Santa Baby...

"Come and trim my Christmas tree
With some decorations bought at Tiffany's
I really do believe in you
Let's see if you believe in me
Boo doo bee doo

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing, a ring
I don't mean a phone
Santa baby, and hurry down the chimney tonight..."

We re-did Miss Priss' pink tree this year with these fabulous diamond (the size of golf balls!) ornaments and zebra bow topper and we love it! I don't know if these pictures do them justice but they are just too cute!

After all, a girl can never have too many diamonds, right?!

My Favorite Things

My sweet friend over at Home of a Magnolia has tagged me to play along with her version of Oprah's "My Favorite Things"--how fun! I love all of her items and had a ball coming up with my own list! I would think of one thing and this would lead to another that would lead to another...you catch my drift! There are just soooo many wonderful things out there.

So here is a sampling of some of my favorite things right now (and honey, if you are reading, I would be thrilled to see any of this items wrapped up under the tree!):

First, I must mention jewelry from Fornash

I just adore enamel jewelry and Fornash has the best, like these bracelets and this fun cocktail ring (which I may or may not have ordered for myself seeing as how it is on sale half-price)

And how wonderful would this stunning turtle bracelet look with all my Lilly?

And how drop-dead gorgeous is this necklace and earring set?

Fornash jewelry is where it's at, y'all!

Speaking of jewelry I pink puffy heart this monogrammed bangles from MPM Designs

The only problem is I don't know what color I want because I just love them all!!!

MPM Designs carries all kinds of totally adorable monogrammed items. A few more of my favs are these monogrammed ice chests

 this monogrammed tissue box

and their monogrammed pajamas

It is better to give than to receive so when I am looking for fun gifts to give of the edible variety I often look to Janie's Cakes,

specialty pound cakes from Tyler, Texas

as well as DonateFruit.Com

Donatefruit.com is super cool because for every purchase made on their site they commit to match that purchase, pound for pound, with a donation of fresh fruit to a food bank to feed those in need.

Southern Proper Monograms sells the most amazing unfinshed wooden custom monograms that you can cusomtize by simply painting  (or glittering!) them any color you wish. They would look great paired with a wreath on your front door or hanging over your bed! 

(I am so doing this on my front door next Christmas!)

Or tie one onto a gift for a unique embellishment!

Another favorite of mine is this monogrammed Legado china from Skyros available at Bromberg's

To.die.for. Right?

Nothing is more heartfelt to me than a homemade gift. I just recently learned how to crochet and when I stumbled upon a free pattern for this ruffled scarf with a difficulty rating of Easy (that's what I'm talking about!) 

I bought a whole bunch of wool and have been making them for anyone and everyone. And the best part is that it only takes a few hours to make one! If you crochet or have ever wanted to learn, this is the project for you!

I am also really liking fur vests right now. Granted this is a trendy item and not something I would wear every day, but I think I may need to get one to wear during the holidays. Check out this jazzy little number from Charlotte Russe

Wear it with some skinny jeans tugged into some fierce boots, a sequin tank also from Charlotte Russe

and some sparkly jewelry like this fun ring

and I think I have my uniform to wear to all the holiday open houses we have been invited to!

Lastly for pets I can't help but smile when I think about these adorable tutus for dogs and cats available at Gilt Groupe

I don't really dress up my dogs but if I did I think they would look di-vine in tutus, don't you?!

My Latest Endeavor

I am not abandoning this blog but I am taking a little break to start focus on a new project--a brand new blog! It is called "Come Give Me Some Sugar!"  (comegivemesomesugar.blogspot.com) and it will be a place where I share simply amazing party ideas, tips and inspiration! My blog will touch on everything from decor to crafts to favors. Please come visit me there often to see what fun and creative things I'm sharing! My hope is to also feature great parties thrown by others so if you have a party you would like featured, PLEASE email me at comegivemesomesugar@gmail.com--I would love to show off your event!

Fun Headbands for Fall

The other day when I was at the Dollar Store I spied these cute "decorative accents" in the craft section. I

also picked up this "cameo" hair tie and paired with some rhinestones from the dollar section at Michael's

and some dollar store headbands 

and in no time flat I created these cuties for the girls to wear this fall to school!

Not bad for a couple of dollars, huh?

They are already fighting over them!!!

20 Things Children Truly Need for School

Our pediatrician's office sent us this and I thought it was too good not to share!

"20 Things Children Truly Need for School"

1. A No. 2 pencil and a willingness to erase.
2. A respect for themselves and others, especially their teachers.
3. An awareness that the world does not revolve around them, and that they alone are responsible for their actions.
4. Parents (or grandparents) who teach by example a love for reading, learning and life.
5. An assurance that school is a good, safe place, their teachers will like them, and their parents won't leave town without them.
6. An understanding that school is their "job" and no one else can or will do it for them.
7. A system for exchanging communication between school and home; a backpack for notes; an emergency phone number that always answers; a quiet place and time to do homework; a daily chance to read aloud and to be read to.
8. A plan for getting to and from school on time.
9. A pet to care for.
10. A public library card.
11. Someone to welcome them home, laugh at their jokes, answer their questions and listen to what they say and don't say.
12. The power of knowing how it feels to give anonymously and sacrificially to help someone less fortunate.
13. The encouragement to try new things, the freedom to fail and the chance to try again.
14. The gifts of being well- fed, well-rested, well-mannered and well-covered for medical, dental and after-school care.
15. The confidence to deal with bullies (stand up straight, look them in the eye, don't start a fight - but don't back down), how to ask questions (raise your hand and wait to be called on) and to never stop asking questions, especially "Why?"
16. To be the best, or at least pretty good, at something, and to know that it's OK not to be good at everything.
17. To spend more time with humans and less with machines.
18. To have nothing to do once in a while but daydream.
19. To have someone love them unconditionally, regardless of their grades; someone to "beam" at them, to light up when they walk into the room.
20. They need to know that school won't last forever, but learning is a lifelong process.

Super Duper Weenie

The other night Mr. PG&S and I had some of his co-workers over for dinner. Since it was a fairly large group, too large for me to cook for anyway, we decided to have the meal catered. One of my dear friends told me that I could hire the Super Duper Weenie truck to come to my house and feed everyone. What a great idea, I thought! Food trucks are all the rage right now and my love for a good hot dog could quite possibly be classified as unnatural.

The truck came about a half hour before our guests and set up in our driveway. Our beagle, Lulu, would not leave it's side. It smelled SOME GOOD!

I didn't have to do anything but set up the bar. And that's not work. That's fun. Right, folks?  Here is the flowers arrangement I threw together from the flowers in my yard. Nice (free) flowers + a sterling silver candle holder + some PBR and a weenie truck=CLASS--EE cuz that's just the way we roll!

More pics of the truck--

How cute is that Super Duper Weenie man?!

And here is a shot of the yummy menu. They have about a jillion toppings for the dogs and their fries are hand cut--some of the best fries on the planet I must say! And I have tasted a fry or two in my day.

I got the New Englander! Oh my it was delicious. Oh yes it was. So was Mr. PG&S' Dixie Dog and his Californian!

This is my friend Julie's dog

And these are on the children's chicken nuggets with chili fries!

And here is me happy that not only did I not have to cook but I also didn't have to clean up!

Now that's my kind of party! Super Duper Weenie man to the rescue!!!

Back to School Gifts

Pinkie starts kindergarten tomorrow and because her Momma has a bad case of Southern Girl disease and hates to show up to any get together empty handed we made some gifts for her classmates and her new teacher.

(All supplies are from the Dollar Store unless otherwise noted)

Gather mini tubes of play dough (8 per pack--get enough for two per person), some brightly colored curling ribbon, some apple die cuts and a 2" scalloped punch.

First, make gift stickers using Darby's tutorial and your computer

them print it out on sticker paper from the office supply store

Then punch out the deign with your scallop punch

Grab your apple die cut

Punch two holes in it with any ole hole punch and cut some of the curly ribbon

Put some hot glue on the top of a tube of play dough

And put another tube of play dough on top

Finally, put the sticker tag on your apple and tie the die cut around the double decker play dough tubes! VOILA, instant gift for your classmates!

Next, for the teacher, gather a small glass candle holder, a pack of colors, and some sunflowers ( I prefer real flowers but wanted the teacher to be able to keep this all year).

Just hot glue the colors to the candle holder in any order that is pleasing to your eye

Place the flowers inside

 

finish it off with a cute bow

and instantly become the teacher's pet!