Harper Valley

Pine Cone Turkey Craft

Looking for a simple last minute Thanksgiving craft?  Try making these Pine Cone Turkeys with the kiddos.  You can add them to your buffet line or table centerpiece for something colorful and fun.  Here's what you need to make your festive turkeys:

Supplies

• Pine cones
• Glue
• Feathers
• Pipe cleaners

Step #1: Go on a nature walk and collect pine cones.

 

 

Step #2: Lay a pine cone on it's side and glue feathers to the larger end.  This is the turkey's tail.

 

Step #3: Cut a pipe cleaner in half.  Fold one of the halves loosely.  Then bend the folded end over slightly.  Glue the straight loose ends to the smaller end of the pine cone.  This is the turkey's neck and head.   

 

Step #4: Enjoy your turkey masterpiece!

 

We had lots of leftover pipe cleaners, so my uber creative niece, Avery found several new and inventive ways to use them.  Side note: When did pipe cleaners become "chenille stems"?   I noticed this fancy wording on the package.  Hilarious.  Anyhoo....

Avery covered her headband with a pipe cleaner that matched her outfit.  Quite the fuzzy fashion statement, dontcha think?

Then she created a beautiful collage of Fall trees using leaves and glitter for the tree tops, and pipe cleaners for the tree trunks.  

After that, we wrapped the remaining "stems" around some thick branches for colorful walking sticks to be used on our next nature walk.

 

Miss Meagan used some leftover feathers and glitter to make a polka-dot feather collage.  How cute!

New Moon Premier

 
  
New Moon is here.  At last!  It opened in theaters yesterday, and I've already seen it twice.  I started off with a midnight showing of the movie on Thursday night (aka Friday morning).  Then I did it all over again Friday night after work.  Whew!  It was a marathon but I finished the race. 

Critics aren't giving New Moon high rankings, but I disagree with them.  What do they know anyway?  It was great... a definite improvement from Twilight.  They honored the book well, and the music was hot.  Think I'll download the soundtrack this weekend. 

My favorite line from the movie was surprisingly from Charlie, Bella's father.  As he checks on his depressed, heartbroken daughter, he leans over her bed and says..."Sometimes you have to learn to love what's good for you."  I thought...So true, so true.  Easier said than done, but thanks for the reminder, Charlie Boy.  I need to hear that daily.   

Here are some pix from the last 24 hours of my life...

Me and Sabrina {hostess supreme}.  She set up a special New Moon soiree for her vampy/wolfie freak friends.  We started with a pre-party at Fiddler's Green, and then moved the fun to Aloma Cinema Grill for the midnight showing.  Everyone sported their best New Moon gear --- custom shirts, glitter, fangs, fur, and flannel.  I couldn't choose between Team Edward and Team Jacob, so I went Switzerland with my shirt.  Apparently, my message tee was confusing to several folks who thought "I love them both" referred to my lovely girls.  While I do cherish my bosom dearly, that's not what the shirt meant.  We had a good laugh over that.

 

Cherie joined me at the party.  She's represented her wolf pack, Team Jacob..with a stylish fur vest.  Very furry and chic indeed! 

 

Time for Round Two at Winter Park Village.  Here I am with some of my fave work peeps, Lauren and Monique.  We showed up two hours early, armed with camping chairs and a cooler.  Shockingly, there was barely a line, so we ditched our tailgate paraphernalia and hung out on the Crispers patio for convo and cocktails.  As we sauntered up to the theater 30 minutes before showtime, we quickly realized that there WAS a line..we just didn't see it.  Oy!  Despite the crowd of amped up tweeners, we still scored decent seats.  It was a close call though. 

 

And finally..the best pictures of all....

How can I choose between Fangs?

Or Fur?

 

New Floors

Hello my friends.  Sorry I've been away so long.  Just not enough hours in the day.  PLUS...I just got new floors installed.  Life's been crazy for the past month.  So here below you can see the finished product.  The before shots don't look as bad as they did in person. But trust me...my floors were horrid.  Between the kittie hairball vomit and me spilling wine every weekend, the cheap carpets lived a long and full life.  It was time for them to go to a better place. 

As I cleaned up the aftermath and moved things back into place, I noticed how dirty my stuff was compared to the clean floors.  The furnishings that I thought were perfectly fine seemed filthy slapped up against the new flooring.  It reminded me of how I used to be so comfortable with emotional dirt that I didn't realize how thick the film on me had grown.  It was only when I nestled myself up against something fresh and clean that I realized how messy my life was.  Dirt cannot hide in the light.  Let that marinate for a while. Chew on it and let me know your thoughts. 

Before

 

After

Before

 

After

  

Before

 

After

 

Pumpkin Cupcakes

OK, so I know Halloween is over.  But...I made these pumpkin cupcakes for Halloween and figured you could still use the recipe well into November/December, 86 the skull and crossbones.  Pumpkin is Fall.  Fall is pumpkin.  Bon appetit!

Pumpkin Cupcakes by Martha Stewart

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp coarse salt
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp ground allspice
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 can (15 oz) pumpkin puree

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside.  In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, butter, and eggs.  Add dry ingredients, and whisk until smooth.  Whisk in pumpkin puree.
3. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling each about halfway.   Bake until tops spring back when touched, and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 20-25 minutes, rotating pans once if needed.  Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.
4. Top with your favorite cream cheese frosting.

Makes 18 cupcakes 

Bedroom Redesign

Hey everyone!  I just finished a bedroom redesign and thought you might like to see the before/after shots.  The homeowner was seeking a more cohesive look in her bedroom.  She said I could anything I wanted to the room, as long as I used the framed map of Barbados that belonged to her dad.  So I said..okay, I can do that! 

Do you have a room that you're exasperated with and not sure what to do?  Send me a message here.  I can redesign your room to look brand new using what you already own.  Redesign is affordable one-day decorating.  I want you to fall in love with your home again!  Contact me today, and I'll get your home in shape for the holidays.

Problem: The homeowner wasn't sure what to do with this large alcove on the right side of her bedroom.  She also didn't like the patterned rug under the bed.

 

Solution: I filled up the alcove with her dresser, a chair, a pillow, a lamp, some wall art, and accessories.  Now the alcove has a purpose. I swapped out her patterned rug for a solid one that contrasted her bedding vs. competing with it.

 

Problem: The dresser on the left side of the bed made the room feel crowded and unbalanced.  The art over the bed didn't follow the lines of the bed frame, and the art on the left was too small for the scale of the large wall.

 

Solution: I replaced the dresser with a small antique filing cabinet for a nightstand.  Then I added her wooden screen behind the bed to create texture and interest.  After that, I hung the Barbados map on the large wall and flanked it with the palm tree prints.

 

Problem: The large, open area above her closet housed some containers that made the space feel a little cluttered.  The palm tree by the vertical mirror was a bit small in relation to the large mirror.

 

Solution: I removed the containers from the closet area, and created one focal point with an interesting, woven tray and a silk plant.  Then I added an antique trunk to the mirror nook.  I accessorized the trunk with books, candles, rattan balls, and a large floral arrangement. 

 

With some rearranging and creative placement of the homeowner's existing accessories, she now has a room reminiscent of a luxurious resort in the West Indies. 

 
 
 

Halloween Costume Contest

 

Yesterday was the day.  The day of the office Halloween costume contest.  I haven't dressed up in years because I'm old and lame now...and not on the Halloween party circuit like I used to be.  So I was really excited to create an alter ego and be goofy for a day.  The majority of the team dressed up, so the creativity was abundant and the laughs were contagious. 

I dressed up as *Red Riding in the Hood* complete with fake nails, a boom box, tattoos, and of course my red cape.  I was on my way to my grandma's house in the Bronx.  Check out the winners below, and be sure to catch my video at the end for the full effect of our crazy day.  Halloween is so rad.  I heart it.

Red Riding in the Hood: I ain't scerred of no big, bad wolf.

Most Original: Michael Jackson, Before & After

Most Accessorized: Jem, the 80s cartoon rock star.

 
 
Scariest: Mini monster..scrappy and scary indeed.

Best Overall: Octomom, the ultimate multi-tasker.

 

Most Comical: We had a tie between Jeffrey, the creepy country club guy and Madea, everyone's favorite mama.  To break the tie, they had a dance off to Boom Boom Pow.  Check out the video below and crank up the volume! 

 

Have a Spooktacular Halloween!

A Night in NYC

Business travel is bittersweet.  It's usually a welcome distraction to get out of the office and break up the everyday monotony.  But while you're out schmoozing, the e-mails stack up and the voice mails linger.  The piled up work is always anxiously awaiting you.  But who cares about all that when your work trip lands you just 20 minutes from New York City?!?!?!

So after a full day of client visits and kissing babies, Steve and I darted to the city for some down time.  We only had a few hours in the Big Apple, but they were awesome.  We ran into a local guy in Midtown who gave us the scoop on a hot spot where lots of Broadway actors hang out.  It was one of those incognito places with no door sign to throw off eager tourists like us.  When we arrived, I thought the hostess might ask us for the secret handshake, but luckily she just directed us to the last two empty barstools.  So we settled in and tried to act cool. 

The crowd: Chill.  The bar snacks: Wasabi Peas.  The drinks: Pricey.  The TV entertainment: Classic Hollywood Films.  The celebrity: Keanu Reeves.  He wasn't in the bar, but he was outside on the curb.  Some of the locals at the bar pointed him out to us.  I commented that he just looked like a good ole homeless person with a big coat.  They said...yeah, that's how he rolls. 

Here are a few pics from our jaunt through the city after we left the no-name bar.  I would have taken pics there too, but we were trying to act like locals and not blow our cover.  heehee

Our first encounter in the city was with Ebony & Ivory Santa Clauses.  Apparently, they traded in the sleigh for these nifty donkeys.  Looks like they should be more careful with their Viagra.  They done grown horns!

Next up...the corner market.  Still open well after midnight and full of fresh flowers.  I LOVE this about NYC.  Somehow, the royal blue-tipped roses at 7-11 just don't compare.

 

We couldn't leave the city without pizza.  Even their bad pizza is good.

 

Extra grease for me, please!

 

After a ridiculous amount of pizza, we hopped on the last bus out before we turned into pumpkins.  Note to self: do not arrive at the bus station with a full bladder.

 

Limoncello Martini

I was invited to a wedding this weekend.  So I thought it would be fun to have a few pals over for a little pre-wedding happy hour.  The five hours of free drinks at the wedding reception just wasn't enough for us.  No, no.  No sir.  We just HAD to get started early with these lemony libations. 

If you're not familiar with Limoncello..it's an Italian lemon liqueur.  It's very sweet, not sour at all.  So the pure lemon juice in this recipe helps balance out the flavors.  Hope you savor these as much as we did.

Limoncello Martini

• 2 oz citrus vodka
• 2 oz Limoncello
• Juice of 1/2 large lemon
• Sugar

1. Rub cut lemon along the ridge of a martini glass.  Dip glass edge in sugar.
2. Fill a martini shaker with ice.  Add vodka, Limoncello, and lemon juice.  Shake until well blended.
3. Pour mixture into sugar-rimmed glass, and serve with a lemon rind twist.

WARNING: This is what happens when you drink multiple Limoncello Martinis.  And these are the good pictures.  Proceed with caution. 

 

Birthday Spa Trip

 
I've been hitting the spa on my birthday for about five years now.  But when I discovered the Ritz Carlton spa a few years back...my birthday celebrations skyrocketed to a whole new level.  I usually make the birthday spa journey by myself, but this year, my friend Gaybrielle joined me since her birthday is just 10 days after mine.  It was so much more fun to celebrate with a fellow Libra. 

The day was full of giggles.  We cut the fool from the moment we arrived.  Everything was just funny.  Everything!  Throughout the day, we thought of zany things we could do to shock our fellow spa-goers.  We wondered how people would react if we rolled up to the spa pool with some bright pink noodles, snorkels, and some flippers.  Then we tossed around the idea of bringing our own Lean Cuisine meals and asking the pool boy to heat them up for us.  Wouldn't that be a riot?  Wonder if they'd kick us out?

We used an insane amount of towels, which also struck our funny bone.  I think we used around 12 each over the course of seven hours.  But that's what the spa is for--indulgence.  We partook in every indulgence available - massage, sauna, snacks, hot tea, shower, pool, lunch, drinks, dessert, hot tub.  Gaybrielle kept saying throughout the day...I could really get used to this life...I'm meant for this! 

On the way home, we got a little depressed because the perfect day was nearing it's end.  Gayb had a great idea that a spa day should be a yearly requirement for every female alive.  I agreed and added that it should be part of our annual gyno exams:  Morning at the doctor...afternoon at the spa.  What do you think, ladies?

Here I am, anxiously awaiting my East Indian Lime Scalp & Body Massage.

Fellow birthday spa friend....

 One of the ladies lounge areas.

Moroccan bird cage in the upstairs lounge.

This is how many towels I used.  Literally.
 

The $14 margarita. 

Somebody got very sleeeeepy.
 
  

View of the Spa from the hot tub.  It's three stories, people!

 

 

Blog Fluff

I am excited about the following......

1. Sweating profusely at Bikram Yoga
2. My next redesign project
3. The new Big Lots in my hood
4. Pumpkins
5. My new flirty dress for an upcoming wedding
6. Sweaters {a delusion of grandeur for Florida Fall}
7. My DIY/Bathtastic debut
8. The permanent absence of my DVR
9. My annual Ritz Spa birthday indulgence
10. Teenage vampire love

Thank you for indulging me on Blog Fluff day.