The Allison Show

Title: Hidden Passages: Tales to Honor the Crones Author: Villa SpiderHawk  Summary: "Brimming with hope and beautifully written, these eight stories of women helping women and girls through the challenges and transitions of life will surprise you with every turn of the page. In Passages, a girl moves through a rites of passage into womanhood, both symbolic and literal, among her tribe of watching women, bonding with the other women as well as with the feminine in nature, bonding with the divine, and erasing boundaries between all.   These are women as women should be: unafraid of living, unafraid of expressing their femininity, unafraid of aging, unafraid of facing up to their own fears and weaknesses and transforming them into strengths, unafraid to confront those who would deny them their place, simply - unafraid. We should all wish to be such terrific crones." This is a great book that girls and women alike should read!!!  There are 8 stories that encompass d...

When did you know that you wanted to become a writer? Did you want to always be an author? I have been a writer since I could hold a crayon.   Even before I could print the standard characters of the English language, I created my own alphabet so I could “write”.   When I finally learned the English letters, I was absolutely thrilled that other people could actually read and understand the words I wrote.   I cannot actually remember a time when I longed to write.   I have simply always written. Publishing, however, is a different thing.   People have told me all my life that I should write for publication.   And for decades I refused.   I wanted no part of the “business of writing”.   Oh, I published poems in periodicals and so forth, but I had no desire to write a book.   Even when I began Hidden Passages, I had no plans to publish the stories.   I simply wrote them for a course I was following.   My teacher, of course, nag...

Are those the cutest toys you have ever seen?? These are Series 1: The Puppies!! And as proud new owners of a puppy my kids are kind of obsessed.   PetCakes are a new collectible plush pet line that will be a sweet treat for children ages 3 & up. Each PetCakes animal features a “frosting” hat, comes nestled in its own cupcake wrapper and has its own whimsical backstory. At first look, children will see a delicious cupcake but will then be surprised by the pet they find snuggled inside! Combining sweet faces and cuddly plush with a clever cupcake theme, PetCakes are collectible and provide hours of open-ended imaginative play. PetCakes make perfect gifts for a special friend and for pet lovers.  These would make awesome Christmas presents!! Meet the Pups of Series 1: *Randy Candy ™ is a lovable mutt, scampering around playfully and taking long naps in his cupcake wrapper. Randy Candy is topped with tasty frosting and a cherry. *Blueberry Buddy ™ is a Shar Pei...

As most of you know, we are opening our own Cupcake Bakery and I have been on the look out for cute ways to decorate our cupcakes.  I was thrilled to be able to try these cute Cupcake Kits from Cupcake Cuties. We received the Ice Cream Kit.  This kit came with a jar of sprinkles, a disposable pipping bag, and the ice cream cup wrappers.  the kits are so easy to use.  Bake cupcakes in liners, let them cool and then frost them.  Then you wrap the wrapper around the bottom and it has a strip of sticky on the end to stick it together.  Then you add the sprinkles and you are done.  We made Chocolate Caramel swirled cake and frosted them with Chocolate Caramel frosting.  I love the color the sprinkles add to the cupcakes.   The kids love them!!  Somehow the wrappers make the cupcakes just a bit more fun!!  Cupcake Cuties have tons of cute kits for every holiday and event.  I really like the baby ones!!  That would make the c...

As most of you know, we are opening a bakery in January so we do a ton of baking (on top of cooking dinner 90% of the time).  My kids are always in the kitchen and always want to help but I don't want them using my utensils and breakable glass measuring cups.  So when I received the opportunity to review the Kid Friendly line of cooking utensils by Head Chefs , I was SOOO excited!!! We received a bowl with feet, measuring spoon, frosting spreader, stirring spoon, and spatula.  All of the utensils are made out of silicon and have suction cup feet so they stand up!  The measuring spoon is 1 teaspoon and then when you flip it over it is 1 tablespoon.  The kids love these kitchen tools.  If they didn't already love to help in the kitchen, they definitely would now!! Want to win your own Head Chef cooking utensils?  Thanks to Head Chef one lucky reader will!!!  How to Enter: Mandatory Entry:   *Go to Head Chefs and pick your favorite u...

The winner of my Coobie Bra Giveaway is #56, Ksceviour.  She said "I follow with networked blogs "The winner of my Spoonful of Comfort Care package Giveaway is #26, Ashley!!  She said, "Follow you on GFC! (Ashley R)." Both of them have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond or random.org will pick new winners.

Title: Changing the Conversation: Transformational Steps to Financial & Family Well-Being Author: Gary Klaban Publisher:  Navigator Press Published: Oct 1, 2010 ISBN: 978-0982800904 Summary: "Against the backdrop of todays many political and fiscal system dysfunctions, author and financial advisor Gary Klaben declares that Americas future is still exceptionally bright. Figuring out how to unlock the needs of today's individuals and families defines the challenge of achieving a better future. Done right, the next great wave of business innovation, wealth creation and family well-being can soon be unleashed. Changing the Conversation -- taking note of today's anxieties in the workplace, in communities and in homes -- argues that a new kind of conversation is urgently needed. People require a new and profound support system involving mutual trust, long-term relationships, interdependence, intimate knowledge and practical consolidation to reduce complex...

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and get to spend it with friends and family!!! Remember all the things you have to be thankful for and don't forget  to tell those you love how much they mean to you. This year especially, I am pleased to realize just how much I have to be thankful for.  My family is healthy, always has enough to eat, has tons of friends and family who love us, are blessed that even in this hard economic time, we are able to be opening a business.  I have 617 readers who read my blog and countless more who follow me on Facebook and Twitter.  When I made my blog public in March, I never thought it would get this big or that I would have so many get followers and so many great blogs that I follow.  Thanks to all of you!!!  I haven't been blogging about personal stuff so mch lately so in the next week or two I am going to post updates about all of us.  Also on Cyber Monday I am posting a bunch of great giveaways from HeadChefs,...

I found this recipe on Food Network and made a few changes.  I added the salt, vanilla. more pecans, and added maple syrup and halved the corn syrup.  Hubby said this was a great pie!! (I don't eat pie.) INGREDIENTS: 1 stick butter 1/2 cup sugar  1/2 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup Karo syrup  1/2 maple syrup 3 eggs, beaten 2 cups chopped pecans 1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell Directions Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a saucepan, melt the butter but don't let it brown. Mix in the sugar and corn syrup and cook, stirring, over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Let cool.  Stir in the eggs and the pecans. Pour into the pie shell and bake for 40 minutes or until firm when shaken.

This is a delicious twist on an old favorite!! Ingredients: 2 pounds Fresh Green Beans, Ends Cut Off 4 slices Bacon, Cut Into 1/4 Inch Pieces 3 cloves Garlic, Minced ½ whole Large Onion, Chopped 4 Tablespoons Butter 4 Tablespoons All-purpose Flour 2-½ cups 1% Milk ½ cups Heavy Cream 1-½ teaspoon Salt, More To Taste Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste ⅛ teaspoons Cayenne Pepper 1 cup Grated Sharp Cheddar Cheese 1 Red Bell Pepper Roasted and seeded and skinned 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs Preparation Instructions Cut green beans in half if you like pieces to be a little smaller. Blanch the green beans: drop them into lightly salted boiling water and allow green beans to cook for about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove them from the boiling water with a slotted spoon and immediately plunge them into a bowl of ice cold water to stop the cooking process. Drain beans once they’re cool and set aside. Add bacon pieces to a skillet over medium heat. Cook bacon for two minutes, then...

I decided to share some of the recipes I am using for Thanksgiving sides.  This recipe is from Food Network and it is a Tyler Florence recipe.  I changed it a bit.  I added some extra onion and the celery.  And cut the cooking time by 5 minutes.  Enjoy!!  INGREDIENTS: 2 tablespoons butter 2 onions, chopped 2 stalks of celery 6 large cornmeal muffins, cubed A handful fresh sage leaves, chopped 1 egg 1/4 cup heavy cream 1/4 cup chicken stock Salt and freshly ground black pepper Directions: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring, for about 10 minutes, or until soft and caramelized. Scrape into a large mixing bowl, add the cornbread pieces and the sage, season well with salt and pepper, and give it a good toss until it's well combined. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, cream, and stock, and pour that over the cornbread. Stir the stuffing together, ...

This soup is amazing and would be a great addition to any Thanksgiving dinner table.  This recipe is by Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa). For the Soup: 3 to 4 pounds butternut squash, peeled and seeded 2 yellow onions 2 McIntosh apples, peeled and cored 3 tablespoons good olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 2 to 4 cups chicken stock 1/2 teaspoon good curry powder For the Condiments: Scallions, white and green parts, trimmed and sliced diagonally Roasted salted cashews, toasted and chopped Directions Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Cut the butternut squash, onions and apples in 1-inch cubes. Place them on a sheet pan and toss with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Divide the squash mixture between 2 sheet pans and spread it in a single layer. Roast for 35 to 45 minutes, until very tender. Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock to a simmer. When the vegetables are done, put them through a food mill fitted with the medium blade. (Alter...

is #23, SableLexi.  she said, "I'm a GFC follower!" She has been emailed and has 48 hours to respond or random.org will choose another winner.  Thanks to everyone who entered!!  We always have an amazing turnout for Pillow Pets Giveaways!!!

Title: The Mermaid's Pendant Author: LeAnne Neal Reilly Publisher: Zephon Books Published: March 8, 2010 ISBN: 978-0982687505 Summary: "Inspired by the beloved classic The Little Mermaid, THE MERMAID'S PENDANT is a modern fairy tale about growing up and discovering who you are -- and what you believe in. At times lyrical, this novel is a fantastic journey filled with magic, myth, romance, and adventure. Four years after John Wilkerson claims the mermaid Tamarind for his wife, they have an idyllic marriage that depends on a talisman that she crafted on their island paradise. But Tamarind learns a painful truth: it takes more than legs to live on land and more than magic to sustain a bond. When the talisman breaks, she and John are forced to rely on themselves instead of magic. Three wise women play key roles in the young lovers' journey to mature love. Ana, Tamarind's aging mentor, casts spells and performs seductions to keep the lovers apar...

So like every year about this time, I got a really nasty stomach bug from the kids a couple of weeks ago.  Right when I was not throwing up but still kind of sick I got the best surprise in the mail!!!!!!  I received a  Spoonful of Comfort care package.  I got a HUGE jar of chicken soup, oatmeal raisin cookies and rolls. This could not have arrived at a more perfect time.  I was about to drag my sick butt into the kitchen to make dinner when the FedEx guy rang the bell.  I carried the box upstairs and said, "Dinner is served." Everything in the box was beautifully packaged and wrapped.  Everything has a pretty yellow ribbon on it and the top of the box and a pretty sheet of paper. The soup was amazing.  You can tell it was homemade with all natural, fresh ingredients.  Hubby who doesn't like soup had to admit that this was the best soup ever.  From their site, "Our old-fashion chicken soup recipe is handmade the traditional way u...

is #102 Jeannine!!! She said, "Like you on FB (jd drenchek-scavo)." Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway!!

Have you heard of the Coobie Bra ??  I hadn't until recently and I must admit I was skeptical that it would be THE MOST comfortable bra ever.  Until I got 2!!  I received the white scoopneck and the hot pink V-neck bras.  They really are super comfortable.  They is 3 different styles of Coobie bras.  The scoopneck, the V-neck, and the bandeau (strapless).  They are seamless and come in tons of great colors and neutrals.  One size fits almost everybody. Comfortably fits sizes 32A to 36D. No Kidding – they really do fit that size range perfectly!  Many larger customers find it comfortable as well.  Each one comes with an extra set of clear straps and each has removeable pads. Straps are adjustable. I love that if you have a low cut shirt on that you would normally wear a tank top under, you can leave off the tank and just let your Coobie bra show.  Great for wearing in summer when you don't want to have to wear 2 (or more...

So without further ado, the 3 winners of my $20 Isle of Eden giveaway are: #29 Karla who said, "I follow IoE on twitter - karlatrx!" #74 Susan who said, "I'm following you on facebook Susan B." #68 Louis who said, "I like Isle of Eden on facebook (Louis Here)" They have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.  Thanks to everyone who entered and to everyone who reads my blog!!!

Title: Helen of Pasadena Author: Lian Dole Publisher: Prospect Park Books Published: November 1, 2010 ISBN: 978-0984410224 Summary: "Helen Fairchild is leading a privileged Pasadena existence: married to a pillar of the community; raising a water polo-playing son destined for the most select high school; volunteering her time on the most fashionable committees. It only bothers Helen a tiny bit the she has never quite fit in with the proper Pasadena crowd, never finished that graduate degree in Classics, and never had that second baby. But the rigid rules of society in Pasadena appeal to Helen, the daughter of Oregon "fiber artists," even if she'll never be on the inside. And then along comes a Rose Parade float, killing her philandering husband and leaving Helen broke, out of her "forever' house and scrambling to salvage her once-rarefied existence. Enter Dr. Patrick O'Neill, noted archaeologist, excavator of Troy and wearer of nu...

Helen of Pasadena By Lian Dolan Chapter 1 Now I knew: I’d get a full church at my funeral. What a relief. It was the kind of thing I lost sleep over at night, being a planner and all. How many times had I sat at funerals, counting the hundreds (or, more depressingly, dozens) of mourners in the pews and thought, Who would show for me? Do people like me more or less than Jane’s mother? Do I know a hundred people who would care? Two hundred? Who should cater? Now I had my answer: full church. Because if this many people could show up for my husband, my late husband, then I’d get almost this many, right? One thing I’d never planned on was my husband dropping a bombshell on me and then dropping dead. That would have been good to know. At least Merritt would have been pleased at the standing-room-only situation in the church. Merritt was a big deal in his world, and to prove that, there were the partners from the firm and the fraternity brothers, town officials, boards of schools...