The New First Lady and me

I was fortunate enough a few months ago to work with our new first lady.  I was walking her through the recipes she would be cooking with my wonderful boss, Paula Deen.  It was a special and crazy day.  Luckily one of the cameramen kept their camera rolling during the set up.  I won’t bore you with the entire thing, here are just a couple of grainy stills taken from the tape and a few things I remember about Michelle Obama and that day.

*Like Princess Diana (me shamelessly telling you I met her in Vail years ago) Michelle Obama is even more beautiful and stately in person.

*She’s TALL…I’m 5′7”…as you can see from the photo she is towering over me at 6′

*She was nervous…like they all are before they have to cook on camera…they don’t realize the director will cut a ton of times and they don’t have to memorize anything no matter how many times you tell them.

*She insisted on using Purell to wash her hands and not the clean towel I had supplied Paula

*Her staff was young,cute, full of energy and gracious

*Secret Service wanted to get their photos taken with Paula

*The place was a zoo with GMA, Inside Edition, Secret Service, Bomb detection dogs and a ton of cameras when it was supposed to be a closed set, our camera men could barely move around to get what they needed for the show.

*After seeing all of the hard work that goes into two simple cooking segments, she stopped on her way out and thanked me personally…I’ll consider that a job perk.

Me 5'7'' short....

Pointing to the deep fryer...not fencing.

Kathy Griffin brings floral inspiration

Non creative people eventually bore me…usually sooner than later.  This week I was inspired by Lynn, Brandon, Erika and Joel.  Here are a couple of shots of the arrangements I did in my own home after watching Brandon work his magic for Kathy Griffin’s “A List” arrival….I’m learning.

It's always spring in Savannah

LOVE those kick ass turquoise patent leather seats

Punch of purple

Photos from a Nut Shoot

The product is a nut topper to shake on salads and ice cream. I can tell you first hand it is delicious since I ate about a pound of it yesterday. From beginning to end…client, advertising agency, celebrity spokesperson, photograher…it was a dream and a pleasure. Here are a couple of photos from a day in the life of us…

The man...the photographer...the Steve Pelosi

Steve on point

The delicious subject and the beautiful boss

Creative Director modeling without sound

Hairstylist to the stars

The Brothers Nut...Wonderful Clients and Account Manager Don "Draper"

One of the head nuts and his stunningly beautiful Anne Hathaway look alike nut offspring

Scooping the fake Old Fashion Vanilla Bean Ice Cream I made the day before

working another angle

Styling camera front...Adding the nuts...Curiously the ice cream isn't melting under the lights and pressure

Recipe for Fake Old Fashion Vanilla Bean Icecream

1/2 C Light Corn Syrup

1/2 C Vegetable Shortening

Seeds from 3 Vanilla Beans

1-2 drops Yellow Food Coloring

1 to 2 pounds Confectioners Sugar

Using a standing mixer, combine corn syrup and vegetable shortening. Mixing until well combined. Add vanilla bean seeds and yellow food coloring. Mix thoroughly. Gradually add 1 pound of confectioners sugar a cup at a time. Remove from mixing bowl and knead in confectioners sugar on a clean surface until a desired consistency is achieved. Be careful not to add too much confectioners sugar or the mixture will become crumbly. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Food Stylists Note: It’s in the “scooping” that makes it an art…and a job.

Mussels in the bedroom

I have admired Catherine Lovett’s fine artwork since the first painting I saw. www.catherinelovett.com Catherine is a wonderful photographer whom I met a few years ago while I was working in psycho hell…many great things came out of that hell and one was meeting Catherine.  She was kind enough to take a few of my original portfolio food images that are still on my site today.   Catherine has a contagious energy and joie de vivre…not to mention she is stunningly beautiful.  Her paintings encompass all that she is.  I fell in love with this painting of  Prince Edward Island mussels when I saw it for sale at the cute boutique Number Four Eleven.  www.numberfoureleven.com I had to have it.  Some might question mussels in the bedroom….just never question muscles in the bedroom.

Mussels in place, but unframed...still can't decide

Mussels watching muscles

She’s Old, She’s Beautiful and She’s Mine

My very beautiful and talented friend Meriwether tells me that all of these wonderful things happen to me because I am “present”. I want to believe she is right..I listen to what people want and what they want to get rid of…emotionally and physically. This is another example of how great it is to be present and to get a fab Christmas present! Her name is Evelyn after Evelyn Champagne King of the same era. She is a pristine 1987 BMW 325i Convertible…champagne in color…BMW called it Bronzette at the time…perfect tan leather seats and a tan rag top. Her provenance has been kept to Florida. I found out about her through her second owners and my good friends Mark and Laura and she is stunning. Always clever Brandon pulled up behind her in his new amazing 2009 Mercedes convertible and hit the nail on the head when he said “Evelyn is old money…my car is new money.” LOVES!!!! Meet Evelyn and thank you Josh for making her and my life a little more shiny each day.

Evelyn looking a little pale in the hot Florida sun where she was living

Her new home...a cozy garage in Savannah

Christmas day with Evelyn, Anthony and a new slightly ghetto Mizzou Tigers plate

Bonus! Even the boys look cute behind the wheel

Holiday Highlights

What the F? FOOD, FAMILY, FESTIVITIES and FUN!

Non Discriminating Gingerbread Boys and Girls

Food Network Magazine Shoot...I like fancy pants the best

Spreading Ham and Holiday Cheer with the troops at Ft. Bragg

Atlanta Family before the Summers' arrival

Anthony and Kyle...The Click Cousins

Asian Rock Star Napping with the dogs after a big dinner NOTE: Subject not in Asia...dogs not on menu

The Boss And My Boys

Last Minute Holiday Website Shoot....NOTE: Photographer, lighting assist. and stylist ate it all after the shot...DElicious

Photo taken by my dad early in the morning after Christmas in Atlanta...tired but happy and in love

Peace on Earth

I sent out 100 Holiday cards and I was still 40 short…to all of you that didn’t receive the hard copy on beautiful Crane paper with the fuchsia(my holiday color this year) print done by Gary at La Paperie http://www.lapaperie.net ….this one’s for you…it’s cheesy, but still funny and poignant…right? Happy Holidays to All!

Peace on Earth