Lila’s Little Lamb Shower

My first grandchild is due in just under two weeks. I can’t wait to meet her!  When my daughter, Laura, was a baby her nursery was decorated in lambs so that seemed just the right idea for a shower theme.   Our menu consisted of chicken salad croissants, egg salad sandwiches, tomato, basil and mozzarella sandwiches, spinach […]

Autumn at the Den

It’s hard to put into words how much I love the autumn season. Not only does it remind me of our earliest days in Indiana, but my mom’s memory seems to be strongest as I view the vibrant colors of changing leaves, smell the scents of the season, feel the crisp coolness of the days and […]

Aloha!

When our close family friends, Gary and Kathy, were about to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary, we wanted to help make it extra special. They are taking an anniversary trip to Hawaii, so a luau seemed the perfect theme for an anniversary party. With the help of many of their family members, we put together […]

Luau Recipes

      We tried a lot of delicious recipes for our recent luau. Here are some of the highlights: “PINEAPPLE CHEESE BALL” A classic cheese ball recipe with pineapple made this a perfect Hawaiian appetizer. Served with crackers, it was gone before we knew it! 2 8-ounce blocks cream cheese, softened 2 cups shredded […]

October Magic of the Month – Halloween!

We don’t care for the sinister, gory part of Halloween. But we can definitely have fun with ghosts and witches (as long as they’re not too scary), monsters, spiders and the more “light hearted” side of the holiday. We want to share some of our favorite ideas with you. SPIDERS! Both of these cakes are awesome, […]

September Magic of the Month – Autumn Drinks

Without question, Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I love everything about it…falling temperatures and falling leaves; pumpkins, mums, apple cider – all of it! I’m one of those rare people who prefers cold temperatures over the heat. While I certainly enjoy the benefits of summer – longer days and more time outside, […]

August Magic of the Month – Summer Entertaining!

It’s so hard to believe that summer is already winding down – but it’s true! In an effort to hold on as long as possible, we invited some friends over for dinner the other night. The table was decorated with red and white checked napkins, jars filled with wildflowers and some fun ants to keep […]

Gender Reveal Party

My daughter, Laura, is pregnant with her first child – and my first grandchild! Because the latest baby trend seems to be gender reveal parties, we thought we’d join in the fun. Last month, my other daughter, Emily, Dawn and I put together a fun party for the gender announcement. As our guests arrived, they […]

July Magic of the Month – Six Summer Fixin’s

This month, we thought we’d share some side dish recipes, all of which can be enjoyed at a barbecue, picnic or simply dinner on the porch on a warm, summer night. DAWN’S SUMMER SALAD 1 box twisted pasta, cooked and drained 1 English cucumber, sliced lengthwise and thinly sliced in half moon shapes 2 tomatoes, […]