Grand *Summer Wedding Shower*

We had a grand old time last night....  

We (The Shower Team) hosted a Wedding Shower Dinner Party 

for the son of dear friends of ours and his lovely bride-to-be.  

It turned out to be a nice evening after threatening to rain all day.  

The shower team (all of us are long time friends of the grooms' family) 

got to work weeks ago, planning and scheming and cooking and wrapping.

It all came together beautifully.

Matt and April, the guests of honor

We had plenty of food, lots of fresh summery fruits and vegetables,

and plenty of delicious wine from the Groom's family's very own vineyard, Blustone.

(How cool is that?)

Their Chardonnay is my favorite- I like to call it our "House" wine!

Delusions of Grandeur, obviously...

We went with a simple color scheme of seasonal green and white flowers

with aqua Ball jars and napkins.

 

My friend Jane did the flower arrangements and they were stunning.  

She's an artiste!

  

Matt is an accomplished sailor,

so these napkins were a nod to his love of the water...

I found the idea on Pinterest- 

at

Merrymarry.me

We served everything buffet style... 

with the threat of rain, we couldn't risk setting the tables in advance...

Even though we're in desperate need of rain here, I was glad it didn't happen last night.

Flowers and candles

The bar, set up for the big night...

Some Appetizers...

 Easy marinated fresh mozzarella and cherry tomatoes.

 Black olives stuffed with blue cheese.

Apologies to the gals that brought the other appetizers... 

they were eaten before I could snap pictures!

The groaning board of salads and sandwiches-

Orzo, chick pea and basil/red onion/peach salads,

beef tenderloin "sliders" with arugula and horseradish mayo, 

grilled corn on the cob and watermelon. 

Plenty of delicious, best of summer food.

For dessert, individual pineapple upside down cakes with vanilla ice cream.

These were great and so easy.  I found the recipe on Pinterest-

Big Mama's Home Kitchen.

My friend Patti perfected this recipe - 

she made it easier by using Trader Joe's cake mix 

and also used butter instead of oil.

MMMMMM.

Sweet lovely Joan, mother of the groom

and Tom, super proud father of the groom

The wine and conversations flowed easily, happily.

Twenty two people for dinner on the deck...

 Good friends, warm summer nights, Celebrations...

Just Grand.

Linking to:
Sunday Showcase Party at Under the Table and Dreaming
The Ivy Cottage Cowgirl Up! 
Tuesdays Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Tabletop Tuesday at A Stroll Through Life
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Crazy for Color at The Space Between
Time to Shine Party at A Diamond in the Stuff
Show Me What Ya Got at Not Just a Housewife
Uncommonly Yours Link Party at Uncommon
All Star Block Party at Simply Done Wright
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Sizzle Into Summer Party at DIY By Design
All Stars Block Party at Simply Done Wright
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants
Tablescape Thursday at between Naps on the Porch
Fridays Unfolded at Stuff and Nonsense
Inspiration Friday At The Picket Fence
Vintage Inspiration at Common Ground

My Mother's House

Dear Friends,
My Mom passed away on Sunday, November 24th, 2013
after a long battle with dementia.

I am re-posting this
because I think it's a nice way to remember her
and how beautiful she truly was.
And to help explain where I've been for the past month...

So here goes.



(Originally posted in July, 2012)

I am going home soon, to New Jersey, to visit my Mom.

I hope she still remembers me.

She has dementia now
and

her world has been made very small by her disease.  

But once upon a time,

it was full of style and color and whimsy.

It's what I try to remember about her.

Let me show you.

Mom's house, on an early fall day. 

Kind of understated and elegant on the outside.

 Come inside, though, and see what she was really into...

Mom's house was always a riot of color and fabric and collections.

 The turquoise floral print was her inspiration for the entire first floor.

 

She used Cranberry glass used as an accent everywhere.

She collected Edna Hibbel prints.

 I think she really liked the breezy, free and colorful style of her work.

And she displayed things with a whimsical touch.

She collected crystal and silver and anything else she liked.

The dining room was her showcase.

She painted it red way before it was trendy.

And yes, the hallway is pink...

I loved that crystal chandelier, but she loved the one in the dining room more. 

It was a family heirloom and she treasured it.

Interesting silver pieces - chocolate pots, teapots, serving pieces galore.

She liked a little drama.

 and a lot of stuff...

 Maybe a little too much stuff...

but always interesting and beautiful.

And in the kitchen, she felt even freer to display things she thought were "Kind of Fun"...

Ice cream cones and Scotties and clowns and lobsters and more.

We spent a lot of time at this table, plotting our adventures together.

I really miss going home to visit her here.

 This is my favorite picture of her.  

She was still well and stylish and I wanted that necklace sooo much.  

She took me to the shop where she got it, but alas, they had no more.  

Never mind.  I have it now.  

I wear it often, especially when I am going someplace I know she would have enjoyed.  

It's kind of like bringing her with me. 

I wish.

Rest in Peace, Mom.

I love you.

Little Wooden Gift Tags

Quick and Easy Gift Tags Project

I like to make tags.

(See here.  And here.)

 

Small projects appeal to me.  

Maybe it's because I can squeeze them in 

while I dream about actually getting other things done. 

Anyway, today I would like to share these little wooden gift tags. 

Quick and Easy. 

Could not be quicker or easier.

These were a fun project for a hot summer afternoon. 

And we've had plenty of those!

 One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to use what I have.

This little project qualifies, sort of.  You know how projects go... 

First, I picked up these little wooden gift tags.  

Actually, I ordered them on Amazon.  It was too hot to go out shopping.

I bought 50 of them. 

And then I remembered my resolution.

 So I dug out these stickers that I have had for a long time, saving them for the perfect project. 

 Maybe this will qualify...

They turned out to be the perfect size, anyway...

Here comes the hard part.  

I peeled each sticker off and stuck it onto a wooden tag.

Then I added some satin ribbon and/or some jute twine for ties.

Done.

I also tried using one of my artsy-fartsy photographs and pasting it on. 

I would use this on a present wrapped in simple kraft paper.

Cute and you could really personalize your tags that way.

I colored these with my marking pens.  

They're even cute just plain, 

and you could use a decorative ribbon or twine.

 For our beloved music teacher...

I had the sheet music scrapbook paper in my stash.

  And just wait until Christmas!

I swear, this is going to be the year 

where I have my gift wrap chosen and organized ahead of time 

and I will NOT resort to using the cheesy tags 

we always end up running out to Walgreens for at the last minute. 

 Finally, a use for some of those Christmas stickers I've been hoarding!

 I will make some of these ahead of time. 

In fact, I should make 50 of them so I don't have any leftover tags...

 I already have one done -  I'm way ahead of last year....

Thanks for visiting!

Linking to:

Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
Nifty Thrifty Sundays at Thrifty Things
CraftOManiac 
DIY Project Parade at DIY SHowoff
Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
More the Merrier at DIY Home Sweet Home
Get Your Craft On Tuesday at Today's Creative Blog
Cowgirl Up! Link Party at Farmhouse Porch
Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays at Coastal Charm
Wow Us Wednesdays at Savvy Southern Style
Primp Your Stuff Wednesdays at {Primp}
All Star Block Party at In The Old Road
Will Craft For Fun at Tales of a Trophy Wife`
Transformation Thursday at The Shabby Creek Cottage
Thursdays Are Your Days at 52 Mantels
Open House Party at No Minimalist Here
Smart Solutions at The Prudent Pantry
Fabulously Creative Friday at Jennifer Rizzo