The Best Way To Spread Christmas Cheer..

"The best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to her!"- Buddy the elf

Christmas is fast approaching, all of the heavy work is done and I am patiently waiting out my last two night shifts so I can load up the car and head home to the island. If anyone is a nurse, you can understand how brutal the Christmas schedule can be. I personally sold my soul, working three quick turn arounds (*nights back onto days, in less than 24 hrs) to let me make it home for a bit of an extended weekend (hence why I have been MIA on here). Needless to say lots of things in my life are suffering at this moment, my sleep pattern, my plan to reduce my coffee intake and the bags under my eyes have never been so pronounced. I am fairly certain I could take them shopping with me or at least stick a Prada bag in them for safe keeping. But! It is Christmas time and it will all be worth it! Below are a few of pictures of my holiday decor as well as two wine recommendations, for the wine drinkers and last minute party goers! Happy holidays !
-m

Nothing Says Holidays....

"Nothing says holidays like a cheese log...- Ellen Degeneress

I am not going to lie to you, I was a bit bah-humbug-y this year. Over the last week or so that feeling has been dissipating. Maybe it is because my shopping is done and the tree is up, or maybe it is because I am looking forward to eight glorious days off over the holiday. All I know is that today it appears that I am less of a Grinch with barley a sprinkle of Scrooge.

Yesterday afternoon I had my annual centerpiece making party. A handful of lovely ladies from work combined with lots of glitter, pine and just a touch of rum made for a fantastic few hours. I woke up with a pine needle in my bra this morning, they are everywhere!

These make snappy gifts, especially for the hostess with the mostest on your list (what can she do with all those bad bottles of wine??). Pictures follow as well as a step-by-step tutorial, have fun getting crafty!
-m

Branches!!

Branches into the sponge!

Adding some bling...

Hard at work!

Chantal's masterpiece

One of mine!

Left over branches (there was a lot) stuck in my planter!

How to:

1) Find a container, jar, tin, pot or anything that doesn't leak (if it is clear you will need ribbon or you will see the florist sponge).
2) Insert florist sponge (oasis) approx. the same size as your container and trim to fit (a kitchen knife does the trick).
3) Drink some cider and rum.
4) Fill with greenery...pine, spruce, fir, whatever you were able to scour (we took an hour through the woods with shopping bags and gardening shears...quite a sight!.)
5) Repeat step number three, but you can mix it up with baileys if you so choose.
6) Use glittery branches, ornaments, berries or anything your little heart desires to jazz it up, it should all stick into the sponge very easily.
7)Water your greenery and it should keep till the new year!
8) Finish by wetting your whistle with any other festive beverage (spiced rum and egg nog...just a suggestion!)
Tips:

EVERYTHING (!!!) can be found at the dollar store. Pots,tins etc. glittery branches and berries, ribbons and ornaments. Even the florist sponge is there (but they do sell out, so stock up!). I provided the greenery, sponge and some sparkly baubles, everyone was to bring a container of choice and were welcome to bring anything else they wanted! I am already looking forward to next year!

A Man Can Not Live By Bread Alone...

"A man can not live by bread alone; he must have peanut butter!"- James Garfield

I love to entertain. A few weeks ago I had company coming and knew I was to cook for a handful of people. I wracked my brain and had numerous discussions with co-workers as to what would be the most bang for the least amount of effort and what was sure to impress (because entertaining shouldn't be stressful, it should be fun and easy!).

I settled on a big, steaming pot of chicken curry that simmered all day long. A real crowd pleaser. Dessert was another story all together. I just couldn't get inspired. I flipped thorough my personal recipe book, hmmed and haaawed and even Irma B and her Joy of Cooking couldn't get me excited. A last minute, desperate search lead me to my all time favorite foodie blog Smitten kitchen and the random recipe button. I pushed that button once and bam! Peanut butter chocolate cake. Who wouldn't love that? It was easy, moist and delicious and everyone LOVED it! Because I can't leave a good thing alone, I adapted her recipe by adding pear infused balsamic (instead of white vinegar) and just a splash of red wine for good measure. I also added fresh raspberries between the layers (I had two layers not three) and some on top for garnish. Because I was in a rush, I frosted in a messy-just-get-the-damn-stuff-on kinda way and I loved how it turned out. I think everyone should make this, or at least use the chocolate cake recipe, cause it is the bee's knee's.

Recipe can be found here...    http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/08/chocolate-peanut-butter-cake/ 

If you do not know Smitten Kitchen, you should. I have never had a Deb Perelman recipe fail me yet and she uses simple ingredients with an elegant finish. She also just released her first cook book and it is a beauty.
-m

Housework Can't Kill You...

"Housework can't kill you, but why take the chance!"-Phyllis Diller

I am home sick. My head feels like it is full of cotton and I am currently slipping in and out of a neo-citran induced coma. On a much brighter, less hazy note, here are some little things I am currently la-la-loving! It is all in the details folks!
-m

Key shaped cookie cutter from a bestie who knows me too well!

Not only was the champagne delicious, but check the secret shooting star detail!

Lattes at home in plaid china! What not to la-la-love!

Witty coffee mugs...brimming with fresh ground coffee of course!

If You Can't Stand The Heat...

"If you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen."-Harry Truman

My kitchen was not a selling feature when I finally (after months of looking) found my house. Don't get me wrong, I love my middle aged house. I love the character, the neighborhood and my neighbors (I am one lucky lady!). The kitchen however, leaves a lot to be desired. It is about the size of a postage stamp and as my mother has been known to say "you can't swing a cat in there". That is only part of the problem. The cabinets, two cabinets exactly, are hung too high, I can't reach them. There is little to no storage so I have incorporated a hutch as a pantry. My neighbor is actually building me new upper cabinets (open and easy to reach!) and my storage should double (wa-hoo!). I am going to attempt to paint my lowers this evening. A Friday night (you would think I would have something better to do wouldn't you?) with a glass of wine in tow. Wish me luck and happy weekend! Do something wonderful!
-m

Cheap pressed wood....in oak....sigh. Not to mention no black splash and beige-yellow walls. I am so not a beige kinda gal!

These kitchens are a little more my speed...note the punches of color!

...I Didn't Know That!

"We get mail on a Saturday? I didn't know that!"- Bam Mergara

I love mail. By mail I mean note cards, post cards, letters, magazines and all that good stuff. What I do not like are bills...but they just come with being a responsible grown-up. My friend Janna and her parents treated me to a most wonderful evening a month ago. We saw Matt Andersen at the Indian River festival Church....if you have never been or never heard the likes of Matt Andersen, I would highly recommend both!  I wanted them to know I appreciated the wonderful evening and thought I would make them cards to let them know they rock! Some scrapbook paper, glue and some stamps and voila! Try it sometime!
-m

You Are Only....

"You are only as good as your last haircut!"-Fran Lebowitz

Growing up, mother always impressed the value of a good hair cut. Think about it, no matter what you are wearing, whether you have makeup on or not, a decent hair cut makes you look at least a little pulled together. People get their hair cut for job interviews, first impressions matter. Hair can make you blend into a crowd, or stand out...

I have always had hair on the shorter side and generally I rock a short bob or a pixie. When my best friend was getting married, I decided to grow my hair. I grew it for a year, she had a beautiful wedding and then I just couldn't cut it! I wasn't afraid of the scissors, that was just a lot of commitment! A year is a long time, especially when half of it is spent in awkward stages of a gorwing out haircut! I continued to grow it...for another year. I cut blunt bangs to try and mix it up but when I was home to visit, mom told me it just had to go and that I didn't even look like myself. It resonated and I had to agree with her. I was being lame and my hair looked like a bad hat, or a mousy brown broom. The curls were easy, the pony even easier and I was slowly turning into everyone else! Gasp!

Two hours, two cups of coffee and a lot of snipping later, I was back to my old, fun, self. Next time I talk about growing my hair, someone show me a picture of myself from the last year and refer me to this post. If I still ignore you, tape me into Brian Hart's hairdressing chair at BH2....
-m

First few snips..

I had a lot of hair!

Ha! Liza Minelli esq.

No One Looks Back On Their Lives...

"No one looks back on their lives and remembers the nights they got lots of sleep"-unknown

Halloween has come and gone as has my very first house party (in my very first house). Thirty party guests, lots of munchies, sangria, wine and the door finally closing as the last guest left at around 3am. I think I will deem it a success! Costumes were great, conversation was flowing and I even got to meet some new people!

Decorations were just a little last minute, as in four hours before the party was to get going and last minute means getting creative! My fireplace ended up draped in black tulle and lights and the inside was filled with orange and the same. Cheap and effective (how I like things!).  I also really like easy, as in easy appetizers. I served cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto, strawberry bruchetta, sangria over-flowing with fruit and the party favorite was bacon wrapped rosemary roasted potatoes. I can't wait to throw another big bash, maybe a wine and cheese at Christmas? Pictures of decor and the number one munchie recipe follows!
-m

Bacon Wrapped Roasted Potatoes

I used a bag of mini red potatoes. I cut the large ones in half and boiled them until they were tender when punctured with a fork. After they were finished, I drained them, tossed them with sea salt, fresh pepper, basil infused olive oil and just a little bit of fresh rosemary. They were then blanketed in half a strip of bacon and broiled until crispy. I served them with spicy sour cream (rooster sauce and low fat sour cream!). Mmmm...

If She Still Uses An Easy Bake Oven....

"If she still uses an easy bake oven, she is too young for you bro..."-unknown

I grew up pestering my mother in the kitchen. Mom was always a great baker and although I did have an easy bake oven, I am certain if given the choice I would have always picked the adult sized appliances, cake pans and mixing spoons. I stood on a chair for years until I was able to properly peek over the counter.

 When I was home last week to help mom get settled into her new, adorable, little home, she surprised me with three pictures of me at varying ages doing exactly as described above. They are hanging in my dining room until my kitchen is renovated and they make me smile every time I walk by.

 Happy Haunting tomorrow all!
-m

Be Careless In Your Dress...

"Be careless in your dress if you will, but be tidy in your soul."- Mark Twain

Prepare to be both shocked and awed. I, Micheline, the incompetent tech wizard, the one who can barely turn her computer on let alone manage to attach pictures to a blog post, has done something amazing...

Look at the top of this page, under the petite picture of moi. You will see a number of headings, I have somehow managed to categorize each of my posts. Recipes and such can be all found in one click as can hands on do-it-yourself projects. So much better! User friendly-ish or at least improved. That little part of me that has mild OCD is positively beaming right now! For now I will leave you with some other tidy, organization ideas I have been lusting after for a few months now. When you live in a house that has a kitchen that must have been a contractors afterthought, these look like million dollar ideas!
-m

I'll Bet...

"I'll bet living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween."- Author Unknown

Halloween is one of my all time favorite holidays. What is there not to like about pretending you are something you are not, crisp fall air, crunchy leaves and gruesome history lessons. Last year I went to Salem and it was the best Halloween ever. Would have loved to repeat that experience this year but it is just not in the budget. I have decided on throwing a Halloween party instead. It is the perfect way to break in my middle aged home (that is approximated 62% renovated now, woo!). I am mildly nervous about decorating, I love throwing parties and I want this to be top notch. I have been hunting and stalking pinterest with a vengeance and the following pictures are a few that I have liked enough to pin! Happy haunting!
-m

This made me laugh out loud!