Door Envy

by Ann

First impressions are important.  The front door is an important component to the first impression of a home.  We moved into a house in a development that a single woman with teenage children had built, making design choices I would have never considered, including the door.   The original owner had installed an inexpensive black metal security door over the standard-issue wooden door that came with the houses in our neighborhood.  Not only was the metal door unattractive, it also couldn’t shut all the way, so was not serviceable.  When our handyman was asked about taking it down he explained that since it was a security door the entire frame would need to be removed, thus resulting in a larger project than we were up for just to get rid of the outer door.  So, we lived with the entry way that I initially deemed as a high priority project for over ten years because other things (like the emerald green carpeting, cheesy mini blinds, bathroom fixtures, counter tops, lighting, etc...   you get the idea) were higher on our home improvement project list.

See the picture below for our NEW and lovely door!  (I had originally had the "before" pictures posted as the first pics, but have since discovered that whatever the first pic posted is comes up as the header when looking at our blog with a smartphone, and wanted you to see this rather than the funky before pics!)

We were in the middle of this project at this time last year, before Sheila, Heather and I had the “let’s start a blog inspiration,” so the before pictures are a bit rigged up.  Below is our neighbor's entryway to illustrate how the window transom was situated above the door.

Below is a version of the same security door that was on our front door, but this one is on the side of our house going into the garage. 

This is the SIDE of our garage, so not the greatest comparison to our original front door, but the security screen is exactly the same as the one in front.  Not my idea of a good first impression.

Within the last year or so two of my friends had replaced their entryways with absolutely beautiful iron and glass doors, giving me tremendous “door envy,” causing the door to move to a higher place on the priority list.  My husband, Patrick and I went to a home show at the University of Phoenix stadium (where the Phoenix Cardinals play) to seek out companies that make custom doors like I had in mind.  There were two companies that had displays impressive enough to warrant having reps come to our home to do estimates.  Both companies had similar pricing, and great ideas to share, but we had to choose.  It came down to what to do with the small transom window above the door.  One company suggested making the entire doorway taller, including the area where the window had been, making the entryway seem grander.

Since both of the bids came in close, we signed on the dotted line, providing a down payment of half for the fabrication to begin with the smaller company; the one  with bigger ideas for our project.  Each door is custom built, yet buyers don’t have to start from scratch.  We poured through notebooks filled with pictures of previously done projects from which the scroll work and general designs could be duplicated.  Yet there were many more decisions to be made –  choosing the finish, the type of glass, the door handles, and probably many other things that I can’t remember at this point.

We signed the contract at the end of August with the promise that installation would take place prior to Thanksgiving (the holiday that we traditionally host) of last year.  A couple of months later we were given complimentary tickets to yet another home and garden show so we could see our door in progress being shown off.  The company wanted to people to see that a fabulous door could be created for a traditional sized entry way, since the more common type of home with these doors is “grander” than ours.  We visited our door at the show; encouraged that it was almost done, just waiting on the glass.  The glass took longer than predicted, Thanksgiving came and went with no new door, but soon thereafter it was installed.

 See below for how nice it looks now that it is done.

The glass door panel can open.  We chose not to include a screen in order to maintain consistency in the look of the glass and the depth of the panel. 
(We don't have many bugs in Arizona, nor do we open the panel often.)

I am happy to report that I am no longer suffering from door-envy, pleased with the results of this project.  Hmm.... what's the next undertaking?

Makin' Your List and Checkin' it Twice

December 12, 2012

By Sheila

Okay, I know it's a little late to be starting your list-making for the holidays, but if you are anything like me, you are constantly making and checking your lists.  This time of year list-making is even more critical to saving me time, money and sanity since there are so many more activities to do, events to attend, and groceries, decorations and gifts to buy. I used to be a strictly paper and pencil list-maker (I used to buy a case of spiral notebooks every year during back to school sales), but I have come to rely heavily on my I-pad.  So much so that when it was stolen on a recent trip to San Francisco, I was really anxious to replace it.  By the way, back your I-pad up by plugging it in to your computer regularly, or backing up to the cloud.  I lost some of my info, but not a lot, thank goodness.
I am not one to start my Christmas shopping 6 months early, but I do like to get my lists made well before Thanksgiving.  I list all the people I plan to buy gifts for, add any ideas I have for them, and set a budget for how much I plan to spend.  I start asking my kids for suggestions for their families and making notes of their ideas.  My daughter is an especially thoughtful and creative gift giver, so when I am stumped, I tap her brain.  I do some of my shopping online - especially for those that live far away - because of the ease of shipping, and good pricing.  My kids are always comparison shopping with their smart phones, and I have started doing this too.  Yesterday at Nordstrom my daughter found the exact shoes she wanted for $5 less at Zappos (plus no tax and free shipping) and Nordstrom matched it.  It never hurts to ask. In addition to price,  you can check product availability at various stores, saving more time, gas and personal energy running around. For online shopping she recommends retailmenot.com and coupon cabin for promo codes.
In addition, I keep these gift lists, as well as previous years' holiday menus.  I love my I-pad for the ease of this.  I have last years Christmas Eve menu, along with the notes of which recipes we used and any comments regarding what I would change, or the quantity we made.  It makes my planning for this year much easier.  I know there are probably some great apps for this which I have yet to explore.  If you know of some, please send them to me!
On my list for this week; complete my gift shopping and finish baking.  I don't bake nearly as much as I used to, mostly because we don't want to eat all the baked goods, but I do like to have it for guests and gifts.  Okay, and I've been known to eat a cookie for a breakfast appetizer with my coffee in the morning.  Then I will take a cue from Ann and get myself to Jazzercise.  Better add that to the list!
What's on your list?  Do you know of some great apps for smart phones or the I-pad that help stay organized and save time and money?  I'd love to know about them.

Sublime Homemade Caramels

by Ann

Sublime is a somewhat new word to me.  Certainly I had heard the word before, but never thought about it much, because quite honestly, I would not describe much in my life as sublime.  I guess it all comes down to interpretation, so perhaps I’m wrong about that.  According to dictionary.com sublime can refer to anything ranging from impressing the mind with a sense of grandeur to describing something that is supreme or outstanding.

Sheila, Heather, and I have been talking about what is and isn’t sublime lately.  We feel like we need a new tag line under our Friendship, Life, and Style blog title, and went back to some of the original blog name ideas we came up with when we first started this adventure, one of which included the word in question.  We initially decided not to use it because we weren’t certain that enough of what we would be writing about would fit that description but, but the recipe I’m sharing today truly is!  These caramels are SUBLIME!

This recipe is my great aunt’s, so it has been in our family for a long time.  My mom and I have made it a few times, and then several years ago I had a disastrous experience when Sheila, Heather and I had a baking day years ago for which I brought the supplies needed to make caramels, but bought quarts instead of pints of cream by mistake, with disasterous results.  (Really?? I was a home ec teacher!  How many times did we go over measurements and equivalents?)

Fast forward to this month -- the peer pressure was on when one of Heather's blog posts commented on hoping that caramels would be appearing this holiday season.  I enlisted my mom to do the recipe with me, because I was gun-shy to try it again after the last fiasco. 

I didn’t have an electronic copy of the recipe, so retyped it prior to heading off to my mother’s house.  The version of the recipe that I had said that it would take 2 ½ - 3 hours to cook start to finish.  Reality was that the cooking process took over four hours, so it is not something to do when you’re in a hurry! Perplexed by why it took the mixture so long to reach the soft ball stage I asked the STEM specialist (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in my office if the added cooking time could be related to the “ultra-pasteurization” of today’s cream as opposed to what was available in the past. She agreed that was probably the case, as well as something about the coagulation of the protein in the milk that I didn’t understand.  I just know that they are worth the effort.

Sugar, light corn syrup, and one pint of cream getting ready to start the long process....
 
 

After  about an hour and a half of cooking the syrup becomes a beautiful golden brown. Add the second pint of cream and stir to mix.   Constant stirring is not required, so maybe you could be writing your Christmas cards....  watching a movie .......  Just be sure to check in every now and then to see if the temperature is approaching 230 degrees....  (Once it does, add the final pint of cream and small piece of parafin.)

 

 

 

Getting closer -- the syrup is browner and bubblier -- but it's still taking a l-o-n-g time.  Resist temptation!  Do not increase the heat beyond medium low!  Once the soft ball stage is reached, take off the heat and add vanilla and nuts.

 

 

 



 

Once nuts and vanilla are added, pour into greased pan.  Unlike some candy recipes, there is no frantic rush to get this step accomplished within 30 seconds!

 

The candy must set in the greased pan for at least overnight before cutting and wrapping.

 

Pictured here is half of the wrapping battle won -- The container with wrapped pieces is only a portion of what I'd wrapped.  The pottery dishes are what I bought at Sur la Table to fill for small gifts for friends. 
Caution -- The wrapping process takes another 2 + hours to complete! 

Ready for gift-giving!  Yum!  (There were several more -- why all the red bowls in a row?!)

 

Soft Homemade Caramels

Ingredients:

4 c sugar
1 16 oz bottle of light Karo syrup
3 pints whipping cream
paraffin wax, ¼ of one layer in a box of 4 (about the size of an egg)
1 Tablespoon vanilla
1 lb. walnuts or pecans (3 cups) chopped

Directions:

(Note:  the cooking process from beginning to end will take about 4 hours.)

1.       In large kettle, slowly cook sugar, syrup, and 1 pint of cream.  Once the mixture has started to cook, the heat should be on the “medium-low” setting on the stove.  (230° on candy thermometer)  Cook until small amount dropped in iced water forms a soft ball.

2.       Add second pint of cream, stirring with wooden spoon; cook until a slightly harder softball forms. (Do not stir throughout the cooking process – only to incorporate the added cream)

3.       Add the third pint of cream and paraffin wax; cook to soft ball where the ball can be shaped and it holds the shape in iced water. (232° is what the recipe said, but ours never got quite that high, yet the ball kept its shape in the water.)

4.       Remove from stove.  Add vanilla and nuts.

5.       Pour into greased 10 x 15” pan (with sides of at least 1”).

6.       Cool completely, at least overnight in a cool place, but not the refrigerator.

Once cool: (Note:  the wrapping process will take at least an hour to complete.)

1.       Cut many squares of waxed paper or clear wrap about 3 ½ x 3 ½”.

2.       Cut caramels into squares, and wrap each one.
Store in cool place.

Enjoy!  These are amazing treats and make wonderful holiday gifts.

Holiday Sequins and Sparkle

December 10, 2012

by Heather

Tom and I were supposed to be in Las Vegas last weekend partying with my Australian cousins  and Minnesota relatives.  Walking pneumonia kept both of us home however.  Even though we didn't make it this time, Ann, Sheila and I will be in Vegas for the big bloggers' convention in January, and I have just the perfect outfit -- good for the holidays, our next band gig, and the Vegas strip.

Do you remember Liberace?  I feel as if I'm channeling him with this jacket.  I'm never sure about this many sequins (although I do love shiny and sparkly), so I'm pairing the jacket with blue jeans and a basic white tank so it's not too over the top.

The jacket is from Chicos as are the necklace and earrings. The ring is from a wonderful new store I discovered this weekend in north Scottsdale.  My friend, Susan, is showing some of her fabulous hand-knitted scarves at the store, so she snatched me away from my household drudgery and made me go shopping. If you get the chance, stop in at Global Elements.  They have a wonderful eclectic mix of merchandise and the store itself is an architect's dream.

Look!  The tree is up and decorated!!  More on the tree and the rest of the Christmas decorations next Monday -- or maybe sooner if I get my act together and take some photos.  Monday night is book club at my house, so I have some cooking to do before I tackle anything else.

Jeans and sequined shoes are from White House Black Market.

Hoping your holidays are merry!

Love,

H

Rock 'n Roll Deja Vu

December 7, 2012

by Heather

If somebody would have told me as a teenager that I'd still be dancing to my family's rock and roll band as we eased into our retirement years, I'd have called them crazy.

In junior high,  I played tambourine periodically with my brother's band and, very occasionally, danced on stage as a "go-go dancer."  Fast forward two years: I'm 15 and dating Tom who is also in a rock and roll band (Tom and I went on to marry five years later).  In our twenties, both guys moved away from the band experience and my years as a band groupie/roadie were over, or so I thought.

About a year and a half ago, a conversation started about how much fun it would be to get together and form a garage band -- just to sit around, play instruments, and have some laughs.  I thought I could play the keyboard (hey, I played piano when I was eight after all), Tom would play lead guitar, brother Scott on bass, a biker buddy on rhythm guitar, and we could find a singer and drummer.  The band came together with the addition of a neighbor as lead singer, and the Maricopa County Public Defender as the the drummer (his first question, when asked if he wanted to join this band of bikers, was "Are the other members potential clients?"). 

At the first practice, I realized I was way out of my league.  The other members came with years of experience and they sounded pretty good right from the start.  I knew I couldn't keep up so I bowed out -- not entirely though.  I had a favorite song "Born to Be Wild" by Steppenwolf that I just had to play and my husband wanted me to play along to "Route 66," which he sings.  With some practice, I was able to master (is playing one-handed really "mastering"?) those two tunes.

A local biker bar has a jam night every Wednesday. People show up with their instruments -- everything from horns and harmonicas to guitars and keyboards -- and groups are put together to perform.  Scott and Tom had been playing there off and on for several months when they invited the other band members to come along. The guys played three songs together as a band and were good enough to get hired for a gig.  We were back in the band business!

Their band (called "Outside of Normal") now plays about once a month, most often at the El Dorado Bar and Grill.  What makes it really fun is that our friends and relatives come and rock out while the band is playing. We have a blast dancing and singing along to the songs we grew up with. I'm not the band's only guest artist -- friends, neighbors, relatives, work colleagues, and just about anybody who wants to perform on stage is invited up to do so.  Between the band and the audience, there's never a dull moment!

That's me playing the keyboard and lots of our wild friends dancing up a storm -- sure love that they come out and party with us!

Here's Ann, part of our trio of bloggers, taking a break from the dancing.

Sheila, the other third of our blogging team, is chatting with Edie, a member of our book club.

You should see Sheila and her husband, David, on the dance floor -- they're crazy good!  Behind them is Cathy, David's cousin (also from Scotland) and a member of our book club.  Hidden from view is her husband, Phil.

Everybody's a critic!  Rowan likes to watch his Pop-pop play the bass 

but sitting this close is a little too loud for him.

If you're in in the mood for a party, join us Saturday, December 15th, in south Scottsdale, AZ,

at the El Dorado Bar and Grill.

Starting time 8 p.m.; ending time midnight!

Keeping the Merry in Christmas!

Love,

H

Our Home for the Holidays

By Sheila

December 6, 2012

Around our house at the holidays I suspect we have a little more chaos going on than my girlfriends.  We have crazy work schedules (I will be flying to help you and yours get where you need to go to celebrate).  We have some of both of our families here and we'll also look forward to time with our own children, their spouses and of course they all need to cordinate with their in-laws schedules.  We have visiting children, grandchildren, and even the occasional grand-dog.  We have always had a revolving door where friends and family can feel free to stop by for a short visit, or to pull a chair up by the fire and stay awhile. 

That being said, it is good to be prepared for the unexpected.  A quick and fun treat I like to keep on hand is the makings for S’mores.  As soon as it cools off enough, I stock a basket with marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate, ready to go.  We like to use Ghirardelli squares and have experimented with some of their special flavors.  My favorite is Sea Salt and Caramel.  I just bought some S’mores “baskets” at Crate and Barrel.  They allow you to assemble your S’more and then get the chocolate nice and melty too.  What’s not to like about that?  I also keep a basket of small paper plates and napkins on my kitchen counter.  This is stocked all the time, ready to go to serve a small plate of cheese and crackers or other simple snack with a glass of wine.

This time of year, we spend a great deal of time outside enjoying the beautiful weather and our outdoor fireplace.  My red painted walls already look festive and we add lit garland and lots of candles to the mantle inside and out. Twinkle lights are up year-round on the patio for the softly lit ambiance.  (And lest you get the wrong idea here, I don’t do anything really outrageous like leave my Christmas lights up on the front of my house or my Christmas tree up year round.) Outdoor curtains make this “room” very cozy at night and keep the warmth in if we need it.  I purchased inexpensive curtains from IKEA; they come in extra long lengths and have held up in the Arizona sun for several years.  Of course, you can buy fabric made specifically for the outdoors, but be prepared to spend more money. We used conduit for the rods (from the hardware store electrical department) which can be cut any length and is really inexpensive.  Tool storage clips hold the rods in place and make it easy to remove them as needed.  I keep a stack of lap blankets in the basket by the door to keep the chill off in the evening.  This is the same basket that holds the pool towels in the summer time.  You can tell I like baskets for organizing!

Our home is casually festive and a place where we enjoy sharing the spirit of the season with our friends and family.  After all, there’s no place like home, especially for the holidays.

Travel Tips for the Holidays

By Sheila

December 5, 2012

It’s that time of year when many of us are traveling to spend time with loved ones during the holidays.   While that can be fun and exciting, for many people travel can be stressful too.  I am offering some tips here to help your holiday travel go as smoothly as possible, and in the end, save you money.   Although I don’t usually sell myself an authority on anything, I am a flight attendant for my day job.  I have logged lots of miles for fun and work, and seen both sides of the travel experience.  I could probably write a book on the crazy things I have witnessed, but for now, here are some suggestions to consider.  I know many of these are VERY basic, but it amazes me how often people are very ill-prepared for travel.  Much of this information is focused on flying, yet being prepared applies to all modes of travel and makes it more enjoyable for all parties involved. 

In no particular order, here you are:

1.       Allow plenty of time.  At this time of year, airport parking areas fill up quickly, and costs can vary greatly, so have a back-up parking plan if you know this to be the case in your area.  If you aren’t sure, call your local airport, or see if they have information regarding this on their website. Check-In and Security lines can be extra long as well.

2.       Have all your documents organized and readily accessible.  This will include your Government ID such as a driver’s license or passport, as well as your tickets or record locators.  Also any car rental or hotel information.  I like the app “Trip-It” which will organize all your info in one place. If you use a smart phone, this is a great opportunity to make it work for you.  I have a photocopy of this info, as well as my health insurance ID card in my checked bag as well, for long trips.

3.       Know your airline’s policy regarding checked bags.  If they charge additional for bags over a certain weight, you may be better off packing in 2 smaller bags.  Weigh your bag ahead of time at home.  These expenses can add up fast, so know what you will be paying for.

4.       Do not wrap presents in advance.  If TSA has any questions regarding a package they cannot inspect, they will unwrap it.

5.       Dress appropriately for travel.  Wear comfortable clothing and dress in layers so that you can moderate your own temperature.  Inevitably passengers are too warm/cold and this can vary greatly in different parts of the plane and many buildings not within our control. 

6.       Know your airline’s policy for carry-on bags.  Do not exceed this limit.  It is time-consuming for airline personnel to have to stop passengers and check bags at the last minute, and inconsiderate to other passengers.  Some airlines charge additional for this, as well. 

7.       In your carry-on bag you should have: 

a.       Any critical medications in original packaging (including your airsick meds if you need them).   Reading material and/or stuff to entertain you (and your kids).  Also, stick labels on your electronics, so if they do get left behind on the plane or security, you can be paged or notified.  Include your phone number.  Be prepared to take your laptop out and place it in a bin by itself to go through security.  No need to take your I-pad out.  If your stuff needs charged, do this ahead of time and don’t forget your chargers.  I keep all of mine in a small bag in my carry-on.  Don’t forget headphones for you and the little ones.  Please do not play music/games/movies without headphones.  This is guaranteed to annoy those seated around you. 

b.      Bring any critical food/wipes/diapers/formula/etc.  Bring extra in case of delays or re-routes. Most airplanes do not stock these items. If you are not sure, call and ask ahead of time.

c.       A wrap, sweater or blanket for the plane to keep warm, if needed.  I always travel with a very large scarf, which doubles as a sweater, blanket, picnic cloth, etc.  Airplanes ore often kept cooler so that anyone prone to being airsick is more comfortable.  Nothing worse than being nauseated and too warm! For long flights bring your neck pillow and ear plugs as well.

d.      Do not exceed the TSA limits on liquids, or you may be throwing away that expensive perfume you brought.  At this time it is 3.4 ounces per container, and all containers need to fit in a quart size (see-through) bag.  Check the TSA website for particulars regarding baby formula, medication, etc.  This includes lip balm, lotion, gels, etc.  You do not want to be the one that is pulled aside and have your luggage rifled while they pull stuff out that you now have to throw away because you are out of time.  Have this bagged separately, and have it readily accessible.  Also, people want to argue about things like toy guns, knives, etc.  Really?  Enough said.

e.      I often bring an empty water container and fill it on the inside of security at a fountain or self serve restaurant.  I always ask permission, but they don’t seem to mind.  Greener planet, more green in my wallet.  I hate paying $5 for a bottle of water.

Stay tuned for more travel-related posts in the future.  I have tips for wardrobe planning for various types of vacations, and I’ll be including them in upcoming posts.  In the meantime, take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy this time with your family. Bon Voyage!

What do you always bring with you when you travel?  Anything special that always seems to make your trip more enjoyable or go more smoothly?