Mountain Cuisine Cooking Class

Mountain Cuisine Cooking Class

The inspiration for this class comes from the North American mountain regions...from the Smoky Mountains to the Rockies.

Come sample the flavors indigeneous to these favorite areas. Great foods prepared with authentic rustic styling.

Pigeon Forge cabins

"As The Clock Ticks" is a book that My Uncle Sam Rosenberg wrote many years ago, perhaps around the 1950's . It tells of our family in Chicago, the good times and the not so good. It tells of the spirit of my clan, an industrious Jewish family that always rose to the occasion and overflowed with love for God, family and life. Despite a few periods of hardship sandwiched between the richness of leavened bread, Uncle Sam paints a picture that speaks to my soul of a land flowing with milk and honey. Ah, how I wish to recapture that family spirit that was once such a dominant life force of my ancestral roots. ebel watches

"There is only one real deprivation...and that is not to be able to give one's gifts to those one loves most." May Sarton

Building the gossamer threads of connection is perhaps one of the most important activities we will ever do in our lives.

No one on their death bed has ever said, "I should have worked more!" But they have said, "I should have loved more!"

Shanti, Shanti, Shanti fiber cable.

Deck The Halls

Deck the halls with stationary hors d' oeuvres! Imagine a Mediterranean Bruschetta Bar Display overflowing with all the fixings to create your very own fabulously designed crostini and bruschetta appetizers.

Think olive tapenade, spinach walnut pesto, carmelized onions, marinated tomato bites, fine shedded cheeses, proscuitto...

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Canopy Rose Is Readying Itself To Launch Into New Galaxies

After a sabbatical of sorts where I have had the opportunity to retread in creative new ways, I have decided to resurrect Canopy Rose from the dead!

A new and better version of Canopy Rose is being born! Look for the launch of the exciting new Canopy Rose Culinary Arts Studio slated to open its doors in December 2007 with a panoply of exciting offerings from cooking classes to catering to international culinary jaunts to the far-flung corners of the world!

Feels like the timing is right to blast off for new horizons. I might not land on the moon, but just maybe my efforts will land me somewhere in a galaxy of stars!
Stratosphere Las Vegas

Horse Riding Apparel

In my last newspaper column, I shared a bit about my Sunday afternoon adventure to a south Georgia ranch.

I got to dust off my cowboy boots and slip on my jeans for an afternoon of trail- riding and dining on buck-shot speckled delights.

If I were to make a habit of this sort of activity I might like to invest in some better horse riding apparel. But for the spontaneous, my blue jeans fill the saddle just fine.

Everyone Seems To Want Home Theatre Seating These Days

Seems everywhere I go these days, people are talking about home theatre seating. Boy am I behind the times with my little tv screens and lack of cable!

Perhaps in my new location I'll consider looking into getting some discount home theater seating so that we can view the videos we will be making for my cooking school.

Online Concert Ticket Solutions

Get your Miley Cyrus tickets at Vivid Seats dot com.

Whether Miley Cyrus, Hannah Montana or any other popular concert tickets, Vivid Seats is the online solution for ticket selection and shopping on the Internet.

I remember in the olden days, long before the advent of the world wide web, we would go and line up sometimes at midnight the night before tickets went on sale.

Love Those Golden Bangles

Ah, little thin gold bracelets, I love them.
I love the possibilities that exist for gathering several bangle bracelets together on my wrist, not just for the fashion statement, but more for the little games I could play with them during the course of the day.

One game is to keep track of how many glasses of water I've consummed by moving a bracelet over to the opposite wrist every time I've finished one.

Any sort of self-improvement, might be done with this decorative strategy. No one needs to know what you are doing. But you will have a visible reminder all day long of your progress.

Going Green With Eco-Chic Parties

My food column that comes out in this week's newspaper talks about throwing an Eco-Chic Party. Don't miss it! It will be available online on Wednesday.

Now here is the dilemma many of us face in trying to move forward on a green path- how do we know if the products in the store are really eco-friendly? Wouldn't you rather just trade with a business that is completely committed to doing what is right for our environment? I would! I don't have time to read all the labels. It would be so much simpler to find a resource that will help me go green without a bunch of red lights along the way slowing me down in trying to assess the quality of each product.

Well GreenandMore.com is just such a company. Did you know that they offer hundreds of eco friendly products? This is a company that lives its mission. They have all the sorts of products that I'm looking for- for everyday living and for those special times in life, too.

I'm very excited about their going green blog, "Green Musings" where we are all invited to share our going green stories. I'd be especially interested in reading about green parties and green kitchens, since my special niche is food and entertaining writing. It is always good to connect with others with a common interest and a desire to do that which is in the best interest of our world. This is just simple stewardship. It is biblical! Yet the odd thing is, there is a political party in this country that doesn't seem to get it when it comes to green thinking. Is that because the old ways are tied too tight to big corporate profits generated from things that destroy our environment? And to think this was my daddy's party. If he were alive today, he would be saying his party needs to get in-step with the times and GO GREEN! For all your environmental products shop at Green and More!

The Car Spoilers Site

Ok here it is. I know that you have been waiting for me to release this link for (can we have a drum roll please?)

So without further adieu I am pleased to share with everyone a link for really awesome ......car spoilers!

Now do me a big favor and hop on over and check out the site! I hear they are the hot spot for all that sort of auto stuff.

Golf Widows Party

Now here is a great idea for golf widows. Why not get together with your girlfriends for a Cooking Class Party?

Cooking Class Parties are a huge trend sweeping the nation. Even Tallahassee is getting on board for this delicious trend.

Looking for birthday or Christmas gift ideas for the golfer in your family? Check out Mizuno golf.
The time you save shopping online will give you more time to party in the kitchen with your best friends.

Look Until The Lightbulb Goes On

Shopping for gorgeous lighting has always been one of my passions. Perhaps it is the symbolism of light that especially appeals to my senses.

Being from a large cosmopolitan area originally, shopping in Tallahassee has always seemed so limiting to me.

I love big selections with options from the four corners of the globe. That is why I love browsing online. The possibilities are unlimited! You can start in one store such as Murray Feiss and if you don't find the perfect lighting solutions, then you can keep browsing the world wide web until the lightbulb goes on.

Headache Cure

When the rainy season settles in and the barometic pressure dips, my head goes a pounding.

I'm not usually one prone to headaches... except when the weather does a kamikaze on it. For times like this it is smart to have an effective solution. That's why I keep headache treatment on hand to chase those pounds far, far away.

Market Research: Always A Smart Idea

Conducting market research is smart business.

Before opening Canopy Rose Cafe in 1994, we conducted research in the neighborhood where the cafe was being opened.

We wanted to find out answers to our most burning questions.

The results of our study helped us to design a menu that we felt our customers would
support.

The Note

While browsing through a favorite cookbook, a sheet of chicken scratches sailed to the floor.

Hmmmm... 'what's this?' I wondered as I stooped over to pick up the missive.

Stop by the gym

Run to the farmers market

Order some hoodia

Wrap waist in plastic wrap

Lose 10 pounds before the weddding ....

The note read.

Save A Bundle In Chiropractic Bills

There are many necessary pieces of equipment for offsite catering and while they are all valuable, I wouldn't want to go out on a job without a utility cart. A good utility cart can save your back and minimize the number of trips from the catering can to the room where the event will be held.

Imagine the difference between wheeling your goodies in or lugging them in your arms. Invest in a good cart and you'll save a bundle in chiropractic bills.

Get Your Van Halen Tickets Here!

Who wouldn't love to go to a Van Halen concert?

So where do you go to get tickets?

Van Halen tickets are available at this website. Simply click on the link and pick your seat.

Just think Ticket Solutions dot com everytime!

Packing Supplies

New things are popping in my life all the time, it is hard to keep up with everything! But here is the latest, I have had an offer from someone who wants to buy my house.

A good thing! Change is always a good thing.

But packing, moving and unpacking is another thing altogether! Oh goodness I suppose it is time to collect some packing supplies.


Hmmm... I wonder what I did with my trusty old box cutters?

Let Your Personality Dictate Your Style

Decorating a home, shopping for furniture in the local retail showroom, browsing an online furniture catalog or throwing a party? Always let your unique personality dictate your style.

There is nothing more uninspiring than cookie-cutter fashions in home, garden or entertaining. Go ahead be an original. Splash your space with your very own trademark signature.

Getting Ready For The Next Chapter

Well I'll be saying adios to my home hobby shop/craft studio.

I've decided to sell my house. I'm getting ready for the next chapter of my life.

While my focus is clear on what I want to do, how it will unfold is not. Should I stay in Tallahassee? Move to a larger city? Should I rent? Should I buy? Should I move to Santa Fe or Sedona? Should I move further south? Should I sell everything?

So many questions with answers yet to unfold. These next months should be an interesting (haha!) time as I begin the tedious task of purging the stuff that no longer is applicable to my life.

Good things are-a coming... I believe!

A Fresh Baked Idea From The Boulangerie of My Mind

The aroma of fresh baked ideas emerged from the creative boulangerie of my mind... why not create a line of hand painted

maternity clothes and sell them on the Internet, I wondered.

After all clothing design is my first love! I like the idea of doing seasonal handpainted jumpers. The ideas are unlimited! Of course they wouldn't haveto be just for pregnant moms.

I'd like to do some hand- painted chef's coats,. too!

The Secret Meeting

They had synchronized their watches, had booked their reservations and at the stroke of midnight they would meet in the city of lost wages.

They were coming to gamble, but not in the casinos. Their agenda was darker and it was top secret.

Malcolm checked his watch...

"24 more hours," he said with a nod of approval as he mentally began planning out his pending rendezvous at the Paris Las Vegas.

Traditional or Modern

Traditional or modern, what is your preference when it comes to designing your office? I've done both at different seasons of my career.

For my Canopy Rose Catering office, I went with a sleek, black modern style with a mahogany trim. It all looked gorgeous in the catalogue. But I ended up ordering more pieces than I had room for and ultimately ended up hating the cold, contemporary lines.

When I closed that space, I couldn't get rid of that office furniture fast enough.

The One Question You Must Ask Your Realtor

Shopping for Orlando real estate ? Whether you are a buyer or seller of property in the Orlando market, here is the company that can assist you.

Did you know that over 77% of home buyers start their search on the Internet? Wow!

When looking for the company that can help you, you will want to make sure to go with a real estate agent that not only utilizes the extraordinary power of the Internet, but also engages the stratospheric potential of the blogosphere.

Ask your agent: What is your presence in the blogosphere? This one question could make all the difference in the world. If your realtor scratches his or her head and doesn't have a clue how blogs are being used as an important weapon in the savvy realtors marketing artillery- RUN!

Remodeling A Steel Building

Does anyone know about remodeling steel buildings ? Actually what I want to do is fairly simply ( at least I think it is.)

On the side of my property I have a large metal-like storage building. I'd like to replace the standard door with french doors and replace the windows with some large multi-paned windows with window boxes. Then I want to extend my covered deck from the side of the house over to the storage building.

My question is this: Is it possible to do these minor revisions without too much difficulty? What do I need to know?

Trusting In a Deeper Wisdom

"The thrill is in the experience and in knowing there is something new to discover just ahead," his words rang through my mind like the gentle ringing of my grandmother's silver and pearl-adorned dinner bell.

Hungrily I stepped forward into the unknown trusting not in my own wisdom, but rather in a deeper wisdom and in a slightly inexplicable truth that felt right for me, and right for this season of my life.

Could it be possible that I could actually funnel my passion for food, special events and promotion into a new career? A career where I could share these gifts with a greater audience than what was possible with individual catering jobs.

The computer could be just the ticket to unlock a new adventure. It was time to up the Dell Memory!

Making a transition from one food-related business to another takes a tremendous amount of faith. Fortunately I am blessed with a heaping serving of faith and the belief that if I am true to the innermost whispers of my own soul, I will be led to an even deeper place of true authenticity.

Since closing Canopy Rose a few years ago and embarking on a path of preparation and equipping, I have had the delicious opportunity to morph from caterer and special event designer to food writer and food publicist, a career that fully utilizes my many talents.

During this time, I discovered the joy of blogging, not only as a way to immediately publish my thoughts, but also as a dynamic way to help promote different businesses and products. One of the first companies I began promoting was Moremouse, a company that specializes in
Orlando vacation rentals.

While sipping Merlot under the Italian market umbrella and talking about everything and nothing, a new topic was broached.

"I think we should get term insurance. I've been researching it online and want you to take a look at it as soon as you have the time.

"Ok."

"While you check it out, I'm going to do a price comparison."

"We want simple and elegant garden canapes with champagne and wedding cake," the bride said.

"Nice. I like that. Let me put together some ideas for you. Do you have any food allergies?" I asked.

"I'm allergic to eggs."

"Ooh, that will certainly effect the menu."

"Yes, it can present a bit of a challenge! Oh I was wondering, can you help us with our announcements?"

Sitting on the front porch shaded from the Florida sun, Polly sipped her mint julep and listened to her boyfriend explain the problem.

"No Polly. You don't have ghosts! You simply have some electronic interference. I've ordered some RFI Shielding and this little problem will be solved."

"What a hero you are!" Polly said as she threw her arms around this man who could fix anything.

Ranch cuisine is rustic and hearty with a smoky flavor. Imagine vacationing at a sprawling western lodge in the mountains, where hot tubs and ski lifts, crackling fires and pristine mountains come together for the vacation of a lifetime.

I can smell the pepper-crusted buffalo tenderloin grilling over the open fire. Mmmm....

Looking for the perfect tablecloth for commercial food service or catering applications? The most cost-efficient solution is to buy your own cloths. They will pay for themselves in no time and you will save a fortune in rental charges.

Do a price comparison and you will be shocked! During my years as I caterer, I discovered that I literally could buy my own brand new cloths for the same price as I was renting a cloth.

Be smart! Check out the options. Chances are you will save a small fortune over time.

The excuses for throwing a party are as unlimited as the sands of the sea. During my years as a caterer and special event planner, I had the wonderful privilege to be a part of many watershed moments.

From weddings to divorce parties, from christening to funerals, from corporate galas to intimate and indulgent feasts for two.

I loved them all and learned so much about people. I found out that all things are not as they appear... take the New York personal injury lawyer, perhaps you might stereotype him as an ambulance-chaser, then discover him to be a saint!

Home entertaining never goes out of style.

After the tragedy of 9-11 we saw the flavor of entertaining change in many ways. As a caterer and special event designer during that period of time, immediate changes transformed the way people entertained.

People cocooned in the safety of their homes, opting for indulgent and intimate entertaining as opposed to the big splashy soirees that had been the norm prior to 9-11.

People wanted to turn their homes into their very own private resorts and sanctuaries with exciting ideas like home theater seating.

It has often been said that one of the big problems that effects entreprenurial chefs who are married to the kitchen is substance abuse.

While alcohol or drugs were not a problem for me, I found that during my years as a caterer I was addicted to sugar and carbs.

For anyone fighting issues of addiction, drug rehab is a divine solution to recreating a healthy lifestyle.

While sipping a frothy brew of java and visiting with a dear one, the conversation percolated to the subject of jura capresso.

"I'm thinking about writing a coffee-inspired book."

"Interesting! A cookbook or something else?"

"My thought is to write a collection of stories and recipes with a spiritual twist." I said.

"Sounds delicious!"

Ah! Yes! A blog assignment that suits my niche! I was tickled pink and white polka dots when I spotted the assignment to blog about vintage fabrics.

Yes! A website that I can't wait to explore personally! I love pretty old fabrics from ancient days. Shopping for vintage fabrics has always been a special passion of mine. But it is not easy to find exquisite pieces in immaculate condition.

When I owned my catering business, I discovered a myriad of ways to bring old fabric to life through innovative table decor.

When I offered some of my blogs to be used for advertising purposes, I never would have thought that the padded panty, would be a topic that I would be asked to write on.

I never would have chosen it on my own, but it is always good to be in the know of solutions that help people.

While my knowledge of the subject couldn't fit a thimble, the website link surely can lead you to most anything you ever wanted to know about padded panties but were afraid to ask.

Hopefully in the future, the blogging company can send me some assignments more in line with my niche.

Introspection is something that I find valuable as I travel through this journey of life. While large bits of my experiences have been captured with ink pens in journals, other threads of my unique tapestry have been woven into my blogging assignments. For you see that for the last 8 months I have been employed as a blogger to ramble on about various subjects. In introspection, I wonder "what in the world have I rambled about?" As a paid blogger with long lists of assignments and short blocks of time to complete each assignment. I just let my mind soar wherever it wanted to go for fifty or so words.

"But did you do the market research?" is a critical question that needs to be answered in the affirmative before launching a new business enterprise.

Is is quite common for people to launch a business on a whim and a prayer. But this is a terrible idea.

One gentleman at the Small Business Administration suggests taking the idea of what you want to do and asking your target audience what they think.

Before I opened Canopy Rose I did this. We surveyed our target audience and it was a great strategy. The day we opened our doors, we had more business than we could accomodate.

One of my favorite warm weather parties, is to stage a movie night around the swimming pool. Set up some home theater seating, maybe some chaise lounges under the twinkling stars, serve some interesting summertime fare and rent some great vintage movies.

Your family and friends will love this party!

My heart still beats for Canopy Rose. Someone asked me a few months ago why I didn't sell Canopy Rose when I decided to retire.

"I couldn't sell my baby." I responded. Canopy Rose was an extension, or an alter ego of myself. For ten years, it had been my life. Even though I no longer felt the calling to cater the big parties, I certainly didn't want to cut my apron strings to Canopy Rose.

Canopy Rose was only originally started for one reason, to give me the gravitas for what I really wanted to do. My dream was and still is to publish books. That is where my passion lies.

The good news is .... step by step I am moving closer to achieving my dreams! For me, the journey has been filled with one obstacle after another. But I have learned to see the beauty in the obstacles, appreciating them for what they are, and pressing forward despite the difficulties.

Today, I am facing my most difficult challenge, a challenge that threatens the very . Address Plaque of my home residence. Will I overcome this hurdle or will I have to give up my home?

I trust that regardless of what tomorrow brings, it will bring the will of a loving God who is orchestrating beautiful things. Sometimes we only see the underside, or the knotted threads of the tapestry, while God sees the beautiful picture of our lives from a divine and holy perspective.

Golf tournaments make for some awesome photos. In thinking about one of the parties I would like to showcase on one of my blogs.

Maybe something along the lines of Tea Time at The Masters.

There will be menus, recipes, great photos, a how-to video and even advertising opportunities for some different Golf Equipment companies.

Looking at this blogging assignment, jogged my memory to recharge the battery in my digital camera.

I'm going to a wedding shower tonight and want to have a fully charged battery to take pictures.

Since getting my camera, I have not been able to put my pictures on my blogs because the camera software requires vista, something that my pc doesn't have.

That situation is about to change! I can't wait to start adding my own compelling photography to my websites and blogs.

If money were not an issue I'd probably go retread. I'd like to take some classes, maybe get a masters degree in film or creative writing at FSU.

I think both of those would be beneficial to me in my culinary career.

But, I don't suspect that is on the radar at the present time. So in my spare moments, I study these subjects on my own, learning all that I can.

But then I heard about school loan consolidation and pondered the possibilities of getting a student loan to help me with my studies.

Prophix offers a financial reporting software that is worth investigating.

I honestly can not endorse it, since to the best of my recollection I've never used it. I think I'll ask my accountant about it and see what he says. He should be able to tell me if it is any good.

At any rate check it out!

Where Is Canopy Rose Catering?

Looking for Canopy Rose Catering in Tallahassee? Kathi Dameron is now teaching private cooking classes and doing some Personal Cheffing.

For more information call Kathi at 850-422-3599

Everyone needs a great resource for battery replacement.

Personally, I like to keep a ready supply stashed away in a convenient spot. At my house I keep this cache of assorted batteries on a shelf in my laundry room.

I run through some batteries! So when I staret running low on replacements, I just plug into my vendor and they'll drop ship me a new supply.

Choosing the best office furniture is not as easy as it might seem.

Believe me! I've been there and done it. Take my advice. Be patient. Shop around. Take your own measurements of the space. I went by the buider's measurements and boy were they ever wrong!

Owning a nifty thrifty coin sorter makes sense for anyone who collects pockets, purses and jugs of assorted change. Which probably includes just about all of us.

Truth be known, I've lived on these jugs of change during lean times.

How nice it is when we can condense them into nice organized rolls.

I hope that one day I will own another dog. In recent years my circumstances have not been condusive to dog ownership, but perhaps that will change.

I miss that unconditional love that dogs are so free to give. You don't find love like that in the everyday world.

Premium dog food will be my choice for my pooch.

Powdered and Sugared Funnel Cakes

While attending Cottey College, a small private women's college near the Ozarks of Missouri, trips to Silver Dollar City and Branson were a popular special event for my classmates and I.

The delightful memories are forever etched in the secret places of my heart. When I open the treasure chest of my most favorite memories of vacations-past, my taste buds dance in memory of my first bite of powdered and sugared funnel cakes. Mmmmm.

Whatever Happened To Canopy Rose Catering?

A few years back the owner of Canopy Rose Catering and Special Events closed her doors so she could concentrate on another passion of hers- writing.

While not surprising, Kathi's writings soon became deliciously seasoned with her lifelong passion for eclectic cuisine.

While Canopy Rose is no longer in operation in Tallahassee, the delicious hand-crafted food that made Canopy Rose such a popular and busy cafe and catering company is now available in the following ways:

1. Through Kathi Dameron's How To Create The Wow E-zine

2. Through the regular Entertaining with Kathi newspaper column

3. Through private cooking classes

4. Through personal chef services

For more information contact Kathi directly at 850-422-3599

Portable Water Filters were always carried aboard the Canopy Rose catering van when we jaunted to moveable feasts.

"Forget straight tap water," I told the staff. "If you are serving water or brewing coffee, use the filters."

The Florida vacation produced a powerful takeaway message.

He knew that the only way a future marriage would have a chance would be if Lillie was first and foremost healed of the deep wounds within her heart.

He took her hands in his and said, "Let us pray."

Then he began...

Do They Really Deliver The Bang For Your Buck?

marketing pens were a strategic component of the Canopy Rose Marketing plan.

Did they really deliver good bang for the buck?

I think they did because they kept Canopy Rose in front of a target audience. It is a known fact that is easier to sell to an existing customer than a brand new one.

As a business owner, it is well worth the investment to continually court our customers. If we don't, we just might lose them to someone who will.

Think about it awhile. What does it say about you and your business goals if you really don't care if you retain your current customers? If you don't want to court them perhaps it is time to sit down and reevaluate why you are even in business and if possibly you secretly want out and want to morph into a new version of yourself. Its ok... just alot better if you know what you want.

A Boating Lifestyle

When I lived in South Florida on the Intercoastal Waterway, a boating
lifestyle defined much of my life.

Having our boat on a lift on our very own dock brought immense pleasure to me.

The boat, the dock, the screened-in swimming pool, the sun-room and the house that I adored was the setting of so many parties.

It was during this era of my life that I was in my own custom-designed apprenticeship for a future culinary career.

Midnight Cowboy Party

"Kathi, I want you to cater a Midnight Cowboy party for us," the client said.

"That is an interesting theme and certainly not one I've done before."

"We are launching our new motorcycle sunglasses. I know you can help us come up with an exciting and memorable event."

"I'll have to let this one percolate for awhile. But I'm sure we will come up with a plan that will long be remembered."

First Communion Brunch

One of the special luncheons I catered when I owned Canopy Rose was a lovely first communion
brunch. I must admit this brunch was indeed one of the most special events I had the privilege
of catering for the simple reason that the purpose and focus of the day was truly on God.
While the guest of honor received a beautiful assortment of first communion gifts from family
and friends, the greatest gift of all was the gift of communing with the Lord, Jesus Christ.

Quinceanera Q and A

Question: I have never been invited to a la fiesta Quinceanera before. I have so many questions. What is a Quinceanera? What should I wear? What do I bring as a gift?

Answer:

A Quinceanera is a beautiful rite of passage for fifteen-year old Latina girls.
It is a family, church and community celebration that is steeped in tradition and symbolism. The event celebrates a young girl's entrance into womanhood.

Wear something like you would wear to a wedding reception.

Give a gift that is religious in nature. Bibles and rosaries make perfect gifts for a Quinceanera Celebration."

Preparing For The Convention

"Did you know that we are almost out of business cards?" an employee asked her boss.

"When it rains, it pours! Do we have enough for the convention."

"No, we are lucky if there are twenty cards left in the box."

"Will you order us some more asap?"

"The local printer you were using closed shop and retired to Florida."

"Find us someone who can do our business card printing. If necessary have them ship the cards to us at the conference hotel."

A Great Gift

"I was looking for a birthday gift for a friend. But I didn't know what to get her.
Seems like she has everything. Then I remembered that she was outfitting her private powder room at work. So I went online browsing for really great gifts that would come in handy."

"What did you find?"

"Her job involves frequent media appearances. So she needs to look her best all the time. I found some great Makeup Mirrors that would be perfect for her powder room at work. Now it is just a matter of selecting the right one for her."

On A Day Like Today

On a day like today when chill winds ruffle through the barren branches outside and the interior climate requires the wearing of long sleeves and sweaters, heavy socks, and warm slacks, I find mid-afternoon warmth in a fragrant cup of hot cocoa.

My hot cocoa might be without the fluff of floating marshmallows, since I am on a diet and drinking a legal version of the restorative elixir. To my portion, I have added a splash of hazelnut extract and a dash of cinnamon.

With cup in hand I sit punching the keyboard and studying the Diet Review for information for an upcoming book.

Check Out My Friends At Coaster

I felt like a caterer again today. We did a dinner for the Hope Community and I volunteered to cook the main parts of the meal. I don't think I want to go back in the kitchen for a couple days! I'm pooped out! I only cooked for 80 people, but it is still a lot of work, especially when you are not making any money!

Doing it was a good way to start the year, though. It is always nice to be able to use our gifts in service to others.

My problem is though, tonight I have to burn the midnight oils in order to get my paid work done since I spent a good part of the day cooking. I'm getting too old for all nighters.

At least I get to sit at the computer and peck away.

Tonight I'm writing about furniture. If you are in the market for some furniture check out my friends at Coaster Furniture.