Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Entertaining Ideas’ Category

I’ll freely admit it – I’m a sucker for mason jars.

You can use them for so many fun and unique purposes (and jars, turned blue with age are my favorites!).

mason jar crafts book

Lauren Elise Donaldson has a book out called Mason Jar Crafts that features an array of interesting ideas for using mason jars. Everything from gifts and decor to storage ideas and lighting are included in the book.

mason jar drink jarNot only does she give you great ideas (personalized drink glasses for a party – love this idea!), she also provides step by step directions for completing the project.

Mason Jar treatsHere’s another fun party idea. I can picture these at a tailgate party or an autumn gathering.

Mason Jar Piggy bank

This piggy bank is cute and a project simple enough to do with your child. You have the opportunity to teach your young one a craft, but also some “dollars and sense” about money.

Mason Jar christmas cranberry

The holiday section, in particular, tickled my fancy. Love, love, love these jars with cranberries and vintage art. So festive!

The book, available through Ulysses Press retails for $14.95 and can also be found on Amazon.

The author is a photographer, stylist, and design blogger in Los Angeles. For additional crafts and ideas for creative living, visit her blog at LaurenEliseCrafted,com

She Who Needs to Make Something with a Mason Jar!

Read Full Post »

Captain Cavedweller had a rare weekend off from work so we spent it driving all over the countryside, eating things we know we shouldn’t, moving some well loved “junk” to storage, and in general enjoying time well wasted.

Our weekend together also helped me remember a few important details about my husband.

The first jog in my memory occurred when he emerged from the bathroom the first morning of his weekend off sporting a goatee. He’s been sporting scruff on his face for a few weeks and from past experience, I’ve learned to not complain about it too much or too loudly because that just prolongs the suffering. The last thing I expected was to see his snappy goatee, which, by the way, I love.

CC is always game to go for a drive, as long as there is something interesting to see along the way. Apparently 207 miles of dirt, harvested wheat fields, rocks, more dirt, winding mountain roads with no guardrail, and one deceased porcupine did not qualify as interesting.

Also, after spending the better part of a day driving 207 miles round trip to the middle of nowhere so I can take photos of a town that no longer exists, CC just wants to be fed (and gas station food does not count.)

While he seems to have challenges remembering details like the wedding we are supposed to attend, the name of my cousin’s new baby, or what time we need to leave for an appointment, he recalled with startling detail the exact location of a new restaurant he was most interested in trying after I mentioned weeks ago it was opening.

When CC decides he is completely and totally done with a project (like moving well-loved junk), it means he is completely and totally done right now.  Not five minutes from now, not “wait, let’s just…”  – all done. Right. Now. Which turned out to be a good thing, because I was ready to be all done, too.

She Who Is Now Remembering Many Details…

 

Read Full Post »

As summer starts to wind down and gardens are bursting with fresh goodness just waiting to be harvested, why not host a bright and cheerful Sunflower Theme Party?

Here are some super fun ideas I found on Pinterest

sunflower party table 1A beautiful table from Stylelinx. Absolutely adore the lanterns on the moss with flowers.

sunflower party table 2Sunflowers in Mason Jars by Charlotte Geary Photography

sunflowers table 3Love, love, love sunflowers in a blue Mason jar – from Style Me Pretty.

sunflower party foodI want someone to come do this for my next gathering. Please? Love all these ideas! (Hostess with the Mostess)

sunflower party cheeseCheese and Grape Olives (Hostess with the Mostess)

sunflower party cupcakesLove the name tags in the cupcakes (Hostess with the Mostess)

sunflower party oreos

Sunflower Oreos from Catch My Party

sunflower party cake popCake Pops (Hostess with the Mostess)

She Who Needs to Plan a Party

Read Full Post »

“French might be the language of love,

but Italian is the food of romance.”

Caterina Campanelli (from the historic romance Caterina)

Caterina cover lr

While I was writing Caterina ( Book 2 in the Pendleton Petticoats Series), I found myself  cooking more Italian food than normal. Captain Cavedweller thought it was pretty awesome, especially when I made Zeppole. I’m pretty sure he could have eaten the entire batch by himself if I hadn’t tackled him and stole a few!

Just kidding… mostly.

Anyway, Caterina is a talented cook who pours love into the food she creates. Good thing the hero in the story is a lonely, hungry bachelor who happens to think her cooking is the best thing he’s ever tasted. It had to be that whole a way to a man’s heart thing.

Throughout the book, readers get glimpses of the delicious things Caterina cooks including everything from gnocchi to zeppole.

Writing the story and developing the characters, to me it just seemed so natural to tie romance and Italian food together. I think, perhaps, that scene from Lady and the Tramp has been stuck in my mind since childhood days and never quite worked its way out. Whatever the reason, I personally think the two go together well.

Just for fun, I thought I’d see what your favorite Italian food is to either make or eat (or both!).

Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!

She Who Is Making Ravioli for Dinner (from scratch!)

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »