I know it's been a while

but I promise to post some new stuff in the next couple days.

Sweet Pic of the Week

Dreaming of my next visit back to St. Lucia....

a little rant...

I can’t explain why they make me so angry, but every time I come across an ad or article regarding the Snuggie my blood starts to boil. This was sent to yesterday afternoon - Snuggie Fashion Show

Unless you lived under a rock last year, you must have seen the commercials for the Snuggie. Apparently using a regular blanket to keep you warm is passé or difficult. You need to have sleeves on your blanket so you can stay warm while changing the channel on the TV, answering the phone or my favorite holding your dog. (Yea right, Lucy would not sit still for that)

The Snuggie was always a joke in my group of friends and I even had a bathrobe that my husband called my snuggie. Never once did I ever say, “Ghee, I’d really like a Snuggie”… Well that did not stop my husband. For our second anniversary, he got me not one but two Snuggies. SERIOUSLY. (He has now topped our friend Chris as the worst gift giver, sorry Hun!) First of all when I opened the package they smelled like raw potatoes (WHAT?!?), second thing, the material is not soft or comforting; I’ve had airplane blankets made out of nicer material. Lastly, the thing is humongous; the sleeves are double the length of my arms seeming to defeat their purpose.

For now the Snuggies have been banished to a box in the basement, probably only making an appearance at Christmas at a Yankee Swap.

The things my friends can get me to do…

My bestie Kiley asked if I would partner up with her to host a table at a craft fair taking place to benefit her Mom’s Relay For Life team, Friends for Friends. Since I want to support a good cause, I said yes but I must admit I’m a little nervous. Kiley is wicked creative and much better at sewing than me. Hopefully she’ll have some patience with me.

We have slew of ideas of what wares we will be selling; aprons, key chains, and luggage tags to name a few. I’ll post a couple of items as they get finished and if you like what you see we hope that you’ll come and visit the craft fair to buy something to benefit a good cause.

Happy Halloween

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween Everybody!

Sweet Pic of the Week

Introducing Janelle Olivia, born 9/09/09. This picture doesn't need explanation - it's just pure love!

Congrats Kelly & Jack! You are going to be great parents and I can't wait to watch Janelle grow up. Love You!

Do good girls always finish last?...

I came across an interesting article in Newsweek last week that really struck a cord with me. In the article, You are your own glass Ceiling, Jessica Bennett discusses the how many women today are concerned with making sure they fit the mold of the good girl, worried that they’d be marked with the scarlet B for B**** if they are too confident or assertive.

What are your thoughts?

Sweet Pic of the Week

This is my dog niece Sienna. Isn't she cute? Me and Sienna use to have a love/hate relationship. She loved to jump up on me and I hated when she did. She's calm down a bit and now we seem to have a pretty good thing going; if she manages to stay still long enough, I'll scratch her in her favorite spot right underneath her chin and then all is good in the world

Homemade Granola Bars

One good thing about the rainy weather this past Saturday is that I was able to catch up on some DVR'd episodes of Barefoot Contessa. These granola bars looked easy enough and the prefect thing to make for my breakfast for the following work week,

They were really easy and most of the ingredients I had in my pantry....

Make sure you keep an eye on these, start checking around 15 minutes. I managed to overcook them slightly at the recommended time of 25 minutes. They were still yummy but not as chewy as Ina's looked.

Ina choose to added a mixture of dried fruits to her granola bars but I'm guessing you could mix in what ever your favorites are.

Homemade Granola Bars by Barefoot Contessa

2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup toasted wheat germ

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2/3 cup honey

1/4 light brown sugar, lightly packed

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 spoon salt

1/2 cup chopped pitted dates ( i left these out. I don't even know what a date is)

1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

1/2 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350, butter and 8x12 baking dish and line with parchment paper (very important)

Combine oatmeal, almonds and coconut on sheet pan and bake for 10-12 minutes until lightly browned. Transfer to mixing bowl and mix in the whet germ

Reduce oven to 300

Combine butter, honey, brown sugar and vanilla in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Cook and stir for 1 minute then pour over oatmeal mixture. Then toss in dried fruits.

Place mixtures in to the prepared pan and press the mixture evenly in the pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes till golden brown.

Let it cool for 2-3 hours before cutting.

Two words... Dance Party

Impromptu dance parties are a favorite of mine and Paul’s and we are lucky enough that some of are friends wholeheartedly believe in their power of conjuring up a good time. You don’t have to have all the right moves, just crank up the music and do whatever comes naturally to you.

Dance On

Sweet Pic of the Week

This is Eames… While blog surfing I came across him over on Design Curiosities… Isn’t this just so precious, it’s like he’s saying “Hello”. Every time I see this photo a big smile comes across and I bet it made you smile as well.

You can check out more photo’s of Eames on Flickr: designcuriosities' Photostream

Have you watched it yet?

Given all the critical exclaim for the AMC TV series Mad Men, I’m surprised that I don’t know that many people that tune in. My friend Sam turned me on to the show after the first season and now I’m hooked. It’s well written and whoever is the costume designer for the show deserves an award. (I LOVE all the women's outfits...) I can't really tell you why the show appeals so much to me but I think it has to do with the fact the all the characters are holding back these really dark secrets all the while holding up the appearance that everything is just fine and dandy. Season 3 just started and from what I can tell it looks like we'll be let in a little bit more into their dark secrets.

Add seasons 1 & 2 to your Netflix queue and then catch the new season on Sunday nights on AMC at 10:00 pm EST.

At least we had good seats...

So I my friend Kea managed to get some tickets to the the Red Sox /Yankees game and she was nice enough to invite me. I haven't been to a game all season and I was super excited to be able to see the greatest rivalry in baseball. I'm not 100% sure of the final score but when we left in the 8th inning, it was 16-7 Yankees... how embarrassing! But at least we got to sit pretty close to the field and take in the awesomeness that is Fenway Park.

Hopefully today the Red Sox will rally and put the Yankees in their place - GO RED SOX!

Cookie Bars

As soon as I saw this recipe over at Brown Eyed Baker, I knew they would be the next thing I would bake. Cookie bars with chocolate chips and pretzels… sounded delicious and urgent. So as soon as I got off the train after work, I trekked over to the market to purchase some chocolate chips and a bag of pretzels. While in staring at the selection of chocolate chips, the thought dawned on me, use chocolate and peanut butter chips. Peanut butter makes everything better, right?

Chocolate/ Peanut Butter Chip & Pretzel Cookie Bars
Adapted from Brown Eyed Baker

Makes 32 squares
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1½ sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (I ran out of vanilla, had to use almond extract)
12-ounce bag bittersweet (or semisweet, if you prefer) chocolate chips (I used 1 bag tollhouse mixed chocolate & peanut butter chips)
1½ cups mini pretzel twists, coarsely chopped

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray.
2. In a bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt. Using a mixer beat the butter and both sugars at medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Beat in the eggs and the vanilla extract. On low speed, beat in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips and pretzel pieces.
3. Spread the batter evenly in the pan and press it down evenly with a spatula. Bake for 30 minutes, until golden brown. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool completely.

**I left this step out due to sheer laziness but next time and make these I’ll put the in the effort
Melt chocolate chips and some peanut butter separately and then drizzle the chocolate and peanut butter over the top of the bars. Sprinkle the extra crushed pretzels on top. Let set and then cut into squares.

So I guess you'd like to know a little about me.

So I guess you'd like to know a little about me.
If you’re actually reading this then you probably already know enough about me and think this post is silly. But I got to do it so here I go...

DOB – October 7, 1981 and I’m a true Libra – I always try to look at all sides of a situation but some times this leads me to take forever to make a decision. I like to believe that I’m kind and compassionate.

100% Portuguese and my parents will never let me forget that. Speaking of my parents I'm going to guess that they will end up on here in the future but here is a brief introduction - My Dad, Mario; he's like a cartoon character, loud and very animated. Everyone's friend and one of the most generous people I know. He will always give 100% more than needed and never wants anything in return. My mom, Liduina; she is the opposite from my dad. She prefers to sit back and observe instead of being in the middle of the action. But just like my dad, she's very generous.

I have an older brother, Dave. He's great, always willing to help me out when I need a hand, Like me, he has a sweet tooth but he's a twig! He’s married to my fabulous sister-in-law Kathy.

I work for a non-profit organization that does wonderful and miraculous things but my position is far from exciting but I like anyway.

I married Paul, my high school sweetheart and best friend. Through everything, I love him dearly and I can't imagine not having him in my life.

I'm obsessed with my dog - Lucy is 100% shih tzu and the cutest dog in the world, that’s her trying to help with the laundry.

I love to bake and cook, especially for other people. To me there is nothing better than watching people enjoy something I have made for them.

I pretend to be crafty, but I can’t hold a flame to my bestie Kiley, she puts Martha Stewart to shame. While we are speaking of her, she’s fabulous and sassy and I am lucky to have known her for forever.

My favorites:
Color – Green
Drink – Diet Coke
Food – bread – I Heart carbs
Ice cream- Vanilla
Saying – “Live well, Laugh often, Love much”
Book- right now, I’m embarrassed to admit “Twilight” (please don’t mock me”)
TV Shows - Mad Men, Lost and The Office

Anything else you want to know?

I jumped on the band wagon...

I decided to do it... I started a blog. I’m not 100% sure the direction it will take but I’ll do my best to keep you entertained. You can probably expect some recipes, some arts & crafts, and some home DIY projects. But probably it will just be me babbling and rambling about what ever tickles my fancy that day.