Happy Holidays! See you in 2011...

I hope all of you have a great Holiday surrounded by friends and family enjoying good food, laughter and fun.

2010 has been a wonderful year for me, I hope it has been for you, too. I wish all of you health and happiness now and for 2011.

Some things to remember as 2010 comes to a close: (I love making lists!)

1. tell your loved ones that you treasure them.
2. Have a chocolate milkshake every once in a while.
3. Snuggle your pets regularly.
4. Keep your mind, body and spirit healthy.
5. Wake up with a smile on your face.
6. Read a really good book. (Laura Hillenbrand has a new one out--Unbroken--it's incredible. )
7. Take a walk in the winter air and take in the season's splendor.
8. Set aside a day to do nothing. Recharge.
9. Bake cookies.
10. Have a Star Wars movie marathon.
11. Compliment someone.
12. Don't worry.
13. Replace the milk with egg nog in your favorite pancake recipe.

...and some fun stuff to do:
14. Make your own butter: whip some cream until it forms clumps or curds(keep going with the electric beater until it is past the whipped cream stage--you see the cream gets stiff and forms yellow fat globules--that's BUTTER!! Yay!), drain these butter curds through a cheesecloth or sieve, rinse the clumps until the water runs clear, form in a mound and mix a teaspoon of salt per pound of butter. Save the buttermilk! It's really great in quiche. FUN! (I grew up on a farm--and we had a Jersey cow that gave us the richest, creamiest milk imaginable. The butter made from that ultra-rich cream was heavenly.)

15. Make your own jewelry with beads, suede cord and Sculpey clay. (Sculpey clay makes great beads and bakes in the oven. Add a little gloss to the finished bead with some clear nail polish!)


Until 2011---be well, be happy, be peaceful and have fun!

Thank you for a fantastic 2010. Your support means so much to me,

Helen