Good.

The air just got popped out of my balloon. I hate when that happens.

So, less of me talking and more of me showing you cool stuff.

Faux Ostrich Ice Bucket

Martini Shaker Ours.

Martini Shaker Recipes.

Number glasses so you don’t have to keep track.

Shaken, not stirred Simple.

Yellow Ice Bucket For Molly.

Gingham decanter/glasses in case the picnic booze-fest ends up in your living room.

Parquet Tray Multi-functional awesomeness here. Decorative? Check. Something to set your soakers on? Check. Double Duty.

Alice in Wonderland party via Hostess with the mostess

Gorgeous, no? So many beautiful ideas.

See also this Alice In Wonderland party:

Complete with downloadable party planner. Awesome.

Let’s just round this out with some great ideas for food and decoration for the outdoor tea party:

Edible Centerpiece from Hostess with the mostess again, she’s got it going on.

And then there’s this fabric banner you can make from V and Co.

Now without further ado the winner of the Etsy print giveaway goes to:

Congratulations Donielle! Look for an email from me shortly!

I want to say a huge thank you to Red Bird Ink for sponsoring this giveaway in conjunction with the cooking demo. I had a blast and am so thankful for the friends and opportunities this site has brought to my life. And Letterpress. Can’t forget to thank the Letterpress.

I came home exhausted and completely full of good food but even better – full of good life. Good conversations, good friends, good experiences.

I was a little worried about doing something like this at first – once everyone was there they kind of just sat there looking at me waiting for me to start. Which is when I said – uh … please don’t stop talking. I have no idea what I’m doing!

But I think it went good. We kept the conversation going, I hope I said something that made sense during the whole time. It was so very nice that I knew most of ladies in attendance ahead of time. Made me WAY more at ease about acting like I have anything important to say.

I wasn’t sure if I should narrate everything I was doing ala Rachel Ray on TV or if I should just whip stuff out and answer questions as we went along. I didn’t know if I should focus on what I think about being in the kitchen (Keeping things simple, use substitutions, get creative!) or if I should focus on what the ladies knew and felt and go from there.

All in all, it was a fun time. I would totally do it again. In fact, I’m already planning the next one. I think instead of going through a whole meal I’ll pick something (like fish or desserts – but not together!!) and focus on that.

I felt like most of the attendee’s were really interested in the fish yesterday, what I did with it, how I did it and how I went about cooking it. Which didn’t even cross my mind when I was planning it – thinking that I should focus more on one thing than another.

I also didn’t man the camera very much and many thanks go to Rebekah for taking some photos along the way. I’ll have to be better about getting in there and taking some photos next time.

And like I said yesterday we had some pretty awesome sponsors to help it go that extra mile:

Kitchen Stories offered me a wonderful discount so I could send my attendee’s home with a little something-something. I just love her quote right off the bat – “I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond.” - Mae West I mean, how can you not want to hang out with this wonderful lady?

I didn’t have the budget to gift an apron to each of my guests … but you have to see these. The Pretty Ditty etsy shop is to die for.

Those aprons would have come in handy while I was mixing up the guts to the cake …

Which we devoured.

Like I said, though, it was fantastic. I felt comfortable (once I got over myself) and I can’t wait for the next one. I think I’ll wear a wig though … then I can pretend I’m PW or something and maybe I’ll feel more comfortable being all “And then you add some salt, just a pinch.” Weird. Weird weird weird.

Let’s meet the attendee’s:

Donielle came along with one of her Peanuts. Isn’t she adorable? I got to hold her for about 45 seconds while Donielle strapped on her trusty carrier for her Peanut to rest in while she demonstrated Kefir to the group (and let us try it!) and my uterus started screaming at me.

You can see why, no?

Rebekah came after spending the morning antiqueing with Michelle (another attendee) in Saugatuck. SO FUN!

And here’s Michelle – Hi Michelle! Love your name

I was going to have all the recipes written out for each girl and wrapped all nice but then I had a sick husband, remembered that I have 2 kids and had a broken car in one week … so … you know. They had to transfer them over to a recipe card themselves, but I think they forgive me.

I didn’t capture a great photo of Candace, but you can see her here:

Candace and I go way back. I’ll just leave it at that. She’s a texture girl, just like me, as far as food goes. She wasn’t too hip on the Salmon but that’s ok – she tried it! They all did, which was the best part for me.

Sitting down with everyone after making all the food and just getting to know each other. That’s what this is all about for me. You. All of you.

While we were all standing in the kitchen Donielle demonstrated Kefir to us …

It was so interesting and I took some home to try out on my kids … they both LOVED it. It’s like fizzy juice, or pop … which is exactly what Jessica called it once she tried it. I was starting to look at doing this so now I’m glad I know what it’s supposed to look/taste like and I think I’ll go ahead and give it a try.

What a day! But it’s not over.

Red Bird Ink etsy shop wants to give you a chance to win a letterpress print from their shop in the name of cooking. Amen.

They’re offering up one of their Cow Parts No3 Prints to one of my lucky readers!!

To Enter:

Click through to their shop and leave a comment back on this post telling me your favorite print, stationary or coaster they have listed.

That’s it! Please give them some love, I have an addiction to letterpress and I LOVE their shop.

***Contest ends Tuesday evening 10 pm EST March 2, 2010, winner to be announced Wednesday March 3, 2010***

In the madness that is cleaning out closets I lost the prints I was going to give away at first, ugh! So I’m moving on to another print I found that we’ve never hung. We’re terrible at this.

The print is unframed and measures 16″ X 23″ … go friend yourself to enter for your chance to win!

We bought this print from sfgirlbybay etsy shop owner. Love her stuff!

I’ve found many a things I’ve boughten over the years that I never ended up using or hanging so I’m just going to give them away. First up is some art I bought from millymollymandy’s etsy shop (which is now Belle & Boo) for Jessica’s bedroom … um like 2 years ago. Yeah, I still LOVE it but we’re just not going to hang it ever and I’m sure one of you would love to have it.

However, I’m giving it away on the facebook page so for a chance to win it (and those chances are pretty awesome right now) you need to friend yourself. DELURK!

This is all very selfish because I want to see your face and if emptying my closets with giveaways is going to bring you out – then I will.

Cue: Cackling laughter. (or is it Que?)

Echino Fabric Storage Basket
Book file, birch trees
Chandelier Oh yes, I do love this. Actually went to a local restore last week looking for something like this that I could repaint and replace for a couple of the bedrooms in the house. Oh the ideas!
Oh you bet we need another chair
Fresh
Tea Dress
Allison Wonderland I don’t know why I like this or want it – but it makes me feel all Light and Special inside. That’s reason enough for me.
Wall decal Ok, this settles it, we’re dry walling that stupid basement. I think.
Marshmallow sampler There are so many reason why I can live without this but only one why I can’t. OH MY WORD, IT’S A MARSHMALLOW SAMPLER. Obvious. (Pancreas, kindly take a walk)

I’ve put together a little something for the husbands of the world … please do yourselves a favor and just listen. Jewelry.

Thank you.

Pearl Bloom
Pocket watch movement pendant
Gold Leaf
Coral
Sweet Bird
Perfect circle
Bow tie
wings
Sparrow
Raspberry leaf

I had ‘my color’s’ done this past Mothers Day and found out that gold is actually better suited to my coloring that is silver, which is all I own. So ever since then I’ve been looking for gold necklaces or bracelets that would go with this or that … and I’m not a huge jewelry wearer … normally it’s my wedding ring and that’s all you get, but I like the occasional necklace. On Aaron and I’s second anniversary I bought him a mattress and he took me to a jeweler and said – you have this much to spend … what would you like?

OH MY GOSH. I already knew he was it, but this kind of confirmed it. I mean, really? DREAMY, much?!?!?!!!!???!

(That was the 2nd anniversary of dating, by the way. We dated for 3 years before the “I Do’s” were said … and the mattress??? He was sleeping on the floor and we knew where “we” were headed, so the mattress was a purchase of necessity.)

Moving on.

What are some of the Christmas buys you’re hoping to see under your tree this year? I’m also pining away for some more new plates or these wonderful ideas but mostly some kind of hand written or hand made gift from my kids.

I used to hate when my mom said all she wanted for Christmas was us to love her, but I get it now. If all I had under the tree was a handmade ornament from Jessica and Oliver – that would be more valuable than diamonds or gold, in my book.