Baekgaard Goods

While shopping yesterday in Ocean City with my daughter, we came across a beautiful line of leather products at P. Francis on 7th and Asbury Ave. The colorful, fun collection of purses and accessories from the Baekgaard Company are a great find for fall and early Christmas gifts. Check them out online. The Baekgaard line is owned by the famed Vera Bradley group.

Healthy Muffins (somewhat)

2 cups milk
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
1 cup bran or flax meal
2 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups wheat flour
2 tbsp. baking powder
1/4 packed brown sugar
1 cup raisins or craisins
1/2 cup sunflower seeds or nuts

Preheat oven to 350. Combine first 3 ingredients. Add remaing ingredients and stir. Dip 1/4 cup batter into each paper lined muffin pan. Bake until brown for 30 mins. Enjoy. Freezes well.

Plaid of the Buffalo:)

Once only a plaid found on hunters and a now famous Woolrich wool jacket in our house, buffalo plaid has become a fashion staple. From shirts to coats, headbands, scarves and dog jackets it is a rage this season. I love the traditional black/red but seeing it is now replaced with pinks, blues and purples. Most stores are featuring these combinations for fall.

Hurricane Season

We are used to the various names that hurricanes have this time of year and keep close watch on the proximity to our coast. With the winds,rough seas and danger also comes great waves. Most surfers in our area wait all year for this. Lately my boys can be found surfing whenever they get a chance. Watching them for me is fun and exciting. The surf beaches are packed most days and as long as this lasts they will be there.

The Shopping Cart

I viewed this and thought we can all relate to a story of a shopping cart. Check out Cart,the Film

Peeps and Co....

....is a new store coming this fall to National Harbor in Maryland. I don't know anyone who doesn't love Peeps, have fond memories of them at Easter or who hasn't bought them at some point in their lives. I eat only the yellow chicks and like them stale. I would love to visit this store and hope they have Peeps slippers.

Miss our Niece, Elise!

Our fun lobster in the pool this year has put a smile on our faces when we head outside. The only problem is our "fun filled, full of life, energetic" niece,Elise has left us after a wonderful vacation! Mr.Lobster and all of us miss her!

My Favorite Time of Year and Favorite Pie

My Mom's Peach Pie~


Preheat oven to 425.
2 pie crust for a 9 inch pie
9-11 ripe peaches, peeled, sliced and bruises removed
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon and nutmeg
juice of a lemon
2 tbsp. flour
1 tbsp. butter, cut up

Place one crust firmly in a pie plate. Combine next 6 ingredients and toss gently. Pour into pie shell and dot with butter. Place other crust on top, seal edges and flute. Make air vents on top. Place on cookie sheet in center of oven. Bake 40-45 mins. till top is brown. Shake a little confectioner's sugar on crust. Cool slightly and enjoy one of summer's great pleasures.

Heavenly Couture

A great little find on the OC boardwalk. All clothing and accessories are $17.95. Lots of fun things and they are opening another in Margate. Nice addition to our boardwalk.

Chinese Chicken Salad (from a good friend)

4 breasts chicken,cooked and shredded
1 head iceberg lettuce,shredded
1/2 cup red onion,chopped
1/3 cup sliced almonds
2 tbsp. black sesame seeds,toasted
soy sauce

Dressing: In an airtight container pour 1 cup salad oil, 1/4 cup white vinegar, 3 tbsp. sugar, s and p to taste and combine. Chill till ready to use.

Place lettuce, onion, sesame seeds and almonds in a large bowl. Combine chicken with soy sauce and marinate for 30 mins. Add to lettuce and toss with dressing just before serving and garnish.

Summer Lemon Tartlets

1 3/4 cup milk
2 small packages INSTANT vanilla pudding
6 oz. frozen lemonade,thawed
1 tub Cool Whip,lite
2 packages phyllo cups
Berries
Mix first 3 ingredients then fold in Cool Whip. Fill cups and chill.Top with assorted berries. Makes 30.

Who is Noah W. McVicker???

Can you ask for a better pastime then playing with Play-doh! It is a savior for Mom's and kids. Some of my best memories are the creative hours we spent as kids and then the wonderful times my children have had playing and making use of their artistic talents. Play-doh today has lots of fun colors in sparkles and neons plus kits such as the Ice Cream Shoppe...I just love it and recommend this "non- messy" play time fun for everyone!!

AT A GLANCE:
Play-Doh® Brand Modeling Compound, a non-toxic reusable modeling compound developed by Noah W. McVicker and Joseph S. McVicker and introduced by Rainbow Crafts of Cincinnati in 1956. Play-Doh Compound was available only in one color and size, an off-white, 1 ½ pound can. It was test marketed one year earlier at schools, kindergartens and nursery schools.
Milestones:
1955 McVicker's sister-in-law, a teacher, inquired about a safe and fun modeling clay substitute
1955 Joseph sent her a sample of a non-toxic compound used to clean wallpaper. It was a hit
1956 The McVicker brothers formed Rainbow Crafts Co.to make and sell the compound, Play-Doh®
1960 Fun Factory® accessory playset added to the product line..
1965 Noan and Joseph awarded patent for a soft, pliable plastic modeling composition, Play-Doh®
1965 General Mills purchased the Rainbow Crafts Company
1971 Kenner Products merged with Rainbow Crafts.
1987 The Tonka Corporation purchased the Kenner line
1991 Play-Doh's current owner, Hasbro, purchased Tonka
1997 The Play-Doh Brand Fuzzy Pumper® Barber & Beauty Shop
play-doh, modeling compound, mcvicker, noah mcvicker, joseph mcvicker, rainbow crafts, invention, history, inventor of, history of, who invented, invention of, fascinating facts.

Pearl River Mart - NYC

What a fabulous find on Broadway and Grand. This is a colorful shop for all kinds of party items, clothing, shoes, kitchenware and lots of fun decor. We bought a few fans for a dollar each and they came in handy with our long, hot walk thru the city...I love this happy place!!

Mochi crazy!!

Our search for mochi ice cream during our recent New York City trip provided us with a nice amount! They are unbelievably delicious rice wrapped ice cream balls found in most Oriental grocery stores. They come in flavors such as vanilla, chocolate, mango and green tea,individually wrapped and low in calories. They are also found in most Trader Joe's. Yum!