Out and About

Hi Everyone!

Hope you are having
a SPECTACULAR weekend.
We are having some
super weather today--
low 80's!

Tonight we are off to
the theatre!

We are lucky to have
an outdoor theatre as
part of one of our parks.

Tonight's production is
9-5. It should be a HOOT!
We are packing a picnic
dinner and lawn chairs
for our evening outing.
Oh yea, and the bug spray-
just in case.

Have a great evening
whatever you do!


~Keep on Dreaming~



image: Google

Mini Fun

These were in our local
grocery ad.
What fun are they?

I believe these would
be called:
Mini Mexican Layer
Dip Cups

You could also do layer
fruit cups with fruit,
pound cake and whipped
cream. (raspberries and
blueberries would be
good for the upcoming
holiday)

How easy it would be
for your party guests
to carry these around
and not worry about
spillage.

For future parties--scour
garage sales for small cups
like these or other small
cups to use. I think the
more mismatched
the better.


~Keep on Dreaming~

Red, White and Blue

If you are like me (and
your brain is not working)
it dawned on you earlier
THIS evening THAT the
4th holiday is a mere week
and two days away!!!!

Lucky for all of us that I
saw this take on the "Flag
Cake" in the current Family
Circle Magazine.

Fourth of July Kabobs

38  Raspberries
31  Mini-Marshmallows
20  Blueberries
12  10 inch Wooden
Sticks

Thread 4 blueberries,
2 mini-marshmallows
and 2 raspberries on 5
of the wooden sticks.
On the remaining 7
sticks, thread 4
raspberries and marsh-
mallows.

Have fun!

**Please refer to the
picture for placement.


~Keep on Dreaming~

Simply Easy

Strawberry

Shortcake

Cupcakes

Using a yellow cake
mix, make the cupcakes
as directed on the box.

Cut cooled cupcakes in
half crosswise. Top with
1 Tbsp. of strawberry jam
and 1-2 Tbsp. of  fresh or
canned whipped cream.
Repeat layers.
Garnish with a strawberry
and serve right away.

**For those wanting
"sugar free" cupcakes,
buy a sugar free cake
mix and strawberry jam.
Use light whipped topping.

Enjoy!!!!


image: Google

Recipe: All You Magazine



~Keep on Dreaming~

It's Party Week!-- 4 and 5

I am combining a couple
of days and finishing
with Party Decor.

Some of the fun things
I have seen in magazines
lately are:

Painted cork circles:
Use painter's tape for
straight lines. Paint
around circle stickers
for dots.
You could paint 1/2 or
1/4 of the circle and
leave the rest bare.
See: blogger Sarah
Khandjian's blog
sarahhearts.com for
more.

Balloons:
Put some polka dots on
your party balloons.
Make red ones look like
watermelons with black
dots.

For a different take on
4th of July decor---Tori
Spelling created a nautical
table scape. Redbook-July
'13.
Items used:
Gold Chargers
White Plates with anchors
on them
Blue Glasses
Red napkins stamped with
a blue anchor and tied with
rope
Rope patterned blue fabric-
she turned this into the
table runner
She turned inexpensive glass
vases into rope covered vases
by wrapping it with rope top
to bottom,using  craft glue
as she went.
Red Flowers
Seashells and a flea market
whale

Drink sleeves
Keep hands dry and never
loose track of your coaster;
wrap a cocktail napkin around
the bottom each glass and secure
with a colorful rubber band.
I think it would be fun to have
several different prints to choose
from and then your guests can pick
a napkin for their glass. Kind of 
like a glass charm.

Utensil Bundles
Fold waxed paper or parchment
into pockets and tie with
colorful floss for easy to
grab packets.

Enjoy your Summer parties!


~Keep on Dreaming~

It's Party Week ! --3

Today we are going to talk
about "Theme Parties."
Holiday parties could be
included here.
Info from Good House-
keeping.

Baby Showers:

Decorations-
Traditional--Pinks and Blues
Nontraditional--Yellows and
Greens

Food-
Cake, punch and mints 
all the way to a sit down
meal.

Gifts and games-
The mother-to be can open
all the gifts at one time or
gift opening could be spaced
out over the scheduled party
time.
**Make sure someone makes
a list of gifts and the gift givers.

Games-To play or not to play?

Guests-
All females or coed

Other themes:

Best Friend Brunch, Ladies Lunch
or Alfresco Cocktails

Decorations-
Coordinating tableware for
specific theme
Flower Centerpieces
Paper Umbrellas
Fill Lanterns with light
strings for an evening party

Food-
Donut Tower, Pretty Layer Cake
or Ice Pop floats. Place "nibbles"in
paper cones for easy handling.

~Keep on Dreaming~

It's Party Week ! --2

Yesterday we covered the
"How Much" part of the party.
Today we will focus on the
"PREP ER RATION"(my
spelling) part of the party.
PS--This post is long BUT
there are a lot of great ideas
here!!

These are suggestions for
"The Hostess With THE
Mostest"--which is all of us,
RIGHT!!! Better Homes and
Gardens helped with these.

For the WEEK before your
SHINDIG.

1-Plan it easy.
*Time it right--schedule parties
for Friday nights and early after-
noon on Sundays.
 *Work party prep into your week.
This will help you relax on THE
BIG DAY.

2-Make a menu.
*Come up with three simple summer
menus and drinks to go with them.
*Make it an almost Potluck:
Sharing the food load is fine. Most
want to help out and even expect to
bring something. If they ask, have
them bring a watermelon, fresh bread
or ice cream. Something easy is always
nice. I feel the exception to this is if
you are having a large group or family.
ie: holiday dinner. We always share the
load on these occasions.
*Make as much ahead of time-double
check your fridge space.
*Is your cooler clean? How about
your grill? If not, get those cleaned
up.

3-Make a list of things needed.
Remember yesterday's list of
how many plates and cups are
used by your guests.
*Pick up those items needed as
you are out and about OR stock
up during the year so you don't
have to run around finding stuff.
A suggested site for supplies is:
uline.com
*Invest in one entertaining upgrade
each year-start with a dozen cloth
napkins. Cuts paper waste too.
*Purchase a bolt of burlap-cut to
fit table coverings, runners, draping
etc.
*Something I do that I found helps
A LOT is to LABEL platters, bowls,
plates etc. so I know what goes on
each item.
*Check out T.J. Maxx, Home Goods
places like that for all sorts of
unusual serving items.

4-Clean in and out.
*Decide where your party
will be held and clean accordingly.
*Clean a little each day.
*Always make sure your bathroom
is ready to go.

Inside-
*Clean and straighten the rooms
you will be using-clear that clutter.
*Food prep ahead of time will keep
the kitchen tidy also.

Outside-
*Mow the yard, pick up sticks, sweep
the drive, sidewalk, patio or deck.
*Pick up any trash that the trash man
left. :)
*Make sure you have enough seating
or have your guests bring chairs with
 them.
*Use retro style lanterns-they come
in lots of colors and use oil so they
won't blow out if there is a breeze.
*Safety first--look around your area
and check that there is nothing a
child can hurt themselves with.
I say this because my 2 1/2 year
old  great niece finds birdbaths
quite interesting!!! :)

5-Choose your music.
*Create three summer playlists:
Brunch
Lunch
Dinner
Light, upbeat and fun.

6-Party Day.
*I always choose a time to have
everything completed so that I
can get put together without
rushing around.
*Start early in the day getting
things set up.
*Finish food prep, season meat,
chop any veggies needed.
*Have at least one appetizer
ready for guests to nibble on.
This will help if things are running
behind.
*Greet your guest with a smile.
*Have on hand-sunscreen, bug
spray, smores ingredients and
blankets or sweaters IF the
evening is cool.
*Set up a "sanitation station." Pick an
out of way spot and set up a trash can
and some buckets with soapy water so
any dishes or serving items can soak
overnight.

The BIGGEST tip is:
RELAX and HAVE FUN!!!!!!

~Keep on Dreaming~

It's Party Week !

Today we are going to
start with some party
tips from our friends at
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING.
Great things to keep in
mind as we plan our
summer shindigs.

They call these the "Who knew?"
party tips.

2: How many HOT DOGS 
you can expect a guest to eat.

1/2: Bottles of WINE needed
per person.

68: Number of TUNES to put
in your ipod for a four hour
party.

3/4 cup: Amount of ICE CREAM
to scoop per serving.

4: Disposable CUPS used per
person.

20 % : The percentage of INVITEES
you can expect to RSVP "no."

10 square feet: The area of
protection you'll get for a bug
 repelling CANDLE. 

2: Paper PLATES required for
each guest.

~Keep on Dreaming~

We Survived!

We did it!

The garage sale of 2013
is over! YEA!!!

We tired to be as organized
as possible. Like things were
grouped together and EVERYTHING
had a price on it.

For the majority of the day
we had a nice cloud cover
but by mid afternoon the sun
came blazing out.
Later in the day a SEVERE
THUNDERSTORM came raging
through and we were closed
down.
No pics sorry, we were running
around getting everything in the
garage before the wind blew and
the rain began to fall in sheets!!

All in all we made a nice
amount, we both have some
"play money" for fun stuff 
and several things have a
new home. The leftovers will
be donated once we get it all
organized after the storm chaos.
WHEW!


~Keep on Dreaming~

A Special Sunday

Happy Father's Day Dad!

Now you see where Mr.
Ken gets his orneriness
from.

Thanks for being our Pops!!

Have a wonderful Father's Day!

~Keep on Dreaming~

This Is It!

Happy Friday EVERYONE!

Here we are, on the downhill
slide to the big day! Tomorrow is IT.
GARAGE SALE DAY!

The "loot" is priced, set up will take
place this evening and everything WILL
go out on the driveway in the morning.
We plan to open early to beat the
heat of the day in the late afternoon.

We have over 100 items for our sale
and hopefully a good majority will
sell and the rest will be donated to
our local thrift store.

Wishing you an enjoyable weekend!

Stay tuned ALL next week, I will be
doing a Summer Party Series.
Fun, Fun, Fun.

~Keep on Dreaming~