Rain, Rain, Go Away...

I like rain as much as the next person but it's getting a little ridiculous around here (Los Angeles to be exact). Oh, it's not as bad as the freezing cold and blizzards of snow blanketing the Midwest, East Coast and Europe but, it has been an unrelenting barrage of one storm after another. So, the question begs...what's a girl and a mother of the chauffeuring persuasion supposed to do?

Well, of course, the chauffeuring of Joshua MUST continue no matter what the weather might be so I've been driving him all over town for various playdates, camp and doctor's appointments. In between, I've been running around getting last minute errands and shopping done (not gifts, mostly groceries and baking supplies) before everything shuts down for Christmas.

I have found myself soaked to the bone more than once. And my naturally curly hair, which I painstakingly have blow dried straight since I was a teenager, has been rebelling in a quite unattractive way. If on top of that you factor in my not wearing any make-up (and that is most days) you can only imagine what a vision of loveliness I am to look at. Maybe it's a real good thing and a blessing in disguise that nobody knows who I am because the paparazzi would have an absolute field day with me otherwise.

To maintain (or acquire) some sense of balance so I don't go screaming into the night from the sheer
horrifying sight of myself, I have done what any sane or semi-sane person would do...I have been BAKING A LOT...not non-stop baking mind you (I do have that chauffeuring to do and those errands to run not to mention some work to do) but a lot of baking nonetheless. The last several days I have cranked up The Three Tenors and my local classical station 98.1, donned my adorable pinked striped stiletto apron (a birthday gift from my sweet Adele), turned on the oven and gotten to work (or for me gotten to do what brings me pure pleasure) in my little kitchen.

I've made Nanci's Nirvana Bars (my own creation/adaptation of a Bread & Cie recipe), Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (a Joshua request), Chocolate Chip Crumb Buns (another Joshua request), Chocolate Chip and Peanut Butter Chip Scones (yet another Joshua request...do you detect a chocolate theme going on here?!), my Grandma Rose and Aunt Irene's famous Pumpkin Bread (some with chocolate chips, some with cranberries and pecans), Whole Wheat Sables with Cacoa Nibs, Chocolate Sandwich Cookies with Vanilla Buttercream Filling and just today I began the process of making a sinful Chocolate Coffee Layer Cake with Mocha Buttercream Frosting with Chocolate Ganache dripping down the top and sides, decorated with chocolate covered espresso beans (a first time shot at this recipe...keep your fingers crossed...that will hopefully be the belle of the ball at the Christmas Eve dinner Joshua and I are going to at Jacklynn and Casey's...otherwise known as my ex-sister-in-law, technically speaking because I never got divorced from her, and my niece).

Yes, I know, I know, it sounds a bit insane but I assure you it's what has actually kept me sane during all the holiday madness and out of control weather. So, there you have it, my pets...when the rain comes, when the car breaks, when I'm feeling down I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad...

Go forth and BAKE, BAKE, BAKE...like all Sugar and Stilettos girls (and boys!) live our motto (Spreading sweet inspiration one treat at a time) to its fullest...from our house to yours Joshua and I wish you a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and all that yummy, delicious stuff!

Our 2010 Holiday Photo/Mary Ann Halpin Photography

xoxo Nanci

P.S. Several of the recipes mentioned above are already on the website RECIPE page...those that aren't will be soon so be on the lookout for them.

Lunching with my Mom

It has been an absolute whirlwind of beehive activity around here and thus the only reason I can offer up for having not written a blog for the last two weeks. I keep waiting for it all to slow down but to no avail and even with Hanukkah come and gone there still seems to be an endless list of things to do and parties to go to...oh, woe is me, she says tongue firmly in cheek.

Since I have had more than one holiday/mommy meltdown in the last week or so and since my old soul and quite wise 11 year old son told me to just "take a day off Mommy...you're the boss of Sugar & Stilettos so you can do that...nobody can tell you no." I decided to do just that.  Out of the mouths of babes...

I made plans to babysit my 6 month old niece, Stella, for a few hours yesterday...my mother over hearing these plans at our belated Hanukkah party on Saturday decided to join me...it was going to be a casual fun-filled girls' fest...walking, talking, eating, laughing, playing...

Well, my mother arrived at my house at 1130am as planned. By 12N there was still no Stella. A quick call to Pauline's cell phone revealed that she had forgotten completely. Hard to imagine how getting a few hours of freedom could slip a harried mother's mind but it did and so my mother and I were left with no baby to care for and nothing to do. So, we did what any self-respecting women would do in a similar situation...we went out to lunch and each ordered a big glass of wine to start.

My relationship with my mom has not always been easy. We have often been at odds with one another finding it impossible to understand or have compassion for the other one. Miraculously, in the last many years, we have found  common ground allowing us to settle into a very loving, accepting and joyful mother/daughter bond for which I am extremely grateful.

My mother and I in the beginning

My mother has had to overcome impossible obstacles in her life, not the least of which was my sister's death 21 years ago, her own two nervous breakdowns, numerous health issues of late and on and on. She has done so with a courage and spirit that is admirable as well as inspiring. She just simply refuses to give up or give in to life's tragedies, challenges or injustices no matter what they are.

I am a firm believer that every human being does the best they can at any given moment in time even when their best is downright shitty (excuse my French!)...my mother agrees with me. We have both always tried our best...our best often not being quite the stellar behavior we would have wished for. Yet, now as we looked across the table at each other our best is much closer to what we would like it to be. That's not to say that we don't continue to occasionally make mistakes emotionally and verbally, but that in general, we are able to rise to our better selves when we are together...treating each other with love, dignity, respect, kindness and compassion. We are able to share our feelings and truly listen better than ever before...and laugh...oh, how we laugh. These are gifts I appreciate beyond measure.

Being at peace with my mother (and father) and our relationship is the best present (other than the magical gift of my son) I have ever received. If I could offer up one little piece of counsel for you, my sweet readers, it would be to bury all your hatchets, work through all your baggage and get on with the thrill of being at one with yourself and those around you...especially your parents and siblings if you're still lucky enough to have them around. Even if they are not able to meet you even half way it doesn't matter. The inner work will free you up to be your best self and that is worth all the tea in China as they say. I promise that you will be happier and live a fuller, richer, in the present moment life.

Time is precious...people you love are more so...thank you Mom for being the woman you are...you have helped make me the woman I am...one I am pretty content to be!

Happy Holidays everyone!

xoxo Nanci

ATF Gingerbread

P.S. Try this incredible ATF Gingerbread recipe and share it with someone you love...