The Help

The long awaited screen version of The Help opened in theaters yesterday. I recently read the book and couldn't put it down. I have been really looking forward to this movie, so I went to the first matinee showing available! I was not disappointed. I loved watching the characters from one of my new favorite books come to life. It's a beautiful, heartwarming story of having the courage to make a change. The message is incredibly powerful; the acting superb. I predict costume designer Sharen Davis, who has previously been nominated for 2 academy awards (Ray, Dreamgirls) will definitely be in the running for the Oscar again. I hope she wins this time. The costumes were stunning. See the movie, it was wonderful; but don't let it stop you from reading the book. It is destined to become a classic.

Elenowen "I'm on Fire"

Elenowen's cover of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm on Fire" on their most recent episode of The Basement Sessions. I love it!
For more Basement sessions visit their YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/elenowen

"1000 Sales" Sale!

I can't believe I almost have 1000 sales on Etsy! Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me  by shopping in my online store. Help me reach my goal by taking 10% off your entire order now until I reach 1000 sales! Enter code 1000SALE at checkout to receive discount (excludes custom orders).

Fun with Pancakes

My daughter, Tristan, found this fun website the other day called Jim's Pancakes. We had a lot of laughs looking at his amazing pancake creations. Over the years, I have been known to make the girls pancakes in the shape of anything they asked for, but I don't even come close to Jim's talent in the pancake department! The secret is to "draw" the pancakes with a squeeze bottle filled with pancake batter. You can also add food coloring to some of the bottles as pictured below.

Below are pictures of our attempt to make crazy pancakes. We had so much fun making our own creations. Check out Jim's Pancakes for more pictures and instructional how-to videos!

Bacon & Eggs by me and Tristan

Tristan's Chickee

Jeff's Giraffe

Tristan made Taylor Swift and her band, The Swift Agency, into pancakes! Aren't they adorable?

Zee Avi

Hollywire.com

I heard this charming song the other day while shopping in Anthropologie. I immediately fell in love with the singer's chanteuse-style voice (it reminded me of Zooey Deschanel's sultry sound) paired with a jazzy ukelele. So, I tapped out a few of the lyrics on my phone (so I wouldn't forget) and googled it when I got home.

You were sitting at the coffee table

 where you're reading Kierkegaard

Minutes later, you proceeded to say 

something that almost broke my heart

Up came a song titled You & Me by Zee Avi, another internet discovery, this time a 25-year-old singer-songwriter/guitarist/ukelele player from Malaysia. Her first self-titled album was released in 2009 and is available on iTunes, includes You & Me and another new favorite, Bitter Heart. It feels a bit like traveling through time back to an old-fashioned, jazzier place. I just love it!

Her second album, ghostbird, is due out August 23rd. You can listen to the first single, The Book of Morris Johnson here.

Secret Weekend Sale...

It's time for another secret sale! Take 20% off my entire shop July 7-10 by using coupon code JULY20. Thanks for stopping by!

4th of July Cupcakes

Burgers and corn on the cob for dinner. Whoa, wait- look again! It's dessert! My 9 year old daughter has been dying to make these "hamburger" cupcakes for the 4th. Since it has been raining all day here in Florida, we decided to make them a few days early. While at the grocery store, a picture of the corn on the cob cupcakes caught our eye, so we decided to make those, too. They were so much fun to make!

Hamburger Cupcakes

1 box Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Butter Golden Cake Mix

1 box Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Butter Recipe Fudge Cake Mix

2 cans Duncan Hines Creamy Homestyle Buttercream Frosting

Red, yellow and green food coloring

Chocolate sprinkles

Pastry bags

Simple syrup (see below)

-Bake cupcakes according to package instructions. Let cool.

-Cut yellow cupcakes in half, making the top half slightly thicker than the bottom (like a real bun).

-Carefully trim the "bump" off of the top of the chocolate cupcake, then slice in half.

-Divide frosting into 3 bowls and make your "condiments" using the food coloring; red for ketchup, yellow for mustard, green for lettuce.

-Using a pastry bag, pipe a small dollop of any color on the bottom half of the "bun" to anchor the "meat."

-Top with chocolate half.

-Pipe "condiments" on top of chocolate half, making sure they show on the edges. You don't really need much in the middle at all. 

-Place "bun" top on burger.

-Brush top with just a little simple syrup (see below) to keep chocolate sprinkles from sliding off. 

Simple Syrup

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

-Bring to a boil, let cool.

Corn on the Cob Cupcakes

1 box Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Butter Golden Cake Mix

1 can Duncan Hines Creamy Homestyle Buttercream Frosting

2 cups yellow jellybeans (we used Jelly Belly Buttered Popcorn - available at Dylan's Candy Bar)

Yellow Starburst Candies (also available by the color at Dylan's)

2 Tablespoons granulated sugar

Wooden skewers or corn on the cob holders (optional)

-Bake cupcakes according to package instructions. Let cool.

-Spread buttercream frosting on each cupcake.

-Take jellybeans and create rows going across each cupcake to resemble corn cobs.

-Place three cupcakes together to create the illusion of corn on the cob. You can also use a skewer to keep them together or place corn on the cob holders on the ends.

-Place one starburst "butter" on the middle cupcake, and sprinkle with a little sugar to look like "salt."

-Enjoy!