RANDOM

I KNOW THE CHEF.... it's pretty cool to be able to say that! Tom here on the right works @ a local CT restaurant called "The Lake Tavern"...or better known as "The Lake". Website found here: http://www.thelaketavern.com/

He is the best chef e-v-e-r!!! He is one of Steve's long time friends', who happens to make us dinner quite a bit! HA! Right Tom? He pretty much creates everything from scratch, as you can see him making pasta down below...of course I can't forget to give Steve credit for assisting him that fine evening about 2 weeks back!

"American Idol" starts back up tonight! I can't wait to check out the new season w/ the new judges! Love these 2 promo pics which include Jennifer Lopez & Stephen Tyler!

Welcome back My Chemical Romance! Last night I read an article in Rolling Stone magazine about this "long lost band". (FYI: my Rolling Stone magazine was part of my 3 FREE magazine yearly subscription deal that came w/ my new camera in Dec!) Anyway, back to the band...the article talked about how the lead singer Gerard Way cleaned up his dark angry act & lost a few pounds. It was a very interesting read, my kind of read really. Here are 2 songs-1 official video included off their newest album....

"SING" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTgnDLWeeaM

"KIDS FROM YESTERDAY" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHF0PzbdWjw

Last but not least...by tomorrow 2 of my closest friends from home in VA---my guy best friend Justin & my sister's best friend Amanda will be welcoming their baby boy into the world. The thought of this unimaginable. I am on edge as my sister continues to update me throughout the day--it's so hard being away from home, especially during special times like these. Luckily she was able to finally fly back home (as she now lives in NY) this morning to be w/ Amanda. No detailed updates just yet, as I wouldn't even put them on my blog until they are 100% official & it's 100% the right time... but I promise I will when I've been given the OK. In the mean time Amanda texted me this photo of her recently. It's a snapshot of her wedding rings & the necklace I gave her for her baby shower around her neck. "Maddox" simply stated. This of course made me smile as I know she appreciated this sentimental gift that I ordered. Props to Jessie McCann's shop found on Etsy!

Speaking of ordering...I sent these baby blue chocolate covered strawberries to Justin & Amanda! They should arrive at their house tomorrow! Can't wait till they get them! These delicious treats from "Shari's Berries" are gigantic according to my friend & co-worker Stephanie!.....Don't worry, my guess is Amanda wont be reading my blog today (or any other day in the near future) so this lil surprise won't be ruined! :)

PRETTY PLEASE

*CARRIE MARVIN*

COME BACK TO THE BLOGGING WORLD.

WE MISS YOU.

FLOWER POWER

Next weekend I'm attending my friend Meghan's baby shower in Greenwich, CT! I'm very excited about this! I am all about anything wedding & anything baby! I found this dress @ Target a few weeks back for only $7 on the clearance rack! Holy 60's/70's right? The dress was originally $35 designed by "Tucker" (for Target). Last night I was wondering to myself what I was going to wear so I browsed through my closet before heading to work. The bright colors popped out @ me & I thought this would be perfect! What a wonderful way to welcome Spring! Now.....here is my dilemma....what should I wear the dress with? I googled "orange flower dress" & actually found 3 photos of THE dress online under the "image" section. Im not exactly a fan of what these top 2 models paired the dress with though.... Im leaning towards solid black tights & black ballet shoes---similar to the 3rd photo...thoughts? Any other ideas?

GO BACK TO THE SALON

There are a few things I haven't been a fan of lately...i wont list those right now but towards the bottom of my list is this....

Hairstylist Michelle of "The Bachelor"...soooooo not a fan! She doesn't seem to be very kind at all! Def a bit cocky & crazy I'd say! I seriously hope she gets the boot the next go around!

RAINBOW CUPCAKES & SNOW

Before the big snow storm we had a small ammount of snow that was just enough to cover the ground late Saturday night into Sunday....I grabbed my camera Sunday morning, took a few snapshots & funked up the pics a big! ENJOY!

The view from our front door...

That Saturday night before the snow appeared we went over to Amy & Jacob's house to celebrate Amy's birthday!

I attempted to make rainbow cupcakes for her as a surprise! I found the recipe on a fellow bloggers website, although I am currently drawing a blank as to which blog I found it from on the right side of my page under "MY FAVORITE BLOGS"! If you know who you are let me know so I can give you some credit! :)

The recipe was sooo easy! The only thing that was not easy was making the layers of the rainbow look pretty...my rainbow cupcakes ended up looking a lil more marble-ized...BUT i kinda like it that way so they aren't considered "perfect"! :)....All you gotta do is make cupcakes like you normally would. After mixing the ingredients in a large bowl, separate the batter into separate bowls/mugs (whatever) depending on how many colors you want. Then in each bowl/mug add your food coloring....obviously if you want purple mix blue & red, or if you want turquoise mix blue, green & yellow. Make sure you use a separate spoon or fork for each bowl/mug when mixing so you don't mix up the wrong colors. Then start with 1 color and divide it up into your pan, use sparingly so you have enough when you get to that 24th cupcake wrapper! Then onto the next color, then the next, then the next, keep layering on top until you have gone through each color. Put it in the oven as normal & ta-da! RAINBOW CUPCAKES!!! :) Sooo easy, a lil time consuming but sooo yummy & pretty!

This first color is really turquoise as you can the shade a bit better in the 2nd photo below, it's the 1st layer I added in the wrapper. You can also see the correct shade in the finished product as well!

***A lil added bonus since several people have been asking me about the shoes I wore for New Years Eve...I purchased these babies for under $20 at this store up North here called "RAINBOW"...to my surprise they are sooo freakin comfortable!

GOING TO THE CHAPEL

OR shall I say...GOING TO THE CASINO AND THEY'RE, GONNA GET MARRRRRIED! :)

Our friends (& adorable couple) Dan & Jess are getting married @ Mohegan Sun Casino on Saturday! We can't wait to attend their wedding! Fun times ahead of us for sure! It's going to be sooo unique from what I've heard! I mean come on, getting married in a Casino---how fun & unique is that? This future Mr. & Mrs. are such wonderful people. We have had the pleasure of hanging out with them even more recently, including an "all you can eat" sushi lunch date! I can't wait to continue building my friendship w/ Jess...she is such a sweet & down to earth girl! My kind of friend that's for sure. :) Here's an early congrats to Dan & Jess! I just know that Jess will make a beautiful bride & Dan of course a handsome groom! Photos of their ceremony & reception will be up on my blog next week! PS: The hotel we are staying at is located right near Mohegan...Im pumped about this place! It's sooo beautiful & modern! Here is the link! http://www.uncasville.place.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/place/index.jsp

GET YOUR GROUPON ON

Get your GROUPON on here! :) http://www.groupon.com/r/uu6318335 Click on the link & then subscribe by picking the area you live in & entering in your email address! It's that simple!

GROUPON ROCKS! I signed up a few months ago & always receive majorly discounted deals for restaurants, salons, spas, movie theaters, shopping & more! There are no fees! Why wouldn't you sign up? You can get more for your money when you purchase & print off your GROUPON coupon if you are interested in that particular deal for the day! For example...the other day I received a 50% of deal from a Spa here in RI. I purchased the GROUPON for $30, but can use it towards a facial or massage that's worth $75! As soon as I purchased the deal I printed it off. I then made my appointment! $30 that's it!

THIS IS FOR YOU JOE DOOLEY

:) Hi Joe.

Work is putting me up in a hotel tonight around the corner from my office, along with several other employees...over 100 I'd say! They are calling for almost 18 inches of snow---CRAZY. I really heart hotel rooms...BUT I'm just nervous to drive home in this mess tomorrow evening. I'll take pics of before & after, as I packed my camera last night in preparation for this year's Nor'easter!

Tonight
Snow...mainly after midnight. Snow accumulation of 4 to 6 inches. Not as cool. Near steady temperature in the mid 20s. East winds around 5 mph...increasing to northeast 15 to 20 mph after midnight. Chance of snow near 100 percent.

Wednesday
Snow with a chance of thunderstorms. Total snow accumulation of 12 to 18 inches. Near steady temperature in the upper 20s. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts up to 40 mph. Chance of snow near 100 percent.

Wednesday Night
Cloudy. A chance of snow in the evening. Lows around 17. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph...diminishing to around 10 mph after midnight. Chance of snow 50 percent.

THE HOLIDAYS

NEW YEARS has come & gone...

Which means CHRISTMAS has as well...

JARED LETO CONTINUED

I really think Im a lil obsessed... holy crushing at the least. Last night I realized that the Thirty Seconds to Mars CD that I just got, came with a DVD that showed behind the scenes footage for these 2 videos below. WOW was that cool to watch...I just checked out their tour date & of course they played in CT LAST FREAKIN NIGHT. Now they are off & out of the states...oh well. Next go around for sure! Check these out...I dare ya.

CLOSER TO THE EDGE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLqHDhF-O28

KINGS & QUEENS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMrlHHVx8A

OFFICIAL WEBSITE: http://thirtysecondstomars.thisisthehive.net/blog/

STUNNING

Khloe Kardashian’s New Red Hair

20% OFF PAYLESS SHOES

ENJOY! Print this off or plug in the coupon code online!

EMILY & ASHLEY

No, not my sister & best friend but my 2 favorite contestants on this season's "The Bachelor"!

EMILY
ASHLEY S.

If I were had 2 first impression roses to give away I'd totally choose Emily, the sweet Children's Hospital Event Planner who's fiancé died in a plane crash a few days before she found out she was pregnant w/ their daughter AND Ashley S., the Nanny who seems like the down to earth girl next door---who also squeezed Brad Womack's butt when she first met him!....I am so excited to watch Brad fall in love! Im a sucker for love stories....most of America was appalled that Brad didn't choose someone at the end of his original season. But I don't get it...he obviously (unfortunately) wasn't in love with any of them. Why should he chose someone just for TV purposes? He was there with the best intentions of finding someone but it didn't work out... Id like to give the guy a high five. Here's to TEAM EMILY & TEAM ASHLEY S.

PURRRRR

Now THIS is a funky duffle bag!!! Found it on one of my favorite online shopping websites'. http://www.pinkice.com/

PS: As I stated on FB today...I heart Jared Leto's hot pink mohawk. I also heart his band's Thirty Seconds to Mars "This Is War" CD that my parents got me for Christmas. It has been on repeat every since...

MISS TRACY

CONGRATS to Miss Tracy!!! @ http://cottonpickincute.blogspot.com She has won the stone necklace posted down below! Thanks for playing & posting my blog on your blog! I always welcome new readers/followers! Email me your info so I can mail you your prize! BrwnEydAngl6@aol.com

SHOCKING

I find this very shocking....thx for the info Celeb Gossip Reader Amy! :) I always thought they were an odd pairing, but at the same time cute together. Too bad.

Mila Kunis Splits From Macaulay Culkin After Eight Years

GOODBYE WEEKEND

This weekend was pretty fun yet also mostly low key. Friday we celebrated New Years w/ friends @ 2 different small gatherings (1 @ Crystal & Nick's & 1 @ Sue & Bryan's), pics coming soon! Saturday we slept in, which we LOVE doing, and then headed out to RI to run some errands, exchange a few things & eat @ TWIST restaurant! We used one of the certificates that my boss gave me for Christmas. YUM YUM YUM! (WEBSITE & MENU: http://www.pinellimarrarestaurants.com/twist.htm) Great prices, which means we can go back 3 more time before the certificate balance is zero. After lunch I took this phone pic w/o the flash (since i don't have one-HA!) & captured this awesome shot of the sun that afternoon! Keep in mind this was around roughly 12pm in the afternoon, the weather was GORGEOUS! The photo looks as if it was taken at night but all I did was edit the colors to give it a lil boost! Pretty cool huh?.....Sat night we hung out w/ a few peeps @ Tom & Heidi's & then Sunday we went to this awesomely HUGE flea market! I picked up some vintage jewelry totally $5, a few old school Nintendo games & controller, decorations for my future photography office & 2 solid wood matching side tables that are spray painted silver! VERY unique & funky! I'll post those pics tonight or tomorrow! I believe that covers it, another weekend come & gone, and now after the Holidays it's officially back to the daily grind!

ONE UP

Steve & I played old school Nintendo's Mario Brothers 3 last night for almost 3 hrs! HA! Oh what fun THAT was, @ one point we had 19 guys! :)

REMINDER: FREE BLOG GIVEAWAY

Don't forget! I posted my most recent FREE BLOG GIVEAWAY last week! I'll pick a winner THIS Wed, Jan 5th! :) Read all about this beautiful necklace & the directions on how to win it! http://skv6.blogspot.com/2010/12/free-blog-giveaway.html