Christmas Par-tay

The Christmas party was a hit again this year. Thanks so much Shauna for hosting!  We loved the "bow game" where we had to watch Shauna like a hawk to see where she put her bow (on her body) -- we had to follow her lead or we were out.  Kristie was the big winner & Shannon was the big looser.

First the food... and this isn't even all of it!

And now for the lovely ladies...

( I do have to apologize for the blurry photos - I blame Shauna and her near dark conditions) ha!

Kristie & Brenda

Christie & Kara

Bethany & Shannon

Robyn & Britney

Shauna & Heidi (wow is my head so much bigger than Shauna's)

And now for the white elephant exchange.

It was a blast!  One of the best for sure!

Brenda with her ear plugs, sleeping mask and some sort of foot spray(?)

Britney will be whipping up some new maternity clothes with her handy dandy Sew Quick hand-held sewing machine!!

Shannon got the coveted (by Kara) K-Mart watch

Here is Shauna with her soon to be stolen earrings.

Christie was just in love with her monkey socks -- can't you tell?

Not to be left out of the monkey mayhem Kristie got some hot pajamas.  So hot in fact that I took them home!

Ooohhh what is it?

One hot photo of Britney's husband!!

The secret was that under that picture was really this print...

If you would like to print one out for yourself just go here.

Now back to the white elephants...

Robyn received an onion, some garlic and...

Hannah Montana Crest -- who wouldn't want that I ask!?

And finally Shannon got to shakin' her gourd -- if you know what I mean.

Thanks everyone for such a fun night!  And thanks again to Shauna for hosting.  These little treats were our parting favor. They were filled with goodies. Now Don't forget to read The Idiot for next month or Shauna will expect her favor back.

 

See you next year!!

(January 7th to be exact)

Yep!!

We will be having our traditional white elephant gift exchange!

Can't wait to see you all on Thursday!

Our Christmas party will be held on December 2nd @7:00

Shauna would like everyone RSVP and post what they are bringing -- or at least to say whether your dish is sweet or savory so she knows what to plan for.

Oh & she wants you to read The Idiot for some holiday cheer! :)

See you in a few weeks!

Book Club at Brenda's

Wow!  Book club was so much fun!  Great food, good discussion, and some serious laughing. Thanks Brenda for hosting!

Here are some photos of the delish cuisine...

Dessert was so yummy we had to have a slice of each choice!  I have to say the Key Lime pie was my favorite!! Soooooo good!

I really wish that Britney was leaning forward but she remains as prim and proper as always.

Britney & Kristie

Bethany, Heidi & Shannon

 

Brenda & Robyn

Book Club Tonight!!

Book Club is tonight! 

Brenda's house @7:00pm

See you there!!

(Brenda will be e-mailing directions in case you need a refresher)

October Recipes

Before we meet again, I figured I better post these!

Southwest Chili

I made it up, so no real recipe here.
Pretty much ground beef cooked with onions and chili powder, added to black beans I cooked, green peppers, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder and salt to taste.
Simmer for a long time.
Add some frozen corn.
People seemed to like trying the cottage cheese on top for variety. We also had cheese and/or cilantro.

Thanks to Ann for sharing her

Perfectly Sweet and Moist Corn Muffins

3 eggs

1/2 cup oil

3/4 cup sugar

2-3 Tbl. honey for extra sweetness, if desired (optional)

1 can creamed corn

1 1/2 cups flour

1/2 cup cornmeal

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350*. Combine dry ingredients in large bowl. In another bowl mix well eggs, oil, sugar and corn. Make a well in the dry ingredients and add wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Pour into prepared 9x11 pan or 18 lined cupcake cups. Bake for about 22 minutes.

Broiled Zucchini

Thinly slice zucchini and coat with olive oil. Broil one side, flip, sprinkle with salt and Parmesan cheese. Broil 'til golden brown.

Lemon Tea

Sorry, no recipe here, either. Just water, honey, lemon, and lemon zest.

Caramel Sauce

1 1/2 c sugar

1 c Karo syrup

1 1/2 cubes butter

1 1/2 c cream

2 tsp vanilla

Mix sugar and syrup and bring to boil. Gradually add butter and cream three times alternated. Stir to a softball stage (cook longer if you want caramels to wrap and eat as candy instead of caramel sauce). Add vanilla. Enjoy!

Ginger Snaps

1 c sugar

3/4 c shortening

1/4 c molasses

1 egg

2 c flour

1/4 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp cloves

1 tsp ginger

Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg and molasses. Sift dry ingredients and add. Roll balls into fresh ginger mixed with sugar. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet @ 375 for 8-15 min., depending on desired snappiness.

We served them warm with pumpkin ice cream sandwiched between two of them.

We like to freeze cookie dough logs wrapped in waxed paper and then sealed in a plastic bag for fresh cookies whenever needed :)

October Meeting at Christie's House

Christie hosted another great book club!  She made us wonderful food that was perfect for the rainy night that is was.  Fall is here!!

I loved this lemon tea! Just like Alice did!

Mmmm mmm good!  What I didn't get a picture of was the other dessert... ice cream sandwich cookies made with the best soft ginger cookies! Recipe please!!

We had a really great discussion about Early Onset Alzheimer's, a truly tragic disease.  I really enjoyed the comments from everyone and their perspectives.

My camera was acting (and still is) a little weird and the photos I took of everyone were overexposed.  I made them black and white so we don't all look like vampires! Sorry!

We missed those of you who weren't there and look forward to seeing you next month at Brenda's.  Don't forget we are meeting the second Thursday in November (the 11th) to review The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.

More Printable Book Plates

For these printable book plates go here.  I think they are beautiful!

Book Club!

Book Club is Thursday Night 7:00 at Christie's home. 

See you there!

Free Printable Bookplates

Aren't these book plates great!  I was reading one of my favorite blogs this morning and saw them.  Click here to go to the link where you can print them for free!

Book Club At Bethany's

Bethany was the perfect hostess who provided us with some tasty treats.  We had sparkling pink lemonade, Cesar salad, sweet crunch grapes and...

delicious chicken salad croissant sandwiches!

(They were so good I had to sneak in the kitchen and have seconds.)

Then to top it all off we had strawberry shortcake -- it was the best.  Bethany made the pound cake from scratch and it was PERFECT!  Bethany, I do hope that the recipe will be posted soon because I have a rumbly in my tummy for some more!

We had a great time!  Thanks Bethany for having us!

(Oh & I have to apologize for the photos this month they are all pretty blurry -- I am not sure what happened!)

Bethany & Mariana

Heidi & Kristie

Christie, Anne, Kara

Shannon & Brenda Sue

We can't wait to see everyone next month at Christie's to review Still Alice!!

Book Club Tomorrow Night!!

Book Club tomorrow night @ Bethany's!!

7:00 pm

Be there or be square!

(Bethany would you mind e-mailing your address?  Thanks!)