GREAT inexpensive GIFT!!!

 
You'll enjoy preparing this gift for people and what a YUMMY gift at that!   Pair it with our Pixie Measuring spoons and you are giving something to consume... something to keep!    AWESOME!

Chai Tea Mix
For optimal enjoyment of this trendy flavor-packed drink, be sure your spices are fresh. Prep: 14 min Yield: 5 1/2 cups mix Ingredients 2 1/2 teaspoons ground ginger 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 3/4 teaspoon ground cloves 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom (optional) 1 teaspoon ground allspice 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 1/2 cups unsweetened instant tea or decaffeinated instant tea 1 1/2 to 2 cups sugar 1 cup nonfat dry milk powder 1 cup powdered nondairy creamer 1 cup French vanilla-flavored powdered nondairy creamer Preparation Combine spices and tea in a food processor or blender. Blend 1 to 2 minutes or until mixture becomes a fine powder. Pour into a large bowl. Add sugar to food processor or blender (without cleaning it), and process until superfine, about 30 seconds. Add sugar to bowl of spices. Stir in milk powder and creamers; blend well. Spoon mix into gift jars, if desired. To serve, stir 2 heaping Tbsp. Chai Tea Mix into a mug of hot milk or boiling water. Chocolate Chai Mix: Add 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa along with dry milk powder to the blend above. Follow serving directions above. (We recommend milk here.) Chai Shake: Blend 1/4 cup Chai Tea Mix, 1 cup milk, and 3 1/2 cups vanilla ice cream in a blender. White Chocolate Chai: Add 1/4 cup finely chopped premium white chocolate (such as Lindt or Ghirardelli) to 1 cup Chai Tea Mix. Stir well. Follow serving directions above with 2 heaping Tbsp. per cup of hot milk or boiling water. Christmas with Southern Living 2007, Oxmoor House, June 2007

MORE YUMMY Treats!

We are trying another Pumpkin Pancake Recipe this morning!  Tell me which one you like better!

Bisquick Pumpkin Pancakes

These pumpkin pancakes are a cinch to prepare, because they start with a baking mix, such as Bisquick. If you want really fluffly pancakes, substitute 1/4 of seltzer water for 1/4 cup of the milk.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 cups baking mix, such as Bisquick
• 2 large eggs
• 1-1/4 cups milk
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 2 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Preparation:

1. Preheat an electric skillet (compare prices) to 375 degrees F, or heat a large frying pan over medium-high heat.
2. Whisk together all ingredients until well-combined, but do not overmix.
3. Let rest for 10 minutes.
4. Turn griddle down to 350 degrees.
5. Ladle quarter-cupfuls of the batter onto the griddle. Cook until the edges of the pancakes start to set and bubbles start to form on the surface of the pancakes.
6. Flip. Cook another 1-3 minutes until pancakes are golden brown on the other side.

Serve immediately with butter and syrup.

WATER is the SECOND most Marked up item you can buy! Who Knew!?

I just read an article about the most expensive things you can buy and Bottled water is #2 with 4000% mark up!!   Awful right?   So at your next HOLIDAY gathering, SAVE money and do it OH so gracefully by using a Beverage Server filled with water and slices of lemon, orange or even cucumber and mint!   YUM!    It'll be your Favorite piece you'll use OVER and OVER again!   If you own one, share your favorite story!  You can get it on my website at http://theda.willowhouse.com or host a party of your own to get it 70% off or Free!

It makes a GREAT present for the holidays too!   Enjoy!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Here's a GREAT alternative to Pumpkin Pie - Enjoy!

Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients

• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 (9 inch) prepared graham cracker crust
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch ground cloves
• 1 pinch ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Blend in eggs one at a time. Remove 1 cup of batter and spread into bottom of crust; set aside.
3. Add pumpkin, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg to the remaining batter and stir gently until well blended. Carefully spread over the batter in the crust.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until center is almost set. Allow to cool, then refrigerate for 3 hours or overnight. Cover with whipped topping before serving.

Fall Weekend Breakfast - Pumpkin Pancakes!

TREAT YOUR FAMILY to a GREAT breakfast this weekend and make them feel special!  It really feels like FALL!

These are very easy to make, recipe doubles well too.

Pumpkin Pancakes (presented by 1882 Aleksander House Bed & Breakfast)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 TBS sugar
dash of salt
2 tsps baking soda
1 cup milk
2 TBS vegetable oil
1 egg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 cup sour cream

Combine all ingredients. Batter will be lumpy. Spray grill with cooking spray. Bake pancakes on grill using medium heat until bubbles rise to the surface and edges are brown. Turn and bake until golden brown. Serve with Honey-Pecan butter. Serves two.

Honey-Pecan Butter:
1/2 cup pecans, toasted then chopped
1/2 cup butter
1/4 cup honey

Beat butter and honey together until smooth. Add pecans. Serve with Pumpkin Pancakes. Makes one cup.

Warm Pumpkin Spice Bread!

Something to do over the weekend!   Try making Pumpkin Spice Bread and freezing it!  You have the time now, why not enjoy the holiday weekend and make the bread ahead?!  Better yet, it travels great and if you want to tie it up in a pretty hand towel and ribbons like a piece of candy, it makes an even MORE special gift!     Let it cool, wrap in aluminum foil and then in an air tight zip lock bag.   Thanksgiving weekend it will make a nice treat!  Just thaw, slice and toast slices in the oven with butter for a wonderful morning treat!

---

Pumpkin Spice Bread (1 loaf)

Recipe from Southern Living Magazine

1 stick butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 2/3 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 3/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°. butter & flour a 9" loaf pan. Cream the butter & sugar in a large bowl until light & fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves & salt. Add to the creamed mixture alternately with 1/2 cup water, mixing well after each addition. Beat in the pumpkin; stir in nuts. Spoon into the prepared pan. Bake 1 hour. Cool in pan for 10 minuters; remove to a wire rack to cool completely.~~ From the Best of Wheeling

This sure makes your kitchen smell good. While it's still warm, serve it with whipped cream.

Pumpkin Martini

Want a little special cocktail for your weekend dinner party or for your Saturday Dinner "IN"?   Try the Four Season's Hotel's Pumpkin Martini!  

Epicurious  | October 1998

Four Seasons Hotel

Ingredients

• 3 ounces spiced pumpkin vodka
• 1 ounce Amaretto

Combine in cocktail shaker with ice, pour and serve! Garnish wish toasted pumpkin seeds or rim the glass with sugar/cinnamon!   YUM!

You can also create a non-alcoholic cocktail by doing spiced apple cider but just SERVED in a beautiful Martini Glass!  The glass makes it SO special!!!!   Don't forget the Garnish!!!

PUMPKIN!

Here's a great thing you can do with a pumpkin!    You may not have carved your pumpkin for Halloween, or you can find a great bargain on a pumpkin at your local farmer's market!   Hollow it out and make it into a beautiful Thanksgiving arrangement for your family gathering!

There are 3 ways you can create a look similar to this one!

1.   Insert a glass or a container in the bottom of the pumpkin and fill with water, then just add and arrange flowers! (EASY)

2.  Purchase a fall mum, plant, or prearranged grouping of flowers and set inside the pumpkin!  (EASY!!!) 3.  This one is my favorite but I am creative! I would consider this a little more challenging for the novice floral designer.   Soak a block of OASIS in water ( the green foamy stuff that is in flower arrangements).  Place it inside the pumpkin.   Insert lots of greens first such as florists fern(plentifully available at local flower shops and grocery stores) and if you have greens from the yard, clip bushes, plants etc to create a more organic look and simply create a "bush" of green!  A good idea here is to copy a photo to start.  Note the greens are at different heights and so are the flowers.   Now it's time to add color!   Grab a bunch of flowers from your local grocery store and start inserting the flowers.   Play with it and have fun!   If you want to add the pumpkin lid like is shown in this photo, just get a wooden skewer and attach it to the "lid" and place it in the oasis/pumpkin to secure it!  If  this option scares you becuase you don't feel creative enough, just add a beautiful potted mum!  It'll look stunning!

Email me photos of YOUR pumpkin arrangements!

EAT the FROG!

Have you heard this expression before?   It's strange I know, but it is to illustrate the point that if you do what you don't feel like doing FIRST in the day, you'll get to the other stuff that you want to do and it WILL all get done!

So "design" your day with a plan, don't react to your day, take control of it and see how much you get accomplished!

What are you procrastinating on today?  What FROG do you need to eat?  Please share your comments! It's appreciated and I would love the input!

Theda

Get those Holiday Cards done today ! :)

Promo code: PSC9-C6F5-CC9G-SE584E Two day sale ends November 11, 2010 Just thought I would share Shutterfly has a deal!  I know a week ago I encouraged you to do your holiday cards.... now you are READY!

Think past Monday!

I know it is Monday, but let's think ahead!  What do you have planned for the weekend?   A few projects, a few social get togethers or will the weekend come and go without much of a plan?

I encourage you to get some friends together for the game or just because  and do a fun tailgating theme - Keep it easy!  BUT YOU will need a Party bucket!  You know why?  It keeps people out of your fridge!  Hee hee!  You can use the party bucket for stashing cold drinks... chilling a bottle of wine.... It's awesome!   I have to put in a plug here.. because this is truly the BEST deal EVER!!!   You can buy one Willow House Entertaining Bucket and Tray ( drip proof)  and get one for HALF price!   One for you.... one for a friend!   Or, if you want the bucket and stand.... then host a November party because you can get it completely FREE with a qualifying party!   FREE is GREAT!   You don't get FREE from your local housewares store and you don't get to get together with your girlfriends either     I get to come to you, share ideas, fun and a night out with friends and you get a shopping spree to die for!

If I don't live near you, talk to me about doing a Virtual party! :)   Where there's a will there's a way!

Okay... so hope your weekend is filled with friends in some way.... because FRIENDS make LIFE awesome!  Invite a friend over today!

Entertaining Bucket, Tray and Stand

Graymont Party Bucket and stand

Add Texture!

YOU are going to LOVE this!!!   If you are having a holiday dinner at your house.... you'll love this simple solution for table linens!

Burlap is inexpensive and adds great texture to your table.   You can cut and fringe everything from placemats to runners, table toppers (a square turned diagonal on a table on top of another table cloth)  or you can even make entire table cloths!  I also love using burlap for summer, outdoor events instead of plastic.  It's heavy enough to not blow away, looks natural, casual and actually washes pretty well too!  I have washed my burlap over and over again!  

Even though I just said that burlap is casual, don't let it fool you!  You can use it in the dining room and it comes in many colors!  Even red!

Get to your fabric store today and have fun creating a great look for your table!

Get ready for the Holidays!

Whether you are ready or not, the holidays are coming!   In previous posts, I encouraged you to get that calendar out and plan, pick out your holiday photo for your cards if you do that, and start planning your menus so you can stock up on the non-perishables to take away stress!   I even provided a great Christmas cookie recipe you can do ahead when the mood strikes you!   Get those ingredients on hand so you can do it when you "feel" like it!

So, if you are having Thanksgiving dinner at your house, you can start creating some simple centerpieces and really getting your house ready for the season!

I love focusing on what we are thankful for and incorporating that into the decor!  Get family and friends to write on tags made out of brown paper bags or construction paper,  punch one hole and string a festive ribbon through each tag.  Have each person write something they are thankful for and have them tie it onto your Decorative Card Holder that you have in the kitchen, or tie them onto the base of a glass hurricane as a collar of THANKS!  You can start making your tags now ( better yet, get the kids to work on this project) and part of your decor will be done!

Trace a leaf from the yard for your tag template or download a free tag template from the internet!  Just google "leaf template"   EASY!

Recipes!

Here come the holidays!   I am excited to hear about YOUR favorite family recipes! Please share!

I have a recipe below I know you'll love!  You can  make ahead, slice and bake when you have that cookie exchange or need to give a gift!    Bake a pecan or apple pie in our beautiful Alfresco Deep Dish Pie Plate!!!  Harvest ready and Beautiful!  

What are you planning on making for the holidays?

Theda

Vanilla- Pecan Icebox Cookies -
Roll this vanilla scented cookie dough in wax paper and chill until firm or freeze up to 6 months.   Slice and bake cookies when you need them.  They'll be ready when you are!

1 cup butter or margarine softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup finely chopped pecans

• Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy; gradually add sugars, beating well.  Add egg and vanilla; beat mixture well
• Combine flour, baking powder, and salt; add to butter mixture, beating well at medium speed. (Dough will be stiff) Stir in pecans.  Cover and chill dough at least 2 hours.
• Shape dough into 2( 6" x 2 1/2") rolls. Wrap rolls in wax paper, and chill or freeze until firm.
• Slice chilled dough into 1/4 inch thick slices; place on un-greased cookie sheets.  Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove cookies to wire racks to cool.  Yield 4 dozen.

Photos!

Get ahead on your holiday cards this year and select or take your holiday card photo (if you include one)    I have found a few great time-savers that I think you'll enjoy!

Shutterfly will allow you to import your address list and you can literally have Shutterfly address and mail your cards for you but if you don't want to be that technical, just select that photo, get the quantity that you want ordered and be prepared to select your cards so you'll be ready at the beginning of December!

There's a free service from Picassa ( http://www.picassa.com/) that is great for organizing those photos that you have downloaded and are somewhere in your computer! :)   Check it out! It's fun!

Bottom line, start the process now and you won't be behind the eight ball later!   Let's get moving!

Theda

Plan your work, Work your plan!

As we approach the holidays... we tend to get overwhelmed with things, let's simplify the process!   Follow my blog for a week or so and get some great tips to help you get control over your calendar and get it done!

Get that Calendar out and decide what's coming up for the Quarter!  Are you going to have Thanksgiving at your house?  Are you having a holiday party?  Do you want to have a party with your girlfriends before the holidays get too busy or in January when there's nothing to do? (of course I can help you plan an event too, just ask me)    Put it on that calendar today In PENCIL - just in case!   I did find a great website you may enjoy to help you get a concensus on a date.  Try http://www.mypunchbowl.com/ and you can query your friends on a few possible dates!  It's easy and fun!  

Confirm that date with your friends/family and send out a Save the Date!  Cross that task off your list and on to the next thing tomorrow!!!!  

Share what YOU are planning for the next few months!  I'd love to hear! Let's share ideas!

Halloween Hurricane!

 

I told you I love hurricanes!   This is our Hawthorne Hurricane and it works great for putting all that Halloween Candy that was collected last night in something beautiful!  Go ahead and empty the trick or treat bags into your hurricanes and they not only make a pretty display but it reminds everyone to take a piece as they walk by and get rid of it! :)   

Happy Halloween Dinner!

Yes... it is here again!  And you may be thinking.... What am I going to have for dinner on Halloween because you are either trick or treating or answering the door!   THE best thing to do on a Halloween night is to do something easy like Chili!   You can also add that Chili to a hot dog for a little twist!  Here's a quick recipe that is YUMMY you may want to try!

Prep: 20 min.; Cook: 1 hr., 25 min.

Yield: Makes about 6 servings (serving size: 1 2/3 cups)

Chunky Beef and Tomato Chili(from Southern Living)

Ingredients

• 1  pound  ground round
• 1  (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with green peppers and onions
• 1  (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with zesty mild green chiles
• 1  (10-ounce) can condensed beef broth
• 2  garlic cloves, pressed
• 3  tablespoons  tomato paste
• 1  tablespoon  chili powder
• 1  teaspoon  ground cumin
• 1/2  teaspoon  black pepper
• 1/2  teaspoon  ground red pepper
• 1  (15-ounce) can light kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1  (15-ounce) can dark kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• Toppings: chipotle hot sauce, shredded Cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, Quick Creamy Vegetable Dip

Preparation

Cook beef in a Dutch oven over medium heat, stirring occasionally into large chunks, 10 minutes or until no longer pink. (Do not stir beef into crumbles.) Drain and return beef to Dutch oven.
Stir both cans of diced tomatoes and next 7 ingredients into browned beef; reduce heat to medium low, and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 1 hour. Stir in beans, and simmer 15 minutes. Serve with desired toppings.

Do you have a blank wall?

Think of a wall that is "naked" in your home!    It could be a sliver of a wall.... or a huge open space!    Use multiples to create impact!

Three of these little Trilogy Mirrors arranged vertically create GREAT impact but imagine 12 of them in a large space like this photo!  Wow!!!!   This same concept works for table scapes!    We'll chat more about that tomorrow!!!

A Few Fall Leaves

How simple to add a touch of FALL to anything!  Remember how I said to pick up leaves and acorns out of the yard?   Just adding a few leaves to your plate of fruit, makes it FABULOUS!    I can't even tell you how simple this is and FREE!!  Enjoy the AMAZING fall foliage and add a touch of FALL to everything!  

1. Add leaves to centerpieces.
2. Get a GREAT platter or dish and add 1 or 3 pillar candles( things look better in odd numbers) ... tuck in leaves or acorns or even pinecones from the yard!  Instant fall Centerpiece!
3. Add some real leaves to your mantle or yes, HURRICANES! :)  I love them! 



Now that I have your attention! :) FOOD!    I have to share another AMAZING recipe I got from one of my amazing hostesses Kate!  

1. Pop 1/2 cup popcorn - or one bag of plain microwave popcorn
2. Melt one 8 oz bag of white chocolate chips with 3 TBS vegtable oil in microwave on 10 second intervals ( stirring in between) until melted.
3. Pour melted chocolate over popped popcorn and toss thoroughly
4. Spread on parchment paper or wax paper and let "dry"

"Crumble" and put and a bowl ready to eat! 

My kids and my Friends all LOVE this EASY recipe!   Package it in celophane bags tied with a pretty holiday ribbon and give as a gift to hosts, neighbors, teachers etc! EASY!!!!  

ENJOY!  



Save money!

Okay... I normally don't post til the morning but I had to share this today!    Did you know that you can take 1/4 cup of popcorn and put it in a brown paper bag, crimp the top and microwave on the popcorn setting or for 2-3 minutes depending on your microwave?

Wow!!  Seriously!  I tried it today, melted 1 tbs of butter and tossed the popcorn in a bowl with a little salt - so yummy!!!   A quick easy snack without the "process" and so easy!!

Belle Meade Canister

Cinnabar Canister

Store your popcorn kernels in a pretty canister and you are good to go!

Wow!

Organize Beautifully!! Here's another use for a hurricane!   I put Meredith's headbands in one... a GREAT storage piece when you are not using it as your Thanksgiving centerpiece!

Or... use it to organize your pretty scarves on your vanity!  It's your own little store to grab the accessory you want.... and it looks SO good! 

I used the Large Galveston Hurricane from my Willow House line for these photos!  Enjoy! 

Want to get more done today?

How do some people seem to get it all done when we all have 24 hours in a day?   Here's a tip to help you stay on top of your day today!  Decide this morning what your're going to do!   Sounds simple right?   Here's a tip for families to enjoy a nice dinner together when your schedules are hectic.   The busier we get we tend to forgo that meal at home, grab stuff on the go and waste money and calories on processed food.  Let's simplify this so we can save money and time and calories.

1. Decide what you'll have for dinner in the morning or the night before.
2. Thaw whatever needs to be thawed.
3. Prepare whatever needs to be prepared, chopping veggies or measuring ingredients.
4. If you have small kids at home, make their lunch at breakfast time and while they are eating lunch you can prep dinner.    You can even make YOUR lunch ahead too! Saves time in the kitchen!
5. Late afternoon/earlly evening your dinner is all but cooked... just cook when it is convenient and re-heat if necessary becuase of kids activities if they run late. 

You and your family can enjoy a home cooked meal without stress.   

Throw a load of laundry in the washer/dryer in the morning, and repeat process at breakfast, lunch and dinnertime and you'll mow through your laundry while allowing you to get OTHER major projects done in larger chunks of your day!  Who says you have to do your laundry all day :)

Just think, you now have large chunks of time to get other productive things done!  Yeah!  

Fall is the Absolute BEST time to decorate!   Start collecting BEAUTIFUL leaves and press them so you can scatter them down your Thanksgiving table later.... Use some pretty little votives and you have an amazing simple look!

Have acorns or pinecones - just grab a grocery bag and collect them now!    You'll love decorating with them later!    They add an organic look to your glass hurricanes or a pretty ceramic bowl.   EASY!

Here's a few pieces I am really excited about to help you create this look! 

You can purchase ONE Hawthorne Hurricane and get one HALF price this month or purchase ONE Galveston Hurricane and get one half price ONLY through Oct 31st! Check out my website and order online!  http://theda.willowhouse.com/

Heritage Hurricane Trio

Anabelle Iron Votives

Hawthorne Hurricane

Hemingway Hurricane

Galveston Hurricane

A day for organizing!

Doesn't it feel liberating to organize?  Today, I got a big black trash bag and did some cleaning up.  When we are busy, things may not get put away like they should, right?   I thought I would share an organizing idea for those charger cords and electronic accessories like earbuds, ipod stuff and more!   ZIP lock bags are great for storing little pieces and parts in and they don't get tangled up.    Charger cords, adapters etc that you need to keep until you get rid of that electronic device work great!   Use a Sharpie marker to label the baggie and you'll know what goes with what.    STORE the baggies in a little crate or clear box labeled clearly for Electronic devices and put it where it's convenient for you to grab when needed!  

MORE tips coming soon!   Have fun getting organized!

YUM!!!

We had our dinner IN!!!  YUM!  Thought I'd share the recipe!  My son said it was AWESOME!  Isn't that what every mom wants to hear?

Chicken and Shrimp Linguine

1 lb linguine pasta
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 pinch cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
4 TBS butter
1/2 c milk
1 c heavy cream
2 TBS olive oil
2 cloves garlic (I always double)
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast cut into cubes
3/4 c white wine
1 lb medium shrimp peeled/deveined

1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.  Add linguine pasta and cook for 8-10 minutes or until al dente: drain
2. In a small bowl, combine nutmeg, cayenne pepper, onion powder and pepper; set aside
3. in a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and add 1/2 of the spice mixture, milk and cream.  Heat until sauce thickens; set aside
4. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm olive oil and add garlic, chicken, wine and remaining spice; cook until chicken is no longer pink.   Remove chicken from pan and cook shrimp
5. Deglaze pan by adding some wine and heating it for 2 to 3 minutes; add the cream sauce and reheat if needded.  Pour sauce over hot linguine and add chicken mixutre and shrimp.

We added artichoke hearts to the chicken !!  YUMMMMY !!!!!

Light some candles and it's like going out for a nice dinner!!  FUN!

Enjoy HOME!

Enjoy your home!  It's your haven!   Whether you read a great book, work on a project or cook a great meal for your family, make it AWESOME!   

• Treat yourself to a special dinner "in" and use your good dishes or serving pieces!  Play some great music and enjoy!  
• Try making those cute ghosts this weekend! They literally take 10 minutes to make!  All you need is cheesecloth, liquid starch, a balloon and a cup!   See my website for instructions!
• Go ahead... start thinking about Thanksgiving or Holiday shopping!  Why be hurried.   I have some great ideas I'll be posting soon but check out my Outlet for some Amazing Deals!
• What room do you want to make your "project" this season?     SHARE on my blog!

• Most importantly.... have a fabulous weekend!!!

A Great little Get-together for the Weekend!

Thinking of asking a few friends over for dinner or to watch a football game this weekend!  Make it simple and fun using an ENTERTAINING bucket, my favorite Savannah beverage server and a few beautiful platters or bowls to put munchies in.   

I love our Italian Stitch Platter for an appy.... ( you can heat the platter in the oven too)   Serve water with sliced lemons in the beverage server to encourage water consumption without the recyclables... and serve other beverages in the drink bucket!  So easy, so fun and looks like you spent a lot of time on it!  It's all about the presentation!