New placemats for dog!

New items are flowing in for 2010 at J. Bee Designs.
We have expanded our line to include dogs and new items are being added daily, it includes; vinyl mats for feeding, matching food & water bowls, and frames.

www.jbeedesigns.com

Lilly giveaway!

Hi, I found this great giveaway, heres the link to her blog: http://marylandpinkandgreen.blogspot.com/

Happy Sunday Everyone! To start off the New Year celebration properly, I am excited to announce my first LILLY PULITZER GIVEAWAY! Yeah! All four items in the photo above are included - a pink Frisbee with designs of seashells and sand dollars, a set of Playing Cards with pink case, a braided rope bracelet with Lilly Pulitzer gold logo hanging charm, and last but not least a pink credit card case.

So - now for the important stuff - you can enter to win the giveaway three ways:

1) Become a follower of this blog and earn an entry. If you're already a follower, you already have one entry!

2) Comment on this post about how you make Lilly a part of your daily lifestyle and earn another entry!

3) Write a short paragraph mentioning my blog (this doesn't have to be long at all!), along with a link to this giveaway, on your blog. Earn TWO entries this way - be sure to comment here with the link so I can give you credit!

I will be accepting entries until next Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 11:59 CT. After entering all of the comments on random.org, I'll announce the winner on Wednesday, January 6.

A special THANK YOU to my friends at the Lilly Pulitzer retail store in Southlake, TX for sponsoring this giveaway. They are a great resource for ALL your Lilly needs - their service is first class, they are able to work miracles in finding what you might be looking for. Be sure to give Sh'Lika, Amy or anyone there a call (or drop by!) when shopping for your Lilly! Here's how you can reach them:

Lilly Pulitzer
Southlake Town Square
405 Grand Avenue East
Southlake, TX 76092
(817) 310-3947
southlake@lillypulitzer.com

Good luck and Happy New Year filled with pink and green!

Sunday suppers comfort food

I love staying home on a chilly Sunday, reading books and magazines, sketching, and snuggling on the couch. My most favotite part of Sunday nights (besides desperate housewives and brothers and sisters) is cooking up some kind of delicious comfort food and retreating back to the couch. I have decided that this year I will start posting a couple delicious comfort food recipes every Sunday, some will be new dishes that I have just discovered and others will be tried and tested recipes from my grandmothers vast collection of treats!

I hope everyone will enjoy reading these posts as much as I have enjoyed cooking and eating all of these wonderful Sunday supper dishes.

Baked Penne with roasted vegetables

You will need:

1 red pepper
1 green pepper
2 zucchini
1 yellow onion
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. seasoned pepper
1 tsp. italian seasoning
1 lb. Penne pasta
3 cups of marinara (store bought or homemeade)
1 cup provelone
1 cup mozzarella
1 cup parmesan
2 tbls. butter cut in chunks

Preheat oven to 450

Chop peppers, onion and zucchini in thin strips, toss with olive oil and bake on cookie sheet. Season with salt, pepper, and italian seasoning. Roast 10-15 minutes or until crunchy .

Cook pasta about 6 minutes, it will still be chewy, but will bake in oven again until tender.

In large bowl mix pasta, roasted vegetables, sauce, and cheese together. place in large 9x13 dish, sprinkle with parmesan cheese and bake for 25 minutes.

Merry Christmas!

I hope everyone has a merry christmas and a happy new year!

I am so excited for 2010 to begin and I wish all of you the best this year!

Amazing pearl giveaway!

http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/2009/12/giveaway-pearls-150-gift.html


Pearl Paradise is the world's largest online pearl company. They specialize in providing affordable, high-quality, classic, elegant and stylish pearl jewelry designs at up to 80 percent below retail prices. This includes pearl necklaces, pearl bracelets, pearl pendants, pearl earrings, pearl rings and pearl jewelry sets. With more than 100,000 satisfied customers the value that Pearl Paradise offers is spreading quickly. PearlParadise.com has been featured in several respected publications including: The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, InStyle Magazine, and Modern Bride and many more!

Look at these amazing lavender pearls, this picture is a bracelet, needless to say I am in love with them!

design dazzle is giving away $150 in pearls so head on over and sign up to won. The contest ends tonight at 11:00, so hurry!

Heres the link to the giveaway: http://designdazzle.blogspot.com/2009/12/giveaway-pearls-150-gift.html

Yummy holiday desserts

I love cheesecake especially chocolate cheesecake. I got andes candies in toffee crunch and it is delicious. I had a hard time finding the toffe crunch flavor, but I finally found it at Target of all places. Here is the recipe, you can substitute any kind of andes flavor candies, it is delicious!

Andes Cheesecake Supreme:
(Return to Andes Creme de Menthe Recipes)

Ingedients:
1 cup chocolate cookie crumbs
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted
4 packages (8 oz. each) cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 eggs
1 package (4.67 oz.) Andes® Crème de Menthe Thins chopped (28 candies) or 1 cup Andes® Crème de Menthe Baking Chips
1 package (4.67oz) Andes Crème de Menthe thins (28 candies) for decorating.
3 tablespoons whipping cream or milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325° F.

Crust: Mix crumbs and 3 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl. Add butter; mix well. Press onto bottom of 9-inch springform pan. Bake at 325° F, 10 minutes.

Filling: Beat cream cheese and 1 cup sugar in large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add eggs and vanilla; mix on low speed just until well blended. Stir in 1 cup Andes Baking Chips or 1 package of chopped Andes Candies (28 pieces); pour into crust.

Bake at 325° F, 1 hour and 5 minutes or until center is almost set. Run knife between rim of pan and cheesecake. Cool to room temperature.

Topping: 4 Set aside 10-12 candy pieces, for decorating top of cake. Place remaining Andes Candies and whipping cream in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high 45 seconds. Stir until candies are melted and mixture is smooth. Pour over cheesecake, spreading to cover surface and drizzle down sides of cheesecake. Decorate with reserved Andes Candies.

Set: 5 Refrigerate cheesecake 3 hours or until serving time.

Yield:
12 Servings

Pictures and recipe courtsey of andes.

J. Bee Designs buy one get one free sale!

HI, I wanted to let you know that I am having a buy one get one free sale at J. Bee Designs. It is from today December 12th thru Friday December 18th, let all your readers know that it is for everything on the site, but for a limited time only. Charges do not include shipping charges, that is extra!

Thanks, Jennie.
www.jbeedesigns.com

Funny blonde joke!

Ok, because I am blonde and went to interior design school I had to share this adorable blonde joke!

A Blonde enters a store that sells curtains.


She tells the salesman, "I would like to buy a pair of pink curtains." The salesman assures her that they have a large selection of pink curtains. He shows her several patterns, but the blonde seems to be having a hard time choosing.


Finally she selects a lovely pink floral print. The salesman then asks what size curtains she needs. The blonde promptly replies, "fifteen inches"


"Fifteen inches???" asked the salesman. "That sounds very small, what room are they for?"


The blonde tells him that they aren't for a room, they are for her computer monitor.


The surprised salesman replies, "But Miss, computers do not need curtains!"


The blonde says, "Hellllooooooooo ... I've got Windoooooows!"

Picture credit scalamandre.com

Wreath ribbons and bows instructions

I love bows and I love christmas wreaths they are so classic and perfect decor for the holidays! I found a really easy tutorial for making large bows for a wreath, so I thought I would share!

What You Need:
•4 to 5 yards of 2-1/2- to 3-inch-wide ribbon
•12-inch ruler
•Pipe cleaners
•Wire or hot-glue gun and hot-glue sticks, if desired


Instructions:
1. Measure ribbon. Starting with all of the ribbon yardage, measure 15 inches from one end. Twist and pinch ribbon there. If ribbon has a right and wrong side, keep the right side out after each twist. Lay the ribbon by the ruler, with the twist centered at the 6-inch mark.






Photo 1: Secure loops with
a pipe cleaner. 2. Make a 6-inch loop, using the long length of ribbon. Bring the loop back to the center, and twist and pinch the ribbon again.

3. Make another 6-inch loop on the opposite side, again using the long length, and bring the ribbon back to the center, twisting and pinching again.






Photo 2: Tie an extra loop
of ribbon over center to
finish. 4. Make 8 or 10 loops, alternating sides, until bow has desired fullness.

5. Add pipe cleaner. Secure the bow loops by twisting a pipe cleaner around the center of the bow. (See Photo 1.) The ends of the pipe cleaner should be toward the back of your bow.



6. Trim as desired. Tie an extra length of ribbon around the center of the bow (see Photo 2) and trim the ribbon ends. Attach desired trims using wire or hot glue.

Photos and instructions courtsey of better homes and gardens

Dog christmas presents

I am happy to announce that I have started a new line of dog christmas ornaments and dog picture frames. I love animals and having three maltese of my own, I felt it was necessary to add a little holiday sparkle on my tree for Tahlee, Bentlee, and Brinklee. The response has been huge to the dog christmas ornaments and dog picture frames, I have even had requests from local dog couture boutiques. So if your in the 33703 area please stop by one lucky dog boutique and check out the adorable things she has for dogs, including my line.

Happy shopping,

Jen.
www.jbeedesigns.com

Text animation!

I finally finished my text animation, it is only 10 seconds long, per instructors instructions, but just wanted to share with everyone. I was very excited to have completed my first animation!! Enjoy.

Holiday decorating ideas

I love Christmas and I love decorating for it, so I have compiled a list of some of my favorite decorating ideas!

Pre-lit wire frame dog sculptures courtsey of Hammacher schlemmer.

Adorable Santa display and all other pictures from country living.

Young alumni of the year 2009

I was so excited to learn the news that I had been selected for the young alumni of the year at Harcum College. They planted a tree in my honor and placed a plaque on alumni row with my name on it. I graduated from Harcum in 2002 with a degree in interior design and I enjoyed every minute of it. Harcum is nestled in the middle of Bryn Mawr, with tree lined streets, old stone colonials, and convey's the feeling you get from of a Norman Rockwell painting.

New blog designs!

I have been working on a new design for my blog banner, it is still a work in progress, but I think it is coming along nicely. I have been adding and deleting things that I like or don't like, so don't be surprised if you see several different images up there until I decide on exactly what I like best. If any of you have any ideas or want to share some fun banner images that you have seen please feel free to share! Also, if anyone of you would like a new look to your blog banner I am offering new custom designs for $15, email me if you are interested!

Cyber Monday discount!

All orders over $150 placed tomorrow will receive free shipping from J. Bee Designs!

www.jbeedesigns.com

Back to reality

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoyed every minute of it, the food was amazing, and i think we had one of the best turkey's we have had in years, it was divine. We cooked, ate, watched movies, ate leftovers, and just enjoyed everyone's company, it was great fun and unfortunately went by too fast. As many of you know I am getting my MFA in computer arts and the university did not give a holiday break, although we didnt have class on thursday we didnt get a homework break either. For the past two weeks we have been working on animantion storyboards, and I had no idea when we started just how difficult they would be to finish. You have to match up each clip with a time sequence and try to think ahead for each clip, very difficult. Thats one reason I have been lagging on my blog posts, I have been bogged down with homework. I just started working in after effects this week and when my text animation is finished I will post it for all to see!

Check back in a few weeks I think I am going to offer a special holiday giveaway when classes are over for the semester!

Jennie.

New favorite movie!

I rented, "My one and only", last weekend and it was wonderful, a much welcomed surprise. It is loosely based on Ge$&ge Ha&^#ton's life growing up and is very entertaining, so say the least. It is filled with many different movie stars that make small appearances throughout the movie. It is set in the early 50's and the costumes are to die for, very mad men meets Grace Kelly. R%&*e Z$lw$%^er plays his mother and she is fantastic, one of her best roles I think.

Christmas is in full swing!

Get them while you can, our Christmas ornaments are flying out the door, with over 100 sold already in November, we are quickly approaching our record 200 ornaments sold in the month of November! You can place Holiday orders up tp December 16th, get them while you can.

Happy shopping

Jen.
www.jbeedesigns.com

Blog hop ornament winner!

I am happy to announce that Suga Pink is the winner of the blog hop ornament contest. Please get in touch with me about your ornament design and all other info.

Thanks, Jen.

Blog Hop!

I am so excited to participate in My SEO Gal's blog hop, I even designed the banner to display for the hop.

Here's how it works:

The hop will last for 14 days, at the end of the 14th day, The hop will close. Noone else will be able to add their link to the Mck Linky box that will be placed on your blog hop post.

I will be participating in some giveaway's for the blog hop, so keep checking in and sign up for the hop!

I will be giving away a christmas ornament of your choice from J. Bee Designs, heres what you have to do to win:

1.Be a follower of my blog or become a new follower. 1 entry

2.Post which ornament you would like and who you will give it to 2 entries

3. Refer a new follower and mention it in your post 3 entries

The first blog hop starts October, 5.

The best sugar cookie recipe!

I love to bake and I love sugar cookies, they are my favorite, although chocolate chip are right up there, and oatmeal not far behind! I love the sugar cookies you get in the mall, but because I am allergic to peanuts I cannot eat them anymore. I have ben looking for a good sugar cookie recipe like that one for along time, but haven't been able to find one until now! I made them tonight and they are delicious, just in time for holiday baking. I wouldn't reccommend them for cutout cookies because they are sticky, but they would be great iced with sprinkles in holiday colors.

Here is the recipe: Preheat oven to 375

2 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 large egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

1/2 cup sugar (for later)

Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl set aside. Mix butter in mixer until soft, add sugar, brown sugar, and egg. Mix well then add egg. After beating sugar and butter mixture add in flour.

Take two spoons and put medium size dollops on cookie sheet, bake for 5-8 minutes or until done depending on your oven.

Cool on rack and enjoy!

Happy Baking.

Save La Ronda!

La Ronda a spectacular Romanesque, Venetian, Spanish and Italian-influenced masterwork on Philadelphia's Main Line will be razed to make room for a more modest 10,000 square foot, easier-to-air-condition McMansion if a new buyer doesn't step in by the end of the month. Minzer helped shape the aesthetic of Palm Beach and other parts of Florida during the Gilded Age; La Ronda was his only commission north of the Mason Dixon -- and it's supposedly fully in tact. No crumbling, no decay - it's just 4,000 square feet too big for a family that considers 10,000 square feet just right.
Check out Save La Ronda and sign the petition to stop the wrecking balls.

Addison Minzer is the famous architect that designed La Ronda and many other architectual masterpieces in Palm Beach. La Ronda is the only home he designed that was in the northeast and for that matter outside of Palm Beach and Boca.

I read this story and felt sad, having lived on the main line for 4 years, I can't believe that the township would allow this house to be torn down. Enjoying the homes from the "gilded age" is part of the charm of the main line and to me is what makes it a special and unique place to live. Please visit the site and tour one of america's amazing architectual masterpieces and sign the petition and maybe we can help to save La Ronda.

Park avenue princess blog giveaway!

I just found a great giveaway for a cute starbucks travel mug, a starbucks gift card, and starbucks chocolate. Here is the link to the giveaway: http://parkavenuechar.blogspot.com/

You have until September 26 to sign up!

Christmas ornament bananza sale 20% off!!!

I just unveiled most of my new Christmas ornament designs on my site yesterday! So I thought I would give my blog readers a 20% discount on all ornaments ordered this weekend. If you are a follower or become a new follower by Sunday, September 20th, you will receive 20% off your ornament purchase from http://www.jbeedesigns.com/. Last year my ornaments were so popular that I had orders extending into January and February, so get them while you can! I have also started a new line of glam ornaments completely adorned with swarovski crystals and monogarmmed in crystals, be sure not to miss those.Forward this to all friends and family and make sure you are a follower or become a new one to get the discount. Just mention this blog post and tell me you follow when you order!!

Happy shopping!

Jen.

http://www.jbeedesigns.com/

Doris Day and dogs!

Doris Day and her Poodles, Paris, 1950, photo credit: John Florea

For those of you who know me well, then you are already aware of my love for dogs and all things Doris Day. I love her movies, music, style, but especially above all I admire the work she does to help stray animals everyday. She has a large ranch just outside santa barbara and she houses so many animals there, animals that otherwise would not have homes. That is why I was so happy to come across this vintage picture of her and her poodles from the 50's. Although, I would never dye my 3 maltese any color, first because they wouldnt be still long enough to let me and second I would'nt want to ruin their shiny white coats, I do think it is fun to look at other animals with candy colored fur!





Have a great weekend.


Jen.

Adorable pink baby shower!

I came across this too cute pink baby shower picture in Martha stewart living magazine and thought it was the perfect inspiration pic if you are planning a girly party. From the chandelier, to the cupcakes, and the mix of different china patterns, I love the entire idea.

Enjoy!

Jen.

New amazon astore on the blog!

Just to let everyone know I have added an Amazon store to the bottom section of this blog. I thought it would be fun to have a list of some of my favorite books for everyone to see. There are some exceptional interior design books listed so please check those out, especially if you are looking to redesign a portion of your home and you need a little inspiration.

Happy reading.

Jen.

New cupcake wrappers

I am so excited about a new HOT item J. Bee Designs is now caryying, monogrammed cupcake wrappers! Cupcakes are so popular right now and can be found at hip soirres, birthday parties, and weddings. New designs are becoming available weekly!

They are sold in bunches of 14 and you can mix and match available colors and designs. They are easy to assemble, just wrap around already baked cupcakes, and display! It's as easy as that.

For custom orders please email me.

Jen.