Claudine, Oui c'est Francais

12 of 12 May 2010

It has been a year or two since I did one of Chad Darnell's 12 of 12project but when I heard it was his last year of doing it I thought I better jump in at least once. I tried to stay away from the same pictures I always did... the trip to Starbucks, the mail box and of course my adorable little princess. So here you go, enjoy my exciting day

First thing in the morning as soon as I wake up I have to turn on the tv and check in on the Giro d'Italia. I love this time of the year

look more sports, Red Sox were playing a early game today (10:30am PST) and I made sure I was situated in the corner during a meeting so I could check in on the score. The WiFi was really spotty so had to give up on it after a few minutes

Came home to a gigantic box, you might have thought it had a bicycle in it, but no, it was a cork board half the size of the box. The cork board was half the price and free shipping.... love amazon!

 

This is what the board is for, mapping out the Tour de France, just need to pick up map pins and it will be all ready to go

Had to cancel my hair appointment last week when I was sick and was able to get in tonight....more blond please!

mmmmm, thats more blond but we are only a few months from me caving in totally and just going completely blond. It is a slippery slope I have been down before

New into the kitchen, it's wrapping paper before it was framed and turned into art.... French fruits and vegetables

I have been craving a hamburger all week, we only eat red meat about once a month but it sounded pretty good, but then could only eat half of it

Lilies are one of my very favorite flowers and with fresh cuts and water everyday these have lasted a week and still have some new blossoms waiting to hatch

I love my new little Eiffel Tower shelf, I found it in a beading catalog, its suppose to be a jewelry rack 

It's that time of the year, all Tour all the time, (well maybe not) but right now it's all about the Champagne region

There had to be at least some Starbucks in here, I love the double walled cups and they are back in stock at Starbucks but you have to move fast they go quickly. I have one for my office, one for the bedroom and a extra for emergencies. Notice the Tour 2010 map also under my desk protector.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

12 of 12 June 2009

Wow, two months in a row after taking a year off. What can I say, I am on a roll..... Here is a day in my oh so exciting life.

 

It's always good to get a package first thing in the morning, we are at the beginning of the UPS route so we always get packages bright and early

 

mmmm coffee in the midst of my piles of books and notebooks researching for the Tour de France

 

I need a little inspiration, lets pop in the 1999 Tour de France, Lance's first win. All 8 hours of it. By stage 5 I forgot it was 10 years old and was cheering Lance on.

 

This morning I sent off my first article for a fantastic website all about France and this was my final proofing copy. Did you need me too look up a French word for you in my giant dictionary?

 

the mail has arrived and in it my French flag ornament that will go on the France branch in July

 

taking a break and went to look in the garden and I had four lovely strawberries, yes I ate one

 

I love how red it is and it tasted pretty darn good!

 

Made a trip to Barnes & Noble hoping I would find a TdF guide, very happy that there was one in and waiting for me. Now it really is getting close

 

Time for dinner, tonight I am making the special French menu in the July issue of Martha Stewart Living, more info on the full menu tomorrow. But these are the zucchini rounds that will be topped with goodness

 

Pork Medallions with Piperade, which is roasted pepper, tomatoes and onions. It was fantastic

since it is cherry season I decided to make the Julia Child recipe for Cherry Clafouti. This is before the rest of the batter was poured on.

 

And here is the finished results, what you don't see is John standing behind me wanting a piece. He knows it is ready when he hears me taking pictures

12 of 12 May 2009

well after taking a year and a half off, I got back on the 12 of 12 bandwagon. I forgot to leave the house with my camera so it was a later in the day 12 of 12 and partly recreated. I live such an exciting life I am able to recreate it......

 

It sure is May 12th

 

On the treadmill, did this in the morning and when I got home. This book is great by the way, almost done with it and can't wait to finish it up tonight

 

this is part of my view when on the treadmill, I have slight obsession with plates and glasses, and Martha wire trays and and and

 

and some more plates, those are Martha maidenhair fern in green (have blue as well) Black Damask that match the drapes and then the Turkey plates for Thanksgiving. Maybe I should post a set of plates every week and see if we can get through them all in a year....

 

One of cats, Penske, loves to bring his "babies" as I call them upstairs. When I came home today I found all these in a nice little pile outside our bedroom door. You should see him with the big red bear in his mouth

 

speaking of kittty, almost time for a haircut my sweet

 

Working on my Tour de French Cuisine 2009that coincides with the Tour de France and the towns and villages that the tour runs through. I will cook a meal that is specific to that town or region. I have been researching all year and this and the next photo is just some of my reference material

 

And on top we have the lovely Marie Antoinette, her head pops off... These are some of the best travel guides on specific French regions. If you are reading this and happen to live in a area of France that will be seeing the Tour I would love to talk to you about it. Please leave me a comment

 

More books, along with my authentic Eiffel Tower from Paris, an Arc de Triomphe Limoges book from grandma and the Mona Lisa

  

Blending the Patricia Wells "Garlic family soup" love having the tool for the job and this soup is AMAZING!

 

Quick trip to the library to return some things and pick up a few books on hold, can't wait to look at this book on cheese....mmmmmm cheese...

 

uploading some cd's to my iPOD, to fit in with the French theme I got the new Carla Bruni cd at the library, it is pretty good.

And there it is, my super exciting day in a nut shell.... visit all of the 12 of 12ers from all over the world at the amazing Chad Darnell's blog, who is also running in the New York Marathon on the Livestrong team! So happy for you Chad... Livestrong!

12 of 12 August 2008

After spending the day in bed on July 12th I am back on track and another oh so exciting day in my life to share with you. Chad Darnell is the mastermind behind this project and you can see Chad and all the other 12 of 12ers here.

 

This is now what I see when I come into the garage now. The plus side is, it is a great place to store my NYtimes when I am on the treadmill in the morning. But sometimes they slide into it and then I get in trouble. Think of all the plates I can store in there,until it falls down

Oh great, traffic again. It didn't look to bad until I got around the corner and then there was break lights. I of course had stopped at Starbucks, but how many times can I take a picture of that for you

After a meeting or two, time to head to a different location and more traffic. There was a one mile line of buses and cars to get to the library. I like the sign that says "report traffic problems" over the numskulls waiting to get to the zoo

pretty fancy lunch, but at 4:30pm can we still call it lunch. I never liked PB&J when I was a kid but I like it now. But it has to be super chunky peanut butter

 

Nothing better then a package when you get home. Still waiting on my French cake book, can't wait to get that in the mail

a little stop at the grocery store, where I of course forgot my reusable bags for the millionth time. I may need to hang them from the rear view mirror. That most likely won't help either.

Yeah magazines in the mail. we have had a hard time with our new mailman. My weekly Newsweek only comes once a month. There is a neighbor reading my lost magazines and not giving them back. But from the title of the Newsweek this week, Mad magazine must have taken over.  I really don't think that moron has got anything right.

We sent Penske to Paris before I got to go... well not really as you can tell by the puzzle Eiffel Tower.. Mon petit chat

Dinner tonight, Chile rubbed salmon with zucchini and corn & scallion salad. From the Martha Stewart Everyday Food cookbook. Delicious!

This is a small fraction of the cookbook collection and a fraction of the French cookbooks at that. I was looking through to see what next weeks selection would be in Claudine's Cookbook Club

And not to forget the little Princess ballet class tonight. It was pretty cute and she was a natural...

And not to be forgot, the little prince, screaming for me through the hole in the firetruck...

Back to watch the Olympics....

12 of 12 June 2008

Here we are, the 12th of the month and that means more pictures from my exciting day.... visit the rest of the 12 of 12ers and Chad Darnell the master of them all here.

Still up working on my Martha video tape project and a quick check to see what time it is and how the Eiffel Tower is looking on my little web cam, also notice that I have a quote of the day from Jon Stewart each day...

Just checking, yes it is June 12th...

Stopped by to visit my mom and a visit to Louis. How can you not love that big boy!

I can't remember what my my told me this tree was called, but we also have one in our backyard but it isn't this big yet.

a little visit from my little friends.

My John F Kennedy rose, on its last few days

This is part of my giant project of Martha Stewart video tapes. They are numbered in the hundreds and I have a bright idea of putting them onto DVD. But I may be 100 by the time I am done...

The back of my car.... change is a "good thing"

 a good mail day, a new issue of Martha Stewart Living and a DVD of Julia Child.

Dinner tonight is Latkes and I also made some Gravad Lax with Copper River Salmon. My mouth is watering just looking at the picture!

My oh so pretty peony, with all our cool weather we have been having I was very happy to see it bloom

And the Martha Stewart crepe paper flower version of a peony, I love them and they will never die....

12 of 12 May

Here we go with another 12 of 12.... make sure you visit all of the other 12 of 12ers and Chad Darnell. And if you aren't doing it, there is always next month.....

today is Monday, May 12th.....

Why is it that when ever I am in a hurry there is a school bus? Can't they all just walk to school and save some gas...(kidding)

Driving all over the place today but had to get a picture of the monkey puzzle tree. Looks like it would hurt if you ran into it

Driving along and notice my sister and the kids are right next to me.... it was met with screams of Aunt Claudine, Aunt Claudine as we came to a stop sign

Had to stop to say hi

My fellow princess friend picked me up a new Princess Diana book that I didn't have yet, shocking, but true that I didn't have this one

Came home to a package on the porch. The newest kit from Cocoa Daisy.

We still have tulips blooming here, strange to see them in May

For dinner tonight we are having the Barefoot Contessa's Grilled Salmon salad. I love salmon, but John was not so sure of the idea. But he gave this rave reviews.

 

Tomorrow, Tuesday May 13th is Livestrong day, so Wear Yellow, donate to the Lance Armstrong Foundation or find a local event. We must find a cure for cancer

 

Getting out a fresh bracelet for tomorrow. Every time I go to a Nike store I buy a handful of these. Its a little way to donate but it all helps!

and because I am still on a high about this I will share the picture. Barack Obama was in town this last weekend and because of my super sleuthing abilities I found out where his private event was and stood on the street with my camera. Only hoping to get a picture from afar I was ecstatic when he crossed the street and shook my hand. It may now be one of the coolest moments ever! And as I have taught my niece to say "Barack Obama for President"

12 of 12 April

Another month and another 12 of 12, the creative idea of Chad Darnell that involves people from all over the world taking pictures of there day on the 12th of each month. Visit my fellow 12 of 12ers here

I was at work all today so I took pictures when I could, there are a lot of flowers.....

before leaving the house I notice my tulips in full bloom. It looks like a ruffly pillow

the tree outside our house. I love the spring...

at work now and I think this is a Tulip tree

White Tulip Tree

Flower arraignment at work, I love the green viburnum

dinner table for my event at work. It is 7 glasses of Syrah wine....

   

dinner flowers

this is my sassy BFF Michelle, we ate our lunch on the floor between events.

Barrel tasting event, before all the people arrive

Silent Auction

lots of people pouring wine, and drinking it as well

 

and more flowers....

Don't forget to check back at the end of the week to enter to win some of my favorite Martha things for my 2nd Blogavesary.....

March 12 of 12

Another month and another 12 of 12 the brainchild of Chad Darnell, you can visit all my fellow 12ers here....

it's the morning so it's time to jump on the treadmill. I just started Julia Child's biography, and there is nothing like a chance to read a good book to make me jump on there.

Need I say more, there is always a Starbucks picture

At one of our locations today, this is one of my favorite buildings, I love the big colums

Fellow 12 of 12er Andrea taking a picture of me for her 12 of 12 as well.

 

Oh this phone, lately it doesn't stop ringing. I am sure it knows that I have a huge project to get done, can you see who the picture is on my phone ;)

look who wants a snack, patiently waiting

 

Martha was on Letterman last night, I had to watch it again.

 

yipee package from Amazon, nothings better than a package waiting for you when you come home

I am obsessed with egg salad right now, I had it as a very late late lunch and again for a late dinner. Have to much work to get done so egg salad it was. Mmmmmm.

it's a good mail day when I get a package and the newest issue of Martha Stewart Living and Martha's Body and Soul

I was putting some new layouts away and came across the one I did about my blog and becoming a "Martha Stewart Trusted Blogger" I used the mailing label that comes when they send me things with my name and blog name and also some of the packaging from one of the many Macy's products I have purchased

And last but not least I am going through every single page of the new Martha Stewart Cookies, just out yesterday. There are over 175 great cookies in here. Must find a bunch to make for the Martha Book Club. Can't wait, this is one great cookbook!

12 of 12 February 2008

Another year and another fun 12 of 12. Chad Darnell is the mastermind behind this great idea. Visit all of the 12 of 12ers from all over the world.

Don't you hate it when you get in the car and you need to get gas. Why didn't I get it yesterday on the way home?

Of course, a stop at Starbucks. I might have this same picture in at least 3 months from last year

A picture of Portland from the bridge and to reassure you of my fine driving, I snapped it while on the phone too. Nobody was injured in the process

Oh yeah, Martha is on today. Her weekly show where you can call in and ask her a question.

Tuesday is my favorite day of the week for the paper. The Foodday comes and sometimes I find some wonderful little things to make in here.

A little late afternoon jump on the treadmill, it helps that I can't put this book down. A great read! I am trying to post this 12 of 12 fast, so I can get in some more reading time.

More reading my book at the same time I was making dinner. Barefoot Contessa's Chicken with 40 cloves of Garlic. It is so good!

The almost finished product

Dinner is served, you make a wonderful sauce from the garlic with a bit of white wine and a little bit of cream. It was so good on the rice. And of course our favorite Hericot Vert and sea salt. And on a Martha plate. The newest dishes to the dish collection

Working on my first cake for our Martha Stewart Book Club project. The Damask cake, which is my favorite. First is the royal icing damask shape and giving them time to dry. The cake will come tomorrow night. Can't wait to see how it comes out. The final project can be seen here

A big glittery heart....love it!

Happy Valentine's Day

12 of 12 December

The last 12 of 12 of the year, 12 pretty uneventful days of my life all for your viewing pleasure....

This month it actually started very early in the morning, since these days I only sleep about 4hours a night and work until 1 or 2 in the morning getting ready for New Years Eve.

My Office/Craft room Christmas tree, every room needs a tree for the holidays... Big surprise here, it is a Martha green tree....

there is never a day without a stop here....

and just a little bit more Starbucks, it stays there all year, not just for Christmas

 

I always love to see trees like this, ones that grow next to each other but combined it looks like one full perfect tree.

when I arrived home, there was packages waiting, nothing makes a person happier than packages on the door step...

this years Advent calendar is none other than Martha Stewart's Craft line Advent Calendar. I of course grabbed it up as soon as I saw it, put it together loaded it with goodies and now it waits for us to count the days down until Christmas

And another good reason to come home to today was the new January issue of Martha Stewart Living waiting for me. Can't wait to go through that

   

dinner time and tonight I will make the Martha Stewart Everyday Tex Mex Enchiladas, fast and there is a lot so, I can stretch it to tomorrow night. John doesn't know it yet but he is days away from the frozen pizza for 2 weeks because I will be way to busy with work to make dinner....

and look who I find laying under the big tree, of course I had to get a picture

More Santa's

more ornaments

and a few more Santa's... these are keeping me company when I work late with the tree. They are little German figurines that my mom always had out when I was little and recently gave them to me

Bonus picture: Believe.....

Why can't we still go through life no matter what age we are and still believe in Santa. I want to think there really is a big guy with a white beard and a great velvet coat that makes toys all year long and really has flying reindeer's.... I think we still can!