Down the Rabbit Hole!

So my daughter and I could not agree on a birthday party idea - she wanted to go roller skating, I wanted to throw a party! (She's 12, it may be my last oppportunity until she gets married.) So as the days on the calendar ticked past her birthday We came up with the perfect idea! We were "late late late for a very important date!", a Mad Hatter's Tea Party! And so timely with the new version of "Alice in Wonderland" coming out. She loved the idea and Mommy began the planning. (have I mentioned how much I LOVE to plan a party?) Immediately, I went way out of the box and decided we would hold the party in the clearing in the woods behind our house...the "Rabbit Hole". I know, I'm a little crazy when I get a theme going, but I had a picture in my head of the "Rabbit Hole" decorated and I had to try it! I started praying for a beautiful Spring day right then, mud meant the party had to be in the dining room and and what would we do for two hours in the dining room? Well, all the preparations came together: invitations, party favors, hats, etc. Thankfully we also got a beautiful Spring day and we were in business! We hung a chandalier in the tree and hung paper lanterns from the limbs, carried a big, high backed chair down to the clearing and set the table like the Queen herself was coming. It was so much fun to do and the kids loved it, they even came dressed up as their favorite characters! My daughter had a great time with her friends and told me later in the day "Mommy, thanks for turning the woods into a Rabbit Hole." What more could a mother ask for?

From the Kitchen of...

A few friends and I recently hosted a baby shower and made the cutest sugar cookies for party favors...tied up with personalized ribbon, of course! The sugar cookie recipe we used was so good I thought I would share it with you...they kept their shape better than any batch I've ever made. Enjoy!

Rolled Sugar Cookies

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups white sugar

4 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

5 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking poder and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (preferably overnight).

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out dough on floured surface to 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter (we did baby carriages). Keep dough as cool as you can before baking. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

It is suggested that when you make these cookies for someone that you make sure to bring along several copies of the recipe because you WILL be asked for it!

Throw yourself a party!

Life deserves celebrating so celebrate! After the long, cold winter we're all ready to get out and mingle...it doesn't have to be an elaborate affair you can simply throw some burgers on the grill and invite some friends over, or pop some popcorn and let the kids host a movie night or simply invite some neighbors to meet you for "Cocktails on the Curb"...BYOB, of course~!

With good weather in our futures it's time to get out and party! Call some friends and grab your "go" cups and let's get together for some good times, I hope to see you soon!

Gray Skies Go Away!

It's February and it's cold and Old Man Winter has brought LOTS of snow and the sky has been gray for way too long! We thought we'd warm you up with images of what's to come...SPRING! Believe it or not, it will come, it always does. Spring will move in with it's subtle warm breezes and blooming new flower buds, blue skies and the sounds of neighborhood children finally getting outside. Suddenly the trees will be full of green leaves again, porches will be dressed with brightly colored blossoms and we all will be smiling again. Spring will come, do not lose hope. In the meantime, enjoy cuddling by the fire and cheering on the USA Winter Olympians.

New Jewelry Trend---Layers!

"Layers"...just the word sounds indulgent! The Trend Alert for 2010 is just that, indulgent. The old saying of "if I have one of those I have a thousand" is this season's mantra. You can't just wear one necklace, you have to have 10, or atleast one necklace that looks like 10. It's chunky and eclectic and wildly fun and playful. My favorite find from my recent trip to Market was a 72" pearl necklace, yes...I said 72 INCHES! It wraps around my neck 4 times and ties in a knot in the last layer. It can be short layers or not so many long layers. It can be anything I want it to be. I can wear it with jeans or a dress. I love it! It is definitely another season where you can't go wrong with pearls! Indulgent doesn't have to mean expensive either, layer what you already have. Mix and match metals, beads, ribbons etc. Have fun with it...this season's looks are meant to be played with!

Resolutions for 2010

Okay, so it's the new year, 2010...really? Everyone is talking resolutions, my running shoes come out of retirement tomorrow (reluctantly). What are my resolutions? A better question might be what are not my resolutions? Like everyone else I want to lose a few pounds, eat healthier, spend more time with family and friends, slow time down, be ORGANIZED...you know the list. My question is how to get these from being resolutions to becoming my reality! Our pastor had a good idea..."resolve to just breathe." Breathing is good, I can breathe...okay, reality! Baby steps, take one closet at a time, replace one snack with a healthy one, run a little farther each day, ask a friend to have lunch once a month, make reservations for Saturday's date night instead of waiting on my husband to do it...I can do this! We'll see where we get with the diet and the running (did I really sign up for a half-marathon in April???) but atleast for right now...I am breathing!

Jesus said, "I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abudnace (to the full, till it overflows)" John 10:10

Yes, have AND enjoy! Happy New Year!

Cute Paper Addictions!!!

In this new world of e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, cell phones, and text messages, the art of the handwritten note is being forgotten! For those of us with cute paper addictions, this is unforgiveable! We love to get notes, handwritten ones, on cute monogrammed stationery or note paper. We love to send handwritten notes, thank you's or a "Just because I'm thinking of you" note! It's a wonderful feeling to go to the mail box and find beneath the stack of bills an envelope addressed, by a friend, to you! With so many wonderful designs to choose from it's hard to believe it's a dying tradition. I encourage all of my Southern friends to not let this art die! Encourage a friend who is having a rough time or let someone know you're thinking of them today with a handwritten note (and it doesn't even have to be on cute monogrammed stationery... but it doesn't hurt!)