MS. BROOKIE P.

Bright Lights!

Brookie P — Wed, 30 May 2012 02:27:26 +0000

Christmas lights rock all year round. I would wrap myself up in them and make a Lady Gaga style video called ‘I’m all lit up just plug me in’ but I have been told that posses neither the singing talent or hipness factor with which to pull off such a feat. So instead instead I like this little lights in jars project…because you will notice there is no drilling and this looks like one of the simplest ones I’ve seen. Hang one side of the lights, intermediately drop a pile into each jar, secure other side of the strand of lights. It’s like beach trailer meets National Lampoons Christmas Vacation and in good way….that is a really weird couple to make such a cool little light baby!

Uniforms are not just for school girls!

Brookie P — Sun, 27 May 2012 09:45:29 +0000

Here is the thing about having the best time all the time. If you are having the best time all the time then SOMETIMES, not all the time, you need to throw on something that you know works. There are plenty of times to make your outfit an actual best time ever…but I think sometimes its more important to get to the fun than to stand in your closet.

Hence the uniform….things you know you can throw on and feel your best…actually I would like you to feel borderline cocky.

I always like to show uniforms that make me think…any chick would have some swagger in that little get up!

Quack Quack

Brookie P — Wed, 23 May 2012 06:23:10 +0000

Quack Quack

MMMM…dirty tacos. Oh sorry. I was having my normal afternoon food fantasy. Don’t you just love a dirty street vendor taco? Seriously I don’t care if the health inspector says that it more sanitary to share utensils with Courtney Love whilst she is making out with Kesha than to eat food from a street vendor. You can’t scare me with all your ‘not sanitary conditions’ munbo jumbo. However for those of you who do you value your life and your large intestine I give you Duck Tacos!

2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
1/2 of a mango, sliced into matchsticks
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2-3 teaspoons minced hot pepper
2 large scallions, thinly sliced on the diagonal (light green & white parts only)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
juice from one lime
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
salt, to taste

1 fully cooked rotisserie duck half, (or leftover cooked duck meat, or 2 large cooked boneless, skinless chicken thighs)
1 tablespoon of adobo sauce (from canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
pinch of ground allspice
splash of mango rum

4 small corn tortillas
2 oz crumbled queso fresco
1/2 of an avocado, diced

Preheat oven to 425F. Place tortillas on a baking sheet and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Toss together the cabbage, mango, cilantro, scallions, hot pepper, lime juice, cider vinegar and salt. Let sit, allowing flavors to blend, while you prepare the duck and tortillas.

Bake the tortillas for 10 minutes, or until crispy and lightly browned.

Meanwhile, remove the skin and bones from the duck meat and roughly chop it. (Or, chop up leftover cooked duck meat, without skin, or cooked boneless, skinless chicken thighs. Place in a bowl and add the adobo sauce, cumin, coriander and allspice; toss to coat.

Heat a skillet over medium heat, spray with nonstick cooking spray, and add the duck. Stir for a few minutes to warm through. Increase heat to high and add the rum (then step back!). When flames subside, cook for a couple more minutes, until the duck is lightly browned and slightly crispy in spots.

Assemble the tostadas by topping each tortilla with some of the flambéed duck meat and the mango-cabbage slaw. Finish with diced avocado and crumbled

Como Se LLama Dinner Party!

Brookie P — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:21:03 +0000

In this episode of Rock What You got I’m turning my talents to DIY theme dinner parties! I will teach you how to make some fun napkin rings, photobooth signs, table decor and a little peruvian ceviche!

Write it out!

Brookie P — Sun, 20 May 2012 01:04:25 +0000

Some days people need to remember what you love about them…I prefer it most days because I am what they call ‘needy’.

I make these art pieces a lot for events and I call them ‘who you are and why you’re loved boards‘. You can make them for your children, your best friend’s birthday party, a wedding or as a surprise gift.

You can also make one for yourself and hang it in your living room and when guests come over – tell them the kids that you mentor made it for you as a sign of gratitude…then you should probably find some kids to mentor just so there are no holes in your story.

Here’s how to make them:

Using powerpoint, start with your initial and on top of that add all the words that inspire you. Once you have done this, take the document to your nearest kinkos and ask them to print it out for you in poster size! You can frame it or have the poster mounted on a canvas and hang as is!

Partner Roller Skating!

Brookie P — Fri, 18 May 2012 07:38:20 +0000

Rollerskating rinks remind me of a shoe store that had a baby with a boy’s locker room and that baby decided to become a bad DJ for Bar Mitzvahs. In other words they’re gross and there is not enough Purell in the world for me to really be able to live it up on my skates these days.

However, I love the idea of bringing the Roller Skating Party back…. You can get really cute roller-skates online and all you need is a fun flat surface…and a boom-box.

If you do this for a birthday party try to get your local ice cream truck to make a run by your house and you can also do fanny packs filled with food, drinks, and extras (like skate accessories: bows, laces, etc.).

This is also a great small group date night…

WARNING: 95 % of the time there is minor buttox injury.

Here’s a good website that sells vintage skates!

http://www.skates.com/old-roller-skates-s/79.htm

Balloons are the new flowers!

Brookie P — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:11:49 +0000

Turns out you can buy happiness!

Sending flowers has gotten to be an expense that feels like when I put a downpayment on my first apartment…and that was an apartment! I love sending flowers but I am always looking for something that says ‘I thought about you for more that 10 seconds’ and doesn’t leave me questioning my financial future!!!

Last week one of my best friends (and the creative director at my firm, coincidence? Not at all!) sent me a dozen bright pink balloons just because! It gave me a case of the “Zooey Deschanels”, all things cool, bright, and freakin’ adorable! I had to share the idea with all my fellow comrades in the army of goodwill gift senders.

Here is the best part…she got them from our local grocery store….for 10 dollars.

You can’t send a daisy to someone for 10 bucks these days but you can purchase a bucket load of floating joy and that’s a feeling that you can’t buy for a million bucks! Your peeps will know that you think they are worthy of a little helium and a bit of the Deschanels!

Tree Art

Brookie P — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:07:22 +0000

This is the definition of the best time ever…..

Take things that are meaningful to people and create art installations out of them. This was done for a client who was celebrating their engagement and I spent the day hanging photos, letters, and mason jars from the tree to make it an interactive experience for them. You can do this with anything!! People have done it with cupcakes, polaroids, love letters. The possibilities are endless. All you need is a ladder, a great tree, and some fishing line or wire.

I would DIE to see what you guys are going out there…send me pictures fellow goodtimers!

Veggie it up!

Brookie P — Tue, 15 May 2012 20:07:47 +0000

I firmly believe that if one puts vegetables in something it automatically becomes a healthy dish. This puppy has all my favorites…goat cheese, puff pastry, eggs, and bacon. Since I believe we all have a responsibility to help each other eat healthier*…I added asparagus. And unlike my broccoli hotdog experiment this one tastes like pure bliss!

* I totally don’t believe that. I believe that people have a responsibility to make their friends eat carbs and drink copious amounts booze. Friends should help you enjoy life…not vegetables.

Asparagus and Pancetta Tart

What you’ll need

5 slices of pancetta
¼ cup onion, chopped
1 tsp of fresh thyme
1 bunch of asparagus, thick ends removed
1/2 lb. puff pastry
1 cup soft goat cheese
1 egg, lightly beaten

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the pancetta and cook until lightly crisped, then set aside. Add the onion and thyme to the skillet and cook until just softened, about 2 minutes. Add asparagus and cook until slightly crisp and golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

Roll the pastry out onto a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle. Using your hands, spread the goat cheese evenly over the surface of the pastry, leaving a ½-inch border around the edges. Layer the asparagus mixture and pancetta strips over the cheese. Brush the edges of the pastry with the egg. Bake until golden and puffed, 20 to 25 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy!

Brooke Peterson

Hey There Stud!

Brookie P — Wed, 09 May 2012 21:50:26 +0000

I have a little fashion DIY for my ‘it’ girls. Hermes has been sporting these little leather cuffs for a while now but they are coming back strong. They also cost about as much asTiger Woods divorce settlement. I do not pay four figures for a bracelet unless it is going to clean my house, sleep with my husband, and automatically take ten pounds off my figure. However this little cuff is easy to mimic…all you need is a band of leather and some steel spike studs which our available on the internet. Pop those suckers onto the your leather cuff and you will still have enough money to eat this month!

Spring Broke!

Brookie P — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:18:14 +0000

I will show you how to take something you’re not using and turn it into something everybody wants. In this episode, I turn my talents to DIY vacations, flipping a room into a beach!

What You Need

Umbrella Canopy
————————
Beach Umbrella
Lights
Rope

Beach Chair
——————
4 x 6 wood piece
batting
staple gun
4 file folder boxes
wedge pillow

Ocean
———-
blow up pool

Beach Tote
—————–
balloon bag
rope

Cover Up
————–
scarf
safety pins
rope

Breast Enhancements
———————————
sandwich bag
hair gel

Self Tan
————
tea

Things your bathtub was not intended for…

Brookie P — Mon, 07 May 2012 22:09:23 +0000

I just found out some pretty pertinent information in terms of the overall running of my domicile…I’m the Boss!

I am shocked you don’t need a license or something to run a home but it turns out I can do whatever looks like fun when it comes to how I choose to “mommy manage”, and who says we have to take an actual “bath” in the bath tub.

I choose fake fishing pond.

Someone sent little nugget and I a package and the amount of packing material they used mimicked what I assumed Christies Auction house uses to send out a Picasso. The bath tub was closer than the garbage can so….well I think you can see that this was the only logical choice.

What? How did I make my hot pink modern interpretation of fishes? Post-it notes.

Then it got really fun…

Girls Night In!

Brookie P — Sun, 06 May 2012 15:27:54 +0000

I am a little old to have the words ‘girls only sleepover’ written into my calendar as often as I do. However I will not apologize. I believe this because I was not invited to a lot of sleepovers in my formative years due to both social awkwardness and an ALLEGED bed wetting issue. Therefore, I have the right to make up fot it now!

Here are some tricks for those of you who might have thought you had out grown sleepovers but realized deep down you still think it would be so rad and you were just waiting for someone to give you permission.

Keep it small- 3 or 4 seems to be the perfect number!
Turn one room into the ‘sleepover fort’…there are no guest bedrooms or separate sleep areas. You are in it together!
Make each girl their own bed with either cots, air mattress’s, or a collection of gathered combination materials (pillows, matresses, sleeping bags, couch cushions, you get the idea) and then properly dress each bed with a pillow, sheet, and blanket.
I like to make everyone matching pj’s and grab little spa items from the dollar store. These are your girls! Make ‘em feel special!
Order pizza and vino but have a little DIY cocktail bar in the room where your friends can mix up a special drink (I love loaded hot chocolate because it makes it feel cozy…and tipsy).
Last but not least…HAVE THE BEST TIME EVER!

Loaded Hot Chocolate Bar:

Pot o’ hot chocolate

Lots of liquors (Baileys, Kaluha, Godiva, Etc)

Whipped Cream

Chocolate Syrup

Rasberries

Strawberries

Sprinkles/ Colored Sugar

Rim your hot chocolate glasses in colored sugar and place on the bar for your ladies to use! Have every ingredient set up in separate containers and put the liquors in some fun lucite containers (like soap dispensers!). Each one of your girls will love to make their own customized hot chocolate!

Love,

Brooke Peterson

Toys are a scam

Brookie P — Fri, 04 May 2012 04:30:31 +0000

Dear Moms,

Toys are apparently a big scam. I would have loved to have gotten this information about 50 toys ago. Toddlers and even young kids all seem to want a job at Fed Ex because apparently the only thing they want to do is play with the boxes the toys come in. Well guess what guys? I am on to your little scam. You guys probably get some kick back from the toy company so I am not buying you toys any more! I am buying boxes. If thats what you wan boxes you shall have. Here is the first in a long line of creative box projects I have seen floating around and I think it will be lovely place for the little nugget and I to begin!

Love,

BrookieP

The Good Girl Ceviche Martini

Brookie P — Thu, 03 May 2012 01:06:09 +0000

It is not socially acceptable to have martini’s for lunch unless you meet one of the following requirements…

a) It is your birthday (you can do whatever you want on you birfday girl!)

b) You are auditioning to play Meg Ryan’s part in When a Man Loves a Woman…after lunch.

c) Your name is Demi Moore…too soon? Yeah too soon.

For the rest of you gals I give you a little Ceviche martini…better for you and no afternoon nap required when you suck back two of these puppies.

Serves 6-8

1-pound Ahi tuna

1-pound hearty white fish like sea bass or red snapper

1 cup cubed mango

1 cup diced avocado

2-diced jalapeños

¼ cup chopped cilantro

1/3-cup lime juice

1-teaspoon salt

1-teaspoon sugar

Directions

1. Make sure your fish is super cold (this makes it easier to cut!) and dice into bite sized pieces.

2. Place fish and all remaining ingredients in a plastic container with a lid and shake it! Make sure all your fish gets an even coating of lime juice because this is what will ‘cook’ them.

3. Place in the fridge for at least an hour. You can leave it overnight if you want to be a prepared little hostess!

4. Serve in martini glasses and wait for yummy noises.

VIVA MEXICO!

Brookie P — Wed, 02 May 2012 18:09:49 +0000

Cinco de Mayo is right around the corner and I feel it necessary to talk about tequila & avocados! Since a vacation to Mexico is out the questions right now I decided to go to Mexico in my heart and on my blog. I do what I want.

Margaritas and Guacamole…

If you only learn how to make three things in your adult life let them be the following:

1. Margaritas-they are the Mexican answer to Prozac.

2. Guacamole- a dip that fulfills a veggie requirement (by the way French Onion Dip does not fulfill that requirement just because it has onion in the title.)

3. Piñata- because after a few Margaritas you can beat it and instead of going to jail you get prizes…the Mexican answer to violent alcoholics! You don’t really even have to learn to make this…just stuff it with candy.

Guacamole:

Ingredients

2 RIPE avocados

½ cup sour cream

2 tablespoons lime juice

1 teaspoon coarse salt

A dash or two of Tabasco…depending on your heat tolerance

½ cup chopped tomatoes

2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

3 tablespoons diced onion

Directions

Mix all the ingredients and mash it up!

P.S. Yes I know this pic is from when I was pregnant. It was joke. Please do not send me letters about the hazards of drinking whilst with child…its mostly a joke.

Happy Fiesta!

Brooke Peterson

What She Really Wants…

Brookie P — Tue, 01 May 2012 18:18:30 +0000

I don’t give baby shower gifts. Let me clarify that: I don’t give gifts to babies at the baby showers. I give “you are almost done with this B.S. that everyone pretends is a beautiful and blessed gift that you have gotten to carry over the last 9 months and here is what you have to look forward to” present. Who cares if you get another set of swaddling clothes? I give you what you really want…The Finish Line Bag. All the things you get to have once you pop that little body moocher out. It also gives you something to look forward to after the excruciating labor pains. I guarantee you no mother was like ‘I can’t wait to get this baby out of me so I can use that bouncy seat I got at my baby shower.’

A Finish Line Bag includes all the things a woman can’t have while she is pregnant but can dive right into after she wins the marathon!

Here’s what to get:

1. A well deserved bottle of wine.

2. A well deserved bottle of tequila.

3. The strongest coffee I can find (this one will come in handy!)

4. A gift certificate to the new moms favorite sushi spot!

5. Some lingerie to make them feels sexy again!

6. Advil.

7. Hot and cold packs!

8. A very cozy blanket.

9. Add a few new mom movies like Baby Boom and Knocked up.

Wrap it up in a cute bag and done!

Love,

Brooke Peterson.

Thai food menu or this on your car window?

Brookie P — Tue, 01 May 2012 01:14:17 +0000

Put this on someone who is having a rough week. Put in on someone whom you love car’s window and sign it xoxo. That will brighten up anybody’s day! Damn doing stuff like this is THE BEST THING EVER!!

If someone asks…I’m coming from dance rehearsal!

Brookie P — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:12:17 +0000

Ok, I wasn’t going to do this because I thought I was being subliminally influenced by my little duchesses new found love of anything and everything tutu related. Having seen quite a few other little royals prancing around in similar Nutcracker-esque garb, I knew that this was a very ‘normal’ choice of expression in the wardrobe arena for the in pre-k crowd.

I saw one of the uber-cool artsy Gallerina* girls wearing the faintest hint of a rose colored multi-ruffled situation under her very serious black dress the other night and I got a tiny bit excited…but not that excited. The last time I tried to pull off something I saw on a Gallerina it ended with the girls in my office superimposing one of my very few red carpet snap shots onto a Pirates of the Caribbean poster…and I did not look out of place.

Well guess what you little mean fashionistas, I have now seen a few of these little tutu under-slippy-thingy’s around and I am doing it. I don’t care if you put me on a Black Swan poster and stick it on my desktop.

I want to wear a Tutu!!!!!!

I like the way this one looks…

Anyone else seeing this around? Shoot me snaps sisters!

Check out this website for some great adult tutus! http://www.etsy.com/search_results.php?search_type=all&includes%5B0%5D=tags&search_query=tutus+for+adults&page=1

*Gallerina: an artsy ethereal creature that combines both the femininity of the ballerina with the chicness of an art gallery girl.

Popsicles and Prosecco

Brookie P — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:39:22 +0000

Seriously!? How did this happen? How has this not always existed? If I have a coupon for popsicles, is there a limit to the amount of popsicles I can buy due to this new discovery of dual popsicle use? How in the world did we drink bubbly alcohol without frozen sticks of high fructose corn syrup…uh…I mean all natural frozen fruit?

I have a a lot of questions and I want to find the answers to them but I don’t have time right now…because I have to go buy all the popsicles within a 10 mile radius knowing how BIG this will be when it gets out…and it will! I will not be left behind in the ravages of the popsicle shortage that is sure to ensue.

Here’s what you need:

1 bottle of prosecco.

Any flavor popsicles you like!

Pour the chilled prosecco to the glass and add the popsicle. Once it begins to melt you will have fruity flavored amazingness!