Redesign Time

Decorating Project

While walking through the dollar store the other day, I came upon these wonderful treat bags.  Then it hit me...project time.

Here are the supplies:

 Treat bag(of your choice of design), candles(mine are battery op), tape and scissors.

 
Step1:  cut bottom of bag off and make a cut down the center back of bag

Step2:  wrap bag around candle(cut off any extra overlap) and tape together.

Step3:  Cut top edge even with top of candle

 All done.  How easy was that?  Aren't they awesome!!  I love them.  You could also wrap votives or clear vases for a great table centerpiece.  Yah! my fall decorating is underway.

 

Also whipped up a batch of gluten free zuchini bread.  One loaf is already gone.  YUM!!

 

 

Teresa

This Weeks Reads

 
This weeks reads are making my head just rush with new ideas and thoughts.  Potterybarn styling is a total favorite of mine.  I love the thought and organization put into each room.  Just makes me want to redo everything. I'd love to get to the place where..I actually know where everything is, in my home.  Don't get me wrong, I'm very organized, but sometimes it would be nice to not have to scavanger hunt for a specific item.  Crafty Chica and AterNation are both wonderful..  easy to follow directions, using fresh ideas that you don't see everywhere.  I have several projects from each planned out.  BabyCakes offers wonderful easy to follow(without tons of ingredients) GF(gluten free) goodies.  We wanted to checkout this bakery in NYC on our last trip, but ran out of time.  I've got several goodies to try from this books too.  GfreeDiet, by Elisabeth Hasselback(and fellow seahawk fan!!) writes a very easy to read, down and dirty GF guide.  Found lots of good info and web resources.  Haven't watched the video yet, but how can it be anything but wonderful.   

GF UPDATE:  Still working on tons of research.  Found some great info on the General Mills website along with easy teen friendly snacks and meals.  Also found a list of easy GF snacks from the Gluten Intorerance Group these will be great for the whole family.  Kitchen is slowly becoming GF.

Sweet Sixteen Wrap Up, Part Two

So continuing on with all the Party festivities.

 

We left off with all the table and room decor...here is more.

In the entry, I had all the guests sign Mookies scrapbook page to go in her Sweet Sixteen book.  Also set up a little table with her photo and some congrats.  Turned the TV into a large Chanel collage for the sitting area where the girls enjoyed appetizers (smoked cheeses and grapes) and socialized.  Now for the food.

Mookie wanted easy food and lots of yummy treats.  For the buffet we made Parmesan Chicken, Sausage swirls, Stuffed Mushrooms, Teriaki Meatballs, and Prosciutto with melted cheese on rosemary bread.  Everything was Yummy.  For desert, we had a chocolate fountain with fresh strawberries, apples, and marshmellows for dunking, red velvet cupcakes, toffee brownies, dipped pretzels and mint milano cookies.

Here we are all enjoying the evening.
 Mookie Girl!
 
  

HAPPY SWEET SIXTEEN MOOKIE!!

What a fun party.  Hope you got some great ideas for your next dinner party or sweet sixteen.

Teresa
 
  
  
 
 
 

Sweet Sixteen Wrap Up, Part One

So Mookies Party was a huge success.  All the girls had so much fun and for me the happy smiles said it all.  Here's a recap of all the festivities.

As you may remember, the theme was black and white, Parisian, Chanel. 

Entry
The girls were greeted then lead into the Mocktail area.  We made Mango Fizzies and Not-a-Colada, Pina Coladas.

I made the table runners and the napkins for Mookie.  We went through the christmas decorations to pull out the mirrored disco balls and pearl balls.  Oriental Trader had the Diamond ring napkin rings, small pearls and table jewels.  I painted plastic clear favor shoes for the black pumps. All the candle holders and candleabras, I had.

Hanging fleur de les were cut with my cricut and hung with fishing line.

Clear picture pencil holders were used to feature some Chanel photos.

More Later....
 
 
 Teresa
 
 
 
 
 

Summer Summer!!!

Can't believe that school is out and the kiddies are moving on to the next grades.  It's Birthday time for us.  Birdman celebrated 13 with a fun bowling and xbox party.  I celebrated another year with a fabulous homemade Carmel Pecan Cheesecake and an end of the year choir concert! 

Yum, this cake was just amazing...kind of cheesecake and pecan pie all in one.  Happy Birthday to Me!

Now we are on to Mookie who is celebrating 16 this year.  We decided on a Parisian, black and white damask, Coco Chanel party with crystals, pearls, and a chocolate fountain...all of her favorite things.  Do you realize how many sites there are dedicated to Sweet Sixteen.  We gleemed some ideas but most are all ours.  Here are some of the prep pictures( invites, decor, etc).  Made the invites using printmaster and my cricut. 

Invites

insides of invite

some of the decor.  Bonjour sign made with my cricut, frame made with scrapbooking stickers, fleur de les also made with cricut.

So we are still working on the table runners(b/w damask), more of the fleur de les, polishing my silver and crystal candle sticks, going through christmas decorations to pull out crystal bobbles, making chenile dinner rings for the girls, and finalizing the menu.  Instead of a cake, mookie wanted a chocolate fountain with all the goodies, plus red velvet cupcakes, toffee brownies and a host of other buffet sweets.  We are completely transforming the porch into a French inspired dining hall with curtins, drapings, lots of candles, crystals, pearls, eiffel tower, fleur de les, vintage Coco Chanel advertising posters and cool french music.   Stay tuned for more pictures...the BIG day is a few weeks away.

Teresa