Top Chef

I have a caterer preparing most of the food for Saturday night, but like always, I am now worried that we will run out of food. I am going to make a few appetizers, just to make sure there is plenty to go around. This is one of my favorite recipes from Katie Lee's "The Comfort Table" it is the perfect bite size snack!

Devils on Horseback
24 pecan halves

24 pitted dates

8 slices of bacon, cut crosswise into thirds

1 1/2 to 2 c. mango chutney

Preheat oven to 400 degrees, line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Insert a pecan half into each date. Wrap with a piece of bacon and secure with a toothpick. Bake until bacon is crisp, about 8-10 minutes. Drain on a paper towel and serve with chutney.

Enjoy!! So easy, so delicious, and perfect for when you feel like you just need to add a little extra something.

Sip and See

My sister, brother in law, and new nephew are coming to town this weekend and I am throwing a "Sip and See" for them. I am hosting a party where everyone comes, "sips" cocktails, and they get to "see" Ike for the first time. Basically a baby shower after the fact, with more of a cocktail feel. Ike will be around for the first hour of the party, then off to bed for him!
I am having a caterer prepare most of the food, we are going with "small" plates to keep with the "baby" theme...

I plan on using blue hydrangeas on the table, taken from my own back yard..
the signature cocktail of the night will be "baby blue martinis"...

and in the goodie bags....baby blue cake pops!

May-December

Years ago when I heard Billy Joel who was 55, was getting married to a girl that was only 22, I had my doubts that this was a marriage made to last. Coincidentally, the third Mrs Joel was a classmate of my brother in law at Miami of Ohio. After 5 years of marriage, no one was surprised when this couple called it quits. However, being married to Billy definitely has its perks...

Billy bought this home for her when they were married, she needed a place in the Hamptons to hang out with her friends, so it stayed with her after the divorce

Over the weekend, I saw a show on HGTV called "My Favorite Place" Celebrities give personal home tours, highlighting their favorite places in their homes. She gives a detailed tour of her Hampton's home, but her "favorite place" is the deck and surrounding beach.
As part of their divorce settlement, they sold their NYC townhouse. What would upset me the most.... having to leave this bath/dressing room behind.It has been said, that with out Billy, Katie never would of been host of Top Chef, published cookbooks, been a guest of Oprah, or be an "Early Show" contributor. Katie published her first cookbook while still Mrs Joel.
and her second one, after the divorce..
There are some really great recipes in both cookbooks that I will be using for an upcoming party I am throwing this weekend. I will definitely be sharing later this week.

Girl Friday

Tonight, Dr Beautiful and I are going to dinner at a new restaurant in a part of town that we rarely go to, even though it is 5 minutes away......

Back to school cocktail party, Saturday night
Sunday, I am seeing a movie with a friend, so excited because this is one of my all time favorite books.....then grabbing my favorite salad afterwards.
Have a beautiful weekend!

Thirst Quencher

As much as I try to protect my face from the brutal sun, we have had a long hot summer and my face is feeling it. My tried and true moisturizer is "La Mer" but sometimes I feel like that isn't even enough. Last week, at Nordstroms, I was talking to the La Mer girl and she told me that when I feel really dehydrated, before bedtime, put on my La Mer moisturizer, then put on a layer of this...The collaboration of the 2 moisturizers is amazing! My face felt so soft, smooth and healthy. Who knew that something from Clinique could enhance La Mer? This is the beauty equivlant of pairing Gucci with Gap!

Top Chef

It feels like a lifetime ago that I was in Michigan, but I had some delicious dinners that I must share. The night my sister in law was cooking, she made a casual, easy, hang out at the beach all day so I don't want to do a lot of work dinner. The end result was Steak Salad With Bacon, Crispy Potatoes, and Blue Cheese Dressing. We had crusty french bread on the side and it was delicious, I am planning on making this soon. This is a one dish meal and trust me, you wont be disappointed!Get your recipe here.

Here's the skinny!

Now that summer is winding down, I find it much harder to resist the temptations of sinful foods. I am no longer thinking, "I've got to put on a bikini today", and the layers of sweaters can definitely hide the few extra pounds that can sneak up on us. I am going into fall, armed and ready!

I like to start off the day with a bowl of greek yogurt. This is much better than our yogurt, less sugar, and fewer calories....
Greek yogurt is definitely an acquired taste so I like to add honey, peanut butter and graham crackers or whatever fresh fruit I have on hand.
My lunch is actually from my trainer. She gave me some great healthy options and this is my favorite. You need string cheese....

and you just wrap a piece of turkey around your string cheese and you have the perfect, light lunch.

Usually by 3pm I am craving an afternoon snack. My new favorite is the Special K Cracker Chips, with sea salt...
dipped in a little supremely spicy hummus.These popchips are another of my "go to" for an afternoon snack.

When I have a sweet tooth, these granola thins satisfy my craving. A thin granola bar with a little chocolate (and only 80 calories!)I wash down my snacks with my favorite low-cal drinks. Starbucks Via caramel flavor iced coffee. I add a pack of the coffee to boiling water, stir, then add ice to chill and top it off with a little skim milk. Only about 55 calories....not bad
but my all time favorite is club soda, I am loving the coconut flavor that will only be around for a few more weeks. The best part, no calories!!
Here's to a skinny fall!!

A New Season!

Today our summer has officially ended. It is back to school for the kids. During the summer my time is spent at the pool, driving my kids back and forth to camps, and spending weeks in Michigan. Because of all of this, many things are neglected around my house. Well that is all going to change starting today!I am a list writer. I love lists, and I love to cross things off my list, I feel very accomplished when I can draw a big black line through something on my to do list. Over the weekend, on my flight home, I came up with my "back to school" list. Just a few things I can work on, uninterrupted, now that it is school time.

Cook more dinners. I love to cook, but during the summer I really don't cook a lot. Many nights we will have dinner at the pool, or I pick up something already made, because we spent the entire day at the pool.
Get my yard ready for Fall flowers.
Organize my closet.
Scour the antique shops in the hopes of finding the perfect, vintage bar cart.
Find the perfect curtains....
and chaise lounge for my bedroom.
Redo my son's room, he really wants a loft...

and if I am lucky.....Enjoy this every now and then!!

Girl Friday

I am back to Chicago again this weekend...

We are flying up for a big birthday celebration for my brother in law...
I going to miss not seeing my girl Heather.... she is busy moving!
I am planning on squeezing in a little shopping...
Hopefully I will have much better luck here then I did last month....
Hello, my dear friend...
and my weekend would not be complete without some cocktails at the "Terrace at Trump"Have a beautiful weekend!!

A Little Eye Candy

Courtesy of my girls Kate and Tory....

and this one is even on sale....Happy Thursday!!