jamie of all trades

turkey dips

this is a really special recipe.  one of my dearest friends, wexler, makes the most amazing turkey dips and this is her recipe.  i crave this sandwich.  this is a perfect cold-night sandwich.  the hot broth really warms you up.  thanks for sharing, wex!

herb ox beef bouillon in powder form
oregano
havarti sliced from your deli
oven roast or dinner roast turkey: you'll want the turkey shaved or just above shaved (it makes a difference, you don't want the pre-cut turkey)
hoagie rolls from the bakery section
butter
 
boil water for beef broth (1 tsp per cup of water as directed on package).  after broth is made add your turkey to heat it up a bit. turn heat down or off.  (i'm pretty sure this is her secret.)

in the meantime, toast your bread (you want it crunchy so it doesn't get too soggy throughout the dipping process.  after bread is toasted spread butter to your preference. place havarti on bread. sprinkle with oregano

place as much turkey as you like between your delicious toasted buttered cheesy bread.  cut in half (I like to cut at a diagonal so it's easier to dip.)
 
serve up some broth in a bowl for delicious dipping.  ENJOY! the flavor explosion in your mouth!

swash letterpress on martha stewart weddings

how cool is it that my friend julie's letterpress, swash press, is on martha stewart weddings???  i'm so proud!  go julie! if you need letterpress, she's your girl.  tell her i sent you!

:: swash letterpress :: 

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learning to surf!

um...can we talk about how awesome my friend ruth is?  she spent a week in nicaragua at surf camp, learning to surf.  i am so impressed with her.  check our her mad skillz!

i'm totally inspired!  maybe i need to join her next year?

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vote for love!

please vote for my friends, lauren + shawn to win the ultimate storybook love story contest.  lauren & shawn are two of my favorite people, so much fun to be around and they have great taste in music too.  here's their quote for the contest:

"Shawn and I met at a bar when he offered me a hug and a couple of bucks for the jukebox. He made me laugh a lot that day. Four and a half years later, we've never stopped laughing."

how cute is that?  they make me laugh too!

the prize $3500 for an engagement party or rehersal dinner!  you'll need to 'like' herban feast catering and sodo park event space, then you can vote once every 24 hours.  thanks friends!

in case you missed it this week:

::  bags in bags?  yep, check it!

::  the glassybaby second is on saturday, it's a seattle must-do!

:: whoops!  missed a day, sorry!

::  i made a 2011 highlight reel.  you can see it here.

favorite things :: courtney from the good eater

today's favorite things comes from one of my oldest and dearest friends courtney.  court and i have been friends for years.  she has impecable taste, is well-traveled and one of the best eaters i know!  she's such a good eater, my mom dubbed her 'the good eater', hence the name of her blog! 

Kitchen Item: Greek Pepper Mill  Anyone who knows me knows how much I love this pepper mill.  Being Greek I had my eye on this pepper mill for a long time and when our old one broke I decided to splurge and boy am I glad I did.  It's such great quality and grinds the pepper so finely not to mention the brass design makes it good looking...I love it!  Anyone who loves to cook would really appreciate this.

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Beauty Product: Kiehl's Ultimate Strength Hand Salve  This stuff is a must in our home during the winter.  When your hands are dry and chapped, this hand salve is a savior.  It's nice and thick with the most amazing Eucalyptus smell.  I keep one in my car, by the kitchen sink and by my bedside table.

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For your best girlfriend: I love these Kate Spade silver ring cocktail gloves.  When it's cold outside and you have to hide your jewelry, these gloves help add a little bling to your bundled up outfit.  They come in pink (with a ruby ring) or grey and are the perfect gift for a great friend.

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Charity/organization: International Rescue Committee - Tsunami Relief in Japan Having been there this past March 11th during the 9.0 earthquake, it's hard for me not to give something to this devastated country.  That day will forever be in my mind and seeing what it's done to those people just breaks my heart.  

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thanks, court!  i love those gloves, too cute.  and till december 31st if you donate to the international rescue committee they are matching donations!

favorite things :: colleen from things colleen wants to do

next up in favorite things, colleen from things colleen wants to do and one half of coco & leroy.  colleen and i have been friends since high school and she has always had fantastic taste!  although i don't get to see her that often since she's in new york, i love keeping up with her via her blogs.  here are colleen's favorite things of 2011:

- for the food lover - morris kitchen ginger syrup is a perfect gift for any food lover. it's beautifully packaged, and has a million and one creative uses: homemade ginger ale, a delicious cocktail ingredient, glaze on vegetables and meats, in salad dressings, etc. added bonus: it's made in small batches by some superfabulous folks right here in brooklyn. ginger syrup's new sister, boiled apple cider syrup, is pretty sweet too. info on where to purchase ginger syrup can be found here.

- for the crafter - hudson colored chalkboard paint is the perfect gift for the crafty lady or gent in your life! there are endless projects to tackle with this wondrous product- chalkboard walls, mirrors, tabletops, picture frames, etc. and hudson paint offers the most amazing array of colors. hot kolor and bakery green are my current faves. 

- for your best girlfriend - i love the kate spade sparkler "gia" pouch because it adds just the right amount of holiday zhuzh without being fussy. it can be used as a wallet, a cocktail party clutch, a makeup case or an extra place to store your smaller bits and bobbles. plus, its' namesake is one of my all-time favorite little ladies. 

favorite charity/organization: I regularly volunteer with an elderly woman through the Stanley Isaacs Senior Center in Manhattan. I meet with her every few weeks, keep her company, take her out to lunch or go for walks with her. I first met her almost 5 years ago when I moved to New York, and I know I get as much out of our little friendship as she does, if not more. I think it's awesome that so many people make efforts to donate to charities and to those in need during the holiday season, but I also feel strongly that this should be a consideration year-round. There are so many ways we can each help in our own way, all year long, whether it involves sharing our skills, clothing, books, money or time with others who may not be able to afford basic privileges otherwise. Volunteer Match is a great place to start researching opportunities in your area. And this is a great article listing specific charities that make particularly good use of your financial donations. 

thanks colleen!  i love that clutch and it is such a fantastic thing that you volunteer on a regular basis.  i know you are making wonderful difference in someone's life.

up next...courtney from the good eater!

favorite things :: jaime from la vie...j'aime

first up in the favorite things series another jamie/jaime - jaime from la vie...j'aime.  i've been following jaime's blog for a while now and i love reading about all the fun events she attends in boston and her excellent fashion picks!  here are a few of jaime's things:

for the bookworm: Amazon Kindle I was very anti-eReaders they first came out, as I love browsing bookstores, buyingbooks, and reading books. Once I got my Kindle for my birthday this past May, I was hooked. I pre-orderbooks I want and have them all at my fingertips. Plus, most titles are $12.99 or as low as $4.99 each. Irecommend it to any and everyone!

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favorite beauty product: Josie Maran Organic Argan Oil This small tube was all it took to get my hooked. I love how it’s all-natural, has no smell, no greasy, and hydrates my skin instantly. A little bit goes a long way; I use it onmy face, elbows, and cuticles.

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for the card/stationary lover: Kate Spade ‘Snail Mail’ Correspondence Cards These have been on my wish list for a while now. I lovethe tongue in cheek message and gilded details. Who wouldn’t want to receive this in the mail?

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favorite charity/organization:  This year I will be donating to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It amazes me how much this hospital has done for kids of all ages and of all economic levels. The commercials get me every time, and I know my donation will make a difference in many lives. 

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wonderful!  thank you jaime for sharing your favorite things.  i was debating on adding a kindle to my christmas list but with another stellar recommendation i think it's going on!  and st. jude's is a fantastic organization to give to.  thanks jaime! xxoo

up next...courtney from no day but today shares her picks on thursday!

lucas field :: conquest of happiness

i am so excited for this post!  one of my greatest childhood friends, lucas field, has released his first solor record!  lucas and i went to school together since pre-school and it's so fun to listen to the amazing music he's made.  he's so talented!  {and look at his cutie basset hound!}

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check it out!  amazon.  itunes.  spotify.

in case you missed it:

:: warm up with salmon pesto soup

:: love pomagranates but hate the mess?  here's how to cut one.

:: the rosanna/butter london/potluck paris sale is happening tonight!

:: ryan gossling wasn't named the sexiest man alive, boo!  but his movie drive and the soundtrack were awesome!

:: momofuku's milk bar has the best cookies, make your own.

the good eater

my dear, darling and newly married friend courtney just launched a new food blog, the good eater!  check it out and follow her cullinary adventures.  

{side note: the title of her blog came from back when we were little and court was over at our house eating dinner and asked for seconds.  the mother of all trades, sick of me not eating anything, was estatic and dubbed her the 'good eater!'  stuck with her ever since!

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diy color block pouch on just b

i am a sucker for an oversized clutch.  in fact i use a large turquoise clutch as a wallet and if i had a nickel for every time i heard 'wow, that's a big wallet.' i'd need a bigger wallet.  so when i stumbled upon this lovely diy color block pouch on just b blog i fell in love.  in my favorite **orange** color too.  i have to make my own soon.  see step by step instructions here.

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