IKAT

Have you heard of the print IKAT?  This fabric is made with an Indonesian decorative technique, and the patterns look so pretty on solid sofas - to give them a pop! Check out these from Pottery Barn...

Tasty Creamy Dip

This is a creamy dip, great with homemade pita chips.  Just mix an 8oz package of softened cream cheese with 1/2 cup prepared pesto, 2 tsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp lemon zest.  Add in 1/2 cup parmesan cheese and 1/3 cup milk, and mix til creamy.  S&P to taste.  Top with toasted pine nuts.

To make the pita chips, just cut pita rounds into triangular chips, brush with olive oil, dust with sea salt and crushed italian seasonings - bake at 375 degrees for about 8-10 minutes (check often until lightly crisp - these can burn easily!)

Toasty App

This toast was so good....  You just need some olive tapenade and ciabatta bread (toasted), then these roasted veggies as a topping: sliced zucchini, onion, grape tomatoes, and sliced green pepper tossed in olive oil, salt and pepper and roasted at 425 for 30 min or so.  Spread the tapenade on the toasted bread, then top with the roasted veggies - a great appetizer!!!

Zucchini brownies

We visited friends who made us zucchini brownies, which were so moist, so delicious, and included amazing ingredients.  I've copied the recipe and a photo below, for you to try as well!

Frank on a Roll

Instead of a traditional hot dog for a lunch, why not make these cute tubby sandwiches with your franks?

Just cut the franks in half lengthwise and grill them, then cut in half again.  Using Hawaiin sweet rolls, spread with BBQ sauce and mustard.  Lay on a few of the franks, and top with a slice of cheddar cheese.  Great with sliced pickles!

Super yummy...

Sassy Salad

Arugula with apples and walnuts made this salad delicious - but what made it a winter salad was the cinnamon in the dressing!  Easy to put together for lunch, this is a great go-to salad to have on hand!  It's from the Food Network.  I made it today in about five minutes - and the dressing was easy, too!

Room Spray and Holder

Room sprays are a must for bathrooms - and why not great scents for your guests and your own private bath?  Check out all of the fragrances at Pier One! And then slip it into this cute holder, so it can sit on your counter!

Chili So Good!

This just might be the best chili I've ever made...or tasted.  It's from the Food Network, and when I first saw the ingredients, I wasn't so sure - thought it might be too "meaty." But being that it was a slow-cooker recipe and that it was a chili served over rice, with avacado - I thought I'd try it.  What a success!  I will definitely make this again!

A Different Grilled Cheese

I saw a cool way to make a healthier version of the grilled cheese sandwich on television, so I attempted my own.  I caramelized some onions, then threw in fresh spinach until it was cooked down.  Then I placed the mixture on toasted bread, topped with cheese I had in the fridge (Gouda - but I think pepper jack would be good too!) and broiled it in the oven - open-faced.

It was great!

Cheese Tray

We had appetizers at a bar in an old hotel last night in downtown Austin, and one was a cheese tray.  It was from Antonelli's Cheese Shop and it was absolutely scrumptuous!  It included two kinds of crusty bread, cut into cute wedges, along with four cheeses - one with blueberries!  Alongside the cheese were fresh strawberries, blueberries, and grapes.  All of it was served on a wooden board.

Great idea for your next party!

The Burlap Bag

Shopped at a cute store today in Austin, but they have an online store as well - The Burlap Bag - everything is handmade and so cute.  Check out this necklace - embroidered in the center.  I got a necklace that says YAY for five bucks.  Unique gifts and jewelry, and they even sell burlap bags!  Oh, and some really cute purses!

Fun Gift

Got these cute pj's for a friend who had surgery, to help her feel "super" again - in the lingerie section - on clearance at Target!  

Someday, Someday, Maybe

Just finished reading Someday, Someday, Maybe - a book by Lauren Graham (from the hit show on TV Gilmore Girls and from Parenthood).  I liked her witty, funny charm on television and I heard she carried it over into her writing, as well. I wasn't disappointed.

The book was a fun read, about a young lady on a quest to become an actress in New York.  I like the way it's written, with some of the main character's planner pages copied into the book, and her messages from her answering machine, too.  There's a bit of romance mixed in with her story, and her evolution from a scared, low self-esteem wannabe, into an actress with courage and dignity is a fun evolution to read.

Looking for a quick, fun read to whisk you away on a few indulgent hours of reading?  This might be it.

Nachos in a Cone

These cute cone holders can be used for french fries, but also for individual servings of nachos!

Rinse and drain a can of black beans.  Make your own pico/salsa mix - cucumber, tomato, lime juice, avacado, or mango - all diced - and grate 1/2 cup cheddar cheese.

Pile tortilla chips (sturdy thick ones) into the cone. Heat the beans and spoon them over the chips, add the pico/salsa and cheese - and you've got your self a delightful, pleasingly cute dinner!

Boots - Affordable!

So many cute boots on sale this time of year.  Look at these cute ones from Old Navy at great prices?  I got a Steve Madden pair today at Marshalls!

The Best Side

Today I made roasted cauliflower and broccoli - one of my favorites sides.  Just toss the florets in olive oil, spread on a couple of baking sheets with salt and pepper.  Roast in the oven at 375 degrees, until fork tender.  Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and lemon zest.  The best!

Veggie Hash

Tonite's meal at a restaurant was a hash I ordered - veggie style.  It's pictured below and it was made of hash browns, fresh spinach, cheese and caramelized onions - delish!

Metal Address Planter

Saw these today at a home and garden show.  They are hanging planters that also serve as an address sign for your house!  These were out of our price range, but they look like something that someone crafty could make!  So beautiful...

Fold out Desk

What a great idea for a desk for a small room!  This is a great piece at World Market - a fold down unit!

Colorful and Useful!

What a cool colorful set of hooks - a great piece for your wall!

Tasty Pasta

If you like chickpeas and you love pancetta, try this recipe that includes both!  From the Food Network...

Chestnuts - Spiced

LOVE this scent for dish soap and lotion in the winter - and it's on sale in the store at William Sonoma!

A Fun Read

Got this book  Modern Manners for Christmas - enjoying it so far - love reading books on etiquette just for fun.

Awesome Bag

A great buy at Barnes and Noble while they last - great for gifts next year, to tote things in and out of the car, or to carry books around...  only six bucks - super sturdy canvas with handles!

Sassy Scarves

Rue 21 has scarves for 7.99 or 9.99 - and most places with similar scarves are twice that much.  These are lightweight and don't make you feel as though you're choking when you wear them!  Check them out on online, or in the store! I found a super cute in the store with gray umbrellas on it - love it!

A Winter Day Trip

A winter day trip - the perfect outing for a wintry day when you're in between the holidays and back to normal life again.  Pick a town (or a restaurant you've found that looks cool) and plan your route accordingly.  Here's an example from our day trip today:

• pack a lunch.
• drive to the airport to eat your lunch, while you watch airplanes take off and land.
• drive back roads to a few small towns.  shop at odd places for treasures.
• pull into a state park for a hike, or a nap, whichever you prefer - or both!
• end up for dinner at a restaurant you've picked ahead of time, on line. We picked Edna's Diner in a railcar in Luling, Texas!

What a relaxing day and so much fun for all!

Brie & Nuts Appetizer

This was a great appetizer tonight before our meal we had with friends.  Bake a block of Brie in the oven at 350 degrees for five minutes.  Meanwhile, stir a half cup of chopped pecans into 1 T melted butter, and cut up about 10 caramels.  Remove the Brie, top with the pecans and caramels and heat for 2-3 more minutes.  Serve with crackers - so easy and good!