Showoff Sunday!

Hello! Just a quick post today - I just want to showoff some of my favorites from various Etsy shops. Enjoy!



Thought of the Day:

"The manner of giving is worth more than the gift."
-Pierre Corneille

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Friday Favorites: 4/16/2010

“If we treated everyone we meet with the same affection we bestow upon our favorite cat, they, too, would purr.”
-Martin Delany


Happy Friday everyone! I hope you are doing well! Today's Friday Favorites are some beauties - Enjoy!


Pumpkin Spice Meringue Melts by Copperlilly Botanicals

“It is a mistake that there is no bath that will cure people's manners, but drowning would help”
-Mark Twain


Birds In Lines by Anna Ruby King

“Good art doesn't choose sides.”
-Bertolt Brecht


Locarno Beach Deckchair by Gallant & Jones

“That's where we used to put our chairs. Way out there where that wave is rolling. Our beach is under that water.”
-Barbara Wilson


Hydrangea, Original Watercolor by Laura Trevey

“This very moment is a seed from which the flowers of tomorrow's happiness grow.”
-Margaret Lindsey


2 Oval Platters by Atelier BB

“My advice to you is not to inquire why or whither, but just enjoy your ice cream while it's on your plate - that's my philosophy”
-Thornton Wilder


Urban Picnic Roll-Up by Nstar Studio

“We hope that, when the insects take over the world, they will remember with gratitude how we took them along on all our picnics.”
-Bill Vaughn


GamiWicks Candle Votives by GamiWorks

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
-Buddha


Bad Joke of the day:

What illness did everyone on the Enterprise catch?
....Chicken Spocks!


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Showoff Sunday!

"Painting is just another way of keeping a diary."
-Pablo Picasso


Hello - Welcome to Showoff Sunday!

Today I am showcasing some of my favorite artwork found in various Etsy shops. I love decorating my home with beautiful works of art - the only problem: NOT ENOUGH WALL SPACE! So, instead of hanging them in my home I can hang these beauties on my blog! Enjoy!

"Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one."
-Stella Adler

Delicate by MaiAutumn


"To send light into the darkness of men's hearts - such is the duty of the artist."
-Schumann

Rainforest Print by Jellybeans


"All art requires courage."
-Anne Tucker

Junglism by Oefy


"Anyone who says you can't see a thought simply doesn't know art."
-Wynetka Ann Reynolds

Early Summer Evening by Papermoth


"Great art picks up where nature ends."
-Marc Chagall

Plutonian Coral by sputnic7


Bad Joke of the day:

Why do Indians wear hats?
To keep their wig wam!


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Friday Favorites: 3/12/2010

"Rich and rare were the gems she wore,
And a bright gold ring on her hand she bore."
~Thomas Moore


Hello - Welcome!

Today my Friday Favorites is all about rings! I love rings and cannot own enough! The problem is, I can never seem to wear them all! I hope you enjoy these lovely pieces as much as I do!


"Gold cannot be pure, and people cannot be perfect."
~Chinese Proverb



Blossoms and Vines Fold Ring by StellasSilver


"Diamonds are a girl's best friend and a man's worst enemy."
~Author Unknown



Oceans Aqua Sea Glass Ring by SeaGlassDesigns


"Proverbs are mental gems gathered in the diamond districts of the mind."
~William R. Alger



Wide Organic Band by KelleyGirls


"Why is it that men can be bastards and women must wear pearls and smile?"
~Lynn Hecht Schafren



Moissanite and Sterling Silver Pine Branch Ring by Elizabeth Scott Designs


"In diving to the bottom of pleasure we bring up more gravel than pearls."
~Honore de Balzac


Vine and Leaf Ring by Beth Cyr Jewelry



"There are three things extremely hard: steel, a diamond, and to know one's self." ~Benjamin Franklin



Relic by VernonBea


"The most precious jewels are not made of stone, but of flesh."
~Robert Ludlum


Joke of the Day:

What is a vampire's favorite jewel? A Bloodstone.


Have a great weekend and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Friday Favorites!

"Tis my faith that every flower
Enjoys the air it breathes!"
-William Wordsworth

Hello - Come on in!

I am a bit late posting today, but that does not diminish the loveliness of these wonderful arrangements and wreaths that I have found! Enjoy!





This first arrangement, by floresdelsol, is already taken - by ME! I own another of Christina's arrangements and I love it! She is very easy to work with, extremely professional and makes wonderful products. All of her arrangements are made with moss and specially preserved flowers and the best thing: they are all OOAK!!



hint of spring- custom for nikid


"If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom."
-Audra Foveo





Twoinspireyou carries a wonderful assortment of wreaths that are sure to brighten any door


Year Round II Wreath


"I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers."
-Claude Monet




NHWoodscreations carries a wonderful assortment of dried flower wreaths and unique birch bark creations.



All Natural dried flower centerpiece in birch bark box


"The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size."
-Gertrude S. Wister


Joke of the day:
Why don't sharks eat clowns? Because they taste funny!


Enjoy your weekend remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Friday Favorites: 2/12/2010

"Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen."
-Leonardo da Vinci

Hello - I hope everyone is having a great week! Today I am featuring my favorite type of art to collect: ACEO's.

"Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures."
-Henry Ward Beecher

What is an ACEO you say? Well, let me tell you!

ACEO stands for "Art Cards, Editions and Originals". When creating these cards there is only one rule - they have to measure 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches - the size of a trading card. Otherwise, the sky is the limit!

ACEO's are an offshoot of the popular and frequently traded (never sold) Artist Trading Cards (ATCs). These original, work-of-art calling cards were traded among artists and were the brainchild of Swiss artist, M. Vänçi Stirnemann in 1996.

ACEO's are sold as originals or prints. Make sure you know which type you are buying. A print should be labeled as such, and it should be numbered and signed.

I am an avid ACEO collector. I have "Coffee Table" book that I made to keep my ACEO collection. I love to look at it daily and it makes a great conversation piece! Collecting ACEO's is a fun, compact, and relatively inexpensive way to collect art!

Start your collection today!

Painting is just another way of keeping a diary.
-Pablo Picasso

Etsy Buy Handmade nikid

"Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one."
-Stella Adler

Have a great weekend and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Friday Favorites!

Welcome!

I hope today brings you an end to a great week and the beginning of a fabulous weekend! Today I would like to show you some of my favorite products made by members of the Etsy Homefront Team (of which I am a proud member).

Freedom is never free.
-Author Unknown

The Etsy Homefront Team is made up of over 100 shops, all owned by spouses and significant others of members of the uniformed services. We are male and female, all ages and nationalities and are located, quite literally, worldwide!

How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!
-Maya Angelou

Our common thread is that we are personally involved in supporting our country on a day-in, day-out basis. Without prejudice, or regard for religion, race, nationality or political views, we keep the home-fires burning and our families together, no matter how far apart we are.

Check out our blog at: http://www.homefrontartistryteam.blogspot.com

Motto: "We keep the homefires burning for our uniformed service members worldwide."

It is easy to take liberty for granted, when you have never had it taken from you.
-Author unknown


1. Old Virginian Shed 2. Hand Knotted Rag Rug 3. Teal and Brown Necklace 4. Oscar the County Fair Pig 5. Towel Set w/ Initial Applique 6. Coconut Polka Dotted Tin 7. The Streifen Brimmed Beanie 8. Skinny Asparagus/Ivory Scarf 9. Jane Bag 10. Pink pearl & sterling anklet 11. I Love Aqua Apron 12. Cloth Dinner Napkin Set 13. Go Bananas 14. Garden of hair bows holder 15. Tale of the dandelion 16. Adult visor buckle beanie 17. Honeymoon in Paris tablerunner 18. Family Memories photo album


This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.
-Elmer Davis


Have a great day and until tomorrow: Go Ahead & Indulge!

Thanksgiving Thursday!

Hello & Welcome!

Every Thursday for the next few weeks will now be known as: Thanksgiving Thursday!

I will be sharing favorites that I prepare on Thanksgiving!

Enjoy!


Sausage, Chestnut and Mushroom Dressing


I adapted this recipe from a William-Sonoma recipe that I found years ago.

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

* 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
* 1 1/2 lb. mild Italian sausage, casings removed
* 2 yellow onions, diced
* 3 garlic cloves, minced
* 7 oz. cremini mushrooms, quartered
* 1 tsp. minced thyme
* 1 1/2 tsp. minced sage
* 2 tsp. kosher salt
* Freshly ground pepper, to taste
* 1 cup roasted and peeled chestnuts, halved
* 1 package (1 lb.) Focaccia stuffing (I but this from William-Sonoma)
* 2 Tbs. minced parsley
* 3 to 4 cups chicken stock, warmed

Directions:

1.)Preheat an oven to 375°F.
2.)Grease a 3-quart baking dish with 1 Tbs. of the butter.
3.)In a large fry pan over medium-high heat, cook and crumble
the sausage until cooked through, about 7 minutes.
4.)Transfer sausage to a plate.
5.)In the same pan over medium heat, melt the remaining 3 Tbs. butter.
6.)Add the onions and fennel and saute until soft, 10 to 12 minutes.
7.)Add the garlic, mushrooms, thyme, sage, salt and pepper and cook,
stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are tender and beginning
to brown, about 12 minutes.
8.)Let mixture cool to room temperature.
9.)In a very large bowl, combine the sausage, vegetable mixture,
chestnuts, stuffing and parsley.
10.)Stir in the stock 1/2 cup at a time, making sure it is completely
absorbed into the croutons.
11.)Taste a crouton; it should be moist throughout but not crunchy or mushy.
You may not need all of the stock.
12.)Transfer the stuffing to the prepared baking dish (#2), cover with foil
and bake for 20 minutes.
13.)Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is golden brown and crisp.



Broccoli Rabe with Pancetta and Garlic



This is my husbands favorite!

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

* 2 lb. broccoli rabe, trimmed & cut into bite-sized pieces
* 3 oz. pancetta, diced
* 3 garlic cloves, chopped
* 2 to 3 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
* Small pinch of hot red pepper flakes
* Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
* Juice of 1⁄2 lemon, or to taste

Directions:

1.)Bring a large saucepan three-fourths full of water to a boil.
2.)Add the broccoli rabe and cook until just tender,about 5 minutes.
3.)Drain and set aside.
4.)In a fry pan over medium-high heat, saute the pancetta until
lightly crisp, about 5 minutes.
5.)Add the garlic, 2 Tbs. of the olive oil and the red pepper flakes
and saute until the garlic is just slightly colored, about 1 minute.
6.)Add the broccoli rabe, adding more oil if needed to prevent scorching,
and toss it with the garlic mixture until tender and heated through,
about 1 to 2 minutes.
7.)Transfer the mixture to a serving dish and grind black pepper over top.
8.)Add the lemon juice and toss well.
9.)Serve immediately.


Baked Corn Casserole



Last, but certainly not least is my ALL TIME FAVORITE!

Serves: 8

Ingredients:

* 2 large eggs
* 1 cup sour cream
* 1/2 cup melted butter
* 1 can (16 oz.) whole kernel corn (drained)
* 1 can (16 oz.) creamed corn
* 1 Pkg. Jiffy© corn muffin mix
* 1 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Directions:

1.)Preheat oven to 350.
2.)Lightly spray a 13x9 baking dish with nonstick spray
3.)Add all ingredients to a large bowl.
4.)Mix well (will be lumpy)
5.)Add the entire mixture to your prepared pan.
6.)Bake on middle shelf for 40 minutes, until set & golden.
7.)If needed, cover with aluminum foil during baking to prevent
casserole from getting to dark.
8.)Top with grated cheddar cheese.
9.)Bake 10 minutes more or until cheese has melted.
10.)Cut into slices and serve.


Until Tomorrow:
Go Ahead & Indulge!

Foodie Friday!

Hello!

Today's version of Foodie Friday is a primer on my favorite Italian food!

Buon Appetito'!

GNOCCHI:



Gnocchi is the Italian name for a variety of thick, soft noodle. They can be made from semolina flour, ordinary wheat flour, or potato. (I prefer to use potatoes)

The word gnocchi means "lumps", and is derived from nocca (knuckle). It has been a traditional Italian pasta since Roman times.

Gnocchi are eaten as entrees (primi piatti) in Italy or as an alternative to soup.

My favorite way to eat and serve gnocchi is Romano style. In a saute' pan put in your tomato sauce and heat, add summer fresh, unsalted butter and stir until butter is melted. Toss in the gnocchi and serve with parmesan cheese! YUMMY!

"Bear in mind that you should conduct yourself in life as at a feast."
-Epictetus


OLIVE OIL:



Olive oil is an oil obtained from the olive. It is a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean. The wild olive tree originated in Asia Minor and spread from there as far as Africa, Australia, Japan and China.

It is commonly used in cooking, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and soaps and as a fuel for oil lamps. Olive oil is used throughout the world, but especially in the Mediterranean.

I use olive oil for everything - even some baking! A good extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is hard to beat in terms of taste, flavor and texture!

"Italian restaurants with more than 120 entrees are always disappointing.”
-Miss Piggy


Parmigiano-Reggiano:




Parmigiano-Reggiano, known outside Italy as Parmesan, is a hard, grainy cheese. It is named after the producing areas of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna, in Emilia-Romagna, and Mantova, in Lombardy, Italy.

Legend has it, that Parmigiano was created in the course of the Middle Ages in Bibbiano, in the province of Reggio Emilia. Its production spread to the Parma and Modena areas. Historical documents show that in the 13th-14th century Parmigiano was already very similar to that produced today.

In the European Union, "Parmesan" is a protected designation of origin; legally, it refers exclusively to the Parmigiano-Reggiano DOP cheese manufactured in a limited area in Northern Italy. Outside Europe, most notably in the United States, similar cheeses may be sold under the name Parmesan, considered generic. When they are sold in Europe, they must use another name.

"The trouble with eating Italian food is that 5 or 6 days later you're hungry again."
-George Miller


Prosciutto:



Prosciutto is the Italian word for ham.

In English, the term prosciutto is almost always used for a dry-cured ham that is usually sliced thin and served uncooked; this is called prosciutto crudo (raw ham) in Italian and is distinguished from prosciutto cotto (cooked ham).

The most renowned and expensive legs of "prosciutto" come from central and northern Italy (Tuscany and Emilia in particular), such as Prosciutto di Parma.

I love my prosciutto wrapped around melon as an appetizer or chopped up in an omelet.
It has such a wonderful flavor - it cannot be beat.

“It it had been an Italian who codified the world of cuisine, it would be thought of as Italian.”
-Escoffier


Have a great day and until tomorrow:

Go Ahead and Indulge!

Tasty Tuesday!!

Hello!

Wondering what I will tempt your taste buds with today?

Well, wait no longer!!

Today is all about cookies!


Cookies are made of butter and love.
-Norwegian Proverb



lhconfections is new to etsy, but it does not look like they are new to baking!



Custom Cookie Package



I don't drown my sorrows; I suffocate them with chocolate chip cookies.
-Author Unknown



This next etsy shop, emmy's organics, is 100% organic, gluten-free and vegan - WOW!


Mint Chip Macaroons - Vegan and Gluten-Free



A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.
-Author Unknown



These last cookies, from BlissCandies, look great!


Glazed Raspberry Lemonade Lil' Chubbies



Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.
-Ernestine Ulmer


I hope you have enjoyed my cookie finds as much I liked searching from them!

Until tomorrow -

Go Ahead and Indulge!

Foodie Friday!

Hello!

I hope everyone had a fabulous week!
Personally - mine was long and tiring!

In honor of Foodie Friday I want to show you some of the most fabulous foods that I have eaten.

Because I love food so much and I want to share this love I am having a giveaway!

Giveaway Information, Rules & Whatnot:

Time Period: Starts: Friday, June 12, 2009 @ 12:01 AM EST and Ends: Friday, June 19, 2009 @ 12:00 PM EST.

Requirements: Visit the sites for the various foods I have talked about, then come back here and comment on which one you like best and why. I also want to know your favorite food of all time!

Choosing the winner: A winner will be chosen using the random number generator. I will assign everyone a number in the order the comments are posted. You will also get a second entry if you follow my blog.

The Winner: The winners name will be posted on Saturday, June 20, 2009 and they will have 48 hours to comment and verify their post.

Prize: It is a surprise! (you will not be disappointed!)

Good Luck!!!





Zingerman's: Cherry Chocolate Bread

"The Zingerman's Bakehouse makes a chocolate cherry bread that can be used as the base of the best French toast you've ever had in your life."
-Ed Levine, Serious Eats

Let me tell you, Ed is so right!! French toast made from this bread is AMAZING!! Heck, tearing off a piece and shoving it in your mouth is AMAZING!!






Blond Giraffe: Key Lime Pie on a Stick


Do you like key lime pie? Well these are to die for!!! Slices of their key lime pie is put on a stick and frozen!! My husband and I have made it a goal to try key lime pie everywhere we travel and so far this is the winner!






Stonewall Kitchen: Farmhouse Pancake and Waffle Mix


I always have two canisters of this in my pantry, it is a staple. This mix really makes the best pancakes and waffles. The taste is so beautiful - putting syrup on these pancakes is a shame!







Cowgirl Creamery: Cowgirl Cheese Collection


I am a fan of organic products, so when I find one I like - I stick with it! The cheese made by cowgirl creamery is not only organic, but simply delicious!



Enjoy & Good Luck!!