The Big Piece of Cake

My Other Favorite Twins

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:51:00 +0000

I'm over at Style Key West today confessing my love for twin beds:

Come say hello!

AND I Do Reviews...

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:59:00 +0000

I actually have a couple of reviews up on As Good As Cake right now.

Check them out!

earrings from LuShae Jewelry

little girl clips from LadyBugsNButterflies

One of Those "Housekeeping" Posts That's Only Interesting to People with Blogs...and Mom of Course

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:22:00 +0000

And by "housekeeping" I'm talking about my blog - not my house. This is probably one of the most boring genres of blog posting out there...yet at some point we all do it.

Even if we only have five readers, we feel the need to update them on how we feel about blogging, changes we're making, and of course those apologies for letting days go by without a single word, image or flash of brilliance. "Don't feel abandoned loyal readers - let me explain."

And for those of you with huge readerships, this is probably warranted. But for the rest of us - it's a bit like talking to ourselves in the mirror (or maybe chatting on the phone with Mom).

Either way - we all do it eventually. And today - I can't resist the pull. The siren call of "blogging about blogging." Because I have been a big blogging FAIL lately.

Here are the reasons why:

1. I started a new blog for my parents' shop Style Key West, and while they are writing and providing content, I set everything up for them. And I also write all of their Monday posts - just so you know.

2. I have been trying to post more frequently on Wishing True. I love my little pretty things blog even if it does have a tiny readership. So I don't want it to go the way of Underdogs Unite.

[See - I told you - BORING!]

3. My twins have recently decided that we are once again connected by umbilical cords. The separation that took place three years and almost four months ago has completely slipped their minds. Much like agoraphobics with their homes, they become increasingly uncomfortable as the space between us begins to widen. And if I leave their sight for more than a few minutes, the panic attacks begin. If I want to be on the computer, I generally have to work around the two squirming three year olds on my lap.

[Oh god - now she's blaming her kids. Shameless!]

4. I have a son named Oliver who has some special needs. He's a handful. The end. Epilogue: I'm now taking him to extra therapy which requires driving everyone to appointments, WHICH entails getting three children suited up for the cold, getting them out to the car, getting them into the car, driving to the appointment, getting them out of the car, getting them into the building...you get the idea. The appointment and round trip drive time is approximately an hour and 45 minutes. And the rest of it takes approximately an hour and 45 minutes.

5. I've decided that after about five years, it's time to start noticing that I have a husband and pay some attention to him when he's around in the evening. We do things together that we both enjoy (translation: watch television) and surprisingly, this doesn't involve me using the computer.

[Mooooommmmm! Are we there yet?!]

Not yet. 6. The number of television shows that I watch either real time or later on the computer has become out of control. Especially now that Lost is back. Sorry Deep End - I have a full plate right now. If you're around in three years and I'm the only one who has no idea what people are talking about at cocktail parties, then I'll have my regrets and add you to the Netflix queue. But for now, I'm already in the process of making cuts. Private Practice - you have a lot of potential and if I had the time, I'd definitely keep you on staff. But you know what they say, "last to come, first to go..." (Pssst! Flash Forward - make yourself scarce. I don't want her to remember when you joined the team until after she's gone.)

[Now that's just pathetic... ]

So as you can see (if you're still reading, that is) I have very good reasons for my dismal performance in posting here and HELLO! commenting. Seriously - I still love you - but if the name of your blog starts with any letter after L, I'm having a hard time reaching you in my reader. And that is going to be a big priority this week: catch up on my reader and visit some of my new commenters.

So to wrap up one of the most ennui inducing blogging about blogging posts, I'm now going to kick the eye rolls up a notch by adding some pictures of my kids!

Aren't they the cutest ever?! I knew you'd enjoy that. Almost as much as my fiction writing. Which I skipped today...more apologies on that. Will the disappointments never end...?

*ALSO: I have some reviews and news up on As Good As Cake. Check it out!

Friday Fiction - on Tuesday: Introducing Ellen

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:00:00 +0000

Didn't get a chance to do any writing on Friday - there didn't seem to be a minute to sit down. But now I have one, so this is a make up post.

Last we left off, Vivi and Ivy had an hour to kill, so they turned on the TV and promptly passed out. I'm going to let them sleep a bit longer since there is another character I need to introduce, Ivy's mother Ellen.

Want to catch up? You can do so HERE.

In 1980, three important things happened to Ellen Chapin. She turned 35, moved to Washington DC and decided that her macrobiotic diet just wasn't going to work out.

While it had been a long time since she felt particularly young, there was something about 35 that sounded decidedly old. So six months before her birthday, Ellen stood in front of her mirror and made a rather painful assessment of the state of affairs.

She wasn't overweight, but after the birth of two children and several years of eating cookies out of the box in grocery store parking lots, she wasn't exactly slim either. Her mother always claimed that extra weight aged you by ten years. So according to this theory, she looked about 44.

Carl always claimed that he liked her shape. That he preferred soft and womanly to muscular and masculine. But Ellen would have settled for something in between. Something less matronly. Maybe firm and curvy? Maybe just less flabby...

So the first thing she put on her to do list was "change eating habits." Nancy suggested exercise, asserting that the endorphins she'd experience while running would give her "twice as much energy for chasing after the kids." But after polite murmurs about good ideas and definitely thinking about it, Ellen promptly dismissed the idea. With the exception of years of dancing in her youth and a few failed attempts to attend a local Jazzercise class, Ellen did not exercise.

What she did do was read. So a trip to the bookstore was made and the answer to all of her problems was procured. Or at least, that's what the book claimed to be able to do. It proposed that by changing her diet to include only "clean" foods, she would look better and feel better. And better was one goal to which Ellen felt she could confidently aspire.

I'll be back with more of Ellen on Friday...I think...

Color Theory

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:50:00 +0000

I'm over at Style Key West today talking about color.

Come by and let me know what you think!

Continuing to Cultivate Genius

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:55:00 +0000

The other week I posted some pictures of my son, Oliver's invention: a slide made from the playroom coffee table placed at an angle, along with a large stuffed animal "sled." Simple. Safe (hey - no one got hurt!). Brilliant.

And now my younger son, George has astounded me with yet ANOTHER new invention made from household items.

[In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to admit that he probably got this idea from seeing me dislodge a bead from a straw (yes - most of my daily accomplishments now run along those lines...) But regardless, his entrepreneurial spirit can't be denied.]

So tell me - what would you make with a small, blue orange juice cap and a vacuum cleaner attachment?

An awesome blow gun of course!

AND an extra long one:

Here it is in action:

Even I had to try it out:

I know - I'm pretty gorgeous right? Sadly, I've never been one of those people who comes back from the gym glowing... And seriously - it couldn't have occurred to me to splash on a little makeup before taking those pictures?

Wait - why do you suddenly bring up Botox? Back to the invention...

As usual, my pictures just don't do justice to the subject. So I took a video:

OUCH! That hurt. But don't blame the invention - no injuries were sustained during actual blow gun activity. (And how about that dirty wall? Yikes! Time to do some cleaning...)

Hours of fun! Can't wait to see what they come up with next. Eleanor doesn't show much interest in this area, but you never know what she might do with some glitter and a few My Little Ponies. Stay tuned...

Kate's Key West: Bésame Mucho

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:52:00 +0000

I'm over at Style Key West today talking about my SECOND favorite Key West store. Drop by and wish you were there...

Friday Fiction: A Much Needed Nap

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 20:20:00 +0000

Getting back to doing this on Fridays...

Not much transpired in the last installment as it was at least 50% description of the building layout. We left off with Vivi and Ivy arriving at Vivi's apartment, with their brief hopes of a balcony break-in dashed.

Want to catch up? You can do so HERE.

In fact, Sam was shocked when she agreed that everything seemed pretty perfect as it was. He saw how she doted on her nieces and nephews and worried that she would want her own house full of children to boss around (that last part being a direct quote from him of course).

At the end of the day though, Vivi was just too in love with her husband to share him. And she was both honest enough and conceited enough to admit this without a twinge of shame. She couldn't be bothered with anyone else's notions about children bringing more love to a marriage or the fact that only a very immature person would consider "sharing" to be a problem (that last part being a direct quote from Mama of course, the old busybody).

But Vivi was a realist as well as a younger sister, and she saw exactly what children brought to a marriage. And no matter how wonderful and magical they were, they did in fact take away from the parts that she liked best.

She liked waking up on the weekend and knowing that she could snuggle up to her husband's warm body for another hour's sleep. She liked lingering over breakfast and the morning paper, and then giving him her undivided attention as he told her what he thought about what was going on in the world. And she liked having his undivided attention while she told him that she couldn't agree more - or explained why he couldn't be more wrong. She liked dressing up for him and going out to wonderful restaurants. She liked going away for the weekend on a whim. And she liked knowing that she was the center of his universe - because from the first moment she laid eyes on him, he was the center of hers.

Selfish or not, she didn't want to share their life with anyone else. And if that meant never being a mother, it was a price she was willing to pay. A price taxed with sidelong looks and whispered aspersions - but still worth it to her.

As far as she was concerned, her ostensibly "concerned" friends and family could go stuff it. She would live her life any way she wanted to. And she wanted to live with only Sam.

So no children. And now he was gone.

But she knew in her heart that she made the right decision all those years ago, and would say as much to anyone who ever implied otherwise. They may not have had a lifetime together - but she wouldn't trade what they did have for an army of children to keep her company now.

Vivi would never be at a loss for company. Frankly - she was just too much fun. And her old friends and new admirers made frequent visits to get their fix - one of the reasons why she always kept the refrigerator stocked with treats.

So her new little friend was quickly tucked into a terry cloth robe and under a cashmere throw, then plied with a plate of petit fours and a steaming cup of hot cocoa. All of which sounded like heaven to the hostess, who joined Ivy on the couch with her own blanket and sweets.

Ivy claimed that her mother would definitely be home to make dinner, so she would try knocking on the balcony door again at five o'clock.

Since they had an hour to kill, Vivi looked for something they could both enjoy on television. The headache made cartoons (which she secretly enjoyed from time to time) impossible, but the afternoon movie just happened to be The Wizard of Oz. This appealed to both parties, and minutes after Glinda gave Dorothy her mission, the two exhausted young and less young ladies fell fast asleep.

Fingers crossed that I'll be back with more next Friday...

Too Little Time and too Much Wine

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 03:20:00 +0000

So much has been going on this week that I've had very little time to think about writing anything of substance.

I have an idea - but then it gets late and I still have to clean up and I've had maybe just a little too much wine and all I want to do is catch up on my stories (that would be the terrible television shows that I became addicted to during my maternity leave three years ago).

So I'm just going to post this little gem that I found on LiLu's blog the other week. It makes me happy. It reminds me of the beach. It reminds me of being in my twenties and hanging out with fun gay boys who like to dance and tell me how gorgeous I am without trying to grab my boob. Is it sad that I reminisce about the gay men in my past and not the straight ones? (Did I actually say "boob"? - too much wine...) I'll just assume it means that I'm happily married.

Anyway - this is adorable. Enjoy.

Friday Fiction - On Monday: This One's Kind of a Bridge

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:51:00 +0000

This is starting to be a once a month thing...when I planned to make it once a week. So easy to back burner something when you're really just doing it for yourself.

And I have no illusions about that. Seriously - how many people with blogs are interested in reading each others' fiction? They're too busy scanning each others' poetry so they can leave a comment that sounds like they give a...well - you know what I mean.

But for the three of you who seem legitimately into it, and of course, Mom - I'm back and I'm REALLY going to try to do this one a week.

SO - we last left off with Vivi and Ivy heading upstairs to (respectively) take an aspirin and put on some warm clothes. I found that I needed to put in some technical details for context, so I used up most my allotted post space on that. It may be a little boring - but a good writing exercise I guess.

Want to catch up? You can do so HERE.

As they walked from the elevator to Vivi's door, they discovered something unexpected. They shared a balcony.

Vivi lived in apartment 5B on the West side of the St. Sebastian. And as it turned out, Ivy and her family lived in 5B on the East side.

The St. Sebastian was split down the middle with a separate entrance on either side of the most hideous piece of modern art that Vivi had ever seen. Honestly, if she had been a resident at the time that particular piece of garbage was installed, it would have been the first and only occasion that she ever gave two hoots about what that bunch of wind bags on the board had to say. But ugliness aside, it hid the mailboxes and served to dissect the building into an East and West side, each with their own elevators.

Apparently, the girl had her own quick mind and practical streak, because the first clear statement she articulated was that if they shared apartment numbers, then they must share living room balconies.

Each apartment had two balconies. One tiny one off of the master bedroom, and one larger one off of the living room. And the living room balconies were stationed at the center of the back wall of the building. Since the East and West sides of the St. Sebastian were mirror images, the balconies were connected and only separated by a thin plaster wall. There was even a slim space between the wall and the railing where one could slip though. While not privacy friendly, it was necessary for the East side residents to be able to reach the fire escape stairs attached to the West side balconies.

Vivi had no idea if Ivy knew anything about why their balconies were connected, but she had obviously noticed that they were. And this led her to the conclusion that she could probably just walk over to her own balcony door and enter her apartment.

Unfortunately, it seemed that her parents were far more responsible than she expected, and the balcony door was locked.

Vivi would be lying if she claimed that she wasn't disappointed. She wanted nothing more than to curl up on her couch for a cat nap. It was part of the Sunday ritual. Brunch with champagne and then a nap.

And then a phone call from Mama in which she would be required to explain yet again why she had forsaken her God, because she would only be truly at peace with her late husband's death if she started going to church again and stopped wasting time with those fancy boys who were an abomination in the eyes of the Lord. But that was neither here nor there. Champagne and naps were a luxury to be enjoyed. And Mama's lectures were just a reality that Vivi learned to tune out long ago.

Who knew what Mama would make of this. She was not exactly known for her rapport with young girls. In fact she would probably do anything to get the child off her hands. Possibly knocking on other neighbors' doors or perhaps calling Child Protective Services.

But Vivi wasn't Mama. Regardless of her decision to skip the having kids part of her marriage, she truly did love children.

I'll pick this back up on Friday and HOPEFULLY, I'll manage to make it a weekly thing again.

OH - and I'm over at Style Key West today talking about Anne Harwell and what a star she is. Come by and say hello!

We're Number Seven! We're Number Seven!

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 12:53:00 +0000

Remember this?

And remember how I asked you to vote for me?

And then I let that button languish on my sidebar from months on end and kind of forgot about it altogether?

Well guess what? I didn't win.

Shocker.

BUT I am actually on the short list which is just about the coolest thing that's ever happened to me blog-wise. I mean - in a popularity contest for people who write really long posts kind of way.

The Blogitzer isn't one of the bigger, more sought after categories like Best Humor Blog (meaning not for people who only make themselves laugh) or Hottest Mommy Blogger (as if!). It may not get as much attention as the others, but I like to think of it as more of an "indie" category. Lower budget and fewer viewers, but...hmmm - okay, forget that track. Let's just call it "exclusive."

Would this make me like the seventh most popular cheerleader or the seventh most popular kid in the Chess Club...?

Either way, I WIN (seventh place).

WE'RE NUMBER SEVEN! WE'RE NUMBER SEVEN!

(If you wanted to see the full list of winners, go HERE. You'll find The Blogitzer almost at the end - between "Most Obnoxious Blogger" and "Worst Blog of All Time." So thrilling to be rubbing elbows with the blogging elite.)

Jewelry Discount on As Good As Cake

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 19:07:00 +0000

Would you like this ring?

How about these earrings?

Or maybe a necklace?

I was just informed that one of my new favorite online jewelry shops, Iddos Jewelry would like to offer my readers a 20% site wide discount. Visit me at As Good As Cake for details.

Rookie Mistakes, Crazy Talk and Being For-dick-a-less

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:37:00 +0000

Okay. So I've been a mom for over four years now. Pushing five. And I'm pushing forty myself. I babysat my ass off when I was a teenager (and much later into my twenties than is considered normal). And I actually remember quite a lot about about being a kid myself.

Yet - none of that seems to matter. I still make rookies mistakes, I hear myself spouting bizarre statements with earnest sincerity, and on occassion, I act like a complete tool. All regarding my children of course (shut up Chris).

I've had some real winners lately, so I thought I'd post a random sampling today.

First the rookie mistakes. All of that experience with small children under my belt, and I still:

Leave a full and OPEN bottle of bubble bath sitting next to the tub while I duck out to grab the shampoo.

Buy bath markers (Why do I keep doing this? It's like I have amnesia every time I browse the bath aisle at Target, "OH bath markers - that looks like fun!" sigh)

Leave the house without diapers even though my three year old twins are only 50% potty trained.

Leave an open jar of peanut butter on the counter while I run downstairs to switch the laundry.

Assume that if I don't hear a peep from the kids for a long period of time they are playing nicely, and enjoy the little break from the chaos (because we all know what I usually find when I go looking for them...)

Leave an open jar of Vaseline on the counter while I run downstairs to switch the laundry.

Leave an uncapped tube of toothpaste sitting on the counter while I run downstairs to switch the laundry.

(I also have amnesia about the kids getting into everything that should be far out of their reach. And I do a lot of laundry.)

Then there are the crazy sounding things I say without a hint of irony:

Hmmm. That's strange...I can only think of one recent one. Maybe it's like that amnesia thing above and I'm just saying the same crazy thing over and over without realizing that I've said it before. Anyway - here it is:

We NEVER pee on people.

Hold on...I just remembered a couple more:

[When one of them wanted to help me bake cookies] "Okay - you can help...but you have to wear underwear. It's like - my only cooking rule."

[George loves to play in our sliding door closets] "Come on George! It's time to go. No more playing in the closet - we have to leave. No - I'm serious - it's time. Get out of the closet now. I said now. I said come OUT of the closet George!"

As for acting like a complete lunatic...I think my personal best was a debacle at nap time last month.

First, I should explain that George and Eleanor still need their nap. They are complete monsters (I mean more than usual) when they skip it.

But they went through a phase of refusing to settle down and sleep. During that time, they would just play in their room.

This would have been fine if they played quietly and acheived some modicum of "rest." But they didn't. Whatever I heard going on one level up sounded like a scene from Fight Club. They literally shook the house with their...whatever it was they did.

And the worst part was that what they were doing seemed to involve taking off all of their clothes, including their diapers. And having accidents. On the floor. Like puppies.

I seriously thought I was going to lose my mind, and eventually, I kind of did.

I decided it was time to lay down the law - no more Mr. Nice Guy - the madness would end.

So you can imagine how well that went.

First, I told them very calmly and quietly that if I heard one more sound from their room, they would be in A LOT of trouble. And they were to keep their diapers ON. If I came upstairs to find naked children and wet patches on the carpet, there would be spankings (a punishment I rarely enforce but often threaten).

They just laughed at me.

I closed the door, thinking "yeah - we'll see who is laughing the next time I'm up here..."

Minutes later when I felt the first sonic boom, I was up the stairs and in their room, ready to show them who was boss. I yelled and fumed and made my scariest face possible. All while re-attaching diaper tabs.

I then gave them "one more chance" (because I'm a soft touch) and promised spankings the next time I had to come upstairs.

They just laughed at me.

And of course it was less than 10 minutes before I returned for a little demonstration of tough love. THIS time it was no more Mr. Nice Guy.

Which ended up being true when I saw how they had ripped apart the room. Their crib mattresses (on the floor as we still need to get them toddler beds) were over turned and sheets and blankets lay in heaps. The CD I had put on was skipping and the lamp was on its side. And of course, they were naked.

They saw my fury - and they just laughed at me.

I very calmly and quietly told them that it was time for spankings. And each of them got one very hard smack on their bare bottom. Unheard of from their previously gentle and soft spoken mother.

There was howling and unintelligible toddler cursing as I re-diapered and dressed them. But by the time I made my way back out of the room, I heard something that made my blood boil.

They were laughing at me.

Knowing that you should never approach a child in such a rage, I closed the door and waited until I felt that rolling boil return to a slow simmer. Then finally when I thought it was at a safe room temperature, I returned to the devil spawn.

I found them gleefully trying to rip curtains off the window. And that's when the whoop ass can was opened. I didn't spank anyone, but I raged and bellowed and pulled every single object out of that room.

First removed the entire curtain rod and tossed it into the the hall. Then I repeated the process with every book and toy I could find. Then came the sheets and blankets. Then the mattresses.

The twins watched in silent astonishment as I dragged the table, lamp and CD player out as well, and then finally pulled a clock off the wall.

I left the room completely bare (not too difficult of a feat since it's a tiny room without space for a dresser - but still).

Then I walked out, leaving them in their diapers to either sleep or entertain themselves for the next hour.

This time they did not laugh.

In fact, they cried for a long time, and it took all of my willpower not to go to them. Instead I waited until they fell silent. Then I crept back in and put blankets over their sleeping potato bug bodies.

And I felt like a terrible mother.

Later when they woke up with no sign of resentment or remorse, they watched as I put their room back to rights. They commented on the various items and showed me where to put them.

When I put the clock back up on the wall, George said, "mommy throw the clock?"

And I had to kind of laugh at myself. I mean - what purpose did that serve anyway? I punished them by denying them their clock? Ridiculous.

So I said as much: "Yes George, that was ridiculous. I won't take down the clock again."

George repeated "For-dick-a-less?" And a new Hood family word was born. Because they often refer to things as being for-dick-a-less.

"But what about the diapers?" you ask. "Do they still take them off at nap time?"

No - they don't. But it took one more outrageous act to stop that practice:

For-dick-a-less...but effective.

Like Somebody's Mother

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +0000

This year, I realized that I haven't worn a one piece bathing suit since I was twelve years old. And it's not because I've been living the good life of giving the cast of The Hills a run for their money in the bikini department.

It's simply because no matter what dress size I'm wearing, I always look a little less bad in a two piece. I'm short waisted and I tend to carry any extra weight in my hips and thighs. And I've found that covering my stomach just draws more attention to that.

Even post pregnancies - I'd rather show a little stretched out abdominal skin than wear a bathing suit that doubles for a neon arrow pointing to my cellulite. And even more importantly, I kind of don't care anymore.

Want to read the rest?

I'm somewhere else again today. Over at DC Metro Moms, talking about bathing suits of all things.

Come by and let me know what you think.

My Key West

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:55:00 +0000

I'm over at Style Key West today reminiscing about my Key West vacations with Oliver.

Come by and see what I loved best.

I'm Not Sure What's Worse...

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +0000

...that I let them do this...

...that I took pictures of it...

...or that I think they're total geniuses for coming up with it.

Best mom ever.

Don't forget to check out my new style/design blog project: Style Key West!

Okay, So I Started a New Style Blog

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 13:47:00 +0000

I know that there is this idea floating out there among my friends and family that I have like 100 blogs. Actually - I only have two, this site and Wishing True (where you will find a copy of this post today). The As Good As Cake site is just a page for giveaways and reviews - so I consider that to be part of The Big Piece of Cake.

Sure I had that Underdogs site for a big - but it fizzled. So yeah - two blogs. That's it.

Until this week.

Because I have now added Style Key West to the list.

My parents live in Key West and own a great home furnishings shop and design service, and they are now expanding with an online store (still under construction at the moment).

I've been trying to convince them to start a blog to help drive traffic to the online store, and they finally agreed! The decision was contingent upon my availability to help set it up (they're creative people and not so techie - unlike me - snort!) So I put together a little blogspot for them as a start:

And I will be writing one or two posts for them each week in addition to their own. The site will focus on their shop, their design work, their daily life and the party island that they call home. It should be a fun blog since they are some of the most interesting people I know.

My mom has amazing taste and has a long history of putting together beautiful spaces on small budgets in addition to the high budget work she's done for her decorating clients. She's also the sweetest, most beloved person I've ever met. Everyone falls in love with Jo Coveny.

And my dad is a real character (maybe one of the driving forces behind their move to Key West?) His lifelong hobbies include wine tasting, breeding hibiscus flowers, landscaping their homes (without formal training) and songwriting. He even wrote a musical. I mean - who does that?! Anyway - life is never dull with Terry Coveny.

So I would LOVE it if you would help support this new endeavor by subscribing to their blog, following them, tweeting about it, forwarding the link to your design-minded friends...telling your own parents... Whatever. Any traffic they can get would be fabulous and a wonderful start to building their own social networking community.

Here is the link to the first post I wrote for them: An Introduction...

Since then, mom has posted some pictures of their home and a huge Dachshund Walk (seriously - a wiener dog walk - only in Key West) that just took place last week. Future posts will cover happenings in their shop, interior design projects they're working on, lovely online finds, crazy stories about their life in Key West, ideas for DIY projects and ways to use color in your home...and who knows what from there - but that's what we've discussed so far.

It should be a fun read. So make sure to visit Style Key West. And come back often!

One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for a Family Pathologically Unable to Take a Decent Group Picture

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +0000

Last year, I featured some pictures from a failed holiday card photo shoot. It was attempted right before we left for holiday cocktails at our neighbors' house.

This year on New Year's Eve, history repeated itself.

I looked at my children all dressed up (forget about dressed up - they were all DRESSED!) and thought, "okay - it's go time."

I herded everyone over to the Christmas tree, frantically kicking shoes, toys and unidentified objects out of the shot, and then proceeded to ask, cajole, bribe and threaten them to "stand still and look at me!"

It was a complete disaster as usual...

...but I was able to get ONE semi-decent picture of them:

Sadly, I had to make them sit - so the backdrop is the not-so-prime real estate at the bottom of the Christmas tree. Very few ornaments are featured there, and they're all ones that I don't mind losing to a stray karate kick or airborne toy.

And to add insult to injury, Eleanor looks like she has a Celtic cross growing out of her head (ornament courtesy of a wedding we attended in 2001 - continued best wishes to you, Cathleen and Sean!) Her princess crown from Target helps, but I may have to attempt some Photoshop editing.

All in all, I'm thrilled and expect to see even more improvement over the 2010 holidays. Who knows - maybe we'll actually send out a holiday card. A girl can dream...

Who Do I Want to Be in 2010?

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 19:00:00 +0000

I'm thinking about these three characters when I consider that question...

...and I'm writing about it over at DC Metro Moms today.

Make sure to comment and let me know who YOU want to be in 2010.

Happy New Year!

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 17:00:00 +0000

Click image to view:

Oh Right - I Almost Forgot the Cookies!

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 15:48:00 +0000

Typical. I say goodbye for a week or two and then remember something left undone.

I wanted to repost my cookie recipe as a little holiday gift. So here it is - NEWAND IMPROVED WITH PICTURES!

A long time ago, my friend Nancy and I offered to make desserts for a holiday party we were attending. She suggested that we use a cookie recipe she got from the Italian grandmother of one of her childhood friends.

We made the cookies, and then life as I knew it changed forever (as far as cookies go, that is).

We continued to make these cookies every holiday season after that. Even now that we've lived in different states for many years (and for a while on different coasts), we still maintain this holiday cookie baking tradition. As far as we know, the cookies don't even have an official name. We call them Italian Christmas Cookies - but that's not really accurate. They are not supposed to be holiday specific - we just choose to reserve them for holiday baking.

The cookies have become famous among people that know us and know of us (and are usually referred to as "the cookies"). And the coveted recipe has been gladly provided to anyone who requests it. We are also famous for our generosity.

I mentioned these cookies recently in one of my posts and wasn't surprised to receive requests for the recipe. Instead of e-mailing it out upon request, I thought I'd just post it on my blog. So honor of the season of giving, I'm giving you...the gift...of Italian Christmas cookies. I know! Last week it was Redneck Neighbor, this week it's cookies, every week it's December giveaways... What can I say? I'm a giver.

But back to those cookies...

Italian Ricotta Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Combine the following in a bowl (in order):

1 stick (8 tbs) and 1 tbs butter
*Note: Cream butter before adding other ingredients.

1 cup ricotta cheese

1 tsp vanilla

1 egg

1 cup sugar

2 cups flour

½ tsp salt

½ tsp baking soda

Arrange tsp size drops on cookie sheets (space 2 inches apart)

Bake for about 10 minutes
*Notes: The original recipe states 15 minutes. But it came from an old Italian lady who was probably working with a 1950s oven, so I doubt more than 10 minutes is necessary. I’ve found that my cookies are done in 6-8 minutes. They can burn easily so make sure to check them early. Since all ovens are different, I suggest doing a test batch of a few cookies the first time you try the recipe. They should remain pale on top but will be firmer to the touch when done. If you notice them browning a little – they are definitely done.

Makes approximately 48 2-inch cookies

Icing (optional – but HIGHLY recommended)

Warm 1 tbs and 1 tsp of skim milk in a sauce pan

Add 1 cup of confectioners sugar and ¼ tsp vanilla

Once the mixture has thinned (should be thin enough to drizzle over cookies), it is ready to use.

*Notes on icing: This icing dries very quickly, so you have to use it immediately. I’ve had the best results when I’ve kept the saucepan over a very low heat and held cookies over the pan to ice them.

Just watch your fingers. Molten sugar can give you a nasty burn. Also try to be exact about the measurements – whenever I add a little extra milk the results are disastrous. If it’s too thin it won’t dry. Finally – I usually make a double batch of icing for each single batch of cookies. I’ve never been able to stretch the original icing recipe enough to ice all 48 cookies.

Enjoy!

And NOW I'll see you in 2010!

-Kate

My Holiday Card to You

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 00:29:00 +0000

Click on the image:

And I'll see you in the new year!

*Yes - that's one of the Ojolie e-cards from my As Good As Cake review/giveaway. I'm not addicted!

She's Alright. She's Just Fine. And You're a Tool...

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Apparently this is Eleanor's favorite song:

I plan to cultivate refinement in my children by exposing them to the finer things early on...

Yes Sir, That's My Baby...

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 05:00:00 +0000

I'm so in love with my tree this year... And if you think that that sounds ridiculous, then you never read this.

Anyway - my photography skills are mediocre at best but I did try. Seriously, I think I took more pictures than a new mother does the day she brings her baby home from the hospital.

Since my actual children refuse to be still (let alone wear clothes) for a nice holiday photo, I might have to consider using one of the images above for our holiday card. I'm just kidding of course - like I ever get around to sending out cards...

I had some even better shots, but those damn human children keep leaning into the branches, knocking bows askew and breaking ornaments.

Let go of the apple and back away from the tree. Slowly!

Don't give me that look. And for god's sake do something about your hair!

But I must say - if Oliver was my only child, this would definitely be our (theoretical) holiday card:

Okay - so maybe the tree isn't really my favorite baby... MAYBE!

Last Holiday Giveaway Today on As Good As Cake!

K8Hood@gmail.com (Kate Coveny Hood) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:54:00 +0000

I'm giving away three free personalized porcelain ornaments from Cafe Press on As Good As Cake. Here are some options I created:

Guess which one I picked. Click HERE to enter to win your own.

And don't forget to enter the other giveaways that are still open:

Beads by Mer chalcedony drop earrings
(closes TODAY, December 18th)

Beautify My Blog blog makeover
(closes Sunday, December 20th)

Feather Report iphone app
(closes Monday, December 21st)

Around the Island Photography 8x10 print (CHOICE FROM ETSY SHOP)
(closes Tuesday, December 22nd)

Polarn O. Pyret 6-9 month size jacket
(closes Wednesday, December 23rd)

Christy Wood Jewelry Design necklace (CHOICE FROM SEVEN)
(closes Thursday, December 24th)

Ms. Stacy Cakes Bakeshoppe $50 store credit
(closes Friday, December 25th)

CSN Stores set of 15 glass tumblers (CHOICE OF COLORS)
(closes Monday, December 28th)

Closet Confidential book with personal dedication and/or haiku from author Winona of Daddy Likey
(closes Tuesday, December 29th)

Ojolie e-cards - three one-year memberships
(closes Wednesday, December 30th)

The Gentle Copywriter 2,500 words of free copywriting services
(closes Thursday, December 31st)

Good luck!