Mose is 12!

My man Mose turned 12 this week. I can't believe it. He is a very cool guy and I love his passion for things (usually the opposite from everyone else) and his kind heart (especially among those less fortunate:)

His day went a little like this. Stack of presents in the morning.

He shows us the money.

Lunch of tacos.

Afternoon of spending shown money at Academy and Sports Authority. Dinner of sushi. Brocato's for ice cream and the customary birthday song. (Football party to come next weekend.)

The last night of Hannukah was on his birthday, as well. So one more present for Mose. Love u man.

Holiday treats!

Almost every year I try to make holidays treats for teachers, friends, neighbors, etc. My mom has always made (many) of these candies for the holiday season.  I enjoy baking very much, and so I love the process and the packaging fun. Here are a few pictures and recipes to try.

Santas Whiskers are my favorite, mostly because they are so easy to make. For any occasion, as a hostess gift, school party, etc.

recipe:
1 package Butterscotch morsels
1 can chinese noodles

Put morsels in a ceramic or glass bowl, put in microwave for 1 minute. Stir. Put back in micro for about 55 seconds more. Stir. Keep stirring until smooth. Pour noodles into bowl. Stir to coat noodles with melted butter scotch. Drop on wax paper. Let harden. Yum.

Chocolate Coconut Balls. I always find myself going for these. They are additive. They consist of melted chocolate morsels, pecans, 1 can sweetened condensed milk, mix, cool, roll into balls while soft and then into sweet shredded coconut!!

Most Hannukahs I make this fun take on the dreidel. Kisses, marshmellows, pretzel sticks, white icing as glue, blue icing for letters. Let's hope you don't get NUN. Ha, Ha!

The Divinity Fudge

This recipe is pretty difficult, I've only been making these for a few years. I loved these so much when I was a kid. Soft Ball... Hard Ball...Very exact. But so worth the effort!!

The Hello Dolly.

This one was not in my mother's repertoire. But I like these for their ease. And you can add anything into them you like.

I use:
1 cup whole oats
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts (or whatever nuts you have around;)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt (I add a little more)
5 tblsp butter melted
1 large egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
Here's where you add whatever else...

Oven at 350. 9 inch metal baking pan, lined with tin foil and buttered. Toss all the dry stuff together in a bowl. Beat egg, butter and vanilla in another bowl. Add to dry mix, stir and pour into pan. Pat and cook for about 25 minutes are until brown on top.

This year we made something for our friends, canine friends. Peanut butter honey dog treats. It was a lot of fun! Mathilda and her friend Gabby did most of the work.

We gathered all the goodies into take out containers.

Added some ribbon and custom printed tags. And off to deliver.

The dog treats were separated into their own bags, so not to be confused. 

My perfect Lipstick.

I am not a big cosmetics person. But as the birthday's continue to accumulate I find myself searching for things to help lesson the gravitational pull. This lipstick is all I could have asked for. By Kaplan MD and found at my local Earthsavers, LIP20, has spf 20, moisture therapy, hyaluronic filling spheres, and twists open for easy open and close. Not a bargain, but worth every penny in Sheer Berry Shine.

Holiday Market 2011

Once again I hosted a Holiday Market at my house a few weeks ago. It is always an awesome time, with great deals and amazing works of art and gifts. This year, MJ and I made some softies, called Widgets. She worked the room and sold them all. (30 or so) She did a great job. Here are a few of the Widgets and Mathilda at her post. Toys for Tots received 10% of sales.

Also showing her work was Helene Florence. She had some beautiful shirts and accessories made from vintage kimonos.

Alexa Pulitzer was once again showing the best paper products at great prices. Love her notecards!

Rebecca Rebouche' was there this year with some always lovely paintings and hand sewn art works. You can also see Rebecca's work exclusively at an Anthropologie near you.

I love the tree plates so much and have one hanging in my bedroom:)

Lorena of the De Petra jewelers was at the show this year and their things are gorgeous and so interesting. It was hard to choose just one!!!

Seema from Liamolly was again doing a brisk business in the back living room with her knitwear collection. So creative! One day very soon, she will be knitting her sweaters here in New Orleans!!

Trashy. Very trashy.

Oh, the crazy emails I get. This was one of the latest offerings from one of those online home discount sites. A vintage- for lack of a better, more polite term- asshole trash can. I just love it!!!

Kitty love. Twice.

Well, I guess it had to happen eventually. Mathilda has been begging for a kitten for some (12 months) now. A tiny kitten came out from under the neighbors house a few months ago, but went back under after a few days. (Which I quickly thanked God for) The kids named it Tangerine. But he was not seen again. Then on Monday, this same cat came back out from under the neighbors house and up onto our porch and into our now cat's bed, and hasn't gotten out since. Needless to say, MJ has been feeding him and holding him, and begging to keep him, etc. I am still holding out hope he will go back under the neighbor's house again, but we may have a new member of the Esplanade gang.

Sunny, aka Pickles, aka Tangerine, aka Pippen, seen here loitering in Sia's bed.

The Kitty Pod Geodome. Possibly Sunny's new pad.

Widget World.

When my kids were little I referred to them as widgets, just some little creatures that made me laugh and surprised me with funny noises. As they have grown into teenagers I still refer to them as widgets because they do, sometimes, make me laugh and they definitely make funny (louder) noises.

Mathilda and I started making these "widgets" recently as part of our ongoing doll making adventures. (teaching her how to sew in a fun, creative way). We call them widgets (see above) and they will be available to purchase at my annual Holiday Market on Sat.

Mathilda has come up with names for all of them and stories about their widget lives.

So much to be thankful for.

As the Thanksgiving holidays have passed. I reflect on how lucky I am to have 2 wonderful extended families to enjoy. Which I enjoyed, very much, this holiday weekend.

I always marvel how my Mother continues to create. As a kid I remember the holiday season very fondly. In her heyday, she had decorations in every room. Yes, even the bathrooms. Really. (Mostly which she made herself) While visting over Thanksgiving, the kids and I got to help decorate her tree. Some shots of her (and our) handiwork here.

Her extensive collection of Santas on the mantel.

Her handmade miniature beaded Christmas tree. Amazing.

MJ loading up the tree. I remember lots of these ornaments from years gone by.

Mose enjoys each and every one.

The creativity extends to my sister, Dawn, who made this nativity from wool. Love it!

The collection of Santa's helpers is impressive, as well.

My Mom embraces the fact that we are Jewish, in my family, and proudly displays Mathilda's popsicle stick star of David on the tree.

These are truly the show stoppers. She makes these carolers from glass bottles, foam balls, dip'N'drap and misc. notions. The front teeth are pin heads in different sizes. Magical!

And, of course, a stocking for each grandchild.

She is Mother load!

At the Houston Mayers we celebrated mostly around the gorgeous dinner table (or in front of a football game:) Eric watches the guest of honor, Mr. T.

The glasses are filled.






















Linda, Peter and Josh looking for seconds.

The spread.

Eva Jane has Mr. T's leg all to herself.























I happen to be a big fan of the Jello mold. Especially orange ones.

Isabelle and Dottie talking about world issues or belly buttons.

Josh, Eric and Sam. Ready for dessert or maybe some badminton is in order.


On a scale of 1-10? This holiday was a...

From the sign on the 10th floor hotel room at The Derek in Houston :)