So, it was my dear friend Deanne who called to tell me the news. For one of the very first times in my life since the 5th grade spelling B, I had won something! The Soup had nominated our crazy Halloween Ewok segment for a 2010 Soup Award (their version of the Oscars) for “Most Traumatic Today Show Moment.” The competition was stiff, but Joel McHale announced us as the winners! Woo Hoo! Problem is, I never received the award, a really nifty can. I have nothing to show for one of the proudest moments in my life, no Award Can...

Ok, so the Oscars are around the corner, literally, hours away and counting, and while I am scrambling around trying to fix a few festive things for me and Stephen to enjoy (he is a HUGE film buff), I figured I would just let you guys know what we plan to do. After sending off this blog I am going to run out to our closest liquor store to buy a few bottles of champagne, to toast the Oscars on with, Moet is the official champagne of this years Oscars, but I will probably pick up whatever is on sale. When...

Ok, so I have a tough decision to make and I need your help! A few weeks ago I brought Baloo in for an out of the box fundraiser. As a fundraiser for Animal Haven, one of my favorite shelters in downtown Manhattan, uber talented Pet photographer, or “petographer” as she calls herself, Ixiana Hernandez, donated her time and expertise to photograph dogs in a makeshift studio at the shelter. The cost was only $30 for this pro photo session, and the photos turned out AMAZING, problem is now I want to pick 1 photo out of all the ones...

Last night was my first ever Burger Bash, and you can’t imagine tastier burgers or a more GIANT TENT! Seriously the tent was the size of an airplane hanger! I don’t eat meat, I haven’t since I was 12 but of course for Rachael and for the Burger Bash, I was willing to make the sacrifice. Some sacrifice, right? And as for the chefs, the line up was unbelievable! Chefs like Rocco DiSpirito, Morimoto, Spike Mendelsohn , Govind Armstrong, Bobby Flay And a very special chef, winner of the Everyday with Rachael Ray’s burger competition, Jen Barthell, you can learn all...

I thought that being a judge was growing on me. After all I have judged student designers who rethink trash, kitchens in need of a makeover and couples pleading for an Eight O’clock Coffee sponsored dream wedding. And all of those were tough. But nothing could have prepared me for this competition. Daisy Martinez from Viva Daisy on the Food Network and Daisy Cooks on PBS (and a great pal of Rachael’s) invited me to help her judge the 4th annual Committee for Hispanic Children & Families, Latino Legacy Cook Off. Three high school students, of Latino decent, with hopes...

You learn a lot about a person when you move in with them. Even though Stephen and I had been friends for years before we started dated and started living together, there is no way that I could have anticipated just how much he loves to light candles. It seems like a silly thing to mention, but when you spend $30 on a scented candle and I come home to find that he has two or three of these puppies burning at the same time, it becomes an issue. I think he loves the I love to buy scented candles, more...

Well, another Valentine’s Day is over.  As usually, I had a great time, but didn’t spend it in the traditional way.  Everyone knows I love a holiday, but sometimes I think it’s nice to do something a little different, a little wild - far enough outside the ordinary to take the pressure off making things perfect.  So last week, I hit the chic Muse Hotel in Midtown, to check out my friend Wendy Diamond’s Yappy Hour (clever right?), her take on a wild Valentine’s Day Party.  Unfortunately, my date (and dog) Baloo could not attend.  She even missed her chance...

So, I’m terrified that I am going to get in big trouble for writing this blog. Big, big trouble. But here goes … Like many New Yorkers, one of my favorite luxuries is to go out for weekend brunch. It’s such a delicious extravagance to sit down before a Saturday outing, or after church on Sunday, and enjoy gooey French toast, or a cheesy omelet, and perhaps a Bloody Mary or mimosa or two. I like to think of it as the most economical way of dining out – it officially takes the place of two meals,...

When I get the opportunity to plan a party, I jump on it, and his fall I got a chance to design the Green Harvest Gala for the Hilton Garden Inn and Nicotra’s Ballroom in Staten Island. The dinner featured an 8 course tasting menu from Executive Chef Sonny Soemarsono and organic wine pairing provided by Grae Verlin of Wining With Grae. The goal of the event was to bring organic food and a greener lifestyle to the good folks of Staten Island, and to showcase Richard & Lois Nicotra’s commitment to making the hotel and Nicotra’s Ballroom mean and green. Proceeds...