Emergency Broadcast

I interrupt your regularly scheduled I Want Wednesday post to bring you something I need - homemade chicken noodle soup like the one above made from this recipe. And quickly too! I've been attacked by a cold virus and I need some warm broth and a good night's sleep to set me right again.Then, by tomorrow when I'm feeling a little bit better (finger's crossed) I'll be needing this awesome soup and sandwich ceramic tray for one of my favorite comfort foods - a grilled cheese sandwich and a small bowl of some yummy tomato soup. Seeing as how I'm sick and all I'll probably want to eat it snuggled up on the couch and this way I won't have to manage a dangerous balancing act of soup bowl, sandwich plate, and what to do when I want to dunk. Cause we all want to dunk don't we? I mean, after all, that is the point of the tomato soup is it not?

Okay, okay I'm off to take my aching bones back to bed and on Friday I'll be sharing some sneak peaks of a few new projects in the works, aching bones or not!

A Light and Fluffy Summer Read

I'll read just about anything I get my hands on: literary fiction, dramas, ethnographies, mysteries, thrillers, horrors, girlie right of passage books, biographies, text books. You name it I'll read it with one exception. I don't do straight up romance.

It started in the fifth grade when I went to the library and read every single book they had on Harriet Tubman and I learned that they were all entertaining. Books have the power to transport you, to educate, to entertain you. They can show you perspectives from people in places you'd never get to see otherwise. In my mind, there is nothing more valuable and representative of a particular culture than their books and art.

And because today is such a glorious and sunny day I'd like to share one of those fun girlie beach books with you. There is nothing deep and award winning about it. It is what it is - a great beach book; the kind you can read in a few hours, get a bunch of laughs, a few eye rolls from and be utterly entertained. I like to think of these kind of books as my lifetime movies - a little cheesy but when your brain is fried or you've been super stressed they're the perfect fix. So, this weekend plan to soak up some sun in your backyard or at your favorite beach spot and immerse yourself in Agnes and the Hitman.

Its a romantic comedy that centers around Agnes, a food columnist and cookbook writer, who is struggling to put on a wedding for her mafia princess Goddaughter at her new dream home. Everything that can go wrong does and she finds support and love from an oddball cast of characters. If you've ever read and enjoyed any of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum novels then you're sure to enjoy this light read too. And because a picture says a thousands words here's a few that reminded me of Agnes and her many mishaps...

{clockwise from left: I could picture Agnes running around in this red kitchen cooking and jotting down her to-do lists on these notepads with her ugly flamingo pen, wearing this lovely embroidered apron with a cute little red frying pan (her weapon of choice) pin pinned to it and pushing up her red glasses as they slipped down her nose while she leaned forward to check the ingredients in a recipe from her mafia cookbook.}

Straight from Agnes' kitchen to yours, one of her recipes from her Cranky Agnes' columns; exerts of which are found at the start of each new chapter. To read more of Cranky Agnes' recipes or columns head over here.

Cranky Agnes’s Poor Woman’s Hot Fudge Sundae
- Jello Sugar-Free Chocolate Pudding Mix (NOT INSTANT)
- Skim Milk
- Almonds or walnuts
- The lowest fat vanilla ice cream you can find that still tastes like ice cream.

1. Make the pudding according to the pie directions on the package using skim milk.
2. While it’s cooking (in the microwave, of course), chop some almonds to whatever fineness you like. You should be eating six almonds a day, so if you haven’t been, you have some to make up for. And the oil in the almonds is good oil, so your heart is safe.
3. Scoop up the ice cream, being generous in proportion to the fat calories: the lower the fat, the more you can sling in there.
4. Dump the chopped almonds over the ice cream and then pour the thickened pudding over that.
5. Eat.

What you’re getting here is a lot of calcium—skim milk and low fat ice cream—with the added boost of the almonds. This is not health food, but it’s a hell of a lot healthier than the real deal and may give you the hot chocolate and creamy vanilla fix you need to keep from going toward the light. No, that’s not your next door neighbor’s porch fixture, that’s death.

Eat your spinach.

{top image: books via etoile's photostream}

Happy Fourth of July

Wishing you a bright and sunny July 4th weekend filled with friends and family, laughter and love, warm beachy days and cool nights, comfy shoes and lightweight cardigans, apple pie and vanilla ice cream and most of all some gorgeous fireworks! 'Cause hey, nothing says patriotic like a ridiculously expensive firework display, right? Anyhow, without further ado here's your healthy dose of red white and blue...

left to right: linen drawstring pants, red coral and aquamarine earings, red glass beads, red flowers photograph, small neck tall vase, blooming blue earings, meesh vintage ring, blue & red birds tea set

left to right: berry and coconut bakewell tarts, ice cream pie with warm blueberry sauce, red, white and blue parfaits, summer shortcake

top two photos left to right: Praia Piquinia photo by Christian Chaize via 20x200, parasol and skirted bather photo via toast catalog

Crazy for Cakes

Today I'm sharing what most would probably say is the best part of any party and that's dessert. From chic and understated to the all out wacky these cakes and cupcakes are sure to please. Surprisingly, most are rather easy to make too. So, don't hesitate to follow the links, try out these recipes for yourself and get creative with your desserts. You can even take the plunge into creative cake styling with this washable silicon doileez from Lekker. Its a great way to dress up a plate without having to be a pastry artist.

Clockwise from top left: This pink ruffle tower cake via Martha Stewart (MS) is filled with meringue butter cream frosting in every bite! Excuse me while I wipe away the drool. I wanna take a bite of this short stack cupcake topped with yummy raspberries from Real Simple (RS) so badly! Excuse me did someone over at MS say banana split cake - sooo, where do I sign up? Doesn't that meringue frosted cake with raspberry filling from MS almost look too perfect? This is in fact the easiest easy ice cream cake recipe you'll ever try; many thanks to RS.

Here's some goodies that are surely worth the calorie overload. Clockwise from left: I might be the only person not big on rhubarb but I'd be willing to give it a try again for this meringue cupcake, via MS. Darn it! Someone beat me to that yummy coconut cupcake, via MS. Here's an interesting twist from RS, that's not frosting on this cupcake its vanilla ice cream! Yum, good 'ol fashioned huckleberry and strawberry cupcakes via MS

Clockwise from top left: Try a lifesaver for a carefree candle holder, via RS. Turn your dessert into a fun table setting by using votive holders, via RS. Why use a boring paper baking cup when you can try these sweet gingham ones from Bake It Pretty, these sophisticated laser cut cupcake liners from Estilo Weddings or any number of bright colorful options like these from the storage closets over at MS.

Last year when I spotted these cakes in a Family Fun issue I knew I had to save the pictures for something. These cakes, their styling was just too spectacular to glance out once and toss in the recycling bin. It pleases me to no end to finally have an opportunity to share these delightful cakes with you. Clockwise from left: towering sand castle cake, pirate hat cake, beehive cake, dinosaur dig site cake, cookie crown cake

Clockwise from top left: Cutest no bake rice crispy cake in the world via MS. This fun polka dot hop scotch cake makes me want to grab some chalk and re-enact my childhood, via MS. This silly little monkey cake comes from Parenting. Be sure to check out their 31 Awesome Birthday Cake Designs. Turn dessert time into an adventure with this treasure hunt cake via RS. Angel food cake is my grandmother's go to birthday cake for our family and this sand bucket version from MS is too adorable to ignore.

Images and recipes via Martha Stewart. Clockwise from top left: This caterpillar cake is a fun way to display your party treats. I can hardly wait for the next birthday in the family so I can write out a message with these polka dot cupcakes. What pool party is complete without these adorable shark and beach cupcakes? Dress up simple carrot cake cupcakes with your own cupcake toppers. {*see below for simple how to instructions} Just looking at these chocolate ice cream cone cupcakes brings back memories of my childhood. Here's a new one, well new to me anyway, cupcake pops; can't wait to try this recipe out. Any little girl - and this big one right here - would love to take a bite out of these oh so cute bug cupcakes.

Want to cut cake and ice cream like a pro? Here's what Real Simple had to say about that:

1. Slicing a sheet cake - for cleaner cuts than a knife try cutting it in a grid with unflavored waxed dental floss.
2. Carving a round cake - cut a small circle inside the larger one. The outer ring, with all the frosting, can be cut into wedges for the kids and the inside smaller circle can be sliced neatly like a pizza and served to the adults.
3. Scooping ice cream -for hassle free serving, before the party, scoop ice cream into a cupcake tin lined with paper baking cups and pop back in the freezer. When its time for the cake drop a paper cup on to each plate. {Kate's tip: don't forget to get creative with the paper baking cups for a fun fresh look on each person's plate.}

For more tips and pics check out Real Simple's Serving Cake and Ice Cream like a Pro.

*Cupcake Toppers How To:

1. Grab some basic punches (shown above heart, circle and butterfly) and center it over the images you want to display from your patterned paper. Be sure to punch out at least two of each shape to cover the front and back. Basically, you want to make a little sandwich out of the punches with the toothpick tucked in between. 2. Place a shape face down and put a strip of adhesive tape or a dollop of glue in the center. Lay down the top part of a toothpick in your adhesive. The bottom half should not be resting on the paper. Align the matching paper punch on top and put aside to dry. Once dry, decorate away.

tip: In lieu of the patterned paper try stamping an initial on to blank card stock for a personalized touch to your cupcake toppers and your party's styling.

Don't Forget to stop by tomorrow for a few quick and easy ways to make your own wrapping paper. Until then, have a happy Friday!