Planning a perfect Slow + Simple Mother's Day Lunch

image via Once Wed

It's really about simplicity. It shouldn't be lavish or fussy or over the top. A perfect Mother's Day lunch should be easy and relaxed. You may prefer to eat out and not worry about food prep, setting the table and doing the dishes. My children like to prepare lunch - this may be the best reason to keep it simple. Stick to ideas that are easy to make, that require very little prep-work and don't take took much of a mess. After all, a lavish meal made by the kids is wonderful gesture, but when the kitchen looks as though it's been hit by a hurricane, tornado and earthquake and you know that the children's idea of "cleaning up" is vastly different from yours, and because you don't want to spend hours picking up after them, wiping up drips and spills - simplicity is best in this case. Though, in my opinion, I think it's always best. 

Last year the children gave me a wonderful lunch. We decided on a menu together a couple of days before-hand and I went shopping and did the prep work ahead of time with them so that on Mother's Day only minimal assembly was required. We love to graze. We love appetizers and tapas and that's basically what our Mother's Day Lunch was. We feasted out on the screened-in porch in a totally peaceful and relaxed manner. The weather was lovely, warm enough to be outdoors. Our table was set casually, as photographed above. It really was quite perfect, at least as I remember it now, a year later!

There's something about putting food on a large platter that I love. It's easy and it's accessible and it's easier to clean 1 large platter than lots of separate dishes. Remember, we want everything to look lovely, but we want to create as little mess as possible. 

image via Saveur

On our large platter, much like the one above from Saveur, we had olives, cornichons, a selection of salamis, several cheeses, some strawberries and raspberries. We had pesto that we could also dip our bread into, that was left over from a pasta we had had the night before. My children all love to make pesto, it's easy and fast and always tastes delicious. You can find my recipe here. Leftovers are great eaten with a good crusty baguette or added to any sandwich. 

imafge via Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House

We had gazpacho with our lunch. There are so many ways to make this wonderfully refreshing and flavorful chilled soup. You really can't go wrong. You can follow this recipe for guidance. If you have a food processor, older children can chop up veggies in large pieces - don't worry about being precise, the food processor will do it's job! Gazpacho, bread and cheese... a perfect and complete meal in itself!


image via Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House

You may want to have several small salads with your lunch as well - a tomato salad, green salad, pasta salad and chicken salad. All of these can be prepared a day in advanced. Have several or just one. Whatever's leftover can be gobbled up for lunch the next day!

A Salad Nicoise is also another great idea for a Mother's Day lunch. Again everything can be prepped ahead of time. Again my love for platters comes into play. Instead of a large salad in a large bowl, I find them so much prettier this way. Don't you? It's so much more festive - I love serving salads this way for company.


via Jessica Gordon Ryan/ The Entertaining House



Sun tea is refreshing and fun to make. Kids of all ages will have fun doing this. For recipe and tea ideas click here. I do have a bottle of bubbly chilling in the fridge already :)


via Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House

For more ideas click here, Simple Summer Party Food and here, A Perfect Summer Lunch. And my Pinterest board here. And if you're looking for some very simple last minute tokens, read here for some ideas.

Don't these seem like wonderful ideas to start with. Amounts can easily be adjusted to suit any size crowd. Meals like these are our favorites! 





7 Last minute gift ideas for Mother's Day that are Slow + Simple

Image via Gloria Collins of GBC Style Slow Home Living

I like the simple things in life, especially when it comes to Mother's Day. I don't think Mother's Day should feel forced. It's not about grand and expensive gifts. It's about simple and kind gestures, tokens from the kids, words of kindness and thanks. I don't expect them to understand all that a mother does and all that she gives and all that she sacrifices. They're not meant to and only when they're older will they truly get it. I do hope that they see how much and how hard I try to make their small place in this world a little bit better - How I try to give them the best that I can and how I try to be the best that I can. It is important to me that they see that and a simple thank you is plenty. 

My daughter told me that there should be a special Kid's Day. I remember having the same conversation with my mother when I was about her age and I remember my mother telling me that every day is kid's day. I'm sure I thought she didn't know what she was talking about. I know now that she did. And so, sounding very much like my own mother, I repeated those same words - and I'm quite certain that in another 30 years will sound very much like me.

I know my kids like to pick up little items. I don't want them to spend their own money on me - I much prefer the handmade and hand crafted items. Cards that they've made themselves and sweet bundles of handpicked flowers are my favorites. I'll toss a few dollars into my daughter's checking account because I know she wants to picks something up for me. She knows me well enough... she knows what I like.  

Below I share some of my favorite items and ideas with you for inspiration...



Two of my favorite books are pictured above. What mother doesn't love to relax with a beautiful book? What mother doesn't love to have near and dear ones over in the garden. See here for my post on Danielle Rollins' Soiree and here for Michael Devine's An Invitation to the Garden. 



I am madly, passionately in love with Nest Fragrances, especially the Bamboo candle.  I'm not usually one for scented candles as I find they tend to be too heavy - perfumey or sweet. The Nest candles, however, are quite the opposite - they're crisp, clean and fresh - the perfect affordable, little luxury.



The children can jazz up old or inexpensive new glassware with a simple brush stroke or the back of an eraser. Aren't these whimsical little glasses so festive and fun. These are the brainchild of Radical Possibility. Do stop over and pay her a visit!



Cottage Mama came up with these clever coasters using tiles, scrapbook paper and Mod Podge. A few years back the kids and I made some using old Waverly Fabric, unused floor tiles and a glue gun. We attached little felt rounds on the bottoms and they made lovely trivets. So simple to make yet so beautiful. An older child could supervise younger ones for this. I wrote about our project in a post called Hot Stuff that you can find here.



I adore these simple painted chargers. These would make a lovely gift. For more visit Sweet Paul - stay for a while while you're there... his site is filled with all sorts of wonderful things! I think I'd like a set of these.... hint-hint!



These fun and whimsical prints from potatoes are Valerie's brilliant idea over at Inner Child Fun. These darling watermelons created the best wrapping paper. They can also turn a plain white note card into something much more fun. Tie them up with a pretty ribbon and you have a perfect hand made gift.  All mothers love note cards, especially those made by their children!
We hope this has inspired you and given you some ideas. Stop by tomorrow for some simple last minute Mother's Day lunch ideas.





Sweet iced tea lightened up, Slow + Simple


Image via The Entertaining House

Iced tea is refreshing, and conducive to a Slow + Simple lifestyle. 

I drink a ton of water... when I'm working out... Truth be told water is not the first thing I grab and I don't love it. And, call me crazy, but water on an empty stomach does not fill me - in fact it makes me feel queasy. We drink plenty of flavored seltzer but I'm not one for monotony - I need to change things up every now and then. In the summertime we tend to have quite a bit of iced tea and lemonade in the house. The kids aren't really fans of regular home-brewed teas, though they like it sweetened with lemonade. But over the course of a day the sugars add up. The sugar-free iced teas that are sold on the market leave a bad after-taste.

One of my favorite splurges, I discovered last summer - Starbucks' Passion Fruit Tea Lemonade. I would take it unsweetened and add a little bit of sweetener to it. But this, over the course of the summer, costs the same as a mini vacation! So I set off to make this on my own. I not only have perfected it - I improved upon it! Better yet is that my children love it too. We've branched out from the passion fruit tea - we've used orange, lemon, regular black tea and green tea. Our little secret is a home-made lemon simple syrup and muddled mint. Seriously, it's like a mini vacation in your mouth! 


Image via The Entertaining House

First thing's first. You have to make your iced tea. Measure desired water - use a pitcher. In a 1 quart pitcher I will add 4-5 tea bags depending on the strength of the tea. Making iced tea is simple. Pour the pitcher of water into a pot, then bring the water to a boil. Remove pot from the heat and add tea bags. Let steep - as long as you wish - 10 minutes at minimum for greatest flavor. When the tea has cooled slightly pour into your pitcher and place in fridge or add ice and serve immediately. (If still warm add additional ice to each glass.)

Or, now that the weather's warming up...

Make a Sun Tea

Sun tea is so easy to make... It's Slow + Simple and the kids love to help with this. Because there's no real heat this is great for your kids to help "make as well." Take your pitcher and fill it with water. Take 4-5 tea bags of your desired choice and place them into the cold water. Bring your pitcher outside and place it on a table in the sun. It will take a couple of hours, but watch as the sun's rays make your tea. There's just something about sun tea... it really does taste better.

I like to keep Lemon Simple Syrup on hand in the fridge. 

It couldn't be easier to make. Squeeze the juice of 3-4 large lemons. This should yield approximately 1 cup of lemon juice. Pour the juice into a small sauce pan and add equal amounts of sugar. Heat the juice until the sugar dissolves. Let cool slightly. The mixture will thicken. Transfer into a pretty bottle of container. Some recipes call for adding water to the mixture. I don't - we like it super lemony!

Into my glass of tea filled with 8 oz of iced tea and ice cubes, I add 1 - 2 tbs of lemon simple syrup, a couple of fresh mint leaves and stir well while muddling the leaves to make the most of their mint flavor. What you'll get is a lightly sweetened, very refreshing slightly sweetened iced tea. If you or your children like something a little sweeter, add a little bit of Stevia, which is a natural, calorie-free, plant-based sweetener. Use just a bit, a whole packet will be much too much. The whole point is to offer something slightly but not too sweet. 

Another way to sweeten up your tea is to add 1/4 cup of any freshly squeezed juice. Again, the point is to add a touch of sweetness - just a touch. We love clementines and I buy them weekly. When they're just about to turn, they're really juicy and perfect for juicing. I don't have a juicer - I use a citrus squeezer and do it the old fashioned way. Add the juice, fresh ice and some muddled mint...


Image via The Entertaining House


Image via The Entertaining House

...then grab your sunglasses, a book and head out to your porch or hammock!





Butterflies :: All a flutter in home decor this Spring

Dinnerware by Richard Cohen Collection used by Kati Curtis for DIFFA
Image via Live the Life You Dream About- photo by Roberto Richi

I've been watching as wallpaper has been making a huge comeback over the past couple of years. We're not talking about our grandmother's country cottage paper of the 1950s or even the flouncy, floral papers popularized by Laura Ashley in the 1980s. Today's wallpapers are bold, full of personality. They're statement pieces, and focal points. Today's wallpapers are not for the timid. As we've seen a movement to fun, bright colors, bold stripes and shapes, and whimsical images, we're also seeing a return of flora and fauna. But today's flowers take center stage, as do the animals. As we return to the garden I've been noticing butterflies all over the place. These beautiful winged creatures are showing up on fabric, wallpaper, dinnerware - in all areas of the home.  Will these fluttering creatures stay around for a while or will they fly away?

Butterfly wallpaper by Osborne and Little

Wallpaper by Fromental

Teapot by Christian Lacroix

Home Accessories by Christian Lacroix

via Houzz

Wallpaper by Julien Macdonald

Wallpaper by Lulu deKwiatkowski for Matouk

Lulu DK

Mackenzie Childs

Wallpaper Farfalla by Nina Campbell

Wallpaper by Schumacher


Happy Birthday Audrey :: A Legend turns 85


Had she been alive Ms. Hepburn would be celebrating her 85th Birthday today. A true legend in every sense of the word, her beauty was internal as well as external. Kind, compassionate and giving when she was not behind the camera she was helping others who were much less fortunate. While we know her for her numerous films such as Breakfast at Tiffany's, Roman Holiday, Funny Face and Sabrina, her role as a humanitarian was defined more clearly in her later years. She was the Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, a cause she was passionate about, where she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In her memory, and to keep her passion alive, Hepburn's two sons, Sean Ferrer and Luca Dotti, along with her former partner Robert Wolders, have set up the Audrey Hepburn Children's Fund on the Official Audrey Hepburn website. This fund continues to campaign for and help the children who need it most. 



"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."




"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says 'I'm possible'!"



"The most important thing is to enjoy your life - to be happy - it's all that matters."




"Pick the day. Enjoy it - to the hilt. The day as it comes. People as they come... The past, I think, has helped me appreciate the present - and I don't want to spoil any of it by fretting about the future."



"If I'm honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales and I like them best of all."




"As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others."

Happy Birthday to a true Legend whose beauty will never fade - 


Picking a 2014 Kentucky Derby Winner :: It's all in the name!


Are you ready? Are you ready to place your bets? Do you you have a knack for picking a winner? Is it scientific? Do you study the statistics and read up on the incredible history of these horses? Or do you do what I do? Pick the horse with the best name?! In all honesty, choosing the winning-est name, I think, is the most fun of all. There are always such creative names and this year is no different. 

This year's Kentucky Derby Contenders are:
1. Vicar's in Trouble
2. Harry's Holiday
3. Uncle Sigh
4. Danza
5. California Chrome
6. Samraat
7. We Miss Artie
8. General A Rod
9. Vinceremos
10. Wildcat Red
11. Dance With Fate
12. Chitu
13. Medal Count
14. Tapiture
15. Intense Holiday 
16. Comanding Curve
17. Boy
18. Wide On Curling
19. Wicked Strong

Vicar's in Trouble is the top contender at this point. He's one of mine too... based on his name of course!


But Dance with Fate resonates with me... Speaks to me... This is my life right now... I'm Dancing with Fate every day... and so I should place my bet here, but there's one more...



Wicked Strong. I think this is such a great name - Actually it's much more. This Boston area horse was named in honor and in memory of the victims of last year's Boston Marathon bombings... Tugs at the heartstrings doesn't it... We're all a little Boston Strong, aren't we... and well, I happen to like a little wicked too! So, here I am, placing everything I've got on Boston Strong!

For more on this year's contenders visit the Kentucky Derby's official website.

Who's your favorite? Talk Derby to Me!!


rainy days and Mondays never get me down!



I really don't mind the rain. I quite like it. It's soothing and peaceful. I love to hear it as it raps against the window panes. With candles burning bright and mugs of hot coffee I find that I can settle in and be productive. Rain does that to me. It focuses me. It relaxes me and calms me. It revitalizes me.

There's nothing like a rainy day to help you hunker down and write...

Catch up on emails, phone calls, laundry, cleaning and cooking.

A hot bath, a warm bed, a good book and a glass of wine at the end of the rainy day is my idea of perfection.

If you must be out in it dance and splash and get wet!
There's no feeling as good as drying off and warming up afterwards.

Find a puddle and jump!

Grab a friend and dance and sing... let your hair down...

Get soaked to the bone!

Just think, with all this April rain we are going to have the most splendid May flowers!
Without rain there would be no rainbows...
Without rain there would be no sunshine!











Anyone who thinks that sunshine is happiness has never danced (or kissed) in the rain!


About Jessica Gordon Ryan & The Entertaining House


The Entertaining House is a website that has become synonymous with style, simplicity and affordable luxury.

The Entertaining House, has been described as "Design in regards to all aspects of your home, life and LIVING... a wonderful [site] filled with positivity, wit and intelligence." With "elegant, and simple pleasures based on life's humor." The Entertaining House was recently nominated to Modenus' Top 100 Design and Architecture blogs. Part magazine, part memoir, The Entertaining House is about living well and living a well lived life within a means - where family heirlooms can co-exist nicely with kind finds from today, both in the home and in fashion. Style is a balance of everyday pieces and luxury, and should be affordable and available to all. It is my hope that The Entertaining House inspires, entertains and educates. 


# # #

A bon vivant, Jessica Gordon Ryan is a writer, a photographer and a memoirist. A single mother, Jessica strives to live a life well lived within a budget. She believes that life can be stylish, sophisticated (and yet whimsical) within a means. She has recently embraced a Slow + Simple way of living as well. Why create extra steps? Why not eliminate a few along the way to allow for taking the time to stop and smell the roses?

Jessica is the girl in the ballgown who wears Old Navy flip-flops. She is the girl who serves pizza on fine china - The girl who drinks champagne for no reason at all. She loves denim and pearls. She loves the rustic beauty of the countryside and the sophisticated beauty of the city. She loves to dress up and she is not afraid to get dirty. She loves dancing in the rain, and she loves kissing in the rain.
In addition to creating The Entertaining House, Jessica has been an editor and writer for Freshome where many of her articles have been picked up by Bobvilla.com, Yahoo News, MSN, Dwellingawker and The Huffington Post. She is also a regular contributor to CTBitesThe Daily Basics where one of her articles was picked up by the Livestrong foundation and Moffly Media. She has written for Trulia. Jessica is also the media contact for a new restaurant concept opening in Darien, Connecticut this spring with more locations to follow in the fall.

Jessica owns a boutique company bearing her name, where she provides social media and public relations services, on-site photography, and creative writing. For queries and rates please email her JGR.effervescence@gmail.com

inspirational tuesday... the art of the daydream


Busy is good, right? I love being busy, but I don't like being so busy that I forget to slow down - to stop and look at all the beauty in bloom... the buds are popping and splashes of pale yellows and greens and pinks are all around us. A big storm is headed our way - the trees are swaying and my son's wind chimes are singing sweetly outside the window. It's chilly today - and while it looks like spring it feels like fall. I'm drinking copious amounts of coffee as I draft and edit all my projects. I haven't looked up much in the past couple of weeks, but when I have I've been sure to focus on the beauty that surrounds me. I yearn to head out again with my camera - I think I will this weekend. 

It's Tuesday already. How on earth did that happen?
Tomorrow's mid-week and before we know it the weekend really will be here. I like when time flies. I like to be busy. I like frenziness - I think I made up a new word! But never be so busy that you can't see the small stuff. Look past the big picture and look at the tiny details. That's where the beauty is. 

I believe in the day dream...
I believe in losing oneself, even for a few moments, to imagine the impossible and to dream the greatest dream...

For those of you who are as busy as I have been and yet have made a point of stopping by I hope you'll find some inspiration to lose yourself when you see the images below...











images via tumblr 

Watch your step! The many benefits of hardwood flooring



Flooring America asked if I would allow them to sponsor a piece on hardwood floors. I was more than happy to say yes. I'm a lover of hardwood floors - and favor them over carpeting and other surfaces such as tile, terracotta, or stone - Slate, as lovely as it looks is hard and while often a choice in kitchens, for those of us who love to cook and who generally spend a lot of time in that room, is hard on the feet after a while. For those who love the look of a hard surface and the benefits of a softer surface, wood is the obvious choice. And while there are lovely floor tiles out there, tiles, when wet can get awfully can get very slippery. 

I happen to prefer the look of hardwood - I have had them in all my homes from childhood to present day. In some of my past homes we've spent hours ripping out ugly old carpeting to expose the beautiful soft beams beneath. I much prefer area rugs over wall to wall carpeting. Area rugs over hardwood, offer the best of all worlds. 

There are so many colors, hues and types of wood to choose from, with just as many styles and patterns. Perhaps you prefer a lighter shade, or a deep dark, wide plank. Painted and stained wood floors are equally as gorgeous.

Hardwood floors not only improve the overall look of your home, but they add structural strength to any home or commercial property. Hardwood floors are classic and timeless in look and add an overall sense of elegance.  The other benefits of hardwood floors go beyond their aesthetics.

Hardwood flooring is permanent and is designed to last a lifetime with very little maintenance.

Hardwood floors  are easy to install, and when done correctly by professionals, your hardwood floor will look great and have a stable fit for a lifetime.

Hardwood flooring is easy to clean, and because of this is a great choice for those who suffer from allergies. (The dust is visible and does't get trapped between the carpet fiber. Even with frequent vacuuming, dust can still remain trapped in carpeting.) In fact, it's one of most low maintenance flooring options available.

  • Hardwood flooring makes any room appear elegant and classic - It's a great way to make your home look more luxurious.
  • Because of its strength and durability, hardwood flooring can last a lifetime, and even improve with age.
  • Hardwood flooring is an extremely sensible investment as it not only can increase the property value of your house, but it will remain beautiful for many years to come. 
  • Hardwood flooring comes in a variety of styles and there's bound to be one that fits in with your specific design tastes.
  • Consider installing a wood floor in your entertainment rooms - the acoustics are superior. Hardwood floors are also great choices for kitchens, dining rooms and living and family rooms.










This post was sponsored by Flooring America.  For more on hardwood floors and the options available to you, please visit their website.


Images: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/

Easter Egg Recipe Roundup :: Creative and good for you recipes


via Yummy Mummy
Easter is over. The eggs have been colored, hidden and hopefully found. Now what to do with all those hard boiled eggs? We love egg salad, sliced egg sandwiches and Deviled Eggs but sometimes we get bored of the same old, same old... I've rounded up a few fresh ideas to inspire you to use up those eggs and not let them go to waste. What I like most is that these are healthy ideas that will help us keep our girlish figures!



With Style and Grace twists up your traditional egg salad by adding avocado, lime and cilantro - a dash of salt and pepper completes these fulfilling little treats.



Paula Dean kicks hers up with a BLT twist - fresh parsley, tomatoes and bacon will make these Deviled Eggs even more devilish!



Girl Makes Food adds carrots, avocado, cucumber and tomatoes to her eggs to give them a refreshing bite. This can be a satisfying lunch, a hearty snack or a great accompaniment to a fish or chicken dinner.



Bev Cooks has this amazing crab salad with celery on her blog. To me this says less Easter and more Summertime on the shore of the New England Coast! Bring on the summer... and bring me a large bowl of this too, please!



I adore a good salade Nicoise... They always bring me back to my childhood summers in the South of France. A traditional Nicoise is made from canned tuna,  (in oil - you will taste the difference, trust me!) tomatoes, green beans, Nicoise olives,  (though Kalamata will do) potatoes and hard boiled egg. There are many variations. Some prefer to use a fresh seared tuna or a piece of fresh salmon. Nom Nom Paleo creates another version and uses crab meat instead. You can use your eggs in a heart Chef or Cobb Salad, or top off a Caesar salad with egg instead of chicken. Or add the cooked yolk of an egg to your basic vinaigrette - It works as an emulsifier.



Chopped scallions, chives, black sesame seeds and a sweet and sour marinade is one Polish blogger's creative take on our traditional egg salad recipe. Via Kwestia Smacku

If you missed it yesterday you've got to check out my recipe for Hard Boiled Egg Chocolate Chip Cookies... They are really quite egg-septional! ;)



What to do with your hard boiled Easter eggs? Bake them... in Chocolate Chip Cookies (of course!)


While researching recipes for creative ideas to use up all those hard boiled Easter eggs I came across several recipes for Hard Boiled Egg Chocolate Chip Cookies. I looked twice. Three times. Four times. And while I thought the concept sounded incredibly strange, I learned that using cooked egg yolks in cookies is quite common in many European countries. The recipes varied only slightly in their ingredients - the amounts of flour, butter and vanilla used, but the singular common ingredient was the hard boiled egg. With a million better things to do on a gorgeous Saturday in early Spring I decided to put those off those other things demanding my attention so that I could give this recipe a try.

I was admittedly skeptical.
I was admittedly ready to toss the entire batch into the trash.
But I didn't. I couldn't.
Because these cookies were simply fantastic.
Or perhaps I should say they were egg-cellent! ;)




Into the flour and butter mixture goes the chopped egg!


All pulsed and the egg has completely disappeared... The kids will never know it was in there!
It will be our little secret... Shhhh!


Add the sugars, vanilla, salt and a dash of cinnamon and
this is starting to look like a traditional chocolate chip cookie mixture!


Well, after we added the chips it does!


The cookie dough is very crumbly, even more so than a shortbread
But the butter, once cooked, will act as a bonding agent.


And, voila!
The result was a perfectly crispy and crunchy cook that was just the teensiest bit soft in the middle. 

Ingredients:
1 hard boiled egg, chopped
1 1/3 cups of all purpose flour
1 stick of butter cut into chunks
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup white sugar (1/4 cup)
1/4 brown sugar (1/4 cup)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup of chocolate chip cookies

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 ΒΊF.
In a food processor - as opposed to a mixer - mix flour and egg until well blended. Add chopped egg and repeat until the mixture resembles coarse sand or fine crumbs.
Lastly, by hand, mix in the chocolate chips. 
Using a small ice cream scoop press dough into the scoop and then onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.
The mixture is very crumbly and it will fall apart. This is normal. Gently press together with your hands. The butter, when melted, will serve as a binding agent.
Bake for 10-13 minutes.
Remove cookies from oven and let them sit on the cookie sheet for at least 5 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack.

I cooked these cookies in 10, 12 and 15 minute batches. The 15 minute batch was the darkest and the crispiest and perhaps the least fragile of all. The 10 minute batch was the softest and in my opinion the 12 minute batch was the perfect combination of crispy, crunchy and chewy.



This was a fun project to try and I think I will have to test this out with oatmeal raisin!


11 Simple and Inspired Easter Egg Ideas

via Girl Inspired
My kids love to decorate eggs. We've been known to break out the food coloring throughout the year. Something as simple as a bowl of pastel colored eggs adds such a nice decorative touch - whether to your Easter decor or to your home, no matter the time of year. I prefer to stick to the more simple - but simple doesn't have to be boring. And simple can extend far beyond a pale pink, yellow or blue egg. As I scouted out ideas that appealed to me on a visual level, keeping in mind the skill set in my home - ranging from 8 to 15 years, I wanted ideas that were easy enough for the littlest hands,yet challenging enough for the older two. I wanted a project that would hold the attention of an 8 year old and yet not bore two teenagers while staying away from neon-rainbow-psychedelic hues that would potentially potentially spill all over the place because in my house, if it can spill and stain, it will spill and stain!

Pictured below are projects that I know would appeal to us and thought they may appeal to you as well, simple with a slight sophistication and enough whimsy to interest to a child. You'll notice that some of these eggs have been colored while others have been decorated yet their colors went unchanged. I love the golden touches, and while glitter is fun I personally try to keep far far away from it - more mess and we find it everywhere for months on end! I love the naturally dyed eggs, and the eggs that stick to simple tones. Decoupage adds more detail but it's an art-form that looks as well imperfect as it does when it's perfected. Put your twine and rubber bands to good creative use and break out the Sharpies to create fun patterns and write endearing messages. Fingerprints and confetti will also give your eggs a creative and personal touch.

via Pinterest, original source unknown

via Apartment Therapy

via Baby Center

via Baby Center

via Catnip Studios

via Yes Missy

via The Daily Meal

via Dulce Bright

via Disney Family Fun

via She Makes a Home



We hope you enjoy your decorating egg-stravaganza!




Wardrobe Function :: 10 essential and timeless pieces that will age as gracefully as you do

via Tumblr

My two greatest fashion icons growing up were my mother and my maternal grandmother.Their style was timeless. Classic. Chic. They were elegance personified. My mother was a career woman in an era where many women weren't. But because she worked in the arts (she was head of Public Relations for two of New York's most prestigious museums) her style was hardly buttoned up. She always looked chic. My grandmother exuded style. She looked like an old Hollywood star. Even as a young child I knew their style was exemplary. I went through many styles and style challenges in my teens - I blame 80s fashion for all of it! But eventually I found my way. I too gravitated towards the classics. And over the years, my sense of style really hasn't changed at all.

I have a lot of clothes - Actually let me rephrase that. I have a lot of clothes that I've managed to to hold on to for many, many years. My favorite velvet duster was a "splurge" when I was in my early 20s. I also have cashmere sweaters, dresses and pants that are over a decade old now. I can be hard on my shoes and jeans tend to wear out but I tend to gravitate, for the most part, to the same simple styles. Of course I like to have fun with my clothes and toss in a few trendy pieces for fun and good measure. But I believe in sticking with the tried and true. They don't call them the classics or timeless for no reason at all. Not only are these items timeless in look and design, but they flatter a multitude of body shapes. Perhaps this is the reason that these pieces can be worn well by women from their 20s into their 50s and probably well beyond. I am quite certain that this is the reason I still have many pieces I bought in my mid to late 20s. 



JCrew

1. A tailored blazer or jacket

Essential to every wardrobe. A well fitted blazer will carry you through many years. Classic styles and colors such as black, beige, grey and navy complement a wide variety of colors. These simple jacket can be worn with jeans, dresses, skirts and dress pants. They can be worn over T-shirts, blouses and lightweight sweaters. A well tailored jacket may well be the most versatile piece of clothing we own.

Pret A Porter

2. A white blouse

You should own at least one classic, button down white blouse. But once you own one you will want many, and in many different styles as well. Simple and uncomplicated a white blouse can be worn to the office, to a cocktail party or with a pair of jeans. Add a pearl choker for a classic and polished look or a fun colorful bauble for a trendy or more bohemian feel.


ASOS

3. A cashmere sweater

Start your collection with just one. Choose a classic color such as off white, black, beige or grey for the most versatility. Perhaps you will opt for a pull-over crew neck or a cardigan - but select a style that will give you the most use. Worn with jeans, dress pants, skirts and dresses, you will be instantly hooked. Watch as your collection of colors and styles grows instantly! For those with sensitive skin, cashmere is a godsend! My mother must have cashmere sweaters that are close to 50 years old. They will last forever if you take proper care of them. 


Nordstrom

4. The Little black pant - The cigarette pant

I tend to think of the elegant Audrey Hepburn when I think of these timeless, flattering pants, for I do think that she made the iconic pant what it is today. These pants hit just above the ankle and can be worn with heels and flats alike. These pants can be paired with a dressier top, or worn casually with a simple sweater or turtleneck as Miss Hepburn did. I have several pairs of cigarette pants, all slightly different, and they are incredibly flattering and always stylish.


Macy's

5. Well fitting bootleg jeans

I say well fitting because we all know that finding that perfect jean can take some time. My advice is this - when you find it, get several pairs. A good pair of jeans doesn't have to cost a lot, but should fit well. They should hit and flatter all your curves. They shouldn't cut into you or add bulk. I love my jeans. I wear them for almost every occasion. I have learned to dress them up with a well tailored jacket, heels and pearls - they can take me from work to dinner. I love them with a pretty pair of flats and a cashmere cardigan, and I love them with a little white blouse. I often wear them casually with just a little white T-shirt, then if I need to run out I can add a quick touch of sophistication by sliding into a pair of heals and a little jacket. My jeans go everywhere I go practically!


Kenneth Jay Lan

6. A chunky pearl necklace

I wear pearls with everything. EVERYTHING! I have several chunky pearl necklaces. I have one that I wore on my wedding day that I still wear with everything from cocktail dresses, to - you guessed it - my jeans! 

Manolo Blahnik

7. A pair of leopard flats

Leopard is the new black. It's become a wardrobe staple and goes with everything. It really does. It offers a bit more personality and pizzaz than a simple black flat - and yes, your wardrobe should have one pair of those too!

Gucci

8. A good pair of black pumps

Self explanatory, yes?



Mod Cloth

9. The LBD - Little Black Dress

Also, self explanatory, yes? If for no other reason, you have nothing to wear to a cocktail party or other event you can always rely on your LBD. It's like your BFF for your wardrobe. It will never let you down. Trust me on this!



Burberry

10. The Trench Coat

Classic, timeless, this coat will help you weather any storm. Whether you're on your first post college interview or you're late to meet your new post-grad hire, this one coat will see you through most of life's events. If you live in colder climates, invest in a trench that comes with a warm liner. 

I think what I love best about these essential pieces is not merely the fact that they are indeed timeless, but they are so incredibly versatile and can all be interchanged and worn together.




Sweet temptations :: Springtime Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies

Photo property Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House

I saw these fun Springtime colored chocolate chips, by Nestle, when I was strolling down the baking aisle the other day, and impulsive as I am, I grabbed a bag and tossed it into my cart. Something to do with the kids on a rainy day. Only it's not raining today and the kids aren't even here. I was back at the grocery store this morning getting stuff for dinner and for snacks and lunch boxes and as I was standing at the checkout line I knew I was forgetting something... but I couldn't, for the life of me, figure out what it was. I scanned the items I had placed on the checkout belt - chicken, shredded cheese, milk, yogurt, cereal, popcorn, kiwis, bread... Something was missing for sure. It wasn't until I got home and unpacked that I realized what it was. I forgot dessert for Alexander's lunch box! Feeling a bit too lazy to drag myself back out to the store, and a bit in the mood to bake, I remedied our lack of lunchbox sweets!

These cookies are crunchy and firm on the outside and soft, almost brownie-like on the inside.

2 cups of flour
1/2 cup plus 1 tbs cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick of butter, softened
3/4 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cups of brown sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs
1 package Nestle morsels (springtime)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In your mixer beat together butter and sugars. Add the eggs and vanilla and blend. Add salt, baking soda and cocoa powder, mix well. Add the flour one cup at a time, mixing well in between. Fold in chips. Note the dough will be crumby, almost like shortbread. Don't let this be a concern.
Bake for 10-11 minutes. Let cool about 5 minutes before serving.


Photo property Jessica Gordon Ryan/The Entertaining House

For a super treat, stick a cookie in the microwave for about 10 seconds for something truly decadent! For a super duper treat add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to the heated cookie... Or surprise someone and sneak one into someone's lunch box for a guaranteed smile! 


A day in Paradise :: The Orchid Show at The New York Botanical Garden




Yesterday I paid a visit to one of my favorite oases, The New York Botanical Gardens, where the Orchid Show is currently on display at the Enid A Haupt Conservatory, which in itself, if you have never been, is a splendor. This year's theme is Key West Contemporary where a they recreated the Jones and Eaton Garden with a green garden wall and a fountain flowing into a pool with stepping stones. At every angle, soaring angular pergolas and trellises are enveloped by thousands of brightly colored orchids.  The modern angular architectural lines of the garden leads visitors to lush displays of flowers, palms, and other plants, including the everglades palm, Bismarck palm, area palm, bottlebrush, variegated mahoe, buttonwood, gumbo limbo, spineless century plant, and Christmas palm. Ferns and bromeliads comprise the beautiful understory of the exhibition. To stroll through these incredible displays is to take a stroll through paradise.

A Few Facts About Orchids 

Orchids represent the height of evolutionary success in the plant kingdom. With more than 30,000 naturally occurring species, they are the largest family of flowering plants. Orchids are adaptable, diverse, and grow in almost every habitatβ€”from semi-desert to Arctic tundraβ€”on every continent except Antarctica. They come in a dazzling range of sizes, from miniatures with tiny flowers less than 1/16 of an inch in diameter to giants more than 25 feet tall with flower spikes up to 10 feet long. Orchids also come in an amazing array of colors and shapes. Some mimic bees, wasps, butterflies, and moths; others have unusual buckets, traps, and trigger mechanisms. These adaptations help ensure that insect pollinators visit the flowers. Because orchid flowers have specialized reproductive parts and their pollen is a single mass, individual grains of pollen cannot disperse as with other flowers. As a result, each orchid flower has only one chance to transfer pollen to another flower.

Orchids at the Garden 

There are more than 6,000 orchids representing 2,273 taxa (different types) in the Garden’s permanent collection. The New York Botanical Garden has orchids from all of the floristic regions of the world, including Australia, Africa, South America, and Madagascar. The Garden is committed to orchid research and conservation, its scientists study the botany and ecology of orchids; what they discover is useful to conservation work that will ensure the future of these extraordinary plants in nature.



 
























I hope you enjoyed my brief visual tour and if you are in or near the New York area I highly encourage you to stop by! For more information on the show and the gardens, please visit their website.


You're never fully dressed without a smile!


I'm often asked to provide a photograph of myself whenever I have something published. But I'm usually behind the camera and rarely in front of it, and when I am, I'm having fun or being silly, and often there's a glass of something in my hand. These pictures are wonderful candids and I do love them, but sometimes life calls for something a little more serious - a little more, well, sophisticated.

It was time. It is time. And so, here I am... all grown up. It's about time, isn't it?

I asked my dear friend and talented photographer, Marcy Feld of Marcy Feld Photography if she would take some head shots for me. We met in Central Park on a beautiful, warm Friday afternoon. It was our first taste of Spring. Dogs were being walked, children were running around and grown-ups were strolling around enjoying the warmth and the beauty of the oasis within the bustling city.

I just sat there and Marcy worked her magic. The pictures were all lovely. Some we both liked better than others and we agreed as to which came out best. There may or may not have been some Photoshopping done around my eyes. I think Marcy did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of "me," didn't she?

And now I've got something all ready for a book jacket ;)



We had a little bit of fun too...



Life's too short to take yourself to seriously!

Have a wonderful weekend!



Stylish notes on Food :: Sweet & Vicious - Baking with Attitude


I've never met a cookbook I didn't like. That said, I've never met a cookbook I'd like to have an affair with... until now! Sweet & Vicious (Oh how I do so love the title) is just that kind of a cookbook - I absolutely loved it! 

Infused with Libbie Summers' humor and peppered with wonderful personal anecdotes, Sweet & Vicious offers recipes that take you a little out of your comfort zone - that make you a little less timid, a little more adventurous. They beg you to test your limits just ever so slightly - or sweetly... These recipes dare you to have fun, to enjoy, to be a little risky -or risque... It's a book you not only want to look at, but you will want to read - the back stories to many of these recipes are wonderful.

Accompanied by eye popping photographs by Chia Chong, Libbie tempts us, chides us and humors us with creative takes on traditional treats. Sweet & Vicious: Baking with an Attitude welcomes you to the unexpected with layers that are sweet and complex. Sweet & Vicious encourages you to be fearless by flavoring your recipes in a way that makes them more personal and more provocative. She encourages you to have fun, to be sentimental, to charm everyone including your pets, with a fabulous selection of baked in a section specifically for your pooches. 

Sweet & Vicious is about exploring, about having and adventure and most of all it's about having fun!

Try your hand at one of the many recipes including:
Hot and Heavy Baby Cakes with Kiss Me Frosting
Sunday Morning Panettone Muffins
Virgin Cake (Gluten free)
Post Coital Pie
Eyes Wide Shut Bread
Monet's Favorite Sandwich
Cake Scrap Cookies and
Backhanded Compliment Cookies

Learn tricks to decorate and trim your pie crusts

Salty Pumpkin Spice Cake

Girly Girl Lavender Cake

Bridge and Tunnel Cheesecake

Salvation Cinnamon Rolls

Meatball Muffins

Pull Apart Boy Bread

Pull Apart Boy Bread

Libbie Summers

Many thanks to Rizzoli for providing me with a copy for review.
All photographs property of Rizzoli International Publications and Chia Chong

Sweet & Vicious is available for purchase in the United States and Canada. To obtain your copy click here. 

BUT before you go anywhere or do anything else, including purchasing this book, you MUST watch this Youtube video!  She has her own channel and her short and sweet videos are worth a look-see! 

Now, won't you excuse me please... I think it's time to get steamy in my kitchen!