Planning My New Nest...The Presence Of Color or Not?

I have been looking for ideas for my new diggs ... when that time arrives and I can't decide whether I'll want my place to have the absence of color or the presence of a few accent colors and what they would be. I love pale turquoise, bits of lavender or lime green are fun. But I want everything clean, non fussy, simple.

Below...are photos of ideas I like =

clean

simple

turquoise

are you seeing my point?

neutral

bright

so what do you like?

what do you love?

how do you decorate?

what are your colors?

On Ice... Rest in the nest!

ON ICE

not this kind

not this kind

yep....this is it!

knee surgery on 11/30

and I am NOT a stay at home girl! So I am making plans on what will occupy my time for at least 2 weeks away from my job in the Health Room at school and then light duty when I return. You see I won't be allowed to run with a wheelchair, perform CPR, blah, blah, blah. I know I've told you I love my job...so this is a set back but only temporary.

I've never had any kind of bone or joint repairs. Lucky. Blessed. Tonsils and Adenoids, 2 C- sections, Hysterectomy, 1 Kidney removed but this is more intimidating because it might keep me down! So I've planned ahead...(if pain isn't involved of course, lol) to make cards for Christmas, to donate to local places for fundraisers, to learn some simple beading techniques, watch a few dvds I have wanted to see, and not gain 89 lbs.!!!

so a pedicure is a priority while I can bend my knee

crafts have been purchased at Michael's (with many a coupon I might add)

I've made a list of dvds I would like to see (some I've seen but that never bothers me)

my Kindle is loaded

I'm ready to be as good as new.
If any of you know of someone in the military that would like to have cards sent to them,

it would be an honor to make cards and personalize them for someone special.

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" To get something you you never had, you have to do something you never did.

  When God takes something from your grasp, 

He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better."

" The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."

Here's The Scoop!

it's hot,sticky,humid....

if you were a dessert

what kind of plate would you want to be on and what would you be?

TARGET

West Elm

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

YIELD: Makes 6 servings


Ingredients: 1 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar 6 ice cream sandwiches (3.5 ounces each) 2 1.5-ounce candy bars or 1/2 cup chocolate chips, chopped

Line an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan with a piece of wax paper or parchment, allowing the paper to hang over both long sides.

In a large bowl, beat the cream and sugar until stiff peaks form.

In the bottom of the pan, arrange 3 of the sandwiches in a single layer, cutting them to fit as necessary. Spread with half the whipped cream. Repeat with the remaining sandwiches and whipped cream.

Sprinkle the top of the cake with the chopped candy bar. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, at least 1 hour and up to 1 week.

Holding both sides of the paper overhang, lift the cake out of the pan and transfer to a platter. Discard the paper, slice the cake, and serve.

sounds terrif doesn't it?

Cream Puff Friday and Whipped Cream Whites

i was thinking about white and cream today

so here it goes...

 Good white

White as the driven snow - pure, clean, innocent
White elephant - rare, valuable but perhaps unwanted
White knight - someone who comes to another person's rescue, someone perceived as being good, noble
White list - list of good or acceptable items
White sale - sale of sheets, towels, other linens
Pearly white - teeth, especially very white teeth

Bad white

Whitewash - cover up, conceal

Whiteout - zero visibility

White flag - surrender
White lightning - moonshine, illegal whiskey
White elephant - rare, valuable but perhaps unwanted
white knuckle - something that is fast, exciting, or frightening

Beige: bisque, taupe, sand, shell, sandstone, barley, oatmeal, putty, khaki, wheat, mushroom, chamois, grain, champagne, clay, pebble, fawn, almond, buff, flax, cafe au lait, Bare Beige, Cord Beige, Flax Beige, Canvas Beige,, Sandstone, Biscuit Tan, Oakleaf, Spanish Moss, Buff, Sand, Smoky Beige, French Beige, Nacre, Cream, String , Peach Beige, Sahara Sand, Praline Cream, Ancient Amber, Pearl Bisque, Buff

White Words: These words are synonymous with white or represent various shades of the color white.
Snow, pearl, antique white, ivory, chalk, milk white, lily, smoke, seashell, old lace, cream, linen, ghost white, beige, cornsilk, alabaster, paper, whitewash.

I hope you had fun with the info and photos, it's always fun to dream in cream, think of Snow White and there's a lovely blog to follow also called Dream In Cream .... go there right now and also check out Dreamy Whites. Blogspot is wonderful when it features White Wednesday too. Jennifer

Not Just Any Day At The Beach ... Recipes, Family and Summer NJ Style!

    hot news, hot grill and ME going on and on..

I'm always looking for new recipes for the grill. Something light. Don't get me wrong...coming from an Italian family - we're big on sausage, peppers and onions, lots of garlic, LOTS of garlic. Pasta, bread. Fresh crunchy crust bread. In fact the best bagels I've ever had are in New Jersey . They have a French Toast bagel that is....well it's yummo and not listed in the calorie counter book. I'm sure it's several days of Weight Watcher points. Holy Canoli! So, moving right along....

I've seen several recipes for Shrimp Skewers that sounded delish. Lemon wedges in between those garlic marinated plump babies along with red onions. Lime marinated sea creatures ready to be inhaled after you have roasted them with avocado wrapped pancetta. Ohhh Mama Leone! Slices of bread ready to sop up the juices. Yes... bellas SOP!
                
You Will Need

1/2 fresh pineapple, trimmed and cut into 1-inch chunks
3 medium nectarines, cut into 1-inch chunks

3 medium pears, cut into 1-inch chunks

3 medium fresh peaches, cut into 1-inch chunks

3 to 4 medium plums, cut into 1-inch chunks

10 apricots, halved

3 tablespoons honey or light corn syrup, warmed

What to Do
1. Thread fruit alternately onto metal or soaked bamboo skewers.

2. Grill, uncovered, over medium-hot heat until fruit is heated through, about 6 minutes, turning often. Brush with honey or corn syrup during the last minute of grilling time.

Serves 6

From Taste of Home Backyard Grilling

or...

How to make Grilled Fruit Skewers
1. Soak the skewers in cold water for 30 minutes.
2. Prepare a charcoal grill to medium heat.
3. Start threading the fruit onto the skewers,
beginning with strawberries, then pineapple,
then papaya, and mango. Continue alternating among the four.
 4. Grill the fruit, turning as necessary, for about 6-8 minutes.
 Grill time will vary depending on ripeness of fruit.
5. Remove the skewers from the grill and serve over scoops of Butter Pecan Ice Cream.
Ingredients
skewers
1 container large strawberries, cleaned
2 mangos, peeled and seeded
1/2 large papaya, peeled and seeded
1/2 pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into even pieces
1 carton Butter Pecan Ice Cream

I'm an only child. When I was little I used to pretend I had 9 brothers and sisters. In fact, I used to tell people I had 9 brothers and sisters when I would first meet them. I think of was about 7. Then my mom would call and say "Can you please send Jennifer home, she's an

only child and I am a little protective of her." Awww Mooommm! But when I was with my cousins ... that Big loving family with the open door policy - heaven.

Two Grandmas lived there always.

Friends could stay over, friends could move in.

When I would ask if there was enough dinner for me to stay, my cousin Linda 

 would say "if we can feed 8, why can't we feed 1 more?".  So when I drive up from Maryland to be with the Mondelli's ... it's not about

romance

it's about.... family        
9:32 am doctor called blood work fine - ct scan clear - 1 year cancer free
thank you with all my heart for your prayers  Jennifer