And The Winner Is...(drum roll please)

The winner of our Hypno Bunny GiveAway Contest is...

Kristin!

We here at Casa Mohler felt that her story of being so scared that she's NEVER been able to return to a Haunted House is, well frankly it's just plain sad.

Allow me to explain...

I LOVE all things scary/creepy. I started reading Stephen King at an early age and I've never looked back. I am constantly seeking the thrill of the scare. Sadly, now-a-days I am hard pressed to find a movie that actually "does it" for me anymore.

Fall time is the best time of year for those of us who love all things Horrifying. There are scary movie marathons on TV, creepy corn mazes to explore and best of all Haunted Houses! Yes, Haunted Houses. The thought that she was so scared that she's never been able to return, in our eyes is well deserving of the prize.

May Hypno Bunny bring joy to her life and give her the courage to step out there and let herself experience the joy that is

The Haunted House!

Congrats Kristin!

May this be the year that you scream like a B Movie Queen!!!!!

Grand Opening! Come One Come ALL...

I have talked before about some of the wonderful things my fabulous and oh so creative family member have been up to.

Once again I'm proud to showcase some wonderful talent!

I am so very proud to announce the Grand Opening of my lovely Aunt Nancy's Website

NanaNanQuilts on Silk Fair

She specializes in handmade cozy fleece and flannel toddler blankets

and 100% cotton baby quilts.

Please take a moment to use the link above to visit her site. You just might find that very gift you have been looking for! Why not buy a handmade item for Christmas this year?

"Circle of Salamanders Textured Touch Blanket"

The colors will amaze, and the quality and love that goes into each item will have to coming back for more.

"Pink and Yellow Butterflies"

What Itty Bitty wouldn't want to roll around on this "magic carpet"?

"Puppies and Their Bones"

We all know that toddlers love puppies so why not get them one of their very own?

And these puppies are guaranteed not to pee on your carpet!

She's adding new items as they become available so please check back often. Why not bookmark her site so you can peak in on her from time to time? You never know what you'll find.

She even makes throws and bed quilts for grown-ups!

Everyone deserves a blankie, no matter what age you are!

It's Give Away Time Again...

Well OK, it's more like a Moving GiveAway. As I go through my things, box stuff up and prepare to move I'm coming across things that need new homes. I've selfishly held on to some things out of sheer love for them. And this brings us to the oh so adorable Hypno Bunny!

Isn't she adorable?

She even has a cute little tail.

She needs a new forever home. Someone to love her and have great adventures with her.

During this wonderful, magical and creepy Halloweeny time of year wouldn't it be great to give this adorable cuddly Hypno Bunny to some unsuspecting human in need of a new creepy best friend to run around with? She has magical powers in her Hypno eyes!

You will try to win her. You will love her!

This is how it works. I'll pose a question and you post a comment with your answer.

We here at Casa Mohler will pick a winner.

This contest ends Midnight on Sunday Oct. 24th.

QUESTION:

What is your scariest/creepiest Halloween Memory?

Quiver Of Love...

No self respecting artist should be without a Moleskine (Mol-a-skeen'-a).

They are legendary, they are beautiful and they fit in a purse or a pocket.

What could make them more perfect?

Well guess what? I've found it.

A Leather Pen Quiver made just for Moleskines!

No more searching in your bag for a pen, BRILLIANT!

While on Facebook (yes I'm on about how great Facebook is again) I saw an add for this fantastic invention. I immediately forwarded the website to those who share my love! Since it was just before my birthday Momma Bean bought me one and one for The Bear as he has a Moleskine too!

They come in two different designs. One is for a single pen that wraps around the spine and one that is for 2 pens that hugs the front cover. The quality is really great, the price very reasonable and how cool do they look?

They both have quality elastic so they fit very snug and will not fall off.

I'm so excited. I can't wait to take it out for it's real world debut. My friends are going to be soooo jealous. Hee Hee ;)

I also LOVE their logo. How cleaver. This Quiver has combined my love of all things Moleskine, writing instruments and Robin Hood! I used to dream of running through the woods or on horseback with my beloved Long Bow. If I can't have a Long Bow then by gawd I'll have a Quiver!

They arrived with oh so cute drawing instructions on how to slip them on you Moleskine!

How artsy!

If you have a naked Moleskine then please RUN don't walk to their site and order yours today.

THANK YOU MOMMA BEAN!

You are the BEST!

(The Bear says thank you too. He LOVES his.)

Guess what?

**DRAW BREAK**

33yrs And It Just Keeps Getting Better...

I am truly blessed. I am surrounded, supported and loved by the greatest people a gal could ever ask for. Every year when my birthday rolls around I think to myself that it couldn't possibly get any better than the last one, and I'm always proved wrong. You my dear loved ones are what great things are made of. From the bottom of my heart, I Thank You.
These gorgeous flowers arrived at my door today and nothing could accurately describe the quizzical look The Bear had on his face when he opened the door to accept them on my behalf. I'm sure he was very curious to take a peak at the card to see just who was sending his wife flowers. My Aunt Susan and her husband Ed along with my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Dennis came together to send me a bit of Fall colored Flower love. Here in Virginia we don't get near the color that my home state of Ohio gets so to have a little bit of that in my cave of an apartment is just what I needed. Thank You guys, really. I love you to bits for this.
Some of you have been hearing me rave about The Blood Orange Dreamcicle Cupcake from a place here in Olde Towne Alexandria called The Lavender Moon Cupcakery. I love every one of their cupcakes but this is by far my favorite.
How could I resist these beautiful Gerber Daisies? One look in the Florist's window and I was done for, they were mine :) That was of course before I know I had beautiful flowers on the way to me from my loving family.
Again with the damn cupcake? Here's why. During my weekly "Irish Thursday" phone call to my sister Erynne in Ireland I got to chat with her wonderful hubby David for a few minutes. He was asking me about cupcakes. Why you ask? Well it seems as though there are no are no cupcakes in Ireland! Can you imagine? The have other little cake like items but nothing that comes close to a real cupcake. So he requested that I photograph my lovely cupcake darling before devouring it. So here ya go my dear darling David!
Of course as with any cakey dessert, the icing is the best part.

Again, a warm all encompassing huge hug of thanks to all of you who helped to make this a wonderful day. I love and miss you all. Here's to the next fantastic 33yrs and then the 33 after that!

What is your favorite birthday tradition or memory?

An Evening of Laughter and a Hippo...

Would you like to go see David Sedaris speak at the Lisner Auditorium? Um, duh!

The first book of David Sedaris' that I read, okay listened to was Me Talk Pretty One Day and that's all it took. I was hooked. He had me in stitches. I mean there is nothing funnier than listening to David reading his own book, with his lisp talking about his lisp. Really, you need to run not walk and go get you a copy of that audio book. There's just one rule you should follow when listening to a David Sedaris audio book, NEVER and I repeat NEVER listen to this outrageously funny man while lifting weights. You run the risk of bursting out laughing and dropping a weight on your foot. Sadly, I learned this the hard way. Ouch! So Craig, Tiffany and I rode the metro across the river to DC to seek out the Lisner Auditorium! There is nothing more entertaining than sitting and listening to Mr. Sedaris read excerpts from his books and his diary. Yes, his diary. I envy his ability to observe every day life and find that golden hilarious nugget. Hats off Mr. Sedaris, hats off.
When we were leaving I whipped out my camera to snap a quick pic to remember the evening by when Tiffany said "Stick your head in there"! Genius Tiffany, genius.

I'd like to thank the academy!

Thanks Craig for arranging the evening and getting me out of my cave and across the river for a great night out with fantastic friends.

Thanks Tiffany for the great photo idea! I'll forever be on the lookout for "When Statues Attack" photos!

What favorite author of yours dear readers have you ventured out to see in person?

Green Goddess Dutch Oven, Gumbo Anyone?...

The moment I brought The Green Goddess Dutch Oven (my new love) into the house The Bear took one look and screamed GUMBOOOOOOOO! I do make a mean gumbo but never have I been able to make it in a true Dutch Oven. So tonight I made his dream come true. Gumbo it is baby!

I know for my last post I gave out a detailed ingredient list and directions, but this recipe? Well dear readers this recipe is top secret. I can't give em all out can I? Besides, the idea behind "Gumbo" is, throw what you got in the pot and call it YUMMY.

I will share one trick with you though and this is truly the trick behind a good gumbo, how to make the roux. You mix your flour and oil in the Dutch Oven and you put it in the oven. Yep, that's right you bake it in the oven! No more standing over a hot stove stirring constantly under threat of burning! Simply heat your oven to 400 degrees and bake the flour and oil mixture stirring occasionally until it's cooked to your desired brownness. A good roux is the foundation of any good gumbo.
My chicken, andouille sausage and shrimp gumbo served over rice; nectar of the Gods around here.
A bowl of homemade gumbo, a frosted glass of ale and we're celebrating a Wednesday baby!

What should my next recipe be? Perhaps homemade baked beans? I don't know, what do you think?

If you're really interested in the recipe I might be persuaded to share ;)

Green Goddess Dutch Oven, My New Love...

I can't even tell you how long I've wanted a Dutch Oven. It seems like every time I get excited to make a new recipe the directions start with "Get out your Dutch Oven". Damn, I don't have one. Well now I do baby so watch out. I found this beautiful Green Enameled Cast Iron Goddess at Marshals and I LOVE her. Now, what to make first, what to make... I've decided to christen this baby with a Bone-in Pork Shoulder Braised in Belgian Beer and panchetta. But wait to see how I serve it, oh man this is a tastey meal.

Here are my ingrediants.

6oz Panchetta (Italian Bacon), chopped (I could only find it prepackaged and sliced)

2 Onions sliced

6-7lb Bone-in Pork Shoulder

2Tbsp Extra-Virgin Olive Oil

1 Head Garlic, minced

1tsp Fennel Seeds, toasted and ground

1tsp Coriander Seeds, crushed

2 Cups Belgian Beer

1 Cup Low Sodium Chicken Stock

For Caramelized Apples (this is the secret touch)

1Tbsp unsalted butter

1 peeled, cored and sliced apple (I used a golden apple)

2Tbsp Sugar

Finally, for serving; thick slices of rustic bread.

Preheat Oven to 300 degrees

*Crisp Panchetta in the Goddess Dutch Oven (GDO) until fat is rendered. Remove crisped Panchetta and reserve.

*Add onions to GDO and cook till caramelized. Remove and reserve.

*Season Yummy Pork Shoulder with S&P. Add oil to GDO and with fat side down place shoulder (pork shoulder not your shoulder) in GDO until golden. Flip and repeat.

*Add garlic and spices to GDO and about a minute until fragrant.

*Add Beer, stock, panchetta and onion; bring to a simmer.

*Cover and transfer to oven, basting every hour until meat is falling off the bone, about 4 hours.
The above picture is right before it was transfered to the oven. Isn't she beautiful? Mmmm.
Here she is about 4hrs later falling off the bone! What's that up in the left hand corner you ask?
In a skillet melt 1Tbsp unsalted butter. Place one peeled, cored and sliced golden apple in the skillet with the melted butter. Sprinkle 2Tbsp of sugar over apples and cook over md-high heat stirring occasionally until the apple is caramelized.
Now, ready for the meal? Place one slice of rustic bread on a plate, put some shredded pork shoulder on the bread slice and drizzle jus from the GDO over the pork; make sure pieces of onion and panchette are in the jus drizzle. Top with caramelized apples and a drizzle and caramel sauce from pan. ENJOY!

I can't tell you how delicious this meal is. When The Bear and I sat down and the first bite hit our lips all you could hear were MMMMMMmmmmmms! And don't you even think about skipping the caramelized apples cause that's the icing baby, the FRIGGIN ICING!

Now, what happened to the "bone" in the Bone-in Shoulder you ask? Well you have to know that Weiner the Wonder Dog is involved, right? Of course she is...
Have you ever seen such love? I mean look at those eyes, complete obsession.
She tried to take it into the other room and on the carpet but I stopped her. Ugh, you stay in the kitchen on the rug that I can throw in the washer, thank you.
I mean LOVE!!!! I let her chew on it for a few minutes then I took it away and saved it for later. This type of "treat" is so rare that she's not used to it.

I love my new Goddess Dutch Oven. Tonight I made my world famous (okay family famous) gumbo. I took a picture so stay tuned for gumbo!

Do you have a Green Goddess Dutch Oven? If you do please share what recipes you make with it cause baby, I'm on a roll!!!!!!!

99 Luftballons, Minus 93...

Some facts: I am from Ohio, North Canton Ohio to be exact. When people ask "Where is that" there are two ways to answer. I can either answer "The home of Marylin Manson" or if that doesn't work I say "The home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame" which I might add I am proud to say I have NEVER been to. On their site they actually state "The Pro Football Hall of Fame is close to everything!" Trust me when I say this is a bold faced LIE! Trust me. But I digress. Every year the city of Canton throws the Pro Football HOF Festival which is at the very end of July into the beginning of August. Among the many attractions is the Balloon Classic Invitational. I grew up seeing the sky filled with these magical delights. They even have Team Racing and Target Drop Contests. One year there was a target painted on the street in front of my house and I was in awe watching the balloons float over and try to drop a bean bag as close to the target as possible. Talk about magical!!

During this last festival my sister-in-law stepped out her door and snapped a great photo of some balloons coming her way. She sent the picture to my hubby in an email and that was it, he wanted me to make it into a painting.

(click on any image to make them larger if you wish)

Here she is! What do you think? do you love it?

The scene even wraps around the edge, cool eh?

Are you ready for a little secret?

Well scroll down...

Ta Da... Did you know it was that small? I bet you didn't.

It's so adorable I just love it. I still don't know how I was able to get all the detail in there. I mean, down spouting?!

I am working on a full size painting that measures 18" X 24" but it's not an exact copy of the small one, more of a dreamy translation. I hope that the big one turns out even half as good. Stay tuned to see if I can pull it off.

What kinds of projects are you all working on?

It's Good to Share...

I personally think that Facebook gets a bad rap. There are those that wrinkle their nose in disgust like they just smelled a decomposing corpse before I even finish the word. I don't know why that is really. I have found people from my past that I thought were long lost, I've gained many fabulous new friends that I would NEVER have met otherwise and get inspiration by what my creative lovelies are up to. Such a wealth of creativity going on out there in the world! People are inspiring me with everything from their Grand Everyday adventures, to new recipes, sharing music, places they've been or are going to and the list goes on and on.

The following is a just one shining example of just such a new connection. Here's a little bit of back story. For those of you wrinkle nosed Facebook haters, bare with me, will you?

I recently became Facebook Friends with a wonderful awe inspiring gal who currently resides in Alaska. She is a friend of my VERY close friend Erynne whom I consider my soul sister. Once we started peering in on each other's posts we soon discovered that we have so many things in common. She is fantastic! Among her many talents is Guerilla Art! Yes, Guerilla Art. She knits and crochets little things that she leaves in various locations around her town with a little note that says it needs a home. It's a wonderful idea. Wouldn't you feel better if you were walking into a building to let's say, visit the Dr. and on a ledge outside the office you came upon the most adorable little crocheted Lion who needed a home? I DARE you not to smile and feel better about the world at that very moment.

While organizing my Closet O' Doom I discovered some small remnant balls of yarn from projects past that would be perfect for her little knitting/crocheting Guerilla Art projects. So off in the mail they went, bouncing their way across the country to find new purpose in life. Low and behold before I could even ask if they made it safely I opened my door and there was a package. "What's this?" I asked.
It was from Alaska!! I GOT MAIL FROM ALASKA! Jealous? Oh you can admit it, I know you are. Inside was a card, handmade soaps AND a Bunny made from some of the very yarn I sent her. How friggin cool is that? She wrote "One good turn deserves another". I feel like the luckiest gal alive. The soaps smell divine and I can't wait to use them.
A closer view of my precious Bunny. Isn't it adorable?

My philosophy in life is simple...In order to get mail...you HAVE to send mail. In order to have great friends...you have to BE a great friend.

Mom, I'm sorry it took me so long to learn and practice what you had been preaching since I was little. Why is it that we have to learn these lessons ourselves? Why can't we sit quietly, listen to the wisdom of our elders and just say "Thank You". Well I'm saying it now, Thank You Momma Bean!!!!

Now go forth and SEND MAIL Baby! You'll be very excited by the response you get, I promise.

One Book Can Lead To Sew Much Joy...

A follow up to The Adventures Of Super Bunny! Many of you have wondered and asked me if I made any other bunnies, Why YES, yes I did, thanks for asking!

When Momma Bean was here the other week we found ourselves at the book store, of course, and she found a book titled "Socks Appeal" by Brenna Maloney and that little book has brought so much friggin JOY!!! For instanse...Meet Argh, my very first sock bunny! I love him so. I thought the he would look more artsy and have more character if the sock were inside out.
Weiner the Wonder Dog isn't too sure about him. She's waiting to see if he truly wants to be friends of if he's up to no good! The utter joy that I had from making Argh, turned into a whole troop of bunnies!
Meet the gang. Nature Super Bunny, Hypno Bunny, Pink Sister Bunnies and New Baby Bunny!
Nature Super Bunny comes with his own Nature Bunny Super Cape and mask! Every little Nature Lover should have a cape, don't you think? He's currently in the post finding his way to a very special little Munchkin I know in Ohio. Hope he likes his new friend.

These sisters were special made for a pair of utterly adorable, cheek squeezable Sister Munchkins that I'm absolutely in love with! I'm happy to report that they have arrived safely and are currently being squeezed to bits! YAY!
Lastly this cutie went to live with a brand new member of the human race that I look forward to getting to know in the future. She's about a month old now and though I know she's too young right now to truly get to know her bunny, my hope is that one day when she's older and in need of a friend, her mommy will pull out this little fuzzy pal and she'll tell him all her troubles.

This is Hypno Bunny! You will look into her eyes and you WILL love her.

I fell in love with her eyes and designed her around them. She's the only bunny that wasn't made for any specific munchkin. I'm thinking of holding a special Hypno Bunny GiveAway Contest so that my lovely lovies can have a chance to win her for a Munchkin they know. What do ya think? Is that a good idea?

Homemade Pesto Anyone? Hellz Yeah...

I mentioned that when Momma Bean was here a couple weekends ago she brought me a Thai Basil plant. Well the occassion to use a bunch of it finally arrived and I leapt at the chance. I was surfing my all time favorite food site Foodgawker and found a fabulous recipe I had to try. If you've never been to Foodgawker you simply must have a look. It's food porn for the eyes, seriously. The recipe is for Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken and it comes from the blog The Parsley Thief by a lady named Katie in Norwalk CT. Here is the link to the Recipe and here is a link to the Home Page of her blog. Her recipes are really great and totally worth a look see even if you don't enjoy cooking, her photos will convince you otherwise.



I followed her recipe exactly except for two things, I used baby spinach instead of arugula and I used half my Thai Basil and half fresh Sweet Basil from the store as I wanted to use my basil but didn't have enough on my plant to make the pesto.



This recipe is GORGEOUS, not only to look at but to eat. This one is a definate 2 thumbs way the hellz up! Homemade pesto is so out of this world that you will never use store bought again.



I love this time off year. The produce is beautiful and everything tastes fresh and fragrant.



What sort of pasta dishes have you been making?