Entertaining with Lemons

I love to entertain so when I came across this adorable setting I just had to share with y'all. It's so cute!!! It's also very simple to put together. You could run by Costco or Sams Club and pick up a big bag of lemons for under $5. And if you didn't want to use a yellow bandanna for a napkin ($1/each from Hobby Lobby) you could use bright yellow disposable napkins from any party store. The clothes pins can be purchased in big bags from Walmart (also under $5). This would be an adorable theme that you could serve cold lemonade and lemonade cake for dessert. And you could fill small mason jars with yellow jelly beans. Perfect for a country summer BBQ.

Fondant

The magical things you can do with fondant. I was thinking of making some 4th of July cupcakes and began browsing for some ideas. I came across these adorable patriotic cuties. The one with the fondant hot dog makes me chuckle. What a fantastic idea! I'm horrible when it comes to working with fondant. It can be extremely messy and cracks if it's too dry. I'm thinking of taking a class to learn some fondant techniques. There's all sorts of wonderful things I could make for the holidays/birthdays/special occasions. Just imagine being able personalize cupcakes for family and friends. How fun! Hope this inspires you to bake something fabulous and delish for this upcoming holiday.

Accessories

I've been working on my home office this weekend. I've been trying to de-clutter, organize documents, and decorate so it's nice and cheery. I've chosen to decorate my home office in a Shabby Chic theme. I realize it's the little details that make me happy when I sit down to work at my desk. I like cute file folders, pens, pictures, cups, calendars, etc... I found these adorable file folders at Room Service Home. They also started carrying Lilly P desk accessories. Lilly P desk accessories!!! Someone is making a fortune, LOL! I like birds so the birds will do very nicely for my office. What are the special little details that you like to decorate your working area in?

Michael Jackson 1958 ~ 2009

What a sad day to lose two major icons as Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. I'm absolutely speechless. I was stunned when the breaking news blared out of the television while I was making dinner. I actually came into the living room because I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Within hours of each other? Wow, this is a bizarre day.

I remember going to the mall with my older sister to buy the cassette tape, "Thriller." I remember my best friend and I wearing the one glove with our parachute pants. I remember spending countless hours trying to learn the "Thriller" moves for the school dance. Do you remember this picture? I remember this poster in my big sister's bedroom.

Michael Jackson had a lot of weird things printed about him. I'm not sure if they were true or false. However, he was a good entertainer. Maybe one of the best in our day.

Farrah Fawcett 1947~2009

I was shocked when I logged onto my computer today and read that Farrah Fawcett had passed away. I had seen in the tabloids at the supermarket that she was battling cancer but it's still a big shock. Charlie's Angels was one of my favorite shows when I was a girl and the 70's/80's don't seem that long ago. It makes you think about how fast time flies. I've been noticing that all the actors that I remembered as a kid are now dying off or looking really old these days. Funny, it doesn't feel like that much time has passed but it has.

Has this ever happened to you? I received a wedding invitation from a girl that I use to babysit when she was an infant. And when I thought that was enough to blow my mind; the following year I received a baby shower invitation. Now the baby is having babies? My world is spinning out of control. Am I really that old? My little baby cousin is getting married this fall. When I began adding up how old she was.....she's the same age as when I got married. What just happened here? Hello! Have I been in a daze? Where did this big block of time go? And how did I not notice? I think I get weighted down with all the responsibilities and obligations that the weeks are just passing by and soon become months and then years. I need to pay closer attention to the daily routines and make time for those small important things before time steals them away. It's amazing how losing a childhood icon can make you look at your life with maturity. I feel that a piece of my childhood has passed on with Farrah.

Pocket Pie Molds

Look at these adorable pie cutters. They come in a heart and star pattern. Now you can make individual pies for the family. These are perfect if you are baking for two. You can purchase them at Williams-Sonoma for $9.95 each or $17.00 for the pair. I love the heart! Wouldn't that be cute for Valentine's Day or Mother's Day? I love'm!!!

Enjoying Summer

WooWee! It's hot, y'all!!! Not just hot but darn right uncomfortable. It's taken everything out of me to roll off the couch and get my housework done. I get so lazy during this time of year. Summer just started and I'm already looking forward to fall. Not that the fall is much cooler. If you live in the South y'all know we have two seasons, hot and hotter. Well, we're in the hotter season and I'm sure looking forward to it being just plain hot again.

Does it get cold in the South? I'll tell ya those two weeks are colder than I can stand. I have to pull out my entire winter wardrobe of three sweaters. And sometimes I have to actually wear a coat. But I only drag that thing out when it's down in the low 40's or 50's. It actually snowed in New Orleans/Houston/Austin last year. It was just slush but everyone was acting like it was the Ice Age. It does get cold in Austin (central Texas). Every so often we get ice storms. I remember my first experience. I actually saw a dead frozen squirrel. That should tell ya how well Southern Texans are prepared for cold weather; even the squirrels are caught off guard.

This weekend I broke down and bought a pool. I guess y'all could call it an above ground pool. It's more a mid range kiddie pool. I got the biggest one from Target. Just looking at the picture of the family enjoying that cool water got me all excited. So I dragged it in the back yard and used our air blower thingy to blow it up. Ahhh, liquid heaven while sipping my cold lemonade. My hubby laughed at me but soon even he couldn't resist the cool liquid temptation. However, our neighbor came out to prune her roses along the fence line. She could hear us splashing around. She knows this house doesn't have in ground pool. I could only imagine what she thought of her new neighbors, LOL! I'm sure she ran back into her house and told her husband, "Yup, their from New Orleans alright. Those crazy Louisianans." Regardless of our high sophisticated profile we sure are enjoying our new pool. How are y'all keeping cool this summer?