Bad Michael Kors, Bad! I'm disappointed!
Mom's Menu: Salmon Steaks w/ Pesto
- 2 salmon steaks
- lemon
- basil
- garlic
- sun-dried tomato
- olive oil
- parmesan cheese
- piece of bread
- Line a baking pan with foil. Spray with Pam
- Squeeze a 1/2 lemon over salmon. You can grate the zest over it too. Never too much lemon.
- Now - the pesto. I had some basil & garlic & some sundried tomatoes in oil in a jar.
I combined the basil leaves. a few cloves of garlic, the toms, a bit of olive oil, & some parmesan cheese in a small blender. - Make some breadcrumbs from a piece of bread.( 2 T) Mix 1 T with about 2 T of the pesto (you can buy pesto in a jar too ) Spread this over the salmon.
- Mix about 1 T of grated parmesan or romano with the next T of breadcrumbs. Put this on top of the pesto. Then - grate about another T of the cheese all over the fish.
- Bake this at 450 for about 20 min. Use more lemon over it if you wish.
The pesto is excellent - salty & garlicky
What Classic Bombshell Are You?
I'm an Audrey Hepburn. Who are you?
| What Classic Bombshell Are You? |
  Audrey Hepburn A Classical Beauty, thats what you are! |
| How do you compare? Take this test! | Tests from Testriffic |
What I Want: Laptop Sleeve
Even though my birthday isn't until October, I'm always looking out for ideas since I NEVER know what I want when asked. I was watching Fashion Team on the TV Guide channel where they were featuring Gina B. designer laptop bags ranging from expensive to even more expensive. I definitely don't need another big bag to weigh down my shoulder, but I could use a laptop sleeve so I can carry my laptop in one of my many bags and protect it at the same time.
In my search, I stumbled upon a fabulous business of pick-you-own fabric products. And what's even more perfect-it is a New Jersey business!
M. Avery Designs is the creative endeavor of Megan Avery who started her business in 1998 after a stint in corporate America. With handmade items, she turned a do-it-all-herself business into a do-it-with-help company. She has a custom service where you can pick your own fabrics or you can shop in her Ready Made Boutique. Her company started in and remains in Hoboken, but she has an online store and sells at fairs and shows. She also offers handbag parties in her Hoboken store which is a perfect affair for bridesmaids, good friends, or women in a creative mood.
Now, going back to the laptop sleeve. I found the Beverly style. I can choose from any of the fabrics offered through the site. Or, I can choose from Equilter.com for an additional $5 or $10 per item. It's so hard to choose from all the cool patterns, but my top faves from M Avery's available images are: Heart Locket, Gothic Rose (from Equilter), and Chocolate Floral (also from Equilter). But if you browse Equilter.com, wow are there fun fabrics! Like Bright Orchids. But, oh oh oh..I think I found the winner: Fiorenza Flourishes! I love love love this pattern! If I could have it in a chair, I would, but I could settle for the laptop sleeve.
So take notes, family. I know you are reading this! (No point in being subtle).
Thank you Mr. Comcast guy
My husband, Rob, and I are in major money saving mode. We look for opportunities to save in our utilities. We had been getting the Comcast Triple Play ads for a few months now and finally we decided to go for it.
First, I had to disconnect the Verizon internet. Then I had to resist the temptation from Verizon to reconnect after they sent 2 priority letters begging us to reconsider (even offering a $85 deal which we had to ignore since we can't have a dish in our development for the Direct TV). Finally, after buying a router for the Comcast digital cable and internet connection, I had the Comcast guy with a very pleasant disposition here for about 3 hrs trying to get our computers set up. And, after hours of trying to get our computers to read the router, it came down to the fact that in an effort to save money on a cheaper router, I sacrificed the ability for our house to get connected. It's neither Comcast nor the guy's fault. The computers were able to pick up the internet connection; they just couldn't pick up the server signal from the router. I felt so bad for the guy. After 3 hrs of setting up the computer, he had to set up our On Demand TV box and connect it back behind our heavy heavy entertainment unit.
I should have been excited to finally get the triple play set up, but after being stuck in the house since the morning ( I was also waiting for the glass guy to measure the sliding glass door to replace it since it developed a leak) I was getting major cabin fever. Not to mention, when I did get out of the house in the middle of the day to buy food for the week, I gave in to my addiction to candy corn and pumpkins by buying a bag and eating half of it. It's a terrible addiction and one that I battle with every Fall.
Finally, to conclude the adventure, I took the Belkin Wireless G router back to Walmart and then hopped over to Best Buy to get a NetGear router with 10x more speed and coverage. I finally have my home networked and back online. I'm still playing around with the On Demand features. I'm loving the free Exercise TV videos. I hope that's a permanent feature, but I still have to look into it.
Thank you for your patience, Comcast man. I wish I got your name, but I did learn that your 3 children take after your wife and adore shoe shopping. Smart girls!
Thank you for your patience, Comcast man. I wish I got your name, but I did learn that your 3 children take after your wife and adore shoe shopping. Smart girls!
Smart driving
This past Saturday, Rob and I were making a stop at the Whole Foods store in Princeton and saw a display of Smart cars, new fuel efficient autos from Swatch and Mercedes Benz. Upon leaving, a rep from Smart USA told us they were holding free test drives that day between 12 and 7 and that for writing a comment upon completion, we would receive a $10 gift card to use at Whole Foods. We were so on it!
Smart fortwo was a joint venture in the 90's by watchmaker Swatch and luxury car manufacturer Mercedes Benz and has turned into an international sensation. With over 750,000 cars sold in 36 countries and features in movies like Da Vinci Code, Legally Blonde 2, the Pink Panther, and Scoop, Smart fortwo is making it's debut in the USA in 2008.
Smart cars blend safety, energy efficiency, and recyclable materials in its design. It gets 40 mpg with a 8.7 gallon tank. It's even interchangeable, allowing buyers to change out color panels to suit their liking. And the price is right, with the pure car starting at $12,000.
Even though we are not interested in buying a new car, we had to test the Smart car out. The test drive was fun. They had all 3 models available in different colors. Before we hopped in with our Smart guide, we were instructed through the traveling view room, where we could browse about the car and see pictures of its assembly. When it was our turn, we met our guide and hopped in the driver's seat. Thankfully, the car was both automatic and manual. I don't drive stick and with a quick move of the gear shift, the car was in auto mode. Surprisingly, there was a lot of room up front, especially since it's just a car for 2 people (no passengers).
For the test drive, I was able to go out onto Rt 1, just for a few feet. The car drove smoothly, but the break pedal was more sensitive than mine. And the side view mirror had more
magnification than my eyes were comfortable with. Overall, the car gets a thumbs up from both Rob and me. But is it safe? Would you buy one for a new driver? According to MSNBC, it received a 3 out of 5 stars in the European safety test. And will it sell? You don't see too many BMW minis . Look around the highways around here. Regular and mid-sized SUVs are everywhere. We don't have the small narrow streets that you find in Europe. Even though Smart came to Princeton for the test drive, I don't think there will be too many around here. We shall see.
Good luck Smart, you cute little car! And thank you for the free lunch at Whole Foods!
Mom's Menu: Loin Lamb Chops
Loin Lamb Chops
In the bottom of a glass dish combine:
- few squeezes of lemon juice
- throw in some peel too
- salt & pepper
- 1/2 tsp of rosemary
- sprinkle of garlic powder or a small bit of garlic, chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Add 6 loin chops & coat with the lemon/oil mixture being sure to get the rosemary on all of them. Let marinade for about 30 min.
Grill them on a pan or on a bar-b-que grill till pink.
A break from blogging
This past week or so I've let up on the daily blogging. Partly because we are switching from Verizon to the Comcast Triple Play and haven't had Internet for a few days (I am at the library now on my new laptop). I've also had a less than exciting few weeks giving me even less to blog about.
Rob and I are in major money saving mode right now. Since I am not working full-time in the fall and have yet to pick up tutoring clients, our savings are in top priority right now. Normally, I'd be out and about, scoping out new places to eat and widow shopping. But all of that is too hard, especially when I can't spend the money. I am hoping that once school is back in session, parents will also want to get a jump-start on their children's success and give me a call! I'm also at work thinking of low cost ways to advertise my tutoring services.
I have put business cards up at whatever supermarkets allow it. I have been in touch with the private school heads in the Princeton area. I have an ad in St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church bulletin in Princeton. I even sent out 15 flyers to random professionals in the area: Lawyers, realtors, wedding planners, CPAs, etc. My next step is Direct Mailing. I know you have to spend money to make money, but I'm hesitant to dish out $300 for mailing addresses. However, the benefit of direct mailing is exactly what it sounds like. I can send flyers directly to the homes of families with students in the age range I want to work with. If I were to use this service, I can send out a flyer when the first round of grades go out and then again at the holiday break. Private schools get 2 weeks off and you know parents want to keep their kids busy, especially if grades are low. I definitely have my work cut out for me. I just hope it's not gong to be as hard as what it seems now. I hope that once the school year starts, I will start to get calls. I realize that's a passive approach, but it's one way. Another way is networking, which unfortunately, require more money.
My husband belongs to an international networking group called BNI (Business Networking International). It's actually THE largest networking organization in the world. There are numerous groups here in the Princeton area and there are a plethora of professionals who are members: lawyers, accountants, insurance reps, realtors, painters, electricians, chiropractors, etc). I have visited with Rob a few times and tried out a soon to be chartered group based out of Robbinsville. The group has many benefits and is a great way to pass your business around. Our chiropractor, Allison Scharf, is a fellow member. I can definitely get a lot out of joining, but the only problem now is the money. All groups have a member fee and right now, I need to save my money. Maybe in a few months, if business is building. But if you are someone who can afford the opportunity, look into at least visiting a chapter in your area. Networking never hurt anyone.
In addition to networking myself, I'm also busy working on ways to network my husband. Call it PR practice. He's trying to market his specialty: Estate Planning, Wills and Trusts. With my 2 semesters of "Writing for the Media" at Rider, I have some tools to help him with press releases, brochures, and the like. In addition to working for Rob and I am also busy planning events for the Bucknell Club and doing volunteer research for the Morven Museum 4th of July party in 2008. I have a lot of my plate, but very little movement at the moment. Summers are definitely slow, but I'm trying to get moving on my new career and waiting is not my forte.
So, going back to my original point of the post. Since I am in budget mode right now, my posts will have to take a little break. My ideal situation would be that I get a part-time job blogging for a local publication where I have to shop or eat or whatnot and then get reimbursed for my services. That would be great! So hey, if you're reading this and can help me out...pass me along! Hook me up! Or just wish me luck!
NUTS about this designer
Do you consider yourself handy around the house? Can you use a screwdriver or a hammer pretty well? If so (or even if not), this is the jewelry for you!
Dawn from i Wear...Do You? has designed a truly unique collection of jewelry from bracelets to rings all constructed with hardware. That's right! Nuts, washers, bolts, etc. The pieces are quite lady-like and could
complement a cocktail dress or just a denim jacket at a pool hall. Whatever your crowd or Friday night hang-out happens to be.
Prices range from $12 to $140 and come in gold and silver. She's based out of Miami, but presents at shows along the coast. She also has a Florida Breast Health bracelet available with $30 from each sale going to the FBHI Organization.
Check out this stud of a jewelry line (pun, completely intended). You're nuts not to!
Bridie loves her leopard print
If my cat Bridie could talk, she would probably say her favorite spot in the house is her leopard print cat cube.
She has 2 sets of 2 connected, but she loves sleeping in the same cube each time. We keep all of her little balls and fuzzy mice in there. I've tried different toys on her, but when it comes down to it, she's a lounging girl who likes the simple things in life. I think she's nearly tired of me always snapping pictures of her, but the camera just loves her!
Keyword Searching with a Colon
I've taught keyword searching in the past, but I never knew about using a colon to narrow down fields. When I checked my MyBlogLog stats, I saw this Google search: click here: traditional afternoon tea : : menu : : the upper crust || morris county
I did some additional Google searching for the use of colons in keyword searching and this is what I learned:
- Colons allow you to search for specific fields in a site (like doing a database query)
- You can either type the field name ("click here") or the first letter of the field ("a" for author, "t" for title)
- If you're looking for a specific URL but you don't know the full address, type URL:keyword
- If you want to see if your own blog or website has been linked from someone else, type link:yourURL
A Big No-No in Edison
Tempers flare over flag move in Edison- NJ.com
Indian I-Day ceremony in New Jersey sparks controversy
Indian tricolor replaces Edison POW flag, sparking protest
According to POW flag etiquette, if the POW flag is flown on a separate pole from the US flag, it has to be directly to the left of it. I believe it was at a completely different location. Regardless, this event has reignited ongoing conflicts between the ethnic communities of Edison and surely adds another sour tone to Mayor Jun Choi's reputation. He spoke with Jim Gearhart this morning on 101.5, but has not returned the "Jersey Guys" calls. They don't have a rosy past.
What are your thoughts?
Casey and Rossi?
I hope I'm not the only person who is bummed out that Craig Carton is no longer a "Jersey Guy" anymore. Yeah, he can be crude and rude, but he totally made the show!
Following a mutual decision to leave 101.5, controversial talk show host Carton will team up with Boomer on September 4th to talk sports in place of the Imus show on WFAN 660 AM from 6 to 10 am. I am a daily listener of the Jersey Guys and this will take me awhile to get used to hearing Casey and Rossi instead of Carton and Rossi.
Growing a Green Thumb
I started working on my front patch of landscape this summer (though it was too late to see some real blooming) and it's taking a nice form into something marketable someday.
Yesterday, I converted the bird bath that was not being used into another planter for some new magenta petunias.
I also discovered a great looking Perennial 
that looked like oversized kale, but I think it is actually Coleus. Please correct me if I am wrong. I already have 3 Hydrangea plants: 1 donated from my mother's backyard and the other 2 from Lowe's. But, I am too late for flowering season and will have to wait 
until next spring to see them bloom. On a positive note, after laying down some more nutrient rich soil, the hydrangea from my mom is now sprouting some bright healthy leaves.
I still have a ways to go until I am happy with the front, but it looks much better than it did. And the black mulch adds a crisp landscaped look. I 
just need to ask my neighbors if they care if I spread the mulch across both our plots. It's a little more obvious now where the property line is! Either way, when it comes time for us to move out, I'll feel confident that potential buyers will be pleased with the exterior of the place.
Listen to: A Fine Frenzy
I just downloaded the next best thing since Norah Jones and Kelly Sweet: A Fine Frenzy.
Her single, "Good-bye My Almost Lover" is eating up VH1 after joining the You Oughta Know Tour. Listening to her music, you can hear one of her musical influences Keane in the melody and lyrics. I also get a "Breath Me" by Sia feel. But the reasons that draw me to Kelly Sweet and Emmy Rossum are the same reasons that attract me to music of A Fine Frenzy.
Listen and enjoy!
How I'm Googled
I always check out Nj.com's Jersey Blogs to see what other Jerseyans are writing about. Today I went back to Tommy:Eats and read his list of Google searches that took readers to his site. I must say he has quite a random list from "Mendam Boobs" to "Runsom kkk." I can't equate my Google searches to his, but I wanted to share my Google list, albeit a much more boring assembly, showing a week-long sampling of what my site is about:
- poppyfields westfield
- parsippany + ferry
- reeses peanut butter jersey
- bourne tudor city
- yellow green zucchini
- mrs. new jersey sexy pictures
- suri and katie
- mermaid drink
- (908) 766- 2766, email
- towns near mall at short hills new jersey
- mrs. mo*****yeah people are looking for meeeee!
- web layout josh groban
Stand in for Simon G
On my wish list is the Simon G Butterfly Necklace pictured here:
Since that is way out of our price range for right now, I went out in search of a reasonable replacement. And guess where I found it: Peebles! They are having their back-to-school red-dot special and this necklace was 50% off to be about $5.00 ( I threw out the receipt but it's a good estimate). Though not a butterfly, it has the same two-tone color and interlocking shapes.
Here are some more two-tone interlocking pendants:
A visit to the city within the city
For Rob's bday last week, we went up to New York in the blazing humidity to continue his celebration. Having just seen the Bourne Ultimatum, we made one of our destinations Tudor City (I won't give anything away by saying that they filmed a scene there). I have never heard of it and rarely venture over to the middle-east side, but it is quickly becoming my favorite.
Here's a little history on Tudor City before I get to my day-by-photo tour (info from Wikipedia).
- "Tudor City" takes it's name from England's Tudor Dynasty (1485-1603) a Golden Age of Arts and Letters.
- In the 1920s, the complex was built to bring in middle-class residents who had begun leaving the city for the outer boroughs and suburbs
- Includes a U.S. Post Office, hotel, grocery store, haircutting salon, laundry, and restaurant in addition to three garden parks and a children's playground.
- Located directly across First Avenue from the United Nations Headquarters
- The UN was built to replace a slaughterhouse that was demolished in the 40's.
- In 1988, the complex was named as a historic district and is perhaps most famous for its TUDOR CITY sign overlooking 42nd Street.
One of the nice things about taking the ferry is the unlimited bus service around the city. We hopped on the 5th avenue bus so we could make a stop at Brooks Brothers. We actually went to the flagship on 44th and Madison. Wow, was that store huge! Seven floors! The saleswomen couldn't have been more helpful to us.
After Brooks Brothers, we cut through Grand Central Station. I love the architecture. My camera doesn't really capture it that well though.
Next was Tudor City. You can tell you're getting to a nice area of the city when you start to see trees and potted flowers. The main restaurant is L'Impero and although it's covered in scaffolding, it has a great outdoor ambiance. Reminiscent of an Italian cafe (not that I've been to Italy or anything).
After our tour of Tudor City, we went on a hunt for a dinner spot. We ended up eating at one of my favorite Indian restaurants Bukhara Grill, which is on E 49th between 2nd and 3rd (on the same street as Smith and Wollensky). They opened and express place up in Parsippany as well. Now, I wouldn't say it's the best Indian restaurant ( my favorite is still Passage to India in Lawrenceville), but I think the food and ambiance combined keeps me going back.
After our relatively early dinner, we took a really quick cab ride up to Central Park to walk around and look for ice cream. Though we did not find an ice cream shop, the streets were lined with ice cream trucks. We also saw the coolest Apple Store facade ever! Right in front of FAO on 5th Ave, was a glass cube with the Apple floating and people cascading downstairs.
How cool is that! The Plaza Hotel was still under scaffolding, but they were advertising the luxury condos for just a mere 1.5 million! On our way back downtown, we passed a gourmet deli shop that we had been to last year. I took a picture of the name so we could remember it for next time. It's called the Manhattan Gourmet Deli and I think it was on E. 57th St. but can't find it online anywhere.We also passed by the Laila Rowe store. The 
night before I was looking on their site for store locations and figured that I wouldn't find one especially since we go to the city so seldom. But there we were right in front of it! SO I had to go in, but I resisted the urge and didn't buy anything. I'm in penny pinching mode now!
The last stop on our tour of the city was Bryant Park. What a perfect night for rest and relaxation. The movie screen was set up for their Summer Film Festival as well as Good Morning America's Summer Concert Series. The Bryant Park Grill is situated behind the NY Library with a cafe/bar adjacent to it. We took a load off at the bar. I sipped a lovely champagne and enjoyed the scenery. And by 9ish, it was time time to head back to the Port.
Alas, we made it back to the ferry and back home. But here is one of my favorite shots of the night: the evening city skyline. It was a great bday day!
Create your own jam
I didn't know Acme and Albertson's merged (never heard of Albertson's), but I got this e-letter today about making your own jam (if you have a breadmaker, I think you can use that too). Click the link to start jammin'!
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