a combined 50-plus years of towel know-how. This partnership marries American design, development, and marketing experience to the world-renowned skills and quality of Turkish towel manufacturing.

Black Makeup Washcloths

What a great idea! No more makeup stains on washcloths!

Zenith Complete Bath Set

For my review I choose the Zenith Bath Sheet. Oh, my gosh, this is such a nice thick absorbent towel! It is truly the nicest towel I’ve ever used! I love how absorbent it is. It makes my hair dry faster.

I found this great care guide on their website that tell how to care for your Turkish towels, it has some really great tips!

Towel Care

Washing:

• Exposed to oil, soil, and germs; wash towels in warm water with laundry detergent. If the towels are white, they should occasionally be washed with chlorine bleach.
• Cotton is a natural fiber and new towels will shed some loose fibers.
• Avoid fabric softeners—they contain silicon that will make the towels water repellent.

Drying:

While tumble drying will make the towel fluffy, do not overdo, as the heat from the dryer can damage the integrity of the cotton. We recommend using a lower heat setting occasionally or alternate between air and heat drying.

Absorbency:

To maximize the absorbency of a towel, add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle, once a month, to restore the towel to full absorbency. The vinegar removes any excess detergent, which can affect the towels’ absorbency.

Pulled Threads:

As all our towels are woven, a pulled loop will not unravel the towel. If you catch the towel and pull a loop, cut off the pulled loop with a pair of scissors.

Be sure and stop by the Turkish Towel Company and check out their great selection of bath towels, bath sheets, hand towels, washcloths and robes!

~I received a product sample in order to write my review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed are mine.

I'm going on vacation to Maine!

Do you see these cute little munchkins? Well, today is going to be a wonderful day, because my sweet hubby and I are flying to Maine to go visit! Yup, I get an all day date with my hubby and I get to go to my daughters! I'm so excited to see her new home and visit Maine. I won't actually get to see these cuties until tomorrow, because our plane gets in really late tonight.

I've decided to take Thursday's off from blogging, so you don't get a recipe today, but I do have something to share with you. You've got to go over to Dittle Dattle and learn how to use the Snipping Tool! Carrie has a great tutorial for it and she used my recipe to show you how it's done. It's a great way to save recipes and other useful information.

Be sure and stop by Sew Fun! She has a great giveaway going for some super cute pillows!

Danish Pastry and Getting Up Early

Happy Easter Everyone!

I'm doing a brunch this year for Easter and this is one of the things I'm making.  This was also one of the first few posts I did when I started my blog, so I thought I'd share it with you again.

I love watching my teenagers look for their Easter Baskets.  They've been hunting for them for a while now.  I wonder if they'll find them.

I love to get up early before everyone else is up! I like the quiet house with everyone snoozing! And while everyone is snoozing I like to make a fun breakfast treat. Danish Pastry is a recipe I found in one of my favorite cookbooks years ago. I like it because it tastes really fancy, but I always have all the ingredients on hand. It takes an hour to bake, but it is worth the extra time. The crust is nice and flaky and it has a cream puff top the puffs up while baking, then sinks and you spread it with a yummy glaze. You can put nuts on it, but my family likes it better without.

Danish Puff Pastry

1/2 cup butter
1 cup flour
2-4 tablespoons cold water
1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon almond extract
3 eggs

Glaze

1  1/2 cups powdered sugar
1  1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons butter
1-2 tablespoons warm water

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cut 1/2 butter into 1 cup flour. Sprinkle some of the water over the flour mixture and stir till it all comes together adding more water if needed. Roll into a ball. Divide in half. On ungreased baking sheet, pat each half into a strip, 12x3 inches. Strips should be about 3 inches apart.



Heat 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water to rolling boil in a medium saucepan. Remove from heat and quickly stir in almond extract and 1 cup flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute. Remove from heat. Beat in eggs all at once until smooth and glossy.

Divide in half; spread each half evenly over strips. Bake about 60 minutes or until topping is crisp and brown. Cool. (Topping will shrink and fall, forming the custardy top of this puff.) Frost with Glaze and sprinkle with nuts.

Glaze

Mix powdered sugar, butter,  vanilla and warm water until smooth and spreading consistency.

Making a scalloped doily

My daughter told me how to make a cake plate topper. You can make these any size. Just fold a piece of wax paper or parchment paper in half, then in half again, then again,


Then again,Until it is this size.

Then turn it over and look for the smallest edge,
then cut an arch in it. Open it up and you have
scallops!

Work For Me Wednesday, an Organizing Tip and Chocolate Crinkle Puffs

Today is Work For Me Wednesday and we're sharing an organizing idea. I came up with this idea the other day. I have a box of note paper near the phone and I use it to write messages on, make to do lists and grocery lists etc. The problem is, that the notes fall off the table or get left somewhere. So I decided that what I needed was a nice little spiral notebook that I could keep handy, and if I need the page, I can just tear it out! So I picked one up at the store, then I spiffed it up a little with some scrapbook paper and I added a little clip to hold notes. It Works For Me! And it's been really handy already. Head on over to We Are That Family and see what everyone else is up too!



Now on to a recipe!




I found this recipe in a cookie cookbook. It seemed a little different because you roll it in granulated sugar instead of powdered sugar. The recipe doesn't make very many, but that could be a good thing, because they are really, really good! They have a great butter flavor even with the chocolate flavor! The middles are nice and soft too! I'll be making these again soon!

Chocolate Crinkle Puffs

2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
6 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
granulated sugar

Heat oven to 350. Put granulated sugar in a small bowl, about 1/4 cup.

In a bowl whisk the dry ingredients.

Cream the butter and sugar for 3 minutes. Add the eggs, milk and vanilla and mix well. Add the dry ingredients and mix well.

Roll in balls and then roll in sugar and place on cookie sheets. Bake for 10 minutes.

Zucchini Spice Coffee Cake and yesterday's run! Also Two Contests!

I got up at 4am to make this for breakfast for my family yesterday morning. I went out on a 15 mile run down a canyon 45 minutes away. So I set out all the ingredients the night before and whisked all the dry ingredients in a bowl. I left the butter out so it was room temperature too. It was real fast to mix this up and get it into the oven. It was nice to use up some of the zucchini that friends and family are giving me. I hate to turn it down! I used one of those big killer ones for this cake. You know the one, it looks like it's going to take over the kitchen counter and there is no room to hide it in the fridge, but you're afraid to throw it out!? Here's a tip I found for the big ones. Cut it in half and use a spoon and scrape out the seeds, then grate it up. You'll never know it was from a killer zucchini! You can even use it in a casserole.

Oh, if you're wondering how the run went, we started running in the dark, it was drizzling, then it turned into a downpour. At that point we were halfway down the canyon, so not much point of turning back. I know, you think I'm crazy! (I was running with a friend too!) Well, it turns out we weren't the only crazies out there! Another gal caught up with us and ran the last 6 miles with us. We passed some guys that were running up hill in the rain! I asked my friends if they knew what was worse than running downhill in the rain, and they said "NOTHING WAS WORSE!" I said yes there is, running uphill in the rain! When we drove back up to get the other car the rain had stopped and there were lots of people running down the canyon. It's the canyon where our marathon is next month. I was glad to have the run over, and at least it wasn't hot out.


Zucchini Spice Coffee Cake

1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/4 cups quick oatmeal
1 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2 cups grated zucchini (I left the peel on for color)
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1/4 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs

Topping

3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup quick oats
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, room temperature

Heat oven to 350. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with Pam.

In a mixing bowl whisk the dry ingredients. With a hand mixer mix in the zucchine, eggs, vanilla, butter and yogurt until just mixed. Pour into baking dish.

In a small bowl mix the flour, sugar, oats and cinnamon with a whisk. Mash in the butter with a fork until chunky. Sprinkle over batter.

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Serve warm or cold.

Stop over at My Domestic Bliss and help pick a name for a new business and you could win a great prize!

You can also stop over at Cottage Lifestyle for a chance to win a great watercolor print!

Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake and a tip!

My daughter bought me some fresh poppy seeds at the Pike Place Farmers Market in Seattle so I came up with this recipe for a cake. Be sure to keep you poppy seeds in the freezer, they'll stay fresher!


Lemon Poppy Seed Bundt Cake

3 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons poppy seeds
3/4 cup oil
1 3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon zest
3 eggs
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3/4 cup milk plus 2 tablespoons

Glaze

3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon lemon zest

In a small bowl mix the poppy seeds with the milk. Warm in the microwave for about 1 minute, then let macerate about 30 minutes.

Spray a bundt pan with Pam. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Measure all the dry ingredients into a bowl and whisk.

Beat the sugar and oil with in a mixer bowl. Add the eggs, lemon juice and lemon zest and beat well. Alternately add the milk with the dry ingredients and mix well.

Poor into prepared bundt pan and bake 55 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove from pan loosening with a knife if necessary. Drizzle glaze over cake.

Glaze

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl with a whisk.

Sausage and Broccoli Quiche and a tip!

I love to make a quiche when I need to use up leftovers. This time I had a lot of broccoli I needed to use. A quiche is so versatile because you can use lots of different meats, vegetables, and cheeses, or you can even make a cheese quiche. Think pizza! The possibilities are endless!


Sausage and Broccoli Quiche

Crust

1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
2-3 tablespoons water

Quiche Filling

1 lb pork sausage
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped
1 cup broccoli, steamed and chopped
2 cups milk, I use powdered milk and I doubled the powder(2/3 cup powder to 2 cups water)
4 eggs
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon each, salt and pepper
2 cups cheddar cheese, grated

Crust-

Cut butter into flour in a mixing bowl. Sprinkle water over, start with 1-2 tablespoons, you might not need it all, and mix just until it forms a ball. I used a cheesecake pan, un-greased and I pressed the dough into it and up the sides. I got a little sticky so I put a little olive oil on my hands, then I used a the back of a wooden spoon dipped in flour to work it up the sides.



Filling-

Brown the sausage, drain and add the onion and green pepper and cook for a few minutes. Pour into crust, top with broccoli. In a bowl beat the eggs, add the milk and seasoning. Pour over the meat and broccoli mixture. Sprinkle with the cheese. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes, then reduce it to 300 degrees and bake for 25 more minutes, or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes or so before serving.





Here's a little tip!

I like to use cast iron skillets when I cook, they are so easy to clean. Don't use soap, just scrub off and rinse and wipe with a damp rag. I like to do it right away after using, then I put it back on the warm burner so that it dries faster. They stay nice and seasoned that way.

My kids took a bike ride to the park and Metamorphosis Monday and Brownies!

My kids took a bike ride to one of our parks and had fun taking pictures of each other. I didn't go with them. I had already gone for a 11 1/2 mile run that morning with some friends. We're training for a marathon.

This is my son Chauncey




This is my daughter Sloan


I decided to take a tip from my daughter over at Tuffet and join Metamorphosis Monday ( From Between Naps on The Porch)

I bought a bunch of ribbon the other day but needed a way to store it. I had ribbon all over the place. You'll have to picture it, because I forgot to! The ribbons were coming off the spools, so I taped them all down and found a wire coat hanger. I had my sweet husband untwist the top and he clipped some of the wire off, then re-bent the end in a small hook that would fit in the holes on the cardboard ribbon spools! Voila! It looks so much better!


This is Sloan holding my ribbon organizer
Here's the nice little hook my sweet husband made


Here's another shot of the hook



Now on to the brownies!





We have a family get together tonight so I decided to make brownies. You can't go wrong with brownies, everyone likes them. I like to put frosting on them when I take them to something. This has been my favorite recipe, I've been using it since I was a teenager. I always have the ingredients on hand and it's fast and simple. You can leave the frosting off or you can add some nuts.

My Best Brownies

2 cups sugar
2/3 cup shortening
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanila
3/4 cup cocoa powder
1 1/4 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Beat the sugar and the shortening, add the eggs and vanilla. Mix in the dry ingredients. Spread into a greased 9x13 inch pan. Bake for 25-27 minutes. Cool and frost, or cool and cut and serve!

Chocolate Frosting

2 cups powdered sugar
4 tablespoons butter, softened
4 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup milk

Beat all the ingredients until thick and glossy. Spread on cooled brownies.



I have a spoon rest I keep on my stove top all the time, but I like to have extra ones for baking that are easy to store. I came up with the idea to save extra lids. They don't take up much room, I can store them on their side in the front of a drawer. I like the cocoa can lids.


This spoon rest stays on my stove all the time. Isn't she cute! I found her at our local second hand store, and on the back it says she was made in Italy! Funny, my dishes are from the second hand store, and they were made in Italy too! They were both made somewhere I'll probably never get to go!