Month: August 2011

Is it really a “salad”? I guess not. Is this a recipe? Not really. It’s just EASY + very popular + pretty + simple to eat/serve.

Take cherry tomatoes (whole) or cut longer/bigger (we have San Marzanos) tomatoes in 1/2.

Top with a bit of basil + FRESH mozzarella, jam a toothpick in the top to keep it all together. This works much better if you can ‘stab’ through the tomato skin side vs open/cut side. It holds better.

Chill in the fridge! When ready, drizzle a bit of olive oil, balsamic vinegar,  and sprinkle just a bit of fresh ground pepper and bit of kosher salt over the top.

Done!

It’s delicious, and the single-bite size made it popular with kids, easy to serve at the party, prepared ahead of time, and a just plain fun use of our family tomatoes.

 

FIRST: WINNER of my class kit!! email me mflaum @ comcast . net to claim your prize/tell me where to ship it!! Winner is… Judy Czarnecki

Hooray for summer weather and fun. Girls have been having play dates, E has started soccer, we’re going to do one or two last summer vacation activities… wow. How time flies!! Can’t believe school starts next week. Today I thought I’d give a glimpse into what’s up here – 10 good things:

10. LOVING the Gymboree fall collections, that they are so perfect for Elizabeth + appropriate for girls (vs shortie shorts/crazy ass fashions I saw at Kohls!) + ON SALE this week!  As school is starting next week, I’ll be making a trip to the mall asap.

9. WANT! Seriously was so hard to not buy these at Target the other day. They had so many good colors – and I do love my converse! I just couldn’t part with the $40 when I have a pair of plain grey ones that have life in them still. *sob*

8. New literary goodness from one of my top 5 authors: Jennifer Estep. This is a new series (YA), and it was a great read. My one complaint? I want MORE! Totally loved it. Her heroine is discovering that there is a lot more to magic and myth, and a lot more out there in the world than she ever believed…

7. Double take is coming!! http://www.bigpictureclasses.com/doubletake.php It starts in just over a month – I can not wait. So much fun teaching with the incredible Nic Howard – and anyone can come since it’s an on-line course.

6. I keep swearing I won’t get any new dresses… but then something like this shows up. I couldn’t resist this patchwork dress from ModCloth.com – love!!

5. While I am against re-makes of classic movies (and against all spin offs of Jane Austen fiction), I’m ok with taking a story and putting your own twist on it. In other words, I’m so very ok with Jason Momoa as the new Conan. Girlfriend movie night is set!

4. I found this photo/link to the girl who ate everything via pinterest. Turns out it’s a recipe from Ice Cream before Dinner blog – can’t wait to try!! S’mores cookies? OH YES PLEASE!! I have several hershey bars and a bag ‘o marshmallows just waiting to be used.

3. Speaking of Big Picture – I’m deep in development on one for early 2012. Week #1 is almost completed, and between the videos, all the color images in the handout, and all the detail I’m putting into it… well, I can’t wait to say more. If I disappear for a few days, this is why. So into the planning stages + figuring out what to feature.

2. Yes, we’ve been talking Disney over here again. Not sure when… but I’d be surprised if we can hold out more than 6-9 months more without a fix. We are such a Disney loving family. I LOVE this photo from the Disney Parks Blog. Reminds me of the magic of Disney…

 

1. according to the UPS man, tomorrow my www.StudioCalico.com  August kit + add-on will arrive. yippeeee!!! I am very excited to dig in and create + play.

That’s my 10 good things at the moment, what’s new & exciting in your world?

This weekend is Miss Becca’s birthday. Four years ago today I was desperate to get her OUT! At 42 weeks pregnant and having both my mom and Jason home and staring at me for weeks on end waiting for me to have this baby… well… yeah. I went to my Dr. appointment where I was once again told “zero zero” on my current state of my cervix with a shrug. Baby examined, all well, no action on their part for another 5 days. That night, as we served up hamburgers and helped my mom get ready to go back to her own home, standing in the kitchen, Miss B let me know she was ready and coming.

Thinking back, her keeping us waiting, her dramatic breaking of water and the longer and harder labor/delivery than her sister… well it all fits. It’s SO Becca. She is my stubborn, hilarious, I will do things my way because I say so girl. Confidence? Never an issue. Shy? I don’t think so.

So far I’ve loved every stage – from the newborn who refused sleep unless cuddling someone, to the girl about to start pre-K. I’m sure we have so many more wonderful stages to come – I embrace each.

For now – signing off for the weekend because I *ahem* might have put off some crafty details her royal highness wanted for her birthday until the very last moment. Whoops.