Yesterday I discovered a website and new blog called Operation Shower and I wanted to take a minute to write about it today. Operation Shower is a non-profit organization who seek to aid the mothers and mothers –to-be of military families with a new way of doing baby showers.
They produce and execute “showers in a box” for new mothers who are often dealing with the tense and stressful deployment of a loved one. These showers are thoughtful care packages that are a really great way to make a difference in someone’s life.
The organization was founded by Ms. Lena Morrisey and Ms. Kris Jackson in 2007. Since then their ‘operation’ has grown considerably and the site makes it very easy to help contribute by either making an online monetary donation, or by donating new baby items yourself. Click here to donate or to learn more about how you can help.
I think what they do is wonderful and it seems like a great way to execute the idea. I hope anyone who reads this continues to help spread the word and if you are on Twitter you can follow them at OperationShower.
It is already back to school time. I know this because I seem to keep ending up behind school buses in the morning so it must not be July anymore. Which is probably depressing and sad depending on your age and possibly profession.
If you have school aged children you might be breathing a sigh of relief at finally having them back in school. If you are in fact a school aged child you might be stifling a sob and the same might go for college students and teachers alike. If you are a student AND a teacher forget about it.
So if we must have some discussion of going back to school through the cheers and/or tears, let's do it by taking a look at The Preppy Life. Let them walk you through back to school gift ideas and help to ease your night sweats if the thought of school has got you down.
At least none of us are actually in a John Hughes movie (RIP Mr. Hughes) worrying about what James Spader thinks of us and if we are wearing the right kind of khakis on our first day back. Although if you would like to pretend that is the case you can either watch Pretty in Pink or check out The Preppy Handbook for tips on Amazon.
Based on quite a few reader comments we’re going to add a new section to the blog as a weekly feature. Lisa's List is just a quick check in with what our favorite sites have to say.
But we are always looking for new food or entertainment sites so let us know if we left out your favorite.
It was fashion's worst of times.
Just a quick post today to let everyone know that The Community News article is now available on their website. Please click away to find out a little more about OSP from an outsider's perspective.
We would like to thank Mr. Adam Zewe again for taking the time to come visit with us to learn a little about this new concept from Lisa and Steve. Please take a look at his article and everything else the Community News has to offer. For those who are local the print edition of the Greenville News will be out a little later this week.
Please let us know what you think of the operation and as always let us know when you are having a party!
Lisa wanted to celebrate the last day of a friend with some cookies and she was kind enough to not only photograph the process for us but also to let me have some to eat. If I could share with you over the interwebs I would I promise, but as I can't I'll explain how to make them instead. Because they are delicious and delicious is something to be shared.
The recipe is courtesy of Death by Chocolate Cookies by Marcel Desaulniers.
Chocolate Quickies Recipe
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ pound unsalted butter, cut into 1-oune pieces (Lisa changed this and added 2 sticks in her version)
1 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
Preheat the oven to 350º.
In a sifter combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt. Sift onto a large piece of wax paper and set aside until needed.
Place the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle. Beat on medium for 3 minutes until soft. Use a rubber spatula to scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add the eggs and vanilla extract and beat on medium for 2 minutes until smooth. Scrape down the bowl. Beat on high for 3 minutes until very smooth.
Scrape down the bowl once more. Operate the mixer on low while gradulally adding the sifted dry ingredients until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Add the chocolate chips
and mix on low for 30 seconds longer until incorporated. Remove the bowl from the mixer and use a rubber spatula to finish mixing the dough until thoroughly combined.
Using a heaping tablespoon of dough for each cookie (approximately 1 ¼ ounces), portion 12 cookies, evenly spaced, onto each of 3 nonstick baking sheets. Use your fingers to slightly flatten each portion of dough.
Place the baking sheets on the top and center racks of the preheated oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes (no need to rotate the sheets). Remove the cookies from the oven and cool to room temperature on the baking sheets, about 30 minutes.
Store the cooled cookies in a tightly sealed plastic container.
And then stop kidding yourself and eat most of them right away.
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