Show Us Your Life: China Patterns

This week's topic at Kelly's Korner is China Patterns. The Mr. and I got married in 1999 and I had so much fun picking out my dishes.


It's a tradition on my mom's side of the family to use a Denby pattern for everyday dishes. My mom and her two sisters all have Denby. Denby is fabulous just for the fact that it is oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe. And I love the stoneware look.

I chose the Juice pattern, which, sadly, has been discontinued. Luckily I have all the pieces I need for 12 place settings. I love the mix-and-match pattern and in each piece I got 4 pieces of each of the three colors.

For my "fancy" dishes, I chose Villeroy & Boch French Garden. These are also mix-and-match, but I chose to pick a pattern for each type of plate and stick with that pattern for all 8.

Sadly, we don't entertain much and these only get used on special occasions like Christmas Eve dinner. Maybe when the kids are older we will use them more.
I'd love to see what dishes you chose. Leave me a comment if you join in on Kelly's Show Us Your Life this week.

Show Us Your Life Friday: My Nail Polish Routine

Now, you and I both know that I don't have a lot of free time. But I've found that if I follow this routine, I can paint my nails at 9 pm, go to sleep at 10, and not have any sheet marks at all. Plus, my mani will last 4-5 days with no chips- I usually just have to repaint because of new growth.

So without further ado, my nail routine:


1. Sally Hanson Instant Cuticle Remover. I apply this all around my nails, wait a bit (you can wait longer that it says), then use the thumbnail of my opposite hand to push back/scrape the cuticles. I typically do this twice.

2. Wash your hands and dry them well.


3. Orly Bonder. This is fab- takes any oily residue off your nails and gives your polish something to stick to. Key to a long-lasting mani.

4. Sally Hanson Nailgrowth Miracle in the gold bottle. Love this basecoat. Watch for CVS to have their BOGO or BOGO half off on Sally products and stock up.


5. OPI polish (2 coats). In my non-professional opinion, the best polish there is. One of my faves is I'm Not Really a Waitress.

Or my all time fave, Chile O Caliente (discontinued, of course!)

6. Seche Vite top coat. I won't use any other top coat. This is a super-fast dry topcoat with a fab shine. Expensive, but worth it!

Now why don't you let me in on your nail or beauty secrets!

Show Us Your Life - Baby Gear

Rockabye Baby! Lullaby Renditions of Led Zeppelin

Oh, how I love classic rock music. So when I saw this lullaby CD I just had to get it for WC. Every night, we play this CD on a low volume as she is going to sleep. The lullaby versions of Led Zeppelin songs are simply beautiful! If you are a fan, you'll definitely recognize the songs, but if not, you'll still love the beautiful melodies and instruments.

They also have versions for Metallica, The Beatles, Bob Marley, U2, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Cure, AC/DC, and so many others. Such a fun idea!

Show Us Your Life - Dessert Recipe

Um, yeah. I just improved upon perfection.

My famous, prize-winning Neiman Marcus Bars mated with Jif, Reese's peanut butter chips, and a chocolate cake and out came:

PB Chocolate Gooey Bars

All my co-workers pink-puffy-hearted me today.

And you will too! Although these are not SIODI-approved, they rock.

Anyway, here's what you need:

• 1 box Duncan Hines Deluxe chocolate cake mix
• 1 stick butter (I use Parkay)
• 4 eggs
• 8 oz block of cream cheese (I use Philly 1/3 less fat)
• 1 cup Jif peanut butter
• 1 bag Reese's peanut butter chips
• 1 box powdered sugar (I think it's 16 oz- but it's the box, not the bag)
• glass pan (this is very important- must be a glass pan)

Combine: 1 egg beaten, 1 stick melted butter, and cake mix. Pat stiff dough in 9X13 pan that has been sprayed w/ Pam.

Combine: cream cheese, 3 eggs, Jif, and entire box of powdered sugar. Stir in PB chips. Pour this over dough.

Bake at 350 degrees 30-40 minutes, until top is golden brown. I let them cool and then store them in the fridge.