Tie One On Tuesday!

Hello faithful followers-know what time it is? That's right! It's martini time! It's really festive holiday martini time, but that's a little long so let's just go with martini time, shall we. Now that the holiday season is going in full force and you are planning the ultimate party-you need a nice signature drink-that's where the martini comes in handy.  Try these few to dazzle your guest.

The Snowman Twinkle Martini
Ingredients
1 ounce Goldschlager Cinnamon Schnapps
1/2 ounce of white rum-the stronger the better
2 teaspoons Kahlua coffee liqueur
Combine all ingredients in a shaker 3/4 full of cracked ice and shake, shake, shake!
Strain into 2 well chilled martini glasses and enjoy!

I don't know if this martini will make you twinkle but after a few , you will be zipping around the party thinking your light on your feet. Yippee!

I know, I know...don't quit my day job...okay onto another holiday favorite....

Let's get nuts Martini
(thanks to Ehow and ljbinkop)
Fill up your shaker with ice.
Add 3 oz. of vanilla vodka,
3 oz. Frangelica Liqueur
2 oz. half and half or milk.
Shake well and strain into chilled martini glasses.

This sounds so good to me.  Plus it  gives me a reason to go a little crazy. It's a win-win situation!

Another stop on our holiday martini train is a Gingersnap martini. It has a lot of ingredients but is really worth the work.
Ingredients:
1 ounce  Vodka
2 ounces Amaretto
1/2 ounce simple syrup
1/2 ounce molasses
2  slices of fresh ginger
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of clove
pinch of allspice
crystallized ginger for garnish
In the bottom of a cocktail shaker, place the ginger root, molasses,  simple syrup and spices and muddle  together (smash up real good)
Add ice and the rest of the ingredients.
Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat.
Strain into a martini glass and garnish with crystallized ginger.

Oh yeah! I almost forgot about the designated driver! They should definitely not go without a little bit of tasty fun. How about a Virgin Apple Martini? This sounds so yummy and would actually be a great breakfast/brunch mocktail.

Apple Martini Mocktail
2 ounces Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider
1/2 ounce Granny Smith apple (chopped)
2 ounces lemon-lime soda
2 dashes cinnamon
1/2 cups crushed ice
Put ingredients in blender, add ice, blend. Pour into martini glass. Garnish with an apple wedge and serve.

Okay all you party goers and party havers-a few twist on the classic martini. These flavorful gems will surely get your party going and I'm betting a least one person will put a lampshade on their head.

The Thin Man

It's definitely no secret that I love a good classic movie and if I find one that I like, well, I will watch it over and over again till I basically know the entire dialogue. I may need to seek help on this habit.   The Thin Man staring William Powell, Myrna Loy and Asta the dog is just this type of movie. The original was incredibly successful and inspired several adventures with Nick and Nora Charles.

The first Thin Man  begins with Nick Charles having a four year absence from any detective work and living the life of luxury off his wife's inheritance. He is approached by a long time friend whose father is accused of murder. Nick is very reluctant to take the  case but at the very cute and sweet pestering of his wife, Nora, he finally does and the mystery begins.  The chemistry begin Powell and Loy has very rarely been matched. They play off eachother and bring a sense of silliness to an otherwise grim subject. For some extra comic relief is Asta the dog-the Charles' wire hair terrier (so stinking cute!).

The next in a number of sequels is my favorite-After The Thin Man. Nick and Nora have returned from the holiday in New York and are now home in San Francisco. On New Year's Eve Nora's cousin enlist the Charles to help her find her husband who has been missing for several days. We are all left to wonder, who killed who, who is in cahoots with who and what is going on with Mrs. Asta and that little scottie down the street. As an added bonus, we get to see a young Jimmy Stewart  that is a little hard to recognize. This sequel definitely holds up to the first.

The third in the series-which is also wonderful, is Another Thin Man. This time we have a new baby added to the family. The Charles family is back in New York with little Nicky Jr. by their side and of course-don't forget Asta! They are invited by a family friend to Long Island for the weekend but there is an underlying motive that involves a mystery. Murder and Mayhem ensue and Nick and Nora solve another case with wonderful one liners.

There were three more in the series: Shadow of the Thin Man, The Thin Man Goes Home Song of the Thin Man, and Alias Nick and Nora. Each are wonderful comedy mysteries that will tickle your funny bone while having you on the edge of your seat.

The Thin Man series is such a wonderful example of classic movies that stand the test of time. I hear over at Amazon they even have a box set -just saying, ya know...Christmas is coming up. Where was I, oh yes-mix up your favorite martini, kick back and enjoy the exciting romp that only Nick and Nora can bring you.

Scrappy Dog Sunday!

Okay! Turkey feasting is over! Time to get back to business. I hope all my US friends had a great holiday and for my international friends-I hope you had a great Thursday! I've been getting a lot of readers wondering how Pete is doing and if he is fitting in. Pete is doing GREAT! He is the silliest little man ever! He is fitting in with his sisters, taking long walks, playing with toys and barking when the wind blows 200 miles away. I didn't think it was possible for a little dog to be such a chow hound but if we didn't watch out for him, he would be a MinPin Macy's Thanksgiving Day balloon.  I am so glad that he is a part of the Pedersen household.

There is nothing better than adopting a little furry or feathered beast. If you want a particular breed, check out the rescues in your area. We adopted Pete from Southern Star MinPin Rescue. They are based in Texas but reach 12 other states and some areas in Canada. If you check out their latest newsletter on page 12 you will see a cute little couple taking home their little man.

If a particular breed rescue isn't your style, than check out your local shelters. This weekend in Oregon, the Humane Society had a "Black Friday" special. For some reason, black fur animals have a harder time being adopted so all animals with black fur were highlighted for adoption this weekend. Check out your local shelter for all types of animals from rats to goats to kitties. There is a pet out there for you.

I again want to stress how important it is to be 100% ready for a pet in your life. If you don't have time or energy for a pet than please think of other ways to connect with your furry friends. You can donate your time to a shelter or a rescue outreach. Go in and connect with a kitty, ask to walk your neighbor's dog, borrow a goat to mow your lawn. There are a million ways to help our furry monsters. If you are allergic, how about donating food or cold hard cash to a shelter or maybe getting a fish to swim around and relax you. I hear that they are excellent listeners.

So everybody-reach out to our animal world and make a fuzzy life better. You can make a difference and think of all the love you will get in return. It's a win-win situation! Now if you'll excuse me, I think Pete heard the pope sneeze-gotta go calm the troops!

Andrea is One Bad Bird.

I first saw Andrea's work on Craftster and was completely blown away. She had just finished her doggy embroideries and I was having a fit over them. She is an incredible artist and has amazing razor sharp wit.

Tell me a little bit about yourself?
I am a slightly dumpy, 46 year old woman. I look like a
mommy. I relate best with artist, crafters and teenagers.
I don't have any tattoos because I can't think of a image
that I would love to live with for the rest of my life, but
I like tattoos. My version of porn is doing needlework
while watching Dirty Jobs and hoping that some how Mike
Rowe's shirt might come off.

How did you get started doing embroidery?
My friend Jean and I made a quilted house for a art
installation. I did most of the furnishings for the house,
chairs, rugs, etc.., and Jean worked on the fabric walls and
ceiling. Jean needed help with the embroidery on some of
the walls so I volunteered. I did a horrible job but I
really enjoyed it. Jean kept saying that as long as your
stitches where consistent that was good enough.

What or who inspires you?
I am a art leech. I suck up anything I like from every
ones artwork. I keep a large collection of images from
various artists to inspire me. I like folk art, outsider
art, and history. There are usually elements of all three
in my needlework. When I need inspiration I look to the art
of Harriet Powers (she only made 2 quilts that we know of),
Bill Traylor (exslave outsider artist), Ida Applebroog
(contemporary artist), Kiki Smith (contemporary artist) ,
and Jane Sassaman (quilt artist).
Music is very important when I am creating. REM, Beck,
Cake, Modest Mouse, Los Lobos, and the Talking Heads have
helped me make a lot of art.

Do you have a website?
Ya know I do! http://zuill.us/andreablog/

What does the future hold for you? Any shows coming up?
I love designing embroidery patterns and I will definitely
be producing more to sell at my Etsy store. As for actual
needlework, I try not to put to much pressure on it. My
needlework is for my peace of mind. My paintings are my
hardcore side, my art prints (at my Etsy store) are my fun
side, and my needlework keeps me sane.

I will be showing at the Escondido Municipal Gallery,in
Escondido, Ca. , during the month of December. I'll be
showing my prints and some needlework.
I am planning a show at Galleri Urbane in Dallas. This
will be my paintings. This show will probably be in
February and if all works out it will have a Valentine
theme.

I would love to do a book with my embroidery designs. I
thought this would work well if I can find a partner that
likes to make sewing projects. I have no clue in regards to
sewing things together or making patterns for clothing,
aprons, etc...

Bonus questions: Favorite and least favorite colors.
Favorite: Pink. Because it's very feminine and candy like.
Pink can make other colors pop.

Least favorite: Purple. Can't seem to get the hang of using
purple. Something about it doesn't work with my brain. If
I do use purple it's usually in very small bits

 We're twins! I love pink and dislike purple too! Yeah us! This is only a small sampling of Andrea's beautiful and eerie work. Make sure you head over to her website and check it out. She also has free patterns to download. AWESOME! See ya over there!

Tie One On Tuesday!

(this is not my family and if it is yours,there's no fighting or blood and guts)

So – your up to your eyeballs with holiday food, your relatives are going to be here in a day or so ( and you just found out they are staying with you). What to do? First off – relax and take a deep breath. Second, make a list and prepare to delegate your authority to your family. Third, get up in the morning and prepare yourself a nice eye opener.

Here’re some quick and easy recipes for your worn out nerves.

First up on the menu, a brunch standard – the good old Mimosa.

Ingredients:

2 oz. fresh squeezed Orange Juice

Champagne

That’s it!

Now for a few variations on the above recipe: Add a Tbsp. Of Grand Marnier (Triple Sec) and you have a Grand Mimosa. Substitute Cranberry Juice for the Orange Juice and you have a seasonal drink called the Poinsettia.

  

Next up - We visit one we have done before but it is so damn good:

The Bloody Mary (as served at the Algonquin Hotel in New York).

Ingredients:

2 oz. Vodka

4 oz. Tomato Juice

2 Limes juiced

1 1/2 tsp, Worcestershire sauce

6 dashed Tabasco sauce

Salt and Pepper

Lime wedge for garnish

Add all ingredients into a cocktail shaker w/ Ice. Shake and pout into glass. Salt and Pepper to taste. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Lastly, we are going to take a staple of the morning and “Irish” it up a bit.

The Coffee Nudge

Ingredients:

8 oz. Coffee

1/2 oz Brandy

3/4 oz. Crème de Cacao

3/4 oz. Coffee Liqueur (like Kahluah)

Whipped Crème for garnish on top

Combine all ingredients into a Coffee Mug or Irish Coffee Cup. Top with Whipped Crème.

So there you have it. Some great, easy and tasty drinks that will make you not really care what happens the rest of the day.

Here’s wishing you and your family a great and happy Thanksgiving holiday.

Gobble Gobble! It's Turkey Time!

For all you readers in the US, it's a only a few days until Thanksgiving. I hope you have your turkey and tofu turkeys ready to bake. If you are like me, there is always something that you forget and have to find the one 7-11 that's open who will charge you $10.00 for a 99 cent can of cranberry goo. If you are also like me, you're not a big football fan and aren't really into watching all the football that is bestowed upon us. The Macy Thanksgiving Day parade is over and now what will you do? Well, I have a few morsels to keep your belly full*of laughter that is. (see the way I weave those words and jokes together. Never had a lesson-can you believe it?)

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is such a great movie. I don't think you can go wrong with Steve Martin and John Candy. The story starts with both characters trying to get home for Thanksgiving but their flights are canceled due to bad weather. Instead of waiting out the storm, they decide to make the trip together and start off on an adventure.  This movie didn't do too well at the box office but it has become a holiday cult classic and one that should not be missed.

A surprisingly charming movie is Pieces of April staring Katie Holmes before she got really creepy. This "Guess Who's Coming  To Dinner" spin off/remake has April  and her African American boyfriend cooking Thanksgiving dinner for her uptight white family.  While her boyfriend is doing everything to please the family, April regresses back to her dysfunctional family dynamics. It all wraps up at the end and gives you a good feeling about your own whacky family.

Home for the Holiday is a wonderful movie directed by Jodi Foster starring such greats as Holly Hunter, Robert Downey Jr., Anne Bancroft and Charles Durning.  Hunter stars as a single mom who was just fired from her job and after an affair with her boss. To make matters worse, she has to spend Thanksgiving with her overbearing parents and slightly off siblings. Hunter's character thinks that things can get any worse but her wonderful brother played by Robert Downey Jr. has a sweet little  surprise for her and all is well on the Thanksgiving front.

The last movie is one that is dear to my heart. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. Peppermint Patty invites herself and a few others to Charlie Brown's house for Thanksgiving dinner.Hijinks ensue as Snoopy makes a Thanksgiving dinner  that only a Beagle could make-popcorn, toast, and jelly beans. Of course all everything works out at the end with a fantastic dinner and wonderful friends.

So, fill up on all those Thanksgiving treats! They are guaranteed not to add any extra pounds to your waistline and won't give you heartburn at 3am.

Feel Good Friday!

How's everybody doing out there? I can't hear you? Ahh,,mixed reviews...not good. Well hopefully I can turn that around and give you a little something to make you smile and laugh.


Are you looking for the perfect gift this year but your dollar is stretched a little thin and you only have a few minutes out of your busy day to whip something up? Well never fear! Craftster has got the perfect thing for you. They have a channel on youtube now and it stars yours truly! I will show you how to make cute inexpensive gifts in 5 minutes. Head on over and give me your best 5 star rating! We will be adding more as the weeks fly by.

It's no secret that I LOVE the movie The Christmas Story (we will be talking about my love for this movie later) and this ornament by batzie09 is just too much! It is adorable and makes me happy beyond belief. 

Need something to warm those bones on a chilly night? If you haven't yet-check out Adagio Teas online. They have every type of tea you can imagine! As an added bonus, they have campaigns to give back to communities. It's a win-win situation. You get amazing tea and help the world. How cool is that!

I have been on a Roald Dahl kick lately and with Fantastic Mr. Fox coming out I wanted to revisit my love of Dahl's books. One of my all time favorite books is James and The Giant Peach. I loved Peaches when I was a kid and thought how wonderful it would be to live in a peach and just grab a little bite when I wanted to. To this day when I think of that book my mouth waters for fresh peaches. Silly I know, but such a vivid childhood memory. He has done other great books such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and The Witches.

Could this little guy be any cuter. Baby fuzz!  It's killing me!

Okay, now let's try this again. How's everybody doing out there? Aww yeah-much better! Glad I could lift your spirits, brighten you day so to speak, put a little spring in your step.Just doing my job! Have a great weekend everybody!

A day without laughter is a day wasted.

Charlie Chaplin