HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

May 2009 prosper in many ways for you and your family. I am so thankful to have my family, friends and furry kids in my life. They have brought me such joy and happiness. I could not get through life without each and every one of them. I am also so very thankful for meeting each and every one of my blogging friends. I can truly say you have inspired me to live an inspiring and creative life! Thank you! I have one true resolution for 2009. Think positive and the possibilities will be endless! Stay safe and enjoy bringing in the New Year!

Here's a quick fun recipe for a drink to bring in 2009! See you all next year!

Pink Lemonade Champagne

INGREDIENTS:

1 can (12-ounce) frozen pink lemonade concentrate
2 part champagne, chilled, Korbel®

In a large pitcher, combine pink lemonade concentrate and chilled champagne.
Stir and serve.

Veggie Pizza for Dinner and My Big Craigslist Find!

Last night I made this wonderful Veggie Pizza for us to eat. It's a pretty famous recipe made with crescent rolls, yes those sinful crescent rolls! I made this veggie pizza along with Healthy Choice canned tortilla soup (yes canned or shall I say semi-homemade). I heated the soup up and added chopped cilantro, crushed tortilla chips, chopped avocado and a dollop of sour cream (LITE sour cream). Do you get the feeling I'm trying to justify something? ;)

Ingredients....

Crescent dough crust, it smells so doughy....

The pizza spread....



You choose your fresh ingredients, I had broccoli, cauliflower, green onions, olives and grated carrot....


Fresh grated cheese....

And the finale....it looks like just a pile of fresh vegetables but the crust is there, I swear. I should have taken a picture of a slice. We sliced them in rectangles. It is SO good and so fresh tasting.

Veggie Crescent Pizza:

1-2 packages crescent refrigerated rolls (I like two...makes a thicker crust)
1 8 oz. package cream cheese
1/2 - 1 cup mayonnaise (I used about 1 cup)
1 package Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix
Assorted fresh veggies of your choice

Directions:

Arrange the crescent rolls on 12 in. pizza pan or jelly roll pan. Press out to cover the pan. Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned. Cool completely! Mix cream cheese, dressing mix and mayonnaise well. Spread evenly on crust. Arrange vegetables on the crust and cut - anything you like in vegetables: tomatoes, peppers, cauliflower, broccoli, onions, mushrooms. Sprinkle with cheese then slice!

Now for my great find! Today I did a quick search on Craigslist for some "shabby" items. Here is what I found!

I got all of these, 5 white cottage frames and a Pottery Barn type mirror with hooks for $15.00!

Shabby chic windows. I got all three of these for $20.00! Oh you should have seen this gal's house where I picked up these adorable items. Ohmigod, I wanted to just live there. It was a farmhouse style cottage with a huge wrap around porch. She had a shabby chandelier hanging out on her porch with an adorable wicker set, seashells, hydrangeas, cute little beach signs. I mean, it looked like an antique store! Okay, back to what I'm going to do with these. I have a huge wall in my living room that has nothing on it right now. I plan on scattering all three of these on this wall (all are of different sizes). However, if you have any other ideas you can give me, I certainly welcome them!

Time for bed. I quote Benjamin Franklin. "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise." Wait, where's that wealthy part?

More Christmas Lights at Zoolights and Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Recipe!

Yesterday evening Jim (my ex....but still not wanting to be my ex...gotta admit he has been a sweetheart lately) and I went to the zoo to see Zoolights! Every year they deck the zoo out in tons of Christmas lights and they extended the dates because of the winter storm that recently came through Portland. This is my first visit to Zoolights. Everyone has been telling me I need to go. It was a mild evening (42 degrees...if you can call that mild) so it was nice. Still, the first thing Jim did was get us both hot cocoas topped with whipped cream. I mean you know, he knew I didn't have enough sweets this holiday season. ;)

Double the whip cream and I'm in a dream!

Entrance to the zoo....

Beautiful archway....

Starfish!
Stacked animals, too cute....

Conservation sign....

Rest assured these are fake and not stuffed. :)


We felt like kids again and rode the train....

Inside the train looking out at the lights shaped like animals, okay I really feel like a kid now....

I love this snake wrapped around a tree....

I was explaining to this wolf that I had no idea where the three little pigs were then he started smelling me like I was raw meat or something! Okay, that was kinda weak. I never said I was a comedian.

I swear this guy had this goat trained using one of those clicker things. Every time he clicked it the goat would turn in a circle to get his treat. I want one!! Goat, not treat.


I shoved all the kids out of the way so I could get a good shot of these animals at the petting zoo....and I am NOT a bully!

Okay all, here is the Cream Cheese Sugar Cookie Recipe! You will love it! I've always liked it better than the regular sugar cookie recipe.

CREAM CHEESE SUGAR COOKIES

1 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1 c. butter

1 (3 oz. ) pkg. cream cheese

1/2 tsp. almond extract

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

1 egg yolk

2 1/4 c. flour

Combine and blend all ingredients except flour. When well mixed add flour. Chill for a couple of hours. Roll 1/3 of the dough at a time 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 7-10 minutes or until just edges are light brown. Makes 5-6 dozen.

Simple, easy and delicious!

Enjoy!

Still Baking!

You are all going to hate me for posting this but I am still baking. I'm sure this is the last thing you want to see after the holidays. Well, I got bored last night so I decided to use the cream cheese sugar cookie dough I had pre-made a few days ago and make the chocolate dipped pretzels I had wanted to make last week. The pretzels are delicious. I used the Special Dark chocolate and then sprinkled perils over them. I put them in a pretty tin to finish it all off. :)

Spread that dough out!

Cute cut-outs for the holidays....

Melted Special Dark chocolate by Hersheys....

Dipped pretzel....

Pretzels sprinkled with perils....

Finished pretzels....

And the good thing is, I haven't gained a pound! Yay!!!

After Christmas Finds With My Gift Cards!

Yesterday, my ex (trying not to be an ex anymore) and I went shopping for some after Christmas sales. Not all sales were that great but I did find some cute things with the gift cards I got for Christmas! I have to say one of my favorite stores is TJ Maxx. You can find some really nice things for so little money! Here's a few cute finds that I purchased with my gift card.

These pillows are so soft. They are filled with down. I even love the little ties in the back. I got two down pillows covered in beautiful quilt shams in baby blue.



Then I found this obnoxiously pink frame! It was discounted to $6.99. There was a black one as well but that was $9.99. The pink was probably discounted because it was so obnoxiously bright but I love it! Now, I have no idea what to do with it. Ha! :) By the way, that isn't my Cockatoo in that picture but have you ever seen picture frames in the store with the most beautiful black and white photos in them that you just wanted to keep those photos in the frames? I've done that before, I ADMIT! However, they were scenery pictures and not of people. Leaving strangers in picture frames is just a little much for me and kinda sad like I don't know enough people to put in frames. Hehe!



Hope you are all relaxing now that the holidays are over!

All Quiet on the Northwestern Front

Well, the snow is finally melting, the festivities have taken place and now it's a little time for relaxation. :)

A nice breakfast (with some leftover ham from Christmas), you can't see it but it's under there. Eggs Benedict but instead of hollandaise sauce, some melted Havarti cheese.


My presents included some wonderful soap from my sister over at Cottage By the Sea (and her company Lunada Bay Soap Company). This soap is called Chardonnay Rose, one of my favorites! Checkout their pictures on her blog. They just got back from a ranch in Montana! It looked like so much fun!



And a cat glad to have company gone (I swear this is the only cat I know that sleeps flat on his back. Ignore the mess....I am reorganizing my closet!). He doesn't know mom and step dad are coming back through town tomorrow though. Yippee!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas like I did!

Merry Christmas and a Warm Snuggly Holiday to Everyone!

Twas the night before Christmas and all thru the flat
not a creature was stirring except for the cats.
They ran and they played and they jumped 'round with glee
They played with the ornaments 'til they came off the tree
All bright and shiny the ornaments were, now all the ornaments were just one big blur.
Then all of the sudden came a crash, bang and boom.
Yes... it was Santa and not a moment too soon
So with a wink of his eye and a twitch of his nose... he magically fixed my tree; I suppose.
Now all bright and shiny my Christmas tree is - thanks to the magic of Good Ol' St. Nick.
The kitties were bad but oh well I say - Geez after all... it is Christmas day.


By Leslie Millay Thompson

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Stay Warm, fill your house with love and family and eat well!

Just Found My Favorite Ornaments, An Award and I Won My First Giveaway!!!

It's been a busy, busy week and I haven't even gone to work yet! They officially closed our offices this morning because the city is a mess. More specifically, the county was declared a state of emergency. We're expected to get another 3-5 inches of snow tonight but today was dry so it gave everyone a break. :)

One thing I'm excited about is I found my two favorite ornaments I have been looking for! For all you dessert lovers out there, check these out! I almost want to eat them but I though I'd spare cutting up my mouth. Ignore the tag on the second picture and how overexposed the white chocolate is. I couldn't get a good shot without the flash! Grrrr!

Next on the agenda, sweet, sweet Melissa over at Sunbonnet Cottage gave me an award! It's the Christmas Spirit Award! She is one of my favorite blogging buddies. She always has such nice things to say to everyone and I can tell she has the sweetest heart. Thank you so much, Melissa! You deserved this award. Here are the rules: Good manners dictate thanking (and linking to) the person who gave you the award. Then simply list five things you love about Christmas and pay the meme forward by tagging as many people as you'd like to. To keep the Christmas spirit flowing, be a good sport and tag at least one person.

Here are my five favorite things about Christmas:

1. At the top of my list is getting together with family and friends. I think that is most important to me. I love gifts but they really aren't as important as just spending good quality time with those you are closest to. :)

2. FOOD! Ohmigod, GOOD FOOD! I think Christmas gives us a chance to excuse ourselves from all those torturous (is that a word) diets. I love baking, cooking and eating food during the holidays. Nothing will stop me!

3. Bundling up in warm clothes with mittens, sweaters and scarves. I love being all bundled up in cold weather and going out to look at lights with some comforting hot apple cider or hot chocolate and good friends/family to join in.

4. Decorating the home with Christmas spirit! I love decorating and making my home look cozy during this time of year. I think it goes hand in hand with good food and good company.

5. The Nutcracker Suite. What can I say? It's my favorite ballet and it only comes once a year so I wait all year to see it either on TV or on stage. :)

I am passing this along to....

1. Sweet Sage Vintage

2. Southern Fried Cupcakes

3. Vanilla Kitchen

4. Apothecary Shop

5. At Home on the Ridge

I also have another previous award to give away. I will do that tomorrow! Still trying to catch up with things!

Last but certainly not the least I WON MY FIRST GIVEAWAY!! I am so, so extremely excited about this because I had been entering giveaways but haven't won anything. :( I won the most beautiful pair of angel wings made by the artistic and adorable Kelly at Southern Fried Cupcakes. Aren't these adorable? Thank you so much, Kelly!! I will hang them on the inside of my front door so angels are protecting me and my little cottage. :) Kelly is so artistic. Please take the time and visit her to see what other surprises she has made and to take in her beautiful, whimsical blog! I always feel like I'm in a fairytale when I visit her. :) Here are those beautiful wings I won.

Well, that's it for this evening. Snuggle up and keep warm!

They Came and Went!

More snow! My lights are flickering. I hope I don't lose power. :(

I had a wonderful overnight visit with my mom and step dad, although it was quick. They will hopefully be able to stop by again when they come back through from Canada. We had a nice dinner, opened presents and just relaxed. Oh yes, duh...we forgot to take pictures! :( This morning I made them crescent rolls and brewed some cinnamon almond coffee from Ghiradelli! It was so delicious! They left around 9:30 a.m. and they are already safe in Canada! Yay!! I stayed home today from work (worked from home) because it was still snowing! Did I try to put my chains on? Heck no. :) They decided to close our offices around 3:00 and so I made cookies after that. :) These aren't as remedial as the ones I made before. Hehe! I put the bird cakes out so the birds weren't starving, then they all came and started fighting over it. Eeek!

Sugar cookies....

Hope you all are staying warm! It's COLLLLLLD out there. Well, where I am. :)

Stuck at Home All Snowed In

Although I still haven't learned to put the chains on and I can do that but I'm just too lazy. We got 8 inches of snow last night. It just wouldn't stop falling. It's been a long time since Portland, Oregon has seen snow like this although it makes for a perfect white Christmas. :) I'm just staying home today getting things ready for mom and dad.

This morning's breakfast, eggs, ham, onions and cheese...yummm....

The guest bedroom is ready, although Mocha and Quincy think they're the guests....

Guest bathroom....

The presents are wrapped....

And last but not least.....footprints in the sand....errrr...pawprints in the snow. :)

Off to start baking now!