Holiday Dressing-Drawing Inspiration from Vintage Postcards

Have you ever wanted to jump into a vintage post card, like Mary Poppins and her chalk drawings? I do...and there is something about vintage christmas postcards that make my imagination go wild! Since jumping in doesn't really work so well, I decided to indulge my imagination and take myself to this snowy scene....

by creating THIS outfit....

Vintage Post card by lacepeplum featuring Forever21 accessories

You know, just in case my beau and I decide to go to, say, Aunt May's for apple pie. Or the Theater perhaps? Or maybe a midnight Christmas eve service....
What would YOU wear? Do tell, do tell.

Who wouldn't want to eat a cheese ball in the shape of a pumpkin?

Thanksgiving is one day away which means you still have time for this really awesome appetizer that PEOPLE WILL LOVE. I only know because I made it for a little get together last Sunday night and it was a huge hit. I wish I had a photo of the one I made so you could truly see that normal people can make these things! Thanks to southern living even the least artistic hostess can sculpt this magnificent Great White (Cheese) Pumpkin. I used one block of white cheddar and one block of orange cheddar in mine to give it a little color. You, my dear, could really add whatever you wish!

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1924744

Total Time: 15 min.

Yield: Makes 12 appetizer servings

Ingredients

• 2  (10-oz.) blocks extra-sharp white Cheddar cheese, shredded*
• 1  8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 2  (4-oz.) goat cheese logs, softened
• 1/2  teaspoon  pepper
• Braided pretzel, muscadine vine and leaf
• Crackers and assorted vegetables

Preparation

1. Stir together first 4 ingredients. Shape mixture into a ball to resemble a pumpkin. Smooth pumpkin's entire surface with metal spatula or table knife. Make vertical grooves in ball, if desired, using fingertips. Press pretzel into top of cheese ball to resemble a pumpkin stem; place muscadine vine and leaf beside pretzel. Serve with crackers and assorted vegetables.

*Extra-sharp Cheddar cheese may be substituted.

Note: We tested with Cracker Barrel Extra-Sharp Cheddar Cheese. To make ahead, wrap cheese ball in plastic wrap, without stem, vine, or leaf, and store in refrigerator up to two days. Attach stem, vine, and leaf before serving.

Southern Living, OCTOBER 2009

Very Entertaining

I just love a good party. Don't you? My soul flutters at the thought of  going where friends are gathered. I get especially fluttery when I create the space where people gather. Getting friends and acquaintances---or even strangers together just tickles me silly. When I have the opportunity to get people together, my heart starts beating extra fast and I start thinking of a million ideas at once. I look for inspiration everywhere and I don't want to stop for a second. I am energized by pulling the details together right down to the soup and nuts (literally). I am even more energized when the said party is a success!!!! On to the next one!!! I am flooded with new ideas and inspiration and a sense of satisfaction that is like none other....

photo by simply hue at flickr

You may be thinking a couple of things right now. One, you may be cheering "Yes Yes Yes! That's me! Me too!" or you may just think I am mad as a hatter. Regardless of your perception of me you will probably agree, that no matter how much one would like, one can not just sit around planning parties all day unless it's your job and for me it's not. 

My name is Lindsay and I am event planner at heart who is currently looking for work in a dreadful economy. I have always wanted to start a blog---as a way to capture my ideas for myself and others so I am finally getting to it. The dean of my college at our freshman orientation (I can't believe I am quoting him) once said "View everyone you meet as a potential friend." As your potential new blogger friend, I hope you will enjoy my ideas as much as I have enjoyed so many of yours. If I use one of your shared photos or thoughts I will always give credit and I hope you will do the same for me.

Since we are now friends, I also wanted to put out there that I am not good with grammar in the slightest (least?). When I type what is on my mind, with the limited time, I am so excited to get it out I don't always have the time to break down my sentences. I hope that you will forgive me for this mortal error (I know it's terrible), and if it bothers you a lot, then get thee to a library and take out Pride and Prejudice...a novel full of LOTS of fabulous parties and you can get all the perfect grammar you want from Jane Austen's lovely writing. 

Now that I have created a rather lengthy introduction, I want to make one more thing clear. I am not perfect. I don't know it all. And, I don't claim to be full of Martha-Stewart-Perfect (MSP) entertaining ideas. I just GUSH when it comes to conjuring up parties, and dog-gone-it all that luscious gush has got to go somewhere.  Maybe my next four weekends are not prime real estate for a glorious gathering---but yours could be. So I'm going to put my ideas down for you in case you have the time to shake up a soiree. I hope you find them very entertaining. :)