Pottery Barn has party ideas!

What rock have I been under? Pottery Barn has party planning ideas!
Tips.
Recipes.
Photos.
Lots and lots of photos!!!!
Wow!
Check it out ... http://www.potterybarn.com/shop/dinnerware-entertaining/party-planner/?cm_src=mediterranean_tapasparty
Really,
I am SPEECHLESS!
Take note, that is a rare occurrence!
They have a Pizza Party,
Wine and Cheese Party, Mediterranean Tapas Party, Olive Oil Tasting Party,Mojitos and Tacos, Dinner Party, Movie Night, Farmhouse Brunch and Bridal Shower! And you have to check out the recipes! The Caramel Popcorn recipe looks so GOOOOOOD (Movie Night)!
Party on!
Rachel

Morning Bread Pudding

Good morning ladies and gentlemen (do I have any male readers besides my Father and Husband?)~

I thought I would share my delicious breakfast with you!!!

I made Bread Pudding!

It's like itty bitty crusty and cinnamon-y French Toast nuggets!

With hot homemade caramel sauce!!!!

And whipped cream!

Bread Pudding:

1 crusty baguette, cut into cubes

3 eggs

1 c milk

1/4 c sugar

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/4 c melted butter

1 tsp vanilla

Stale bread is fantastic for this recipe! You can also cut up a leftover baguette from dinner, this is what I did, and leave it uncovered to go stale over night.

Melt 1 tbsp butter in baking dish. Mix all but the bread in a large bowl. Add the bread to the custard-like mixture and soak it in it for an hour (you can add the rest of the melted butter

to the mixture if you wish). At this point you can also add any dried fruit you wish, like raisins, dried tart cherries (my favorite!), apricot pieces or dried apples! Add to the buttered baking dish and bake for 1 hour on 350.

Homemade Caramel Sauce:

1/2 c white sugar

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 c heavy whipping cream

1 stick butter

1 tsp vanilla

Heat everything but the vanilla, bring to a boil. Lower and simmer for 5 minutes, continuously whisking. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Serve warm with hot caramel sauce! I love it for breakfast... especially brunch. It is easy to assemble and most can be done over night. If you do prepare it ahead- do not add the bread to the custard mixture until 1 hour before you bake it.

I have really enjoyed linking up with new bloggers though blog parties and I discovered this one : http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/ . It is called Foodie Friday at the blog Designs by Gollum. Truly up my alley!

Enjoy!
Rachel

Un - Common Place Altered Art Party *Altered Books*

I am joining the Altered Art Party over at http://frenchcupboard.blogspot.com/2010/07/un-commonplace-altered-party.html - The French Cupboard! Since Altered Art is my thing... I thought it would be fun to hook up with other artist and share our talents! Head on over there and take a peek! I bought a bunch of vintage books a few weeks back and altered them to match the book. Initially I bought the books to use the pages in other projects... but my inspiration led me down a different path.

I used a collection of vintage notions, stamps, buttons, scrapbook paper, vintage pearls, Prima flowers, Modge Podge and ribbon!

And rhinestones and my punches!!!

I scored a bunch of vintage patterns and punched them into a layered frenzy of flowers!

This one is just plain whimsical!

I originally designed them as gifts from a few of scrapping pals but I am in limbo... waiting for their address.

Just random numbers I had in my black & white whimsy jar!

It's all about art! As you can see I am a self proclaimed Thicker addict!

This one is actually a book about the old west! So I borrowed a vintage cowboy photo from the Internet and printed it on a dictionary page.

Same with the HOWDY sign.

This one is just pink-tastic!

Thanks for browsing through my books!
~Rachel

Beach BBQ Dinner *Tablescape Thursday*

Welcome, we have been waiting for you to join us for dinner! I am glad you got my invitation from : http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ !!!!

In honor of YOU, our special guest, I set the table in an inviting and relaxing beach theme!

I am serving an icy cold bottle of sparkling lemonade with dinner- as you know I don't drink alcohol and usually don't serve it. I think the sparkling lemonade will hit the spot though!

You brought your appetite, right?

Mmmmmm, look how serene the table looks in black and white! Just like the old photos from my Mother's family vacation trips to the mountains when she was a little girl in the 40's!

Mood lighting, always a necessity for a relaxing meal among friends!

Shells, shells, shells!

Ahhhh, that sparkling lemonade is looking good right about now... huh!?!?!

OK... dinner time, pull us a seat and get comfortable!

I grilled a big platter full of juicy BBQ chicken breasts....

and rice pilaf....

fresh garlic greenbeans.....

and fresh cut, tender and sweet pineapple (I usually grill it but didn't do it tonight, my kids don't enjoy it as much as I do!)

Thanks for coming to dinner! Hopefully, we will see you back next week!

~Rachel

Soleil 100 Days

Soleil 100 Days: "There are thousands of fun, sharable prizes in the BIC® Soleil® 100 Days of Sunshine promotion. Join now! www.FeelTheSoleil.com"

***White Wednesday*** Teacher Gift (Back to School- already!)

I made this project last summer as a gift for my sister for her classroom! First of all it is appropriate for White Wednesday- two fold, the background patterned paper is white and her last name is White! Needless to say, she loved it and it still hangs in her class room!
I never tire of making teachers gifts, whether it is a first day gift, a Christmas gift or a Teacher Appreciation Week gift, I am always ready to break out the ol' glue sticks in honor of a great teacher!
Stay tuned for more back to school idea!
Hooking up with Kathleen at Faded Charm : http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/2010/07/white-wednesday-57.html for the 57th White Wednesday!
Have a great evening, ladies!
Rachel

Game Theme for the Living Room

Here I am joining up with Marty again! This time I am linking up for Tabletop Tuesday. I think I love me some Marty and A Stroll Thru Life... she has the best blog linkies!!! http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/2010/07/22nd-table-top-tuesday-clock-finials.html ... check out her blog if you haven't done so already! The best blogger/ decorators join her fun every week, several times a week, in fact!

The checker board that lines this basket was actually a $2 bargain at a garage sale by a crafter that was purging her inventory... what a deal! You should see the $1 EGG sign I picked up (I will address that later!) I filled the apothecary style jars with my vintage button collection - that I actually use for crafts, coffee stained clothes pins and the chess pieces that belong to the chess board under the birdcage. My beloved Chess board belonged to my parents. In fact, when I was a kid I would tinker with it and I hadn't the foggiest idea how to play. Now my 2 eldest boys play with passion (thanks to their 1st grade teacher actually teaching them how to actually play Chess!) I filled a few of my milk glass bowls with other chess pieces (that board resides on my dinning room table for now!) and a vintage BINGO game that my nephew bought me. Under the birdcage is a few of my old books, that I use to craft with and a project I made from peet cups and scrapbook paper (including a matching Thank You card I made).

Sorry the photos look dark and drab... the room is actually fun and inviting... I was chasing light and LOST the chase! I had to use my flash!

Please check out my post below to read the details of my NEW blog swap... VINTAGE KITCHEN SWAP!

~Rachel