Superbowl Party

Of course Superbowl is just an excuse to get together for our family. We do like watching the commercials, but I was disappointed in them last night. I really didn't have a favorite team, but everyone else was cheering for the Packers, so I did too. We are trying to eat healthier, but game day foods just aren't too healthy. We love hot wings, and I decided we would make our own. I placed them on a nonstick sprayed cookie sheet and baked them for 30 minutes on each side at 375 degrees, and then we crisped them up for just a minute under the broiler. Then we tossed them in a honey BBQ
sauce and a traditional hot wing sauce made with Franks hot sause. The were really good...and a little healthier than those fried ones.

I made a pot of chili, too...
The boys got to drink from special football cups. I had them from Christmas (from Dollar Tree). They had a Santa design inside, so I put our football napkins in the copier, and cut a template to cover up the Santa design.

Some football decorations...

Shawn brought chips and dip, which we scarfed down before dinner
was ready.

I think Jackson was licking the bowl clean ,here.
Hot wings ready...and somebody's plate...

Shannon made some delicious chocolate peanut butter cupcakes.

Hudson will attest to the deliciousness...

Score!

Fun times.

Very Vintage Valentine Vignette

I did a little Valentine's decorating this morning. First I'll share my mantel. I placed the deer and pinecones there a couple weeks ago when we had snow. I had a had a hard time deciding what to do after Christmas decorations were taken down. I hung my Valentine's garland below the mantel. I guess this is as good as it gets until Easter/Spring. Speaking of Spring...I can't wait.

You have seen my entryway table decorated for every season, and now it is "gussied" up for Valentine's.
I will share the items I chose to display, and a little story about some of them. This little vintage pink beaded purse is so sweet. It has a little lace hanky in it. On the plate are an antique perfume bottle, a little eye wash bottle, a dried rose from a wedding boquet, and a silver powder compact. A strand of pearls dresses them up a bit. You will notice the enlongated bottle on the back of the plate...it is an antique bottle my Mother shared with me. Story goes, when one was in mourning for their loved one, they would catch their tears in this little bottle. Wonder how many tears it took to fill it up?

a few vintage inspired Valentines...


clipped to a tree branch...

with vintage type clothespins.

The blocks have an old timey feel. I placed a heart paperweight on an old red and white handkerchief. Some rose petals are scattered around.

Here you can see the entire tabletop at once.



Don't forget to look underneath at a cute little cherub sitting on my stack of old Bibles.

a vintage Valentiney fan...


The quilted heart pillows were made by Mother from heirloom family quilts.


My late grandmother, better known as Bam, wore a favorite red corduroy jacket. After she passed away, my late mother in law took that jacket apart and made this adorable bear for me. It is a very special bear I have cherished for over 24 years now.

I added some candles and a little overstuffed miniature chair and a bowl of cherries. Reminds me of that mary Engelbright saying..."Life is just a chair of bowlies".

Thank you for sharing my Valentine vignette with me.

Have a nice Valentine's Day, and spend it with someone you love.

love is all you need,

Sheila

I feel like I have fallen into the blogging black hole. I have been keeping up with blog reading, but posting has fallen by the wayside.

I have had a cold/cough for the past month, and just went to the doctor yesterday. She did a chest x-ray, and I have bronchitis. I got a sinus shot in the hip, blood drawn, and prescriptions for antibiotics, and codeine cough syrup. I am not coughing like I was, so I do feel much better.

You can see a little of what I have been doing lately. Last week when I babysat the grandsons, we made a tent under the dining room table. I couldn't get both boys picture in it at one time, but they loved it. Jackson had his toolbox and several cars under there. I had to get in, too-which didn't leave much room for playing.

We had snow here in the Memphis area...my sweet little tigers in the snow. They liked playing in it.

Their daycare had a winter gala program. This cute backdrop was made for photos. Jackson was a snowman. They made their shirts.
He loves his friends there, especially that cute little blonde girl next to him.
They were so cute lined up singing a snowman song.

Here I am with my favorite little fellows.

I went with my daughters, and Shawn's sister in law with the kids to Pump it Up...a blow up slide and bouncy place.
Hudson is sporting a new cute haircut.


Jackson loved going down the giant slide.
They all enjoyed the bouncy house.

Getting three kids to look at the camera is impossible.

But, you get the idea. We had a blast.

So, I finally got the Christmas decorations put away, and the house looks kind of sad. We have been going through old Christmas decorations in the attic, and trying to purge and consolidate storage. I do have about 8 boxes of items to take to the Goodwill. Not to mention the MANY boxes that were taken to the dumpster. It is nice to get rid of clutter in our lives.

We are trying to make room in the upstairs bonus room for either an exercise bike or elliptical machine. We have a Bow-Flex up there, and I decided it is time to use it. I need to get rid of a bit of weight that is cluttering my body.

I have vegetable soup cooking away in the Crock-Pot as I type. It smells so good .

That's all for my ramblings today. Stay warm and cozy.

I'm a Winner!

No, I'm not tooting my own horn here , but I won somethin!! . I won this sweet LOVE necklace from Sommer at Designer Garden . I like to enter giveaways, but haven't won too many things. I get so excited to get packages in the mail.

The necklace was made by her friend, Tammy, at Type A.

She makes them from silver and fires them in a kiln. She stamps them with wax seal designs.


I think it is fabulous. She sent me a little enclosure card thanking me for "stalking" her blog.
Don't you love to "stalk" other people's homes via their blogs?

I know I will enjoy wearing it for Valentine's especially.

I hope the new year finds you well. We have snow here, and it is cold. I haven't really had much blogworthy going on.
Hopefully, I will get back in the swing soon. In the meantime, I will just enjoy stalking all my favorite blogs. Hee. Hee.

A Little More Christmas

It is starting to feel a little more like Christmas to me. I got a call today from my boss, and I have tomorrow off. Yea! I don't go back to work until Monday...I needed a little break. I am enjoying catching up on some blog reading and relaxing this afternoon. This is my little computer nook.

and a few other little Christmasfied areas in the house.

a hot cocoa and spiced tea station...

And today, our dear friend, Betsy and her husband Jimmy, came for lunch.
I used small stockings to hold flatwear and napkins.
Betsy brought a delicious Butterfinger cake and a plateful of cookies.

I made a chicken and rice stew

and a chili dip.
The dip was a recipe from my boss who brought it to work last week. You spread a brick of cream cheese in a baking dish. Pour a can of Chili Magic over that, and top with 1 cup of grated cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until bubbly, and serve with Fritos. It was really good.

The best part was the company, but we did not take a single picture. I am so disappointed, but I think we were too busy chatting to think about it.

It was good to catch up and share with friends...it did me good.

Rudolph Cake Balls

I made cake balls today. Rudolph cake balls, in fact.

You bake a chocolate cake and break it up and mix in a container of chocolate (or any flavor you desire)icing into it. Dip out spoonfuls and with damp hands, roll them into balls. Refrigerate for about an hour.
Then dip them in melted chocolate wafers and place a red M&M for the nose.

Some white icing and a black dot of gel icing for eyes.

Break up some pretzels for the antlers. They do take on their own personalities. One looked like a bunny rabbit, and one reminds me of Mrs. Potatohead with her "angry eyes" on. But, in all, I think they turned out kinda cute.