Top 10 tips to get that Socialite look Book Review

The Socialite Look: How to Dress Like You Have a Trust Fund Even If You Don't
By Bridie Clark,
Author of The Overnight Socialite

You know the type:  It's raining, or 3 am, or the middle of yoga class and this woman looks crisp, pulled together, ready for her close-up. Her hair is freshly blown-out, her jewelry is tasteful Cartier.  Linen wouldn't dream of wrinkling when she wears it. Seeing her, you envision a walk-in closet full of neatly folded Italian cashmere. She must be rich, you think. Her look would be impossible to achieve -- or maintain -- without a trust fund and a lot of free time.

Actually, the "socialite look" -- we're talking Aerin Lauder, not Paris Hilton -- is just a matter of mastering a few basic rules. 

1. Figure out what works and stick with it. Anchor your wardrobe with clean lines, good fabrics, classic tailoring.  Develop a signature look . . . even a uniform. Avoid trends. The look you're striving for is fresh but timeless, and most trends have an expiration date.

2. Before you make a purchase, try to calculate Cost-Per-Wear. A Burberry trench that you'll wear every spring for the rest of your life could be worth a splurge. Likewise you'll always want to wear a great watch, "everyday" jewelry with just the right amount of bling, a simple clutch for evening, a T. Anthony tote that's comfortable but chic. A little black dress is part of every socialite's arsenal -- make sure yours fits perfectly, and you'll wear it all the time. 

3. Buy at the right time. Stores need to turn over their inventory to make room for new arrivals, so keep your eye out for sales. There's definitely a right time (usually January) and a wrong time (November) to buy that shearling coat. 

4. Buy more than one. Say you find the perfect pair of jeans. The right length, the right wash, the right silhouette from every angle. This is a good moment to splurge by doubling down on an extra pair (and if they're really that fabulous, two). Same goes for all your basics -- white tailored shirts, black ballet flats, socks. This way you'll have a fresh set to rotate in when the original starts to show wear and tear.

5. Never compromise on fit. Who cares if it's cashmere -- if the sweater doesn't fit properly, donate it. Keep your wardrobe as streamlined as possible. 

6. Take care of what you have. Even if you're short on "staff," it's worth it to pay close attention to the laundry. Skip bleach -- it will hurt the fibers of your clothing after many washes. Instead, soak whites in hot water using detergent and a bleach alternative, like white vinegar. Be vigilant about separating colors. Your jeans and delicates should never see the inside of a dryer. Lastly, spot-clean items instead of always dry-cleaning -- it'll save you money, and save your clothes the chemical treatment.   

7. Never pay retail. Why blow your budget at the mall when there are so many places to buy designer clothing at deep discounts? Gilt.com (become a member by signing up at gilt.com/theovernightsocialite), eBay, and consignment shops are just a few of the spots you'll find marked-down treasures that look like you bought them on Fifth Avenue. Somebody did.

8. Master a speedy daytime beauty routine. We all need to get out the door quickly sometimes. After your shower, massage a small amount of mousse into the roots of your hair, flip your head and use a flat brush to blow-dry hair into straight, shiny panels. Smear on some tinted moisturizer with SPF, some mascara, and some lipgloss, and you're good to go.

9. To paraphrase Coco Chanel, remove one accessory before you walk out the door. Less is more. If you want to look effortlessly elegant, put quality ahead of quantity and keep your look simple.

10. Exercise clothing should be worn solely to exercise. Ok, and back and forth to the gym.  Socialites don't allow themselves to lapse into that comfy, sloppy look that can be so tempting on a Sunday morning.© 2010 Bridie Clark, author of The Overnight Socialite



Author Bio
Bridie Clark graduated from Harvard University, and has written for The New York Times, Vanity Fair, New York, and Quest. Her debut novel, Because She Can, was published in nineteen countries. She lives in New York City.
For more information, please visit www.bridieclark.com.

Click here to read my review (totally love the book) and enter to win a copy of the book. GIVEAWAY THE OVERNIGHT SOCIALITE ends April 2nd 
Thanks to FSB Associates for the article.

Hubby's Crockpot Middle Eastern Spicy Lentil Soup

I love cooking soup in the crockpot. Here is a drool worthy lentil soup recipe that is tasty and healthy.

My dear husband wanted to cook for me.  He wanted to show his two teen daughters and tween daughter that he can cook, if he has too! So last week he gave me his list to buy at the store.  He wanted to do it on his own with no assistance.  I did send the girls in the kitchen to take some pictures so that I could BLOG about his meal!

My Guest Chef, Mark, started at 10:30 pm and an hour later the food was cooking in the crockpot.  We had to smell this all night long.  He wanted the soup to be ready by 11am the next day so the smart guy knew that it had to be started the night before.

He made a spicy lentil soup and a  side Greek salad.  We served it with my Ooooey Gooey Onion Cheese Bread (click to get recipe). It was very tasty!  We even had friends over for lunch.  They also loved it!

 This soup has a nice Middle Eastern flavor. Serves 8-12

Spicy Lentil Soup (click for a printable copy)

2 T. olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 medium carrot, minced
1- 20 oz can whole tomatoes, undrained, chopped
3 c. dried brown lentils, rinsed and picked over for stems and rocks
1 tsp. ground cumin
3/4 tsp. ground coriander
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 T. freshly squeezed lemon juice
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Lg pinch of saffron (pieces or powder- we used pieces)
1/3 c. chopped fresh cilantro
Plain yogurt for serving

1.  In a lg skillet, heat the olive oil over med. heat.  Add onions, celery and carrots and cook, stirring a few times, until just softened, about 5 minutes.  Place in the slow cooker, along with the tomatoes and their juice, lentils, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, and lemon juice.  Add water to come about 3 inches above the vegetables.  Cover and cook on LOW for 7-9 hours.

2.  Season with salt and pepper and stir in the saffron and cilantro.  Add water to thin the soup if it is too thick.  Ladle into serving bowls and serve hot, topped with a dollop of yogurt.

Here are pictures of his journey!

These last two pictures are of the Saffron threads.  You could use powder or the threads. Our store only  had the threads.  Did you know that this stuff runs almost $300 for ONE OUNCE???? We bought .06 oz! We only used a large pinch.  We will need to make some more saffron recipes to get the most out of our buy!  So if you have any yummy saffron recipes please share! 

We at this with a yummy Greek salad. It was Romaine Letttuce, chopped.  Toss with Feta cheese, Kalamata Olives and grape tomatoes.  The dressing was a quick mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.

So, Mark, when and what is your next meal???? Your hungry fans want to know!

My Page - The Product Review Place

For those of you who review products and blog about them you must check out
My Page - The Product Review Place.

It is a great place to meet Product Reps and new Bloggers! They just reached 2,000 members today! I'm a member of The Welcome Team and a Blogger Select Member!

If you have a product that you want reviewed by great bloggers then it is a place for you to check out, too!

Check out the photo I created @ iCaughtTheEasterBunny.com

Check out the photo I created @ iCaughtTheEasterBunny.com

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Friday Book Blogger Hop

Today is the Friday Book Blogger Hop!  Click the button above to go to the blog hop post!  It is a great way to meet other bloggers who post book reviews, giveaways, etc.  I'm #94 on the list.  When you stop in on a link you should follow that blog and leave a comment!  Enter giveaways, too!!!

Welcome new and old friends!!! Leave your comments and follow! I will be doing the same back for you!

Here are a few of my most recent book reviews and giveaways:

• The Overnight Socialite Giveaway/Review
• Pride and Prejudice and Dawn of the Dreads Chapter 1 and Video link
• Cooking up some Literacy
• A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi" :  The Origin of Foreign Words Used in English

Pardon My DUST

Sorry   for the messy blog today! I'm making some changes! It is a bit crazy. I hope to have it finished and running smoother by Noon Friday!  Thanks!!! 

Pride and Prejudice and Chapter 1 Dawn of the Dreadfuls

 

Pride and Prejudice and 

Dawn of the Dreadful

(Thanks to FSB Associates for shaing this video and first chapter of the book! I'm 3/4 way finished with this book. It is so funny to read a book about Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice characters and Zombies!)

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE AWESOME VIDEO OF DAWN OF THE DREADFUL

Chapter 1
by Steve Hockensmith,
Author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls

Walking out in the middle of a funeral would be, of course, bad form. So attempting to walk out on one's own was beyond the pale.
When the service began, Mr. Ford was as well behaved as any corpse could be expected to be. In fact, he lay stretched out on the bier looking almost as stiff and expressionless in death as he had in life, and Oscar Bennet, gazing upon his not-so-dearly departed neighbor, could but think to himself, You lucky sod.
It was Mr. Bennet who longed to escape the church then, and the black oblivion of death seemed infinitely preferable to the torments he was suffering. At the pulpit, the Reverend Mr. Cummings was reading (and reading and reading and reading) from the Book of Common Prayer with all the verve and passion of a man mumbling in his sleep, while the pews were filled with statues -- the good people of Meryton, Hertfordshire, competing to see who could remain motionless the longest while wearing the most somber look of solemnity.
This contest had long since been forfeited by one party in particular: Mr. Bennet's. Mrs. Bennet couldn't resist sharing her (insufficiently) whispered appraisal of the casket's handles and plaque. ("Brass? For shame! Why, Mrs. Morrison had gold last week, and her people don't have two guineas to rub together.") Lydia and Kitty, the youngest of the Bennets' five daughters, were ever erupting into titters for reasons known only to themselves. Meanwhile, the middle daughter, fourteen-year-old Mary, insisted on loudly shushing her giggling sisters no matter how many times her reproaches were ignored, for she considered herself second only to the Reverend Mr. Cummings -- and perhaps Christ Himself -- as Meryton's foremost arbiter of virtue.
At least the Bennets' eldest, Jane, was as serene and sweet countenanced as ever, even if her dress was a trifle heavy on décolletage for a funeral. ("Display, my dear, display!" Mrs. Bennet had harped at her that morning. "Lord Lumpley might be there!") And, of course, Mr. Bennet knew he need fear no embarrassment from Elizabeth, second to Jane in age and beauty but first in spirit and wit. He leaned forward to look down the pew at her, his favorite -- and found her gaping at the front of the church, a look of horror on her face.
Mr. Bennet followed her line of sight. What he saw was a luxury, hard won and now so easily taken for granted: a man about to be buried with his head still on his shoulders.
That head, though -- wasn't there more of a loll to the left to it now? Weren't the lips drawn more taut, and the eyelids less so? In fact, weren't those eyes even now beginning to -- 
Yes. Yes, they were.
Mr. Bennet felt an icy cold inside him where there should have been fire, and his tingling fingers fumbled for the hilt of a sword that wasn't there.
Mr. Ford sat up and opened his eyes.
The first person to leap into action was Mrs. Bennet. Unfortunately, the action she leapt to was shrieking loud enough to wake the dead (presuming any in the vicinity were still sleeping) and wrapping herself around her husband with force sufficient to snap a man with less back-bone in two.
"Get a hold of yourself, woman!" Mr. Bennet said.
She merely maintained her hold on him, though, her redoubled howls sparking Kitty and Lydia to similar hysterics.
At the front of the church, Mrs. Ford staggered to her feet and started toward the bier. 
"Martin!" she cried. "Martin, my beloved, you're alive!"
"I think not, Madam!" Mr. Bennet called out (while placing a firm hand over his wife's mouth)."If someone would restrain the lady, please!" Most of the congregation was busy screeching or fleeing or both at once, yet a few hardy souls managed to grab Mrs. Ford before she could shower her newly returned husband with kisses.

"Thank you!" Mr. Bennet said. He spent the next moments trying to disentangle himself from his wife's clutches. When he found he couldn't, he simply stepped sideways into the aisle, dragging her with him.
"I will be walking that way, Mrs. Bennet." He jerked his head at Mr. Ford, who was struggling to haul himself out of his casket. "If you choose to join me, so be it."
Mrs. Bennet let go and, after carefully checking to make sure Jane was still behind her, swooned backward into her eldest daughter's arms.
"Get her out of here," Mr. Bennet told Jane. "Lydia and Kitty, as well."
He turned his attention then to the next two girls down the pew: Elizabeth and Mary. The latter was deep in conversation with her younger sisters.
"The dreadfuls have returned!" Kitty screamed.
"Calm yourself, sister," Mary said, her voice dead. She was either keeping a cool head or had retreated into catatonia, it was hard to tell which. "We should not be hasty in our judgments."
"Hasty? Hasty?" Lydia pointed at the very undead Mr. Ford. "He's sitting up in his coffin!"
Mary stared back at her blankly. "We don't know he's a dreadful, though.
But Elizabeth did know. Mr. Bennet could see it in her eyes -- because now she was staring at him.
She didn't grasp the whole truth of it. How could she, when he'd been forced to keep it from her for so long? Yet this much would be obvious to a clear-thinking, level-headed girl like her: The dreadfuls had returned, and there was more to be done about it than scream. More her father intended to do.
What she couldn't have guessed -- couldn't have possibly dreamed -- was that she herself would be part of the doing.
"Elizabeth," Mr. Bennet said. "Mary. If you would come with me, please."
And he turned away and started toward the altar. Toward the zombie.
The above is an excerpt from the book Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.
Copyright © 2010 Steve Hockensmith, author of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dawn of the Dreadfuls
Author Bio
Steve Hockensmith is an award-winning novelist and reporter. His debut mystery, Holmes on the Range, was a finalist for the Edgar, Shamus, and Anthony awards. Critics have hailed the novel and its sequels as "hilarious" (Entertainment Weekly), "dazzling" (The Boston Globe), "clever" (The New York Times), "uproarious" (Publisher's Weekly), "wonderfully entertaining" (Booklist), and "quirky and original" (The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). He lives in Alameda, California, with his wife and two children.

For more information, please visit www.QuirkClassics.com.

Free Recipes from Gooseberry Patch Cookbooks

WOW can you believe that Gooseberry Patch hit 30,000 fans on Facebook??? So awesome! It doesn't surprise me that they have THAT many fans! I'm just wondering if you are one of those 30,000 fans on Facebook???  If you are then CONGRATS you need to go to their Fan page ASAP and download your FREE 25 mouth-watering Macaroni and Cheese recipes which is Chapter 1 of their new Circle of Friends cookbook! If YOU ARE NOT a fan then you need to subscribe ASAP (CLICK HERE Gooseberry Patch) so you don't miss out on these recipes and the next batch that will be given out at 40,000 fans!!!

Are you a fan?? LMK!

Here are a few of my favorite Gooseberry Patch links!

• Gooseberry Patch Fan
• Cooking up some Literacy with Kids in the Kitchen

Free Sample NutraSalt Sea Salt

 NutraSalt is a low sodium sea salt.  It has 66% less sodium than table salt!  It is rich in potassium and kosher.  Click NutraSalt to get a sample.  Offer ends April 1st or while supplies last.  If you are already a customer they are offering a 15% order discount!

I cook low sodium for my husband.  I'm excited to try this free sample for him.  I usually avoid using any extra salt in recipes.

Disclaimer-I found this site the free sample. NutraSalt didn't offer me anything to write this post. Any information provided came from their site. I have not tried it but did request the free sample. 

Eye glass purchases online. Time for a change?

 I had a discussion with my daughter about eye balls.  They are such an interesting body part. They are slimy and squishy when you poke them through your eyelid.  They are pretty durable, too! They aren't like teeth where you have to brush them several times a day. They aren't like your hands where you have to wash them many times a day! What a wonderful creation!  It is through our eyes that we create most of our memories.  We often take our sight for granted.  Unless you are blind, you are using your eyes from the moment you wake up to the moment you close them and go to sleep.  Thank goodness for the invention of eyeglasses to get us through life when the eyesight isn't perfect. 


This led us into a discussion of prescription glasses.  We found out through The Vision Council of America (2006), that 2/3 of the U.S. population wears glasses! WOW that is an amazing statistic! I would have never guessed that it would be so high.  There must be a higher percent of people wearing eyeglasses in certain industries, the aging population and work related injuries.  In the area that we live in I'm not seeing 2/3 wearing eye glasses.  We checked with The Vision Council of America and found this breakdown:


• 64.0 percent use eyeglasses
• 19.0 percent use contact lenses some of the time
• 85.6 percent use non-prescription sunglasses
• 14.0 percent use pre-made “drugstore” reading glasses
• 12.1 percent use clips for sunglasses
• 4.4 percent use computer glasses

Talking about the eyes and  finding out that such a large percent needs glasses got us discussing  how often do you need to get your vision checked.  The eye professional told my young daughter that she should get her vision checked every other year.  She doesn't wear prescription glasses but was told to wear "readers" at her last appointment. As for me, I've been wearing glasses for at least 10 years. I use to get my vision checked when the glasses didn't seem to correct my vision anymore.  Now that I'm, older, and having to wear a progressive lens, my eye doctor told me to come in for yearly check ups. 

We found it difficult to find readers in our town so we searched glasses online.  Online offers many more options and great prices.  Now that I need yearly check ups and possible yearly prescription changes I'm thrilled to have found these online options for glasses. 


How about you? Do you wear glasses? How often do you get your vision checked? Have you ever purchased glasses online??

The origin of Foreign words used in English

What a fun book! Thanks to FSB Associates for giving me this fun book to review! We are a homeschool family so this has been a big hit with my kids.  One of my daughters took the book along and read it during a car trip!

Here is information from the FSB Associates: 

Carpe Diem and Become a Word Connoisseur!

English is filled with a smorgasbord of foreign words and phrases that have entered our language from many sources -- some from as far back as the Celts. A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi," which tells the story of how many of these expressions came to be commonly used in English, will both amaze and amuse language lovers everywhere. You'll be fascinated to learn, for instance, that . . .

• ketchup began life as a spicy pickled fish sauce called koechiap in seventeenth-century China?
• honcho came from the Japanese world hancho, which means squad chief? The world was brought to the United States something during the 1940s by soldiers who had served in Japan.
• dungarees comes from the Hindi word dungri, the thick cotton cloth used for sails and tents in India?

Organized alphabetically for easy reference, A Certain "Je Ne Sais Quoi" tells the little-known origin of some of these thousands of foreign words and phrases -- from aficionado to zeitgeist. Inside, you'll find translations, definitions, origins, and lively descriptions of each item's evolution into our everyday discourse. With this whimsical little book, you'll be ready to throw out a foreign word or phrase at your next party, lending your conversation with, well, a certain je ne sais quoi.

My take on the book: 

 What a fun book! My daughters are taking Latin.  They are building a magnificent vocabulary! This book has been a fun addition to our growing vocabulary! I ask where do you think this book originates and its meaning. Here is what we said and the words origins that we have discovered thus far:

 1) Chop Suey- My daughter said that she thought the word was Chinese and that the Chinese would eat thier soup with chop sticks, calling it Chop Suey.  According to the book, Chinese means "tsap sui" or bits and pieces. It is widely believe that this was invented in America by Chinese immigrants.  It is said though, that it originated in Taishan. In America, though, it is a dish made up of bits and pieces or mixed pieces.

2) Hamburger- My daughter said that she thinks hamburger means cow in French.  According to the book, Hamburger is a person from Hamburg (Germany).  In 19th-century Hamburg, Germany, they pounded beef patties called Hamburg steak.  Emigrants going to America took this with them and "hamburger" appeared on menus as early as 1836.

 3) Ketchup- When asked, ketchup was thought to have originated in French for "using tomatoes".  According to the book, it means fish brine from Malay as "kichap".   This popular condiment began as a spicy pickled fish sauce in the 17th-century China ("koechiap").  American seamen added tomatoes to help with scurvy.  In 1876 John Heinz launched his version of tomato ketchup. It is a table and restaurant staple in British and American diets.

Don't forget to pick up this book! It is a great conversation starter, too! 
The words expressed in MY TAKE OF THE BOOK are my own tasty words! Thanks FSB Associates for the book to review.

The Overnight Socialite Book Giveaway & Review

I'm a sucker for sappy movies and books! I love when the girl gets the boy and when the happiest ending outcome occurred! So this brings me to my lastest read, The Overnight Socialite by Bridie Clark. Published by Weinstein Books

"Didn't we meet in Capri last May?" Lucy continued, saying each word cautiously.

"Yes!" Wyatt stopped in his tracks. "Yes!" It was the first time she hadn't pronounced the name of the island like those unflattering three-quarter length pants. "Go on, go on!"

Book Press Release:
In this beguiling retelling of the classic Pygmalion, we meet Lucy Ellis, a Manhattan transplant who dreams of making it as a fashion designer but instead toils away on a Garment District assembly line. Road-blocked each time she tries to score a break, Lucy is beginning to think the unthinkable: maybe it's time to pack it in and move home to Minnesota. Then, during a torrential downpour, at her most bedraggled and disheartened, Lucy meets Wyatt Hayes IV.

Wyatt -- man-about-town and bored Ph.D. anthropologist -- has just been publicly dissed by New York's reigning socialite, Cornelia Rockman, whom he'd been dating. He boasts to his best friend Trip that he can transform any woman -- even a trailer-born nobody like Lucy -- into this year's "It" girl. "Give me a few months," he tells Trip, "and I could turn her into a social luminary. She'll make the rest of the pack look like dim little tea lights." If Wyatt can fool the East Coast aristocracy into thinking Lucy's the real deal, he can reveal the farce behind Cornelia's social superiority complex . . . and score a career-boosting book deal.

Headstrong Lucy challenges her teacher at every turn, but armed with a made-up pedigree and a wardrobe costlier than most studio apartments, she's soon navigating a world in which the most photographed socialite takes all. Can Lucy survive in a wilderness where no girl wears the same gown twice, the Astors are considered Johnny-come-latelies, and weddings are more lavish than the coronation of Louis XIV? Will she forge the connections needed to make a name for herself in fashion? And can she surmount the schemes and suspicions of her newfound rival, Cornelia?

Three months of rigorous prep and test runs culminate in Lucy's showdown at the Fashion Forum Gala, where she and Wyatt confront the ne plus ultra of society . . . and their unexpected feelings for each other. But the gaps between them -- as well as Wyatt's secret agenda -- may make this improbable couple an impossibility.

Set against the gold-plated world of Manhattan's social elite, The Overnight Socialite puts a witty twenty-first-century spin on a timeless story of transformation and unlikely love.

MY TAKE ON THE BOOK:
This was a fun, fast moving book that took a girl down on her luck into a world of high-society fashion!  Lucy has a dream to be a fashion designer.  She has a level head, a hard worker and knows that a girl has to start somewhere. She gives 100% to any project.  She is paired up with Wyatt who transforms her into, let's say, his socialite.

I love My Fair Lady.  After reading this book I had to watch the movie!  He had to teach her how to walk & talk, how to eat & dress and how to wear a $1000 dress just once.  Lucy learned that there are "tribal ties" that bind together the Socialites.  Quote from book, "He called it tit-for-tat behavior, explaining how chimps--and humans--used mutual back scratching to build alliances.....glue that held social groups together.." This is so true with our society.  We have this at all levels.  It was fun to watch Lucy learn about this upper crust of society and that no matter what level you are "in" you have "tribal ties".

I've been reading and watching a lot of Jane Austen lately and got a kick out of this quote from the book "She had to nip this Mr. Darcy love-hate thing in the bud".  At about 3/4 of the way through the book, Lucy and Wyatt started to pick up on the love chemistry that was going on between them.

The last quote is toward the end when Lucy was working with a model and she told her "Could you possibly...eat a few cheeseburgers this week? Some Haagen-Dazs?... the dress will fit perfectly if you gain five pounds..".  Way too funny!  If you want a book with drama and romance this is your book!  I even recommend it for teens!

_______________________________

 GIVEAWAY

 (Thanks to FSB Associate for providing me a review copy and one to giveaway to you of you!)

TO ENTER: Follow my blog with Google Friend connect, Networked blogs or Facebook Fan page (right sidebar). Each follow gets you 2 entries into the giveaway! Leave separate comments for each entry. If you aren't following your entries will be toss out.  It is the "tribal ties" of giveaways!

BONUS ENTRIES (Do all, one or none, up to you)

1) Follow @FSBAssociates on Twitter (1 entry)

2) Follow me on twitter @susieqtpies (1 entry)

3) Enter my Beautiful Mockingbird Bead Artistic Jewelry   Giveaway and earn 10 entries for both giveaways.

4) Tweet "What are your tribal ties? Giveaway with The Overnight Socialite @susieqtpies http://bit.ly/9eByk2"  2 entries per tweet (unlimited)

5) Comment on any post on my blog 2 entries per comment- unlimited

ENDS FRIDAY APRIL 2nd US only. Leave email at least once.

HI to those who are stopping by for the Friday Book Blogger Book Hop! I can't wait to meet you!!!

Say NO to St. Patrick's Day Buzzed Driving

 St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, and it's not the luck of the Irish that will keep the roads safe ? It's planning now for a safe and sober way home.

Are you headed out with friends after work this Wednesday to celebrate the holiday?  No?  Well when you and your family are on the road headed to choir practice, a t-ball game, or coming home from school, you may be sharing the road with those returning from a fun St. Patrick's Day event.  It's time to spread the word about the dangers of buzzed driving and to remind people that Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving, and the best way to stay safe is to plan ahead.

  Remember to:

·         Designate a sober driver before you leave for your event.

·         Be ready to take alternate transportation such as a bus or taxi. Have the phone number of a taxi service stored in your phone before you leave for the party.

Even if you will not be celebrating this St. Patrick's Day, keep in mind that in 2008, 1,179 people in other vehicles were killed in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers.  And for those who don't plan on over-indulging, a buzzed driving crash looks the same as a drunk driving crash.

Global Influence is working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Ad Council as they continue their efforts with the Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving PSA campaign. Buzzed drivers drink and drive, but do not consider themselves a hazard on the roadway because they have had only a few drinks. The campaign hopes to educate people that consuming even a few drinks can impair driving and that Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving.

We need your help in keeping the roads safe for everyone this St. Patrick's Day by spreading the word that buzzed driving IS drunk driving.

To learn more about the impact buzzed driving can have on a life, please watch this important video about the financial and personal repercussions of getting a DUI: http://buzzeddriving.adcouncil.org/sign.php#video

Remember: Buzzed Driving IS Drunk Driving. Plan ahead and ask your loved ones to do the same.

For more information, visit Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving on Facebook and Twitter (@Buzzeddriving).

(This post is a volunteer blog social event post by members of Global Influence)

Free America History The Story of US DVD offer

I just got this information from a History Channel Update!

School principals, register for your school's free AMERICA The Story of US DVD!*

America The Story of US — premiering on HISTORY™ April 25 at 9pm/8c — is a six week event that provides a fascinating look at the stories of the people, events, and innovations that forged our nation. It will provide you with an unprecedented opportunity to bring our nation's history to life for your students. This 12-hour series will be supported by educational materials tied to curriculum standards and is copyright cleared for Fair Use in the classroom by instructors or pupils in the course of face-to-face teaching activities.
* HISTORY is offering America The Story of US on DVD to every school in the United States. School must be an accredited public, private or home school, for grades K-12 and college. In order to receive your school's DVD, your school principal (grades K-12) or Dean of Students (college) should fill out the request form below. HISTORY strictly limits one request per school. DVD requests must be made prior to July 1, 2010. DVD's will be mailed around August 2010 and free shipping is included in this offer. 

Click to get offers:

Free American History: The Story of US DVD
Daily History Updates on Twitter
Daily History Updates on Facebook

Au Lait wire Jewelry Giveaway Charm & Earrings

 A few weeks ago I order a Treble Clef wire pendant for my daughter from Mockingbird Beads on Etsy.  We needed it to be gold instead of silver.  The store owner, Lisa, was very helpful and quickly made the custom order.  Within a week of making the custom order the pendant arrived! It was beautiful! Lisa is a true wire artist! (She is also a good cook and has been guest chef on my blog, too! (Cheesy Bacon Calzones)

Lisa is offering one of my readers a pendant and earrings from her newest Collection, Au Lait! (FREE of charge and no shipping)
This is right up my alley and I will be ordering one too!  Here are the pictures:

If you love this pendant but do not win, have no fear! Similar pendants may come soon, so come back and check it out.
The beads in this set are wood; the designs are possible through jewelry wire. Support your caffeine fix with this cute set!
This set includes a pendant and pair of earrings. The pictured chain is not included.

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GIVEAWAY (ends 3/25)

To enter: Go to Mockingbird Beads and come back and tell me something about her work. (This must be done to enter the giveaway; leave email addy at least once)

Bonus entries: (do all, none or one;  up to you)

NEW BONUS ENTRY - Enter this giveaway on my blog What are your tribal ties? Giveaway with The Overnight Socialite @susieqtpies http://bit.ly/9eByk2

1) Add seller to your ETSY favorites (5 entries)

2) Buy something from Mockingbird Beads (10 entries) 

3) Leave a comment on the Kids bedding Post. You could win a REDBOX code (5 entries) http://cafescrapper-scrapsoflife.blogspot.com/2010/03/kids-bedroom-makeover-tips.html

4) Comment on any of my blog post (2 entries per comment-unlimited posting)

5) Fan my blog via google friend connect, networked blogs, Facebook Fan Page, right side bar (2 entries each)

6) Follow me on twitter @Susieqtpies  (2 entries)

7) Tweet the giveaway " Win Jewelry Au Lait Wire pendant and earrings http://bit.ly/dv2HRE via @susieqtpies " 

 

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Disclosure- I purchased an item from Mockingbird Beads. I was not paid to do this post.

McDonalds Gift Card Giveaway $20 (ended)

Many thanks to McDonalds for being on Twitter! I wrote a blog post, Time to Get your Shamrock Shake, a few weeks ago.  That very day of me writing it I get a tweet from McDonalds.  They heard that I was excited to find the Shamrock shake yet it wasn't mixed right!  They sent me a gift card to have another shake and Four $5 gift cards to giveaway on my blog!

I'm going to have a different giveaway with this one.  For every 50 comments I will offer another $5 gift card.

*So Comments 1-50 I will pull ONE WINNER for $5 gift card. (@scottheyboer)

*Comments 1-100 I will pull a SECOND $5 WINNER. (Lisa F.)

*Comments 1-150, THIRD $5 WINNER.(Bloomi @TwiMommi)

*Comments 1-200 I will pull the FOURTH $5 final winner! (ckblack @97hockeymom)
WINNERS HAVE until 3/17 at midnight to give me their mailing address at arteachersusan at gmail dot com or I will redraw)

You can win more than once. Winners will be chosen by RANDOM.ORG.

There is no end date to this giveaway. As soon as we reach each comment level I will draw the winner and mail the Gift Card!

Here are ways to get entries. Do as many as you want. Leave proof. I will be checking. Leave your email addy at least once.

1) Fan McDonalds on Twitter since they were so gracious at giving me another shake and the extra gift cards! (2 entries)

2) Fan me on Twitter as @susieqtpies (1 entries)

3) Fan my Facebook fan page (right side bar) 2 entries

4) Fan my Google Friend Connect (right side of bar) 2 entries

5) Fan my Networked blogs (right side of bar) 2 entries

6) Follow my RSS Feed (right side bar) 1 entries

7) Comment on any post on my blog  1 entry per blog comment (unlimited)

8) Enter the Au Lait Jewelry Giveway on my blog http://bit.ly/dv2HRE 5 entries

9) Tweet giveaway 1 entry per tweet (unlimited)
"QUICK GIVEAWAY-ENTER TO WIN $20 in @McDonalds gift cards http://bit.ly/cL6hvw via @susieqtpies "

10) Blog giveaway 2 entries

11) Put my button on your blog or add me to your blog roll 2 entries

Career GPS Book Review- Is the assignment right?

 

 Thanks to FSB Associates for the review copy.

Career GPS
Strategies for Women Navigating the New Corporate Landscape
By Ella L. J. Edmondson Bell, Ph.D with Linda Villarosa
Published by Amistad
February 2010; $25.99US; 978-0-06-171438-2

The workplace is constantly in flux, and even now there are new opportunities open to women. But to take advantage of these possibilities, it's essential to know the current rules for corporate success. This isn't your father's or your mother's workplace anymore!

Whether it's the CEO seat, an executive manager slot, or a more intrapreneurial position, women who follow Career GPS will have what it takes to gain their professional goals.

Dr. Ella L. J. Edmondson Bell, Ph.D., an authority on career development, has worked with women across a variety of fields and in different kinds of corporations, from Fortune 500s to start-ups. Here she offers guidelines to help women forge their own pathways to professional ascent, providing tips for maximizing a review, networking in a relevant way, and much more. According to Dr. Bell:

• Think working hard is enough to be recognized? It's not enough to assume your effort will speak for itself. You have to socialize with the decision makers. It might not mean you have to pick up the golf clubs, but you do have to figure out what works in your own organization.
  
• Parlez-vous Françis? Learning Mandarin? If you work for a global company and aspire to an extreme job or higher, make it known that you would take an overseas assignment to advance your career.
  
• Nowhere to go right now? Even in hard times there are options. Learn a lateral skill -- such as accounting -- so when the company is firing on all engines again, you will impress through the breadth of your knowledge.

Drawing from her work as a consultant to some of the country's most prestigious Fortune 100 companies, Dr. Bell helps readers succeed at every level in a dynamic corporate marketplace. Career GPS combines Dr. Bell's academic knowledge and expertise with dozens of heartfelt first-person stories from smart women who rose through the ranks. Here is a book that will guide women of all cultures, ages, and levels of experience to their career goals.


MY TAKE ON THE BOOK:
I'm personally not in the work force nor am I looking for work at this time.  I do have several goals for the future.  The author lays out for you the idea that you need to know what you want and where you want to go. You can't expect someone to hand you the perfect job.  Great career tips are given on a clear path for you to explore.  These tips are great for those with a job or those searching for a job.  Some important tips include:  job search advice, networking, work/real life balance, work/life resources, personal branding, making the most out of your first 90 days, International opportunities, etc.

AS a mom who isn't out in the work force right now, I loved the section on pgs. 144-148, "HOW DO YOU KNOW THE ASSIGNMENT IS RIGHT?" This chapter applies to those working in the home as well as those out in the work force.  The author puts in clear steps to guide your thinking once an opportunity or assignment comes your way.  Don't always jump and grab every opportunity.  This will cause you inner conflict later if the opportunity doesn't really match your desires and goals.  As a homeschool mom, I, too, have to think of these steps when opportunities pop up for my children, for myself and for my family.

Author Bios
Ella LJ Edmondson Bell, Ph.D., author of the new book, Career GPS: Strategies for Women Navigating the New Corporate Landscape(Amistad), is the founder and president of ASCENT-Leading Multicultural Women to the Top, as well as an associate professor of business administration, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth University. She is considered by industry and the academy to be one of the leading experts in the management of race, gender and class in the workplace. Her clients include: PepsiCo, American Express, Intel, Goldman Sachs, Booze Allen Hamilton, U.S. Department of Labor are among others. She has written several articles for Essence magazine and wrote the monthly "Working It" column. Frequently quoted by journalists, Dr. Bell has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Boston Globe, Black Enterprise, Newsweek, Working Mother, and Fast Company. Dr. Bell lives with her Jack Russell Terrier, Belle in Hanover, New Hampshire and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Linda Villarosa is a former editor of both Essence magazine and The New York Times, where she wrote or edited a number of award-winning articles. She teaches journalism at the City College of New York.

Reviews
"Dr. Bell simultaneously lifts the spirit and gives down-to-earth advice, exercises and examples for mastering corporate life without abandoning who you really are."
--Luke Visconti, Chief Executive Officer, DiversityInc

"Career GPS serves as the business coach you never had but always wanted. From getting the job you want to getting noticed for the job you've done, you'll find tangible tips for winning in the new world of work."
--Lois P. Frankel, Ph.D., author of Nice Girls Don't Get the Corner Office and See Jane Lead

"If you are a woman who wants to get to the top of the house, you must read this book. Career GPS provides a vital road map for how women can navigate their way to the C-suite in a rapidly changing workforce."
--Sylvia Ann Hewlett, economist and author, most recently, of Top Talent: Keeping Performance Up When Business Is Down

"Dr. Ella Bell and Linda Villarosa offer valuable advice about how to successfully compete on a global playing field, cultivate leadership, and manage your whole self. This book is a great add to any woman's professional tool chest."
--Carla Harris, author of Expect To Win

Links:
21st Century Workplace: Are Women the new Men?
Career GPS the book information

Tasty Greek Salad

Quick and easy is what this salad recipe creates! It is a perfect side to any summer salad or summer sandwich. 

Greek Salad

My hubby made this Greek Salad as a side with his Spicy Lentil Soup.  He didn't use measurements.  Here are the tasty ingredients!

Romaine Letttuce, chopped

Toss with Feta cheese, Kalamata Olives and grape tomatoes.

The dressing was a quick mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.

St Patrick Day Recipes and Meal Plan

 (This picture links to CafePress. You must go check out the cool shirts!!!)

Yesterday I found out that our yearly corned beef and cabbage dinner is NOT eaten in Ireland for St Patrick's Day! Oh ok thanks for bursting our bubble!!!  I make it every year by my daughter's request! I think I'm going to break the news  after St Patrick's Day!

My recipe for the Corned Beef is on the package of meat I buy at the store. Thank goodness that recipe is on there every year.  It is the only one I use and I plan on using it again this year.  Besides the meat, I add  a can/bottle of beer, chopped carrots, celery, cabbage, and potaotes. Whatever the cooking time is on the package, I add the vegetables in at the half way mark.  This cooks together and gets all happy for us to eat for our yearly St. Patrick's Day Dinner.

I also serve cornbread.  My cornbread is made special for this day! It is Green Corn Bread! You just make the cornbread mix in a bowl and swirl in some Wilton green leaf food coloring.  That easy! My kids love it.  Every now and again throughout the year, they will ask for green cornbread!  We don't eat it very often. I know that some do not like adding in the extra artificial ingredients. If you know of one that doesn't alter the flavor please let me know.

I've made different desserts over the years but the current favorite is

Lucky Mint Brownies!

These are super easy to make! Mix up your regular brownie mix and toss in 1/2 cup of chocolate chips. This gives a few extra special creamy bites to your brownie!  Bake and cool.  While cooling take a can of cream cheese frosting (or make your own cream cheese frosting) and mix in the Wilton leaf green coloring. Just use  one small glob of coloring. I put it on a toothpick. See pictures below.  I know some people try and stay away from all the artificial coloring.  I am not sure what to use as a substitute. If you know please leave information in the comments. You could just lightly flavor the cream cheese frosting with mint flavoring and add on the mint chips. It would taste the same without the coloring.

Here are a few pictures:

Once the brownies are cool, frost them.  Next, sprinkle with 1/2 of a bag of Andes mint broken baking chips. Finally, cut and eat!

Here are a few links that I found this year that I will be using next week.  If you have any links to share please leave them in the comments! I will come check them out!!! I am making Irish Soda Bread this year and the below recipe is the one I'm trying!

Irish Soda Bread

The last three are from PartyBluePrintsBlog. I think that I read that blog almost daily.  Best ideas and recipes that I love trying! It was the Corned Beef and Cabbage post that informed me that it is not a food eaten on St. Patrick's Day in Ireland!

Pasta, Pesto, Peas and Parmesan

Colcannon (yummy)

Irish Coffee

Layered Mint Brownie

Bailey's Irish Cream Cupcakes

Redbox Top 20 movies and Academy Award winners

 Did the Academy Awards show this past Sunday urge you to see some of the nominated films? Good news! You can rent many of the award-winning titles at an affordable rate at your nearest redbox. “Up in the Air” and “Precious” are at the kiosks along with some of the other nominated films;  “The Hurt Locker,” “Inglourious Basterds,” “District 9,” “Julie & Julia,” “Coraline” and “Up.”

Be on the lookout for these nominated titles coming soon to redbox kiosks nationwide:

•  “The Princess and the Frog” – available March 16, 2010
• “An Education” – available March 30, 2010
• “Crazy Heart” – available April 20, 2010

What are the top movies? Click TOP 20 movies to see  what they are and what is available for you to rent!!
Have a great weekend!

Fan Gooseberry Patch & Enter the Contest

Gooseberry Patch is trying to reach out and find 100,000 of their fans! Old and new fans on Facebook are being asked to come fan them! Of course they are offering a huge incentive/contest for all their fans!

They are trying something new and want to share it with their fans! They are releasing their first ever download-able cookbook!  I know that some of you are saying to yourself that you do not want a download-able cookbook! I know most of you probably love holding a cookbook in your hand, flipping the pages and reading it from cover to cover!  I'm that way too but due to a natural disaster a few years back I have scaled back my cookbook collection tremendously.  I'm very picky on which ones that I buy.  After loosing all of my precious cookbooks and recipes, I got an electronic cookbook program to put in my favorite recipes.  They are stored on my laptop and my external hard drive!!  I never want to loose my most favorite recipes again. 
I have a few electronic cookbooks in my collection.  I'm loving them!  I'm very excited to get in on this Gooseberry Patch download-able cookbook!!!  Here is how you can be apart of this awesome contest:

Right now, Gooseberry Patch is at 26,605 fans on Facebook!  When they reach 30,000 all those fans will be able to download the first chapter with 25 "best melty, cheesy, creamy Macaroni & Cheese Recipes!" For every 10,000 fans on Facebook they will release another chapter up to 100,000.

If you are a fan of Gooseberry Patch then this is something for you!!!  If you are not a fan please go to Facebook and fan them ASAP!  In case you are not familiar with them I've included some links below so you can see that I am their fan and love their books!

Gooseberry Patch Celebrates National Pancake Day!
Zippy Pizza Fondue with Gooseberry Patch
Free Gooseberry Patch Cookbook and Recipes
Topsy Turvy Recipe with Gooseberry Patch
Free Gooseberry Patch Cookbook

To enter the contest just click anywhere on my blog where you see Gooseberry Patch!
While you are on Facebook put in my link and fan me on Facebook, too!  Click here, Scraps of Life.  If you have a Facebook fan page leave your link below so that I can follow you back! 

National Eat your Noodles Day Recipes and Links

Happy National Eat Your Noodles Day!  Thanks to @Foodimentary for this fact today and he also said that  Ramen Noodles or "Instant Noodles" were introduced in 1958. They are the 20th century's THIRD greatest Japanese invention!  Wowza!! 

In honor of the day I'm sharing with you a very easy noodle recipe that was invented by accident!  We love making Fettuccine Alfredo.  A few weeks ago I was making this for dinner and my hubby said something like I'd rather have red sauce.  Well the girls all love the white alfredo sauce so I said too bad the menu was already picked for the day.  We were having grilled shrimp and fettuccine alfredo.  I then felt guilty and decided to make him a quick red sauce with shrimp.  He was very happy with that.  I don't have the recipe. You just use your favorite red spaghetti sauce recipe or jar and toss in the shirmp.  


So, the next day there was just a small amount of fettuccine alfredo and fettuccine shrimp red sauce leftover.  I warmed both up together and got this most yummy, creamy pasta ever!!!!  This is a keeper. The next time I make our alfredo sauce I will automatically make his red sauce and plan extra so that the next day we can all enjoy the creamy alfredo red sauce fettuccine!


Here are links to other noodle recipes!  Enjoy and Happy Eat your Noodles Day!  If you have a noodle recipe feel free to leave it below!

Fettuccine Alfredo 

Grilled Veggie Pasta Salad

Pasta with Matriciana Sauce

Mini Macaroni and Cheese
  
Lidia's Italian American Scallopine

• Scallopine with Peppers, Mushrooms and Tomatoes

• Pan Fried Parmigiano Reggiano Coated Scallopine