Oops, I forgot

I had promised myself and my good friends here to post my new recipes that I try this year and I have already forgot!

Well, I need to get on the ball.

Today, after a huge day of wrapping for my event (we did 70 baskets yesterday).

I have decided to make my beef stew. It's not new but I have only made it once before so let's see if it just as good the second time!

I also like to make the wide egg noodles to go with it since the kids like noodles and who doesn't like noodles covered in such a delicious sauce!

I also make this because here in the BITTERLY COLD Northeast a good comfort meal is great on a Sunday night.

Beef Stew

2lb Stew Beef

2 Tablespoon vegetable oil

2 Cups water (I use beef stock)

1 teaspoon Worstershire sauce

1 clove of garlic peeled (2)

1 or 2 bay leaves

1 medium onion sliced

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon paprika

dash of ground allspice or cloves (I used allspice)

3 large carrots sliced

4 red potatoes quartered

3 ribs of celery chopped

2 Tablespoons cornstarch

Brown meat in hot oil. Add water, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, bay leaves, onion, salt, sugar, pepper, paprika, and allspice. Cover and simmer 1 1/2 hours. Remove bay leaves and garlic clove. Add carrots, potatoes, and celery. Cover and cook 30 to 40 minutes longer. To thicken gravy, remove 2 cups hot liquid. Using a separate bowl, combine 1/4 cup water and cornstarch until smooth. Mix with hot liquid and return mixture to pot. Stir and cook until bubbly.

Sadness

A few nights ago I started an email about a wonderful little girl who passed away.

It was very difficult for me and I had just found out about it and knew little details.

It turns out she was 9 years old. A little Tomboy who loved life. I did not know her personally but know people who did.

I was notified y our soccer league as she was a player and then by our Daisy troop since she was a Brownie.

This is the unimaginable for any family, I know my family lived it.

My brother passed away at the young age of 17 on the morning of my son's bris. My parents have never recovered and probably never will.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Powers family as they try to get through this very difficult time.

Zizette

** I chose balloons since we usually send balloons up with messages of love to my brother

Fabulous Giveaway!!

I always knew this blog was fabulous so you really need to check out JennieMac's Birthday giveaway here and it is for this:

She is totally my kinda gal. Go check out her post and see what it's all about. Giveaway ends 2/6/2010.

Good luck!

Zizette

Mr. Patron is NOT my friend

A few weeks ago I had visited a very cool blog and the lovely owner of that blog JennieMac. She talked of a Don Patron and his not so nice Cousin. The post had me in stitches as I could totally relate to what she was saying.

Now mind you, I love a good Margarita but shots of that poison I do stay away from. I have see the likes of him and his cousin obliterate and evening in a matter of hours. So, he tempted me once and I learned my lesson and have stayed away from them

until

last night.

So bad, but Mr. Patron, well he really tricked me. He enticed me (which I think was not fair - he came disguised,

Coffee flavored. (and with two of my friends making me feel bad and ashamed not to try it)

How could I not? They were all my friends.

Little side bar here, I was drinking wine before my friends arrived with their 3rd wheel of a friend. And you know the saying, Wine before liquor, never sicker.

So, I did a few large shots with my friends and promptly became sick literally right after they left and felt AWFUL all morning.

All the while I was thinking of Jennie Mac and what she said. They are not nice cousins and he is your best friend and then turns on you! He sure did. But now as of 8 pm I am okay.

I will be okay and there will be no more drop by friendships with those two any more!

Red Carpet Baby

I truly love a bold color like this

What a fabulous dress (both style and color) and the date is not too shabby either

What a gorgeous color

Just Dazzling

Sophia ALWAYS looks FABULOUS

When I saw Jennifer Garner I thought WOW

I really liked her speech, honest. I like the dress except for the poof on the hip.

I also REALLY liked the dress Helen Mirren wore, I think she looked absolutely fabulous but could not find her.

Zizette

Where's my Paint Brush?

I have absolutely fallen for a color.

Usually I am a Benjamin Moore kind of gal but today, a color caught my eye, at Restoration Hardware.

You see I was out with my Grandma, who just had her 80th birthday this week and my daughter. It was such a nice day, we were shopping for curtains for my living room, more on that later.

So, Grandma decides she would like to have lunch at Cheesecake Factory (LOOOOVVVEEEE). We go and of course have a little wait. I tell them I will be right back. (Restoration Hardware is right across the way)

I go into RH looking for a cool spray that was mentioned here by Lissa. I love Beachy smells so I had to try it out - So far LOOOVVEE it!

This lady is buying some paint, who knew RH sold paint. SO while waiting for the lady to find a price sticker I browse (not a good thing) and I find THE color.

I mentioned I wanted a change and by golly, I FOUND IT.

It is the top gallon of paint.

I think I will have to go back tomorrow and buy the paint.

I think it will be good, it is what I have been thinking of. Do I need a primer since my walls are a slate-y blue?

Hmmmm, what should I do?

Zizette

Beautiful Bedrooms

I am in the mood for a change, a bedroom change.

Tomorrow I will head over to a store where I saw something I liked very much.

I love Blue but somehow the blue I painted my bedroom is just annoying me. I somehow knew it when I first saw it on the walls.

I NEED this change. I am thinking....

I had actually loved this bedroom style for a while

I really like this one

The light and dark contrast here suits me

And finally this looks so cozy I want to stay there all day

Have a good night,

Zizette