Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah

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A very belated happy holidays to all of you out there! I had to dash out of LA earlier then expected (Seattle snow days will get ya!) and had no time to post with all the celebrating with family and friends! Here's hoping Santa brought you lots of goodies, the food was plenty and the love of friends and family surrounded you!

Here's to 2009!

Gift Giving #12: Wrapped with Love in a Robe

I received a very cute, short white terry cloth bathrobe from my parents my junior year of college. That puppy traveled with me from Pullman (2000), to Washington to both of my apartments in California (2008). It was still intact (barely) but had been washed one too many times and with items that bled in the washer. No longer white, no longer new, it was tattered and in desperate need of retirement. One day shopping at Bloomingdale's I noticed this adorableHoneydew Striped Robe (see below) and since it was on sale, I plucked it up and brought it home to me. Let’s just say that the new robe did not go unnoticed by my friends.

This bathrobe is not only ultra feminine but it is so soft and cute enough to answer the door in.

Stripes too bold for your giftee? How about a Robe fit for a queen, princess or whatever royalty you are purchasing for. This Juicy Couture Gift Robe is ruffles, and terry and embroidered – Oh My!

Arden B’s Ruffle Edge Robe is similar to the Honeydew Robe but all solid and all out cute!

Now if terry cloth is just not warm enough for your lucky friend, this Fleecy Little Robe from Victoria’s Secret should definitely do the trick.

Enjoy, stay warm and learn from me…tattered robes are just wrong in so many ways!

Cheers!

Happy Birthday Lindsay!

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Happy Birthday to my girl Avery Bleu. Can't wait for the year ahead! It's sure to be a good one! XOXOXOXO

Gift Giving #11: I've Got My Coat To Keep Me Warm

As I brace myself for the chilly, beyond cold weather that I will be encountering next week in Seattle, I realized that I must share my most recent purchase that not only keeps me comfy, cozy, and warm but also stylish and fancy. If you have a cold weather friend that can never seem to find her jacket, pick her up this Classic Pea Coat (the cream is the perfect winter white)from Forever 21. Totally affordable, stylish and it looks WAY more expensive then it really is.

Cheers!

Happy Birthday Kare!

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Happy Birthday Karen! Can't wait to celebrate and get happy tomorrow! XOXOX

Gift Giving #10: Jet Setting

For that glamorous, fabulous travel buff of yours, nothing will please her more than these accessories from JCrew.


This Mirror-Metallic Luggage Tag will shine bright as it makes its way down the baggage claim. TSA might speed them through the line faster when they flash this Mirror-Metallic Passport Cover. And once they are on the plane, they can sip their champagne, catch some shut eye and have some serious Caviar Dreams which they can jot down quickly upon landing.

Whether you gift one, two or all three….you are sure to get a first class hug and smile.

Cheers!

Recipe Swap 2008!

Shelby is hosting Christmas with her family this year and had a marvelous idea for everyone to post a recipe that was a smashing success.

My recipe to share is Martha Stewart's Butternut Squash & Sage Lasagna. I made this recipe a few weeks back and now whenever we have a potluck, I get requests to make this delish dish.

It wasn't too difficult, but I definitely wouldn't say it was a piece of cake. Lots of prep (especially since I made individual dishes). But it was definitely worth all the hard work!

Butternut Squash & Sage Lasagna:
*3 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch pieces
*2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
*Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
*1 pound whole-milk ricotta cheese
*1/2 cup heavy cream
*2 large egg yolks
*1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, coarsely grated (2 cups)
*Freshly grated nutmeg
*2 tablespoons unsalted butter
*1/3 cup loosely packed fresh sage leaves, coarsely chopped
*1 1/4 cups homemade or store-bought low-sodium chicken stock
*Fresh Lasagna Noodles, (you will need only 1/2 of the batch), cut into 4-by-13-inch strips and cooked, or store-bought dried noodles, cooked
*4 ounces finely grated Parmesan cheese (1 1/4 cups)

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss squash, oil, and 1 teaspoon salt on a baking sheet. Season with pepper. Bake until light gold and tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool.
*Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees. Combine ricotta, cream, yolks, mozzarella, and a pinch of nutmeg in a medium bowl. Season with salt.
*Melt butter in a small saute pan over medium-high heat. As soon as it starts to sizzle, add sage, and cook until light gold and slightly crisp at edges, 3 to 4 minutes.
*Place squash in a medium bowl, and mash 1/2 of it with the back of a wooden spoon, leaving the other 1/2 in whole pieces. Gently stir in sage-butter mixture and stock. Season with salt and pepper.
*Spread 3/4 cup of ricotta mixture in a 9-cup baking dish. Top with a layer of noodles. Spread 1/2 of the butternut squash mixture over noodles. Top with a layer of noodles. Spread 1 cup of ricotta mixture over noodles. Repeat layering once more (noodles, squash, noodles, ricotta). Sprinkle Parmesan over ricotta mixture.
*Place baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake until cheese is golden and bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes. Let stand for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.



Bon Appétit!

Now it's your turn! Post one (or more) of your favorite holiday recipes on your blog to share with the rest of us. Be sure to leave a comment here so we know where you're at and what to look for. And be sure to encourage all of your blog followers to post their recipes and so on and so on.

Thanks for the fun idea Shelbs!