There was a damp chill in the air, the winds were whipping, and sand was flying everywhere, but that didn’t stop little a and I from celebrating the first anniversary of our “Big A, Little A” kick-off one year ago! We braved the elements and headed, at the crack of dawn, to the place of our first […]
Author Archives: Ann
I happily volunteered to bake cupcakes for my brother-in-law’s retirement party this past Saturday. The guest list included 55 adults and 15 children, so I decided to bake a variety that would appeal to kids of all ages! The choices included: Chocolate cake/buttercream frosting, Carrot cake/cream cheese frosting, White cake/chocolate ganache icing, Strawberry cake/strawberry frosting, […]
11
May
May
Here’s the next recipe in my new series “Super Simple Italian”, a collection of first-dish pasta recipes inspired by the tasty meals that my mother-in-law served daily to her family. It is very easy to prepare and (if you like peas) it is simply delicious! Here are the main ingredients…and, of course, you’ll need plenty […]
There was lots of internet hoopla about the unveiling of Cricut’s newest machine, Cricut Cake. It was introduced as a “Today’s Special” on HSN a few weeks ago, and my friend, Teresa, ordered it. I was very tempted to get one of my own, but Teresa offered me the opportunity to “play” with hers and […]
I was rifling through my enormous stash of cotton fabrics recently and I wondered, “what am I going to do with all this” and “how did this stash get so big”? (okay…you know as well as I do how it got that big.) But, now what? As there were many colors, prints and coordinates to […]
My Italian-born mother-in-law is a wonderful cook. She has always made delicious “first-dish” pasta meals using relatively few basic ingredients and seasonings, and she has the gift of knowing how to blend these perfectly! On any given day, when faced with my favorite dilemma “what am I going to cook tonight”, my thoughts go directly […]
06
Apr
Apr
I knitted this pretty blanket for dear baby Annabel Maeve, the newest little member of our growing family! The pattern is called “Cascading Colors Baby Blankie“, and the instructions and materials list can be found on the Lion Brand website. It knits up very quickly because you hold two yarns together and use size 17 […]
This past summer, I took advantage of a “Today’s Special” at HSN and purchased the Cricut Personal Electronic Cutter. They offered it as a bundle which included the cutting machine and several accompanying cartridges. I will admit that when it arrived, I looked at it with a bit of wonder and confusion. Why did I […]
24
Mar
Mar
Without a doubt, this is one of the best-tasting cookies ever! Crispy on the outside; tender and soft on the inside. Just perfect. This cookie happens to be an all-time favorite of little a, who will be visiting on Friday to attend a family party. While she is here, my favorite little geek will help […]
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I share this Irish knit baby blanket. Some things I make, and give away…some things I make, and just put away. This has become one of those little treasures that I choose to hold on to until…whenever…(I’ll say no more 🙂 When little a worked at an upscale Manhattan […]
I am fortunate to belong to the “Bayberry Babes”, a small group of lovely ladies who take time to care, share and celebrate each other’s birthday with dinner at a favorite restaurant, a little wine, and lots of laughs! We’re meeting tomorrow night, and it’s my turn to bake the cake. This was my very […]
Amigurumi is the Japanese art of crocheting (or knitting) tiny stuffed animals and dolls. Along with Tawashi, it is a craft that is wildly popular with yarn crafters. Books on the subject and free internet patterns abound (a great resource is the Lion Brand website). A crochet hook, scraps of yarn and a little bit […]
Big mistake. I’m really a Dunkin’ Donuts kinda girl, but I stopped at Starbucks to try one of their “skinny” coffees (as if I really believe that). Without any warning, the words “I’ll take a slice of lemon pound cake” just flew out of my mouth. Nothing “skinny” about that. It was ever so moist, […]
The last thing my hips needed was a new-found love affair with rice pudding. I’m really not sure why or how it happened, but I’m certain that it’s here to stay. I found this recipe on Allrecipes, and it is well-worth the effort. Here’s the link to the original recipe: Creamiest Rice Pudding. After reading […]
06
Feb
Feb
I thought that Valentine’s Day would be the perfect time to say “thanks” to those special people who, without always knowing it, make some days a little brighter through their caring and kindness. I’m thinking about the school bus driver who patiently waits for my daycare kindergartener as he makes an urgent trip to the […]