My New Blog!

Hi Everyone!

After almost a year, I have finally got my on domain and moved all my posts to my very own website:

A Life Made By Marcie

I haven't posted anything for so long because I wanted to get over to Wordpress... I have a lot of stuff to post, so I hope you haven't forgotten about me and still want to follow me over to my new home on the web.

If you subscribe to my link...here is the new RSS Link:

feed://alifemadebymarcie.com/?feed=rss2

Hope to see you soon!

Marcie

Miso Yummy!

I just love Miso soup. Anytime we go for sushi, I have to have some. Little did I realize this would be so easy to make at home.

I also love my local Asian grocery. They have great ingredients, imported from all over Asia, at 1/2 of the cost that you find it at the market. I go there every few months to stock up on essentials like hoisin, mirin, sambal...I like to keep lots of these ingredients on hand.

This time, I picked up some white miso. Miso is basically fermented soy bean paste. It is very salty, and it is what gives miso soup that yummy flavor we all know and love. I also picked up some dashi (fish stock) soup base.


Last night, I made us some Miso Soup using a simplified version of this Tyler Florence recipe:

Ingredients
8 cups water
1 package Dashi Base
1/2 cup light miso
1 pound baby bok choy, cut in quarters
2 nests of frozen soba noodles
8 ounces firm tofu, cut into cubes
Directions
In a large soup pot over medium heat combine 8 cups water with one package of the dashi. Bring it to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes - do not let it boil. Add miso to the pot and let it simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes, Add the bok choy and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the tofu and soba noodles and cook for another 5 minutes. Ladle into bowls and enjoy!.

Because this was all we had for dinner, I added the noodles, but normally, Miso doesn't have noodles. It was really good. I also dropped in some dehydrated kelp at the end.



After dinner, we watched the movie 'My Best Friend's Girl' with Dane Cook, cute movie. We drank some white burgandy wine with strawberries...so delicous. Was like champagne without the bubbles. My new fav for the summer!



Our little coz was snuggling on the couch with us. He is so cute!

I'm back...and very THANKFUL!!

Hi Everyone! Wow...I missed my blog! I have been trying to get back into my routine and it has been a bit hard. But yesterday, I got my cooking on, and all is right in the Marcie world again! I had such a great time getting all of the food ready, and it all tasted so good! Here are some pics:












I finally used my gift from my dear friend Dena...these beautiful monogrammed napkins, just the right touch for my table. I LOVE these Dena! Thank you!

We had a quite thanksgiving...just four of us, but I still cooked like I was feeding 10. :) Thanksgiving is all about those comforts of home, so I had to make everything!

I also made some desserts...the pie is the Pumpkin Banana Mousse Tart by Ina, and a regular Pecan Pie....that I have to have every Thanksgiving.





We then sat outside by the fire, and had more champagne...it was a great night! That is Kristy in the pic. She is a new friend of mine and someone I have LOT in common with. I think I have a lot to learn from her and I look forward to a beautiful friendship! Here she is with my BFF Vivi:


I have a lot to be thankful for...my awesome husband, and wonderful friends. Paul and I are alone here in Florida, so It is nice to have friends that feel like family. My heart is full and life is good!

On to the next bash (or shall I say BASHES)

So, fresh off of Halloween, I am planning 4 parties in a row! For work that is. There is a huge tradeshow in town for the Attraction Industry (IAAPA) beginning Monday. My company sets up a hospitality suite to entertain in each night after the show. This isn't bad...we do it every year and it is pretty common, a bit of food and drink...nothing special.

Well this year, we are trying to make it more memorable...so, for each night, we are theming the suite...to a different decade. Monday is the 60's, Tuesday is the 70's, Wednesday is the 80's, and Thursday is music of the 90's and beyond. This is the invite I designed. We printed these on little credit cards and mailed them in velvet pouches, tucked inside little gold boxes, tied with a black ribbon.



My office is filled with lava lamps and love beads, peace signs, movie posters, candy of the era, pacman, rubix cubes...I am even donating my own disco ball to the cause! What I love about things like this is I get to go hog wild in places like World Market and Whole Foods for wine and food with my corporate credit card...my kind of heaven!

So needless to say, I will be super busy for the next week...I am already tired just thinking about it...and I worry a lot, I don't know why, because I have a team of 5 people helping me make this happen and we have done so much already...just my nature.

I might not get a lot of opportunities to blog for the next week...but I will definitely share photos when I can. I will miss you, my little blog and blog friends...stay tuned...

Hey Jude!

Have I told you how much I love YouTube? I found some vids I just HAD to share...they have nothing to do with cooking or parties, but they make my heart happy...and I hope you love this as much as I do!!!

I have always said that I would each my kids the Beatles...and when I have kids, there will be vids like this of my kids too!

A gift from France

(Hiya Claudine...I know you will like this one!)

My boss and friend, Steve recently had to go to Cannes, France (I know...terrible job huh!) Here are some of his pics:








Here is his hotel...


This is Steve....he is great, isn't he!

He is the best boss ever, really...he always tells me how amazing and talented I am, he is just awesome and wonderful!!! :)

Whenever he goes on trips, he brings me back things from the region...he went to Greece and brought me back some olive wood salad utensils...just lovely! He went to London and brought me back shortbread cookies from Harrods...so when he went to France, he asked me what I wanted...I said "Sea Salt". For me, the best gifts are things I can use...I love food, jams, spices, olive oil, things I can actually use to cook...love that stuff!

Well, when Steve got back from Cannes, he brought me this adorable little bag of goodies from the Comtesse du Barry:







Here is a shot of the storefront...doesn't this shop look amazing!


He said he had to go to 10 stores to find sea salt...and I LOVE HIM FOR IT! Thanks so much, Steve! You are the best!

My Good Fortune

We got a Pei Wei by the office, and go about once a week...it is owned by PF Changs, and has great food fast! The first time we went...this was my fortune:



It was like a message from my subconscious! Then the following weeks, it kept happening...so I kept taking pictures...this is like a ritual for me now...







Woah...what!



I don't know what it is...but I am on a good fortune streak! What a great marketing gimmick, cuz it keeps me coming back every week...haha!

Ripley Family Picnic

We have a family picnic at work...this is the 2nd year and it is a lot of fun. They ask my husband to take the photos, cuz he is a great photographer, and I always make a slideshow...here is this year's result:



I am loving this version of Hey Ya! by Obadiah Parker...I can't listen to it enough!

Pikelween Wrap up

Well...it is over! I can't believe it comes ang goes so fast. I am not feeling so hot...lack of sleep and a little too much booze...but I think I can say a great time was had by all! here are some shots:



Here I am! Getting the food ready..all of these pics are by my dear friend Dena...who served as the official photographer for Pikelween 5. She got some amazing shots...


This is my husband, Slash


Here is my final buffet...the planning paid off, I think it looked really balanced and clean.


Here is a set up I made...using the awesome labels from JOHNNY LOVE! Thanks so much!!



Here is my chocolate fountain. Dena put all the food on the plates and it looks amazing...Thanks DENA!!! I couldn't have done it without you guys! I love you so much!


Here they are...Heath helped me so much too...he was trying really hard to help me get the food out so I could have a good time. Thanks Heath!!!

They are standing below the photo op area we created...I just printed out Pikelween in large letters, glittered them, and we had everyone stop here for a pic. Felt very red carpet! :)


And I could have done it without my girlfriend Viviana...she is amazing and so creative...she made the flower costume for her husband Nick...don't they look so cute! I love you girl...thanks for always giving your time to me so happily...even when I get stressed...I love you!

And just more pics of the party:




Oh, and I wanted to say Congratulations to my friend Leighann...she had to leave early to pick up her daughter, but she won BEST FEMALE at Pikelween this year! She was the Bearded lady...so great!

I will post more photos tomorrow...

Let me know what you think! Thanks for staying tuned during my Pikelween journey...I don't know when the next party will be...cuz after this job, I want to take a long break! But I promise, I'll be back!

Marcie

Quick Halloween Update

So, I got so much done over the month, that I think I just might have fun at my own party. Because I am recording all my plans for this blog...it has kept me on point! I have done new projects every week and I am in GREAT SHAPE time-wise! I am putting the "icing" on now...and I will post lots of pics this weekend. Did some super simple Martha crafts that cost practically nothing...and look beautiful.... I haven't really spent much on decorations...it ihas really been paper and glitter...or things I already had...and in my opinion, my party looks better than ever!

So, I am off to my last shopping run with my super creative friend, Leighann. We have never hung out outside of work really, but I feel this is the beginning of a lovely friendship.

Stay Tuned...

TTYL!

Its just been that kind of week...

I just want to say thank you, to all of you, who come here to read my little blog. This is what I wish I did for a career...planned parties, created happiness...instead of working in corporate america...where life for me, this week has been so stressful. I had to come home and have a cold drink...



I am on #5.

Thank you for making me feel good everyday, for letting me share my ideas and giving me such great feedback...if only corporate america could be so kind.

YOU MAKE MY DAY!!! HERE IS TO YOU! (Yes...the martini's are talking...but I hope you know how sincere I am!)

I Heart Blogging!

I just posted my 100 post this weekend, and I have to say I LOVE THIS BLOG THING! This is actually my second blog...my husband set me up with one while back, but I guess at the time, I just wasn't ready...I only made one post in one year...haha!

Well, this time, I was ready, and I am so happy I stuck with it. I used to go onto the internet and not know where to look. I would go to 2 or 3 celeb gossip sites, and that was it. Until I discovered the blog community...I never realized that there are SO MANY talented people out there that we can all learn from. I am so impressed every day with all of the great ideas I see and learn, and in turn use for my entertaining.

Now there are some blogs that I can't wait to read everyday. Here are some people I want to give a shout out to:

LITTLE ANT DESIGNS: Denise at Little Ant is so creative! You have to check out her blog. I LOVE IT!

GOOD THINGS: Life of a Martha Stewart Wannabe: Anyone that knows me would know that reading the title of Claudine's Blog...I AM HOOKED! Claudine...I Heart your blog! :)

GESTURES: Now you might think I am biased, but that isn't true at all. Louis is my baby brother, and he is one of the most talented people I know! He is one of my best friends and his ideas are so great! Anyone that knows him, LOVES HIM! :)

LIVE.LOVE.EAT: Stephanie posts awesome recipes and sweet stories about life with her family. Love it!

I also want to say Hi to Johnny Love at THE LOVE MANOR. I started my blog because I could never find the stuff I was searching for. I am big on Halloween, so when I discovered Johnny's site, I was so excited. Photos of food, displays, how you set things up...that is all so helpful, and Johnny took a lot of time photographing everything he displayed for Halloween. You have to go to his blog and check out his Flickr site. Thanks for sharing your great ideas, Johnny!

I think the best part about blogging is the feedback...just like I love to see my friends reaction when they see the real thing, I love to hear what you think! Getting a comment in my inbox is like Christmas everyday! Thanks so much to all of you who leave me comments! You make my day! People like my friend and fellow blogger, Dena at Written In Thread...and I have to say that Jennifer at Another Online Mom is so wonderful! She always says the nicest things! Just yesterday she made this post about me:



The award says, "This blog invests and believes in the proximity!" i.e., the closeness that we have in the bloggy world. It's really hard to narrow it down to one person but I think I will pass this one along to of my new "daily must haves"---Marcie at A Life Made By Marcie. If you have never seen her blog, please take a minute to check it out her great recipes and decorating tips!"

How nice is that?! Thanks Jennifer! :)

I guess what I am trying to say is THANK YOU...to all of you. Everyone is so nice and I am so happy to know you, even if it is inside this blogosphere! You all make me smile!

Blogstar

My brother ichatted me a some tees he thought I would like..they made me laugh so I had to share with you!












Dena, you have to make this!


You can find these here:
Signals
CafePress

Our New Masterpiece

A few weeks ago, my husband Paul decided that he wanted a painting for our house. He also thought that I could paint it. Now, I am somewhat of a graphic designer, but that is with a computer...I can't draw, I can't sketch, and I certainly cannot paint a large canvas!

Thank goodness my amazingly talented baby brother Louis called and said he and Brian wanted to plan a last minute Labor Day weekend with us. {IDEA LIGHTBULB...GET LOUIS TO PAINT IT FOR ME!!!} He totally said yes. He actually teaches painting and does demonstrations, he is more Martha than I could ever be...he is my hero, and I never hesitate to tell anyone that! :)

So here is Louis, creating a masterpiece for the Pikels:





If you know my brother, he is hilarious...and he kept saying that he was scared to make a mistake because Paul would beat him with chopsticks! haha.





Now he is adding the Chi symbol. It essentially means energy...life. We had him make it a bright red color, which is the accent color in our brown tones house.






We LOVE it! Thanks Louis!!