Snug-A-Bug-Blog

I have decided to expand the items I am selling at Etsy by introducing Lunenburg Bags.

The bags are large handbags that can be worn as a messenger bag or you can shorten the strap and wear as a shoulder bag. They have a zippered (8.5 x 8.0 inch) pocket as well as 4 pouches great for iphones, ipod pens, and sunglasses.

The bag is roomy 11.5 inches at the top and 15inches at the widest point, it is also deep measuring 16 inches, so you can easily carry books, an ipad or a towel for the beach. I hope to have them available at the beginning of September. If you are looking for a new bag for the market, school, diaper bag or just everyday. Keep checking back and I will post when they are available.

Snug-A-Bug Blankets It’s Raining Monkeys has been featured in DaWanda’s Summer 2011 Lovebook.

The Lovebook features 170 artists from DaWanda’s online marketplace for handmade items in Europe, and beyond since I am in Canada. I am very excited  that the blanket was chosen to appear in the Lovebook.

You can check out the Lovebook here.

We had eaten at the California Grill last September and enjoyed our meal, but it was not my favourite this time it was my number one. I originally had California booked later in the week but because we added the dessert party I moved it to different night and was happy to get a reservation just before 6PM. Last year I had hoped to get a window seat overlooking Magic Kingdom. I was disappointed when we walked pass all the window seats and were seated in a quiet room in the back. As it turned out the wine room was a wonderful place to sit. Very quite and peaceful compared to the rest of restaurant, and it has a beautiful view of Bay Lake. This time when we arrived to check in we requested to sit in the wine room and happily our request was granted.

Here are a couple pictures of the view.

I had a bottle of Evain and Jay had San Pellegrino, and Georgia had apple juice to drink.

For starters I had so sushi. It was a crab roll with thinly sliced beef on the outside. I believe it was called Oscar roll. It was delicious I would highly recommend it.

Jay had Crispy Asian Rock Shrimp Salad, it was also very good and he enjoyed it thoroughly.

Georgia didn’t like any of her picks for an appetizer and our waiter asked if she would like some fruit. I expected a plate with some strawberries and pineapple, but he brought out this which she devoured. It was also very cute.

For our entrees I had the Salmon with Spring Pea Risotto, I seemed to eat a lot of salmon and fish on this trip. This dish was divine, the salmon was cooked perfectly and risotto complimented the salmon.

Jay had a pork dish. I believe it came with goat cheese polenta and beets in a wine reduction. It also was very tasty and he enjoyed it very much.

Georgia had the whole wheat cheese pizza that she enjoyed. It was fire grilled.

Both Jay and I had a glass of wine that complemented the entrees nicely.

For dessert I had Bananas and Caramel. You will also notice that many of my deserts are some form of bananas and caramel a perfect combination in my opinion.

Jay had Florida “Strawberry Shortcake, also very good. I was impressed with the liitle white chocolate cup that ice cream in it.

Georgia had the dessert sushi which she loved. It is very cute. It came with a marshmallow wasabi, I don’t think we had a chance to photograph it, rice crispy and gummy rolls, gummy fish, ginger which I believe was a taffy, and chocolate sauce to dip. It looks like something you could easily make at home.

It was a fantastic meal. I absolutely recommend California Grill.

Up next Chef Mickeys

Save 15% on your Snug-A-Bug Blanket this spring. Use coupon code Spring2011 when you check out through Etsy.

I made an early 7:30am reservation for Kona Cafe. My plan was to walk over from the Grand Floridian, have breakfast at Koan then walk over to the TTC and catch the monorail over to Epcot hopefully for rope drop. The walk over was easy the path wasn’t to busy and it only took about 5-10 minutes to make over there. We checked in a couple minutes late and had to wait a few minutes to be seated. Our server while friendly was not fantastic. He took a long time to make it over to our table and made the comment that he had been given two tables to look after. It didn’t fill me with confidence.

I ordered a pineapple juice and Jay and I would “split” a Kona coffee French press pot. I don’t drink coffee so it was all his. Jay also ordered a glass of pineapple juice but was brought orange juice. It he decided it wasn’t worth the hassle of getting the waiter to correct the drink. Georgia also had pineapple juice.

For food I had to order Tonga Toast which I did enjoy with the strawberry sauce.

I talked Jay into the Big Kahuna he thought it was all right but wished he had ordered something else more interesting. He original was going to order Tonga Toast, but I talked him into the Big Kahuna so I felt bad he didn’t love his meal.

Georgia had the Mickey Pancakes. She is not a morning person and did not eat much of her breakfast.

I did enjoy my breakfast, but I don’t know if I would go out of my way just to have breakfast at Kona. The food was good but the service was lacking. It took a long time to get our bill and then pay it so we were a little late for rope drop.

Cost not including tip $44.25.

Stay tuned for the California Grill next time.

I have created a new embroidery design to use with your embroidery machine. It is a modern flower design inspired by mid century style. It is available at Snug-A-Bug Blankets in 3 sizes; small 99.3×67.1mm (3.91×2.64inch), medium 152.4×102.6mm (6.0×4.04inches) and large 226.3×152.3mm (8.91×6.0 inches), and a number of formats including PES, HUS, and DST. I think it would great on a throw pillow.

Brand new from Snug-A-Bug Blankets is the Chewbacca phone case. Be the envy of all your Rebel Alliance friends and protect your phone or compact digital camera with this Chewbacca felt phone case. The case measures 3.5 inches by 6 inches.

The inspiration for this Chewbacca phone case came from The Star Wars Craft Book. If you are fan of Star Wars and a fan of crafting this book is for you. I am looking forward to making Han Solo in Soaponite and the Admiral Sackbar Puppet.

I do hope to add a Stormtrooper and Yoda case to the shop in the near future.

My go to recipe for chocolate chip cookies comes from Martha Stewart. The cookies are chewy and moist and the recipe makes a big batch. I usually half the recipe unless I need them to feed a crowd. The recipe says it will make 3 dozen but usually get 4 dozen when I make the whole recipe.

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed light-brown sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 large eggs

2 cups (about 12 ounces) semisweet and/or milk chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking soda; set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter with both sugars; beat on medium speed until light and fluffy.

Reduce speed to low; add the salt, vanilla, and eggs. Beat until well mixed, about 1 minute. Add flour mixture; mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Drop heaping tablespoon-size balls of dough about 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

Bake until cookies are golden around the edges, but still soft in the center, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool on baking sheet 1 to 2 minutes.

Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool completely. Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature up to 1 week.

I like to add 1/2 to 1 cup of pecans to the recipe, I was sad when I looked in the fridge and found out we were out. Oh well I will just have to suffer through these ones;)

We spent the afternoon at Animal Kingdom and saw some shows we missed last time, The Lion King and Flights of Wonder, and discovered our daughter had easily made the 40inch mark and would be able to ride more things than last time.

Since we were staying at Grand Floridian we decided to valet park the rental. It was convenient when we were dining at other hotels especially when we were tight for time. No hunting for a parking spot and than rushing through the parking lot to the restaurant. We returned to the hotel and found that our room was ready. I had requested an upper floor near the pool and both requests were fulfilled. I thought I would throw in some pictures of our room and view. The view was nice when wishes was on.

We changed and headed to the Boardwalk for dinner at the Flying Fish. We had eaten at the Flying Fish last time. I liked it a lot my DH was more on the fence about eating there.

We checked in for our 6:05 ADR on time and were seated within 5 minutes. We were celebrating our anniversary on the trip and were presented with personalized menus and offered complimentary champagne.

For our appetizers I had the Tuna Tartare and Crispy Tempura and Vegetable Sushi roll. It was good. Sorry the picture is a little blurry.

Jay had the Crispy Sesame and Togarashi scented Calamari. The last time we were here I had the Calamari and loved it, but I wanted to try something different. I think I would pick the Calamari as my favourite I love the flavour of the Asian dipping sauce.

Georgia had the fruit skewers with honey yogurt I don’t have a picture of them. She ate the strawberries and left the melon.

For our mains I had the Flying Fish Signature dish Potato Wrapped Red Snapper with Leek Fondue. I was not thrilled with this dish the red snapper was bland and the sauce was good but very rick and there were too many leeks. I had debated between this and the special of the day Tilapia and wished I had chosen it instead.

Jay had the Smokey Citrus and Fragrant Pepper-spiced Yellowfin Tuna. It was delicious, he definitely had the better entree.

Georgia had the Mickey Pasta with Olive oil. She ate much of this on our last trip and enjoyed it again.

Both Jay and I had a glass of the recommended entree wine with our meal.

For dessert I had the Banana Napoleon it was very good.

Jay had a trio of peach desserts that included a cobbler, a creme brulee, and a cake. Neither of us a creme brulee fans but it was very good and enjoyed the other desserts with the cake as the least favourite.

Georgia had a Mickey Puzzle that she enjoyed playing with I don’t think she ate much of it but it kept her busy.

Overall we enjoyed our meal at the Flying Fish, it wasn’t as good as last year and would not be top pick, but if I could fit it into a schedule I would go back, (but I wouldn’t get the signature dish again).

The cost not including wine or tip was $167.39.

After diner we walked on the boardwalk and stopped at the Boardwalk Bakery were I picked up a little Mickey head cake and G picked a muffin. I used a snack credit for both. The Mickey head sat it the fridge for a couple days before we ate it and it was moist and very good I would definitely recommend.

I have a few new blanket styles coming in the next couple of weeks.

The first is Sunny Side of the Street.  It has a a bright print with birds, trees, houses and bicycles. The background is a light blue and white cross hatch. I have backed it with a sage green minky.