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Fun Find Friday – Red Hot Yoga

Friday, October 29th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

You’ve bought all the candy, you have frosted the cupcakes for the kids’ class parties and whipped up snacks & cocktails for your home Halloween soiree.

The day after Halloween you are eating the leftover candy you bought, pilfering the kids’ loot and nibbling on the uneaten snacks from the party.

Ugh. You are suffering from a serious junk food hangover. Maybe worse, if you indulged in one too many spooky cocktails at the adult party.

What to do? How about a yoga class? A HOT yoga class to detox your entire system. A hot yoga class at Red Hot Yoga on the tony Miami Circle in Buckhead. I started classes there this week after a 4 year absence. Oh, and I won’t lie and tell you it’s easy, but you will sweat (don’t forget your towel and bottled water!) You will feel like you truly accomplished something after class. And it’s owned by the lovely Bethany & Wes, who really know what they are doing and will help you with your poses so you won’t feel totally klutzy. They are kind, caring and patient – hmmm, that seems to be a recurring theme in my life these days!

I knew after all the dining out, dining in, dining with fab chefs and their fab tasting menus, that I had to do something. Plus, I was feeling all achy every morning. Since I write a blog about eating, I couldn’t very well just stop that, either. So I had to find some balance. Yoga is helping me with that. Bethany and I discussed how much better I would feel and look by next year. Heck, I feel better already. I still can’t stand on one foot for a long time, but that will come. Most of the classes I have taken this week have been taught by Gwen, who I think is super swell.

Because they are such nice folks, they are willing to let you attend unlimited classes for a full week for only $25, as an introduction! Such a deal.

If you come to the 9:30 a.m. class, you will see me there. Just don’t expect me to look like this.

Have a safe and happy Halloween, Sweeties. See you at yoga on Monday. Namaste, y’all!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Bow Wow Wow – I Want Candy

Fun Find Friday – Jacques Torres Chocolate Sampler

Friday, October 1st, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

My mind is on sweets lately. Next week I am hosting a very special “Gays and Girls Dessert Dance Party” in my home and I have got to come up with some treats that will impress my stylish friends.

And then I found this. Oh.My.Goodness. It is a sampler basket from Jacques Torres, the renowned god of all things fabulously chocolate. Listen to what you get in the very stylish hat box – a 12-pc boxed assortment of bonbons, Classic hot chocolate, cheerios, cornflakes, milk chocolate covered pretzels, approx 5oz. dark bark, 60% bar, Wicked bar, Brulee bar, and a Milk Almond bar. Chocolate cornflakes? Yes, please!

For your glamorous chocolate cravings

I believe I will be inspired and whip up some chocolate covered potato chips for the party, along with confetti cupcakes, blondies, brownies, lemon bars and a colorful candy bar. The decor will be the burlap material I have been hanging on to, waiting for the perfect occasion, which will be offset by pink tulle. It will be so cute!

But you could always just get in touch with Jacques and he will send one of those amazing baskets over. At $85 a pop, I know it’s pricey, but maybe for someone very special (you?) for Christmas?

You deserve it!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to The Archies – Sugar Sugar

Fun Find Friday – The Salsabol!

Friday, September 24th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Don’t you hate when the salsa falls off your chip? Me, too! Check out this specially-designed bowl so you never have to worry about errant salsa jumping off your chips.

Called the Salsabol, it features a unique, patent-pending lip that pushes your salsa or dip back onto your chip for the perfect scoop, every time!

They’ve combined incredible functionality and unique modern design to create a playful party piece that adds style and flavor to any table. It’s half revolutionary, half brilliant, and half ridiculous–but it will make your parties awesome and your chips (and guests) happy.

Ole'! No more empty chips!

Buy Now

I have to order this for my next party. Even the color is pretty!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Chica Boom – Mi Bomba Sono

Fun Find Friday – Mary Esther’s Baby Cakes

Friday, September 17th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

This week’s fun find is Mary Esther’s Baby Cakes. I met Jessica, the owner, this past Sunday at Tami’s Sip and See. Jessica gifted each guest with one perfect Red Velvet cupcake. Mmmmmm, yummy!

Everyone loves red velvet cupcakes

And let me tell you, they were luscious!

Jessica is so special that she doesn’t have website, so I am letting you in on the secret – because I love you so.

Prices start at $15 for one dozen minis and you will not believe the variety! OMG, listen to a few of the types of cupcakes Jessica is baking up for you:

• Apple Chai
• Apple Pie
• Bailey’s Irish Cream
• Caramel Pretzel
• Chai
• Cheese Cake
• Choc. Covered Strawberry
• Chocolate Truffle
• Coconut
• Crème Brulee
• Cookies & Crème
• Cookies & Crème Cheese CupCakes
• Drumstick
• Kahlua
• Lemon Drop
• Lemon Meringue
• Margarita
• Mochaccino
• Molten Chocolate
• Nuvo Red Velvet
• Pecan FrenchToast
• Pina Colada
• Pink Champagne
• Pink Lemonade
• Tiramisu
• White Chocolate Mousse

Oh, wait – don’t see one you love? Jessica will custom bake your favorite. How fab is that? AND she provides FREE delivery in the metro Atlanta area. Ohhhh whee!

You can find Jessica and all the news on her Baby Cakes here on Facebook.

Um….did I just read Caramel Pretzel? Oh, yeah, I’ll take a dozen!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Three of a Kind – Baby Cakes

Fun Find Friday – Amy’s Gourmet Apples

Friday, September 10th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

It’s still pretty warm here in Atlanta, but in the early morning, I can feel a bit of Autumn trying to peek out.

Which convinces me that Fall is just around the corner. Almost.

And Halloween. Halloween is less than six weeks away. Halloween means candied apples. This year it means Amy’s Gourmet Apples. Look at these babies:

Photo Courtesy of Amy's Gourmet Apples

They are huge! And there are all types to choose from. Oh my goodness. I need them all. Well, maybe not need, but want. Definitely want.

Sure, you could make your own, but if you have no inclination for dealing with the mess of piping hot chocolate, this would be much easier.

Wouldn’t they make a swell hostess gift? Or a gift for that hard-to-buy-for boss? Or for yourself? Or for me! Yes, they would make a lovely gift for me.

And since they’re apples, that must mean they are healthy! You can get one of your daily fruits in for the day.

Rationalization is a wonderful thing.

Now, excuse me, I must go purchase some of those apples.

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Glen Campbell and Bobbi Gentry – Little Green Apples

Fun Find Friday – Book Swim

Friday, September 3rd, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Remember on Wednesday, when I nabbed that cozy chair at Victor’s house and said it would be the perfect place to curl up with a good book? I found the book.

Actually, I found a boodle of them at Book Swim, a new service that’s like Netflix, but instead of movies, you receive books. Isn’t that cool? Here’s the press release from lovely Marita Burke:

The happiest time of the year is also the busiest and most expensive time of the year! Make your holiday hosting plans a little easier (and affordable!) this year with the help from BookSwim. Rent books to teach you everything from how to create spectacular decorations to making the best Eggnog. It’s the perfect way to come up ideas for those picky in-laws. Plus, when the holidays are through, you can send each book back, cutting down on clutter (a New Year’s resolution?) and allowing you, also, to rent all new and updated books the following year!
 
You and your guests can even gather on the couch and enjoy a Christmas classic like The Night Before Christmas!

Here are the pricing tiers:

Unlimited Plans
3 books at-a-time: $23.95/month
5 books at-a-time: $29.95/month
7 books at-a-time: $35.95/month
11 books at-a-time: $59.95/month

Limited Plans
1 book per month: $9.95/month, $3.99 outgoing shipping

I love the unlimited plan. This way I can read three cookbooks at one time and enjoy them at my leisure. They go back in a pre-paid envelope when I am finished.

Loving all the holiday titles right now. I can’t help myself! And lookie, here’s a book from Ree, The Pioneer Woman – one of the web’s first food bloggers.

One of our own!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to The Reading Rainbow Theme Song

Fun Find Friday – La Tienda

Friday, August 27th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Recently, I have been getting so much advice on monetizing the blog that sometimes I just want to scream. I  don’t want sell stuff just for the sake of making a few pennies here and there. Plus, I am so woefully bad at it.

But, I am always online looking for cool new stuff for my parties! This Labor Day we will be hosting a paella party for a passel of friends. Maybe 40, maybe 70, who knows? What I do know is that it will be a ball. And that I have got to get cracking on finding the freshest ingredients for our humongous paella pan.

Last year we had a devil of a time locating spanish chorizo. The kind that does not dissolve when cooked.

Guess what?? I found it online this week! The folks at La Tienda offer about a gazillion types of tantalizing spanish chorizo, just perfect for our paella soiree. Yay!

And I almost fainted when I spied the Extra Large Paella Burner. Who knew? Okay, I don’t know if we will be picking this up with its hefty $285 price tag, but golly, it would sure make things easier. We will probably still cook the paella the old school way, over a blazing fire (please, Mother Nature, make it cool this Labor Day).

But all our chorizo will come from La Tienda, for sure. Ole, y’all!

Eric and Teague man the paella station last year. Action shot!

Monetize, smonetize. Lets have fun!

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Aretha Franklin – Spanish Harlem

Fun Find Friday – Gluttony Pants!

Friday, August 6th, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Today’s fun find comes from Betabrand and are called Gluttony Pants. Isn’t that a hoot?

See, They Look Hip and Cool...

They look just like plain ole chinos, but the secret is inside – three separate buttons spaced far enough apart to get through Thanksgiving dinner or that hot dog eating contest you’ve been wanting to enter.

Go Ahead, Have That Fifth Slice Of Pizza - You're Covered!

And there’s more! The cutest James Beard inspired graphics in the lining are sure to bring a smile to your full face.

Love Those Graphics!

At $100 a pop, they are not cheap, but you won’t keep running out to the tailor to get your buttons sewn back on.

James Beard would be so proud (sniff).

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to Weird Al Yankovic – Eat It

Fun Find Friday – Cuisinart Hand Blender

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Good Morning, Darlings!

Today’s fun find is the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender (retail $24.95) It’s so cute! And you can blend lots of ice cream drinks right in their containers, without lugging  the clunky blender from under the counter or wherever you put it last (where is that thing, anyway?)

Anyhoo,  you can blend soups right in the pot, make more ice cream drinks (loving the ice cream drinks in this summer heat), or whip up a batch of whipped cream, you know, to go into your ice cream drinks.

I love how sleek it is, too. Can’t you just picture James Bond using one of these? Well, me neither, but you sure would look swanky using it!

Look How Swanky!

Rushing off to buy one now. But you can click right here and get it from the comfort of your own home and the nice UPS man will bring it right to your door.

Now, if only we could get him to deliver the ice cream…..

xoxo, Patti

Today blogging to The Cars – Shake It Up