Hot Buttered Rum

I remember meeting her for the first time. Willowy & beautiful in a beautiful pale pink suit. I just had to know this beautiful lady. We were at a Boy's & Girls Club Auxiliary Luncheon. My sweet friend Karen Mahoney introduced us....not only was she beautiful, she was sweet, nice, and one of the best hostesses I have ever had the opportunity to be served by. At one of her holiday gatherings she served this fabulous concoction....it was just awesome. You are supposed to serve it with rum, but Michelle served it as a coffee creamer. I just had to have the recipe, so I will forever immortalize Michelle Hoffman, my dear friend, on my blog and allow you the opportunity to make this wonderful concoction. It has become a holiday tradition in our home....and I am sure once you taste this, it will be a tradition in your home as well. By the way...don't be afraid of the ingredient list...you only use a little bit in each cup! Now you can share just a little bit of my friend...Michelle.

Hot Buttered Rum

1/2 gallon premium vanilla icecream

1 lb. butter, softened

1 lb. box powdered sugar

1 lb. box brown sugar

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Place in a freezer safe container & store in the freezer until ready to use. Per mug, or use as I do in a cup of coffee.

1 oz. rum

2 T. mix

6-8 oz. boiling water

Silver Bella Sachets

I participated in a number of swaps when I went to Silver Bella. In this particular swap we were asked to make sachets. For those of you who don't know what a swap is, it is fun way to connect with people. You make a said amount of items that a hostess has chosen for her swap. Then you 'swap' them with your group. So, I made 10 and when I went to Silver Bella I received 10 different sachets, made by 10 different, incredible women. I chose a Parisan theme for mine and used vintage linen with a hand stamped Parisan image. I then attached a distressed tag, some vintage beads, vintage seam binding and to make it all even neater attached everything with a tarnished large safety pin. I filled each sachet with beautiful, restful lavendar. These sachets make me happy and help me to feel relaxed. I hope they have done the same for my swap sisters. (Luckily for my other friends I made a few extra....and they can be purchased at Lola Rue) Blessings for a lovely, restful day.

Awesome Wreath

I want you to envision a little piece of heaven that I recently purchased. It was created by my dear friend Lisa Orme and I purchased it from her shop... Lola Rue. I hung it over my bathtub and my husband was shocked. Well my bathtub is also a little piece of heaven. I go there to soak and to rest my weary body. I re-group there and it is only fitting that I hang a gorgeous wreath to make my space just that more special. It is loaded with some of my very favorite things, and I venture to believe that while Lisa was creating this special piece....maybe....maybe....just maybe she might have been thinking of me. I hope that is true, because this wreath spoke to me with the Charlotte head, vintage ruler, pearls, silk ribbons, old lace and wooden spools. In my humble opinion it is a masterpiece and something I will treasure for years to come. Thanks for making my life on earth a little more like Heaven Lisa. I love you!

Truffles

Cooking has always been such a fun way to celebrate the holidays. It is even more fun cooking with my children Lindsey & Lincoln. They are turning into wonderful cooks. Last week, during the dust and disgust of the kitchen remodel, we wiped it all away and made these fabulous truffles. I got the recipe from a dear friend I met at Silver Bella...the wonderful and very talented Suzanne Duda. She made these with her children also. Suzanne said they were easy and boy was she right. Easy, delicious & cute to boot, who can resist. Here's the recipe, I am sure she won't mind if I pass it along. I hope you enjoy my littel bit of Christmas cheer!

Suzanne Duda's Truffles (makes 40)

12 ounces semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons milk

Heat mixture over medium heat, stirring all the time, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Cover and refridgerate 11/2 hours or until mixture is firm. Shape into small balls (Suzanne said she used a small melon baller so that is what I used). Gently roll in sprinkles, chopped nuts, or cocoa powder. Place in mini cupcake liners and refridgerate. Enjoy!!

Parisan Flair

What a wonderful time we had at Silver Bella. Working in our classes with so many talented ladies was a blessing I won't soon forget. We got to go Kansas City, MO on the way to Omaha and got to visit The Curious Sofa. What a wonderful glimse of perfection. I was inspired and awed by the many wonderful displays that I envisioned. So many neat Parisan touches. The Curious Sofa was also at the Vendor Marketplace that was held at Silver Bella. I guess I got the bug for Paris. Funny, the Boy's Club Holiday Auction also got the bug. When we made the Advent Calendars we got to be a part of the Joyeux Noel Marketplace and sell our wares. I couldn't resist making these 'vintage Parisan baubles'. I hope you like them, I like to say 'vintage bling'. Blessings for a special evening.

Boy's & Girls Club Holiday Auction

Things have been a whirlwind since I got back from Silver Bella. The mad rush was on to make and complete 35 vintage inspired Advent Calendars. Lola Rue was commissioned to complete this task and my very wonderful friend and owner of Lola Rue....Ms. Lisa Orme enticed us to make these wonderful calendars. Together we made this wonderful contribution to the Boy's & Girls Club and earned money for the club. It was so fun. We pooled all of our vintage baubles, old scrap booking supplies (who has time to do that anymore?????), old buttons, and you name it we used it. We made a different magnet for each of the 25 days leading up to Christmas. It is kind of like the old little Advent Calendars we all did as children when you opened up a window and got a piece of candy. With our Advent Calendars you place a magnetic bauble on each day. They turned out very cute and they were a huge success. It was just a magical experience working again for the good of the community and doing it with wonderful friends. Together, with the help of my wonderful friends Kendra, Lisa, Cherie, Stephanie & Lindsey we got the Advent Calendars completed and wrapped to help make a difference in many childrens lives. I hope you enjoy a glimpse of the calendar with my friend Cherie displaying it. Blessings for a wonderful countdown for a celebration of the birth of a King!!!