Tuesday, December 30, 2008

We played in the "snow" in Celebration, FL!

Last night, my parents and I brought the kids to see "snow" in Celebration, FL. Now in Florida, snow is basically soap foam or bubbles blown from machines (see photo below), but the kids still love it. Celebration runs the event each year from Thanksgiving to New Year's. Carriage rides, Santa Claus, and more available for the fun!
You may have heard of Celebration in the past. It's a tiny town near Disney. Actually, it was set up as a Disney community, but today the company has removed it's name from the idea. It's a very pretty, quaint little area with beautiful homes and a "downtown" with a little splash park on the lake, a movie theater, ice cream shop, restaurants and shops. Celebration also hosts wonderful town gatherings (July 4th fireworks, Snow in December, etc).

If you are ever visiting Walt Disney World, you should take the short drive over to check it out. Here are a few photos from the Christmas celebration:


Thursday, December 18, 2008

Happy Hour: Jingle Juice

I found this recipe last year in Southern Living and it was a hit at my Holiday Party. It's simple and can be garnished with a fruit-flavored Candy Cane! Enjoy!

Ingredients
5 cups orange juice
1 cup vodka
1/3 cup orange liqueur
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup maraschino cherry juice
Garnishes: fruit-flavored candy cane sticks, cherries with stems, orange and lemon slices

Preparation
1. Stir together orange juice and next 4 ingredients; serve over ice. Garnish, if desired.
Rudolph's Spritzer: Omit vodka and orange liqueur. Add 2 cups chilled lemon-lime soft drink. Proceed as directed.

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Healthy Makeover Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake
2 1/4 all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamom
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 lg eggs
2 large egg whites
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 can (8oz to 8 1/4.) crushed pinapple in juice
1/3 cup canola oil
1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 bag (10 oz.) shredded carrots
1/2 c dark raisins (optional)

Cream cheese icing
2 oz reduced fat cream cheese
3/4 cup confectioner's sugar
1/2 tsp. low fat milk
1/4 tsp. vanila extract

Preheat oven to 350. Spray nonstick 12-cup Bundt-style pan with nonstick cooking spray with flour. Prepare cake: combine flour, soda, cinnamon, ginger, baking powder, and salt. In large bowl, with mixer on med. speed, beat eggs & egg whites until blended. Beat in sugars: beat 2 minutes. On low speed , blend in pineapple with juice, oil and vanila. Add flour mixture; beat 1 minute. Stir in carrots & raisens. Pour batter into pan. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 min.. Invert cake onto rack; cool completely. Prepare icing; in bowl, stir ceam cheese and 1/4 cup sugar until smooth. Add milk and vanila, and remaining sugar; stir to a drizzling consistency. Drizzle icing over cake.

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Favorites Continued: Cookies!

Now, y'all know how much I love to bake cookies. In fact, growing up, my mom, sister and I used to bake at least five varieties, if not more, to deliver to friends during the Holidays.

So I am so excited to have found this site: http://www.christmas-cookies.com/. You won't believe all this recipes here!

BHG's Site also has recipes for All-tim Favorite Christmas cookies on its site at: http://www.bhg.com/holidays/christmas/cookies/favorite-christmas-cookies-and-bars/.

What are your favorites? I like M&M cookies, Toll House chocolate chip, Snickerdoodles, Peanut butter (with the hershey kiss on top!) and oatmeal gumdrop (my mom's secret recipe).

OH--and don't forget that it's COOKIE NIGHT on the FOOD Network!

Friday, November 21, 2008

Happy Hour: Two Thanksgiving Cocktails

Caramel Apple Martini
A crisp fall apple smothered in gooey sticky caramel. This cocktail conjures all the flavours of this fall treat, only it won't leave your fingers sticky or your jaw tired from all that chewy caramel.
1 Oz. Sour Apple liqueur
1 Oz. Butterscotch liqueur
1/2 Oz. Vodka.
Measure all ingredients into a cocktail shaker full of ice. Shake and strain into a cocktail (martini) glass. Garnish with a few cubes of caramel candy and some apple slices on a skewer and plunk it into the glass.

Pumpkin Pie
Rather than the traditional warm pumpkin pie, this Thanksgiving cocktail combines pumpkin pie and ice cream all in a delicious cocktail glass. You will need to use a blender or food processer for this delicious cocktail.
3 tablespoons of vanilla ice cream
3 tablespoons of pumpkin pie filling
1 oz of butterscotch liqueur
1 oz of rum
1/3 of milk
3 ice cubes
Place all ingredients into a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into a tall glass. Garnish with whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a straw.

Friday, November 14, 2008

We Got (Mickey) Crocs!

Since the weather has been so dang nice, we have been going to Disney quite a bit. On Thursday, we ran to EPCOT to see fireworks with some friends. While there I got both kids MICKEY CROCS!

Monday, October 27, 2008

Fall Table Tops

I received my November 2008 issue of Southern Living and fell in love with some of the tabletops. (And perfect timing as I just learned that I will be hosting Thankgiving at my home again this year--yay!)
Oh, so pretty! You can check them out here: www.southernliving.com/falltabletops And not be to outdone, BHG has some pretty great ideas too, including this one:

Monday, October 13, 2008

Autumn At Disney's Magic Kingdom

So the positive of visiting Disney in October...

I love the Fall, and I especially love the decorations at Magic Kingdom (at the main entrance and Main Street) during September and October. There are pumpkins everywhere. I took several photos today to share with you!

Now for the DOWN side of visiting in October. First, the weather. It is still hot, very hot, in Florida. It was freaking 87 degrees on Thursday and we were MISERABLE!!!

Also, the park was CROWDED. It used to be that October was a good time (meaning low crowds) to visit Disney; however, since so many schools have started "Fall Break" the parks are busier in October compared to years past. (In fact, the new Toy Story ride at Hollywood Studios had a 130 minute wait time--um no thanks!)

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Resorts at WDW

You all know that I live in Central Florida --And you have probably figured out that I have annual passes to Disney World. We usually make "day trips" to the park, but with mom in town, we decided it would be fun to spend the night. So, we made a one night reservation at Disney's All Star Music Resort. We were put into the "Jazz Inn 2".

In the past, I have stayed over at the Caribbean Resort, All Star Sports, Boardwalk, and the Grand Floridian, so I thought I would take today's post to share my thoughts on lodging at Disney World.
The All Star Resorts are the "value resorts" so are basically the "motel style" hotels on the property. The price is great (um, cheap!), but you also have much more noise (due to more kids) on property (you may hear your neighbors through the walls or hear kids running the corridors at night) and only one dining choice (counter service). Also, the All Star Resorts are furtherest from MK and Epcot so you will have a longer bus ride to the parks.
The Grand is my favorite but many can't afford to stay there. I would suggest the Grand for a honeymoon or anniversary trip, especially a trip without the kids. The location is AWESOME and the service is excellent--plus, the view to Magic Kingdom is great (you can see the firewords at night). But even better, in my mind, is the Boardwalk.
I love that the Boardwalk has easy access (walking path or boats) to Epcot and Hollywood Studios, and I love the atmosphere at night. Also, there are great dining options...and let me add, the Boardwalk as a killer swimming pool area!
Of course, let's get real, most families are on a budget, so I suggest the moderate resorts like Caribbean or Port Orleans. These hotels are a little closer to the parks yet and offer more dining options than the value resorts.
So there you have it, my two-cents! BTW, for great pictures and hints about where to stay at Disney, visit http://www.allearsnet.com/!

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Beautiful Harvest Table

I found this photo on HGTV's web site. I love the use of apples and pears! (On another similar setting HGTV took out the apples and replaced with pumpkins, so clever.)

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Kraft's Great Pumpkin Cake

I saw this cake today and thought it was so cute. So cute, in fact, I may try to make it for our Halloween party. (Do you know the stem is actually an ice cream cone!:?) Here's a quick video and recipe:

Friday, October 03, 2008

No-Sew Costumes

So I just got invited to an adult Halloween party. How fun. I used to go to this event every single year, but skipped the past three or four years due to "my babies" . I started looking online today for a quick costume.

Check this out: http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/no-sew-costumes?rsc=dl_home02.

Martha Stewart has several "no sew" costumes on her web site--for adults and children! One is made from coffee filters and another from garbage bags. Martha is just too creative! (I am not so!). But it's fun to look at the creations.

Thursday, September 18, 2008

PBK Utensils

I had received a $10 gift card recently to Pottery Barn kids. I ended up getting these cute Gingham Utensils for the kids. (The internet sells them as a 12 piece set but in the store you can get a 3 piece set--1 fork, 1 spoon, and 1 knife). I have to tell you that Tom Tom is doing great! They are light weight and his eating skills have really improved. Just thought I'd share! :)

Monday, June 09, 2008

Father's Day is a Coming!

What my hubby is getting this Father's Day
(three months of lawn cutting service):


What my hubby really wants:

New Fossil Watch

Bluetooth

Hammock for the back patio

Tool cabinet