New Winner of $20.00 gift certificate to Magnolia-licious!!

Hi friends!! The first winner didn't claim the prize before 9pm tonight, so that means I pull a new winner! Here we go... The new winner of the $20.00 GC to Magnolia-licious is...........................

and #45 is.....

Congrats Shirley!! Please contact me before 9pm Pacific Sunday April 3rd to claim your GC.  If I don't hear from you by then, I will pull another winner. Thanks again to everyone that joined us in our blog hop! Hugs!

Sensational Timing.

The Christchurch earthquake has affected so many people, and in such different ways. I was talking one of my oldest friends yesterday and it's almost like he's become evangelical about life since the earthquake.

He said that as he was trying to get to his son on the day of the quake he was making some major deals with the universe. I'm not sure if it's as a result of any of these deals (his son was fine, but it was a marathon to get to him) but he's loving the little things in his world.

Two days after the quake he was saying, 'The more days been today and the earthquake, the better!' And yesterday he was saying, 'A day where I have running water and power is a great day!' I keep expecting him to ring and tell me that the family are all off to build sewerage systems in a third world country. (Thankfully he's as practical as a chocolate teapot, so I think we're all safe there).

His wife has a jewellery shop and he was telling me that they were lucky enough to arm themselves with a police officer and get access to it.

In they went to get all the jewels out ...and as he was loading 16 kgs of jewels into the boot of his car (all by himself).... a bus load of police and journalists happened to drive by.

If his gorgeous wife had been at his side, I am sure he would been in the clear. However, without her, he might as well have had 'Looter' tattooed on his forehead.

The bus stopped and out jumped an officer of the law. My mate said he scurried as fast as his legs would carry him back to the shop to retrieve their officer to prove his innocence, before the police or journos started hurling dead cats at him.

Heh, some people would file this timing under 'Epic Fail', however I am filing it under 'Legend'.

April Fool's Day FOOD

For some reason, we never really celebrated April Fool's Day until a few years ago.  Now we're having the best time with our "funny food."

This year, I'm serving "sundaes" for dinner....

Kiddo is going to be so disappointed when he realizes we are not having ice cream for dinner, but that it is, in fact, mashed potatoes and gravy. 

{To make things super easy, we're using instant mashed potatoes and jarred gravy.  I know, I know...not the healthiest, but I won't tell if you won't.}

And how cute is that "cherry?"  I was SO excited to find that jar of Peppadew peppers at the grocery store! I might have squealed.

Here are a few blasts from April Fool's past:

Mashed Potato Cupcakes...

{I think these are my favorite.}

Meatloaf Cupcakes (yes, those are meat cakes, my friends)...



Spaghetti & Meatball Cupcakes...


 I also love these ideas and am filing them away for next year:

Macaron "sliders" from One Vanilla Bean
"Grilled Cheese" from Family Fun (will be in kiddo's lunchbox tomorrow)
Candy-filled Fruit Cup from Come Together Kids
"Lasagna" from Food Network
Candy Sushi from La Casserole Carree (in French, oo-la-la)
Ducky Punch (not an April Fool's post, but I still think it would be great) from TidyMom
"Fakin' and Eggs" from Making Memories (sold by the name alone!)

Do you have any April Fool's FOOD ideas?  I wanna hear 'em.

Here's looking at you, kid.

For one reason or another, I've got a pile of movies to watch over the next little while. Some new, some old. It's really interesting re-watching movies from years ago and seeing how they compare to my memory of them.

Tonight it's Casablanca, I have seen it before but it was when I was doing a film paper at varsity. Unfortunately myself and another friend didn't attend too many of those lectures, they were possibly either very early in the morning - 8 am (unfathomable!) - which I think was the equivalent of my 5 am today, or they were on a Friday. And, back then, Friday was the first day of the weekend.

For our non-attending sins we ended up doing a 48 hour movie marathon in an effort to cram for our exam, which meant the films sort of ended up colliding into each other. The movie version of a Contiki Tour.

Last night I watched Kramer vs Kramer. The thing that really struck me about that movie was how both of the lead characters (Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep), to begin with, are both really incredibly annoying - stellar performances by both of them - but I didn't like either of their characters.

The night before last was The Godfather and, for me, that still stands up. Tomorrow night is The Godfather II which is three hours long. Pass me the cup of tea, the pop corn and the lie down.

My favourite so far has been Adaptation, the comedy drama written Charlie Kaufman, directed by Spike Jonze and starring Nicolas Cage and Meryl Streep. I had seen it when it came out, but I enjoyed it so much more than when I first watched it in 2002.

It's quite interesting how the same actors keep popping up, but it doesn't mean you necessarily still like them. The night after I watched Nicolas Cage in Adaptation I watched him in Leaving Las Vegas, he was really good, but I couldn't stand the film. I put it down to being Nicolas Caged-out but possibly it was just too black for Pollyanna over here.

Anyhou, I won't bang on with an endless list of what I've watched and what I've yet to watch 'cause A) that would be boring and B) I've got a date with Casablanca.

*Goes searching for popcorn*

Bread : it's what's for dinner . . . Works for Me Wednesday

It occurs to me that I should be a marathon runner, not because I love to exercise, but because I am in a constant state of carbo-loading.

You guys....I LOVE bread.

Exhibit A: my "usual" at Panera.
 

French Onion Soup in a bread bowl with a side of baguette

Or as Mr. E called it this afternoon....

"Bread with a side of soup."

I admit it, I am smitten with bread...and Panera. And I LOVE than they give you the bread that was scooped out for the soup.  That chunk of bread is like a little piece of heaven. (Please tell me there is bread in heaven.)


Speaking of bread (and I can't believe I've never shared this recipe before)...this is the ULTIMATE white bread for sandwiches, toast, snacking (?). :) If you love bread like I do, I BEG you to make it.

{My pictures aren't great, but the bread....oh, it's incredible!  It's carbo-load time!}

White Bread 101 
{barely modified from The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion }

3 c. all-purpose flour (you can subs. WHITE whole wheat flour here)
2 tsp instant yeast
1 & 1/2 tsp kosher salt
3 TBSP sugar
4 TBSP softened butter
1/4 c. dry milk
1/3 c. potato flakes
1 & 1/8 c. lukewarm water

Combine all ingredients together.  Dump onto a lightly floured surface and knead until you have a smooth dough...about 10 minutes.  Add more flour as needed, but add sparingly as more flour equals a heavier, drier loaf.

Transfer to a lightly oiled bowl; cover with oiled plastic wrap and let rise for 1 hour.

Transfer to a lightly greased work surface and shape into an 8" log.  Place in a lightly greased 8.5" x 4.5" loaf pan.  Cover loosely with the oiled plastic wrap and let rise about 1 hour....or until the dough has risen 1 inch over the rim.

Preheat oven to 350.  Uncover and bake the bread for 35-40 minutes, or until an instant thermometer reads 190 degrees. (Tent with foil during the last 10-15 minutes of baking if it is browning too quickly.)

Remove bread from the pan and place on a wire cooling rack.  After 15 minutes, brush with butter.  Cool completely before slicing.

Makes a mean grilled cheese or PB & J sandwich! 

{This post about my love for "bread with a side of soup" is sponsored by Panera. My obsession with carbs, my love of French Onion soup and my extra 15 pounds are mine and mine alone.}

Papertake Weekly - Sketch Week

Hi everyone! I'm soooo excited cause we're actually getting some spring weather instead of blizzards! LOL! It was sunny all day yesterday and in the 50's, and then we're supposed to be in the high 70's by Friday! It might rain next weekend, but I don't care! It's still not going to be yucky snow! LOL! Moving on from the weathr report, it's time for a new challenge from Papertake Weekly!! We get to play with one of Dawny's fabulous sketches, and we are sponsored this week by the wonderful Simon Says Stamp!

 For my card,  I used one of Peggy's cute Easter Cutouts from Peggy Loves Vintage. It's so very easy to make cards using her images! You just print one out, mat it, and attach it to your card! I think I've said it before, about the only way it's going to get any easier is to walk into a store and buy a card! Be sure and visit Peggy's blog and become a follower! She loves to give away free images!!

Cardstock is Bazzill, DP is from Nitwit Collections, flowers are Prima and Wild Orchid Crafts and the ribbon is May Arts 100% silk from Stamp and Create. I added machine stitching and popped up each individual panel. Sorry I didn't get a pic of the dimension this time.  Please be sure and visit Papertake Weekly to see the rest of my talented teamies creations. Then we'd love it if you'd grab your paper and glue and play along! Thanks for stopping by to see me today and hope to see you back again soon!
hugs!

Kareena Kapoor At Stardust Awards 2011 Launch Party Photo gallery (red hot)

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Mallika Sherawat @ 2011 Oscars Academy Awards On Red Carpet (white dress)

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Tapsee In Vandhan Vendran Telugu New Movie Stills,Photo gallery

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Sirumalai Tamil New Hot Movie Stills | Actress Sirumalai spicy photos