Dear Santa,

During these hard times I've tried not to ask for much but there is one thing that has come to mind. During our last vacation, our dear camera passed away in Costa Rica. While it served us well, It just couldn't handle our crazy life style.

On it's final breath, it gave us all 600 photos it took but now, it's sleeps with the fishies.

So, hoping I was good enough to receive anything, could you please tell your elves in the tech dept to make one for me? All I ask is that it's over 8mp and easy to work on the fly.

I'll be leaving you pizzelles and almond dulces with a cup of FF milk by the fireplace.

Love,

little miss planner

Looking for inspirations...

Back in the day, I used to do a weekly inspirations post about centerpieces. Well, now that we are gearing up for Christmas, I need to make two centerpieces. Here I found some love inspirations for our table:


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or how bout a few of these:

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Which ones do you like the best?

A Simple Christmas Dinner

This is my first official holiday meal I'm cooking and as always I need to start planning now. I only have around 9-12 people over for dinner but want to make sure I have everything!

For the Main course: I'm doing Ham, not sure to do honey ham, pork loin roast, something along the lines. I'm not a ham cook since I barely even started to learn how just in the past 6 months.

Now side dishes: Green Bean Casserole (not a fan but my family is), and mashed potatoes. Maybe gravy...and dinner rolls.

Salads: Waldorf Salad (or just a simple salad)

Appetizers: Spinach Dip

Desserts: Cookies and hot chocolate. Maybe some eggnog.

Recipe help: Here and Here and Here

Now that I have an idea of what to do for food, onto decorations for the table and the rest of the house!!!

Tonight!!!

OMG... tonight is my little bbq! There's only a few things left to do since we got some much covered in the last few days.

Done:
pulled pork for the sandwiches
cupcakes and eyeball cookies
carved watermelon
carved pumpkins
food trays completed
caramel apples
house clean
spiderweb pizza created
snack trays completed


left to do
cut up the break and toast it
finish bbq meatless meatballs
heat up pulled pork
boil corn on the cob
stop at store and buy salad and corn on the cob
make punch

i'm soooo excited!!!

i'll try to post photos this weekend to show all the hard work!!! :)

I MUST make this!!!

Melon Brains


yes, that is a watermelon! looks soo easy to do too!

Obsession...

I'm obsessed with halloween. Everyday I'm doing some little crafty project, first I created neat jack-o-lanterns and placed them on a stick to line the pathway to the front door, next were the black bats that are on our front window. Then the spiderwebs... OH THE SPIDERWEBS. IF it ain't moving, you better believe it's be covered with spiderwebs. There are Candles all over the place, pumpkins in every corner and gravestones and skulls scattered inside and outside of the house.

The hubby's favorite thing he wanted this year was a fogger so we got him a standard one at Target. Now, with all this obsession, I realized it might not be the best to blast every little princess or power ranger that come traipsing down our pathway, so tonight I will be building a fog chiller. By going to local hardware store, I also get the opportunity to pick up some more pumpkins... what can i say... I'm addicted to all things Halloween!!

How creepy and cute are these?

I think I might just have to make these CUPCAKES for my little shin-dig! :)
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Squash Carving!

Legend has it that the luckless souls who hear the Three Squashes' song of woe shall vanish into the nearest vegetable patch, never to be seen or heard from again. Since narrow squashes are easier to hollow out if you work from both ends, these guys had the tops of their heads cut off.


Carving a Squash
1. To hollow out a tall, skinny squash, scoop out the insides from the top and the bottom: Cut off the bottom with a keyhole saw, and use a plaster scraper to scoop out the wide bottom section until walls are 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.

2. Cut off the top with the keyhole saw, and use an apple corer to remove the insides at that end. Carve features; replace the top for display, if desired.

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I think this will be super cute to do! I think I might have to break in my new tools to make these little guys!

Pumpkin Guts and BBQ...

T-minus 40 days till my favorite holiday and to celebrate, the hubby and I are planning a pumpkin carving BBQ. We'll grill up some meat and veggies and serve some scary fun drinks. Not to mention so really fun desserts! Because I LOVE throwing parties I know you can't be too prepared. So without further ado... My latest holiday investments for this fabulous soiree:


Pumpkin Masters Power Poker and Saw

and


Pumpkin Masters Family Carving Kit

I got two of each so multiple people can work at the same time. I just love how they are power tools for carving now. Talk about the Massive Turnaround time!

Now all I need are a few more patterns to print out if inspiration is lacking in some.

Next up... cocktails and the dinner menu! :)

56 days til the most magical night of the year...

Halloween!!!

This year we'll finally be home and in a house! HOORAY! I'm already starting to plan decorations for the front lawn and what we're going to be when we give out candy! We even are going to throw a Pumpkin Carving BBQ the night before so we can get completely in the spirit of it all!

So, what are you doing this year for this festive holiday?

Happy Valentine's day!

To you!

Wishing you a very good and heart felt valentine's day! Whether you are together or single, remember you are loved by someone!




xoxoxo

--Little miss Planner

:)

Ringing in the New Year...

NYE-NYC-Times Square 07/08

Decorating for an evening outdoor wedding!

Outdoor receptions can be soo magical! With the little touches of light here and there, it just makes the place sparkle and feel soo romantic!

When we looked at a venue for our reception, we saw this estate where the dancefloor would be nestled under two huge oak trees! If we had it there, I would have loved to hang something from them. Something like this:

Directions:
Tools and Materials
Drill with 1/8-inch drill bit

18- to 36-inch lengths of 3/4-by-1/4-inch wooden lattice strips

50- and 100-bulb strands of green wire mini lights (use 50-bulb strands for short icicles, 100-bulb strands for long ones)

Black all-weather electrical tape
Monofilament

Icicles How-To
1. Drill 1/8-inch hole at top of wooden lattice strip.

2. Tightly wrap lights around strip, starting a few inches from prong end and being careful not to let bulbs touch. Tape to secure at top and bottom of strip.

3. Loop monofilament through hole to hang.

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New Traditions

Last night, the hubby and I decided to make a gingerbread house. Okay, not really make one, we bought a premade one and just put it back together. We quickly found out WE ARE NOT master gingerbread house decorators! We did have a good time and will make this a tradition!



I added the border to hide our mistakes! While we aren't the best at it, it was fun! I think all those Food Network Challenges got me thinking I could soo do that... well, from this little experiment, I know that isn't the case!

What fun holiday traditions do you have or think you'll start with your S.O.?

19 days til Christmas?

While most people are just starting their holiday shopping, we finished ours, put up our (real) tree, decorated the house with lights (in 90 degree weather...don't hate me!), and even bought all the goods for my "DAY 'O BAKING" that happens a week before Christmas.

Talk about being on top of it all! I even am 75% done with my cards to send out for card swap I joined over at Bklyn Bride. I think this weekend we are going to wrap up presents so we can just be done and enjoy the rest of the holiday season!

I love the holidays and I'm really excited about this one since it's our first year married and in our new house. What's your favorite part of the holidays?

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