Dinner With The Girls-Tablescape Thursday

     It is Tablescape Thursday, my favorite blog event. Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch is our charming hostess. You really should take a moment to visit her. She always has something wonderful to share with us. She also will link you to many other beautiful tables.

     I wasn't sure what kind of table I would set this week. January is a bit difficult. I wasn't ready to think about Valentine's Day and I really didn't want anything elaborate. I decided it would be a great time to pull out the darling dessert plates that I won from my blog friend Barbara @ Purple Goat Lady and set a simple dinner table for girlfriends.

After a bit of experimenting, I decided I liked

the black round placemats with the dessert plates.

I used my everyday Wal-Mart white dinner plates, 

everyday flatware, vintage napkins that belonged

 to my mother and antique wine glasses.

I grabbed a sparkly scarf out of my closet,

draped it across the table to add a bit of glam.

The silver mercury glass balls were an after

Christmas purchase at Crate and Barrel.

I fell in love with them.

The pewter angel was a gift from my sister years ago.

The glittered starfish were a quick project I did in Florida.

A trio of starfish, a bit of Martha Stewart glitter and

I had a hint of sparkle for my coffee table.

The candle sits on a silver holder with a dusting of snow.

Of course everything looks better by candlelight.

Come on over, have a glass of wine. I've fixed a simple

supper and of course chocolate for dessert.

The $5 (or less) Cure for the Winter Blahs

     I am one of those people who doesn't "do winter" well. I don't like feeling shut inside, I don't like driving on slick roads and I really don't like that it gets dark so early. Do I have Seasonal Affective Disorder...I don't know. I have enough problems without giving myself that label! I have found that the past 3 winters have been a little better for me and I truly believe the reason is that I spend 2 weeks in Florida in December, where the flowers are still blooming, the grass is green and the sun shines.

     I discovered several years ago that a simple $5 or less expenditure really helps my mood. I know that many of us are budgeting this time of year. We don't feel as if we should "treat" ourselves to much of anything. I promise you that this is worth it. Give up that latte, that extra magazine or bag of Oreos and grab one of those bouquets from the grocery store. Our Wal-mart has them starting at $3.98, even less if you happen to hit the half-price sale. It doesn't matter what kind of flowers they are, just bring them home, snip off the ends and put them in water.

     We have been having sub-zero temps and snow around here. Friday night I found these gorgeous tulips at Wal-Mart for $5. They weren't white, but they weren't exactly pink either. Tulips are my favorite flower and with just a moment's hesitation, I put them in my cart. When I woke up Saturday morning, I'd forgotten about the flowers. When I walked into the living room, the first thing to catch my eye was the vase on the kitchen counter...I started my day with a smile. There is something about that touch of life in the house when the temperature is -10 that gives me hope that spring is coming, eventually. I call it flower therapy and I swear it works. Here it is Tuesday morning and they still look beautiful. What a deal for $5.

If You Ever Get A Chance...See This!

     We have spent Christmas in Orlando the past 3 years. Some things that were very exciting the first time, or the second...have lost a bit of their luster for us. One thing that hasn't, is our trip to see the Osborne Lights at Disney's Hollywood Studios. The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is something that is truly difficult to describe. My pictures can't begin to show you what it feels like to be standing among all that color. Every 15 minutes or so, the lights all dim and holiday music will start to play. The lights will "dance" to the music, flashing on and off to the beat. Several times a night it will "snow" and no matter what the temperature, with the "snow" coming down, the music playing and the lights all around you...you know it is Christmas.

     The Osborne Lights began in Arkansas in 1986, when Jennings Osborne decorated his home with 1000 red lights at the request of his 6-year-old daughter. Each year his display got larger and brighter. By 1993 there were over 3 million lights and people came from miles around to see the display. Sadly, his neighbors didn't appreciate the thousands of people that swarmed their neighborhood and took Osborne to court over the issue. Disney World took over the lights in 1995 and the display has continued to grow and now has 5 million lights. I think the pictures will speak for themselves. Enjoy!

Simple Salad Dressing-Foodie Friday

     Thousand Island Dressing is my husband's favorite. Have you ever tasted that stuff from the store? Ick. When I was given this recipe a few years ago I was a bit surprised at what was in Thousand Island, but I made a batch anyway. It is so good. I don't usually eat this kind of dressing (except on Reuben sandwiches) but I love this. You can make it in just a few minutes and you will never want that bottled stuff again.

Ingredients:

1 cup real mayonnaise

1/3 cup ketchup

1/4 cup sweet pickle relish

1 chopped hard-boiled egg

    It all goes into a bowl, and you gently stir. That's it! Use it on salads or sandwiches. Enjoy! I am joining our hostess Michael @ Designs by Gollum for Foodie Friday. Please visit her and check out all the delicious recipes you will find linked from her post.

Tablescape Thursday-It Isn't About The Dishes

     Life is getting back to normal and that means it is time for Tablescape Thursday. Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch is our hostess. Please take a moment to visit her and some of the other participants. You will be amazed at how creative people are in Blogland.

     I've barely had time to get the laundry done from our trip and put away the Christmas decorations. Playing with my dishes has taken a back burner this week. I thought I'd share with you my "tablescape" from Christmas Eve.

     The dinner plates and salad plates are Hallmark, as are the napkins. The flatware was black plastic. The relish tray and fruit bowl are from Publix. Note the creme brulee' cheese "ball" in the back right corner. It was much easier to make it into a spread rather than a ball, considering I whipped it up in a Styrofoam cup in the hotel room. I served it with graham crackers. The tablecloth was white plastic and the cheese board is from a travel bag that goes with us everywhere. My mom's ham loaf was in the microwave at the time I took the picture.

     This was the first year we decided to open gifts on Christmas Eve. My daughter worked on Christmas Day. Last year we waited until she was off work, went out to dinner and ended up opening gifts until midnight. It wasn't all that fun. So, this year she had Christmas Eve off and we decided to eat in our hotel room, open the gifts and have time to have fun!

     Of course we had to decorate our patios at the hotel. Sorry about the pictures, this is the best we could get!

     Now before you think, "I could never do Christmas like that" and feel sorry for us, I want to share a few pictures from Christmas Day.

     This is the view from my chair by the pool. It was close to 80 degrees.  When my daughter got off work, we went to the Walt Disney World Beach Club for dinner.

This is made out of gingerbread.

     Traditional? Not at all. But, we had fun with family and great food...that is really what counts! I've learned that as my children have gotten older, I have to "go with the flow" and be open to new traditions. I hope the new year is starting out great for you all.