First the basics:

YES!  Next weeks’s menu and shopping list are posted and ready to enjoy (at least I hope you enjoy them! Would love to hear any comments back on what you think, what you would like to see more of, what’s not working for you, what might be helpful, etc…)

We have 2 fabulous winners of the iTunes gift cards from Wednesday’s Post!

Hayden & Addie helped pick them both…it was a very formal drawing!

Daytripping Mom and Aimee E. – Congratulations!!

Send me an email where you would like me to send your gift cards shanna@myfavoriteeverything.com.  Thank you to everyone for your comments, so glad you liked the song!

Now I need to share with you what a regular week is like for me, COMPLETELY OUTSIDE of this blog.  These are normal questions/comments from wonderful friends that call and email.  I love to help, when I have an answer, my hubby finds it all very comical!!!

1. What’s a good car service to LA?

I personally have not had to use one.  We almost always fly out of Orange County, or leave our car at a parking garage.  However, we have very good friends that lived out of the country for a while and they used a car service that they loved, “A Towncar”, 877.869.6227.  Our friends still use them even though they have moved back to California.

2. How do I make a raffia covered bulletin board?

I’ll admit, I have not made one myself.  I’m good at knowing what I want and delegating!  I’ve done a fabric one, but the ones I have in my house now are covered with a raffia type wall covering.   I wanted to have bulletin boards on my office doors that made the doors look like they were single panels (my way of not having to buy 2 more doors for our remodel, but still make the current doors look updated.) We have a fabulous painter that made ours for us.  My understanding was that he attached the wall covering with a spray adhesive to corkboard on the door, then built a frame around it to give it the single panel appearance.  Here is a version I found on Martha Stewarts site for a fabric covered bulletin board.

3. How do I uses a pasta pot that has it’s own built in “strainer”?

One of those things you look at and think, “I’m a grown adult and should know how to do this”, but then wonder if you really do….So for a second opinion, it really is as easy as you think.  If it is a true pasta pot (or multi purpose pot), it comes with a separate colinder (deep with holes) and a smaller steamer (shallow with holes) and everything can fit inside something else.  To cook pasta, you just need to instert the deeper one, fill with water, boil and cook pasta as usual.  Then when the pasta is done you can just lift the colinder out of the pot to drain the pasta.  Ta da!!

4. Could you write a post on what to get everyone for the holidays – i.e. teachers, business partners, housekeepers…

Oh goodness!  This assumes of course that I KNOW what to get everyone!  I love that my husband’s family sends out “wish lists”, makes everything a whole lot easier!!  That being said, I think this would be a helpful post for many.  So even though I’m not the all knowing gift wizard, I’ve been pouring through sites and catalogs and am hoping to get a post up with at least a few suggestions.  If you have anything you think might be good to add, please feel free to send suggestions along!

5. What are good websites for Holiday party invitations?

I’m sure there are tons more than these too, but I have always liked using Tiny Prints as they are super easy, very affordable, very fast and you can see what you personalize right away.  Be sure to check the wedding section and business section as they sometimes have great options there as well.  Another site I have not used yet, but my sister really likes is Minted.  They have some fabulous invites.  I’ve been helping a friend with her holiday party and we just found a great choice on this site.  It feels a lot like Tiny Prints to me and is very user friendly and affordable.  Great Holiday card options too!

6. Do you reapply your Chanel lip wear during the day, and if so do you take off everything on your lips first?

I do not unless I’m going places.  Addie & Hay pretty much like my lips no matter what!  But if I’m out and trying to *look* like a put together, got it all working for me kind of mom, then yes I do.  It stays on for hours at a time, so pretty much all you need to do is reapply the gloss part, but every now and then you need to do the “stain” too.

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7. I need to cook a beef tenderloin for 9 people + kids, any good recipes?  Or maybe chefs?

Well she is a braver girl than me, I don’t think I could attempt with the current ages and needs (demands) of my kids! But these are 2 recipes that I would use if I WERE going to attempt!  We actually had roast beef and yorkshire pudding growing up almost every Sunday.  My mom made the yorkshires (similar to a popover) from scratch (so delicious!!).  But my sister found a great box recipe from Stonewall Kitchens that she made for us for New Years Eve in Tahoe one year (when you are on vacation you REALLY don’t want to be the one stuck in the kitchen the WHOLE time).

Here are two beef recipes that have always turned out well for me:

Paula Deen’s Foolproof Standing Rib Roast

Barefoot Contessa’s Fillet of Beef

8. I made homemade pizza last night and when the top started to cook too much, I tented a piece of foil over the top just like you told me too on another cooking project!

Woohoo!  So glad you remembered the trick and it worked again!  It’s a great way to allow heat to still get to your dish, but stop the top fro browning too quickly.

OK – now I have a favor to ask you….we are currently ranked #28 on Top Mommy Blogs, if you like My Favorite Everything, please click on this link to vote.  That’s all  you have to do, your click is the vote!  Thank you for your help!

Have a great weekend everyone!  See you again on Monday!