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Category Archives: Entertaining

New Year’s Eve Party DIY – Put Glitter On It!

Written on December 26, 2012 by SarahV

Image via Prairie Hive Magazine, Winter 2011

So, Christmas is over – it’s time to start thinking about New Year’s Eve! If hosting a party is in your plans, the go-to decor is metallics, black and white. For some easy New Year’s Eve Party DIY options, our philosophy is – Put Some Glitter On It! In last years Winter issue of Prairie Hive Magazine, we showed off our glitter style with DIY glitter orbs and metallic and glitter coated wood blocks for displaying food and drinks (see Lisa’s post HERE for a full how-to). For more ambitious crafters, the wood veneer and glittered orbs are absolutely stunning…find Roxanne’s step-by step HERE in Issue 4. For even more glitter goodness, check out today’s Great Day Green Country for a quick DIY votive project!

Image via Prairie Hive Magazine, Winter 2011

Cheers to a festive New Year’s! For the delicious food and drink recipes shown in our party, check out this post.

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DIY, Entertaining, Holiday, Prairie Hive Mag

Gluten-Free Desserts, or Getting Through the Holidays

Written on December 14, 2012 by Roxanne D

Having just left a party where I passed on both pizza and cookies, on the drive home, I dreamt of desserts I can eat.

So here’s a quick round-up of pins, saves and links I’ve emailed to myself over the past couple of months mostly of gluten-free desserts and sometimes little or no sugar too.

I must’ve known my sweet tooth could not go unsatisfied forever.

RD121412ChocolateMousse Gluten Free Desserts, or Getting Through the Holidays

Image from Real Simple by Kan Kanbayashi

Let’s start with the Chocolate Ricotta Mousse in Real Simple’s gluten-free dessert round up. While you’re there you should browse through the other 32 dessert options.

Next up, Spiced and Salted Pumpkin Pie Minis at My New Roots. Definitely stick around My New Roots for a bit, there’s plenty of unique, satisfying recipes to peak your interest.

RD121412PumpkinPie Gluten Free Desserts, or Getting Through the Holidays

Image from My New Roots

This is a good one to keep in your back pocket and when you’re craving warm chocolate chip cookies late at night, cinnamon baked apples might help curb it. Although, I think I’m still gonna have to do something about no more late-night chocolate chip cookie making, it’s kind of a tradition with the women in our family.

RD121412BakedApples Gluten Free Desserts, or Getting Through the Holidays

Image from Norcal

2 (to 4) Ingredient Fudge. Yum.

RD121412Fudge Gluten Free Desserts, or Getting Through the Holidays

Image from Heather Eats Almond Butter

We love watching Cook’s Country any time we can catch it and the America’s Test Kitchen book is the staple cookbook in our kitchen. While I can’t say we’ve ever followed a recipe fully, it’s always the best place to start. Consider it the new go-to newlywed kitchen gift.

These Buckeyes are another great weapon in your calm-the-cravings arsenal. You probably have the ingredients and they look pretty quick from start to finish. Maybe even faster than chocolate chip cookies!

RD121412Buckeyes Gluten Free Desserts, or Getting Through the Holidays

Image from Cook’s Country

I’ve never made coconut macaroons before, but these have jumped to the top of my list and I think might make a less expected contribution to any party you may attend.

Most of my picks have been about one thing – satisfying my own sweet tooth – but that doesn’t mean you can’t bring gluten-free for everyone to enjoy. I think these travel well and are great almost-one-bite desserts.

RD121412Macaroons Gluten Free Desserts, or Getting Through the Holidays

Image from Mark Bittman

I’ve had the ingredients to make these raw brownies for awhile now, but I keep eating the dates before I get around to making the cookies. Both the Raw Brownies and Raw Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies sound yum. Plus, no wheat or sugar! It’s a win-win.

RD121412RawCookies Gluten Free Desserts, or Getting Through the Holidays

Image from Triumph Wellness

Maybe some of these links will come in handy for New Year’s Resolutions too!

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Entertaining, Kitchen, Recipes Tags: food, kitchen, Recipe

Tips for a great Dirty Santa Gift Exchange

Written on December 6, 2012 by DawnT

One of my favorite activities during the holidays is gathering with friends and having a Dirty Santa (or White Elephant) gift exchange! And lucky for me, my first (of 3) of these types of parties of the season is this weekend. I love to see what gifts everyone comes up with for a lot of laughing is usually guaranteed. The group of friends at the party this coming weekend never ceases to amaze me with their creativity and cleverness of presents they bring!

If you have never played this type of gift exchange game or just need a little refresher course, I thought I’d share some of the rules, some tips I have found to not only be helpful, but quite necessary at times, and some fun gift ideas.

HOW TO PLAY:

1. Have everyone who wants to participate in the gift exchange bring a wrapped gift within the price range that is prior set by the hosts.

2. Display gifts so that everyone can inspect the available gifts to choose from.

3. Have participating guests draw a number from a bowl up to the number of people playing.

4. The person who drew #1 selects a wrapped gift and opens it. Be sure all players get to see what it is.

5. Person #2 gets to choose whether to steal #1′s opened gift or select a new wrapped gift to open.

6. If #2 steals the gift, then #1 has to open a new gift.

7. Next #3 plays. He gets to choose whether to steal an opened gift or select a new wrapped gift to open.

8. If he steals a gift, that person gets to choose whether to steal a different opened gift or select a new wrapped gift to open.

9. The player that gets a gift stolen from them gets to choose whether to steal another opened gift or select a new wrapped gift to open. (They may not steal back the gift that was immediately stolen from them, but may do so in a future round or if someone else has possession in between).

10. Play continues on in this manner, but once a gift is stolen a set amount of times it is then considered “frozen” and the last stealer wins that gift… until everyone has a gift.

HELPFUL TIPS:

1. Specify the type of gift exchange it will be. I’ve been to “new/good items” gift exchanges, something you find around your house trades, and even after-Christmas parties where you bring the least desirable gift you received for the holiday.

2. If going with new items, set a spending range. A minimum and maximum dollar amount are helpful. No one wants to end up with a QuikTrip pickle when they spent good money on a nice bottle of wine.

3. Set rules PRIOR to starting the game. Trust me. It can get pretty tense and ugly if you don’t specify if the gift is ‘frozen’ on the third possession or the third steal. Sounds like the same thing… it soooooo is not.

4. A twist on the basic rules is that if at the end of the game the #1 gift opener is still holding their original gift then he gets to have the last chance to steal or can decide to keep it. This way, if the first gift opened was less than desirable, they aren’t stuck with it and get the opportunity to swap it out with any other gift that is still “open” of their choice. (Again, establish whether or not this rule will be enforced prior to game time!)

5. Encourage stealing! If friends are too shy to steal a prize from another, and everyone ends up opening a new gift each turn, then the game will be over in a matter of minutes. The more stealing there is, the more fun is had!

GIFT IDEAS:

DET DSanta Tips for a great Dirty Santa Gift Exchange

1. I know “snuggies” may be overdone as gag gifts (and SUPER overdone as ‘real’ gifts), but who could resist a through-back to childhood with this Rainbow Brite Snuggler?? image via 80sTees.com

2. An original Nintendo NES game controller iPhone cover! image via Tick and Pick Etsy Shop

3. NinjaBread Men are way more fun to eat. These cookie cutters paired with some cookie dough is a definite hit. image via ThinkGeek

4. HandleBar mustache corkscrew, along with a nice bottle of wine, is definitely sure to be stolen! image via Fred Flare

5. And you can never go wrong with a pack or case of a favorite beverage, especially if it is dressed up for Christmas. image via Pinterest, original source unknown

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Entertaining, Gifts, Holiday Tags: Entertaining, gifts, holiday

Leaves of Fall

Written on November 20, 2012 by DawnT

The Fall leaves have changed color and many of them have drifted off their tree branches onto the ground. Soon all the trees will be bare and the pretty colors will cover our yards. But we don’t have to stop enjoying their beauty. There are many ways you can use the foliage in decor for your home. During your Thanksgiving weekend, why not send the kids out for a hunt for the prettiest leaves. It will keep them occupied while you cook and will give you plenty of options to choose for a little DIY project. Here are some pretty great ways to continue to enjoy the lovely colors of fall:

DET Leaf01 Leaves of Fall

image via Lowe’s

DET Leaf02 Leaves of Fall

image via Centsational Girl

DET Leaf03 Leaves of Fall

image via Divine Dinner Party

DET Leaf04 Leaves of Fall

image via Blomsterverkstad

DET Leaf05 Leaves of Fall

image via Clover Lane

DET Leaf06 Leaves of Fall image via Design*Sponge

DET Leaf07 Leaves of Fall

image via Martha Stewart

DET Leaf08 Leaves of Fall

image via Lorajean’s Magazine

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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DIY, Entertaining, Home Tags: decor, home

Written on November 14, 2012 by LisaW

This year for the Thanksgiving table setting, I really wanted to keep it easy and simple. Inviting and special, but not too contrived or staged. I also really wanted to use things that I already have around the house. There’s enough to spend money on this time of year, so I figure the last thing I need to buy is new table decor.

I already had a few vases around the house filled with the little yellow Billy Ball flowers, and seeing as how they’re so very popular, I decided to use them as my starting point. I gathered them up, bought a few more, and put them in little glass bottles and jars around the table. I found some glass jars in a similar yellow at Hobby Lobby so I grabbed those (when they were 1/2 off of course!) and filled them with daisies from the grocery store. A vase from Sideways also helped tie in the yellow and added some variety.

I had initially planned on using the succulents from my back porch that I’d brought in for the winter, but I saw artichokes at the store and thought they’d be the perfect addition to the table. They’re seasonal, a beautiful color and interesting shape. I just set them on the table and put a few in tin containers.

At each place, I set my usual white plates and white napkins. This time I used gray wooden chargers (also from Sideways) and chevron printed burlap ribbon (from Hobby Lobby). On top of the napkins I tied a couple of the flowers with twine onto a recipe card that I filled in with my mom’s pumpkin bread. Any of your favorite fall or Thanksgiving recipes would be a great take-home for each guest! The tablecloth is just yards of fabric from a craft store. It’s my favorite way to create a custom tablecloth.

In the end, it all came together quickly. Deciding on specific colors and type of decor (in this case rustic) make it easy to stay focused. I kept the colors minimal, because by the time you add the food and the people, there’s a lot going on. Remember that it’s OK for things to get moved around. There needs to be room for the most important thing – the food!

Happy Decorating and Happy Thanksgiving!!

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Entertaining, Lisa W.

Games and Fun for Family Holiday Gatherings

Written on November 2, 2012 by Roxanne D

Does anyone else look forward to that slow moment after the main festivities have taken place during holiday gatherings when you can grab a game and make fun memories? With Thanksgiving just around the corner, be sure to have a few of these up your sleeve. Tried and true along with kid-tested, here are the winners from a family and friends poll I conducted.

Some of these board games are my favorites too. Anyone think a Clue-themed party in full costume sounds exciting? The middle one is “To Bethlehem” a wholesome, historical and little bit of educational fun too.

From trivia to all-out hilarity, most of these can be enjoyed by young and old alike.
RD110212Board Games Games and Fun for Family Holiday Gatherings
I have many fond memories of Uno and SkipBo in the dining room and on my parent’s bedroom floor (I think we played back there waiting for our Nintendo turn on their TV). Later, during band years, I got hooked on Spades (check out the rules here). If you’ve got some numbers at a family gathering, you can have a whole Spades tournament. Lots of fun!
Check out these easy to tote with you games for a quick party pick up while visiting family for the holidays.
RD110212Card Games Games and Fun for Family Holiday Gatherings Let me know, do you have any that your family turns to year after year? I’m just starting my own game collection and would love some that stand the test of time.

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Entertaining, Holiday Tags: Entertaining, holiday, things to do

Halloween Spice Cake Cookies

Written on October 29, 2012 by Kim A

I’m a sucker for all things Halloween — especially for the sweets and cookies. And October also happens to be National Cookie Month, so that spells double trouble for me!

For a few weeks now, I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for a new Halloween cookie recipe to make this month. But due to a home project that got bumped up two weeks, time became a major issue this weekend.

So I had to think fast and improvise. I ran to the grocery store and walked around the baking aisle when I saw a row of boxed cake mixes on sale. I remembered that my mother also makes the best cake mix cookies each Christmas, so I grabbed a box of spice cake mix, a can of pumpkin and a can of pre-made cream cheese frosting.

The recipe, for Pumpkin Spice Cookies did just the trick. It was the easiest and most impressive 30-minute cookie recipe I’ve made in ages. Simply add a can of pumpkin puree to the dry cake mix, and combine. Then add walnuts, bake and frost with cream cheese icing. I was surprised they were so moist and fluffy!

So with Halloween in two days, and kiddos running every which direction this week, the good news is you still have time to make wonderful treats that will work for Halloween or Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin Spice Cookies

1 (18.25 ounce) package spice cake mix

1 (15 ounce) can solid pack pumpkin

1 can cream cheese frosting

1/3 cup walnut pieces (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets.

2. In a large bowl, stir together the cake mix and pumpkin until well blended. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.

3. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Happy Halloween!

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Design, Entertaining, Holiday, Home, Kitchen, Recipes Tags: home, Kim A., kitchen, Recipe

Beetlejuice House: Media Muse

Written on October 25, 2012 by SarahV

beetlejuice movie poster 1988 1020190958 Beetlejuice House: Media Muse

Image via IMDB

With Halloween getting nearer, I was in the mood for a spookier “Media Muse” this time around. But not too spooky. Beetlejuice was always one of my favorite movies as a kid, and I think it might have had something to do with the great house it took place in (they say your career preferences start early, right?!?). During the movie, you see the house go from this (while Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis are alive):

bj1 Beetlejuice House: Media Muse

Image via Hooked on Houses

(great site for movie + design fanatics!)

To this:

bj2 Beetlejuice House: Media Muse

bj3 Beetlejuice House: Media Muse

And I had forgotten the deck! So horribly fantastic!

As I took a trip down memory lane (I’m on a serious mission to find time to watch this whole movie again soon!), I couldn’t get this dinner party out of my head. What a great non-pumpkin-ey way to celebrate Halloween. Enjoy!

bj4 Beetlejuice House: Media Muse

All images via Hooked on Houses

SVMMBeetlejuice Beetlejuice House: Media Muse

1. Black Random Light, YLiving; 2. SOFIA fabric, IKEA; 3. A Ghastlie Angle in Smoke by Alexander Henry, Owl & Drum; 4. Sweep Dinnerware, CB2; 5.Villeroy & Boch Crystal – Cascara, myTableware.com ;6. POTT Anello Amuse Bouche Set, AllModern; 7. Oenophilia Marble Cheese Board, Amazon.com; 8. Alessi Zlin Flatware set, Alessi; 9. Bone Pillar Holders, Pottery Barn; 10. Ripple Dining Table, Hawley Design Furnishings; 11. Global Furniture BLU Dining Chair, Amazon.com

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Design, Entertaining, Holiday, Media Muse Tags: autumn, Entertaining, media muse

Summer Wedding Reception – Keeping it Cool

Written on October 19, 2012 by Roxanne D

I think the most important things to us for celebrating our marriage are gathering with family and friends. Due to that, we ended up with a reception date of August 4th this summer.

You might not guess by looking at these photos that it seemed almost impossible to make this party happen.

On August 4th in Oklahoma this year, we had just endured weeks of above 110-degree days, months of no rain and burn bans. And that night, massive wild fires were burning down homes and towns just to the southwest of downtown. As I drove to our friend’s house where the reception took place, ash was falling out of the grey-green sky and the sun was starting to set. It was 104 degrees. By the time the night was ending, we’d endured the first wind and rain storm we’d had since early June, but somehow, we still had a beautiful celebration. Thank you family and friends.

RD101912reception Summer Wedding Reception Keeping it Cool

Photography by Ruby Jewel Studio

The colors for the party were easily chosen since I had already decided on a saturated blue-turquoise. I told Jeff to pick a color and he chose green, so I added a lime green and a kelly green. I thought it worked perfectly with our reception site, the urban backyard pool area of our friend’s home. The cool blue water and fun green umbrellas tied right in. They also have wonderful textures in a galvanized garage and slatted fence, the wood fence in back, and original brick of the once-factory building.

RD101912flowers Summer Wedding Reception Keeping it Cool

Photography by Ruby Jewel Studio

The bar top tables had a simple grey cloth and quick, easy flower centerpieces. Thanks to a good friend who collected green water bottles for me all summer and my sister who picked up fun blooms from a local store the day before.

The fans were great for texture, natural color and keeping guests cool on a hot night. Unfortunately they didn’t make the fun favors I dreamed of so I still have a box full of them. You might see them in an art installation later this year. Oh, who am I kidding, it’ll definitely take until next year for me to tackle that project.

RD101912terrariums Summer Wedding Reception Keeping it Cool

Photography by Ruby Jewel Studio

I’ve loved succulents since high school. My mom would always have hens and chicks in her garden. They are quite the trend these days, but I’ll probably continue to love them even when they go back out of style. I’ve planted lots of them in every garden I’ve ever had.

So I decided terrariums were the way to go. I kept it really simple and used what I could find at our local stores. To add a little interest and nod to our sparkling personalities, I gold leafed a free-hand stripe around the middle size. The large terrarium got a miniature Christmas ornament to stand in for a garden gazing ball.

RD101912terrariums2 Summer Wedding Reception Keeping it Cool

Photography by Ruby Jewel Studio

For the large round top tables I used the same grey neutral with a rustic square of burlap (Thanks Lisa!) and just scattered more fans around. I like using tone on tone to create textures. I didn’t want the tables to garner lots of attention because I think happy, friendly faces at weddings are always so much more interesting.

RD101912umbrellas Summer Wedding Reception Keeping it Cool

Photography by Ruby Jewel Studio

I had the bright idea that people might want to carry some paper parasols to shield themselves from the setting, but intense August sun. I still think it was a great idea and can just picture my Grandmother proudly twirling hers. With the firey sky and the party moving inside, I used them as props on the floor and to create a backdrop on the drink tables.

RD101912R&J Summer Wedding Reception Keeping it Cool

Photography by Ruby Jewel Studio

My dress was made for my mother-in-law by her mother, Mommo. It matches the aquamarine in my engagement ring perfectly. It has a lace overlay. It fit just right, no alterations. It was better than all the vintage dresses I found online. My mom and I made my sash. Worn also with my wedding ceremony dress, it tied my events together just right.

The celebration was beautiful. And emotionally moving. And fun. But nothing lives up to waking up next to your best friend every day for the last six years. Here’s to the next 60!

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DIY, Entertaining, Events Tags: decor, DIY, Entertaining

Party Time!

Written on October 9, 2012 by LisaW

And so last weekend it was time for yet another birthday at our house. Our little guy was turning 5! And as it seems to go for the poor third child, he had never had a real birthday party. So this was the year. And we decided to have a big backyard birthday party like we used to do before, well, before we had three kids! We love having our kids’ friends AND their families over, so we were excited to do it again. It’s such a good opportunity to see friends we don’t get to see as much as we’d like and it’s a great way to meet our kids’ new friends and parents. So as it goes, our party of a few of his closest friends and family turned into a party of 50!

I’m not complaining – it was great fun. But the elaborate party set-up I envisioned had to be edited a little bit as there were many other things to get done. Luckily, the entertainment was taken care of. He really wanted a “bouncy house” (that’s what he calls large inflatables), so between that and just playing in the backyard, the kids were pooped by the end.

Instead of trying to come up with a birthday party theme, I decided to just go with “birthday” as inspiration for my set-up. I wanted to make everyone a party hat, but as my time became limited, I decided to just make hats as a centerpiece and use hats from the store for the kids.

All of my hats turned out differently. I just decided to try a different design on each one. The hat above though, was my favorite. To get started, I made a cone out of a half-circle cut out of cardboard. I did not do any precise measuring, so it took a little tweaking until it was the size I wanted and it was even. To make the cone, just roll up the half circle until it’s the size you want at the bottom and then attach (I stapled mine). To make the tissue pom pom on the top, I cut tissue at a few different lengths and stapled them to the inside where the cone would come together. For the outside, I glued craft paper onto the cardboard and then for kicks I glittered around the lines. I figure a little glitter can never hurt! At the bottom, I glued three different layers of tissue around the inside starting with the shortest pieces and then finishing with a layer of the longest pieces, alternating colors on each layer.

Because I was just using plain pre-made hats that I found at Party City, I decided to embellish them a little by glueing pom pons (from Hobby Lobby) to the top. The extra pom pons were scattered around the table for color and interest and the kids loved playing with them. The fabric for the table cloth came from one of my favorite new stores in Tulsa, Owl and Drum. They have a fantastic selection of fabrics, crafts and hand-made gifts! The fun orange napkins came from The Inviting Place and the plates are from Target.

And finally, each child took home a little bag with orange and blue rock candy that I found at Sweet Tooth. Almost every kid loves rock candy and it comes in so many fun colors – such an easy way to tie in your party colors AND send home something they’ll like!

Overall it was a fun party! The set-up was easy, but it was fun and festive – just what it needed to be. Because really, five year olds don’t care about the decorations and although it’s fun to make it look great for your guests, there’s still food to cook and a house to clean, so it’s got to be realistic!

Happy Partying!

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Entertaining, Kids, Lisa W.