Chartreuse, Brown and Pink Paisley Baby Shower

12/28/2009 • Baby Showers, Party Inspiration • by

I recently hosted a baby shower for a family member.  Since the mom-to-be is expecting a girl, I wanted to do something “pinkish” without going totally pastel.  So, I ventured into Hobby Lobby, which is one of my favorite crafting stores, and spent some time on the scrapbook paper aisle. The papers chosen were a heavy brown card stock, pink vellum and pink paisley scrapbook paper.

When I started working on the layout of the invitation I added a header, which was printed on off-white sketchbook paper and incorporated a touch of chartreuse to balance it.  After patiently trimming a couple dozen of these by hand, I added pink and lime green swarovski crystals.  The result was a nice pink and brown invitation with lively splashes of color.

 The baby shower favors were inspired by the paper bag favor labels found at Flights of Fancy. I found brown bags on sale ($1 for 50 bags) then printed the labels on sketchbook paper. The labels were trimmed and attached to candy filled bags with double sided tape.

 A small glass frame held a thank you message and invited guests to take one home.

 As shower attendees arrived they were invited to sign a guest book which we placed on a mobile cart adorned with children’s books, a cute pair of baby socks, plastic pink pacifiers and a 3-tier diaper cake.

 

Refreshments

Guests enjoyed brie topped with honey, almonds and dried cranberries along with fresh fruit and personalized bottled water as they arrived.

A cute little baby carriage held napkin wrapped forks and knifes. 

Later, heavier refreshments were served which included beef and turkey burger sliders, lemon pepper wings, smoked ribs, pasta salad and waldorf salad. On the sweeter side, there were chocolate chip cookies, brownie bites and strawberry cupcakes.

Although I wish I had taken more pictures, I hope you enjoyed the ones that were.

PFF: Christmas Themed Stamps

12/17/2009 • Creative Writing • by

I’ve been holding on to cancelled stamps for years and found four Christmas themed stamps to share this week. The US Postal Service issued all of them in the 80s and they each seem to convey a unique holiday feel.

 

1.  The 20 cent Santa Claus Holding Package stamp was issued October 28, 1983. I like all of the iconic details in it…the tree, ornament, tip of the horn, the gift and snow falling against a red background. I also couldn’t help but notice how blue Santa’s eyes are. Very interesting.

2.  The 25 cent Botticelli “Madonna and Child” stamp was issued on October 20, 1988. It’s based on the “Madonna and Child” painting by Sandro Botticelli. Botticelli is also well known for his masterpieces, “Nativity”, “Saint Sebastian” and “The Birth of Venus.” This stamp offers a more formal or classic Christmas vibe.

3.  Designed by Robert Timberlake, the 15 cent Season’s Greetings stamp was issued in 1980 and includes a selection of antique toys. I love the warm nostalgic feel in this stamp.

4.  The 5.2-cent Sleigh stamp was issued on March 21, 1983. There were two versions of this design issued. The stamp shown above is the utilitarian pre-cancelled version. I chose to share this one because of the sleigh. It just feels like Christmas to me.

Thanks for visiting and Merry Christmas!

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Vanilla Gooey Butter Cake

12/17/2009 • Desserts, Restaurants & Cafes • by

My husband and I were looking for a place to have lunch recently and passed a little coffee shop located a couple miles from my home.  I’ve always been curious to see what type of delectable treats they have and, fortunately, we had a few minutes to peek in and take a look.  While the display of baked goodies appeared ordinary, the confection I chose was absolutely amazing.

I had never heard of Vanilla Gooey Butter Cake and wasn’t sure it was for me.  I asked about the filling and was told that it contained cream cheese.  I was offered a sample and….  Oh oh oh!!  It was sweet, flavorful and oh so sinful!  Of course I purchased a generous slice to enjoy at home later.

Vanilla Gooey Butter Cake

 

As we enjoyed a late lunch, I thought about how good this special treat was going to be the entire time.  After returning home, we divied up the gooey slice of cake, grabbed our forks and savored each delicious bite in silence.  It was the type of silence that consumes you when you’re experiencing perfection.

Afterwards, my husband said “I bet you can make this”.  I was already on it.  I started searching online and immediately found several accounts of it’s true origins and numerous versions of the recipe.  As it turns out, the Vanilla Gooey Butter Cake originated in St. Louis and there’s even a Chocolate version.  You can read more about the St. Louis Gooey Butter Cake here and here.

I’m going to make this dessert for Christmas and, if all goes well, will update this post with the delicious results including pictures and the recipe version I chose.

PFF: The Crown Jewels

12/10/2009 • Creative Writing • by

I purchased this card in the mid 80s while on a summer trip with my high school and found it again today while trying to get organized. 

I’m supposed to be purging things I don’t use or really need but it’s so difficult to let go of these things because of the memories they hold.  I guess I’ll just have to enjoy this one for a little longer before deciding which pile or file to place it in. 

crown_jewels

 

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Spicy Chai Tea

12/05/2009 • Beverages • by

I enjoy warm beverages all year, but there’s something special about a cup of coffee, tea or hot chocolate that’s truly comforting during the fall and winter months.

During a recent bout with a relentless cold, my sister suggested trying ginger tea to sooth my sore throat.  After steeping a few slivers in water, I gently sweetened it and gave it a try.  I decided that I really liked it and so did my throat.

tea ingredients

A couple days later I decided to steep a chai tea bag and added several slices of fresh ginger to the water.  I really enjoy the extra “kick” and flavor ginger offers.

 

I gently sweetened the tea, then….

I topped it with whipped cream and sprinkled it with a little cinnamon for an extra kick.  I guess it’s pretty obvious that I enjoy a little spice!