Cottage By The Sea

Visit to Farmers Market

2009-09-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

There's just nothing quite like shopping at a local farmers market.....

...everything so beautiful and fresh!

Look at these gorgeous strawberries! Hmmmm, I think they need a little something....

Oh yes, chocolate of course!

All of a sudden I have helpers!

How can something so sweet...

...turn into something THIS messy? Oh well, they were delicious while they lasted!

Happy weekend everyone:)

Farming In The Big City

2009-08-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

First there was Old MacDonald's farm....

Then there was Mary Jane's Farm....

Now Facebook has a new application called "FarmVille" which lets you plow, plant and harvest your very own online farm! Well, what's a city girl to do if she can't escape the big city? Exactly! It's a mighty fun game with cute graphics, but beware - it's addicting! So next time you want to escape city life pay a visit to FarmVille - won't you be my neighbor?

Mom... I'm bored!

2009-08-20T18:42:00.000-07:00

They are the words a mother dreads to hear the most. Well at least this mom does! School starts in less than 2 weeks and my daughter uttered the words I dread most, "Mom, I'm bored!" I made it through the entire summer entertaining this little person and ran out of steam just short of the new school year...so what did I do? I told her to play dress up with the dog! I was definitely bad to the bone! So without further delay, here's your impromptu doggie fashion show.....walking down our catwalk today is "Max" in his casual hiphop outfit....yo dog!

Next, we have Max modelling our sneak peek fall look "smashing pumpkins"...he does look rather smashing, doesn't he?

Here we have princess attire with it's very own teeny tiny tiara - don't ask me how she got his ears through there...

And yes, the ever popular "up" do for that special evening out.....and there you have it!

What a good doggie you are Max!

My Daughter's New Desk Set

2009-08-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

Well, after weeks of cleaning through numerous stuffed drawers, shelves and closets I'm happy to say that my daughter's room is completely cleared out and we're awaiting the arrival of these goodies....goodbye infant changing table set, hello pre-teen desk set! Here's a beautiful wall mural that will be above her desk...

A desk set that's cute and functional....

The must have cute lamp (and yes, she asked for the phone too, but I couldn't quite make that step)

A brown polka dotted chair to make studying that much more fun...

a personalized trash can...

...and of course a couple of frogs to keep you focused on homework! These guys she bought herself by doing chores and walking dogs in the neighborhood:) Looks like she'll be spending more time in her room after all this!

Random Thoughts on a Summer Day

2009-08-07T18:18:00.000-07:00

Today was spent looking for a new desk for my daughter before school starts....

...making baked wontons from scratch with her (recipe to come)...

...all while our dog Max stood guard outside.....have a great day!

Sunflowers from Italy

2009-08-02T13:47:00.001-07:00

My husband recently went to Tuscany on business and sent me these gorgeous snapshots from the Italian countryside....my favorite flower is the sunflower!

Walking down the streets of Sienna....

A beautiful Tuscan sunrise...

And olive orchards nearby.....next time I told him he's gonna have to take me with him!

Summer in Montana

2009-07-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

This summer we went back to Montana after having such a fun time last Christmas! We wanted to see what was under the snow and we were pleasantly surprised!

We stayed at Gaynor's Ranch and Resort...it was an awesome place to stay!

We were welcomed by the house posse (Tank, Hemie, and Sam)

...and my daughter spent most mornings taking care of 40 horses on the property....

She especially loved fly fishing at Glacier National Park with dad! We didn't want to come back to California after that!

Vacation Bible School Crocodile Dock!

2009-06-28T18:15:00.001-07:00

All last week our church was a buzz with this year's Vacation Bible School theme called "Crocodile Dock". Last year we had 200 kids sign up and this year we had 257! There were so many kids in the sanctuary we had to remove all the pews so everyone had a place to sing, dance, and sit down! When the opening 20 minutes was over, each grade level rotated to various stations including a Bible memory verse station, snack/sing/dance station, craft station, game station and Bible story station. All in all it was a great success and such an inspiration to see so many young smiling faces worshipping at once:)

Sea Glass Vases

2009-06-18T20:03:00.000-07:00

Life has been like a wave of craziness the past month with school ending, dance recitals and year end celebrations....I always feel like the last month before school lets out is like jumping off a diving board into the deep end of a swimming pool....you can only hold your breath for so long....I'm happy to say I survived it all!

Anyway, before all this craziness set in I took a moment to purchase these darling blue vases from Pottery Barn on sale:) Originally $40 for the largest, I bought these at just $9 each! I love clearance shopping when I find something marvelous on sale! I hope this little post finds everyone happy and healthy.....enjoy the start of summer!

BIRTHDAY DREAM CAKE!

2009-05-20T12:56:00.000-07:00

What would my dream birthday cake be like? Well I'd love to hire this man to come make my piano into a scrumptious chocolate birthday treat! Thanks to everyone for all your great wishes - you made my day!

Waiting in Anticipation

2009-05-06T16:10:00.001-07:00

Alright, I'll admit it. With all my baking, decoupaging and making handmade soaps, deep inside I'm a Trekkie at heart. Always have been, always will be. In fact, many thought my dad looked like Leonard Nimoy! He was the one who actually introduced the series to me as a kid and I've watched ever since!

When I worked for UPN a few years back I even asked to work on the new "Enterprise" series with Scott Bakula. They started me out slow with "Voyager" (which wasn't the best in the series) and then to "Enterprise". I wrote and produced on-air promos (or commercials that promoted the series). I was in Trekkie heaven.

My favorite series was "Star Trek: The Next Generation"....nothing like Captain Picard up against a few random Borg!

Now, just a few years later I'm elated to discover another Trekkie on the horizon. Looks like a pretty handsome cast too - I can't wait to see it! Live long, prosper, and enjoy the new film!

Bargain Finds and a Sign of Things To Come

2009-05-05T13:13:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Well after a very very busy month I'm ready to catch up on some blogging! Here are a few bargain finds from this past month - aren't they cute? I bought these two tins signs at Joann's Fabrics for around three dollars each. I think they're adorable, light weight and give my kitchen a little touch of country!

Do you get catalogues in the mail? I do....I don't need to go out and buy magazines anymore because I get so many catalogues in the mail! Well, while perusing the Pottery Barn catalogue, I spied these beautiful glass jars! Originally $40 each I got them for just $9 each! That's a steal! I love this color because it reminds me of beach glass.....

Finally, my sister gave me this adorable chalk board while my daughter and I visited her a while back, and I decided to make this bold statement after realizing I spend nearly a third of my day cleaning up after others! Definitely a sign of things to come! Well, thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week!

A New Brand of Cereal!

2009-04-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

Well my daughter came home with a very interesting assignment the other day - the class was asked to come up with a new brand of cereal based on a fairy tale character. My daughter chose Little Red Riding Hood because she figured Max our dog would make a good wolf! Needless to say, she had everything planned out - we taped her in front of our yard and she and I learned how to make a short movie through IMovie (I Mac)... each student was asked to make a video or act a commercial out live. My daughter said she was too shy to act it out in front of the class, so she acted it out on the tape alright! It was fun and turned out cute! Don't forget to turn off the blog music before playing the video:) Happy viewing!

It's hot hot hot!!!!

2009-04-20T14:18:00.001-07:00

When it's this hot at our house (we're talking 93 degrees hot!) everyone eats popsicles and ice cream all day - even our dog Max! Stay cool!

Well maybe not a cake, but how about Banana Bread?

2009-04-16T08:58:00.001-07:00

Well I had a few bananas just asking to be made into banana bread today! I love this recipe my mom gave to me because the sour cream makes the whole bread so moist and yummy! My daughter insisted we add chocolate chips for more fun....

Mom's Banana Bread Recipe

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs well beaten

1/4 tsp. salt

4 Tbsp. sour cream

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1 tsp. vanilla

walnuts (or other nuts) to taste

In a hot dry skillet toast walnuts over medium heat for 2 - 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Walnuts can be mashed into smaller pieces when cool if desired.

Cream butter and sugar. Add beaten eggs. Dissolve baking soda into sour cream and add to the batter. Add bananas, flour, salt, nuts and vanilla. Mix well. Bake in well-buttered oblong pan at 325 degrees from 45 minutes to one hour. If using two loaf pans bake from 30 to 35 minutes.

Serve warm and enjoy!

Easter Weekend visit from Sis!

2009-04-14T14:59:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Easter weekend - my sister came to visit us which we always love! She made this adorable plaque for me, isn't it sweet? She only stayed for just over a day, but we filled up her time with lots of fun!

My daughter introduced my sister to her new horse "Beebop" - he such a sweetheart and was very happy to meet her!

Our Airedale Terrier Max caught some zzzzzz's while we were at the barn.....he's certainly got the right idea!

Heaven on Earth

2009-04-02T13:15:00.001-07:00

There's something about a beautiful countryside that has an calming effect on me....

Maybe it's the way clouds float on top of the world like mounds of cotton candy...

...or the way a road seems to wind effortlessly through a never ending blanket of green...

Maybe it's the way trees reach overhead protecting me from the sun's blazing glare...

...or maybe it's just another reminder of Heaven on Earth and how very blessed I am....

Calling Mr. Sandman!

2009-03-24T19:13:00.001-07:00

I haven't been able to blog in a while because I caught my daughter's cold which really threw me for a loop! No one in the house has been able to get a good night's sleep because of my constant coughing so finally I went to see the doctor! She prescribed four medicines that have me feeling better already! They are Claritin, Mucinex DM, Nasal Saline Spray, and of course cough syrup with codeine! Wow - I had no idea codeine was so strong! Sure I stopped coughing but it took me a full day to feel like myself again! I'm on the mend, so a better post is on its way I promise!

New Friends

2009-03-16T17:06:00.001-07:00

Today I had a few new friends that dropped in for a visit!

My friend Lisa hand crocheted Mr. and Mrs. Cupcake for me.....

Here's a glass of milk with two yummy chocolate chip cookies I bought from Etsy....

...and Mr. Green Sock Monkey that came to us all the way from Vancouver! I gladly welcome these little crocheted and knitted friends into our family!

Whale Watching Field Trip

2009-03-12T14:37:00.000-07:00

This past Monday my daughter's class went to the local Interpretive Center to learn about whales and everything else under the sea. It was a beautiful day for a walk (or shall I say 3 mile hike!) and well worth it when saw at least 20 whales migrating north! Be sure to turn off my blog music to hear music from the trip!

Family Secret Sauce Recipe Found!

2009-03-04T19:04:00.000-08:00

Upon spring cleaning last week, my husband discovered an old family recipe book full of cooking treasures! He chose this wonderful marinara sauce recipe his dad used to cook when he was young. It was a very intricate recipe that took nearly 5 hours to cook - and that was without a crockpot!

Wonderful aromas filled the house and brought back great memories for my husband. He told us stories of how much his dad enjoyed cooking - and now my husband can pass on those wonderful traditions and memories to our family.....

He ended up canning several batches of sauce and generously offered it to family and friends!

So far we've made spaghetti of course, and today I used it for a penne pasta bake with chicken, mushrooms, basil and asiago cheese - it's a very versatile sauce - and very very yummy indeed!

Giveaway

2009-03-02T08:48:00.000-08:00

If you haven't stopped by Cynthia's Cottage Design take a quick peek today! She's giving away one of these delightful handmade signs along with a set of very cute dish towels - she's also got a new cottage shop full of beautiful things sure to make any home warm and inviting!

Fancy Clothespins

2009-02-26T15:45:00.001-08:00

I'm a bit timid when it comes to crafting so I decided to start "small" by decorating these clothespins. I painted them, decoupaged them, and fancied them up using cute odds and ends I found in my old crafting box (stickers, etc.). I love that you can make each one personal by adding names:) All you need is a clothespin, acrylic paint, magazine cuttings, decoupage glue, stickers and anything else your creativity leads you to! Have fun!

Would you care to sit with me for a cup of English Tea?

2009-02-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

As promised I'd love to share afternoon tea with you! Today we're featuring Red Berry infused tea from Fortnum & Mason in London. I love the way the tea bag looks so delicate and how fragrant the berry tea leaves are!

This is how it looked just after a few seconds of steeping....

Very very bright berry indeed! The color was so perfect for Valentine's Day....

...I added a couple of ginger biscuits and took a deep sigh of relaxation....

Today I'm the lucky recipient of the Sisterhood Award from my sister Michelle over at Chocolate and Marmalade Tea. Thank you sis! I love what it represents! So here are the rules of engagement:

1. Put the logo on your post or blog.

2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show great "Attitude and/or Gratitude".

3. Be sure to link your nominees within your post.

4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received your award.

I don't have 10 nominees because I'm still fairly new to the blogging world but I'd love to make the following nominations....

1. Cynthia's Cottage Design - for being a constant source of inspiration and for showing us how a beautiful life starts from within...

2. Puppy cove - my daughter's blog because she has such wonderful compassion for all things pets...

3. Katherine's Dream - for teaching us that our dreams aren't far from our hearts!

4. Kathy's Cottage - for making us all feel like she's our sister at heart...

5. Counting Your Blessings - because if you remember to do this first, everything else will fall into place!

Thank you all so much for being such a wonderful source of inspiration!

Presents from Far Away Places

2009-02-21T15:58:00.000-08:00

When my husband came back from London last week he brought home treasures from my favorite store Cath Kidston in Covent Garden.....a delightful set of tins that brightens up my kitchen...

...a spotted apron to make cooking so much more fun....and fun-ny....

...a beautiful set of mugs to share tea with a friend....

...a sweet Valentine's tea set including heart shaped sugar cubes!

And of course yummy berry tea which I'll share with you in my next post!

Cheers and have a great weekend!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO!

2009-02-19T10:45:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday JEFF! I had to take a cue from our sis Michelle because no matter what kind of E card I tried to send (you should be getting the real ones in the mail!) it just wasn't as good looking as a picture of you! You rock Doc! Happy 34th - I know you'll celebrate in style! Love your other sis:)

The Royal Treatment

2009-02-17T14:34:00.001-08:00

My husband just returned from a trip to London and although I was sad he was there during Valentine's Day he brought home so many goodies I felt like I was given the Royal Treatment!

Meanwhile back at home....

We had a few of our own goodies waiting for him....

Hey! No stealing bites! Even our dog Max wanted to get in on the act!

Artful Blogging Anyone?

2009-02-16T15:15:00.000-08:00

Has anyone read this magazine? I'm interested in getting it but want to know what you all think and if you thought it was helpful....?

Are you ready for Valentine's Day?

2009-02-12T20:06:00.001-08:00

How will you show your love this Valentine's Day?

Salad Makeover

2009-02-07T17:18:00.000-08:00

I try my hardest to eat healthy every day, but there are just some days where I get tired of eating.....well, salad. I've chopped it, tossed it and even spiraled it -- so as I stared blankly into another bowl of greens it occurred to me that it was time....to Wrap it!

So I took a fresh collard leaf, spread a couple tablespoons of hummus on it and wrapped away! Then I decided to cut it into sushi rolls and here's what it ended up looking like...

You can use pretty much anything you normally like in a salad, here I used red leaf lettuce, cucumber, broccoli sprouts, kale, shredded carrots, shredded cucumbers, tomato, avocado and cheese. In the end I got to see all the pretty colors inside! Who said healthy can't be fun? That's a wrap!

Things I love

2009-02-05T17:06:00.001-08:00

My dear friend Diana gave me this incredible Amaryllis bulb for Christmas and look what bloomed! I've never seen such beautiful flowers! They look as if they're reaching for the sky!

Beautiful tea towels from my mother-in-law....aren't they sweet?

The ending to another beautiful day!

High Tea with my sister and my daughter!

2009-01-29T11:58:00.001-08:00

Our trip to my sister's house was wonderful! We had a wonderful tea party....Paris loves her Auntie Shelle very much!

Things I got at my sister's house

2009-01-29T11:21:00.000-08:00

When I went to visit my sister we went to a cute antique fair. There I bought a painted sign on driftwood which completes my little bench area out front! My sister also gave me my first ever chalkboard (I must've been in the dark ages!) which I've had fun writing on ever since! Thanks sis!

Green Apple, Spinach, Celery and Cucumbers

2009-01-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

Green Apple, Spinach, Celery and Cucumber juice

4 stalks of celery

1/2 bag of baby spinach

4 granny smith apples

1 cucumber

1/2 lemon (to squeeze over apples so they don't brown)

This juice may sound a bit green, but believe me when you put green apples (or any kind of apples for that matter) in this juice it's very sweet indeed! Try giving this one to your kids! It took my daughter some time before she realized I included spinach, celery and cucumbers in it, but now she loves her juice this way! It's a great way to get good nutrients into their bodies!

Carrot Orange and Beets

2009-01-27T12:32:00.000-08:00

Carrot Orange and Beet Juice

1 - 2 medium beets

4 navel oranges

5 carrots

Cut all together and juice!

Sunshine, Lemons and More Juice!

2009-01-27T12:11:00.000-08:00

Yes it's sunny once again! But not too hot thank goodness! I looked outside my window and saw lots of yummy lemons on my tree so I decided it was time to juice again! Today I'm making a couple of my favorites: Carrot, Orange, Beet and Green Apple, Celery, Spinach and Cucumber! It's so easy and gives me the energy boost I need for that late afternoon slump! Won't you join me for a glass?

Rainy Day in Southern Cal

2009-01-22T08:56:00.001-08:00

We needed this rain! I love how a nice rain leaves everything fresh again!

My Sister's Giveaway!

2009-01-19T20:10:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already, visit my sister's blog at Chocolateandmarmaladetea.blogspot.com where she's giving away an awesome gift for her 100Th post! My daughter and I spent the long weekend with her - it was like stepping into a virtual blog! Everything you see depicts my sister's taste in life! So sweet and chocolaty! Good luck!

It's hot in Southern Cal!

2009-01-13T13:41:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays are over I'm trying to get back to healthier eating:) Here is one recipe I'd like to share that helps me jump start back into that mode. I usually juice once a week with various fruits and vegetables, but today it's soooo hot (what crazy weather we're having!) I felt like drinking lemonade so I opted for this sort of healthy lemonade - you can use a juicer or even a blender (which is better for you since it keeps the fiber). Enjoy!

4 granny smith apples
2 lemons
2 limes
4 stalks of celery
pinch of cayenne pepper

Wash and prepare all vegetables for cutting...

Cut into large pieces and place them in a bowl.

Cut apples last and squeeze lemon juice over them so they don't turn brown:)

Place all in juicer until liquified (or blender until well blended). If it's still too think you can pour through a sieve for more clarity:)

Pour into a glass or bottle for later. Add cayenne pepper to taste....but not too much or you may end up clarifying just your nose!

Enjoy!

My favorite getaway

2009-01-04T12:29:00.000-08:00

Chateau de Noirieux was one of my favorite places to stay in the french countryside....a few charming rooms, scrumptious dining and a stunning view of the Loire Valley. Where's your favorite getaway? I'd love to hear about it! Maybe we can all discover somewhere new to visit in 2009!

Back to school, back to work, time for tea and daydreaming of being back in Paris!

2009-01-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

Looking forward to a quiet morning tomorrow!

Fresh Start

2009-01-03T16:02:00.000-08:00

Every new year I like to get rid of a few things...needless to say my closet will never look this neat -- or this pink! Happy New Year...Happy New Start!

HAPPY NEW YEAR! WELCOME 2009!

2008-12-31T21:07:00.000-08:00

Hope your 2008 was great! Cheers to an even better 2009!

Getting Ready for The New Year

2008-12-28T19:51:00.000-08:00

New Year's isn't the same in our house without the customary Japanese celebratory New Year's Day cuisine. "O-shogatsu" (Japanese New Year celebration) has a history reaching back thousands of years. "Osechi ryori" is what most people in Japan eat at the beginning of the new year. It was originally a way for housewives and their families to survive the first several days of the New Year when stores throughout Japan were closed. The foods that make up "osechi ryori" are prepared in advance and placed in compartmentalized lacquer boxes and are enjoyed for days following the New Year celebration. Here are a few examples of what you can find in a typical "osechi ryori" meal....

Merry Christmas from Montana!

2008-12-24T22:17:00.003-08:00

A sleigh ride, skiing and dog sledding were just a few highlights! Mush!

Winter Wonderland in Montana

2008-12-24T22:17:00.001-08:00

We spent a few days before Christmas in Whitefish Montana. It's starting to look a lot like Christmas!

Dog Sledding in Montana

2008-12-18T19:30:00.000-08:00

Call us crazy, but we're headed North for a bit of snow. We're traveling to Montana to stay at a ranch, go skiing and dog sledding!

I'm signing off for now until after Christmas so have a happy and safe holiday! Keep warm!

A sign of things to come?

2008-12-18T16:32:00.000-08:00

Hope your holiday season is more peaceful and less stressful!

Starfish ornament craft

2008-12-17T15:59:00.001-08:00

Here's the only ornament I made this Christmas.....but I'm getting good ideas for next year!

Christmas Signs

2008-12-15T16:11:00.001-08:00

My friend Lisa made these cute holiday signs...aren't they great?

A Little Christmas around the house

2008-12-15T16:04:00.001-08:00

Here are just a few small things that help bring holiday cheer to our house!

Christmas in Hawaii anyone?

2008-12-11T21:58:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't it be fun just once? How can you say no to this?

Christmas Guests Arrive Early!

2008-12-05T13:48:00.000-08:00

Hello there! Kelli over at "There's No Place Like Home" invites us to share something special this week and today I'm opening the door for my early Christmas guests. Each year my daughter and I choose another guest to add to our growing Christmas collection. The first year we invited Mother Reindeer and Father Reindeer. The following year, they had a baby girl reindeer. This year we've added Mr. Nutcracker Mouse and his wife. And finally, my daughter added Mr. Penguin to the guest list. It's a tradition we've started a few years back and each year marks the arrival of the holiday season! Won't you say hello to our guests?

My little girl plays a boy in the Nutcracker Ballet

2008-11-26T08:53:00.001-08:00

Not a bad looking boy I might add!

Getting ready for the Nutcracker

2008-11-23T15:38:00.000-08:00

Today was dress rehearsal....only a couple of quick shots to share!

Apple Cake in Gingerbread mold

2008-11-21T14:27:00.000-08:00

Here are a couple more pictures of the Apple Cake recipe below. I only had one loaf pan and it was supposed to be for gingerbread....oh well! My daughter preferred the dusting of powdered sugar....of course!

Fresh Apple Cake

2008-11-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

This recipe was given to me by my dear family friend Dianne. It's so easy to make and was a huge hit with my family! Thank you Dianne!

Fresh Apple Cake

3 cups sifted flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

3/4 cups vegetable oil

4 cups chopped apples (macintosh or granny smith)

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup finely chopped nuts (your choice!)

Sift dry ingredients together and mix in other ingredients.

After combining above, add 2 eggs (slightly beaten) and 2 cups of sugar.

Bake at 350 degrees from 35-45 minutes.

Enjoy!

Show and Tell Friday

2008-11-14T12:10:00.000-08:00

"Show and Tell Friday" was created by Kelli at There's No Place Like Home. Each week she invites us to share something special. Today I have a music box given to my daughter by my mother.

It is a beautiful carousel horse music box that plays "Somewhere In Time". It reminds me of the good times we had together with my dad who is no longer with us. When I hear the music I'm reminded of my daughter when she was 3 years old asking my dad to wind it up for her over and over again! It's a sweet song and brings back sweet memories!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Superior Scribbler Award

2008-11-13T14:10:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Michelle at Chocolate and Marmalade Tea for giving me a Superior Scribbler Award! I don't know if I deserve it since all this blogging is so new (and so fun), but I appreciate every bit of encouragement! Thank you Michelle! Now I get to choose five more people who I think should be awarded this very special honor! Thank you for making your blog so interesting and fun to read!

1) There's No Place Like Home

2) Cynthia's Cottage Design

3) Counting Your Blessings

4) Katherine's Dream

5) Sea Cottage

Here are the rules:

1) Post the award on your blog.

2) Link me for giving it to you.

3) Link the originating post here (Life of a Southern College Girl on Blonde Duck's blogroll).

4) Pass the award on to five more deserving people.

5) Post the rules for your recipients.

Congrats to you all and have fun!

I love Hydrangeas...

2008-11-07T22:24:00.001-08:00

What makes a hydrangea flower purple? The soil of course! The ph level has to be just right to produce a purple flower. A higher ph level is perfect for blue blossoms, and a lower level ph will produce a pink flower. So, yes, the purple is a perfect blend of both!

Autumn celebration

2008-11-05T16:26:00.000-08:00

This is truly the time of year I wish I could live where I can see these images in person!

A Moment for Autumn

2008-11-04T15:26:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'll admit, we don't see it for very long, because here in Southern California season changes can be...oh so subtle! Now that Halloween is in the past and Christmas is around the corner, let's take a moment to appreciate what autumn has brought us!

Nature's Web of Beauty

2008-11-03T08:42:00.001-08:00

The day after Halloween it rained and left behind this beauty!

A Fresh Start

2008-11-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

Trick or Treating 2008

2008-11-01T09:36:00.001-07:00

Trick or Treating Boo Buddies

2008-10-31T19:06:00.000-07:00

Halloween School Parade

2008-10-31T17:19:00.000-07:00

This year's sweet costume....

2008-10-30T20:02:00.001-07:00

Pictures from Halloween past...

2008-10-30T14:26:00.001-07:00

What to do with all those pumpkins!

2008-10-29T13:55:00.001-07:00

Pumpkin Pasta recipe

Cut 1/2 a butternut pumpkin into 2cm cubes. Place in a large saucepan of boiling water

along with 500g of pasta and cook for as long as the packet suggests. If you have a basket

to separate the pasta from the pumpkin while it is in the water it will make the process a lot

easier, but if you don't that's fine too - you can just pick it out. Meanwhile, saute 1 large diced onion, and 2 crushed garlic cloves in a saucepan with 1 Tbsp olive oil.

Drain pasta and pumpkin, set pumpkin aside in a bowl, return pasta to pan and leave off the heat. Mash pumpkin and add enough light cream to make a sauce consistency, season with salt & pepper. Add pumpkin, onions, 1 Tbsp. margarine or butter and 2 Tbsp herbs (rosemary, basil, thyme or sage are good) to drained pasta, return to heat and mix thoroughly until heated. Top pasta with your favorite Parmesan cheese and enjoy!

Last Week of Halloween Decorations!

2008-10-28T13:26:00.000-07:00

Pumpkins Come Alive!

2008-10-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

Remember Casper The Friendly Ghost?

2008-10-24T22:50:00.000-07:00

As Halloween nears....

2008-10-24T16:06:00.001-07:00

Pumpkins Waiting...

Black Cats celebrating....

Make no bones about it....

Halloween is creeping up on us!

Morning by the sea...

2008-10-20T12:30:00.001-07:00

Brrr...looks cold, but can you believe it will get close to 80 degrees today? I usually run with our dog Max on these days because it gets too hot in the afternoon!

I've been book tagged!

2008-10-18T12:09:00.000-07:00

I was book tagged by my sister Michelle today! Here are the rules...Grab the nearest book. Open the book to page 56. Find the fifth sentence. Post the text of the next 2 - 5 sentences in your journal/blog along with these instructions. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST. Tag five other people to do the same.

Here's what it says in the book I just grabbed:

"Don't be too severe, Tigerclaw; it was a busy night last night. I expect they were tired," meowed Lionheat gently. "You have not yet been assigned a mentor, Firepaw," he went on. "For now, Tigerclaw and I will share your training." Firepaw nodded enthusiastically, his tail held high, unable to disguise his delight at having two such great warriors as his mentors.

Guess what book it is!

(Okay, so I wouldn't even be able to guess - it's called "Warriors Into The Wild" a series book my 9 year old is reading right now....)

Show and Tell Friday

2008-10-17T12:40:00.001-07:00

Today I'm showing you my little corner of the house - a space I can really call my own! Some of my favorite things include seashells, favorite cooking books, a beautiful vase of silk flowers my best friend gave me for my birthday, a small sign with a saying from E. E. Cummings which I love, and a small picture of my family. I love to have these few things close by whenever I work at my desk:) Thanks to Kelli for letting me share again! For more great show and tell visit

http://www.kellishouse.blogspot.com

My favorite Hollywood memories...

2008-10-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

"To Catch A Thief"

"Roman Holiday"

"The Road To Rio"

"The Wizard Of Oz"

Remember when they made movies you could never forget?

Shrimp in a Spicy Ginger-Cilantro Broth

2008-10-12T16:40:00.001-07:00

This is a "souper" fast "souper" healthy soup I put together for my family....it only took 15

minutes to make!

Ingredients:

4 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth

1 bunch cilantro

2 inch knob of fresh ginger, unpeeled

2 cloves garlic

1 Thai chili pepper (I used red pepper flakes or omit for kids)

1 lb fresh cooked shrimp, peeled and deveined

1 cup frozen Asian-style vegetables (I used a Harvest mix)

Pour chicken broth into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave covered on high until broth is hot, about 3 minutes, depending on the power of your appliance.

Meanwhile, chop cilantro, including stems. Reserve 1 cup of chopped leaves for garnish. Thinly slice ginger. Crush garlic cloves with the flat side of your knife. Cut chili pepper in half; remove seeds if you want less heat in your soup.

When broth is hot, pout into a medium saucepan. Add chopped cilantro stems and leaves (except reserved cup), ginger, garlic and chili pepper and cover. Simmer over medium heat for 5 minutes. Strain broth into the microwave-safe bowl, then return strained broth to saucepan.

Add shrimp and vegetables. Cook for 3 minutes. Garnish with remaining cilantro leaves.

Show and Tell Friday

2008-10-10T12:23:00.000-07:00

Nothing makes me smile more than to walk into a room in my house and look at drawings made by my daughter. It's a neat way to see how much she's grown and the way she looks at things at each stage in her life. Seeing even the smallest scribble warms my heart! Thanks to Kelli and everyone who stops by for including me in your day again!

Frighteningly Cute Towels

2008-10-09T13:56:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of spooky towels that are too cute to use so I'm hanging them in the window!

Kelli's cards

2008-10-07T08:56:00.000-07:00

Thank you Kelli for inviting us to make cards! I know it's a bit early, but here are a couple of Halloween cards I made this weekend....just a side note, when moms get inspired...

My daughter's card...

2008-10-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

...daughters get inspired too! Thank you!

Boo Bling!

2008-10-04T14:14:00.001-07:00

Happy October!

2008-10-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

The Pumpkin children, every one,

On Hallowe'en go out for fun;

With Jack o'lantern and his crew

They find such jolly things to do.

- Elizabeth Gordon

More of Mother Nature's little children....

2008-10-03T16:34:00.001-07:00

"Miss Cotton"

"Mr. Yam"

"Mr. Fig"

"Miss Chicory"

Mother Earth's Children

2008-10-03T16:27:00.000-07:00

I love this little book I found at a nearby bookstore...

"Among all the children of Mother Nature, the fruits and vegetables are probably the most useful to us. Wherever we may go some of these little people are there before us, ready to help us by giving us food and to make life easy and joyous for us...."

- Elizabeth Gordon

2008-10-02T12:13:00.001-07:00

Pumpkin scones for breakfast...

Spooky signs of Halloween are appearing everywhere!

2008-10-02T08:54:00.000-07:00

Harvest Festival 2008!

2008-09-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

We had a great time at the Harvest Festival - it was the perfect opportunity to introduce our new company to the community and to "plant seeds" for the upcoming holidays! We sold a lot of soap, diffusers and gift buckets. Thank you to everyone for supporting us!

Soaps, diffusers and gift buckets, oh my!

2008-09-30T09:36:00.001-07:00

2008-09-30T09:34:00.002-07:00

Many were curious about the soap making process itself.....

Friends, family and fun

2008-09-30T09:34:00.001-07:00

More fun at the Harvest Festival!

2008-09-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

Open for business!

2008-09-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

Even though the morning started out foggy, it ended up being a beautiful day! Here we are on the left (tan booth) - many locals came by to check out the goods!

Happy Thursday!

2008-09-25T10:24:00.000-07:00

It's another beautiful sunny day:) I love it when the fog rolls in early each morning, but can't wait for the sun to shine! Max doesn't seem to mind either....

Our own kitchen remodel!

2008-09-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

It took us 8 months to create, but well worth it...

Inspirations by the sea....

2008-09-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos of homes which inspired our own cottage kitchen remodel.

I love a simple, yet warm and inviting room!

2008-09-23T16:51:00.001-07:00

Yummy pumpkin cupcakes!

2008-09-23T11:04:00.000-07:00

Kitchen bunnies keep watch....