Lucky Ladies Weekend {The Details}

In sticking with the “Asian/luck/your future” theme introduced by the Fortune teller invitations, we created various Asian theme elements for the party.

Felt Fortune Cookies: We created red, felt fortune cookies that were given to Elizabeth before each “stage” of the evening. Enclosed was the next activity phrased like a typical fortune cookie. For example: “Your stress will soon be relieved by the hands of a stranger” meant that she would enjoy a 1 hr full body massage.

Custom Chop Sticks: Amanda ordered custom engraved chop sticks from Beau-coup that said: “Lucky Ladies Weekend 2009” and “Friends Stick Together.” These were placed with the paper flowers at each place setting for dinner. The chopsticks were a big hit and a fun memento.

Candy Sushi: Wanting to add an Asian theme dessert to the menu I found recipes for candy sushi; a fun, silly alternative to the real deal. We also found various cookies at an Asian market. We had no idea what they would taste like as everything on the package was in Chinese.

The Outdoor Movie: Setting up for the movie was simple. We borrowed a projector from a friend and hooked it to a laptop with an external set of speakers. All we needed was an outdoor electrical outlet. We hung a white sheet on the side of a garden shed there in the yard and framed the screen with tissue paper pom-poms, vellum shields and battery powered tea lights. A large piece of heavy duty plastic was put down under the blankets to prevent damping those that wanted to lay on the grass. An ice bucket kept the drinks cold and was visible by candle light. If you are in Texas or any southern state, fogging the yard for bugs and provide insect replant is a good idea. We did both.

Take Out Containers: We used Chinese take out containers to serve snacks during the movie. A package of 30 was only $4.95 at the Asian Market

Candy Sushi

Candy Sushi

1/4 cup butter

4 cups mini marshmallows

6 cups crisped rice cereal

30-35 Swedish Fish Candy (found mine at World Market)

2 packages RIPS green, sour apple licorice belts

Grease a 12- by 17-inch baking sheet. Melt butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the marshmallows and stir until smooth.

Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the rice cereal until it's evenly coated. Turn the baking sheet so that the shorter ends are at the top and bottom. Then press the marshmallow mixture onto the sheet, distributing it evenly.

Starting at one side an inch up from the lower edge, place Swedish Fish atop the mixture end to end in a horizontal line. Gently roll the lower edge of the marshmallow mixture over the Swedish Fish candy.

Then stop and cut the log away from the rest of the mixture. Use the same method to form additional logs. Slice each log into 1-inch-thick "sushi" rolls and wrap them individually with a strip of RIPS green, sour apple licorice belts.

Makes 4 to 5 dozen.

If you have left over rice crispy mixture, simply cut into "slabs" and place a Swedish Fish Candy on top!

Lucky Ladies Weekend {A Smashing Success}

As you can see from the pictures, Elizabeth's bachelorette/lingerie party evening was a wonderful success. We had a blast and the decorations and setting were perfect! The bed and breakfast, Abigail's Tree House was a wonderful location and the host, Lisa, was very accommodating.

Elizabeth was given lots of FUN gifts and we all enjoyed many hearty laughs. Details and recipes from the weekend to come...for now, enjoy a glimpse of the evening.

Invitations by Mail Please

Is the mailed invitation a dying tradition? It seems the generation after me primarily relies on communication via texting and Facebook and rarely checks their “postal” mail. There are always those walking around with the proverbial “cardboard sign” telling us that print is dying. I think there is an unmistakable trend toward the digital market which excites me…but invitations?! Oh, not invitations. What happened to the excitement of receiving a personal, hand addressed invitation in the mail? Where is the appreciation for a paper that feels good in your hand? Do other people frame invitations and hang them on the wall the way I do? Okay, so maybe my appreciation goes a little too deep. But I ask you, to rally with me and renew an appreciation for the printed invitation. Savor a beautiful invitation by displaying it. Respond to the RSVP. And continue to send mailed invitations for any event you plan. No matter the time constraints.
The invitation above was created and mailed in just one day.

It’s not my original design, but my “remix” of an invitation design I found via google images. If you are interested in ordering the original invitations they are available at paper style. I hope that the designer will forgive me for the blatant theft of his/her design and recognize it simply as my admiration of their work (GRIN).

When I learned that my PREGNANT best friend would be visiting Texas during the Labor Day holiday, I jumped into party mode. I wanted so bad to throw her a maternity shower, but until the announcement of her visitation, I didn’t think it was possible. So, that, dear reader is why this invitation was created and mailed in a day. These aren’t printed on paper you want to feel of over and over, they probably won’t be framed by the recipients, and no RSVP is required, but they are were hand addresses, and personalized for the guest of honor. I can’t help but think it makes her feel special and even brightens the face of the recipient more than a choppy text message or mass e-mail. So I’ll continue to mail my invitations and send text message reminders to generation digital.

Paper Lotus Flowers

These beautiful paper flowers will be used as place cards for our dinner next Saturday evening. I discovered that when you placed two different sized fortune tellers together they looked much like a flower, particularly a lotus flower. I was so excited about discovering a way to incorporate the fortune tellers into the decorations for Elizabeth’s bachelorette/lingerie party. Having sent our Asian themed cootie catcher as invitations it was perfect!

And like icing on the cake, after a little research I found that in Asian traditions the Lotus flower represents the virtue of sexual purity. What a truly beautiful symbol for my sister and her closest friends.

The Transformation of a Handle

During the demolition stage of our remodeling I scurried around behind Steven, saving various items I thought we might need/reuse/rework/save/frame. The historian in me wanted to make sure we salvaged items that would bring the “old” back into our home. He would rip, bang, pull and drop and I’d sift, sweep, wrap and bag. These handles are just a few of the items I have stashed away.

This week I’ve been cleaning and reworking them so that we can use them on the drawers for the closet in our master bedroom. We removed them from cabinets in the small kitchenette that was once the maid’s quarters. No employed maid in this house; just little ‘ole me. So, out went the kitchenette. The transformation of these handles was made possible by the use of ammonia, fine steel wool and glove clad hands.

I LOVE finding new uses for old items. I LOVE seeing these paint covered dirty handles transform into shiny, chic handles. And I LOVE my new closet.

Fortune Teller Invitation {Cootie Catcher}

Amanda and I are planning a bachelorette weekend for my sister, Elizabeth. We choose an oriental theme and thought a fortune teller (cootie catcher) would make a unique, theme appropriate, invitation. I found instructions for folding a cootie catcher on Martha Stewart's website. There you'll also find other creative uses for these childhood staples.

As a kid, I waited with baited breath hoping for the future I dreamed of while my friends counted, opening and closing the paper creation that held my future. Will I ever Marry? How many kids will I have? Will I be a millionaire? There were many times, I must admit, that I was quite distraught by the answers I was given. 15 children?! Alone forever? I'll live as a bum? Oh my....Then of course there were the fantasies of driving a Dodge Viper and winning the lottery. Elizabeth's dreams of marriage are coming true. We are excited and can't wait to celebrate with her.

Amanda and I visited an Asian Market in College Station on Saturday. My first Asian market ever. Quiet interesting....kinda smelly, but a good cultural experience.

So, what do you think? Lay some comment love on me. I'm starting to wonder if people really read this blog! Happy Monday.