~Reese Witherspoon Quote

“Creating a cultural icon out of someone who goes, 'I'm stupid, isn't it cute?' makes me want to throw daggers. I want to say to them, 'My grandma did not fight for what she fought for just so you can start telling women it's fun to be stupid. Saying that to young women, little girls, my daughter? It's not OK'.”

~Reese Witherspoon

~Easter Buzz

"The Pink Peep"
1.5 oz Vodka
1.5 oz Pink vodka-fruit fusion liqueur
Splash Triple-Sec
1 oz Cranberry Juice
Pink (or any color)bunny shaped marshmallow, sugar covered candy

Fill a martini shaker about half way with ice. (This recipe yields one drink).

Add the following ingredients to the shaker: 1.5 oz Vodka, 1.5 oz Pink vodka-fruit fusion liqueur, splash of Triple-Sec, and 1 oz Cranberry Juice. Shake for 30 seconds.

Pour the drink (no ice) into a martini glass. Garnish this cocktail with one pink bunny shaped marshmallow, sugar covered candy by placing a small slit on the bottom of the candy and placing it on the rim of the glass (so the bunny is standing up). Enjoy!


Jellybean Martini

* 8 oz Vodka
* 8 oz Gin
* 8 oz Bacardi® White Rum
* 8 - 16 oz Raspberry Juice
* 30 oz Lemonade

Blending Instructions:

* Use 1 bottle of each spirit
* Put all the spirits in the freezer - 10 to -20 Centigrade
* Use 1 liter of raspberry juice, if you can't get raspberry juice you can use grenadine
* Take care with the quantity, grenadine is a cordial so use a lot less
* Add to the above 2 liters of good quality lemonade, you can add more but do not drown it
* Lots of ice and some garnish to look nice

.Cadbury Creme Egg Martini

*
4 oz. Grey Goose Vanilla Vodka,
*
2 oz. Crème De Cacao,
*
2 oz. White Chocolate Liqueur
*
Splash Cream
*
Drop of yellow food coloring

If you are somehow able to find or make your own dark chocolate martini glasses then by all means put the rest of the world to shame with your awesomeness. Otherwise just rim a couple of martini glasses with cocoa powder or chocolate shavings. Pour the vodka, crème de cacao, and white chocolate liqueur into a cocktail shaker over ice and shake until very cold. Strain into 2 martini glasses then top with a very shallow float of cream and for the finishing touch, squeeze a drop of yellow food coloring in the center for the yolk. If you are so inclined a bunny peep on a stir stick makes a nice garnish.

~The Price of Beauty

After she became the subject of tabloid fodder last year, following a series of unflattering pictures circulating the Web, Jessica Simpson sought out to develop a television show that proved beauty comes in all shapes and sizes. The result? The Price of Beauty. I for one am glad to see her getting more real in her looks. Maybe this will stop a Dukes of Hazards 2 movie from coming out. :)

~While You Were Sleeping...Bonus Week-End

After all the comments on my last quote I thought I would bring you a bonus movie this week-end. Jennifer & I love it:)
While You Were Sleeping is a 1995 romantic comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub and written by Daniel G. Sullivan and Frederic Lebow. It stars Sandra Bullock as a Chicago railroad clerk and Bill Pullman as the brother of a man whose life she saves, along with Peter Gallagher as the brother who is saved, and Peter Boyle, Glynis Johns, Micole Mercurio, and Jack Warden as members of the brothers' family.


Enjoy with "While You Were Sipping Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie"


* 1 Servings
*
* Prep 10 min

Ingredients:

* 1/4 cup boiling water
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
* 3 ounces cream cheese
* 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 2 cups frozen strawberries

Top this
Garnish with crushed graham crackers.
Directions:

1.Using a blender, mix the boiling water, sugar and lemon peel until the sugar is dissolved, about 15 seconds. Add the cream cheese and vanilla and blend until smooth. Add the frozen strawberries and blend on high speed until slushy, about 30 seconds.

~Sandra Bullock Quote

"Falling in love-you should go with it, regardless of whether or not your heart gets smashed. You'll be a better person."
~Sandra Bullock

~Jennifer Love Hewitt Quote

“I'm a hopeless romantic. It's disgusting. It really is. I've seen 'While You Were Sleeping', like, twenty times, and I still believe in the whole Prince Charming thing.”

~Jennifer Love Hewitt

~Sabrina Wedding

We have seen Martha Stewart do the "Breakfast At Tiffany's" theme wedding now I bring you the " Sabrina" themed wedding.






















Black And White Martini Recipe

Ingredients
3 oz. Stolichnaya Vanilla Vodka (Or any other vanilla flavored vodka)
1 oz. Creme de Cacao
Mixing Instruction
Pour the Stoli vanilla vodka and creme de cacao into a cocktail shaker half-filled with cracked ice. Shake well, and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with black and white licorice candy, and serve.

~One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest...Week-End

Great movie this week-end. A true classic...Now heeerrrreeesss Jjjjaaacckk
"One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" (1975)

McMurphy thinks he can get out of doing work while in prison by pretending to be mad. His plan backfires when he is sent to a mental asylum. He tries to liven the place up a bit by playing card games and basketball with his fellow inmates, but the head nurse is after him at every turn.

Plus enjoy some..."One Flew Over The Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs"...

Ingredients:
4 Cups Golden Grahams cereal
4 Cups Cocoa Puffs cereal
1 Cup mini semi sweet chocolate chips
10.5 ounce bag mini marshmallows
3 Cups mini marshmallows
½ stick (¼ Cup) butter or margarine
No stick cooking spray
13x9 inch pan

Method:
1: In a large bowl combine cereals, mini chocolate chips and 3 cups mini marshmallows. Set aside.

2: Spray a 13x9 inch pan with cooking spray or grease well with butter.

3: In another large bowl microwave the butter on high for 45 seconds or until completely melted.

4: Add 10.5 ounces marshmallows to the melted butter and toss to coat.

5: Microwave the marshmallow and butter mixture on high for 45 seconds. Remove and stir until well blended. Return to microwave for another 45 seconds until marshmallows are fully melted.

6: Add cereal mixture from step 1 into the melted marshmallow and mix to combine well.

7: Turn mixture into the greased pan and press firmly to spread mixture to the corners of the pan.

8: Cool completely before cutting into squares to serve. Wrap tightly to store.

Makes 24 servings.

~Divine Chocolate

>Divine Chocolate is today a leading Fair Trade brand in the UK and a pioneer in the world of socially responsible enterprise. The success of Divine means that farmers have a secure source of Fair Trade income that continues to grow year on year. Kuapa Kokoo has invested its Fair Trade income in building schools, sinking wells for clean drinking water to villages, providing mobile medical clinics for farmers in remote growing regions, and fostering women’s income generation projects to help women earn additional income for their families when the cocoa season is over. The farmers' ownership stake in Divine Chocolate means that Kuapa Kokoo has a meaningful input into decisions about how Divine is produced and sold. In addition, Kuapa Kokoo receives a share in the profits from their ownership shares and in 2007 celebrated the first distribution of dividends from Divine in the UK. To further its mission and further increase benefits for cocoa farmers, Divine Chocolate launched a US company to expand into $13 billion American market. In 2006, Divine Chocolate Inc opened in Washington DC to bring fantastic Fair Trade chocolate to US consumers. The farmers of Kuapa Kokoo own one-third of Divine Chocolate in the US. Additional investment is provided by Divine Chocolate Ltd. in the UK, Lutheran World Relief, Oikocredit, and SERRV International.

~Datenight

Ok confession time I watch The Bachelor & Bacherlorette. One of my all time favorites was Meredith Phillips. I personally was glad she didn't end up with Bob. I think he turned into a jerk once he got thin. But, anyway she has out her own cookbook called "Datenight." Make sure to check it out...

Frosted Black-and-Cream
Use espresso, root beer, or cream soda in place of the Guinness for this innovative ice cream float. Top with crushed biscotti or cookies.

yields: 2 Drinks

Chill 2 tall beer or shake glasses for 10 minutes in the freezer. Sprinkle the turbinado sugar in a saucer. Moisten the rim of each glass and dip in the turbinado to coat. Place 2 scoops of ice cream in each glass and fill with the chilled beer. Serve immediately with a long spoon and a straw.

ingredients

2 tablespoons turbinado sugar

4 scoops vanilla ice cream

1 (16-ounce) can Guinness
or other stout beer, chilled

~What's In A Name?

I was recently asked"why peonies? Well here is the story of my Grandmother. When I was a little girl my Grandmother would take care of me during the day while my Mom worked. She lived in a log cabin that once belonged to my Great Grandmother. In the late morning she would wash her long white hair & go sit under a canopy of trees. It was always about 10 degrees cooler under there. So she loved to sit in her old green & white chair napping the morning away.Letting the cool breeze dry her hair. All around us was my Great Grandmothers garden. Old fashion roses, paper whites, sweet-peas, lilacs, lilies...& so on. Down one side of the garden was along stretch of peonies. I remember the smell of them drawing me to them. I would beg Grandma to let me pick them. I wanted them around me all day. She would tell me no saying that it would bring ants into the house. But, still I would beg for for them. One day she looked at me & said " you know you remind me of the pink peonies. They are soft, feminine, romantic & mysterious. Not like a rose which is also lovely but, can be too formal & stuffy. People see a rose and just see beauty never thinking that it comes with a price of the thorns. Peonies are more friendlier. That is how you appear to the world. But, you also have a second flower. We all do & yours is The Lily of the Valley. A small sweet flower that blooms only during your birthday in May. This flower is more fragile & delicate. This is the part of you that only a few special people get to see. This flower can be almost shy hiding under a bush but, when you find it it's magical. A white light in a dark place. This is the hopefulness you have inside you. These are your flowers. When you see them know that they bloom for only you."

Now you know my story...So what is your secret flowers?

~How To Walk in Heels

My friend's daughter & I were walking through the store yesterday. She points to this poor awkward young woman trying to walk in heels. She looked in pain & couldn't keep up walking with her co-worker. My young friend smiles at me knowing she will never have that problem. Only last year her Mother asked me to help her daughter learn how to walk in heels. Never having really worn them herself. My Mother taught me at a young age. Since then I have taught my best friend & countless other. Funny enough I don't wear than much myself but, when I do I have no fear. So here is what my Mom taught me. No Fears Ladies!

How to Walk in Heels...
* Start small. If you’ve never walked in high heels before, don’t start out learning with 5 inch stilettos . Try something smaller, like a 2 inch heel kitty heel or wedge to get used to the feeling. You can always work your way up to those stilettos.

* Walk toe heel. Don't put your whole foot down at once,I call that "The Clydesdale Stomp". Your legs should be straight and your knees together. But, let your body go natural. Stiffen up your whole body and you will look like you are in pain.

*Body straight, stand tall. Shoulders back. Try the old walk with a book on your head. This works!It gives you balance & a nice straight line.

* Walk in a straight line. Find a line on the floor & practice. This will keep you from looking like Bambi on the ice.

Walking in heels in a learned skill. It doesn't come natural for anyone. So give it plenty of practice before your big night out.






Strawberry Foot Exfoliant
By Pioneer Thinking
Mix together 8 strawberries with 2 tablespoons of olive oil (or safflower oil) and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
Add 1/2 teaspoon of finely chopped almonds.
Make a paste with the ingredients but don't over blend it since the strawberries contain so much water it will make it too liquidy. Massage it all into your feet, rinse off and dry.

~If A Song Could Get Me You

~ America Ferrera Quote

"It`s so reassuring to have a woman heroine who triumphs with more than just what she has on the outside... who has more to offer the world than just a pretty picture. To me, the tragedy about this whole image-obsessed society is that young girls get so caught up in just achieving that they forget to realize that they have so much more to offer the world."
~ America Ferrera

~Real Women Have Curves ...Week-end

This week-end I am posting a favorite of mine. Talk about girl power. This movie has it. Sadly I couldn't put the video up on here this time. But, I did put the link up for you to watch the whole thing online. So make sure to check it out!" Real Women Have Curves" (2002)
This is the story of Ana, a first generation Mexican-American teenager on the verge of becoming a woman. She lives in the predominately Latino community of East Los Angeles. Freshly graduated from high school, Ana receives a full scholarship to Columbia University. Her very traditional, old-world parents feel that now is the time for Ana to help provide for the family, not the time for college. Torn between her mainstream ambitions and her cultural heritage she agrees to work with her mother at her sister's downtown LA sewing factory. Over the summer she learns to admire the hardworking team of women who teach her solidarity and teamwork. Still at odds with what her mother expects of her, Ana realizes that leaving home to continue her education is essential to finding her place proudly in the world as an American and Chicana.




Enjoy with "Real Woman Eat Raspberry Chocolate Chimichangas "...
Prep: 15 min., Freeze: 20 min., Fry: 18 min. To save time, assemble the chimichangas up to one week ahead. Place in a zip-top plastic freezer bag, and store in the freezer.

Yield: Makes 6 servings
Ingredients

* 6 (1.55-oz.) milk chocolate candy bars
* 6 (10-inch) burrito-size flour tortillas
* Vegetable oil
* Raspberry Sauce
* Vanilla ice cream
* Garnishes: shaved chocolate, mint sprigs

Preparation

1. Place 1 candy bar just below center of 1 tortilla. Fold bottom of tortilla up and over candy bar just until partially covered. Fold left and right sides of tortilla over; roll up, and place, seam side down, on a baking sheet. Repeat procedure with remaining candy bars and tortillas. Freeze 20 minutes.

2. Pour oil to depth of 1 inch into a large skillet; heat to 375°. Place 2 tortillas, seam sides down, in hot oil, gently pressing with tongs for a few seconds to seal. Fry tortillas 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Repeat procedure with remaining tortillas. Drain on paper towels. Serve with Raspberry Sauce and vanilla ice cream. Garnish, if desired.
Southern Living, FEBRUARY 2007

Raspberry Sauce~
Ingredients

* 1 (10-oz.) package frozen raspberries, thawed
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 3 tablespoons lemon juice
* 1 tablespoon orange liqueur (optional)
* 1 teaspoon cornstarch

Preparation

1. Combine first 3 ingredients and, if desired, orange liqueur, in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 5 minutes or just until raspberry mixture starts to thicken. Remove from heat, and let cool completely.

2. Press raspberry mixture through a wire-mesh strainer into a small saucepan, using the back of a spoon to squeeze out juice. Discard pulp and seeds. Whisk in 1 tsp. cornstarch. Bring to a boil, and cook 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened. Store in refrigerator up to 3 days.



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