I'm In A New Jersey State of Mind

After days of sitting inside, waiting for the snow to melt, the trees to be cleared, and school to reopen, I think about living in New Jersey and, despite it all, I love living here. I love our home state, even with it's painfully cold winters, and snowstorms that come in, well, October. 


No state is without it's problems, but it seems that through all of the absurdly and unfortunate weather changes we've experienced, not only has New Jersey weathered (no pun intended) the storm, but we've come together and gotten stronger. Denville gathered for a special day, just a few weeks ago, to raise money for the towns and their residents, and made close to $200,000 in just one day. "I love Denville" bracelets were for sale, buttons that said, "Denville's Back" were sold, along with t-shirts (with all the profits going back to the town) at Surprises In Store that said on the front "Denville's Back" and on the back, "Now Back Denville."


It's been amazing.


This storm has been no different. People with power have invited friends and family who lost power, to stay with them. In Mountain Lakes, both the Mountain Lakes Club and the high school became shelters, as did Denville's Morris Knolls High School. W and I got out briefly for dinner on Halloween night (as all local towns, save for Boonton, postponed Halloween to either Friday or Saturday), and the pub we visited, The Second Half, was packed with people we knew, most of whom had no power at home. There was such a community spirit, it was unbelievable.


As I've written before, now is the time (if ever) to shop locally as much as possible. Dash of Thyme Gourmet has lots of staples that you can buy at their shop instead of the supermarket (like olive oil, balsamic vinegar, pancake batter, maple syrup, hot cocoa, jams, and more), the hardware store has what Home Depot has, but with a local touch. There's the liquor store, the ice cream shop, shoe store, and more. Surprises In Store has great hostess and home gifts, gifts for teachers and more. 


To show my Jersey pride, I bought these Cat Studio products from them the day after they reopened from the flood. You should get yours, too. They have lots of local items, including blankets that have "Mountain Lakes" and "Denville" on them, along with pictures from town. They have Ward's Downtown Denville at Dawn postcard by the register, and lots of local items that you will love (along with everything Vera Bradley). 

Celebratory Cat Studio silky pillow, from Surprises In Store.

I also love the state towel. I have it hanging in my kitchen, on the oven bar. I love it. Might have to get myself a few of them to rock the Jersey pride.

Stinky photo, super towel.

Please, please, please shop locally this year. If you are reading this from a town far away from here, please shop in your own town and support small business owners. Vote with your dollars. It matters.

Going Postal! (this one's for you, KT)

The Mountain Lakes post office is beautiful. It's small, and old; the PO Boxes are antique and so detailed that they are almost artistic. The building is brick, with a white front entrance and black lettering. I love it. I visit the post office most days, either to check and see what's in our post office box or to mail out orders. Today, I went to get postcard stamps for the GNO at Savannah Hope Vintage invitations. While I was there, I noticed a very expensive (for an ornament) limited edition Christmas ornament. I collect ornaments, and I love all things USPS so, all of a sudden, the noticing became inquiring.

It says, "I hear there are some kids in the White House this year."

I asked the two girls who work there (the only two that I don't know, of the whole staff) if this was the first issued, or part of a series. They told me it was the first ever issued (they were wrong). It was pricey, but the first ornament ever issued (or so I thought) by the White House? And during a time of such upheaval in our country? I had to buy it. $25 later, and a little investigating led me to the White House Holidays page, and showed me that this wasn't the first issue at all.

I probably wouldn't have bought it, had I known the back story, but truth be told, it is a lovely ornament. This year's ornament is a celebration of Christmastime with Theodore Roosevelt. He lived an interesting life. He was once a lieutenant colonel of the Rough Rider Regiment (my dad loves that bit of information), and both his first wife and mother died on the same day. He also won the Nobel Peace Prize. But what is most fitting, is that he was a man who didn't believe that trees should be cut down, simply to be used to for the sake of decorating. His children, though, chose to bring a tree into the house, unbeknownst to him, and hide it in their closet. Though they did reveal the Christmas tree to their father (which is the image on the back of the ornament), and this helped Roosevelt to learn that cutting down trees was actually beneficial for the forests, because thinning forests allowed the smaller trees to grow.

If you haven't gone for your holiday stamps (Jeeze, what are you waiting for?), then go get them soon, and while you are there, take a peek at this interesting ornament.

The Return of the Organic Spa Pedicure (but at a new location)

The organic spa pedicure has found it's way back into my life. Over two years ago, I experienced my first one. It was a 90 minute, $90 experience, and I loved it. After some time, though, it became more work than relaxation. I had to endlessly chat with the girls who worked there, instead of just relaxing, or with one of the many women who would sit next to me and recognize me from the previous week. It got tiring.


I left that salon (again, it got to a point that every time I went in, I saw someone I knew who wanted to chat - ugh!) and started going to one I'd been to previously on random occasions, Denville Nails. The space isn't as high end as my previous salon, but it's got great windows overlooking Broadway. I liked this. In winter, I could be warm and watch the snow fall outside. It's a few doors down from my favorite diner, Pete's Denville Diner, so I could easily grab something to eat either before or after I had my nails done. It's been about 18 months since I started going to Denville Nails, and I really like the whole experience. The women are sweet and caring, and most importantly, they are good at what they do.


During my last visit to get a mani/pedi (on Saturday), I saw that they'd added a new type of spa pedicure... an organic spa pedicure. It wasn't the same brand as the one I had previously, and it was $30 cheaper. I had to try it.

There were two fragrance options to choose from, regarding the sugar scrub, mud pack and cream. I got the mandarin and mango. Throughout the pedicure, I kept smelling the mandarin and mango in different variations of strength. It was the yummiest smell. 


The pedicure was, all in all, amazing. All of the products were very moisturizing, and came with callus remover, hot stone massage, and an extensive foot massage. I highly recommend it (and if you go, tell them that I sent you).


Denville Nails is located at 7 Broadway in downtown Denville. They offer regular manicures, spa manicures (that include a paraffin dip), acrylics, gels/shellac by OPI. They have a variety of pedicures, from basic, to pearl, green tea, and now the organic spa pedicures. Monday through Wednesday, a regular mani/pedi combo costs a total of $25. Can't beat it. Walk-ins are welcome.

Gratitude - The Challenge (for all of my readers, with or without kids)

I recently picked up a free magazine that I always see but never read. I picked it up because on the bright red cover, in big white letters says, 30 Days of Gratitude: Teaching Kids the Art of Thankfulness. The article, by Heidi Smith Luedtke, PhD is fantastic, and worth the read, but here are some of her quick points, that I've altered to make my own. Some I've stolen completely, so please give all credit to the article's author (see the end of the post for publication and author information). At the bottom of this post, you will see my gratitude challenge, and find out how to participate. The winner receives a Domestic Goddess candle and gift package full of fun stuff.


Luedtke's article reminds us to be thankful for the little things, like family dinners (something that I am always thankful for), to remember to thank people for those little things, like taking out the garbage, or going to the store. It reminds us to go on a date with our significant other, and when the date is over, remember to tell them what a good time we had. Commit random acts of kindness, leave a sticky note on a public bathroom's mirror that says, "You're special." It talks about the importance of taking the time to write thank you notes, my very favorite thing to do, stamp them, and to mail them. It suggests setting a daily alarm, and when the alarm goes off each day, to think of one thing to be thankful for. All really good ideas. 

Now, for the challenge. Tell me why or what you are thankful for. Don't write it here, or on facebook. Mail it to me. You can send it on a postcard or write it in a letter. I will review them all, post the ones that are most poignant, and announce a winner on November 21st. All entries must be received by November 17th.  Mail them to The Domestic Goddess Files, PO Box 243, Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046. The winner will be announced on the Domestic Goddess facebook page, and contacted by mail. 


Thank you for reading, and participating, in my gratitude challenge.


30 Days of Gratitude by Heidi Smith Luedtke, PhD was featured in the November 2011 issue of Family Magazine. Her blog is at heidiluedtke.com/blog.

Pine Cone Decor

Years ago, probably nine, I bought a couple of strings of pine cone garland from Pottery Barn. When I'd bought them, I had no place to put them. They're fragile, so I needed a place to hang them that wouldn't damage them, and never could.

When I moved to my current house, I began laying them on the mantle over my fireplace each winter. I love them. I have a couple of fun decorating pieces that I place with them, including an elk made out of bark. I love pine cones because they can be displayed from November through the end of February. They are my winter decorating staple.

I used to pick up pine cones that had fallen from trees, but they were sappy, and got my fingers and clothes sticky. I always want to buy pine cones at the store, but they are so heavily fragranced that I can barely walk past them.

And then I found someone who supplies real pine cones, with no scent added, on etsy. The shopkeeper at Northern Lodge has her daughter pick up the pine cones, and gives her the money from the sale of cones. They call it Project Pine Cone. The shop is out of Colorado, so there are plenty of pine cones to go around.

My pine cones, in a rustic metal basket. Love them.

I ordered a pound of Douglas Fir pine cones and fell in love with them. Most of them are very little, which I never knew possible, and I flipped for. I am going to order another pound tomorrow. Here's one of the little ones, sitting in my kitchen next to my vintage pig. The pig can be easily held in one hand (for scale purposes), so you can see that the pine cone is little and it's adorable.

Love the tiny pine cones!

I've been to many stores and supermarkets, and seen bags of pine cones for sale. They smell so strongly of cinnamon that they are tough to walk past; I cannot imagine having them in my house.

The Northern Lodge pine cones are $8 for one pound, and don't really have a scent. They aren't sticky, and though they are a little bit fragile, they are my favorite etsy find this season.

Go to Northern Lights on etsy to check out the pine cones. They are listing different types soon, but if you like these little ones, definitely get the Douglas Fir variety.

The Learning Curve (and a super easy, tasty recipe for pie)

I've always loved baking, and will do so anytime I get a chance. In my current hometown, the Home & School Association does a bake sale every year to raise money. Everything that is offered is made by volunteers (moms from schools). Someone offers their kitchen, and buys all the supplies for the recipe -- enough to make however many orders are received. Next, the moms who signed up to assist with baking, go to the assigned house and each do a part of the job, then deliver whatever was made.

It's as much of a small social event as it is a baking/cooking workshop. I enjoy going because I get to meet other moms from town that I may not know, and learn a new recipe. I went to this clinic with my dear friend Mandy, who also drove me to the event, while my car was in for an oil change and tire rotation at Mountain Lakes Motors (the best mechanics I've ever used).

The bake workshop was for Chocolate Mousse Pie. It was at my son's classmate's house, which was nice, because I got to meet her mother, a super sweet, grounded woman who happens to be from my favorite home away from home, Rhode Island.

Recipe courtesy of Kim Terhune (actual how to at the end of the blog).

At the workshop were five other women, and we each had an assigned job. I thought it would be a breeze for me, being the Domestic Goddess and all, ha ha, but boy did I make a mess. My job was easy. I had to beat the cream cheese into the melted chocolate, then fold in two tubs of Cool Whip. First, I couldn't beat the cream cheese out of it's chunky state. The remedy was to put it over a double boiler to make it a little warmer. Next, I had to fold in the cool whip. Well, I only did one tub, not two (we were making two pies at a time), and beat it. Fold, Tiffany, fold. I went back, and added the other Cool Whip, then folded it in. My first pie, which was a total debacle, was an extra, and Mandy graciously bought that pie. While I've always known that I've never been good at turning egg whites into a merengue, I now know that folding things into a batter isn't my forte either.

Thankfully, all of the women at the workshop were patient and light-hearted. After doing a few pies -- we all split it up so it went fast -- I can say that while I am not a pro at folding the cool whip into the batter, I can do it!

I must add that it was a great group of women, and the workshop made the morning fun. Two were women I knew, Mandy being one of them, and three were women I'd just met. They were all so great, and the hostest had coffee and bagels for us. I ended up eating a whole bagel, something I haven't done in months. It was so yummy. I'd wished we had more baking time because I enjoyed talking with all of them.

Anyhow, the recipe is simple, if you know how to fold...

Chocolate Mousse Pie 
From the HSA Bake Sale Workshop, printed with permission from Kim Terhune

• 1 c chocolate chips
• 1/3 c milk
• 3 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
• 1 8 oz. carton of Cool Whip
• 1 chocolate graham cracker pie shell

1. Put the cream cheese in a big bowl and smush it 'til it's easily manipulated. (At first, we then added the cream cheese and beat it in until it melted but then tried this way, that was easier ).
2. Heat chocolate chips and milk on the stovetop over medium low heat until chocolate chips are melted. (No double boiler. You can do it right in the pot.
3. Add melted chocolate to cream cheese and beat until blended.
4. Fold in the cool whip. As I learned, whipping it in will take the air out of it and make the pie flatter.
5. Add mixture to pie shell.

Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Now, the ladies at the clinic had chocolate in a squeeze container to decorate the top. I am not sure how the chocolate sauce was made, but it was kept warm in boiling water. I will check with Mandy tonight and get back to you. I will definitely be making this for future parties.

Enjoy, and have a great weekend!

Drum Roll Please...

I am so proud to announce that I will be launching my new product line, Domestic Goddess Ltd., in just two weeks! This blog started because I have an intense love of all things related to the domestic life. That includes baking, cooking, organizing, decorating, sending out holiday cards. In my eyes, these are all the things that make for a strong foundation for domesticity.

As a baker, I love the way my house smells when something sweet is in the oven. My son finds his way into the kitchen every time a cookie tray comes out hot, or a chocolate bundt cake is being flipped onto a plate. I make pumpkin bread in season, peanut butter balls (buckeyes) every Easter; cookies and muffins throughout the year. I love baking, but since I don't get to bake every day, my house doesn't always smell fantastic on it's own. Instead, I burn candles that smell like food. I love sweet scents, those that smell like vanilla or chocolate, or warm apple pie, depending on the season.

A domestic goddess loves entertaining, cooking, baking, and doing it all in high heels.

Instead of buying candles, some of which were very overpriced, others that had little odor, or burned dirty, I decided to just make mine. And so, Domestic Goddess candles was born. I began working with a very special perfumer to find fragrances that matched my ideas for scents, and once I did (he created them specifically for me) I began pouring them into the melted wax, and then transferring the wax into the glass candle jars that I'd wicked earlier in the day. It wasn't easy, and I had some help along the way, but in the end, I was making candles. I topped my Sugar Cookie candles with real sugar in the raw. My Caramel Mocchiato has a bottom layer of coffee beans. It's been so much fun.

At night, though, my brain kept racing. I was missing something. The Domestic Goddess brand is about more than just candles and blogging. It's about recipes, for sure, but I'm not in a position to start baking for a living. It's about shoes (high, high heels), but I'm no shoemaker. It's about life experiences, grocery shopping, and getting beautified. And, of course, letter writing.

I've always been a letter writer. I've blogged about it. My friend KT is my partner-in-crime on this one. We are both really into sending mail, and doing our Christmas cards. This year, she even beat me to the punch on holiday stamps. (I love my KT.) Letters are important. Receiving something handwritten, on beautiful paper, or a card with a beautiful image, is priceless. Thank you texts or emails just don't hold a candle to actual mail. Every day I grab my mail and sort through bills, magazines, and junk mail. When I see a letter or a postcard, my heart leaps. I read it, then proudly display it, either on the wall, the mantel, or my refrigerator. Every Christmas card I receive gets put into a book of past year's cards, once the holiday has ended. I even have my grandfather's old stationary desk, refinished by Andrea at Savannah Hope Vintage, filled with letters, cards, note packs, and cool stamps.

Ward Vogt, of Ward Vogt Designs, happens to be the man that I am sharing my life with. If you don't know, one of Ward's specialties is scenic note cards. I thought it would be great if he did a line for me, exclusively for Domestic Goddess by Ward Vogt Designs. He could shoot scenes that I liked if I gave him themes and ideas, and left the creative photography to him. Next, after choosing the photos, I would add "Thank You" and other niceties to the cards, to make them my own.

It's all happening fast, and when I am not working on one of my many projects, or doing things with the kids (which is one of our greatest treasures), I am making candles and working with Ward on our cards.

Come to my big launch! It will be at Girls' Night Out on Main Street in Boonton (but I am sure that men are welcome). It's being held on Friday, November 4th from 4 - 9 p.m. but I will be at Savannah Hope Vintage premiering my candles and cards from 6 - 9 p.m. Need to feed the kids first...

Join me at the launch of my candles at Savannah Hope Vintage for BMS's Girls' Night Out. Click here to see more about the event.

Can't make it? I will be listing shops that will be carrying the candles and cards, but will also have them all for sale online at www.etsy.com/shop/domesticgoddessline. Feel free to visit the website and shop. You won't be able to smell them firsthand, but I am sure that you will love the scents.