On Saturday we made an audition tape for the Food Network's 12 Days of Christmas Cookies. Our cookie discovery: these Middle Eastern Ma'Moul cookies. Delish!

This is the old fashioned wooden mold we used to make the ma'moul.

We had to make a stop at OfficeMax for some filming supplies... Jordy captured this image of her very distinctive hand...on the OfficeMax copier.

and here's Jord...in front of our green, green lawn.

On Sunday we prepared all of our equipment and ingredients Here's Colleen, our production coordinator, transcribing the script cues onto paper. These will be hung in the background to remind us of our lines. Sometimes (frequently) we still forget them.

The porch is decorated for Memorial Day...makes a great set for our "Special Summer Sandwichs" episode.

The Tabouli Twins, ready to begin filming the episode.

We always attempt to get a lively little dialog going...mostly though, our jokes fall flat.

These are some of our ingredients and condiments...

The falafal sizzles....

A beautiful basket of sandwiches...falafal and shwarma were the end result.

Amost done...now we just need to talk about the special Middle Eastern lemonade.

We finished up filming on the side porch...by now we're starving.

Amine, our director and cinematographer...and an invaluable member of our team.

Our special sandwiches and tzadziki salad tempt.

J is hungry...very hungry!

Cat, Mer, Col and J enjoy the fruits of our labor. A smashing and successful day was had by all.

May 15, - May 18, 2005 - The National Stationery Show

Each year we spend four days in mid-May at the National Stationery Show in New York City. It's always lots of hard work and... lots of fun. This year was no exception. We had a sucessful show and a really good time, but... we're glad it's over.

Here's Buddy, guarding our booth. He's our unofficial mascot and a character in one of our card lines.

We stayed at the TimesSquare Hilton, a very cool hotel within easy walking distance of the Javits Center.

The Javits center in NYC where the show takes place each year in mid-May is a steel and glass marvel ... or monstrosity, depending on your architectural preferences.

The entrance to the show floor is always a beehive of activity. Who knew so many people were into stationery, right?

Nick and I work soooo well together. Though we often argue, it rarely gets violent.

In the evenings we hit the town. Here Elie, Nick and Jean-Baptiste have some fun in Times Square.

This was the strange clock at the entrance to the hotel. Time seemed to go by quickly, however...

After four days at the show everyone was quite tired and ready to head home...everyone except buddy, he was perfectly content to remain seated in his cafe au Lait cup.

Monday, May 9th, - Fois gras anyone?

This was quite funny...at our office, a goose had taken one of the prime parking spots. Those Canadians really know how to park.

Tuesday, April 26, - Springtime in CT...fleeting and beautiful.

Daffodils and Grape Hyacynths line our walk...

the colors of spring.

Saturday, April 16 - Went to see David Coperfield at Foxwoods

Arrived around 2:00pm. As soon as we got to our suite, we had a copious lunch, prepared by our butlers. Here Cath, Nick, Jordan and Elie enjoy the spoils.

They always make us the most extraordinary meals for us.

Here we are... Cath and I... ready for the show. It was great. We participated in one of the illusions. Scary!

After the show, we went back to the suite...Lo and behold The butlers had set out a beautiful evening snack for us. I think we'll be gaining some weight this weekend.

This delightful tower was made of sliced vegtables layered with fois gras in a balsamic reduction sauce.

...there were also Lamb chops and tempura rolls.

Here we are enjoying our late night snack with Halim and June.

This chocolate assortment was left by the bed. Jordan had taken a little nibble from the DC chocolate sheet.

Later, we went down to the nightclub. As soon as we got to our VIP table (yes, we had a VIP table which made everyone jealous) we ordered our Margaritas.

There were boys dancing on a stage...

...they were quite athletic.

Then there were the girls...

Lingerie was their costume. Impressive. A great weekend was had by all

Saturday, April 9, & Sunday, April 10, - A beautiful weekend. We ate outdoors and I ran a 5K

Saturday was beautiful. We had our lunch on the porch for the first time this year...Nick poured a wonderful Chassagne Montrachet.

A perfect lunch for the day before the race: grilled lobster, roasted fingerling potatoes and advocado salad.

Just one glass of wine for me...I have to run tomorrow.

The day of the race. Here I am signing in with our friend Elie.

The weather was perfect and I had my ipod with all my good tunes...so it was a great 5K.

Here I am with Dad after the race. He and Colleen came up to watch me run. That was so cool.

After the race Nick headed right for the grill.

Nick marinated and grilled a skirt steak and cooked up some fries, I made a salad and steamed some mussels and clams...

...and we had this lovely Chateauneuf to go with it...the wine and the weekend: perfect!