Kate Collins's Blog, page 165

I'm seeing spots!

By Mary Jane Maffini aka Victoria Abbott

I was hunting around for a new outfit to wear to a conference and I automatically reached out for a snappy black jacket with white polka dots. A little voice in my head said, “But—”

                I shushed that little voice and tried in on.  The voice said a bit louder, “But—!!!”
                Shush.
                I really liked the jacket.  It fit perfectly.  The color combo and the shape liked me back. And the price was right. 
                That voice again. “But you already own a jacket that looks a lot like that! And  a sweater.

                Luckily I listened to the voice.  This time. 
                I have a bad habit of buying the same thing over and over, because it worked the first time. That explains all those black tops and pants in my closet. ( I’ll spare you an all-black photo.)





                But in addition to the black, a pattern was emerging and it was polka dots, mostly black (ahem) and white. I have them in skirts, pants, housecoats and scarves .  What’s with that? 

It's like an addiction and I can't just walk away.   Please don't suggest stripes. There's a small problem with them too.

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                What about you? Do you buy the same color or style over and over? Or are you crazy about a certain pattern? I want to hear about your addictions - to clothes.  Candy was yesterday, my darlings.

The shame of it all...

I only eat multi-grain bread, buy organic fruits, veggies, chicken and beef. Heck, even my milk is organic and so are my freaking eggs and popcorn!
But the thing  is…every once in a while…I’m making rice crispy treats at two in the morning ‘casue I’m having a sugar melt-down.
Thank heavens for the 24-hr grocery five minutes away…actually four-minutes and thirty-three seconds and every second counts when a sugar craving hits.
I cannot keep cookies in the house or candy or Peeps…those sugary marshmallow things. I found one in the back of the closet last month, nearly fainted from the sheer joy of finding candy, bit into it and dislocated my jaw. The trials and tribulations of a junk food addict.
I know these are all sins and no way should I be running out at 2 AM in my jammies for cereal and marshmallows but it happens. Then it occurred to me that maybe not everything needs to be healthy. Maybe a little happy is good too. 
Oh I know that skinned chicken breast is so yummy and the apple is just lovely but in my world the hamburger wins out over the breast and the cookie takes the apple every time.
So what about this...I said to myself. One yummy meal a week where sin can happen and guilt gets kicked to the curb. For me it’s fried chicken, mashed potatoes with real butter and gravy…lots and lots of gravy. And desert. Not some frozen yogurt stuff with more organic fruit but cake! Real live cake with icing. Chocolate cake and butter icing. My meal of sin and gluttony.


So what is your meal of sin and shame? If we have one totally yummy, guilt free meal a week maybe the apple and skinned chicken breast won’t be so bad. Right? Maybe?
Happy Eating. Hugs, Duffy 
  

Serena's Bridal Shower

by Maggie Sefton

I just returned home this evening from my daughter Serena's Bridal Shower weekend back in Northern Virginia.  Since it's late, I thought I would post photos for you folks to enjoy.  The shower was a great success, and everyone LOVED the special menu of appetizers and desserts.  I'll post the selections below.  Meanwhile-----some photos!   First, daughter Serena with a shower gift-----"50 Shades of Chicken"  cookbook.  

Appetizers served--------
Crispy Chips with 3 Dips Smoked Chicken Con Queso, Guacamole, Pico. Shrimp & Crab Poppers with Corn Salsa & Roasted Pepper SauceBBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp (3) Pico, Avocado Relish, Citrus CreamSmoked Salmon Quesadilla with Pico de Gallo, Crema, Avocado Four Cheese Pesto - Goat Cheese, Gruyère, Mozzarella & Parmesan on FlatBread

Daughter Christine with 16 year old granddaughter Natale above.  Seven year old granddaughter AnaSofia to the right.  Daughter Melissa in the background---- 

DESSERTS:Individual Noel’s Carrot Cake
Individual Chocolate Mousse
WINES:Vouvrary, Pinot Grigio, and Pinot Noir
Plus: Mimosas, hot coffee, hot tea, iced tea




More gifts----





And flowers-----

TIME TO PUT YOUR JAMMIES ON!

By Kate Collins
 Isn’t that the best statement ever? Well, besides, “Here’s a chocolate brownie smothered in thick dark chocolate sauce for you.”
Annnnywaaaay, when I come home from an evening out, I can’t wait to snuggle into a pair of comfortable PJs, especially on a cold winter evening.
Recently I noticed that my favorite winter pair was wearing thin, so I decided to treat myself to two nice new sets. And that began the “Great Pajama Hunt.” That lasted until I gave up trying to get to department stores in bad weather only to find  spring merchandise out -- and good luck seeing something on the clearance rack that looks pretty AND is the right size.
So I turned to the Internet. Lo and Behold I found all the winter pajamas a jammy-holic could ever want. Then it was time to get specific with my must haves:A.     Something pretty that would also feel good on.
B.     Something cuddly soft and warm.
I started with the search words “soft flannel” and then added in “bamboo” because I love my bamboo cotton flannel sheets so much  that I use them year around.  I found a pretty pair of flannel pajamas that did not have bamboo in them but the reviews kept describing them as: soft and thick, best PJs ever, love them, will never buy any other kind, etc.  So I ordered them and you can see the photo here. They’re white with turquoise birds and they’re very pretty. Also very warm. Actually, a bit too warm under my big comforter. Have I mentioned that I love burying under a comforter at night? Also not as cuddle soft as I’d hoped. A tad stiff and somewhat boxy, in fact.
So I went back to the search engine and started with “bamboo cotton flannel” but it didn’t turn up anything I liked. The closest I could find, bamboo viscose, that also had great reviews weren’t in the normal PJ colors.  They were jewel-toned, which doesn’t make me think of sleep. Nevertheless, I ordered this pair in burgundy because I liked the style and it was the least objectionable color.
Between the pretty white with turquoise and the burgundy, I had a winner! The burgundy bamboo PJs are so comfy and so stylish, I want to wear them for lounging as well as sleeping. And they keep me warm but not too warm. Oddly, I feel happy in them. And don’t we all want to be happy?
Do you have favorite pajamas? Are you choosy about your PJs, too?
Sleep happy, friends.
P.S. My big COVER REVEAL is on my Facebook page today. I’m showing off my November mystery, FLORIST GRUMP. I LOVE it! Look what Abby's eating!

Ellery's Mystery Cozy Contest

Hosted By Ellery Adams

It's the first of the month! Time for me to give away a $10 card to the bookstore of your choice.

This is how it works: I post a few lines from a cozy mystery. You post the title and author in the comment section. Then, I'll draw a random name from the winning guesses and post that person's name on this page and on Facebook by 10 p.m. on March 2nd.


Okay, here we go! Here are the lines from this month's mystery cozy:

"Moishe seemed to sense that his mistress was frustration because he reached out with one orange paw and flipped over his food bowl."


Ellery's helpful hint - Alison Sweeney is going to star in a Hallmark Channel production based on this book.

DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY!

by Mary Kennedy                               
                                                     
So much has been written about happiness that I was surprised when a close friend told me she was planning to write a book about it. Not wanting to dampen her enthusiasm,(but hoping to offer a reality check), I asked her if she had done an Amazon search of the topic.  No, it seems she hadn't.  So I did.

Here's what I found. Almost 80,000 books on Amazon contain the word happiness in the title. There are some famous, best-selling books on happiness, including The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Ms. Rubin advocates taking pleasure in simple things and has daily, weekly and monthly goals. She sings in the shower, organizes her closets and does projects with her children. And she evaluates the results of her efforts.  Like many of us, she wonders why happiness is so elusive. Could happiness really be as simple as Charlie Brown suggests?
                                                          
                                                             
One thing I've learned from my clinical practice as a psychologist is that money and material possessions don't lead to happiness. Naturally, you need enough to live on, enough to meet your daily needs and to protect your future.  But do we really need tons of possessions?
                                                              
A recent study conducted by Havas Worldwide found that 4 out of 5 people agree with the statement: "I could happily live without most of the things I own." As one of my friends says, "The problem with having a lot of stuff is that you have to take care of a lot of stuff."

Most psychological studies conclude that "experiences" are more valuable than possessions in adding to our happiness. A week-end trip to Williamsburg with the kids is more memorable than a new sofa. Which will they remember years from now? Which will you remember?

And much of happiness is a choice. Yes, some days it's difficult to remember that we can "choose" to have a good day. Tragedy strikes, careers falter, friends disappear. But there's always a glimmer of sunshine there, if we can just dig deep enough to find it.
                                                            
 Relationships, whether they be with people or pets, contribute greatly to our happiness.  Pets are particularly important for the elderly who may have lost their friends and relatives over the years and feel lonely and isolated. A pet can bring a source a joy and comfort into their lives. When I worked in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, I saw firsthand how happy the residents were when volunteers visited with their companion animals.  It  made their day!                                 
                                       

      So remember to find some happiness in every day, even if it's just a quick nod of gratitude for the friends and loved ones we still have with us. Do you have any tips or strategies for finding happiness in tough times?

Mary Kennedy              

Cover girl!

by Lorraine Bartlett / Lorna Barrett / L.L. Bartlett

Our girl Betsy had her 18th birthday last October. We felt pretty lucky to still have her, as she's suffered with a number of pretty serious illnesses over the years (including lymphoma, which she beat!).  Last week was the 18th anniversary of our heading to the local (kill) shelter and picking up two four-month old kittens.

(That's Bonnie behind Betsy.  They were cuddled next to the heat run in the kitchen, the warmest place in the house.  Betsy still goes there on a regular basis. We lost our dear Bon-Bon four years ago.)

Recently, I found I own some foreign rights to my Victoria Square books. YAY!  Now readers in England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and a few other countries (where I'm not even sure you can download ebooks) will be able to read the books in this series.  But in order to get them there, I needed new covers.


Bonnie and Betsy were the inspiration for Mason and Della, Katie Bonner's two cats.  (Bonnie didn't mind being a stand-in for a boy kitty.  She was pretty laid back.) I sent the cover designer a picture of Betsy so she would know what kind of cat I wanted on the cover. I was shocked and pleased to see that she could actually USE the picture I sent.



For the next cover, I sent the designer my favorite picture of Bonnie and Betsy together, taken just a few months before we lost Bonnie, and she incorporated them both in cover for The Walled Flower. (Betsy was sitting on the little kitty afghan my mother made for her.  Pink really is her color, don't you think?)

When Mr. L sits in a certain chair, Betsy likes to sit with him.  In fact ON him. On his foot.  It looks silly, but--hey--that's what cats do.  (Betsy has always liked to hang off of furniture--so, why not people, too?


As you can see, the designer took that photo and incorporated Betsy into One Hot Murder, too. 

I don't know how much longer I'll get to have my sweet baby girl, but she, and Bonnie, will live on on these covers for many years to come.

I think Betsy will like that.

Amazon UK
Amazon AU

They're also available from iBooks and Kobo (if I could only find the links, I'd share them).

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Hey, did you know the Cozy Chicks are having a Button-Up 'Til Spring Fling? Everyday we're posting pictures taken by some of our Cozy Chickadees with a Cozy Chick button, and asking our readers to caption them.  We'll be announcing the winners on Facebook every Friday and Saturday until March 20th.  Check out the Cozy Chicks Author Page to find who who will win!

Three generations of chocolate cake

By Mary Jane Maffini aka Victoria Abbott 

I wanted to share this with you this week. It’s one of those 'what goes around comes around' stories, but it starts with my mother. 

She was an excellent and generous cook and we still share her recipes with joy in our family.  They bring back memories of fun times. One of the simple favorites was her chocolate cake.  To me this was birthday cake. I made many of them and so did my girls, Virginia and Victoria. Everyone knew and loved Gram’s chocolate cake.

While finishing up our latest book, Victoria and I wanted to include the cake as a the base for chocolate tiramisu to include as one of Signora Panetone's recipes at the end of THE MARSH MADNESS. 







But I couldn’t find the recipe anywhere. Some things have never shown up after our move. Other times recipes are tucked into one of a hundred cookbooks and only flutter out when you least expect them.


I tore the house apart. No sign of it! Had it been thrown out?  I shook a lot of cookbooks. No luck.
Finally while I was whining to Victoria, the other half of Victoria Abbott, I mentioned my frustration. 

“I have it,” she said. “In that book you made for me when I was a little girl.”

The recipe book was written around the time this picture was taken Sure enough, in a battered little volume called My Treasured Recipes, I found, in my handwriting, the secret code to Gram’s Chocolate Cake.   




This was done before we used computers to create recipes (or before we could even imagine it!) My handwriting is a family joke, but this seemed reasonably neat. Of course, I wasn’t sure if it called for ¼ cup of milk of 1 ¾ cups of milk.  No wonder I type everything now.

But the point is we had it.  It makes two nice layers (or four if you want to slice them in half horizontally).  


Our chocolate tiramisu was made and the day was saved.  I was surprised and thrilled at how many of the favorite foods of both sides of the family were preserved in this little book. And I’m happy that Victoria kept it.  I hope to share others here on another blog.

We hope that one of these days, this will form part of a family cookbook that we can share with every generation, as there are some terrific young cooks in the gang too.  In the meantime, I’m happy it’s here with me for a while. I still have another layer of it in the freezer in case I need to make an emergency tiramisu. Every time I make it now, I have to thank my mother and my daughter.

What about you?  Do you have a family cookbook? Any family recipes with a bit of history?  Tales of recipes lost or found?  We love food so let's hear it!

I can’t do that…it’s not on the list!

I never seem to get enough done! Yet I feel like I’m running around with my hair on fire. My house is never as clean as I’d like (heck, it’s not clean at all), the laundry piles up for weeks (true confession time), I don’t write enough pages in one day, the oil in the car needs changing...you get the picture.

So I’ve decided to be one of those list people. You know the type they’re the ones who have lists of things to get done every day. There are two reasons for taking up the list challenge... One is that I hope to get more done and the second is that IF I do get something done I can keep track of it and not feel as if I should wear a shirt with Procrastinator written on the front.
This isn’t exactly a brand new idea for me. I mean I do make other lists. Sometimes I actually go to the grocery with a list of things I need. Mostly this is when company’s coming and I’m making something special or I’ve forgotten toilet paper for the seventh time and the toilet situation is dire and I need to really, really remember this time!
And I make lists for leaving the house. Turn back heat, put out garbage, make sure cat is not trapped in the bathroom…

Then there are lists I never use. I have a Christmas card list that I never use. I never send out cards and have five boxes of Christmas cards in the closet to prove it.

I made a lists of good food to eat each day... Five servings of veggies! Really? I’m lucky I do that in a week. I thought about making a list of cookies to eat each day. That list I could follow and would feel great about checking something off a list for a change. Then there’s the list of daily exercises. I found that one buried under the TV Guide.
The good things about making lists are:-you get to buy a pretty notebook to write your list in. I really like that. I’m a sucker for cute notebooks-you get to check things off when you do them. I do like putting a check in a box. -at the end of the day I know I’ve actually done something...I hope. If not I’ve got that cookie list to fall back on-and when I do the things on my list I celebrate! I really like the celebrating idea. Refer to the cookie list above. Oreos are the fav celebratory cookie.
So what about you? Are you a list maker? Do you make lists every day? When you go to the grocery store? When you go on vacation? When you watch the grandkids so you don’t leave one in the car. (I had four kids and counted a lot!) Do you thing lists are a good idea or a waste of time?

-

Movie Time

by Maggie Sefton



This week I thought I'd wrap up the Movie Time segments right before I fly off for
the Northern Virginia, my hometown area, and enjoy my daughter Serena's Bridal Shower that I've arranged for family and friends who live in the area.  The Chef at the wonderful cafe/restaurant where we'll be holding the Shower luncheon and I have been discussing details and going over menu suggestions via email.  I'm really pleased with what we've come up with.  The food will be delicious and the entire event will be a whole lot of fun.  :)    Now----for the Movie Reviews----

BLACK HAT----I really, really enjoyed this film.  Of course,  as you folks have heard me say before, I love action adventure.  And this film defiintely delivered.  It's billed as an action thriller mystery because there are lots of international settings as the hero, who's a super computer internet genius who can figure out the most intricate of codes.  It seems a Super Hacker has compromised a nuclear dam, hacked the NY Stock Exchange and sent soybean prices soaring then drop, losing millions, and basically shown off for every national and international police force out there that he Super Hacker can outsmart them.  That's where the Hero comes in.  He has to figure out the clues Super Hacker leaves to taunt authorities.  Non-stop action and mentally engaging as well, especially if you like international espionage.

WILD----I really enjoyed this movie, too, and it was based on a real person's life and the woman's experience of hiking the Pacific Coast trail.  This movie was every bit as gripping as the international espionage movies because the character (played by Reese Witherspoon) was out there in the wilderness sleeping in the wild, having to keep the campfire going to keep the critters away, and meeting some real people along the way who posed genuine threats to a woman all by herself out there in the woods.  Plus, there were real physical challenges as well.  Really well done.  I recommend it highly.

TAKEN 3-----This is another great action thriller which is also the third---and final---episode in Liam Neesan's (sp?)  espionage movie where he's having to rescue either his daughter or his wife.  This time the rescue involves both, and also an intricate setup by the Villain who wants to protect his criminal activity.  Well, the CIA has to get involved because Liam swears he'll get to the bottom of this plot because it's threatening his family.  Again, non-stop thriller action that delivers.  I recommend it.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM----You have to love this wonderfully silly little storyline about all the museum stuffed and preserved animals and humans and creatures of all kinds coming alive at night and partying all over the museum.  It's a lot of fun and will make you laugh.  Plus, it's a chance to say "goodbye" to one of my favorite comic actors---Robin Williams.  Of course, there he is playing Teddy Roosevelt, sword in hand, yelling "Charge!" as he charges on horseback (or pretends to charge).  It's an endearing portrayal and reminds us all of why so many of us loved Robin Wiliams comic gifts and greatly miss him.  No one can take his place.