by Mojito Maven on September 30, 2008
Dear fellow blog land lovers and stalkers,
I feel like we need to have a heart to heart. After Mrs. Newlywed posted about the hilarious search terms people use to find her site on Google, it got me intrigued. So I signed up for a Google Analytics account to start tracking keywords, visitors, popular posts, etc. Sadly, all of my search terms are BORING and completely obvious. BUT, according to Analytics, on the average day I have more “unique” visitors reading my blog than I ever imagined. Please come out of hiding. If you have a blog I would love to read it!! I am planning on cleaning up my blog roll this weekend, so if you would like to be included on it please leave me a comment or shoot me an email and I would be thrilled to add you!
Much Blog Love,
Mojito Maven
2. Thanks for all of the suggestions about potential Halloween costumes on yesterday’s post. Unfortunately, Mr. Mojito thinks we could actually win best costume if we went as ketchup and mustard. Being the witty girl I am I quickly snapped back with, “LUCKILY a ketchup and mustard costume does not actually exist.” It appears that not only do I have to eat my own words, but now I may actually have to go as a food condiment for Halloween (let it be known that I will be ketchup).
The always fashionable LyndsAU was kind enough to email me these photos this morning. I quickly forwarded her email to Mr. Mojito (why did I do this? I HAVE NO IDEA…I guess I thought it was funny at the time). Now, he is ALL about this idea….awesome. Do not fret, I will post photos.
3. Southern Accent was wonderful enough to give me the Smile Award!! Thank you so much. AND, Lindsey at Learning to be a Wife also gave me the “Blogging Friends Forever Gold Card” award. I had no idea this award even existed, but I really like it…thank you both so much!
The rules attached to the “Blogging Friends Forever Gold Card” are:
1. You may only choose five people/blogs to give the award to.
2. Four have to be dedicated followers of your blog.
3. One has to be a new follower of your blog or live in another part of the world.
Once again, I am going to try and give these awards to some bloggers who may not have received them already:
1. A Glimpse of the Girl Next Door
2. Naturally Caffeinated Family
3. The wife
4. Monogramchick
5. L Squared…She is my newest follower! Thank you!
I know I am cheating, but I also have to give the “Blogging Friends Forever Gold Card” to Erin at Blue-Eyed Bride because well..what can I say? I LOVE this girl.
by Mojito Maven on September 29, 2008
1. Surprise! My name is no longer the one I legally changed it to after our wedding. The Social Security Office thought it would be a good idea to change my new legal name without telling me. I received a new SSN card in the mail with my “new” name on it. When I called to inquire as to why they changed my name without my consent they had no idea, but I get the pleasure of going back to the Social Security Office and sitting in line for 6 hours so they can fix a problem that I had nothing to do with…awesome.
2. My precious Cowboys lost to the Redskins…Sunday was not a good football day.
3. Mr. Mojito and I tried a new restaurant in Uptown on Saturday night and it was delicious. I highly suggest if you are in the Dallas area you check out 2900.
4. I need to figure out a good “couples” costume for the upcoming Halloween parties and festivities. Mr. Mojito thinks we should go as ketchup and mustard to the parties this year….ummm I think not…Suggestions are welcome.
5. I sold my wedding dress today! YAY. I know that many of you would never dream of selling your wedding dress because of the sentimental meaning and value associated with it, but I am not one of those people. My view? I only wore it once for 8 hours so I would like to give someone else the opportunity to wear it who normally would not be able to afford a designer dress.
6. My computer at work crashed and burned so I get to work from home and get lost in blog land until the computer people give me another one.
7. I am officially over the new 902 dime. I keep trying to like it and the only reason I continue to watch it is for the old cast…hmmm, now I need something else to fill that gap on Tuesday nights.
by Mojito Maven on September 29, 2008
Recipe courtesy Bon Appétit, May 2006, Allen Susser
Mango-Filled Cream Puffs with Spiced Mango-Mojito Sauce
Ingredients
Puffs:
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, diced
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup all purpose flour
4 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
Filling:
2 cups
1/3-inch cubes peeled pitted mango (from about 4 large; see Test-Kitchen Tip below for details)
1 cup chilled sour cream
1 cup chilled whipping cream
1 cup powdered sugar, divided
Spiced Mango-Mojito Sauce:
2 large mangoes, peeled, pitted, diced
6 tablespoons plain whole-milk yogurt
4 tablespoons (or more) sugar
3 tablespoons spiced rum
1 tablespoon fresh Key lime juice
1 1/2 teaspoons (packed) finely chopped fresh mint
Preparation
For puffs:
Preheat oven to 375°F. Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Bring milk, butter, and salt to boil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until butter melts. Add flour all at once. Reduce heat to medium and stir with wooden spoon until dough forms ball and some batter films bottom of pan thickly, about 4 minutes. Transfer dough to medium bowl and cool 5 minutes. Using electric mixer, beat in eggs and yolks 1 at a time.Drop dough by generous tablespoonfuls 3 inches apart onto baking sheets, making about 24 puffs. Smooth tops with wet fingertips.Bake puffs 15 minutes. Reverse sheets and bake puffs until deep golden, about 10 minutes longer. Make small slit in side of each puff. Return to oven, turn off heat, and let dry 15 minutes. (Can be made 6 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.)
For filling:
Stir mango and sour cream in medium bowl to blend. Beat whipping cream and 1/2 cup powdered sugar in large bowl until peaks form. Fold whipped cream into mango mixture. Cover bowl; refrigerate filling at least 30 minutes and up to 3 hours.Cut cream puffs horizontally in half. Spoon heaping tablespoon filling into each bottom half; cover with tops. Sift remaining 1/2 cup powdered sugar over.Divide cream puffs among 8 plates. Spoon sauce onto plates and serve.
For Sauce:
Purée mangoes in blender or processor until smooth. Transfer 1 1/2 cups purée to medium bowl (reserve remaining purée for another use). Mix yogurt, 4 tablespoons sugar, spiced rum, fresh lime juice, and chopped mint into purée. Sweeten sauce to taste with more sugar, if desired. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Test-Kitchen Tip:
To cut a mango, stand it on one long side. Slice off the “cheek” on each side, as close to the pit as possible. Cut crosshatch pattern in each cheek (but do not cut through skin). Turn inside out so flesh pops up, then cut off cubes with knife. Cut off remaining fruit from the pit, then peel and dice.
by Mojito Maven on September 28, 2008
I officially started blog stalking in May 2006, long before I ever thought of creating a blog of my own. Most of the blogs I would read were either based on fabulous home décor, amazing food, breathtaking photography, or beautiful wedding inspirations because, I like all things pretty.
However, there was one blog that I stumbled upon that was more of a journal of this blogger’s life shown through photography and poetic phrase…that was back before life got complicated. By March 2008, his blog became so much more.
I am one of the thousands of people in the world that read Matt, Liz, and Madeline. At first I read his blog religiously, but now his blog is more of a distant memory. I try desperately to read Matt’s blog, but every time I start to read a post I just break down in tears and cannot continue reading….so I stop because I am not strong enough to finish. I cannot even imagine the joy, pain, strength, courage, faith, anger, hope, and utter confusion that he is going through.
Yesterday, for the first time in a long time, I read Matt’s blog. As expected I cried the entire time. I prayed. I remembered that even in darkness there is light….and there is Madeline.
For those who have asked about what happened, it is best to start at the beginning…read this and this.
by Mojito Maven on September 26, 2008
Seriously, not only do I give Restoration Hardware $$$ and constant business, but I am also a walking advertisement for them. I think RH should repay me by giving me free stuff.
When Mr. Mojito and I moved into our house we were in serious need of furniture. Over the past year we have been saving our pennies and slowly buying furniture. For almost an entire year our entry way sat completely empty (well except during wedding time when we had wine glasses, vases, fun kitchen items, etc on the floor because we did not have a dining room sideboard or buffet to put them in…we ended up buying this sideboard from RH). I cannot wait until I can have a housewarming party at our house when it is completed.
Anyway, the entry way is almost done! Yippie! I love the way the crystal lamps and console table look with the side chairs and curtains.
Items still needed:
1. Mirror for the console table
2. ART
3. Rug
4. Restoration Hardware chair and ottoman (they should be delivered at the end of October) for the corner with the floor lamp
5. Fun decorative items to make it look like “home”
6. Accent table for the chair and ottoman (which should also be delivered soon)
7. Settee or bench for the other corner (which is not shown in the pictures) so people have places to put their belongings when they come over
That list is much longer than I was expecting (eek!)…BUT I still feel like progress has been made, and that in itself, calls for some frolicking.
Clearly, I should get an ‘F’ for my picture taking skills but at least I get an ‘A’ for effort.
Once the entry is complete we will finish the dining room (we still need a dining room table, dining chairs, and a wine rack, but at least we have a side board haha).
by Mojito Maven on September 25, 2008
Thanks to Blue-Eyed Bride, LyndsAU, and Southern Daze for this fabulous idea that I stole shamelessly.
1. Rachel and the Lake, 2. A Play with Food or a Fava Bean Risotto Timbale — Jeu de nourriture ou une timbale de risotto aux fèves, 3. Church of our Lady before Týn, 4. llibreria – bookstore – Amsterdam – HDR, 5. My cousin George!, 6. Mojito Cupcakes with Macadamia Nut Crackle, 7. OIA, handmade houses, 8. chocolate souffle, 9. velon-fin, 10. What They Lack In Congregation, They Make Up For In Faith, 11. 350: The SOTTS were feeling Sassy!, 12. Red Velvet
Answer the following 12 questions about yourself in order to influence your mosaic! (my answers are in parentheses after each question):
1. What is your first name? (Mojito Maven)
2. What is your favorite food? (Risotto and macaroni and cheese)
3. What high school did you attend? (Heritage High School)
4. What is your favorite color? (Blue)
5. Who is your celebrity crush? (George Clooney)
6. Favorite drink? (MOJITO)
7. Dream vacation? (Greece)
8. Favorite dessert? (Chocolate soufflé and ice cream)
9. What do you want to be when you grow up? (Chef/restaurant owner, event planner)
10. What do you love most in life? (Faith and family)
11. One word to describe you? (Sassy)
12. Your Flickr name? (mojito_maven) – I am choosing to search for red velvet cake because “where there is cake there is love.”
All you have to do is type your answer to each of the above questions into Flickr’s search. Using only the images that appear on the first page, choose your favorite and copy and paste each of the URL’s into the Mosaic Maker (3 columns, 4 rows)… Have fun!
by Mojito Maven on September 24, 2008
My twin (Blue-Eyed Bride for those of you who do not know) gave me an award!!! YAY! Thank you!
Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude.
2. Must love one another.
3. Must make mistakes.
4. Must learn from others.
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.
6. Must love life.
7. Must love kids (which I do even though we plan on being child free
)
by Mojito Maven on September 24, 2008
I have been tagged by
Smile! Its Becky!,
Muffy Martini, and
LyndsAU. Thanks a million
I am supposed to share 7 random and/or weird facts about me…game on!
1. I am allergic to ALL poultry (chicken, turkey, duck, etc) and even some other random meats like salami (but I can eat pepperoni??). This is problematic for several reasons:
2. I hate coffee. Instead I only drink green tea, white tea, or chai tea lattes.
3. Walking around without socks or shoes gives me the heeby jeebies, and for that matter, I have to sleep in socks even in 104 degree Dallas weather.
4. I have platinum blonde hair and dark brown eyebrows which lead people to believe that I dye my hair…nope it is all natural.
5. I LOVE Häagen-Dazs chocolate ice cream bars with the dark chocolate coating and I have to eat them in a very specific way. I have to pick off all of the dark chocolate hard coating from the chocolate ice cream bar. Then I eat the ice cream and then I eat the dark chocolate coating. It is quite a process…did I mention I am OCD?
6. I love red grapes, but I dislike anything grape flavored (jelly, juice, candy, cough syrup).
7. No matter how hot it is outside I have to workout in sweat pants or those tight spandex pants…never shorts.
The 7 wonderful bloggers I tag are (although I love all the blogs I read, I want to spread the wealth):
The Dirty Martini Diaries
Footballs and Crowns…Life with the Browns
Jimmy Choos and Tennis Shoes
Life of a Southern Belle
Preppy Pettit
Be Thou a Knight
Bits and Pieces of the Browns
by Mojito Maven on September 23, 2008
Are you having a case of the Tuesdays? Or maybe just a boring day? Or perhaps the best day of your life? Well no matter what kind of day you are having, I promise I am about to make your entire night…
1952
1954
1960
1962
1966
1968
by Mojito Maven on September 23, 2008
Have you picked up your copy yet???
Mr. Mojito is going to kill me when he realizes that he has to watch the Sex and the City movie on repeat until I have gotten my fill…I told you there would be payback [blows a kiss to Mr. Mojito].
