I Could Have Danced All Night...

Our 30th wedding anniversary was soon approaching and I was on the hunt for a special gift for my husband to honor the day. While perusing a local vintage store, I found this wonderful old musical liquor bottle sitting on one of the shelves just waiting for the right person to discover it.

It was just perfect... you see we met on New Years Eve at a disco in the

 late 70's when he came over and asked me to dance. 

♥ We clicked right away on the dance floor...

 and we have been dancing ever since ♥ 

The bottle has an iner chamber where the couple dances while the music plays untouched by the liquid spirits that would have surrounded them. 

The tuxedo clad gentleman spins his pink tulled partner

 around ever so magically.

To top it off, it was on sale for exactly $30

 (the # of years we had been married).

"I'll take it!", I said.

Isn't it just so sweet?  It warms my ♥

(p.s.. This August will be 38 years! Where does the time go?)

Stay Cozy,

Carrie

Will the real cheese please stand up?

No need to pretend - (no Friday the 13th trick here) - 

this cheese tastes like the real thing.

So much healthier and much lower in calories too!

It's time for Mac 'n Cheese - Vegan Style!

VEGAN/VEGETARIAN CHEESE SAUCE

INGREDIENTS

• 1.5 cup potatoes peeled and cubed
• 2/3 cup carrots peeled and cubed
• 1/3 cup vegetable stock
• 3/4 cup plant based milk soy or almond work best
• 1 Tbsp lemon juice
• 1.5 tsp arrowroot flour or corn starch
• 2 Tbsp nutritional yeast
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp sea salt or more to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add potatoes and carrots to a pot of water. Bring to a boil, and let boil for 10 minutes. Strain and add to a blender or food processor.
2. Blend together the potatoes and carrots. 
3. Add in remaining ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy!
4. Add to cooked pasta and enjoy.

It works great for baked mac 'n cheese

       too with bread crumbs on top!

Add some cumin and chili powder to taste
and a little tomato paste or even salsa for

nacho cheese!

Time to Enjoy (guilt free)

           Carrie

Our little lookout...

Little Pearl...she is such a curious girl...

Who is coming to the door?

What is out the window?

Almost 11 years old and only 4.5 lbs..

my little Papillon still acts like a little puppy!

Ever so inquisitive and always on duty to see what is happening.

Until she finally gives in and just has to take a break.

Cozy Little Pearl!

Oh So Cozie...

 I always make a cup of coffe using my Keurig Coffee Maker at home...

and then bring it with me to work or play (depending on the day).

Although I keep cups and lids on hand - I never seem to have any "cozies"

around. So last night I decided to make my own!

Using (3) fun fabrics, I cut (2) 3" X 4.5" pieces from each print. 

 I stiched each piece together using a 1/4" seam allowance and then using 

the template cut the pattern from the stiched rectangle.

  

I cut an additional pattern piece from a matching fabric for the reverse side and also

cut a pattern piece from some fusible pellon for the lining.

 After fusing the pellon with an iron to the pieced front, I placed an elastic hair tie

between the layers  and with the wrong sides together sewed all around leaving a 2" 

opening for turning. 

 Final touch is to hand sew a button on the opposite side of the cozie for closing.

And there you have it - now I have my own personal coffee cozie ready to go!

 Stay "coffee" Cozie!

I will be happy to email the pattern and directions to you if you are interested...just leave me a comment and let me know!

Let the blooming begin...

The bark dust is scattered

...the feeders cleaned and hung

Time to come outside again...

Spring has just begun!

Stay Cozy...

and enjoy every moment of every day...

rain or shine!

Carrie

Days Gone By...

Three of my four daughters live in Northwest Portland - downtown- where there are so many quaint older buildings filled with wonderful stores, coffee shops, bakeries and fabulous restaurants. They are all within walking dstance of their homes. Some days we will go downtown just to take in the ambiance of the vintage store fronts and admire the beautiful construction work of days gone by. 

Last night I dropped by one of my twin daughter's apartments to wish her a happy birthday and drop off a gift...this is the entrance to her vintage building.

It hasn't changed since it was built. It is just beautiful!

This is how we call her so she can buzz us in...

Isn't is just a hoot?

And adjacent to the phone are the mailboxes.

I just love the place and wanted to share it with you all. 

I wish I could have taken photos of the inside...

but she was getting ready to go out of town - so no go!

Maybe next time...

Stay Cozy!

幸せな食事 Happy Eating....

My niece and her family are living in Okinawa for a few years. When I went over to my sister's (her mom) house I noticed she had all sorts of unusual food packets in her pantry. It seems her daughter has been delighting her with some of the foods that are a staple there. 

This one I thought was so funny - becuase it seemd like a take on a Mexican dish.

"Taco Rice"

  

 This is what comes inside the package...we "face-timed" her to get the directions....

since they were all in Japanese.

You heat the two larger pouches in boiling water for about 5 mins. 

Then add the contents of the packets to cooked rice and mix in the hot sauce.

This is how it looks when it is done boiling. 

Add it to the pre-cooked rice and...Voila...authentic Taco Rice from Okinawa! 

 It was actully very good!

Here are some of the other packets she sent!

I love the packaging!

幸せな食事

Happy Eating!

A Family That Plays Together Stays Together...

For many people, board games represent a staple of family gatherings.

 Board games go back much further than many of us might think.

 The earliest ever recorded board game is "Senet",

 traces of which have been found as far back as 

3500 BC in predynastic Egypt.

 With five kids, we have owned a plethora of board games, old and new, over the years and they continue to be a fun pastime for our family!

 Here are a few of the "vintage" board games I have... 

I just love the artwork on the boxes and even some of the names.

Board games hold so much history and really reflect waht was happening

 at the time they were made!

The artwork on this box immediately tells you when this game came out...

the clothing...the hairstyles..I just love it! Circa 1968

This Bingo game advertises that it has "the new plastic number selector"

...that was something truly new and inventive at the time.

Of course the man is the executive and the woman the dutiful secretary...

in this "Junior Executive" 1960 game. Even the directions refer to "he" as

 it explains the way to play.

This Bingo was a little earlier then the other one 1959  

- no plastic selector here - all the playing pieces are cardboard

This 1969 game...truly shows the way the world was going 

heading towards the 70's...peace, love and psche paths!

 Even the colors of the playing pieces reflect the era.

Scrabble is a favorite in our family (Speed Scrabble to be exact). 

Scrabble is one of the most well-known letter crossword games.

 Earlier versions of it were created in the early 1930s, 

and the name Scrabble was trademarked in 1948. 

I have quite a few other games tucked away...

I am sure you do too.

What is a favorite board game you have enjoyed?

Happy Gaming,

Carrie

One Friend Can Change Your Whole Life...

A warm fire...cocktails on ice...sharing stories...games and giggles...

joy and lots of laughter...friends fill your life in so many ways.

 

I am so fortunate to call these five wonderful people my "friends"

 ...my husband included sitting in the middle

(sorry no selfie stick - I was taking the photo)

 And it was my pleasure this past Friday night to thank them for their friendship by fixing this  large "charcuterie" spread!

Remember a friend in a special way today ...

it will fill your heart!

Stay Cozy,

Carrie

Swan Lake...

Although when we recently visited  Seaside

these "swans" were grounded...

...these graceful paddle boats will soon be released to their proper

 place in the Necanicum River, offering a wonderful afternoon

  for those willing to take a ride. During aquatic excursions, wandering boaters may cruise past a summer concert or explore the shoreline. This beautiful waterway has so much to offer, including great blue and green herons and many other species of migratory birds. 

As they say...

It's easy to Seaside!

And they are eager to show you how, when, and where to do all the great things Seaside has to offer.

I am looking forward to my return visit during the warm 

summer months and riding on a swan!

Stay Cozy,

Carrie