As a typical prom night would go we went to our friends house,  had corsages and boutineer’s for the couples (carnations, of course). Slammed a few beers/ drinks, took some group shots and loaded into the big SUV to a prom style dinner at A restaurant. It was a full house and we received many stares, which of course is all part of the fun… a few burgers, martini’s and laughs later we were on our way to “prom.”  Arriving fashionably late, we mingled, had our couples photo taken against the backdrop and drank a few, unchaperoned beverages…

AND Prom night ended, how every prom ends… we passed out!

Cheers to Ronée and a Happy 40th Bday!

to view more festive shots from the night

I’m spending the holiday in Alabama with my family. Aunts, cousins, mom, sister– we are a houseful of women, NO men… so to pass the time we are eating and cooking. I stumbled upon this simple, easy and delicious recipe and wanted to share. But be careful you will eat all of them faster than they cook. They are so yummy… enjoy!

makes apprx 15

browned to perfection

COCONUT MACAROONS
Prep time 10 minutes/ bake time 20 minutes

1 package (7 oz) angel flake Coconut sweetened flakes

1/3 cup sugar

3 Tbsp. flour

2 egg whites

1/8 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. almond extract

MIX coconut, sugar, flour and salt in large bowl. Stir in egg whites and almond extract until well blended. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto greased and floured cookie sheet(s).
BAKE at 325 degrees for 20 minutes or until edges and bottom of cookies are golden brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet(s) to wire racks. Cool completely. Makes about 15 cookies

The Laundress makes a ton of detergents, fabric care and specialty products that solve your most annoying clothing issues- hence the SWEATER STONE.

It’s so easy to use, the pumice like stone is very light and you use downward motions to “shave” the pilling away. Its so easy and stores away in the sleeve for no snagging. This little miracle has saved me some $$ and resurrected my previous season’s sweaters and clothing. I am so pleased with the sweater stone and the laundress brand, that I just wanted to share.

If you order online enter “2009Catalog” and get 15% off your first order.

The Laundress was started by two women in NYC, who started the eco-chic line. Frustrated that the majority of their own personal clothing called for DRY CLEAN only they researched and sourced for more options. Upon their discovery they used ingredients that were free of toxic chemicals. They value the importance of properly cared for clothing and home linens. Both have backgrounds in fiber science, textile and apparel management.

Last week we celebrated my 30- ish bday at our house, the theme was Pizza+Beer+Cupcakes. It was so fun seeing old friends and getting caught up. I spent almost 2 entire days cooking cupcakes from Martha Stewart’s cupcake book. Everyone showed up bearing wine, champagne, or a gift even though the invite specifically stated NO GIFTS. So to all of you who who didn’t listen and even those who did- THANK YOU for making it such a festive evening.

Every few weeks a new sweepstakes contest will be posted, This week CLEEO Collection is featured.
Check out the interview below and browse the Pippa Lee Movie Facebook page.

About the movie:
From all outward appearances, Pippa Lee (ROBIN WRIGHT PENN) leads a charmed existence. An anchor of feminine serenity, she is the devoted wife of an accomplished publisher (ALAN ARKIN) thirty years her senior, the proud mother of two grown children, and a trusted friend and confidant to all who cross her path. But as Pippa dutifully follows her husband to a new life in a staid Connecticut retirement community, her idyllic world and the persona she has built over the course of her marriage will be put to the ultimate test.

In truth, the gracious woman of the present day has seen more than her fair share of turmoil in her past – an array of erotic misadventures, a diet-pill-addicted mother and the suicide of an exotic rival – until finding love and security in a family of her own. Embarking on a bittersweet journey of self-discovery, along with help from a new, strange and soulful acquaintance (KEANU REEVES), Pippa must now confront both her volatile past and the hidden undercurrents of her seemingly placid world to find the true sense of self which has always eluded her. By turns wry, humorous, and emotionally exacting, THE PRIVATE LIVES OF PIPPA LEE presents the complex portrait of the many lives behind a single name.

freshly baked

ready to enjoy

Butternut squash, Sage and Ricotta Cannelloni
(serves 4 prep time 35 min, Total time 1.25 hrs)

Ingredients:
3 tblspns olive oil + more for baking dish and sheet
coarse salt + pepper
8 wide lasagna noodles
(to achieve the right shape make sure to buy wide lasagna noodles instead of regular)
1/2 butternut squash (about 1lb) peeled, seeded and cut into 1-inch chunks
2 shallots, chopped
1/4 cup + 2 tblspns milk
1 tspn finely chopped fresh sage leaves + 8-10 whole leaves
1/8 tspn ground nutmeg
2 cups ricotta (15 oz)
3/4 cup grated Parmesan

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly oil a 2-quart or 8″ square baking dish.
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente (4-5 min). Using tongs, transfer pasta to a lightly oiled rimmed baking sheet. Add squash to boiling water and cook until tender, about 10 minutes.
Drain squash and transfer to a bowl.

2 In a small skillet, heat 1 tblspn oil over med. Add shallots, season with salt and pepper, cook until soft about 5 minutes. Transfer to bowl with squash and add 2 tblspns milk, chopped sage and nutmeg; season with salt and pepper. Mash with a fork until a rough purée forms.

3 Spread 1/4 cup squash mixture crosswise down the middle of each noodle; roll up noodle and place, seam side down, in baking dish. In a bowl, combine ricotta, 1/2 cup Parmesan and 1/4 cup milk and season with salt and pepper. Spread ricotta mixture over cannelloni and top with 1/4 cup Parmesan. Bake until warmed through, about 25 minutes. Broil until top is browned, 2-3 minutes.

4 Meanwhile in a small skillet, heat 2 tblspns oil over medium-high. Fry whole sage leaves until crispy, 15-20 seconds. Drain on paper towel. Serve cannelloni topped with fried sage.

Voila! Delicious.

Notre Dame

interior Notre Dame

St. Germain des Prés-oldest church in Paris (originating 542) Romanesque style with round—not pointed—arches over the aisles of the nave.

interior arches St. Germain

one of many interior stained glass St. Germain

St. Sulpice-started in 1646, it took more than a century to be built

St. Sulpice

St. Sulpice

Sainte Chapelle-home to the oldest stained-glass windows in Paris, originally built for Paris royalty and to house Christ’s Crown of Thorns

1st level of Sainte Chapelle

upstairs detail

15 stained glass windows soaring 50 ft to vaulted roof

The Louvre has about 35,000 pieces of art in its collection-more than 645,000 square feet of exhibition space. It started as a medieval fortress, then a royal residence before opening its doors as the Museum Central des Arts at the end of the 18th century. There is no way to see everything in one day… and we only previewed the outside. The three most popular and well known pieces of art on exhibit at the Louvre: Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and Winged Victory.

As we walked back to our flat (jet lag has fully hit me) we took the scenic street which runs along The Seine- which flows through the heart of Paris. This river divides the City of Lights into two banks, the Rive Droite (right bank) which is the side where we are staying. The left side is called Rive Gauche. The bridges and river boats are so charming against the backdrop of thousand year old buildings.
* reference info by Fodor’s Paris 2010
view photos by clicking on photo below:

My dad would have been so proud of the party we threw in his honor, all his friends, family, and our friends were there to think of him, tell stories, share memories and celebrate his life. All while listening to his requested play list: The Doors, Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Buddy Guy, Muddy Waters, Janice Joplin, Junior Wells, Buffalo Springfield, Rolling Stones and Bruce Springsteen (specifically requested “Born To Run”), and eating his favorite desserts; key lime and lemon meringue pies.

In honor of Fred A. Epner, we created a 20 minute photo movie which you can view by clicking here.
Below are a few photos from the Party. To view others click here
or view this link to browse and purchase photos.