A Season of Thanks

As this season of Thanksgiving draws closer, my heart is FULL today….Full of many thanks for so many blessings.  Yesterday I finished my physical therapy…YAY…:):) At last, after four long months of being “down”, I feel a renewed spirit and it’s SO wonderful to be back on my FEET…!!! 

After packing up Halloween, it was too early to put out Christmas, so what do you do to just fill in for only a couple of weeks. I just grabbed some of my favorite dishes to reflect how Thankful I am. For so long I could only DREAM of what it was like to just get up and WALK… 
  I would try to imagine how I’d feel, just to be “Normal” again..!!
I never new I’d MISS cooking and cleaning so much, and oh how I missed my Blogging…!!!  I missed taking pictures and making pretty spaces to share with you. Do you know that we never put Not One Decoration outside for fall or Halloween this year. Some of the neighbors who did not know about our accident, thought we had moved…LOL   Guess they missed my decorating too…!!!
Now I want YOU to Imagine…..imagine that the pink and red flowers there are vibrant shades of orange and yellows….It’s taking me a little longer to get things done now, but I’m not complaining. Match or no match, doesn’t bother me. I just had fun getting this done…:)
   Today we’re in the kitchen preparing….Dinner…. Mallory is coming home from college for the week-end and is bringing Friends with her. She wanted to come have DINNER with us…:) My heart is FULL as I Make and Bake…and look forward to seeing her pretty smile and getting Big Hugs…!!! We'll all just Relax…have Dinner and enjoy our time together
And just like the prayer below….as the seasons come and go, it’s Time to Give Thanks and always be reminded of the “Little Things” in life…after all, THEY are the ones that are most precious…!!!
  It’s TIME….to get back in the kitchen, I have a Big Chocolate Cake to make. Wish I could share some with you…
I’m Back…!!!!

A Spooky Good Day

Friday was a very special day for me. Not only did I make the hour trip to my girls house for their Halloween Party, I rode in the FRONT SEAT…!!! Yes, for the first time in three months since breaking my knee, I can bend it enough now to get in the front. Not only that, I don’t need a walker anymore. I feel like a “Free Spirit” and new gal….:)  It was SO good to visit my girls. They were all decked out in their Spooky outfits and Sherry had the house spooky and fun…!!!
Mummy Carly with her poor little puppy and escaped prisoner Cassie were ready to party….

The table was all set with Bloody Punch, bread bones, cupcakes with cute festive picks and Live Bait, if you dare.
  
Spider webs swept across the room…and a tub of Bloody Punch awaited guest…...

 Bottoms Up…!!!!   Halloween Cheers….:)

Just LOVE those costumes…..Adorable…!!!
Left the “red eyes” there….thought it was the perfect fit…!!!

It was a FUN NIGHT and I’m so happy I could go. And on the way home, we stopped by Barnes and Noble….Bill let me off at the front door, I got out of the car…BY MYSELF….and walked into that store to shop….with NO HELP…!!!  Wow, I was feeling so good…:) Except for several more weeks at PT to work on “Bending”, I am so much better and can get around a lot faster now. I feel as if this nightmare is at last “Behind ME” and things are getting back to normal. THANK YOU ALL for your prayers and sweet comments and concerns.  What would we do without each other….!!! Thank you my sweet friends….You’re the Best….:)

I’ll be back with pictures of Halloween Night at Missy’s house. Don’t miss it… 
Life is Sweet….!!!!

Happy Messy Home

I’ll just bet MOST of you think my home stays neat and clean. Am I right…Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret. No it doesn't..!!! The reason I haven’t posted in a while is because I’ve been getting in New Products and they are taking over MY SPACE. Most of them are in the garage and I’ve been dragging in boxes, a few at a time, trying to get pictures made to put on my web site. So here’s a little glimpse of what my butler’s pantry looks like right now. It’s a MESS…!!!!

 Ok….I know what you’re thinking, this is not SO messy…!!! So let’s keep going around the room.

Have you noticed that I’m getting “Really Picky”…. picky, picky, picky.

Yes, I’m getting PICKY….Just got in a TON of Cupcake Picks and now I have to take pictures of all of these, YIKES…!!! They are all over the place. But I think they will be Fun to use at special events or parties.  And look at the new fun treat bags….for popcorn, peanuts and even pickles…..Fun Party Supplies…:)
I even have some NEW APRONS in…..they are a little on the “wild side”….here they are, still in plastic, waiting to be ironed and photographed…..Sigh…maybe tomorrow…!!!!   Party Animal….Wine Diva….and 100% Party Girl….Too Cute…:)
  And on into my kitchen, LOOK at what else came today.  My battery operated CANDLES….I’m in love …again…!!!! The solid natural color candles came today and I LOVE these. Oh how I wish YOU could see these lit up. They look just like REAL CANDLES…..And they Flicker TOO…Seriously, SO Pretty. I placed them in several places to show you how they look. Watch for these on my web site SOON…!!!!

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t wait to Group Several of them together…when I find Time To Play…..!!!  As for now…it’ll just have to wait. Until I get all my pictures taken, clean house, and then, just maybe I’ll be back with some Pretty Pictures to share….Ok, I promise I will…:) 
Until then,
Back to WORK…!!!!

Celebrating 29 Years….

TODAY…we CELEBRATED 29 Years of marriage….and I have to tell you, I am truly blessed to have my sweet hubby….Yes I am….:) They just don’t come better than HIM….He’s the Best…!!! Yesterday, these beautiful flowers arrived at my door.And they HAVE to be the prettiest fall arrangement I’ve ever seen. Really….Look at the sunflowers. Each flower was so  perfect.
And the SWEET card that read…..
   I’m wishing for 29 more too….:) It was a beautiful fall day here and we took a little shopping  trip out of town. HERE’s to My Sweet Hubby…..I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART….!!!!
  For THIS…..I am Blessed…!!!!!
I’m in love…:)

Falling In Love

I LOVE Fall….Leaves floating down and gently landing on still green lawns, Pumpkins on porches waiting to be carved into silly personalities, Haystacks adorned with giant orange ribbons and fireplaces stacked with fresh cut wood….A time to dig out our sweaters and cuddle up with a steamy cup of Hot Cocoa….!!! 

AND…..I truly DID fall in LOVE in the fall. With my wonderful hubby of almost 29 years. Our anniversary is October 10… It’s such a cozy season, a time to “Snuggle Up” close to someone you love.

Cozy candlelight and bright warm colors of yellow..red..orange and browns.
 
Gather round the kitchen for hot plates filled with “Comfort Food”…
I LOVE cozy spaces filled with some of My Favorite Things…
And groupings of seasonal treasures to set the mood….
        
Fall ribbons wrapped and tucked around cake stands and plate holders…Yellow and green layered napkins placed on a French Country placemat…

I don’t know about YOU, but I’m ready to put a Big Pot of Stew on the stove and take it out on the porch to slowly enjoy the warmth of this beautiful season…!!!
I’ve already used my fireplace this week…So cozy and warm…AND I have my sweaters handy for nippy mornings and cooler nights. Snuggle up close to someone this week. Light a candle and make a yummy dish to share. I think I’ll try a New Recipe this week…maybe a casserole. And I’ll be back to Share it with YOU…:)
 I’m in LOVE…!!!

 

Boo To You

I’ve spent the last couple of weeks finishing up some urgent business projects and making New Pictures for our web site. AND…as New Products are starting to arrive, they seem to be piling up faster than I can rip those boxes open to see what treasures are tucked inside. One of My Favorites is this charming Candy Apple Candle…!!!   
It’s battery operated  and has a Warm Flickering Candle Light……SO Charming…!!!!  To add more Charm and Whimsy to BOO YOU, how do you like this fun and funky Halloween Sisal Tree. 

Black and Orange Stripe and is complete with Dangling Black Spider…..

Just too adorable..!!! 
I made the Boo Banner that will end up with my Halloween collection in my breakfast room hutch…

My sweet hubby has carried all those tubs of treasures from the basement and placed them all around the room to make it easy for me to decorate this year. It’s a “Real Bummer” not being able to get around at a normal speed… So this week end, I’ll be digging out my goodies and adding them to all my New Finds…..

Other new items we’ve added are these Sweet Cupcake Papers and Picks….Simply Adorable…..!!!

AND…..I just know you are going to Love these whimsical ceramic Halloween Place Card Holders….I do…:):):)
 Tip for making your Cupcake Papers show up Really Pretty…Just bake them in ordinary inexpensive papers and when you’re ready to serve them, remove those papers and place your Sweet Treats inside one of these Pretty Liners….
and POOF…you’re ready to Party..!!!

 These pretty Cupcake Paper Liners come in lots of pretty colors and designs and can be found on our web site at www.thesugardiva.com

Watch for more ideas using fancy Cupcake papers and picks…:) 
 
OK…I’ll be back on Monday with some Fall and Halloween decorating around our home. So come on back and visit me again for MORE….Boo To You…!!!
Until then…watch the leaves falling…visit an apple orchard… make a yummy pumpkin pie…sip on a cup of Hot Chocolate….Spend some precious time with your family……and Most of All…Find time for YOU..!!! See you soon,
Life is Good…!!! 
OH, I almost forgot, these new products can be found on our web site at, www.thesuardiva.com  Thanks..:)

  

Test Kitchen

 We just got some samples of our New Cupcake Mixes that we had developed “Just for Us” to add to our gourmet product line. Since the girls were here this week end, I thought, what better time to Test the Recipes...!!!  The girls picked out their aprons while I gathered all the necessary bowls and ingredients and Little Katie was Ready to BAKE….:):):)
She was so excited and had so much fun just putting the cupcake liners in the baking pan.
 
In goes the mix and the red handled whisk that Katie chose to use.

These mixes are SO Kid Friendly….No Eggs or Oil….All that was needed was water and Mayo…Yes, Mayonnaise. What a great idea. No worry over uncooked cake batter.
   SHE had So Much Fun….and it was So Easy to make…!!! Soon it was time to fill up the papers with Yummy Cake Batter.   And keeping all those Little Fingers out of the uncooked treat was impossible…:):):)  Then it was time to Lick the spoon..or whisk..!!!

And put them in the oven ….Look how proud they were

BUT…there was More Testing to be done. We actually have three different flavors to try. So while the “Birthday Cake” flavor was baking in the oven, we started on the Halloween Dark Chocolate Mix…This mix comes with tiny chocolate chips that melt inside the cake while baking. Just Yummy….!!! 
Different Mix….Same recipe…Just add water and Mayo, mix and bake….!!! 

 
This was Katie’s Favorite….and Chocolate spattered out All Over the Place…:):):)

The girls really questioned putting “Mayonnaise” in their Cupcakes…They’d never head of THAT before…!!!  But it only took a few LICKS and I knew that these New Mixes were going to be a Hit…!!!

OK…One more flavor…..Christmas Peppermint Cupcakes…
Watch this pretty mix turn PINK when water is added…Oh So Pretty..
 
This delicious mix has just the right blend of Peppermint giving it a Yummy Soft hint of flavor. And LOOK at the color. LOVE IT…:)
 
The more we mixed, the more Katie’s apron was showing the drips of this yummy drippy cake batter…Guess I’ll be putting the Apron in a cleaning test…:):)
Then the last uncooked taste for today….!!! 
Katie was Happy and we all had So Much Fun…!!!

By the time we were done with ALL THREE mixes…my poor knee had just about had it and I was one tired Gran…LOL…:):):) So we skimped on the icing, not to worry, it was Delicious, just not as Pretty as they could should have been. Do you think that bothered us….Of course NOT….!!! These yummy Cupcakes didn’t need perfect toppings. All that was needed was a napkin. Get out of our way, WE HAVE CUPCAKES…..They were all SO delicious…!!
Mallory was HOME from College this week end. Between the Brittney Spears Concert and waking up extremely ill yesterday morning and had to be taken to the doctor, we didn’t get to spend a lot of time with HER….:(:(:( She’s still sick, but is on the road today headed back. I MISS HER so very much. 
That’s it for ME today…:) I hope YOU had a good holiday this week end. Spending time with family is priceless…and I cherish each moment that comes my way. Baking with my girls is like pouring Memories in the Oven…:) Take some special time with YOUR little ones, cuz before you know it,
They’re Gone…!!!
PS….You can find the adorable aprons on my web site
www.thesugardiva.com    Thanks…:)