Valentines Secret Message Gift

I came across this great idea for a Valentines gift to give your friends and family.
Inspired by the famous fortune cookies, these cute and chic meringue & chocolate cones are the perfect Valentines gift to give. You can never tell a friend or family member to many times how much they mean to you... why not write a small note and put that inside rather than a Valentines fortune? Just an idea....

So easy to do! All you need

ice cream waffle cones

meringues

melted chocolate

sprinkles (this is to put inside the cone, confetti surprise!)

note/fortune

This cute idea would ALSO be a fabulous addition to birthday parties, bridal showers, and baby showers :)

Blue & Yellow Bridal Shower

Welcome to my yellow and blue inspired Bridal shower I hosted for my best friend Jasmin in her backyard. The shower was at her St. Augustine home on a sunny May day.

The ladies invited were asked to be dressed like going to the Kentucky Derby (since it was the actual day of the Derby) cute sundresses and big hats :)

I rented white garden chairs for $3 a piece that I decorated with white and yellow paper with each guests name on the back of the chair (for their seat cards). From each chair hung the guests favor cones. I handmade each cone making everyones different and filled them with an assortment of candies.

The table setting included silverware, mason jars decorated with blue ribbon, blue napkin wrapped with yellow tulle and a handmade MENU for each guest. I decorated the table with a light yellow polka dot tableclothe (bought from the fabric store) and a white runner down the center of the table. I bought dark blue pails that were filled with lemons and yellow pails filled with green and white flowers.

On the patio I had our game "Guess the Price", Thank You cards for Jasmin to send out to her guests who attended, Sandal Guest book and everyones Letter to Jasmin about their friendship and love advise on getting married.

One of the games I had everyone participate in was "Guess the price". I bought an arrangement of different spices, chocolate and sauces that the bride-to-be guessed how much the basket was worth and everyone else had to guess what the bride guessed the basked was worth.

The cocktail for the shower was Jasmin's mother in law's Mojitos and my southern sweet tea lemonade (spiked)

When I sent out the invitations I also sent out this "Fill in Letter - to the Bride to be". Each guest brought this with a picture of the bride and themselves on the back.

Which says:

Dear _______,

It's been ____ Years that we've known eachother and if I remember correctly, the first time we met was _________________________________. We've shared so many ____ times together. But my favorite memory of you has got to be __________________________________. I think you and ___ are perfect for eachother because ____________________________________________________. If I could give you one peice of advice on marriage it would have to be _______________________
_____________________________________________. I am so happy for you and wish you much love and happiness as Mrs. _______ _______.

With Love,

Your name


A special and unique touch for Jasmin's guestbook was to buy her some cute sandals in which each guested signed the bottom of the shoe.

Our lunch was simple and beautiful

Spinach Salad (recipe below)

Mini Cornbread muffins (Jiffy recipe off of box)

-added cream corn and glass of pimentos for color.

Zuchinni wrapped pork tenderloin

-zuchinni was sliced thinly (on mandalyn), pork tenderloin was bought marinated in italian flavors and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces and wrapped in the zuchinni and baked til ready.

Creamy Macaroni and Cheese (recipe below)

Homemade Macaroni and Cheese

8 ounces uncooked elbow macaroni
2 cups shredded Italian shredded cheese mix
3 cups milk
1/4 cup butter
2 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 pinch paprika

Cook macaroni according to the package directions. Drain.
In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in enough flour to make a roux. Add milk to roux slowly, stirring constantly. Stir in cheeses, and cook over low heat until cheese is melted and the sauce is a little thick. (for a little surprise I added a little dijon mustard) Put macaroni in large casserole dish, and pour sauce over macaroni. Stir well.
Sprinkle with a little paprika.
Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes. Serve.

Spinach Salad

6 slices crumbled crispy bacon

2 hard boiled eggs chopped
1 pound fresh spinach

Dressing: ( Make this in the blender )

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 Tablespoon chopped green onion
2 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 Tablespoon chives

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon prepared Mustard
Fresh ground black pepper to taste
1 ice cube or a little water

Mix the salad dressing ingredients in a container, shake well and chill. ( I use the blender and refrigerate it -- it is best to make a least several hours before serving or a day ahead if you can so the flavors can develop more fully. ) Pour dressing over the spinach, bacon, and eggs just before serving, seasoning to taste with salt and pepper if desired. Toss well and serve. The dressing keeps well for several days in the refrigerator. Serves 6 to 8.

The bride to be was smiling and enjoying every minute of the shower :) I'm so glad you loved everything!

And dessert.....

My mom came up with the best idea for dessert, she made by hand German individual berry fruit cakes (Frucht Kuchen) with hand whipped sweet whipped cream.

To finalize the shower I had everyone take memorable pictures in the backyard with this frame

The End!

The music playing at the shower was Melanie Fiona's album

"The Bridge".

Green and Black Wedding

Darren and I at Yana and Michael's wedding

Tonight my hubby and I went to our friend Yana and Michael's wedding at the Bauhman center on Lake Alice (FL) and the Sweetwater branch Inn for the reception. Yana coordinated her colors in granny smith apple green and black.

I loved our favors! We got a granny smith apple with a heart wine stopper that said "Thank You" on it. Very cute!

When guests walked into the reception room each guest had to find their name a table # and bring it to their table. The table centerpieces were a glass vase with sparkled twigs and green beads on the bottom of the vase (illuminated in green).

Cheers to one of my best friends Heather Sarkis :) Yana's bridesmaid in green and black.

The wedding was simple and perfect for a weekend ender on a Sunday evening.

Pink & Black Bridal Calling Shower

Have you ever heard of a "Calling Shower"? A calling shower is intended when you have invited a large amount of guests, the guests come in, give their gift to the person who the shower is for, they open your gift and then the guest may stay, mingle and eat or leave with no hurt feelings.
It is actually one of the easier ways to have a shower because there does not need to be any games planned and you can come and go or stay for the whole time until the shower is over.




Our calling shower was themed in Pink and Black, the brides favorite colors. All 6 tables were decorated with black linen (bought by the yard from Walmart $2.00 yard) (hand sewn, so they can be washed & reused) pink silk table runner, glass vase with floating real pink gerber daisies, sprinkled crystal ice and diamonds around the table and to finish it off small silver picture frames with the bride and groom in black and white.

The Favors: were bright pink bath roses wrapped in black tulle and finished with a hot pink bow.

The Menu/Buffet

Fresh Mozzarella in Tomato cups

36 large cherry tomato's
6 oz fresh mozzarella cheese cut into 1/2 in cubes
1/2 cup Italian dressing
36 small basil leaves

Cut off tops of tomato's and with a melon baller scoop out inside. In a bowl, toss cheese and dressing. Place 1 cheese cube in each tomato: top each with a basil leaf.

Chocolate fountain with fresh strawberries and marshmellows

& the Shower Cake

Ham & Asparagus Rolls

48 fresh asparagus spears (about 4 lbs)
3/4 cup mayonaise
4 tablespoons Dijon mustard
4 teaspoon chopped thyme
1 lb fresh ham

Fill baking dish with water and ice cubes, set aside
Cut off ends of asparagus to height wanted. Boil asparagus uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes or until crisp-tender. Place in ice water. Let sit for 3 to 5 min. Remove and pat dry.
Small bowl mix together mayo, mustard and thyme.
Spread mixture onto ham slice, roll tightly around asparagus spear. Store tightly in refrigerator.

Sandwiches

4 bags of wheat bread
cookie cutters of your shape choice - we used high heeled shoes and purses
tuna salad
pimento salad

chicken salad
egg salad

Cut your bread with the cookie cutters and spread your mixed salads on them, put together and its ready!

Roast Beef Bruschetta

1 package garlic toasts (fresh market)
1 container chive & onion cream cheese
1 lb thinly sliced roast beef (from deli)
1 container cherry tomatoes
bunch of green onions

Spread cream on garlic toasts, place thinly sliced roast beef on top then thinly sliced tomatoes and green onions.

Squash & Orzo Salad

2 zucchini's
2 squash's
1 bunch green onions
olive oil
2 boxes of orzo (noodle section)
fresh parsley
fresh dill
salt & pepper or seasoning
goat cheese or feta

Cut zucchini and squash into bite size pieces and saute in olive oil until tender. Boil and cook orzo (as package indicates) Drain pasta and toss together chopped parsley and dill with orzo and vegetables. Add salt and pepper and crumbled cheese.

Artichoke & Spinach dip

Chicken Salad cups
Bag of Tostito's scoop chips

Fruit Salad

fresh small cut strawberries
1 container raspberries
small cut pineapple
1 container blueberries
1 large container sour cream
3/4 cup light brown sugar

In large bowl mix together sour cream and brown sugar then toss together fruit, taste add sugar if needed and allow to sit covered for 3 hours in refrigerator.

Texas Caviar

The shower turned out everything more than what we intended and the bride to be received lots of gifts! Couldn't have been a better Calling Shower!

Congratulations Christine and Acea!

Evian Couture Water Bottle

My fantastic find today and you won't believe where.... Big Lots! (and only $1) I rarely go in there but today on my lunch break I stopped in to come across this beautiful Evian water bottle. First thing that came to mind is how perfect this would be as the favors for the Bridal shower I am having and for my table decor for the baby shower I am also hosting (in a couple months). Decorate it with some ribbon with my theme colors and Presto!!

Who says water can’t be fashionable? Celebrated clothing designer Christian Lacroix has officially made his foray into consumer goods with the chic limited edition Christian Lacroix Evian Water Bottle.

These stunning 750 ml glass bottles mark the first time that Evian has brought in a famous designer to helm the project of their yearly limited edition bottle. They come painted in a beautiful couture white coppice pattern with an adorning ‘Christian Lacroix’ on the bottle itself .
There is absolutely nothing plastic about this bottle, and the quality is as good as it gets! It even opens with a traditional bottle opener, thoughtful of its true lavish nature.

Now a few words by Mr. CL himself: : “It seems that Evian natural spring water has been there all my life. I remember the curly label of my childhood (were they arabesques, elaborate columns?) in the hotels of the lake where our family used to spend holidays. They came the streamlined graphics, like a futuristic and timeless dress of the Sixties, and the small bottles you could find all over the world, the design bottles, collected every winter of that millennium. Life a foretelling. It is therefor an amused and rather proud old friend that I designed these bottles. Draping one with the flowers of success, those that adorn the ‘paseo’ parade capes, like snowy crystal garlands or frost-frozen alpine flowers. Giving the other the silhouette of a princess, a goddess or a mythical creature, a sort of snow fairy in couture garb, crowned with flowers, bejewelled with crystals, “wearing” the familiar range of jagged peaks and ridges, like the flounces of a crinoline.”
What a perfect water for any sort of event.... conferences, weddings, showers, engagements, or any other special or commemorative event.

Once the showers come around I will share the pictures of my successful and creative event!