"Simply the Best" JLM Spring Fling Gala 2010

Tonight is our Spring Gala for Junior League!

Tablescape Thursday! A Little Bit o Green

Tuesday night I had the girls from my JLM subcommittee over for dinner and a quick meeting. I wanted to change up the table since a couple of them were here for the neighborhood meeting on the 9th and it was set for Valentine's Day.

 

I really struggled with something to use as a centerpiece, I think this will be a work in progress over the next week or so, all ideas are welcome. 

I found  the gingham checked plates at HomeGoods as well as the quilted polka dot runner.

I had the place cards which matched perfectly.

I thought it would be fun to add a little luck from the leprechaun and found these at the Target dollar spot. I filled the baskets with some candy as well.

Our menu consisted of a green salad and lasagna. The girls all brought wines and one brought nummy oatmeal raisin cookies. The wine glasses are Riedel Pinot Noir glasses, my favorite. These are actually the shorter stemmed version, I also have the longer stems.

The napkin rings I bought at an estate sale, set of 8 for probably $2. They have a great basket weave pattern on them. The napkins are a set of 12, hotel, from HomeGoods which I believe were $6.99. I use these with a fall tablescape as well.

So, now I am off to the thrift store to see if I can't get some more inspiration for my centerpiece as well as my mantle. I realize soon enough I will be decorating for Easter, but I have some special guests arriving next weekend, so I want to do something a little different.

Tablecloth - Marshall's last year  (I bought the same one in cream and white)

Runner - HomeGoods $12.99

Base Plate - Target clearance 5 years ago (I bought 8 thank goodness)

Green and White Gingham Square Plates - HomeGoods $2.99

Green and White Shamrock Plates - HomeGoods $3.99

Silverware - BB&B

Napkins - Package of 12, HomeGoods $6.99

Napkin Rings - Set of 8 Estate Sale $2

Riedel Stemware - collected from tastings

Candles and Hurricane - Thrift Store (no idea)

For more Tablescapes please checkout Between Naps on the Porch! 

Things I am Digging!

This has been a whirlwind of a week, but a really fun one! Just thought I would pop in with a few things that I am really digging at the moment!

This Kate Spade bag, I know it is pink, but I love the quilting. I just am not sure that a pink bag is going to work for me this time of year, but it sure is cute!
After being at the Junk Bonanza last week, I saw something kind of like this there, but I really like this one from here. I like that it has three sections. I can see one for magazines, one for bills and one for to be filed. I just love it! (photo from Sadie Olive website, SO cute, I LOVE LOVE LOVE her stuff!!!)
I am in full on Fall mode here, and getting excited for Halloween. I don't know what we are doing for sure, but I am hosting a couple of fall events that I am looking forward to. I picked up this magazine the other day, lots of good ideas.
And this magazine as well,
and now all I want to do is get my house decorated for fall and Halloween!

Last night I had a Kids in the Kitchen volunteer shift for JLM. It was SO much fun! We taught the kids how to make wraps, build a better salad and choose healthy sides. We also taught them how to read a nutrition label, healthy portion sizes and helped them decorate canvas lunch totes. There were a couple of dentists that came in and helped show them proper brushing and flossing techniques which was nice as well and then when it was all over they left with a Trader Joe's reusable bag filled with goodies. It was a ton of fun and very rewarding.
After a long day though, I was very excited to get home, settled into PJ's, crawl into bed and devour this
I have to share with you a quote from the magazine that I just loved, " Close friends. . . contribute to our personal pleasure, making the music sound sweeter, the wine taste richer, the laughter ring louder because they are there." --Judith Viorst

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. We have a full weekend. I need to make an appetizer for Saturday night, brunch on Sunday and dinner on Sunday. So I am off to make my grocery list and cross a couple of things off of my ta-da list!

HELP! An Appeal to any JL'ers out there! Or anyone in a dinner club!

Hey guys! Need some help, and there is a bonus in here too! This upcoming Junior League year I am in charge of cookbooks and dinner club. I am SO excited as both of those things are right up my alley! My appeal for help is this, any JLers out there have any thoughts, insight or experience in either of these areas?

In regards to cookbooks, where have you seen them sold? Where have been some successful outlets to selling them? How much do you charge for yours (we are considering dropping our price)?

Dinner club, has anyone been in a Junior League dinner club? How much do you charge your members? How do you distribute the information? What have been some of the successful outcomes? What have been some of the lessons learned? If you are in a dinner club at all, any good tips or information?

On June 25th I will draw a name from the comments received and award one of the Mpls./St. Paul JL cookbooks, "Always Superb" to the winner! ALL comments GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks in advance for all of your help on this one, I really want this year to be spectacular!

Weekend Recap!

We saw The Bucket List and The Golden Compass on Friday night, after stopping by The Cottage Shop where I found this adorable wine rack, it may wind up being the project of the week, more on that later. We also grabbed a bite to eat at Joe Sensers, but I was not impressed, burger=bland and way too noisy for what I was looking for to wind down the week, but it could be good for a game and some wings and beers, just not what I was looking for Friday night.

I loved The Bucket List, so did the boy, his parents also saw it and loved it as well. Now I am hearing that it only got 1 1/2 stars and I heard on the radio this morning all sorts of people didn't like it. Oh well, to each their own I guess, I love Jack and I think Morgan Freeman is wonderful. I think it also teaches you to not take life for granted and live each day to the fullest. What in the world could be so awful about a movie with a plot like that?

I also LOVED The Golden Compass, the boy did not however. He has an issue with movies that give people animal characteristics. I just thought it was good and I am looking forward to the sequel. I also think that Libby did a fabulous job of imitating the hat! Very clever and what a great hat!

We did check out an estate sale Saturday morning which was fun. I got this great muff to match my new coat that I got for Christmas, just love that and I was able to wear it to the opening.

We also stopped by my parents so that I could check on a couple of things for my mom. Then it was Super Target, Trader Joes and home to get ready for the Opening night gala for the MacPhail Center. We had a great time and dinner at Sanctuary was wonderful, I will definitely be back, especially when the patio is open. They had a very interesting and diverse menu.

Sunday we were up early to get ready for brunch. The boy and I worked very well together to get things set up and food prepared for brunch.

My mom came early to help as well. The brunch was a huge success, it was the first time my dad's sisters and their husbands had been to my house so it was fun to entertain all of them (my dad is from a big family). I made three new brunch recipes, but really only favored two of the recipes, look for those tomorrow!

We wrapped up the weekend with cleanup from the party, the second to last Amazing Race and a pizza, I was BEAT, and could hardly keep my eyes open. . .

I am actually in the office today (a REAL office) getting some things ready for our project to implement and also getting ready to transition onto a new project (YEAH!) hopefully this one will be in a real office!

Lots going on this week, a wine club dinner tomorrow night, a work dinner Wednesday night, a wine tasting Thursday night, girls night Friday night at my house and a BYOB event for wine club at sister J's Saturday night. So needless to say I will need to be organized this week!

Hope you all had a great weekend, LOVED the pics from Kimba's engagement party, too fun! And congrats to both her Packers and Pats, what a lucky gal!

Things I am Digging!

After being sick for so long, (thank you all so much for the good wishes) I am so looking forward to some upcoming events.

I am glad that some people plan their holiday celebrations for January, AFTER things have settled down a little bit, but January holds some great events and adventures and I am really looking forward to them!

This weekend the boy and I are going to be "working" at the MacPhail Center for Music Grand Opening Gala. Not sure what we will be doing, but it is another reason to get dressed up and for the boy to wear his suit! We will be "working" with sister J and the boy she has been dating and then meeting up with sister S and her husband for a late dinner at Sanctuary. I am really looking forward to it because I feel like I have not been out or socialized in forever and a half.

Next weekend is the third annual US Pond Hockey Championship. I have been the past two years and it is always a good time and fun to watch. One of the sponsors is Summit so I may even be there pouring a few!

While I am mentioning Summit, they are having their holiday party on January 26th, and the part that I love is it is a "theme" event!!! The theme being a "Starlight Serenade Retro Prom". Oh my, can you even imagine? I cannot wait for this one! I am going to have to start hunting for a dress, and the boy, I will have to find a nice light blue ruffled shirt for him to wear! Any ideas, thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I called my mom to see if she still had my prom dresses and she said yes, so I will have to check those out. I think I have 6 dresses there so one of them should work, if not maybe I could take two and make one?

We are also kicking off Get Fit Twin Cities, and once again I am heading up a team. It kicks off next week on the 16th, this year I am going to be more organized and hopefully the team members will be interested in weekly events to do together. One of our first events is going to be a Soup exchange and a field trip to the Pond Hockey next weekend, should be fun!

We also have a BYOB wine event for my wine club at sister J's new loft. I am excited for this one, it is going to be a Winter White theme! I am not the BIGGEST fan of white wines, I actually prefer reds, especially in the winter, but I think this is a great way to put a BYOB theme and wine tasting together. Everyone has even been asked to wear their winter whites and sister J and I will be preparing all white foods, any ideas please pass them my way! I am bringing a great Jan Kris sparkling almond champagne that is just delish, if you can find it, pick some up and give it a try!

So this on top of some estate sale excursions, family parties and dinners, JLM events and movies, January is looking up!

Hope you are all well!

Recipe of the Week!

So last night, Monday night, the only night the boy and I are home all week (I don't like to plan things for Monday night so that we can just veg and recoup from the weekend and get ready for the week) I decided to look into the fridge to see what I could come up with. We both had decided Sunday afternoon that it really did not make sense to go to the grocery store and stock up on things when we weren't going to be home at all this week. So, this is what I came up with. . .

Jilly's Calzone's

1 Pillsbury Pizza Crust
1 can of Muir Glen organic pizza sauce (I only used half a can)
about 40 slices of pepperoni's
1 green pepper
a handful of sliced green olives with pimento
1/4 C. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 C. shredded cheddar cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 375. Divide the pizza crust into two equal portions. Take one portion and spread out with fingers on a cookie sheet. Top with pizza sauce pepperoni's, olives, green pepper and cheese. Repeat. Fold crust over and pinch and seal edges. I experimented and sprinkled a little garlic salt on the top of one and some shredded mozzarella on the other, they both turned out good. Bake in preheated oven for approximately 55 minutes or until crust is brown. I will say that the boy and I split one, they turn out pretty big.

We have a busy week. Tonight is the New Member kick off reception for Junior League of Minneapolis and I cannot wait! I am really looking forward to it. I have a navy blue linen skirt picked out to wear with a JCrew swiss dot short sleeve blouse, navy blue cardigan (most likely tied over my shoulders) my madras sandals with matching madras clutch, pearls a given I think. I am going with two sisters from wine club that I talked into joining with me and maybe another friend from wine club who I also got to join. Really looking forward to it and sweet Lisagh was kind enough to offer me some wardrobe advice as well as shoot me some encouraging words which she probably does not even realize how much they mean to me, but during these weeks when I am struggling with something so important in my life, knowing I have to keep my chin up and keep going, it is the kind words from friends like her, Miss Libby and the rest of you that get me through these days. Thank you all so much!

Oh, watch for a book club post later today, cannot wait! I also did a little MM project that I thought I would show you the results of too!

Updates and Ramblings. . .

I know that I have not been on top of my "A" game this week, it has been one of those weeks, and I also know that it is not over, but it just about is, for me anyway, today is my Friday.

Monday we were even really busy, at least for us anyway. The bar that holds a good portion of my wardrobe had fallen in my BIG closet, so I had a closet full of clothes on the floor and I was one very unhappy camper. It was a HUGE mess and I just had this tightening in my chest every time I even thought about it. Even though sure, I could close the door and just forget it was there, just knowing what was behind the door made it difficult for me to even sleep in the same room. SO, the boy got to work on that while I made dinner. Nothing too terribly exciting, we had both been craving BLT's, I guess it is that time of the year, my dad has been eating them like they are going out of style. We had a wicked storm whip through here that evening. Luckily no one I knew had any serious damage, but wow what a storm. It did wake me up, and it felt like my whole house was shaking.

We had dinner Tuesday night with the lovely couple S & J from wine club in Stillwater. We had dinner at this fabulous place called Stones.

They are regulars there, and have a waiter that they love so our service was wonderful. I had the walleye marsala and I have to say it was one of the best meals that I have had since being back in MN. Everything was wonderful though. They have a great outdoor patio, it was a beautiful evening and the company was great. I am looking forward to going back to Stones soon! I spoke with the lovely J about joining Junior League. It is something that I had been wanting to do for a while, but I really wanted someone to join with. Well, I must have put it out there at just the right time because not only did the lovely J send in here membership form, but so did the sisters S & J from wine club. I had just put this out to the two of them as well, the deadline was yesterday so I knew that we would have to hustle to get everything in. I don't know the sisters S & J very well, but they both live fairly close to me and I would like to get to know them better so I thought this would be a good way for all of us to form a tighter bond. I really have not made the kind of girlfriends here in MN that I have out East and I really miss those friendships and camaraderie that I had with them there. I keep hoping and wishing that I will meet women here that I enjoy as much, but I just haven't. There always seems to be something. Miss Lisagh over at the Garage also gave me some wonderful advice and shared her JL experience with me which meant a ton. She is so incredibly generous and thoughtful, I hope that I get as much out of this experience as she did, but I think with advice like hers, with the three women I am joining with and the fact that I have been wanting to do this for a while, I think I am heading down the right path. The Minneapolis chapter has 800 women in it, so it is a big group too.

Wednesday was just one of those days at work, tons to do never enough time, but that is how this week has felt as well. The boy and I knew that we had a ton to do to get ready for this weekend, just no idea how or when we were going to get it done. We had shopping that needed to get done for provisions and then things that I needed to make and lots of organizing and packing. I of course had my lists, so off to Super Target we went, got everything on the list and got it unpacked and such. Now today it is up to me to get us packed and organized, luckily the working at home thing will come in handy and my house is pretty tidy so that does not get in the way. So I will be baking these up this morning (those of you that know, know that I do not bake, so this is a leap for me), courtesy of Tres Posh Prep, some for tailgating, we have a Saints game tonight and some for the weekend, we will be heading up to the nether lands of MN tomorrow morning with the boys siblings and their families. If I had to be honest, I would have to say that I am not looking forward to this trip. I think it is just hard for me knowing what was said about me and such after our last time spent together. That coupled with the fact that this trip is completely unorganized in my book, it just gives me a very uncomfortable feeling. I have my list of course and have communicated back and forth with the boys sister regarding what we are bringing and such (we all have to bring our own breakfast items, lunch items, snacks, drinks and a side dish for dinners each night. . . .I had to ask what the main dish was of course, how am I supposed to know what to make to go with something when I don't even know what it is). There is limited space from what I understand, so I think that we are bringing three coolers, which just seems a little ridiculous to me that we need to bring that many coolers for two people for three days. We are still unsure of sleeping arrangements or how many the cabin even sleeps. Up until yesterday I did not even know WHERE we were going and I had heard travel times from 8 hours to 4 hours one way. Now I understand that the boy has not been there in 20 years, but this is all just good information to have. Here are the activities planned for the weekend, which I also got in an email, 4 wheeling (the boy and his brother are both bringing theirs up and his sister and her family have one plus a dirt bike or two) dirt biking, fishing and going to a bar and putting a dollar on the wall. I am sure once we get up there everything will be fine, it is just that none of this is really up my alley, that coupled with the fact that the lake is probably pretty cold so no swimming and I am with people that did not speak very kindly about me, well. . .it is not going to be an easy weekend to get through, but I also know that sometimes we need to just chin up and put our best foot forward.

I am looking forward to a good night of tailgating prior to heading out on this trip, should be a good time! I hope that everyone has a fabulous weekend. The weather here is looking pretty good, I know that up North it will be a bit cooler, but I will just have to pack accordingly.