Dan's parents got this for me for Christmas.
I broke it in tonight... Red Velvet Cupcakes :)
14 years ago
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Mom's Tortilla Soup
Although she says she never makes it the same way twice.. Here's the basics... no measurements... no details.. just a means to remember the what and how and OKs to substitute
Ingredients
Homemade Chicken Broth (so easy, so worth it)
Flour
Butter / OK Sub -- Earth balance for lactose intolerant friends
Onion
Red Bell Pepper
Green Bell Pepper
Garlic
Jalapeno (OK to leave out)
Chicken
Canned Black Beans drained
Canned Corn drained
Zucchini
Canned Diced Tomatoes in juice
Canned Rotel Tomatoes and Green Chilies in juice
Cumin
Cayenne Pepper
Chili Powder
Cilantro
De-bone and remove skin from whole roasted chicken.
Make chicken broth using remaining skin and bones. Add coarsely chopped celery, onions, carrots to 4-6 quarts of water. Season broth with salt, pepper, cilantro with stems and a few slices of jalapeno if desired. Boil and reduce for at least 40 minutes. Strain. OK to freeze for later use. Otherwise set Aside.
Sauté bell peppers, onion and garlic in vegetable oil. Set Aside.
Make a rue. gradually add broth then sauteed veggies.
Add black beans, corn, zucchini, chicken, tomatoes and Rotel.
Add spices.
Simmer, covered for at least 30 minutes.
Serve with grated pepper jack, fresh cilantro, lime, and fresh avocado slices.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
LA Time Article -- ..."Macy's Refashions itself... to attract modern shoppers"
December 22, 2009
RETAIL
Hoping for green holiday, Macy's refashions itself
The venerable chain, building on its nostalgic appeal, is updating its
operations to attract modern shoppers
By Andrea Chang
Wrapped in the music, lights and relentlessly red decor of Christmas at
Macy's, Kathleen Kwiatkowski opened her wallet with a little pull from
holidays past.
Like millions of other Americans, Kwiatkowski says she shops at the
department store for its selection, ample coupons and easy return policy.
But in part it's simply tradition.
"Macy's is Christmas," said the West Hollywood resident, 56, examining a
stack of knit tops at the Beverly Center store. "My mother used to take me
to the New York store when I was a little girl."
Since the classic film "Miracle on 34th Street," Macy's has been synonymous
with the holidays in the minds of many consumers. This Christmas, amid a
tough sales environment, the department store giant -- second only to Sears
Holdings Corp. by revenue -- is hoping that nostalgia translates into a
much-needed sales boost.
Amid the devastation the recession has wreaked on retail sales, the
venerable chain has been trying to reinvent itself, tailoring its stores to
specific regions, pushing its online presence and boosting its promotions
to draw customers.
In the process, Macy's hopes to reverse the decades-long decline in the
department store business model that has seen many mall-weary consumers
shifting their shopping habits to big-box discounters, free-standing stores
and the Internet.
"It's a critical holiday season for Macy's. They have to turn things
around," said retail analyst Michelle Clark of Morgan Stanley, who is
neutral on the stock.
The Cincinnati company, which owns luxury retailer Bloomingdale's and
operates a total of 854 stores, is aware of the threat of becoming
obsolete. With nearly one-third of its annual sales riding on the
November-December season, Macy's is trying hard to stay relevant.
"Macy's as a department store is not just competing against other
department stores," said John Gorham, senior vice president and director of
stores for Macy's southwest region, which includes California. "In today's
world, whether it's specialty, whether it's discount or whether it's
department stores, the name of the game is capturing wallet share from the
consumer."
The recession, the reshaping of the company and the competition have kept
Macy's financial results volatile.
The company lost $35 million for the three months ended Oct. 31, even after
slashing 7,000 jobs and closing about a dozen stores this year. Over the
last eight quarters, its earnings have seesawed, swinging as high as $750
million in profits to a low of $4.77 billion in losses, a result of a
write-down in assets.
In trying to reinvent itself, Macy's has been overhauling its merchandise
structure -- a move the company says will allow it to better respond to
customer preferences and needs by location.
Under the initiative, called My Macy's, stores are grouped into small
districts of about 10 to 12 locations each. Previously, the clusters were
about twice as large yet had half as many managers, resulting in
merchandise missteps such as not adjusting product sizes by location.
"There was just no physical way that you could get into the detail of what
the customer was demanding when you were that big," Gorham said. "It was a
problem."
In a region as diverse as the Southland, the My Macy's strategy has helped
the chain pinpoint store-specific issues.
In Westminster, for example, Macy's has increased its stock of small sizes
to better serve the store's many Vietnamese shoppers, who tend to be more
petite on average, Gorham said. After shoppers at the Macy's in Costa Mesa
said they wanted more dresses, the chain upped that store's inventory by
30%.
Many customers say they've already noticed the changes.
"Before, there wouldn't be a lot, but now I find there's a lot I can choose
from. There's definitely a difference," said Marivel Molina, 22, who had
just spent $200 on Christmas presents at the Macy's at South Coast Plaza.
"Every time I come I find something."
The company also has put significant effort into its online presence -- and
it's paying off. Internet sales at Macys.com and Bloomingdales.com were up
21.1% in its most recent quarter and 15.6% for the year to date, the
company said last month, although it didn't release exact online sales
figures.
The merchandise improvements have cheered some industry watchers, who say
Macy's is on the right track and that its long history and national
footprint give it an advantage over its competitors. Macy's stock is up 70%
this year, compared with a 23% increase for the Standard & Poor's 500 index
of major companies.
Although it closed 11 underperforming stores this year, the chain opened
six new ones and rebuilt two others. Last month it raised its financial
outlook for the full year.
Analysts are cautiously optimistic. Half of those who follow the company's
financial progress recommend that people buy the stock and half recommend
that investors hold their shares, according to a Bloomberg survey.
"Macy's is taking advantage of the recession. It's made some very tough
decisions in terms of consolidating operations and streamlining its expense
structure,"said Bill Dreher, senior retail analyst at Deutsche Bank
Securities who recommends buying the stock. "We like these changes, and we
like the direction the company is going."
Founded in New York in 1858, Macy's was acquired by Federated Department
Stores in 1994, part of a buying spree that later included purchases of
rivals Broadway Stores and May Department Stores. Two years ago the company
officially changed its name to Macy's Inc.
Industry consolidation and failures in the 1980s and 1990s, along with the
recent wipeout of regional retailers such as Mervyns and Gottschalks, have
left Macy's and its 167,000 employees in an increasingly smaller pool, but
that hasn't helped department stores in general.
Last month sales at department stores fell 4.7% compared with a year
earlier, according to Thomson Reuters. In the retail segment of the
economy, that drop made it the second-weakest sector in November after
youth-oriented apparel sellers. With sales down 6.1% for the month, Macy's
performed worse than department store peers Kohl's Corp., Nordstrom Inc.
and J.C. Penney Co.
Other factors also leave the chain vulnerable.
As a mid-range department store carrying a wide selection of apparel,
accessories and home decor items, Macy's aims to reach customers across all
income levels. But even with seemingly nonstop coupons and markdowns, the
chain has difficulty shaking its image as a pricey place to shop.
"Maybe if I had a full-time teaching job, I would shop at Macy's," said Jan
La Joice, a substitute teacher from La Crescenta who was shopping at a
JCPenney in Glendale recently.
For the holidays, the chain has ramped up its national "Believe" campaign,
including a 30-minute animated television special and gift card give-aways.
"Part of the DNA of this brand is to really do all holidays well, but
particularly Christmas," said Martine Reardon, Macy's executive vice
president of marketing.
That's what drew Carla Cotti to the Macy's at Glendale Galleria recently
when she was looking for trendy gifts for her grandchildren.
The senior housing consultant grew up shopping regularly at the department
store but lately has broadened her options, making her visits to Macy's
less frequent.
"With this economy, there's not a person who isn't going to make their way
to a Costco or a Wal-Mart or a Target," she said. "But I still need
Macy's."
Thursday, December 10, 2009
OC Register Article -- My Macy's
Why no Macy’s store is quite like another
December 3rd, 2009, 6:00 am
posted by Candice Shih, Staff Writer
Via OC Register
With more than 800 stores in the U.S., “nimble” might be an odd way to describe Macy’s.
Nonetheless, it’s becoming more the case as Macy’s implements a customization program around the country. Through My Macy’s, not only will Orange County stores better respond to their customers’ needs but so will each individual Macy’s store.
“It’s not just vendor structure or adding categories,” said John Gorham, senior vice president and director of stores in Macy’s Southwest region. “Appropriate size, color, weight of goods and silhouette are also just as important. It’s tailored to the uniqueness of the consumer.”
For example, that meant adding more small sizes in Westminster, which is heavily Vietnamese (pictured), eliminating coats in Hawaii, and adding a Lakers shop in downtown Los Angeles immediately after the team won the NBA championship this year.
Gorham’s area includes Southern California, Hawaii, Nevada and Arizona. He has lived in Laguna Hills for more than 18 years and knows Orange County well.
He described how each Macy’s in Orange County was adjusted to match its demographics and interests:
Westminster Mall — “It’s a perfect example of adjusting our size range in apparel and in shoes based on the specific customer profile in that market. We are able through the new My Macy’s process to adjust to smaller sizes,” Gorham said. “We have a fairly penetrated cosmetics business so we added a BeneFit Brow Bar.”
Fashion Island — “We didn’t have a juniors business in that store. The customer voted in back in April, and by Sept. 1 we had a full-blown juniors department,” Gorham said. The new department includes sportswear and dresses.
South Coast Plaza — “The customer was asking for a much broader assortment in dresses. We expanded and increased the dress offerings and space by over 30 percent. The business is flying. We are the dress headquarters for all of Orange County,” Gorham said. That also meant expanding the offerings in lower-priced dresses, such as those costing $120 to $150.
The Shops at Mission Viejo — “There was an enormous distortion of Levi’s in men’s. It was something that was continuing to grow,” Gorham said. “We doubled the space and we close to doubled the inventory.” This Macy’s also met a high demand for Levi’s in women’s, children and juniors and for its own INC brand for men and women.
Brea Mall and Main Place — “We added Tommy Hilfiger to these stores. We intensified the juniors business in denim, casual tops, sweaters, knits, camis and tanks,” Gorham said.
Laguna Hills Mall – “It is attracting a younger customer. We expanded juniors into the mall into a separate shop,” Gorham said. Customers asked for mineral-based makeup, too, so a Bare Escentuals counter was added.
The ability to react more quickly to customer demand was made possible by a new management structure at Macy’s, Gorham said. As a senior vice president, he supervises nine district vice presidents. Each of those teams has a district merchant and district planner, who gather local information.
“There’s constant evaluation of business performance and profit performance. You evaluate what’s trending,” Gorham said. “Things can change and things do change.”
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Baby, It's Cold Outside
Thanksgiving Recipes
Baked Curried Brie
1 tsp. curry powder (less if you like)
1/4 cup cashews, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup fruit chutney (Sante Fe Seasons Cranberry Especial)
1-8 oz. wheel of Brie
Sprinkle curry over cheese and rub into top and sides. Spread chutney over top and sprinkle with cashews. Press cashews into chutney. Bake 10 minutes in 325 oven on magic baking sheet. Gently slide onto platter and surround with crackers. Let cool slightly before serving. (This is where you use your cute new Thanksgiving spreader!)
Zesty Pumpkin Soup
¼ C. butter 1/8 t. cayenne pepper 1 C. chopped onion
1 clove garlic, crushed 3 C. chicken broth 1 t. curry powder
1 C. half and half ¼ t. ground coriander
1 16 oz. Can solid pack pumpkin
Sour cream and chives to garnish (optional)
In large saucepan, melt butter. Sauté onion and garlic until soft. Add curry powder, coriander and cayenne. Cook about a minute. Add broth and boil gently uncovered 15-20 minutes. Puree the chicken broth/onion mixture in small batches in blender. (If you blend hot liquids in large batches you will have a big mess on the ceiling if you’re not careful!) Return smooth mixture to saucepan and stir in pumpkin and cream. Cook five more minutes. Taste and adjust for spices. (Notice no salt called for because prepared chicken broth can be so salty already.) Serve piping hot and garnish with dollop of sour cream and chopped chives if desired.
** 2of Mom's favorite Thanksgiving Recipes -- She's still resisting the blog-o-sphere -- so I'll continue to repost the stuff she wants out there to share **
Hot Spiced Tea
9 oz jar Tang
½ C. Country Time powdered lemonade
1 ½ C. Sugar
1 C. Instant Lipton Tea
2 t. cinnamon (or more to taste)
1 t. ground cloves
Pinch nutmeg and/or allspice to taste!
Yields: a big Jar
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Christmas Inspiration
This post deserves a little bit of explanation.. I'm guilty (lately) of the "bookmark for later comment images and inspirations" ... In a perfect world.. I'd love to do interiors/ home decoration for a living... As if that's not obvious.
I'd also love to be hired to decorate homes/ hotels/ restaurants for Christmas. So here's a stockpile of inspiration. And if I ever get to a point where I can't stand retail during the months of November and December... I'll have a fabulous back up plan.
Mostly Via (collected by) House of Turquoise
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
LBD
The little black dress...
... how is it that I already have too many.. and still am searching for the perfect one?
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Happy Halloween
Francesco Lagnese for REAL SIMPLE, via Viva Amore
Holidays always remind me of how much I miss home. For some people, the holidays are stressful.. I get that. In-laws, family who you only see a few times a year, cooking, travel, gifts... On top of "Real Life" it can be a lot. Still, I am endlessly thankful for all of the vivid and fabulous memories I have of traditions, mishaps and joyfulness. I'm sure if this short entry was about Thanksgiving or Christmas (Christmas, especially) it A) wouldn't be short and B) would be a whole lot more sappy. Halloween is, and has always been, my Dad's favorite holiday. Between my mom and dad duplicate pumpkins are purchased every year. Considering that's 6+ pumpkins.. I'm sure you can imagine the front porch. Extras: boyfriends, friends, friends of friends, relatives of friends... there are always extra participants.. and always enough pumpkins. Dad always does the prep work while the kids (Well.. when we were kids... haha.. Who am I kidding? We'll always be kids) dig out the slimey pumpkin seeds. Mom and Em and I always save, rinse and prep for baking. Everyone carves.. somehow mom always last. Kiss FM or something mainstream like that plays on the ancient garage radio. When pumpkins are finally lit, placed on the ledge, decorating the front of the house in a less-than spooky manner, we all gather inside for some sort of gourmet take out. Man.. I miss home.
Carving Pumpkins in the Garage
Cheesy Decor
Terra Bella
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Can't forget fabulous October Orange County sunsets.
Sometimes.. after seemingly endless days
of wearing my completely black wardrobe to work...
...I just wish my closet looked like this. (Via Audrey Hepburn Complex)
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