Advanced Style

I have a bunch of interesting links for you today:

Kay gave a wonderful review of the new George Clooney movie called 'The Descendants' and now I have to see it. And Gloria featured this wonderful video called 'Advanced Style' about stylish New York older ladies and I loved it, wonder if you will too.

Jenn had this lovely post of a 95 year old senior and her poems, I hope you will stop by to check it out.

The Southern Lady posted this delicious recipe for Sour Cream Banana Muffins and I finally
got around to making them!  Yum.

Creative Tuesdays - Mistletoe

Welcome to Creative Tuesdays where the theme today is 'Mistletoe'. Thanks to MMm for hosting. I hope you are all getting into the Christmas spirit! Please stop by the others and join in the fun!

For those of you unfamiliar with the mistletoe custom, this is how Wikipedia describes it:

According to ancient Christmas custom, a man and a woman who meet under a hanging of mistletoe were obliged to kiss. The custom may be of Scandinavian origin. It was described in 1820 by American author Washington Irving in his "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon":

"The mistletoe is still hung up in farm-houses and kitchens at Christmas, and the young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under it, plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked the privilege ceases."



Today, a sprig may be hung under a door at a party and if you are noticed under it, the person can kiss you! All in good fun.

Magical Mondays - Kwiat Diamond Waterdrop Bracelet

Welcome to Carol's Magical Mondays!

I noticed this beautiful bracelet in a news article. It's a Kwiat Diamond Waterdrop Bracelet and all the profits go to Charity Water. It's about $100.  I love it, isn't it gorgeous?  Here is the Kwiat website.

Here is the $11,000 one

And here is another link to the site.

My sister says it's too simple for her taste as she likes gaudy jewellery with lots of bling.

We went out to a Greek restaurant with friends last night as Xmas celebrations begin.  We exchanged gifts and enjoyed the food and conversation.  It was raining and the weather was mild.  We skyped with L afterwards.  I was happy to hear they played board games instead of the usual drinking parties on the weekend.  Exams are coming up and it's easier to study the next morning apparently if you are not hung over.

Sunday Sketches - Winter Walk

Welcome to Sophia's Sunday Sketches!   Please stop by the others and join in the fun!

This acrylic ACEO is called 'Winter Walk'.  It really looks like this around here on snowy days, although we haven't been having too much of those considering the time of year.  I'm not really complaining!

Sweet Saturdays - Pet Sofa

Welcome to Diana's Sweet Saturdays!  Please stop by the other participants and join in the fun!

Okay, now I've seen it all...this is a pet sofa I saw for sale in a store! Do you think your pet would like one? Lol.

Pet Sofa

Pet Sofa - Closer View

Paint Party Friday - Seasonal Green

Welcome to Paint Party Friday! Thanks to Kristin and Eva for hosting. Please stop by some of the others and join in the fun!

I was doing a 'Mistletoe' theme for Creative Tuesdays, due Dec 6th and squeezed too much green paint from the tube. I thought 'how wasteful of me' and decided to use it as a background for today's acrylic ACEO. I had been thinking of doing some evergreen trees and reindeer, so this painting evolved. The final touch was adding a bit of snow and I'm happy with the result. What do you think?

Xmas Tree and a Jerk Seasoning Recipe

Our Xmas Tree

Welcome to December!  Are you in the holiday spirit?  This is a photo of our Xmas tree, it doesn't change too much from year to year, I have a different tree topper this year although it's not really new.

According to Kathy, shopping at the malls will be light for this week before it starts to get crowded.  As a matter of fact, I was at the mall yesterday morning (we had snow flurries and it was cold!)   L wants a hairdryer for Christmas.  There were at least 6 different varieties at Walmart, who knew this could be so difficult.  They come with various attachments and settings.  She wanted lots of speeds and a cold air feature.  I think (hope) I chose a good one for a reasonable price.  It has ionic technology that helps reduce static and I even saw a 'turbo' button on it!  I think mine only has a 'low' and 'high' setting, lol.

According to wikipedia

Jerk is a style of cooking native to Jamaica in which meat is dry-rubbed or wet marinated with a very hot spice mixture called Jamaican jerk spice. Jerk seasoning is traditionally applied to pork and chicken. Modern recipes also apply jerk spice mixes to fish, shrimp, shellfish, beef, sausage, and tofu. Jerk seasoning principally relies upon two items: allspice (called "pimento" in Jamaica) and Scotch bonnet peppers (among the hottest peppers on the Scoville scale). Other ingredients include cloves, cinnamon, scallions, nutmeg, thyme, garlic, and salt.

I found this recipe in a cookbook I have and wanted to share it with some of you who might be  interested in trying to make Jamaican Jerk Seasoning.  It's good on meat or fish.  I would not use that many Scotch Bonnet Peppers as they are fiery hot (maybe just one).

1 lb Scotch Bonnet Peppers (fiery hot)
1 small onion chopped
3 stalls escallion chopped
3 sprigs fresh thyme chopped
3 tbsp salt
2 tbsp black pepper
2 tbsp whole pimento (allspice) berries
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 c white vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce


In a food processor or blender puree all ingredients until sauce is coarse yet pourable
makes about 4 to 5 cups

Pottinger, Lily,Pottinger, Ed.The Real Jerk: New Caribbean Cuisine.Vancouver, BC:Arsenal Pulp Press,2002.Print.