I forgot that yesterday was National Friendship Day. If you’re like me, and you’re running a day behind… Don’t Fret! You can still show your friends that you love them {In my case, most of my friends are family & hairy creatures. I’m a socially awkward hermit like that.}
Pick Up The Phone & Call
Give Someone a Hug
Mail a Card
Take a Sweet Treat By Their House
Throw a Party!!!
{like this magnificent Alice and Wonderland tea party by Amy Atlas}
Go out & celebrate!
Camberley
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Have you ever wondered what kind of birthday cake to make for the birthday girl who’s on a diet? I think these flower birthday cakes are the perfect recipe for her {as well as anyone else who loves getting fresh flowers} on their special day. And they are so easy to make.
If you are interested in learning how to make these birthday flower cakes; then, watch this DIY video by CathieAndSteve.
It’s time to plan your 4th of July picnic!
So why not spruce it up a little bit and add some fun 4th of July party decor to your table. Here are a few fun and easy ideas for decorating that don’t take a lot of time or money. Most supplies are easily found at your local discount and dollar stores.
Salute Old Glory with star-studded napkin rings.
Stamp “USA” into metal tags using a steel stamp set. (Or buy them already stamped.) Thread star-print ribbon through the tags and wrap around striped napkins. For a festive and inexpensive napkin-just cut cotton ticking in 16-inch squares; fray the edges by pulling on the threads.
An easier idea for your 4th of July napkins: Roll up some towels (make sure that they are thin like cotton or linen) and fasten with checkered shoelaces for a pop of color.
Turn plain drinking glasses into patriotic ones – temporarily — for the holiday.
Using pinking shears, cut bands of red-and-white plaid scrapebook paper to fit around the glasses. Cut smaller pieces of white rectangular paper and glue onto the center of your plaid paper. Tape ends together to form a ring that will easily slip “up” the glass and stay in place. Provide permanent markers for guests to write their names on the rectangles so they’ll know exactly which glass is theirs.
Combine a variety of red, white and blue patterned paper plates and cups on your picnic table.
It doesn’t matter if they match completely as long as you’ve got patriot colors. Garnish each place setting with a loose flower-then add fresh flowers to coordinating paper cups. So cute and so easy!
For a great tablecloth idea-take several pieces of red, white and blue wide strips of fabric (choose fabrics with stripes and stars for a more patriotic look ) and lay them across your table. Then place fresh potted flowers on your table that you’ve added small flags to.
If your picnic is buffet style arrange patriotic flatware and napkins into red-white-and-blue baskets to keep the tableware organized and standing at attention.
How about wrapping your hot dogs, hamburgers or sandwiches in white wax paper and securing them shut with a flag toothpick? I think that it’d even be cute to add some red twine or patriotic ribbon.
Ditch the food packages and line galvanized pails (or even red, white and blue buckets) with napkins to serve picnic staples, such as potato chips or buns.
Make dessert your grand finale — just like a spectacular burst of fireworks.
Fill canning jars with sundae toppings and let guests create their own ice cream confections. These jars are displayed in a wire tree purchased at a gift store, but you also could arrange the toppings on tiered stands…
Even simple cupcakes look more impressive when a flag is put on the top of the cupcake and they are arranged on tiered cake stands. Your friends will be so impressed!
Happy Picnicking!
Debs
P.S. Have a fun and safe 4th of July
Photos and Information Courtesty of: Better Homes and Gardens, Country Living, Woman’s Day
Melamine tableware is extremely popular right now-after all it’s summertime and people are eating outdoors. It’s perfect for entertaining as well as everyday use because of it’s indestructiblity. And if you are trying to be more “green” by limiting your use of paper products this is a great way to do it.
And Melamine doesn’t look like it did back in the 60′s and 70′s-when I first became aware of it. Just check out these companies who offer many different patterns and colors of Melamine.
( Zak! Designs)
I’m already sold on using melamine. In fact I have it in a couple of plain colors and use it often. {Side note: you can put a lot of melamine dishes into a dishwasher since they are so lightweight and “thinner” than regular dishes. Perfect for large crowds.}
Now all I have to do is decide what fun patterns to add to my collection!
Happy Shopping…
Debs
Images: french bull/zak! designs/Thomas Paul
This time of the year seems to be full of entertaining and spur of the moment parties at my house. Sometimes-if I’m quick enough to come up with an idea- I throw together a centerpiece for the table. It’s especially easy if you do it with items that you happen to have around the house.
Here are some ”no stress” centerpiece ideas that I’m going to try…
For a striking centerpiece that’s super easy, surround a glass hurricane lamp with a jumble of the day’s most colorful veggies.Go for contrasts in color, shape, and texture, and mound the pieces around the lamp, starting with the largest ones. Green beans, chile peppers and cherry tomatoes make great accents. Fill in with garden-fresh herb sprigs.
A rectangular planter looks nice on a long picnic table, and fresh moss adds a lush, natural feel. Scatter gray river rocks around the planter and embellish with attractive insect-repelling candles for a carefree evening.
Old metal boxes and lunch pails make great vintage holders for your favorite indoor arrangements. White hydrangeas, viburnum, and paperwhite complement any color container. Display the planter on a vintage dish for added style. (Instead of seasonal fresh flowers may I suggest faux botanicals that look as good as the real thing and last forever?)
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Gladiolas are a great flower to use for an easy summer centerpiece. They linger long in a vase, and brighten any table. Arrange them in old wine bottles for a colorful conversation piece.
For patriotic atmosphere, place several small American flags in a porcelain toothbrush holder. Vary the size of the flags and position several displays throughout the house for your holiday get-together.
For a glowing evening, fill hurricane vases with sand and fat white candles. Place the candle keepers in the center of your table, and after your meal, use them to line porch steps or define the edges of a patio or walkway.
Most of the items (or a variation) that were used for these centerpieces I have stored around my house. And for the things that I still need to get…my first stop will be my favorite dollar store.
Happy Entertaining!
Debs
Images and Information courtesy of Midwest Living
This time of year I start stressing about Birthday parties. First is Trey, his birthday is April 28. He’ll be 4. Then 5 days later on May 3rd Grady turns 2! This year Johnny (my husband) turns the big 3-0 in June and my birthday is in July (my age will go untold).
I’m kinda a “THEME” person, where party planning is concerned. For Trey’s First birthday we had a John Deer theme party which was cute but way expensive and tiring, #2 was a Carnival/water party and last year we all had the flu bug so plans were cancelled.
Here are some party themes I may be choosing from this year. If you click on the links it will take you to the familyfun.com website and give you full details on how to throw this exact party. Good stuff.
I think my boys would love this mideivel theme.
Or this construction theme.
A good carnival theme is sure to be a hit!
A few months ago a friend of mine did a carnival theme. She had popcorn, snow cones, spray art, jumping toys, etc. She also had a photo booth she set up and took pictures of all the families that came. I thought it was a great addition to a great party.
So those are some of the ideas I love and who knows, maybe we’ll end up doing one. We will see. Good luck in planning all your parties!
***Last but not least, tomorrow will start off this birthday season with our very own Bella Girl, Camberley, Happy Birthday CamBam!!!
Camberley, Children, Entertaining, Jamie, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Kiersten and Eric’s wedding was featured this week on the popular wedding blog-Elizabeth Anne Designs.
We want to thank Matt and Angie Sloan for doing such a fabulous job on the photography and for their willingness to share our event with one of their wedding “blog” friends.
They captured the look and feel of that beautiful evening…
For more pictures of Kiersten and Eric’s wedding events check out Elizabeth Anne Designs. or visit Sloan Photography.
Debs
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This is one of the greatest books around! At work Debs has a stack of inspirational home decor books that I like to flip through whenever possible. This is the only food-themed book in our office and let me tell you…. IT IS INSPIRING! The pictures are art, I can literally almost taste the cupcakes, and the colors and textures of the frosting make me swoon.
After flipping through this book for the past year I came up with a brilliant plan! wahahahaaa. In the near future I am throwing a ‘cupcakes‘ party and all those who lucky enough to attend are going to be assigned one of the recipes Shelly Kaldunski highlights in her book. Everyone will bring there batch of cupcakes where all invitees will vote on ‘Best Taste’, ‘Best Look-Alike’, ‘Worste Taste’ (which I will most likely win), ‘Best Attempt” and ‘Queen of the Cupcakes!’
{Pssst…I just came up with the contest while I was writing this post so categories will most likely change as the party draws closer.}
Anyways, if you would like to be invited to my personal shindig leave a comment and MAYBE just MAYBE you will make the Cupcake CUT! xoxo
PS. Check out some of the CoopCakes!
Crap. These are the only ones I could find online.
For all future attendees I will scan and email you a recipe, instructions, and rules.
Do It Yourself, Entertaining, Inspirations, Keighley, Shopping | No Comments »
Looking for something to do tonight?
Then I highly recommend this movie!
Great characters, beautiful music, and a lovely story.
xoxo Keighley
“True love doesn’t have a happy ending, because true love never ends. Letting go is one way of saying I love you.”
GO TO A 711 NEAR YOU AND BUY A METAL STRAW!!!
(Picture by AllisonTylerJones Photogrpahy)
You will not regret it…
PS. It was Allison Tyler Jones photography that led me to this discovery.
xoxo
Keighley
If you are looking for something to do this weekend I recommend this…
Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850
Youth is when you’re allowed to stay up late on New Year’s Eve. Middle age is when you’re forced to.
~Bill Vaughn
Every year I join the millions of other Christmas cookie makers around the world by making my favorite sugar cookie recipe. I’m not even sure where I got this recipe from. But I love it because these are a little more “cake-like” and not to crisy-if you don’t overbake them. Add some buttercream frosting-made with real butter-and a few decorative items and you won’t be able to stop eating them.
Ingredients:
1 ½ cups sifted flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ cup sugar
½ cup shortening
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1-2 teaspoons vanilla
Directions:
Sift all the dry ingredients together
Cut shortening into the flour mixture until it looks like coarse “meal”
Mix together the egg and all liquid ingredients
Blend into flour and shortening mixture
Roll out dough to 1/3” to 1/2” in thickness on lightly floured surface.
Cut into shapes
Bake at 400 degrees for 5-7 minutes
Allow cookies to cool on a wire rack and then frost with buttercream frosting.
Cooking Tip: Watch baking time closely and remove cookies from oven when cookies begin to turn slightly brown.
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This cornbread turkey dressing is so good that even those that aren’t crazy about bread stuffing really like this dish. I’m going to make it for the family this year and “force” everyone to try it.
Elaine’s Cornbread Stuffing
Ingredients:
1 lb. butter
3-4 onions, choppecd
4-5 stalks celery
1 loaf white bread, cubed and dried in oven
1-8 ounce box cornbread, baked and crumbled
1-2 tablespoons sage
2 eggs, beaten
1 can cashews
1 cup turkey or chicken broth
Directions:
Saute onions and celery in butter. Combine all ingredients in an extra large bowl. Pour broth over mixture and stir. Add more broth if needed.
Spread in a buttered baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and bake about 30 minutes, until heated through. If you like crispy stuffing, remove the foil after cooking for 15 minutes. Serve hot.
Happy Baking!
Debs
Remember God’s bounty in the year. String the pearls of His favor. Hide the dark parts, except so far as they are breaking out in light! Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude! ~Henry Ward Beecher
Entertaining, Fall, Quote of the Day, Thanksgiving | No Comments »
Since Thanksgiving is at my house this year-and it’s an intimate group (meaning immediate children, spouses and grandkids)-I am going to do a few of my fancier dishes for this special meal.
Here’s a recipe that I found in a gourmet magazine many years back. It’s still on the original sheet that I hand copied the recipe on to. It’s a nice change from the traditional sweet potatoes. This recipe has carmelized apples. It’s almost like eating dessert with your turkey.
Sweet Potatoes with Caramelized Apples
Ingredients:
6 sweet potatoes
3 Granny Smith apples
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
9 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
6 tablespoons heavy cream
¼ cup orange juice
Directions:
Heat oven to 425 degrees and bake sweet potatoes until soft. (Usually 40-45 minutes.) Peel and mash potatoes. Add salt and mix.
Slice apples into 1/8 inches wedges. Put into bowl and toss with lemon juice.
In skillet, melt 3 tablespoons butter, add 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Stir and cook until sugar dissolves. Cook apples in butter and brown sugar-about 1 minute on each side. You will need to do this in several batches.
In a medium skillet melt 3 tablespoons butter over high heat and add 2 tablespoons brown sugar. Cook until sugar dissolves. Stir in 4 tablespoons cream; cook until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and add sweet potatoes; mix well. Put potato mixture in buttered casserole dish. Arrange apples over potatoes and set aside.
In skillet, melt remaining butter and brown sugar. Add remaining cream and cook; stirring 30 seconds. Stir in orange juice and cook 1-2 minutes until thick-then add brown sugar. Pour over apples, cover with foil. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes until heated through. Take out of oven and let stand for 30 minutes.
Optional ingredient: Add pecans when cooking the apples in the butter and brown sugar.
Happy Baking!
Debs
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