Dried Fruit

A simple box of dried pomegranates

make a festive display

I love decorating with food,

hey... I just love food.

A Banner Year

Simple decorations say it all

Happy Birthday to my baby!

I just cut some construction paper 

vertically

in five strips 

Folded them in half

took some butcher's twine

and ran it along the spine

rubbed with glue stick

and stuck sides together. 

Here's to a banner year for all!

Hip! Hip! Hurray!

More Boots than Carrie Bradshaw?

Well maybe not..but what girl doesn't love a new pair of winter boots?

So many options:

High Heeled?

Riding Boots?

Black Leather?

Brown Suede?

Fashion? 

Function?

My favorite boot this year is the wee kind.

The warm kind.

Boots I purchased to shoe needy kids 

via the Operation Santa Bronx project.

I've never gotten this kind of high

from buying Prada, Gucci or Manolo.

These are the best boots ever.

I am walking tall knowing that my gifts will make some kid smile in a couple weeks, 

and keep their tootsies warm for months to come!

If you live locally, please fill a pair of charitable shoes and make some dreams come true as a secret santa for Operation Santa 2010. 

Never too early to sign up!!!

I plan on shopping right after Christmas to buy items on super sale for next years kids,

come on,

it's what the season is all about! 

www.operationsantabronx.com

How Much Book Could a Cook Cook?

I am very excited,

and very busy,

getting my ducks in a row to shoot a cookbook next week.

I could peruse cook books all day.

Here are a few of my favorites.

My go-to stacks you might say.

They are like old friends I am

happy to sit with by the fire 

and waste the day away.

Actually some of the chefs are old friends!

I am making my husband's favorite short ribs for dinner tonight,

 it's customary that I make them for his b'day dinner. 

Unfortunately just a day late this year due to a heavy work schedule. 

The recipe hails from the Balthazar cookbook which is filled with beautiful recipes and pictures. These short ribs are world class and the cookbook makes a great gift for your favorite chef.

Bon Appetite!

New York New York it's a Hellovah Town

Talk about Christmas Spirit.

Only in New York....

Yo Ho ho

My Friend Eddie

our "Living" room 

Living Magazine Nov 2006

One of my dear friends Eddie Ross is going to be on HGTV tonight

on 'Celebrity Holiday Homes'

You can also see a photo of our bedroom on his blog 

it's the one with the wreath in the upper left hand corner.

That was a shoot for a House Beautiful.

Eddie and I have know each other for-ever. 

We worked together forever too,  catering 15 years ago, 

then on to Food Network and most recently Martha.

 He is the best. our bathroom

Living Magazine November 2006

my brother's guys renovated this baby and did an amazing job

if you need some work done in the tri-state area bro Fred is the way to go!

Check out Eddie's blog for excellent entertaining tips

and check him out tonight on HGTV

and let me know how it went.

our bedroom (that's us in the photo!)

Living Magazine November 2006

The cobbler has no shoes? 

Yes, we don't have a TV.

Clap Off Clap On

One of my favorite 'appliances' in my first real apartment was The Clapper.

maybe the only appliance

I didn't even have a fridge, 

just kept stuff out on the fire escape

which wasn't so bad, 

I didn't eat much at all back then. 

too broke.

These were the days of answering machines 

(screening calls) 

and

having to 

physically 

put your key in the lock

 to open your car door.

Not having to get up

~when I was 20 something and lazy(read hungover)~

to turn the light on or off was a real treat.

..when I was young...you used to have to stand NEXT to the phone..a HOME phone...it had a cord that connected it to the wall!!!....

It was hilarious that the lights would go on and off when Otis barked...or someone coughed. 

Maybe I had The Ole Clapper set on too sensitive a setting.

Ah, the good old days....

fun on a budget.

There's No Place Like Home

With my work schedule filled to the brim

(and Operation Santa needing some serious elf help)

my blog has taken a back seat in the sleigh that's for sure.

So thanks for coming back to visit 

even though my posts have been a bit lackluster lately.

I'm glad I'm back from a week on location,

sleeping in a hotel room far away from my sweet boys

and my kitchen.

It's good to be home.

The Sound of Music

What is better than a man in a skirt?!
A man in a skirt with bagpipes!

MootLoaf

Daily Dose

This photographer out of Toronto inspired me today. 

How talented.

click below for your daily dose

Daily Dose of Inspiration