Louis Vuitton ... Cake!

Happy Birthday to my BFF - Katherine!
Her neighborhood girlfriends took her out for an overnight stay at Hotel ZaZa and I can only imagine the fun they had Friday night.
To begin, they presented her with this fabulous Monogram Multicolore Louis Vuitton CAKE - yes, I said Cake. It looks very real. Of course she and I both dream in handbags - she sent me a picture immediately ... here it is~

Etiquette Question: You do know the difference between a handbag and a purse? Okay, if not - here goes ... The difference is a purse costs less than $100. and a handbag is over $100. - now  you know!  In case you are ever on a game show and they ask you this question - you will win the money! 
Remember: You should never walk into Neiman Marcus and ask for their purse department  ... they don't have one!


Back to "The Cake" - I'll never get over it - will you?  Hey, it's the perfect handbag - you can carry it and eat it too:) (just joking!)
Dilemma :This Friday is Katherine's actual birthday - a biggie for her - 40, and we are going out for lunch to celebrate. How will I ever think of something this clever - any ideas? Please bring on the fun, clever ideas.

In case you are wondering - I found out the neighborhood girls ordered this beautiful cake from 

Delicious Cakes of Dallas.

www.deliciouscakes.com


For all of you fabulous friends that dreams in handbags too - sweet dreams tonight!
xoJoy

It's beautiful!

I love the snow - the kind that gracefully falls with no wind and no ice - the kind we got in Dallas for Christmas Day. The Colorado snow is beautiful. You gotta love the weather here. The sun was shining bright yesterday, not a cloud in the sky - the most perfect day for skiing, and boy am I glad we did because we woke up this morning to a white-out! Perfect thick snowflakes falling all day - over 12 inches. In Texas, that's a lot, in Colorado, it's the norm. 

My precious husband spent two days shoveling snow off the patio (see yellow house not much snow!) Good Job Honey! 

 Until today - we got it all back. That should keep him busy for a while!

Owl Creek in the Fall  

Owl Creek Today!

Hang-in there horses - spring is right around the corner!

xoJoy

Tasty Tuesday and Tip Too!

Socially Savvy Tip~

Prepare for Easter Brunch or any dining situation:

Should someone offer you a bite from their plate use your own fork to take it from their plate, or hand your fork to them to get the bite for you.

In addition: If the person is sitting close, hold your plate toward theirs so they can place the bite on the edge of your plate. (with your utensil)
The faux pas is: holding a forkful of food to somebody's mouth or reaching over to spear food off someone else's plate.

Here's an EASY and QUICK recipe:
Ingredients:

• Shrimp (peel and deveined)
• Salt
• Olive oil
• Pasta (any kind) 
• Butter (enough to mix over pasta)
• Lemon juice

Directions:

• At 400 degrees roast shrimp by placing on a cookie sheet, drizzle shrimp with olive oil, salt and pepper, roast until pink.
• Boil water in pot with oil and salt - add pasta and cook until al dente and drain
• Toss pasta with butter olive oil, salt and pepper and lemon juice (to your taste) 
• Toss in shrimp!

This one sounds to easy to be so delicious!
Enjoy!
xoJoy

Guess What! - Your Table Is Open!

Although I love to cook one of my favorite things to do is "make reservations" ... you know - eat out at fabulous restaurants! This week (so far) I have Open-Tabled at Dish, Taverna, and Via Real. I highly recommend all.

If you do not use OpenTable - now is the time to start - with one click - it is quick and easy! Plus you earn points each time you complete a reservation. http://www.opentable.com/home.aspx

OpenTable is located nationally and internationally. You will find all the information you need regarding the restaurants price, menu, dining style, dress code and Chef.

And to help you remember your dining basics, here's a visual of your place setting. Never hurts to brush-up on the basics!

FYI - your drink is always on the right and your bread plate is always on the left. You can hold up your fingers to remember. See below ... Left is a "b" and right is a "d" (bread and drink)

Have a fantastic Friday and remember to use OpenTable for this weekend reservations!
xoJoy

Socially Savvy Sunday Presents - The Red Carpet Rules!

The Envelope Please!

Tonight is the biggest night of the year for the glamorous movie industry. They know how to "act", but do they know how to navigate the red carpet? Whether you are a super star on the big screen, or in your own corporate arena - here are red-carpet rules we need to remember:

“Red Carpet” Rules

for

THE OSCARS

or

Company Awards Ceremonies and Social Events

It is that time of year again when we attend important award ceremonies. And whether we are attending the Academy Award ceremony or our annual company awards event we should be prepared and equipped to handle ourselves in a five star manner.

1. Wear a dress (or tux) and shoes you feel confident and at ease in. Make sure you can walk up stairs in your attire and remember (women) if you can look down and see cleavage so can everyone else! Also, no tugging at your clothes.

2. Always be prepared with an acceptance speech and a sincere toast. You never know when you will be asked to give one or the other. Remember the three B’s (Begin, Be Brief, Be Seated) A long speech is boring and leaves many opportunities for error. Why risk it?  Oh yes, and remember do not take your purse or handbag with you on stage, leave it in your seat at your table – never on the tabletop on swinging off the back of your chair!

3. Do not applaud for yourself if you win an award. If you win an award or for any reason find yourself being applauded – DO NOT give into the urge to join in on the clapping. It will appear that you are applauding yourself. Simply smile and nod, and say “thank you.”

4. If the award does not go to you – smile anyway! If you do not win the award you expected, never speak words of disappointment (lips can be read) smile anyway, and speak only words of kindness.

5. Avoid first dates at pressure events. First dates are frighten enough – why add the additional social pressure by taking a first date to an important company ceremony.

6. Properly excuse yourself and go to the powder room before (or after) the big awards presentation. You do not want your name to be called while you are away from the table. “And the winner is” … no where to be found.

7. Do not groom at the table. All grooming (even lipstick application) is reserved for the powder room. (Remember, no chewing gum only breath mints)

8. DO NOT talk on the cell phone at the ceremony. By all means – put your phone on manner mode! And put away the Blackberry too, it is only for a few hours.

9. Photos with approval only. Pictures are fun - but always ask for permission before snapping a shot.

10. Do not stress-out if someone is wearing your same dress. Simply compliment their taste and move on.

Bonus tip: Refrain from indulging in one more drink to calm your nerves in case you win the big award. Before you know it you can’t remember your name and end up embarrassing yourself and everyone else. There is nothing good that comes from intoxication.

Now that we are polished - we will be watching the big stars tonight to see who is socially savvy at The Oscars Award Ceremony!
xoJoy

Must-Have Monday

It's a matter of the HEART!

It's called the Aspirinpod and everyone must have one - at least one. They are selling off the shelves because statistics show that a live can be saved if you chew an aspirin at the first sign of a heart attack. This little anatomical heart holds one big aspirin or four baby aspirin and attaches to anything ... handbag, wallet, gym bag, key chain, yoga gear, golf bag, backpack, and the list is endless.

If you ask a room full of people who has been affected in someway by heart disease (themselves, family or friends) - everyone will raise their hand. If you ask who has an aspirin with them - most can search in their handbag and find a Tylenol or Advil but very, very few people carry aspirins. 

But, now because of the Aspirinpod we can all have an aspirin on us at all times. We must be prepared - it can mean survival of a loved one or our own life. 

You can purchase them online at www.aspirinpod.com or ask for them at your local pharmacy.

HELP SAVE A LIFE ... It's Simple  BE PREPARED - HAVE NO REGRETS!

xoJoy