Had a Baby!

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Hello Blog World!
It's been radio silence on this blog, but for good reason! On March 27th, our second child was born. After a month of "It's going to happen really fast! Watch out!"

I kept my NYC doctor because I just love and trust her, so there a lot of train rides into and out of the city, on which I was wrapping up and starting new client projects for Studio Pixelated, and ever nurturing our entrepreneurial membership and small business readers at 'PRENEUR. So...I wasn't out and about as much (and it's still tricky with the little one and an independent toddler who likes to walk instead of ride in her stroller). One handed blogging (from my iPhone) became a little harder to come by.

But nevertheless, just like Beacon, the blogging and photo contest with prizes will prevail!

Watch your RSS and Facebook feeds for new little love affairs with all things Beacon as I stop to smell the roses.

Chocolate Making Classes in NYC - Truffles!

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How I WISH I were in NYC to take this class! But you might be, or have friends who are. If you are, pass this along. It's from a friend of mine and fellow member at 'PRENEUR, Jill Frechtman. She is the founder and chief chocolate covered pretzel designer at Fretzels.


FOR THE LOVE OF TRUFFLES! (Chocolate Truffles 101)
Indulge your taste buds with the ultimate chocolate lover’s treat – Truffles. In this confectionery class, you’ll learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about truffles, including their history, basic recipes, and various techniques for creating, flavoring, and designing your very own sweet truffle treats.

LEARN FROM THE MASTER:
World-renowned second generation master chocolatier (and Chocolate Works co-owner), Joe Whaley, makes a guest teaching appearance.

CLASS SCHEDULE:
Thursday March 8th, 7-9pm

PRICE:
$65 per person

Classes are run by Fretzels by Jill Founder & Chief Pretzel Designer, Jill Frechtman, known for her edibly artistic twists on traditional treats and held at the brand new Chocolate Works NYC on the upper west side.
641 Amsterdam Avenue (@91st Street)
New York, NY 10025

For more information or to reserve your spot, call Chocolate Works at 212.799.3630.

And here is the Facebook page for Chocolate Works.

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We Made A Kazoo! Toilet Paper Roll and Tissue

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In my dream life, I was searching on the Internet for kids craft ideas, printing them out, and putting them in a pretty binder I have from Target. But I never made the time...until Pinterest digitized it for me! It occurred to me I could have a virtual pinboard/binder of kids crafts I actually want to try. The Kazoo Project, courtesy Martha Stewart, is our first attempt.

Make it with a short toilet paper cardboard roll (or long paper towel roll). You can make this a Kazoo by placing a piece of wax paper over the end and secure with a rubber band. You may even want to glue the wax paper down on the sides, and then rubber band it to prevent slipping. We decorated the Kazoo with scrapbook paper from Amy Butler, and tissue paper from the uber cute store, Olive and Bette's. One doesn't get tissue paper from that store very often (at least I don't), so I had to find a second use for it. We glued the scrapbook paper around the cardboard roll, and rouched the tissue paper around the end of the roll where the wax paper was rubberbanded. The tissue paper covered the rubber band.

Then, voila! You have a Kazoo!

It's Official! Spring 2012 is Here

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But we'll probably have one more snowstorm in late March, because that is when I'm due with The Little Baby. It snowed horribly for Halloween, and it will again on these little flowers and my fast and furious drive. But that's ok!

I'm having visions of what I'd like to do to the front yard, to personalize the landscaping and make it more our own. Is it bad to fully remove large bushes just because I don't like them? If it's not a huge project to dig them out (yeah right), then I'll see if there are any takers. The problem is, I just can't plant any flowers around them because they are too huge!

Crown Maple Syrup Makes for Good Valentine's Gift

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We had pancakes on Saturday, so hubby got his gift to me out early - a nifty bottle of Crown Maple Syrup that he found in the East Village. And guess what? It's made right here in Dutchess County, NY! The marketing tag on the bottle boasts of using "breakthrough processing technologies" to make "quite possibly the purest maple syrup on earth". Funny, I don't picture technologies when my dad would boil down sap into syrup in our woods growing up, but sure! ;)

It's very yummy, and tastes like maple sugar candy. A lighter flavor. I am a maple syrup snob, and bring my own into restaurant who serve imposter corn syrup. Both Homespun and Vintage Cafe serve real maple syrup for their beeakfasts. And Homespun @ Home also sells it. Not this brand, but another.
Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day Soap Gift Basket from Beacon Bath and Bubble

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Valentine's Gift Ideas at Beacon Bath and Bubble
Here's a little Valentine's Day gift basket I put together for you to get your honey (or yourself). Starts off with the honey bear bubble bath, which is also a great gift for kids and comes in different colors. Then, there is pink decorative soap (these have owls, but you can get unicorns, hearts, and lots of other scenes). The tall pink bottle is more bubble bath, but in a traditional bottle. To the left of that is moisturizer, especially good for these winter months.
The gift basket isn't actually available all packaged up ;) It's just my idea basket for you. Print this out and take it into Beacon Bath & Bubble located at 456 Main Street Beacon, NY 12508-7310 (845) 440-6782 and tell her what you'd like!

Yummy, Soup from the Homespun at Home

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Homespun at Home
Here I am - at home, enjoying a taste of Main Street from Homespun @home at my desk while I 'preneur (a term we entrepreneurs use instead of "working"...it's more fun). Today's soup selection is New England Clam Chowder. We bought it frozen and just thawed it out in a pot (we don't microwave...unless in an office or someone else's house). Smells delicious. Am dipping buttered/salted white bread from Beacon Natural Market, a little broccoli, and I'm good to go with this delicious and easy lunch!

Boots! For kids and toddlers at Trendy Tots

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Juuuust in case you wanted winter boots for your walking toddler or older kid, they are (have been) at Trendy Tots Take Two, and the prices are friendly. We just picked up a pair of sporty boots, the kind that is all rubber on the foot, lined with something fiercely warm. It's like I'm preparing for the winter of 31" when we first moved to Beacon, but I keep ignoring the fact that it's averaging 40*. hence the rubber portion, for the rain. And I buy everything big so that it lasts, so these should last until we get dumped on in April at Easter. Because we will, people, we will. The Easter Bunny is the new Groundhog.

Flowers for your Winter

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Seed to Fruit, the florist on the East end of Main Street, has the sweetest flowers. These little beauties in the vace are Ranunculus flowers. They pretty much come with every bouquet, or at least the ones my hubby brings home randomly. The great part about the ranunculus, is that after the roses have finished, and you salvage them to dry the petals, these flowers are still blooming, opening more each day. And the petals are so many, yet so fine, it's a delicate, yet hearty flower that can live on in your kitchen window or dresser, bringing spring to your winter days.

30%-50% off at Paper Presence - cupcake ornaments!

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Paper Presence, on the West end of Main Street in Beacon, is having a big sale. 50% off on many things holiday, and 30% off on lots of other items you've had your eye on. Sadly, she is closing, so this is your last chance to snag the goodies she's stocked her store with! Art supplies, greeting cards, beautiful wrapping paper for next year (it's the only time I buy holiday - is after the season to stock up for next year). She also carries those decorative manilla folders you can be in public with, and the file box with handles with gorgeous prints on them. It's an organizer's dream if you like to organize your bills and make that experience fun. I got a stunning maroon file box with turquoise and green birds on it to live in my daughter's room and store warranties and directions to the obscure little items she 'needs'. Oh, and the journals. If you're a journaler or just like writing on paper, she's got a great selection. I bought my currently unborn little baby journal there, and it's delightful to have at my bedside to reach over and write in (when I chose to skip Jon Stewart).

So go visit Paper Presence...for one of the last times! I'm snagging at least one of these delicious cupcake ornaments. What will you find?