Girl Scouts Day

Yesterday was Girl Scouts Day, a day that commemorates when the first troop was registered. I was never a girl scout, but my daughter has just started Daisy's (the first level of Girl Scouts this year.) I'm really excited for her. It seems, so far, like it will be a good experience.

So, when I was in a local antique bookstore the other day, and I saw the above book, I just had to get it. Not only do I love old books, but I also have a number of old books that fall into the scouting/camping/craft genre. The ideas in the book are usually great-- just some ol'fashion fun... some, though I must admit can seem a little strange for this day and age, but that makes the book even more charming.

The handshake... do you know it?

I Love this homemaking illustration. Aren't they all having so much fun?!

I also couldn't resist this craft-- honest to goodness BASKET WEAVING!

This image seems so "campy" to me... and being an ex-camp counselor from long ago, I love all-things "campy"! Right now, our town is in the throws of summer-camp-sign-up frenzy... it always seems so scary to me to lock down my summer plans when it's only March. I like having plans, but I also want that "summer freedom" feeling, that on a whim, I could pack the kids in the car, and we could head out on a road trip... As I get older, I'm learning it's all about finding the balance. Some planning and some spontenaity work very well for me.

So, in honor of Girl Scouts Day (March 12), break open that newly purchased box of cookies or do a Girl Scout craft... either way, be sure to enjoy the day and the weekend ahead!

(All images in this post are from the book "Brownie Scout Handbook" pictured above.)

Spring Cleaning... the Easy Way?

Spring is here (at least in California), and that means it's spring cleaning time... well, for some folks that means spring cleaning. Personally, I wasn't intending on starting in on that project for awhile, but it looks like it started anyway...

It happens to everyone at some point. This morning I lost about over 3 years of email. Gone.

The sad thing, is I consider myself "somewhat" of a tech person... (notice somewhat is in quotes...) I was in the tech industry for a long time, and I know many geeky things the average person wouldn't want to clog their brain. Well, even with that, I still lost the email.

After a moment of panic, I got down to business, and sorted the emails that somehow were saved in the mass clean out.... and then the emptiness set in... no more browsing back a year or two ago to find out who was supposed to bring the cookies to the class party... no more quick checks to find out if my husband was going to be late that night 2 years ago... no more... WAIT... did I *really* need to save those emails in the first place. uh... NO. So, isn't this clean out kindof a blessing in disguise? Easy cleaning the fast way, right?

My Clean Inbox

OK, I will admit, I did save some more important emails than that... things that possibly I may need in the future, but given technology today, I'm sure I'll find a way to find out the info that was stored in that random email.

This "easy" clean out has given me an idea... there's this closet in my house. It's a scary closet... filled to the gills with stuff. Stuff I'm supposed to sort through, because I'm sure there's really great stuff in there... (I doubt it.) Perhaps I should do what my email did-- just throw it all away. Gone. Vanished. Never to be seen again. I bet if that happened, I wouldn't miss much at all, and I'd be soooo happy with an empty closet-- a place to fill with more stuff. :)

A Jar Full of Memories!

One of my friends had a request... she has 2 very close friends, that don't live near by, and she wanted to give them each a very "memorable" present. Apparently, these 2 other women have been friends with her for a long, long time. They share many memories. Happy and sad. My friend really wanted to give them something special, since they each were going through some hard times. She had read about a memory jar in a magazine, and asked me if I could create something she could fill.


I was definitely excited. It's fun to create something unique, and special for someone. I definitely had many iterations... fortunately, most sketched on paper, and in my head... and ended with embellishing a candy jar. The "Best Friends" tag at first was going to be decoupaged to the side of the jar, but I think the tag was more effective... when the jar sits on a desk/table, you can see the friends smiling at your from anywhere.


Also, I just LOVED the coral ribbon. Coral is now my new favorite color!

After making this gift, it made me want to make something unique and special for all my close friends. Time always seems to get in the way of that... Perhaps this spring, I should slow down a little, and actually take that time... in the end- it means so much more than the other little things that get in the way!

The Great Goodie Bag Debate

How many times has your kids come home from a party ecstatic about their goodie bags. They tear it open, eat the piece of candy, rummage through the loot, and within 5 minutes it's abandoned right where it was left... never to be touched again.

Goodie Bag Doo-Dads

We've all experienced this goodie bag phenomenon... and in fact, I'm sure many of us have contributed to it by giving such bags. So, the question is, are goodie bags really necessary?

I just read a post the other day on a moms website I subscribe to. The poor woman asking the question wondered if it would be OK not to give a goodie bag, since times were tough for her, and just throwing the party was an expense enough. Of course, the response was overwhelming... GOODIE BAGS AREN'T A NECESSITY to throwing a good party.

Sticker-fest

There were many suggestions for what the woman in this situation should do-- from just don't worry about it, the kids will not notice (which I must say can be very true for some, and not as true for other kids...) to other creative ideas.

So, what's my opinion. I must admit, I go either way on the topic. For some parties I've thrown I've had little treats, and some I haven't. I think the key is, the kids are getting a great party... many times planned activities as well as cake and ice cream. That's a pretty good deal. So, if the goodie bag is just going to send you over the edge to have to put together, then no way, don't do it... Or if you're wondering if the kids really need it or will miss it... again, that's a resounding NO. But, if you're in the creative mood, then by all means... make it so!

I have many goodie bag ideas I'd love to share in upcoming posts, but would also hear your goodie bag stories. Any good ones? Any goodie bag horror stories? Do tell... we definitely want to know.

Hurray for Mardi Gras Day!

A day where indulgence is OK... now that's a good day! Even though I'm far away from the action-- I still love to celebrate Mardi Gras. In past years I've watched great bands, and drunk many hurricanes to celebrate the day... but in more recent years, with the kid's school day typically looming the following day, things have become a bit more tame. So, less hurricanes, but still lots of fun.


Every year we make masks for our dinner celebration. It's great to see how the masks are improving year after year.

And then there's the Mardi Gras meal... OK, I have to admit, I do make these above... I doctor them with veggies and meats. Even though they're not the real thing, it does a pretty good job. (My brother-in-law's family is from creole country-- his mother makes and AMAZING etoufee, yum!)

So, in honor of Mardi Gras this year, I thought I'd make my first Mardi Gras decoration-- a mask garland.
Once I started getting into the project, it really made me want to create a Masquerade Ball Party Kit... I hope to get to that one day in the future.

Enjoy the pics below, and have a great Mardi Gras!

Hommage to Oscar!

Well, tonight's the night... it's Oscar time. Right about now, I'm sure the stars are primping and priming for the event. I love the Oscars. I don't know why, given at this point in my life, I'm not seeing any movies in a theatre... except if they are rated G, but I still love the hollywood glam!

I used to throw an Oscar party every year, but since kids, I've taken a slight break in the big production! My sister, though, has now taken on the role in earnest, and I love to hear what she's planning!
My sister has not only thrown blow-out Oscar parties including big screens and formal attire, she has also been to the Oscars-- not the actual event, but the after parties (which in my book is better than the Oscars themselves.) She went the year of the Lord of the Rings phenomenon... Unfortunate for her, she's not a big Tolken fan... but she did meet Frodo's co-horts - one who I think is a big star on the TV show LOST.

One of the best traditions that she and I started for our Oscar parties was the menu planning... We based our dishes around the Best Picture nominees. It's so fun coming up with something that is in theme with the movie!

Here's her menu for this year--
Slumdog Curry
Benjamin Button Sized N'Orleans Crab Cakes
The Reader Brat Bites Served on Saurkraut
Beer in Frosty Nixon Glasses
and
MILK with Brownies

If you're off to an Oscar gala, have fun, or if you're at home, enjoy some movie popcorn and hot dogs... sometimes simple is great too!

See ya in the movies!

BTW-- in many of the pics above is my latest and greatest Oscar party banner! I'm thinking of doing a Hollywood style party-- a little glam, some hollywood regency. Have you ever thrown a Hollywood party? Love to hear your ideas...

Date Night at Home: Play Restaurant!

Date nights aren't cheap these days. Even in troubled economic times, a night out can set you back $200 or more (of course, a tasty bottle of wine at dinner adds to the cost.) So, last weekend, when we were in desperate need of a night out, we decided to "play restaurant," just like my kid play, but instead of pretend food, we'd use the real thing.

And, of course I enlisted the help of my 2 kids to be the sous chefs and waiters... then voila... Trattoria Valentino!


Even though the date night didn't relieve me of much of the dinner prep, the change in pace was definitely what the family needed. Just the act of setting a "fancy" table and sitting in a different spot than usual made the night feel different.

The candles, the real napkins, table cloth, champagne and hand designed menus also set the tone! During dinner we played an italian CD called "Bella Luna." The ambience was just right.

So, I don't suggest completely getting rid of nights out-- for sanity, adult time is a must... but to shake things up a bit, try the restaurant at home... and if you're smart, perhaps have your kids sit at their own table!

Ciao.