{update: i made the banner...}

so, i made the halloween banner i had found last year on this blog. it was easy to make & i think i will make smaller ones for other occasions & hang them by the front door. i did feel it was nice to have a banner that was homemade versus a cheesy store bought one, but who has the time to make one, everytime? i actually ran out of time looking for black beads & black tulle, so it's not decorated as much as the sample one. i got lots of compliments, as it was something a bit different. that's my goal always, for it to be unique & a little different than the norm. anyway, i had fun making it & will make a cute mini one for Christmas for the front entrance, if i have the time!!!

{pillow, anyone?}

...i'm on a sharing streak tonite! (killing some time before i have to run around & pick up kids, etc) i just found the most ridiculously cute pillow....check it out here ! not sure if i'll get it, it's only "starting at $134 dollars"... seriously , who would pay such a ridiculous amount of money...I predict you will see replicas of this in the near future~ yup, i'm psychic ~

{please be mine!}

okay, that didn't take me long! i just found something i want for Christmas, for all those of you that have me on your list, all 3 people who read my pathetic blog! hahahaha, so here it is! the Butler Bag! Oh my goodness, I almost fell off my chair, I love an organized bag & I am continously cleaning mine out of clutter, oh, this is fabulous!!! let me go back & look at it {and drool}...

I just added the red one, oh my, i'm in love!

{gift giving}

...at least just thinking about it! I have this problem, I think about really cool things for people on my list throughout the year & then I either forget or they get the item before Christmas. So I was looking for inspiration online and went to one of the first places I went to when the internet first started....I was watching Oprah's first ever "Oprah's favorite things giveaway" episode (when I used to watch Oprah!) anyhow, it was Red Envelope....they are so cool, they wrap all the presents in red boxes with a beautiful ivory grosgrain ribbon...ahhhh! beautiful! sidenote: One year I wrapped all my presents ( except kiddie ones) in Kraft paper with raffia, it was awesome! I must do that again!) Anyhow, there's also gifts.com for ideas...well, I'm stuck on what to get for a few people, so I better keep looking for some cool & unique ideas! Best of luck with your shopping!!!

{PB Design Library}

I ordered this Pottery Barn Design Library months ago & have them in my possession now. I haven't had a quiet moment yet to enjoy them but I will this weekend~ so excited!!!

{food tv for kids}

So, I just came across that Food Network Canada has a kids site. They have listed menus, articles, parties & videos. I like it! It's a cute site with lotsa kids & babies ideas.

{gingerbread skeletons & bleeding hearts & scary pumpkins}

...different (something i'm always looking for) & very cute halloween ideas i saw over at craftzine.com

{on organizing}

just thinking about great entryways as i'm starting to dig out the winter accessories that everyone needs...where to put it all!!! and when they all come home...where to put it all!! it's amazing how we have to have clothing and accessories for 4 seasons in Canada. Canada i think has the reputation of just being cold all the time...which by this summer's standards we were living in California. From +38C to -38C....that's a lot of clothing changes in between!

{Sur La Table}

...it was one of the first french phrases i learned in school! i felt so "french" when I'd say it! silly, i know! A new & exciting site for me, is it new for you?..sur la table.. so what is it about an american store that is unaccessable to canada that i find so intriguing? (you know, PB & WS)....and then they grace us with their presence years later when they get wind that canadians WANT them!!! is it about the ...the grass being greener on the other side syndrome??? anyhow, this is a great site and they have a new baking blog also that you can check out....enjoy!

Update: {Barefoot in tha house!}

Looky @ what was in my email inbox today!!! A new show & a Christmas Special!!! It was as good as Christmas morning for me!

Dear Paula,

It's that time again! My new book, Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics is coming out on October 28th. I think this may be my favorite book yet - it's all about how to get great flavor from simple ingredients.

When I'm writing recipes, what really interests me is how to get the most flavor in a dish. How can I make chicken taste like the best chicken you've ever eaten? What can I serve with this pear to bring out it's sweetness? What can I add to chocolate (like coffee) that will give the chocolate great depth of flavor? Each recipe in this book has that secret process or ingredient that will make your cooking the best ever.

In addition to my new book, I have a new TV series on Food Network - also called Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics with lots of great new recipes and some exciting parties. Don't miss Saturday, December 13th when my friend Susan Stroman and I give a party for the cast of her hit Broadway musical Young Frankenstein. It was such fun!

If you'd like to order signed books, get a recipe from the new book, or check out my upcoming book tour please go to BarefootContessa.com

Have a happy and healthy holiday season!

Love, Ina

{Barefoot Contessa}

So today I read that Ina Garten has a new cookbook coming out October 28th! I'm so excited....I love her cookbooks....they are great recipes & turn out awesome!!! If you go to her website you can get an autographed copy for $35. I look forward to reviewing her book.

{fro yo}

so it seems like the CUPCAKE craze is coming to an end...according to the Vanilla Garlic blog!!! Go on over and have a read! The new craze is predicted to be frozen yogurt.....hmmm...can i really serve that at a kids party & have them go "ga-ga" over delicious over decorated theme cupcakes??? i think not!!! i really don't think it will have the same impact--hahaha...i think you'll agree with me...just like cake, i think the cupcake will always be popular & will always have a home at parties & get-togethers!

{Rebecca Thuss}

...for those of you who know me & my little quirks, know that I have a binder full of ideas cut out of magazines(it's my way of not keeping a ton of magazines around, instead I keep great ideas in page protectors). It's been lent to a few select....hahahaha...but today as I was looking for some cute favor ideas for an upcoming birthday party, I came across Rebecca Thuss' website! I found many of the old Martha Stewart pages I have cut out in her portfolio....so I was a fan of hers & I didn't know the stylists name!!! teaches me to read who the stylists are in magazines rather than assume that it was all "martha"! Take a look at her portfolio, it's amazing- enjoy!!!

...'29 Buick

look who showed up to be photographed at one of our weddings we shot this weekend! a gorgeous '29 Buick...it was amazingly beautiful...

"...how do ya like them apples?"

so many apples so little time!!! i'm trying to decide what to do with all these apples ( besides candy apples!!!) my dad brought me, in fact, he just brought me another batch of green apples. Should I make pie filling? frozen or jarred? help! i'm doing a bit of internet research...please leave me your suggestions!!! BTW, I luv my photos...don't you???

...halloween apples!!!

Look what I just need to re-create!!! over at Williams & Sonoma !!! delectable or what??? I say re-create because I would NEVER pay $22.50 for ONE!!! (i had to read the price twice!!!)

...Skor Cake

Skor Cake

1 chocolate cake mix
1 12-16 oz bottle of caramel (the squeezable kind that you top ice cream sundaes with).
1 14 0z can of sweetened condensed milk
1 Bag of Skor bits
one container of cool whip

Make the cake mix as directed. Once it is done baking, pull it out of the oven and poke slits all over the top of the cake using the bottom of a knife handle, do not poke all the way to the bottom of the cake. Pour the caramel and the condensed milk all over the top and over the slits. Then spread the Cool Whip over the top and put the cake into the fridge to cool. Let cool for about an hour before serving! ENJOY!

...to the parents who read this blog...

Today I had a mini epiphany...i made a vege based meal to ladle over rice....i wasn't sure if the boys would respond quite happily toward it BUT i discovered as we came home from 3 hours of church, they were famished! there weren't any snacks readily available, so when it came to Lupper, as we refer to as lunch & supper at 1:00pm....they gobbled it up!!! so, my tip for you is serve your veges when they are Starving!!! it worked for me...

...Bath & Body Works

YES! it was good for me!!! I sprayed every new scent around our home last night, trying a new scent in every room!!! I even smell good thanks to my new lotions. I wondered if I would feel weird going in there ( for those who don't know, I was offered the General Store Manager position at B&BW@ WEM ...long story) or feel jealous...but I didn't! thank goodness! I thoroughly enjoyed the store, found it small for the demand there is for it & missing product lines but overall a beautiful store. There are many stores to be built in western Canada in the next 2 years...so they are coming to your city soon!!! Above is my collage of new products I treated myself to!!! It was good for me....it was pure pleasure...yes, i'm talking about lotion & sprays!!!

...is change good?

{...feeling sad} I just read through my Canadian House & Home Issue for October, specifically the Editor's Page, which I always start with. The issue was beautiful, articulate & chockful of gorgeous photographs, that's what I can count on...at least for the last 20 years that I've followed Cobi Ladner as Editor in Chief of this fabulous magazine. There are many times when I've walked up & down the aisles of Chapters in search of a similar magazine but I can not find one among all the American & European grandious magazines that compares to Canadian House & Home. It's been a staple, in my home for many, many years, introducing it to friends and my younger sister as she started to read Home magazines as she out grew her fad & fashion mags....Did I mention I'm a magaholic? I know the ones that fulfill my requirements and H&H is one of them. It's taught me lots & hope that it doesn't lose it's charm!

{going off on a tangent now} I'm feeling sad because the same happened to me & the Great One known as Martha. She completely lost her appeal...at least for me. Once her show changed to live & chaotic & full of celebrities who look like fish out of water...the charm was gone. I rarely watch her show now. I loved how calculated her show was, how she didn't stutter, how well produced & photographed it was, how the music soothed my senses & how each every homemaking skill was taught with such finesse....change was not good, in my opinion.

{...back to H&H} I have watched the newly appointed EIC for H&H and she has not impressed me thus far in her career. I hope that it doesn't translate into the H&H Magazine....I guess we'll see in the coming issues if change is good!!!

Premium News Service | RSS
10 June 2008, TORONTO
Cobi Ladner talks about leaving Canadian House & Home

Cobi Ladner will end her tenure as Canadian House & Home editor on June 24.
When Cobi Ladner was first hired at Canadian House & Home in 1990, she was the sole decorating editor on a staff of five. Today, the magazine boasts one of the largest editorial staffs in the country (25 in editorial, 12 in design), a readership of 2.5 million and a paid circulation that has more than doubled in size since owner/publisher Lynda Reeves took the magazine over in 1986.

“We’ve grown and grown and it’s sort of on its way now,” says Ladner, who debuted as editor-in-chief with the Feb/March 1993 issue, “and it doesn’t need its mother as much.” Ladner, 46, has decided to leave the editorial nest of H&H on June 24. She plans on taking the summer to recharge, spending plenty of time with her two young children and caring for her recently widowed mother. After that, “the possibilities are wide open.”

While Ladner says her decision to leave was amiable (she will consult for the magazine until the end of year and says, “I want this place to do really well without me”), she admits that some on the H&H team were shaken by the news. “One of the design editors said it felt like her parents were splitting up,” she says. “Everybody wants to understand why.”

Both personal and professional reasons were at play, Ladner says. She lost her father, Eric Ladner, to an aneurysm in February. “He was a great mentor to me,” Ladner says. “He gave me many great words of wisdom, one of them being, ‘Don’t follow your dreams, live them.’” She hasn’t quite decided what that next dream will be, at least when it comes to her work, though she does expect a return to the area of lifestyle and home décor. “I just want the chance to do something else in my lifetime.”

As for her proudest accomplishments, Ladner is particularly proud of the team she’s managed to build at H&H. “We have always put editorial first and I’m glad for that,” she says. “I feel like we’re often a training ground for many of the other magazines around town.” She’s also felt rewarded by the connection she’s been able to make with readers through the magazine. “We never win any National Magazine Awards, and yet…a day doesn’t go by when a Canadian doesn’t say to me, ‘Canadian House & Home’ is my favourite magazine.”

Delicious Desserts....which one??? or all???

I have a dinner party coming up and looked up one of my fave blogs: Tastefully Entertaining & guess what they had for me to look at? this beautiful inspiration board of desserts with links to the recipes!...what a spread!!! I have some work cut out for me! I'm going to choose one of these new recipes to try out, which one do you think I'll make? hmmmm....don't they look delicious?
- Mint Chocolate Cheesecake
- Little Lemon Meringue Pies
- Blueberry Cream Cheese Tart
- Sunset Shortcake
- Hazelnut Cookies
- Chocolate Truffles

"All Hallows Eve"

I want to make this, I saw it last year and kept the link, it looks so awesome, so not "store-bought". Tonite I also came accross some small tags that would make cute backgrounds for a mini-garland for my front entrance as well as a large one for my mantle. I'm excited for Halloween this year....well, excited-once again!!!

I’ve been tagged!

I’ve been tagged! This is a first for me ;-)
Thanks Jamie!

My 3 Joys:
•My husband & my 3 boys
•My extended family
•My 24" iMac-hahaha!!!

My 3 Fears:
•Being outside in the dark at night alone
•Losing someone's Wedding Photography!!!
•Critical illness

My 3 Current Obsessions:
•KitKat Chunky
•Brad Pitt
•Stampin Up

My 3 Surprising Facts:
•i never return movies on time!
•i can't make a good pie crust!
•i love Pacman!

I Tag: Karla, Lindy

Spooky Sweets

I thot these Spooky Sweets were pretty cute. I REALLY love Halloween! I think I will give these a try!!! I think it would make a cute teacher treat or a treat to drop off to friends...mmmm...i likey!!! sOrRy... but you'll probably be seeing lotsa Halloween inspired tricks & treats!!!muahahaaa!!!

B&B Wedding Shoot

We just shot a gorgeous outdoor wedding at this location! This is a Bed & Breakfast called Country Wildflower Bed and Breakfast in Leduc.....I'd have to say it has to Alberta's best kept secret. We offered to do Architectural photos for her website & the owner says to us that they are sooooo busy & booked up that they couldn't handle being on the internet!!! Her business is purely word of mouth! WOW! is all I could think when we drove up to this hidden gem!!! It was absolutely amazing....the inside was incredible....made me speechless. Once we release wedding photos to the couple, I will post more from this fabulous wedding. I luv it when people do something out of the ordinary.....it really does make their wedding day extraordinary!!!

Banana Bread Recipe...

So here's my favorite recipe from Best of Bridge (thanks "K") I adapted it a bit but this is basically the recipe I started with. Start with this & you'll be guaranteed a sweet & moist banana bread....not dry or grainy at all. I guess since it was a lot cooler outside I had thots of actually turning my oven on!!! so here's to the best banana bread recipe---at least i think so! and so does one of my nieces & sister who have both tried it & were successful!! mmmm,mmm.....lemme know if you make it!!! or better yet, leave me your recipe so everyone can have a peek! you can add chocolate chips, fruit & or nuts to the recipe! I make mine with crushed pineapple--can you say --deelish!!!

SU.....

so i've been going through the new fall Stampin' Up! Catalogue (which you can download here) and there MANY beautiful stamps there. i think when things slow down with shooting weddings i might consider becoming a demonstrator. i've never considered it with any other company but I am becoming more fond of this company & their style. It does get a bit "cookie cutter'ish" but I try to keep my cards fresh & different. Once you look at one demo's cards & another's, they seem to look all the same, that's the only thing i don't like....maybe they are trying to appear "similar" to the catalogue....i dunno...anyhow, i love the variety & uniqueness of their stamps....but i still luv my stickers more!!! which do you prefer?

it's a crock...

I just went to a fab store! It's A Crock Country Store and they have a new furniture showroom : A Chip off the Old Crock I'll take one of each, thankyou! I have a few friends that would love these stores- you know who you are!!! It made me look forward to all those Fall events that are so much fun...Birthdays, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Corn-busts, Fall BBQ's & most of all--Back to school!!!hahaha! I look forward to the decorating & the parties, don't you???

ikea...

...so I'm done perusing through my ikea catalogue, it now has lots of post it note tabs for future referencing. i made this inspiration board to keep for future reference. did you notice it's all white? this is my fantasy craft room! i'd love to one day have a room whose sole purpose is CRAFTING. I would have it be all white. i think that all the card stock & paper needs a white background. From the top left: Love the white bookcase with clear glass doors, love the white desk with white accessories and small white cabinet on wheels. Third photo has same white desk acnhored by 2 bookshelves that's stunning! another option for a desk would be the glass top desk...hmmmm.... i had to sneak in this white dressing table for my bedroom! and my final wish would be to have a white sofa & coffee table to take breaks in my craft room sans kids!!! ahhhh...i luv this catalogue!!! now back to reality....what's your favorite page in the catalogue? you can see the entire catalogue at www.ikea.ca

5 Point Star Card

about IKEA....

did ya get yours????

about Cake Stands...

So, summer holidays really throw the schedule right out the door, don't they? I feel like the days are going fast & it seems to be hotter outside every year now!!! I was doing a bit of cleaning, but found it was too difficult to even start doing anything, I think I will leave detailed cleaning to September when kids are in school & I have more time to myself. But I did come across my collection of Cake Stands that I started last Christmas. I don't have time to photograph them right now, but I will on a later post. I decided on collecting White & Ceramic stands, so far I have 1 round, 1 square & two Square '3 tier' stands! I absolutely love to look at them & they are such a treat to display when having dinners, parties & luncheons. I hope to keep expanding my collection. I've never really collected anything but have watched my father collect many things. Is it because I'm getting older??? I have to wonder!

A's Card

I made this card last week for a special person in our lives....she's awesome!!!

Pancake Lens!

Well, let me share a little experience I just went through. I've been complaining that our professional cameras are too heavy & too big & wah wah wah....you get what i was saying....so Steve & I decided we'd try out a point & shoot camera, a 10MP Lumix with a nice Leica Lens....we took it on our family reunion, but I totally didn't like the lag it had---it seemed sooo slow, that I often caught the 2 second "later" reaction shot that I was looking for---it was SO frustrating, so limiting. Never-mind the color was awful & the convenience wasn't as awesome as I thought!!! I was soooo dissapointed when I got home! So, instead, Steve bought me a Pancake Lens for our one camera aka Olympus Zuiko 25 mm f2.8 Pancake Lens...it's so cute! It makes my camera just as compact as the point & shoot crap I bought!! The color is amazing, very sharp details & beautiful skin tones!!! I'm in love, there's no going back now, I just had to get it out of my system that a compact camera is what I thought I wanted!!! Hindsight you say??? Sometimes we just gotta learn the hard way, good thing there's great return policy's out there!!!