Guacamole with a Twist

I just picked up Bethenny Frankel's new cookbook "The Skinnygirl DISH". I came across her Mock-a-Mole recipe in which she added cooked peas to the guacamole. I took that idea and ran with it.

Here is all of the ingredients you will need!

-3 Roma tomatoes

-2 Large or 3 small avocados

-1/2 onion or shallot

-1 clove garlic

1-lime

-Large bunch of cilantro

-1 cup cooked peas

Chop it all up, throw it in a bowl, smash your avocado and peas, season with some salt and you have yourself some tasty guacamole with some added vitamins!

Lemon Artichoke Sauce

have I got a recipe to share with you all...
This is one easy recipe that has a TON of flavor. I heated up some whole wheat tortellini, heated the sauce up just a bit, and mixed it all around. I think it would be awesome cold with some spaghetti in the summer time.

Lemon Artichoke Sauce

1 can Artichoke Hearts (in oil)
1 Lemon fully zested
1/2 Lemon Juiced
1 large bunch of fresh basil
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

I threw all the ingredients in a blender and hit the switch, but you could use a food processor or just chop the basil and artichokes up to your liking.

I also threw in some olives that I needed to eat up...this dish can be very versatile.

Ciao!

What's Wrong with this Picture?

I was a bit frustrated last night when I got home from our after dinner vacation/Christmas shopping. When we returned home I was greeted with this lovely scene....
My chandelier WAS directly over the center of the table and higher, my candle holders WERE upright and NOT broken!

What happened you ask? Well, we live in a concrete building on the 3rd floor (out of 6 floors). The only sound we have been able to hear is when the neighbor boys step out their door (only because they are ALWAYS screaming or yelling). Just recently we got a new neighbor above us...I HATE HIM! He has to be 1. 300lbs and doesn't know how to walk lightly or 2. Pretends that he's a wrestler and thrashes/jumps everywhere...all day and night long! Long story short, the chandelier that has been hung for 3 months has now decided that it too can not handle the loud pounding from upstairs and has fallen and broken my new candle holders! UGH

As is my chandelier wasn't annoying enough. I went to go box up my gift that I got for my girlfriends daughter and this is what I got....REALLY Pottery Barn Kids? You didn't have anything smaller? How disappointed would you be if you opened up this LARGE box and just found this? It totally takes away how cute the little pigs are!

I am glad I don't have to do the full Christmas thing this year! 15 days till white sandy beaches! AHH

Sliver Plated Julep Candle

I am lucky that I only have to shop for a few people this year as my family and Craig's family are headed on vacation for the holidays and have agreed that we are not going to exchange gifts with each other...just stories!


I only have a few people to shop for and have been shopping for them for years. I feel like I have given them every gift idea I have had! This year I woke up to a Cyber Monday deal at Pottery Barn, free monogramming and free shipping! That's when I saw these beauties... a Julep Cup Candle Pot. I love julep cups, they are so simple.

you can find them HERE

I had their family initials engraved in them. I figure it would be something they could keep around for years to come.

Happy Shopping All!

Media Wine Bar

A few years ago I bought this media cart for my apartment. When we moved into our new place there wasn't a need for it. I thought about selling it but didn't want to get less than I paid for it as it was less than two years old and in great shape! So, I came up with this...A NEW WINE BAR!
I purchased two wood wine cubes that were 20"x20"...lucky me as the width of the cart was 40"

I headed to the hardware store again and found a piece of plywood to put on the top of the wine boxes to be used as a counter. The key to save some $$ is to get a piece that is nice on one side and can have knots on the other. We cut it down to a 16"x24" piece of wood...just enough to have a few inches on all sides.

I also picked up a piece of trim to add a little flare to the wine bar. We trimmed it to size glued and nailed it to the sides then finished sanding.

I then began my painting. I stared with an Ebony stain, realized that wasn't going to do the trick so went an picked up a black satin latex paint.

To finish it off I called up the metal specialty shop and had them cut me a piece of stainless steel to size. (the 16 only showed up when the flash went off on the camera...no clue that was there!)

Ta DA! Another finished product that gets a LOT of use in our place!

Design Board

I have a new favorite thing in our place, my new design board!

I found this amazing frame at a consignment shop around town for $30...little pricey for just a frame but I thought it was too pretty to pass up.

I went down to the hardware store and picked up a piece of 1/8" of MDF board and cut it to size. Then I took a piece of cork, cut it to size, and spray glued it to the wood. (you can find rolls of cork at the craft store)
Once that was secure I wrapped a piece of burlap around the board, lightly spray glued it to the cork.
A close up of the burlap

The finished project! I love it, so much that I can't decide what should be the first thing that should be hung on it!

Fresh Flowers

I love having fresh flowers in my house. To me they make the home feel that much warmer and the best part is that you too can create something just like mine. Here's how...

These flowers above are from Trader Joes and Fred Meyer. I took a bouquet of red roses ($9.99) and two packs of a green tone floral pack ($7.99 each). The idea is to find a variety pack of a solid color (tones of yellow, orange, pink, etc) then pair it with a solid color rose, daisy, sunflower. I take them out of their packaging and cut them down to the size of vase that I am using. You get a custom looking arrangement without the price tag of a florist.

here is another sampling of Duranleau Designs work...