hostess with the mostess tips

I found a few last minutes tips for being a great hostess right from Jen with HWTM here.

I am hosting brunch and dinner-The Chef (my big Bro) is my secret weapon, we started the planning and ordering weeks before.

Anyway these tips will be my mantra.....always looking for ways to be the hostess with the mostess! Enjoy!

1. Consider the special dietary needs of your guests.

Maybe you have some vegetarians on the guest list, a best friend with peanut allergies, or a pregnant sister-in-law. Make sure to have options prepared for them ahead of time so that they feel like an important guest and not an afterthought or a burden. You can even talk to them about it ahead of time, as they might have suggestions for the menu that will keep things easy on you too.

2. Set an example with your mood.
Greet everyone with a big smile – even if you’re a little more stressed out than you’re actually letting on (they really don't NEED to know that you just dropped an entire tray of desserts in the kitchen right before the doorbell rang and sent your husband to the grocery store for a solution, do they?!). The bottom line is that your guests will take their cue from YOUR mood. If you seem happy and relaxed, they will be too. If you look stressed out and totally frazzled, they might start to feel awkward or like their presence is an inconvenience, which is never a good thing!***

3. Take immediate steps to make people feel comfortable.

Make a point of greeting every guest personally (and very soon after they arrive) and introducing people to each other – which is especially important for guests that might not know anyone else.I also like to have a tray of signature drinks prepared that you can offer to guests right when they arrive. It's a simple thing, but people always seem to feel more comfortable when they have something to hold on to – whether it’s a specialty cocktail, a glass of wine, or a cup of hot chocolate.

Last but not least, designate areas for coats and purses so that your guests are comfortable and can keep their hands free for the important stuff - like food, drinks, and dancing!

Here is our dinner (a big thanks to my darling husband who insisted on helping me add humor to the menu)

rudolph noses!

The Sprout and I are having fun handing these out this merry season.

Rudolph Noses, get it! Ha ha!

Makes me laugh every time!

They are sour cherry balls...my favorite treat in the world! ( I love sour!)

Any creative ideas for us for next year?

Reindeer Reins could be twizzlers....or....

best gifts ever

Met up with Saucy and JL for a quick lunch today-I love girl time!

I was also surprised with wonderful gifts...so unexpected!

Saucy made me a personalized charm bracelet..theme-twist of lime! The best charm- a VINTAGE Sprout! This bracelet has a special place in my heart forever! She also had a goodie box of cupcakes for us! (I ate 2 while The Sprout napped!...oops again!)

JL treated The Sprout to the best puzzle EVER! Each side is a different family picture! -she could make a million if she marketed this! His favorite is "PA"-it seems to be all I hear lately..Pa, Pa, Pa..

And....this!

Recognize the cutie on the T-shirt? Yup, it's my babe!

I have it on right now-and just realized it might have been easier to photograph off.....ooops.

This will be worn to every family function this season! It is perfect and quite possibly one of the most creative gifts I've ever received!

advent cabinets

I have been in search of the perfect advent activity for The Sprout........ for next year. This project still needs a little TLC but I think it may do the trick. I like the idea of putting family activities and reading books for each day like aspertopia does. She is brilliant.

Now I need to fill the cupboards.......what are your favorite family activities to do? If you live in California or Florida or anywhere there is no snow and it is not -49 with the windchill please leave your address with your comment so I may come and live with you (Mc Dreamy and the Sprout are optional, but The Sprout is quite charming and it is often handy to have a DR around.....)! Seriously, it is -40 something today, our sneezes freezes mid air! (ha ha)

PS- like my idea......go vote for me! http://www.michaelscontest.com/uploads?page=6

which do you like?

Quicky question......

which do you like better?

...metal charm

or clay charm...

A good friend asked for a custom order of tiles for a gal pal get together for a recently diagnosed with breast cancer.

....these will be my treat of course, but I can't decide which I like better.

Thanks for your help!

Christmas Centre Piece for $10

As a reward for getting another 7 pages added to my 30 page paper I treated myself to a an artsy activity on my to do list.
This activity was to create a table centre piece for Christmas. I needed to keep it low. Low budget and low in stature so people can "talk over the art".
Jewels: $rama
Blinky Candles: $rama
Glass Jars: cupboard
Silver pillars: $rama
The jewels fancied up the boring gold glass jars quite nicely don't you agree? However, no where in the instructions did it say you need to be an octopus to apply them. If you have attempted to use these I am sure you know what I mean. If you have never attempted to use the stick on jewels BEWARE! They are both beautiful AND deadly! Oh well, the look it what I wanted....a sparkly Christmas-simple and elegant. I might even try this again to fancy up a vase the next time I give flowers.
Do you have a favorite centre piece idea to try this year?

"me"

I can't wait to come across these when The Sprout is a teenager. We made about 40 as gifts but I am already having a hard time parting with each one...but I will.

I am so proud of his "try anything for Mommy" attitude. I will cherish it as I know it will not last forever....the 2's loom just ahead!

1st draft of literature review is handed in. The commas better placed, not like my reference of the quote above that is sans comma...oops!

One paper to finish by Thursday. 2 pages down, 28 to go.

Online shopping and blogging squeezed into 5 minute computer breaks every hour.

give away!

You must go see Dionne at City of Dionne, she has a great give away for Christmas. Sweet Sassy Studio was ASKED to join in! The give away is HUGE and Dionne is a sweet blogger from Houston who always has interesting posts.

My big sis just put in her order for 3 of these sassy BE MERRY charms sets, lucky for her it was free stuff for sisters day! If you want your set I still have 4 left so go check out my etsy store! Go quick, the orders from Regina just keep rolling in!

What do 3 brain surgeons, a bus driver, a west jet flight attendant, a vet, a poet and a blogging grad student who should be working on her literature review have in common?

After an afternoon spent with charming ladies I rushed home at 4pm to feed an 18 month old who didn't nap all day, make 2 batches of nachos, bath a baby, make several pizzas, rescue husband who tried to cook pizzas, read stories to now very cranky and tired baby, act charming, load the dish washer, put really cranky and over tired baby to bed, glue bails onto 2 dozen necklaces for Christmas, load the kiln, fire the kiln, put in 1 load of laundry so I have clothes to wear tomorrow and now to drink a coke (or 5) and work on literature review. Please don't remind me Christmas is LESS than a month away. I think there should a be a law forbidding literature reviews due within 2 months of Christmas. I could be happily shopping online tonight but will be doing homework instead.......

giving, real giving

How do you teach the love of giving? Isn't it one of those things that you just know how to do or don't? I have no idea but I do know I want my son to know the importance of giving. Not just the go out to $ rama and buy a mug that Grandpa or an uncle would pretend to love-the kind of giving that shows you took time and thought and maybe even shared a little creativity or special talent only you have. The kind of giving where a drawing or poem on a scrap piece of paper brings tears to your eyes and you keep it tucked into the bottom of a drawer for years...maybe forever. If I could sing I would sing a song for Christmas gifts this year, each person's eyes would well up at the words and bird like melody of my voice.......what is the best gift you have ever received?