Bella's Biscuits

Every Christmas we run around from store to store searching for the perfect gifts to show friends and family that we care by giving them discounted merchandise. It's a stressful time that should be pleasant for many people.

But coming home to our wonderful, adorable dog is an instant de-stresser this time of year and every day.

So, I always bake my girl cookies and make enough for some of our other favorite pups. One of Bella's favorite homemade treats comes from the Healthy Doggie Biscuits Book by Jonna Anne. I adapted one recipe using apples by switching in bananas (which Bella loves) to make these healthy dog treats:

Oatmeal-Banana-Peanut Butter Biscuits

Ingredients:

1 cup Rolled Oats

3 1/2 cups Whole Wheat Flour

1/2 cup Peanut Butter

1 large banana (or two small bananas)

1 cup of cold water

Place oats and whole wheat in a bowl, then add peanut butter and sliced banana. Blend it all together and add the cold water. Blend it together and add a bit more water until it becomes a thick batter.

Roll out the dough on a floured counter (or on parchment paper) and cut out cookies - about 1/2 inch thick. Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes, until crisp. Let cool and serve.

Our best friends deserve these treats! Especially for being good sports about our need to dress them in embarrassing holiday attire.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas cocktail: Rosemary Cosmo

I made up this Rosemary Cosmo today, just in time for Christmas. Cranberry, vodka and rosemary simple syrup screams holidays. If you love rosemary, this is the cocktail for you this time of year.

Rosemary simple syrup:

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

Put ingredients into a saucepan and boil for about five minutes. Let cool.

Rosemary Cosmo


1 part vodka

2 parts cranberry juice

1 Tbsp Rosemary simple syrup

Sprig of rosemary for garnish


Mix the vodka, cranberry juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker full of ice. Pour into a martini glass, garnish and enjoy.

If you want to be fancy, you can make sugared rosemary sprigs, which look gorgeous in the martini.




I simply wet the rosemary, rolled it in a saucer of sugar crystals, and put it in the freezer for a couple of hours.



I also froze some fresh cranberries in an ice cube tray to put in drinks as an added garnish. Christmas in a glass. Have one - or two - and you'll have no choice but to be merry and bright.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Party

We had friends over this weekend for an Ugly Christmas Sweater party. Such a great time!There are some hilarious sweaters on websites such as Tipsyelves.com but I made ours on the cheap by getting two sweaters at Savers and adding iron-on flair from a craft store.

My guests were way more creative though.

The sweater on the left won the "best of" prize, mainly because of the 3-D blinking Ruldolph nose and the cotton tail on his behind. There are also two strategically placed jingle bells...

Another couple bedazzled their sweaters with gingerbread men, Christmasy pom-poms and garland. Other people bought their holiday sweaters from hell on ebay or borrowed them from their mothers. (Each mom reportedly said, "This sweater is not ugly").

Our menu included a roasted pepper and eggplant dip, chourico and peppers, meatballs, chicken wings and a family friend's Ruben dip that everyone died for.

Here's that recipe:

8 oz. shredded swiss cheese
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
9-12 oz corned beef, diced
12-16 oz. sourkraut
1 cup mayo
Round rye bread

Mix together the dip ingredients with a spoon and then cut the center out of the rye loaf. Fill the center with the dip and bake it at 350 degrees for about 40 minutes.

I also baked gingerbread men and decorated them with their very own ugly Christmas sweaters.

These guys were a total hit. And they were delicious (thank you, Duncan Hines).

Happy Holidays!

Destination Wedding Jamaica Recap

I've been on hiatus from blogging since October because preparing for a destination wedding took up a lot of my time. But I'm back. I'm married. And I'm starting to get back on the "real life" track.
Here's our experience, in a nutshell:

On November 5 we were married on one of Jamaica's beautiful beaches. The resort was Secret's St. James Resort and Spa in Montego Bay. If you like good food, happy people, beach time and beautiful views of the Caribbean Sea, this is the place for you.

When we arrived, we met with the wedding coordinators who I had been emailing with over the past year. We picked out what we wanted from the options they provided - which were all lovely - and they took care of everything. We didn't have to worry about doing much of anything other than showing up (and paying the bill).

In fact, the day of the wedding, I relaxed on the beach reading magazines until it was time for my hair appointment. My husband went snorkeing with his brother all afternoon. I'm fairly certain that if we had a wedding at home, our "day of" would have been a tad more stressful.

The (non-denominational) minister was wonderful. He made us laugh when we cried during our vows because we couldn't have my makeup running.

At sunset, we cut the cake and danced our first dance. The photos were spectacular.

(Our first dance to "At Last" by Etta James)

Since we bought the Ultimate Wedding Package for 20 guests, we had a cocktail hour with hors d'ourves and a steel drum band, followed by a reception with a delicious five course dinner.

We hired a DJ and danced. Then we hit the Piano Bar, then the resort's nightclub. We left just before the club closed at 2 a.m., when my feet could no longer stand the pain of my gorgeous something blue Badgley Mischkas.

(My purse, orchid bouquet and my something blue shoes)

When we arrived back to our suite, it was decorated with rose petals and towels shaped into swans on the bed. The jacuzzi tub was filled and topped with rose petals and candles.


Some perks of the wedding package we bought included my hair and makeup (which I had to wash off and redo myself. I looked like a hooker), a couples massage and an enourmous champagne breakfast in bed the morning after our wedding. It also included 50 5X7 photos and a 30 minute video of the ceremony as well as free nights for our anniversary stay. (We can't wait to take advantage of that one).

Thankfully, the party didn't end when the wedding was over. We organized a group Zipline and Canopy Tour excursion (through Chukka) for our guests the afternoon after our wedding. We flew through the trees, over rivers and hiked the Jamaican forest. Our guests loved it -- even the ones who said they were somewhat afraid of heights!

After a week at Secrets, my husband and I went to Negril for a private honeymoon experience. We stayed at the acclaimed RockHouse Hotel - a green boutique hotel and spa that ranks among the top hotels in the world -- and for good reason. It was breathtaking -- the cliffs, the ocean views, the food, the cocktails -- everything we experienced during our four days there exceeded our expectations.

(Sitting on the patio wall of our private waterfront villa)

Especially the sunsets.

Pumpkintini

After making these yummy Pumpkin Spice Muffins I had about 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree leftover. What to do with it? Add vodka, of course!

I know it's simple to buy Pumpkin Liquer to make cocktails but it's also pretty easy to whip up a pumpkin cocktail using natural ingredients you probably have around the house this time of year -- pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, cloves, and graham crackers.

The concoction I came up with is based on the ingredients in a simple pumpkin pie recipe with vanilla vodka and cinnamon simple syrup for sweetness. If you love pumpkin pie, you will die for this!

How to make a Pumpkin Martini:

1 shot of vanilla vodka
1 Tablespoon of pure pumpkin puree
Splash of Cinnamon Simple Syrup
1/2 shot fat free half and half
2 cloves
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 Graham cracker, crushed (for rim)

Fill a shaker with ice and shake together all ingredients (except for the graham crackers) until ice cold. Rub a bit of simple syrup along the rim of your martini glass and dip the glass in the graham cracker crumbs. Pour cocktail.

Perfect for a cool Autumn night or as a Halloween party cocktail.

Skinny Jeans Margarita

This weekend a friend and I stopped by the recently re-opened Loft Restaurant & Lounge at NYLO in Warwick for a cocktail. This place is uber modern and chic and had a fabulous terrace along the Pawtuxet River.

I ordered the Skinny Jeans Margarita, a bright blue version of the SkinnyGirl Margarita which is really light -- strong -- and easy to recreate at home.

Ingredients:

1 shot of clear tequila

1/2 shot blue curacao

Lime juice (from two wedges)

Mix it all together in a cocktail shaker with ice and pour into a margarita or rocks glass. If you like some fizz, add a splash of club soda.

(Just be aware that while you will look fabulous sipping this cocktail, you will also have Shar-pei tongue after drinking it).

Friday Flashback

While I was blowdrying my wavy/curly schizophrenic hair straight and looking at my bare, pale face in the mirror this morning, I thought about the difference that a little makeup and some mousse can do for a girl. It's downright miraculous.

Which brought back the memory of the 1989 movie "She's out of control" with Tony Danza and Ami Dolenz (the daughter of Micki Dolenz of my favorite childhood band, The Monkees. Yes, I admit it.)

I was about 12 when I saw that movie, which is about a nerdy 15 year old with braces and thick glasses who transforms into a total bombshell after a trip to the salon. Basically, her merciful stepmother waits until Tony Danza leaves town for a weekend then rips his daughter out of her ugly duckling phase by having the kid's braces removed (probably way too early), putting her in a tanning bed, getting her eye contacts, paying a stylist to run a comb through her head and buying her some new clothes.

At that age I was completely awkward and oblivious to the ways that us women are able to trick people into thinking we are naturally pretty. It was a revelation, really. After watching that movie I wished a fairy godmother would come along and take off my braces, buy me some hot 80's outfits and throw a little blush on me. Though it probably wouldn't have helped much during those pre-teen weird-looking years. And here's how I know:

When I was in college, I'd come home on the weekends sometimes and one weekend, I ran into my sixth grade Spanish teacher. He looked at me for a moment, squinting, thinking, and said, "Bridget, is that you? You look great! You weren't so pretty when you were a kid, you know?"

Thanks buddy. I know.

September Cocktail of the Month: Cider Thyme

My friend and fellow blogger Bianca has this kick-ass cupcake of the month feature on her blog, so I'm running with that concept for Cocktails and Heels with a monthly cocktail.

I love fall and September brings it in, so here's an Autumn inspired cocktail I mixed up that you simply have to try. I call it "Cider Thyme."

Cider Thyme

1 shot premium vodka

1/2 shot Gran Marnier (or Gran Gala)

1.5 shots of apple cider

4 springs fresh thyme (save one for garnish)

Pumpkin Pie Spice (dash)

Remove the leaves of 3 thyme springs and put the leaves in a cocktail shaker along with the liquids. Mix until very cold, about 30 seconds.

Pour into a glass over ice and top with Pumpkin Pie Spice.

(If you like a sweeter cocktail, add more cider or orange liquer to taste)

A small & stylish bridal shower

On Sunday my bridesmaids and Mother threw me a small yet oh so fabulous bridal shower at a restaurant called Scampi's along the water in Portsmouth, R.I. They initially meant for it to be a surprise, but had mercy on me and let me in on the plans so I could dress up.

{White House Black Market Dress}

My maid of honor created gorgeous flower arrangements and decorated the room with sea inspirations -- coral, starfish, and actual fish.

One fighting fish in a water filled vase, to be exact. (It was raffled off along with a gorgeous azul blue orchid and a basket of Jamaican beach-inspired goodies). They played Bob Marley and other types of music we'll be hearing when we hit the beach in the Carribbean for our wedding trip very soon.

The food was so delicious as well - Mussles, Stuffed Filet of Sole, Coconut Chicken and Linguini with Shrimp in an alfredo-style sauce. And there were custom cocktails at the bar - a "Jamaican Me Crazy" Rum Punch made with fruity rums, pineapple juice, cranberry and orange juices. They also put out Red Sangria made with organic wine plus a punch bowl full of Mimosa.

But really, the cake was the jewel of the party.

It was a gift from my maid of honor, since we won't be customizing a cake at our destination wedding. It was beyond beautiful -- a work of art with edible shells! And delicious to boot.
So I guess you could say I got to have my cake - and eat it too. (Sorry. Couldn't help myself).

For shower favors, my close friend and bridesmaid printed photos of Beavertail Lighthouse (where my fiance proposed) in a clear frame and attached two seashell wine stem charms to each frame. It was really personal and perfect. The whole day was.

True Romance: Mixed Tapes

I keep adding songs to my iTunes to make CDs for our wedding guest gift bags, and it occured to me that some people might not even have a CD player anymore. And if they do, they'll probably burn songs they like off our wedding CD into their own iTunes.

I still have a CD player and a decent sized collection of CDs and I've burned a number of songs from those discs onto my iTunes.

I love going back through my dusty boxes of compact discs, looking at the album covers and the artwork and the scratches on ones I played to death.

When I was in college in Boston, I loved walking down to the Virgin Megastore on Newbury Street on weekends and listening to music from artists I'd never heard of while reading the album covers. That's the stuff that we don't see when downloading songs to iTunes. I miss that.

I recently came across a mixed CD that a nice English chap made for me back in my days of dating. Sweet, if not a bit embarrassing for him now, right? And I'm showing my age here, but I still have about 20 or so tapes in the basement including a mixed tape or two that were made for me by young cassanovas.

It was the ultimate compliment to receive a "mixed tape" from someone. I remember listening to the songs over and over to pick out the parts that pertain to me. True Romance in the '80s and '90s.

What do kids do these days now that they can't create heart-felt mixed tapes for girlfriends?

The RSVP

I RSVP'd to my own bridal shower this week.

My mother and bridesmaids tried to keep it a surprise shower, but a girl has to know when to wear her new party dress. Plus, I hate surprises -- it's a control thing. And it's tough to keep a secret from a reporter anyway. So, they had mercy and let me in on the plans by sending me the gorgeous, shimmery invitation in the mail a few days before the big event.

I was so excited to get this. The invitation goes with our beach destination wedding theme perfectly, and I just know that my girls went above and beyond to make it a fabulous day for me. I can't wait to see what they've come up with.

I also found out that my girls had to scour the Earth for invitees who did not have the courtesy to RSVP. I've had this invitation etiquette issue with parties we have planned and even with our wedding invitations. And it's not that our friends are particularly careless -- I've read about this problem in plenty of Bridal magazines.

It's so frustrating for the hosts-- especially when there is a stamped return envelope and an RSVP card included with the invitations. If someone is nice enough to invite me to an event, I always RSVP to let them know if I will attend, or to express regrets and say thank you for the invite when I can't attend.

So, what do you do when people haven't RSVP'd? Do you assume that they aren't attending or do you hunt them down with a call or email to get a definite answer?

I emailed guests who did not RSVP to our wedding -- and some guests told me verbally they could not attend, which is fine, of course. But still, some haven't bothered to respond whatsoever. I would love to hear some thoughts on this one.

Pumpkin Crazy

I'm a tad obsessed with Pumpkin this time of year. I have the Creamy Pumpkin handsoaps from Bath & Body Works. Pumkin Spice candles. I put Pumpkin Pie Spice in my coffee to make at home versions of Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Lattes (though I haven't mastered a recreation of that bit of genius just yet). I have Pumpkin flavored liquer to make delicious fall cocktails (recipes to follow!). Oh, and I had an orange and white cat named Pumpkin as a kid.

Yes, come September, I turn into the crazy pumpkin lady. So be it.

So even though someone (me) had far too many margaritas last night, I managed to drag my ass off the couch this afternoon to make some Pumpkin Scones from a Stonewall Kitchen mix we bought while on vacation in New Hampshire this winter.

It's so simple: Add butter and water to the mix, create a dough, and slice into eight triangles. Bake at 450 degrees for about 15 minutes.



Drizzle the Maple Glaze on top.



Ahhh.....Now all I need is a pumpkin latte. Time to research recipes!

Animal magnetism

I love me a fiesty animal print, especially on shoes.

We were going to a Red Sox game at Fenway park a couple weeks ago and I needed a cute sneaker. These snake skin print Cole Haan sneeks are based on Nike Air technology, so they are cute and super functional.

(Though I did get blisters wearing them the first say. It's the price we pay).

I also needed a pair of Fall flats because my black ruffled ones are beat to death (but oh, so comfortable). I couldn't resist these:

Bandolini cheetah print flats

Besides, I believe animal prints are lucky. I was wearing a brown and white zebra stripe sun dress the day my man proposed in July last year.

Wine and company

This weekend my fiance and I met some friends at the Newport International Wine Festival at the Newport Yachting Center. It was hot and humid and so crowded in the tents that it was tough to walk around, but after a few tastings, it really didn't matter. We had a blast.

There was plenty of wine to sample, but there were just as many spirit vendors at the show and we found some new favorites.

One was Clement Creole Shrubb, an orange liquer that isn't as sweet as some of the others but so smooth. It would be perfect in a margarita. There was also a vodka we really liked called Double Cross, and Pallini Limoncello was delicious (though not as special as my homemade limoncello). I also tried whiskey for the first time, and I won't mention the brand because it made me realize I am not a whiskey girl. At all.

My friends and I decided that the "best of show" came from the Kobrand Spirits booth with Appleton Estate Jamaican rum and Coruba Jamaican rums. They offered a rum punch that was a combination of their coconut, pineapple, and mango flavored rums. Perfection for a hot summer day.

My something blue wedding shoe

I've been looking at shoes to wear on my wedding day for months now and though I've seen many shoes I liked, none were "it." This week I saw the Badgley Mischka Lacie heels in Navy blue and the search was over. It was love at first site...

They arrived on my doorstep today and fit perfectly.

(Thank goodness, because I had no intention of parting with them).

What's more is I got a great deal on them on Heels.com using an online coupon. It was also free shipping, and they arrived on my doorstep in perfect condition within three days of ordering them. (Love Heels.com!)

Now I'm even more excited about walking -- I mean strutting -- down the aisle to my groom in November.

It's never too late to...learn to surf

The is part of a new series on this blog where I learn to do something new. There are so many things I want to learn to do to make this life as exciting as it can be -- like learning to cook and camp out and ski.

My fiance has been skiing since he was little, so when we started dating four years ago, I gave it a try. I took a lesson and felt like a goofball falling down on the bunny slopes while five year olds flew by me. My skiis popped off, I face planted, I cried and I improved. Now, I love it. There is nothing more exhlirating than cruising down a mountain going so fast you fear you may die but knowing that at least your last moments would be great.

And of course, then there is Apres Ski time.

Last weekend, Rob and I took a surfing lesson through Peter Pan Surfing Academy at Narragansett Beach in Rhode Island. The surf was, well, not very good. The waves were pathetic. But the surfing lesson itself was great. We learned the techniques and when a few respectable waves rolled in, we jumped on our boards and rode those bitches in.

{My fiance surveying the waves -- or lack of}

Granted, I fell off the board more than I stood on it, but that's how I learn what Not to do.

And we can't wait to go surfing again when there are actual waves.

Cafe Americano

Sunday mornings for us are all about sleeping in, reading the newspaper and relaxing with a big breakfast of banana chocolate chip pancakes or french toast. Instead of having the same old cup of coffee I drink every morning, I like to have a little something on the weekends.

This past weekend I used cinnamon simple syrup to create a Cafe Americano.

Simply combine your favorite coffee with the amount of milk or fat free half and half you like and about a teaspoon of the simple syrup. Top it off with whipped cream, ground cinnamon and a cinnamon stick.

If it's an after dinner coffee, add a shot of Frangelico.

The Gilded Sea

While I was shopping in Newport this weekend I fell in love with some (overpriced) gold and silver seashells on display at a few shops there.

I happened to have a basket full of real shells and some ceramic starfish sitting around at home waiting for their moment to serve as decor.

I also happened to have enamel gold leaf paint and silver paint, so I brushed those onto the shells. The ridges, divets and swirls in the shells and starfish took in the metallic colors and reflect light so beautifully. The results are better than I expected.

Perfect, easy project for a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Now these seashells fit in with our living room decor, and I can bring the sea into those areas of our home.

City by the Sea

I spent Saturday in Newport visiting one of my closest friends and wow -- what a great day.
We started with a chocolate chai latte (Chai Noir) and a chocolate chip scone from the hip Empire Tea & Coffee on Broadway, then hit the Acquidneck Growers farmers market at Newport Vineyards to buy some local goodies.

Stacey picked up veggies for dinner and a gorgeous flower bouquet. I snagged two 4X6 card prints from Saltwater Studio. A local artist does these beautiful, delicate pressings of New England marine botanical life. I put the cards in frames that bring the sea to mind and now these pink and black coral pressing prints make my living room a better place.

After the farmers market it was off to second beach (Sachuest) for some relaxation.

We left the beach early because it was windy and headed to downtown Newport for some shopping (I didn't buy anything other than dog treats for Bella). Then stopped at the Red Parrot for one of their fabulous cocktails. We both ordered the Pink Panther, made with Stoli vodka that is infused with fresh pineapple, St. Germain Liqueur, and pomegranate juice. Amazing.

Our last stop was one of the best Mexican restuarants around - Perro Salado. This place is so fun with its ecclectic, bright decor, fantastic food and great service. We ordered their popular Blood Orange Margarita and an appetizer of nachos and four cheese chourizo dip. Clearly, I did not eat healthy yesterday. But damn, I enjoyed myself.

Here's how to make a Blood Orange Margarita at home:

2 ounces blood orange juice
1 1/2 ounces clear tequila
1 ounce Gran Marnier (or other orange liquer, such as triple sec)
Juice from two lime wedges
Blood orange wedge, for garnish

Combine it all in a cocktail shaker full of ice, shake and pour into a chilled margarita glass. Add a splash of club, if you like some fizz.

Rocky Point Walking Trail

Just over a month ago, the city of Warwick opened a walking trail on land along Narragansett Bay that was once occupied by the Rocky Point Amusement Park. Walking outside in the quiet hours of the morning and water views are two of my favorite things, so I take advantage of this trail which is only about 10 minutes from my house as often as possible.

The scenery reminds me of one of my favorite Rhode Island spots -- Cliff Walk in Newport -- with the sea salt scented breezes, the boats bobbing on the water, the greenery and flowers and the sound of waves slapping sand and rocks. It's amore.

Like Cliff walk, one side of the Rocky Point walking trail is water as far as the eye can see, and the other side of the trail is fenced off. The big difference between the two is that on the other side of the Cliff Walk fence there are mansions and legendary hotels that I'd love to stay in. On the other side of the fence at Rocky Point's trail, there are abandoned houses and buildings with penises and swear words spray painted all over them. Sigh.

Oh, and the Rocky Point's trail is much shorter. It's also not on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic.

But hey, Bella and I will take what we can get.

I took our sweet Bullmastiff, Bella, for a walk there this morning. Before today, she refused to walk on sand. She just couldn't figure the stuff out. But she came around all on her own today and we had a lovely stroll on the beach. I think she actually enjoyed the smooth sand between her giant paws.

Newport Vineyards and Polo

Last weekend was gorgeous so we took advantage of the weather in the Newport, RI area. We toured Newport Vineyards and did a wine tasting in the outdoor tent. Of course, we also purchased a couple of bottles of wine (Rising Tide and In the Buff) and sat out on the beautiful grounds of the vineyard to relax with a glass.

Then it was off to watch the Newport Polo match with some friends. It was our first time seeing this posh sport and we had such a fun time sitting out on the sidelines chatting, sharing cocktails, eating pannini's from a local deli -- and watching the match, of course.

It's also great people watching. The crowd is a mix of your stereotypical "old money" folks wearning searsucker and picnicing on fine china, and many everyday people like us.

One of many perfect summer days in Rhode Island.