A hot pair of shoes solves everything

Last week I was looking through Banana and Jcrew catalogues for style inspirations,  ideas for outfits for my upcoming vacation.  Then over the weekend I looked through the Chicos mailer.  I cut out pictures of some of the outfits, made some notes.  Then I went shopping, I  hit TJ Max, Marshalls and Forever 21, and spent a quarter of what I would have spent in Banana and Jcrew.   

When I got home I thought I’d blog about it.  I would write about my packing OCDs, my outfits of the day, which styles inspired me and my cheaper versions.  It would be perfect!   But of course , my dear Mother who’s staying with us for a couple of months threw out my ripped pages from the magazines while I was at work.  My outfit inspirations…What!  I had a plan, I was going to scan those pictures, take pictures of my outfits and blog about it …my whole blog revolved around this!

In a second I was in 1985 all over again, my mother would come into my room clean it, and literally throw everything out.  Probably her way of teaching me to clean my room…”if it’s on the floor, I’m throwing it out, so you better put it away”.  This would include papers, make up, anything loose that was on the floor, it was history.  Things would just disappear.  Did this make me clean my room…Uhh no.  I never cleaned my room.  What a screwed up cycle, it went on for years. 

My dear Mom she is the sweetest thing, but she throws everything away.  You leave it on the counter and walk away for a couple of hours, when you come back, I assure you it will be gone.   So here I am, in my 40’s with a family of my own, a life of my own, and my own OCDs and idiosyncrasies.  In a second I’m brought back to the insecurities, uncertainty and vulnerabilities of my teen years.     

My Mommy…  what now?  Do I tell her... it’s my house, how dare she throw my stuff away... 

What did I do.  I brought her to Starbucks.  Yes, Starbucks.  You see my parents have been staying with us a couple of months, We’re all going on a family vacation in a few weeks.  Then they’re going back to their place in Portugal.  We probably won’t see them until maybe Christmas.  Sounds sad right?  So after Starbucks I bought her a pair of shoes for our vaca!  Aren’t they hot?

 

 

 

 

 

Yes a pair of Ann Klein shoes solved everything...

 

XO

Teresa

The “C” word, it’s everywhere

Today I called Sylvia from the Designer Workroom, wanting to let her know I was getting ready to order fabric for chairs, told her about the sidemark, to expect the fabric and the purchase order next week.  We did our normal small talk.  You know, how’s everything? How’s the family.  I told her that maybe I would write about her in my next blog.  I’ve been thinking of writing how the economy has affected workrooms in New York.  Little did I know what was coming next.  I said maybe I’ll stop by next week.  Then, awkward silence;  and she said, “early next week I’m having a few treatments done, and I get very tired afterwards, but Friday is good”.  So I start with my questions… Sylvia, everything ok?  You alright?

One day Sylvia noticed a little bit of blood, went to the doctor, had a sonogram,  then an MRI and was told  her uterus wall was a little thick.  Some of us have heard these words from our GYNs.  She had a DNC, then an ablasion.  When they sent the results to the lab they found the big “C”, Ovarian Cancer.  That’s it, just like that….speechless.  Sylvia would be high risk for surgery so the only option is radiation.  Devastation. 

I’ve been dealing with GYN problems and might need more surgery.  It was so scary to hear the “C” word come from Sylvia’s mouth.  I told her to be strong and that I would pray for her.  She sounded very optimistic.  The thought of her optimism makes me smile right now.  But Sylvia’s words keep playing in my head.  “Cancer is everywhere”, she said “everyone that I ever lost was from Cancer”.  She said she has no pain, just the treatments are very painful, but there’s a big chance of full recovery, and having had a PAP every year helped detect it early.  Sylvia is taking it head on and being strong.   I can relate a little bit to loosing people from the “C” word.  And if there’s a lesson to be learned from this is that we should keep up with our yearly PAP exams.  Early detection is the key. 

Sylvia told me today, her workroom is open for business and they’re busy.  I urge you to support Sylvia from Designer’s Workroom Services in NY and her workroom.  It’s good to keep her busy.  She is an amazing, talented woman, I've been using her workroom for 10 years and her work is beautiful!

 

Xo,
Teresa

The Big Leagues, Super Bowl and Furniture Market

Many exciting things coming up in the next couple of months. Valentine's Day, my 19 year wedding anniversary, and my family vacation. Me, hubs, the kids and my parents are going on a cruise. How exciting! I could pack today, but even I know packing now is a wee bit too early. 

Speaking of exciting things tomorrow is Super Bowl Sunday.  Although this year we're not too excited about that.  Why you ask?  I’ll quote my 16 year old son “the teams suck this year”.  Personally, I think my son and the hubs are just pissed that the Jets have sucked the last 2 years.  But shhhh, don’t tell them I said that.


With Spring around the corner, soon the weather will be nicer.  A  little more sun, much needed Vitamin D, and hopefully we'll be  a lot less cranky.  With spring,  comes the furniture market. High Point Market this year is running April 20th through the 25th.  It's the biggest furniture market in the galaxy.  With about 2000 showrooms in High Point, North Carolina.  About 12 million sq. feet, and 180 buildings.  About 75,000 people getting inspirations, ideas, checking out new products and planning for next season.  If you love furniture, fashion and decorating, it’s like Christmas on steroids.

 

A long time ago in a galaxy far away I worked for Levitz Furniture.  Market week was the busiest, most fun, and most stressful time of the year.  Meeting with vendors, we were wined and dined.  Picked out new product line, fabric and accessories.  This was the big leagues for me!  I was the Assistant buyer; I worked at Levitz for 10 years.  Of course I started out as a decorator, and moved all the way up the corporate ladder; All the way up to…Assistant Buyer.  And if you think that sounds lame, there’s irony here…when Levitz started going through bankruptcy, and restructuring, many of us, including me were demoted and became Assistants to the Assistant buyers.  Assistants to the assistants…lol

 

We still did all the work, planning, ordering, replenishing, setting up store layout, and vignettes and all the reports.  Come to think of it, I really don’t know what my boss did.  Hopefully furniture stores got a little smarter and figured out that you don’t need to pay salaries to the buyer, the assistant buyer and the assistant to the assistant to buy the furniture line-up.

 

Going to High Point was an amazing experience.  To see the newest looks and plan for the newest trends.  Next, I definitely want to someday go to the Tupelo Market in Mississippi.  Maybe next year, or next galaxy.

 

 

Xo

Teresa

 

 

 

Penne alla Vodka and brownies

A woman at work told me she wanted to whip up something quick for dinner. Did I have any ideas? I told her she should make Penne alla Vodka, she said she didn't know how to make it. What? This woman makes the best brownies ever. Everybody at work loves her brownies. She brings them in on people's birthdays, wedding showers, baby showers. She puts silly little decorative food picks in them, umbrella, feathers...you get the idea.

Nobody knows everything but everybody knows something, and I'm not a fan of keeping recipes a big mystery. I start by heating up the water for the pasta; Hint, by the time the pasta's done, the Vodka sauce will be ready. Cook the Penne pasta according to the directions on the box.  I use Penne Rigatoni.

Some people cook sauce for hours, I'm always in a hurry and the sauce comes out great. In a deep sauce pan sautee a little garlic and oil, then add 1- 8oz can of tomato sauce, I use Hunts. 

Next is a couple of spices.   Add approximately 1 Tbsp. of Basil, 1 Tbsp. of Oregano, I use McCormick's organic. Also 1 Tbsp. of Sugar. I usually "eye" the dried herb spices, just pour it into the palm of your hand, if it looks like it could be 1 Tbsp., it’s good!

Mix it all together, then add 1 pint of heavy cream, I use Tuscan. Then add 1/8 oz. of Vodka, I use Grey Goose.  Bring the sauce to a boil, then simmer on low for 10 min.  Drain the pasta, and add it to the Vodka sauce.  

That's  Penne alla Vodka.  Brownies eat your heart out.

 


Teresa
xo 

Cutsey DIY Valentine's Wreath

The holidays are over and in New York it almost seems like Spring. It's the middle of January and it's a frigid 50 degrees...burr; not!

 

It's so nice outside, and my mind is racing.  I'm thinking...Spring Celebration.   Flowers, baskets, lillies, violets, pinks, yellows and everything else Spring.  I know this sounds crazy, but this is coming from the same person that decorated for Christmas the week before Thanksgiving. 

 

My front door seemed lonely.  I thought a nice transition into spring would be a Valentine's Wreath. 

What do I do?  Go to Michaels.  I'm not much into the adorable, cutsey, crafty stuff, but when I got to Michaels I saw so many adorable, cutsey things.  I was completely overwhelmed with all the spring colors, the flowers, wreaths, candles, and whimsical  chachkas.  Exactly what I was trying to avoid.

If you're wondering why I tend to stay away from cute and everything "cutsey", I think it goes way back to when I was a teenager.  I was the girl that was "cute",   not..."pretty", not..."hot", and not..."sexy",  but ...cute! I hated it.  I guess those were my shallow years.  If you call me cute now, I'll bake you cookies.  Ok, enough about that...that's another post. 

 

At Michael's I decided to do a crafty, cutsey wreath with a twist, to add a little funk.  I strayed from the ordinary and found a thin rectangular wood frame, light enough to hang on the door.  It has so much detail, rectangular shaped and unexpected...perfect!  I got a pink floral heart wreath, smaller in size to fit inside the frame, and a black bow. I love pink and black.

On the way to cash out at Michael's, I passed an isle filled with whimsical letters, in  all different shapes and  sizes.  I figured I'd go all out on the "cutsey" theme and decided to personalize my wreath with the letter "F".    

 

And then, there it was...
My  crafty and yes! cutsey DIY Valentine's Wreath. 

xo
Teresa

Personalized wooden frame, framing a floral heart wreath , toped off with a bow 

Thin rectangular frame from Michaels

 

 

   Krylon spraypaint in  satin beige

 

 

Flower Heart Wreath

Black Satin Bow for top of wreath

 

 

 

Letter "F" to personalize 

Hot Glued letter "F" to bottom corner of frame

 

Cutsey DIY Valentine's Wreath 

xo

Back in the Christmas Spirit

Christmas music is streaming from my iphone in the kitchen, my parents visiting from Portugal and  my Mother in law is up from FL.   The kids are home; on the stove top, I have a simmer scent of water, cinnamon, orange peel and  vanilla that makes the house smell like one big Cinnabon.  Everything seems just perfect, except in the back of my mind I know I’m probably having hysterectomy surgery in a few weeks and a virtual slide show keeps playing in my head of those innocent little angels from the  Sandy Hook shooting.   So, before anything I want to offer my deepest condolences to the families who suffered such a tremendous lost on that day.  As for my imminent hysterectomy I hope it doesn’t hurt! 

 

Simmer scent of orange peel, cinnamon stick, vanilla and water  

 

 

Christmas is around the corner I wanted to stay in the Christmas spirit so what did I do?  I decided to bake Pizza...

 

Yesterday I made semi-homemade pizza.  I go through stages where I make pizza every week.  In a small pan I marinated garlic and olive oil, added one 12 oz. can of Hunts tomato sauce and added a little water. The sauce looks thick enough to look like Ketchup.   Next I added basil, oregano and sugar.  One tsp. each, and I usually “eye” this to pour what looks like would be 1 tsp. into the palm of my hand, then into the sauce.  The sauce was enough sauce for two pies. 

 

 

As the tomato sauce cooked, I added 2 lbs. ground beef to a skillet, used a spatula to break up the pieces, and let it cook until the meat turned brown. For the Pizza crust, I love the 12" Boboli crust.   It's so easy, just open the bag and add the sauce, cheese and toppings.   The meat topping for the second pie is Hormel Pepperoni.

 

 

 

For the Ricotta sauce, it's one cup of Polly-O Ricotta cheese for both pies, then I “eyed” about 1 tsp. each of McKormick basil,  oregano and sugar. Usually I add 1 egg, but I was out of eggs yesterday.  And the Ricotta sauce was just fine without it.

 



 "eyeing " 1 tsp. of basil

 

My daughter's hand helping me hold the Basil for the picture...I just Love her! 

 

 

 

 

Shop Rite Mozzarella cheese is half the price of brand names and it tastes great.

While the meat was cooking, I poured the sauce onto the pie crust, and, like they do in the movies, using the back of the spoon,  I moved it in a spiral out from the center of the crust until it reached about ½” edge of the crust.

 

 

Three spoonfulls of ricotta, then sprinkled the cheese, next the meat. After sprinkling another layer of  Mozzarella and a little more Ricotta, the Pizzas baked for approx 10 mints at 450. 

 

 

 

Today I baked Christmas cookies all day, maybe I'll post about it  next week.  But wanted to share with you how baking pizzas and being surrounded by my family, eating and laughing, and all the chaos that comes with having a house filled with people I love  was just what I needed to get back into the Christmas spirit.

Teresa xo

 

We materialize Christmas, including me.

 



It's finally here, the begining of Christmas. If you're  like me, I can't stop thinking about it.   Every day I think of something else to make my Christmas decorations more special.  The possibilities are endless.  Too bad the budget isn't!

 

This year I'm keeping the outside lighting decor simple.  Not using lights on the outside of the house.  I think the candles in the windows along with the wreaths with red bows have such a classic look.  Plus it's so much work to take the lights down at the end of the season.  I put so much effort into planning that by the end of December the last thing I want to do is take dozens of feet of lights down.

 

 

Front Stoop with Topiaries, Wreath and Nutcrackers

 

These are the same urns I used for Halloween.  For Christmas I'm using pre-lit boxwood topiary balls with red bows. On the door, a pre-lit battery operated wreath on a timer.

 

 

 

 

Army of nutcrackers

 

 

A tall mirror at the top of the steps, flanked by two 3' nutcrackers.  A half moon console table up against the mirror, with more nutcrackers on top.  Their reflection gives the illusion of an army of nutcrackers. 

 

 

 

 

Ho Ho HO

5' Santa greeting us in the foyer.  I got him at Walmart when my kids were little.  He's got a porcelain face, and his suit is made of a rich velvet damask, trimmed with fur.  He's adorable!

 

 

 

Santa on an end table

 

Tree in the Living Room.  Check out Toby on the recliner.

 

For the Christmas tree I used brown, green, gold and red. Using garland made of  red berries with  twigs throughout.  I love how the tree looks classic and traditional but the twigs give it a rustic, unexpected look. 

Nativity set in Dining Room

 

 

An antique Bible on a book stand, a nativity set and a plate with an embossed cross.  This year I bought a crystal cross and started a collection of religious crosses.   Hopefully, next year I'll have a few more to display.  

Christmas Village

 

I've been collecting pieces for my Christmas village for 18 years.  Have to admit they're not expensive pieces. Each is between $5 and $10.  Affordable and sweet.

 

 

 

Casual in the Den

 

  

It's where I keep the second tree.  My girlly tree.  The same room where I keep the Christmas village.  I carried the pink theme with a pink wreath above the sofa.  Last night my husband and I watched football here.  It looks sweet and not too overdone in pink.  Just fantabulous; between the fireplace, the Christmas village, the pink tree and my favorite winter treat...a hot chocolate.  Yum!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Keeping it simple outside. Wreaths with red bows and candles on the windows.  Pre-lit wreath on the door, Boxwood topiary balls with red bows  and the nativity set.



It reminds me of what this Holiday is all about.

We materialize Christmas, including me...big time!

 

I ordered the nativity set online 5 years ago and it was worth every penny.  It's my favorite thing.  It's about 3' tall, made of resin, with great detail.  During the Month of December, I display the set with out Jesus.  On Christmas eve, I'll wrap baby Jesus in a blanket and place him in his manger bed.

 

I love it!  Reminds me of what this Holiday is all about.

 

 

 

Teresa xo