The Best Thing I Ever Made

I was once married. We had a wonderful wedding, almost all handmade by me. I love tablesettings anyway, but for my wedding, I wanted the best. When the caterer told me I would be paying $6 per napkin rental, I knew exactly what to do with that roll of natural linen in my fabric stash: hand sew 126 dinner napkins with mitered hems. It was the most relaxing sewing project of my life. They looked wonderful at my wedding. They have survived countless parties and picnics. They match every scheme. I couldn't live without them now. They are the best thing I ever made.

My Perfect Winter Party

My Perfect Winter Party has been on my mind for mmmmm about 3 years. I live in Aspen, Colorado: 6 short blocks to the Gondola (and Starbucks), and I need to take this location up on its offer of spectacular snowboarding. My plan to develop the kind of friendships to keep me on the mountain and out of my craft room is to throw the Perfect Winter Party to get us excited for the upcoming season. All potential posse members will be invited. Who's in?

The vintage photo of the accordian player and plaid guests on my inspiration board says it all. I hope to knit up some cable invites and throw pillows to set the cozy mood in my apartment. I'll steal one of those scenic Aspen posters from work for the 'photo booth' background (as if we need a background), and I'm fanasizing about a 'bling out your goggles' activity. Fondue (both cheese and chocolate) and hot drinks are on the menu.

This blog is part of the Win Your Perfect Party contest sponsored by GigMasters. To find out how to enter visit Life of the Party. If I win, its an accordian player and fondue fountain for us!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Aspen

Trader Joe's Olive Tapenade Recipe: Puttanesca

Ok, this is totally cheating, and so not as good as simmering a true puttanesca all Sunday afternoon, but in a pinch: heat some chopped garlic in olive oil, add tomato sauce in a jar, throw in a heaping spoonful of Trader Joe's Olive Tapenade, some TJ capers and anchovies from the pantry, salt & pepper, and ala: puttanesca in a pinch.

Breaking Dawn B-Budget

November is normally my boo budget month, primarily caused by October's Halloween Bash. This November is the Breaking Dawn I premier and I must host a girls night in it's honor. I'm creating everything with supplies I already own: scrapbook paper, a computer, flour, and sugar.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Aspen

Breaking Dawn Breaking Budget

I have to have a breaking dawn party to celebrate Bella & Edward's upcoming wedding. If I had it my way, it would break my own wedding budget! I want crystal, imported moss and ferns, a white silk dress and invites in a box.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Aspen

Trader Joe's Olive Tapenade Recipe: Mahi Mahi

I picked up Rachel Ray's October magazine for some Halloween ideas. She had a recipe that I adapted for a really quick weeknight dinner. Olive crusted Mahi Mahi. I keep a bag of individually packaged Mahi Mahi filets in my freezer, and a jar of Trader Joe's Olive Tapenade Spread in the pantry.

1. Spread the olive tapenade onto a thawed Mahi Mahi filet.

2. While grilling the filet for 8 minutes, preheat the oven to broil and cook spaghetti and sauce from a jar. (Trader Joe's sells all of this)

3. Remove filet from grill, and broil filet for 2-3 minutes.

Trader Joe's

The first time I visited Trader Joe's was about ten years ago. I had just moved to Aspen (from a city with lots and lots of grocery stores) and started working for a skiwear (not snowboard) company. Things were different at the industry's annual trade show in Las Vegas. Straight off the plane, we all piled in rental cars and drove to Trader Joe's. Everyone bought boxes and boxes of cheap pantry food and alcohol, and cheap salads for lunch. It was amazing...this company had a truck that took these boxes home to Aspen!

I still stock my pantry whenever I travel near a Traders, packing everything into my suitcase and paying the extra $20 to check it. The industry's trade show is now in Denver, so often my co-workers have a TJ list for me to bring back. I bet the office goes through two dozen of Olive Tapenade Spread in a month! Stay tuned for some of my favorite uses for this little jar.