Christmas Inspiration

I'm getting SO excited about decorating for the holidays. It is FOR SURE my favorite time of year. I love the colors, smells, the old stuff mixed with the new. It truly makes me smile to walk in and see my tree all lit up. I LOVE to look at the ornaments and remember who gave it to me and the story behind it.

So, here are some pictures of cottage~ey Christmas decor that has totally gotten me in the holiday spirit.

My trees will go up next weekend...yes, just in time for everyone to enjoy during THANKSGIVING meal! GET EXCITED.

Thanksgiving Food

So, since I've got a house big enough for more than 2 people (all my other places have been tiny) I've been asked to host Thanksgiving. I'm contemplating the menu and what dishes 'm going to assign to each family member.


My family always has turkey and my nana always makes the same traditional cornbread dressing (it's SO good). But we add new sides & we switch up the turkey too. Several years in a row we deep fried the turkey, one year when Angie was about to give birth at any moment, we did a smaller meal and just had a turkey breast, but usually we just cook the turkey traditional way in the oven. Last year BRINED turkeys were all the rage and I was disappointed that we didn't do it too. But this year I'm buying into the hype and gonna do it!


So, my question is do you have a traditional meal with the same dishes year after year, or do you branch out and try new things?

Cooking Term--Rillettes

Rillettes is a preparation of meat similar to pâté. Originally made with pork, the meat is cubed or chopped, salted heavily and cooked slowly in fat until it is tender enough to be easily shredded, and then cooled with enough of the fat to form a paste. They are normally used as spread on bread or toast and served at room temperature.

OCC Shoebox Party!

The Shoebox party was very fun and a BIG success. I had in my head a goal of 40 boxes. Not sure where I got that number, but it's just what popped in my head. I had 10 people committed to doing boxes, so the 40 boxes was going to be hard....and last minute a few people didn't come, which made the goal seem REAL lofty. But I'm please to say that I turned in 36 boxes!

People had donated little toys & trinkets during the year, so I set up a table with toys & candy for everyone to use.

Some of the goodies!

Here are some of the precious faces of kids that have received boxes in years past.

Organized Angie set out all her stuff into piles to make the box stuffing easier.

Landry was SUCH a big help. Mammie kept giving her stuff, but Landry was willing to give all the stuff to the little kids that don't have "anyfing"

The girls in action: Holly, Dee, Sarah, Sharron, Angie & Landry.

Angie & Landry's boxes

Some more finished products

The completed stack, all 36 of them. Thanks again for all that participated!

The Power of a Simple Gift

Halloween Party

I'm not a huge fan of Halloween, but I went to a really fun party Saturday night!


John goes ALL out with the decorations, check out all this cool stuff!

These pumpkins were hooked up to music and their jac-o-lantern faces lite up to the beat of the music.


He hooked up a huge movie screen & played movies all night.

Pam and her precious bunny!

John was mad that I wasn't in costume....duh, I have on a black boa!
Dr. Billy won for best costume! He did that makeup all by himself.
John's costume was great too. He was going for Dave Navarro, but someone else said Adam Lambert, hahaha!

Cooking Term--1 or 2 bites!

There are many words to describe the opening course; Spanish= Tapas, America= Appetizer, French= HorsD'oeuvre

Tapas: Popular throughout Spain in bars and restaurants, tapas are appetizers that usually accompany SHERRY or other COCKTAILS.

Appetizer: Any small, bite-size food served before a meal to whet and excite the palate. Used synonymously with the term HORS D'OEUVRE, though this term more aptly describes finger food, whereas appetizer can also apply to a first course served at table.
Hors D’oeuvre: Small savory appetizers served before the meal, customarily with COCKTAILS. They are usually one- or two-bite size and can be cold or hot.

Candyland Trunk or Treat TONIGHT!

Fall Festival CANDYLAND Trunk or Treat

FREE: Bounce Houses, Cookie Walk, Games, Photos in Cinderella's Carriage & Lots of candy

Concessions, Silent Auction

Wednesday, October 28th 5:30pm-7:30pm

First Baptist Church Rockwall Parking Lot

Stop by the church parking lot for a guaranteed night of fun, bring your friends too!