I WON!!!

This sumptuous pink velvet fabric from Eddie Ross, (http://www.eddieross.com/)


3 yards to be exact. I am going to make beautiful, luxurious throw pillows for my daughters bed. Got to put my thinkin' cap on.

Can't wait to get it and get started!

Thanks Eddie and Jaithan, you made my day.



Melinda

Wonderful Holiday (or anytime)Appetizer

HARVARTI CHEESE WITH CARAMEL SAUCE


1 # or larger Block of Havarti Cheese
Cut in small squares like a Blooming Onion

CARAMEL SAUCE
1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar
1/4 to 1/2 Cup Half and Half
1 1/2 Tablespoons Jack Daniels
1 Tablespoons White Corn Syrup
1 Cup Walnut Pieces (Chopped)

Cook over low heat. Stir until it reaches a boil, let sit at room temperature until it thickens. Pour over cheese 30 minutes before serving.

Serve with Water Crackers or Ginger Snaps

Wonderful, fabulous, delicious!

Sauce would be wonderful served warm over ice cream. Yum!

My family was eating the leftover sauce out of the saucepan with spoons when I left home with this.

I will be doing Thanksgiving with my family this Sunday as I am traveling to No Georgia on Thanksgiving day to visit DH side of the family.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Melinda

Unique Gift Idea!

These would make the coolest Christmas, Birthday or wedding gift. These are made from actual photos of items taken around the world, then the artist uses them to create a name or saying.

Visit the artist at www.allisonsletters.com to create your own unique picture!

Melinda

Fabulous Fall Dessert

I don't know about you, but sometimes I like to try something new. This is an absolutely wonderful, delicious, fabulous fall dessert. I'm not kidding, this stuff is great. Try it out on your family!

Carrot Cake Cheesecake

Cheesecake

16 ounces cream cheese (at room temp)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon flour
3 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

CARROT CAKE

3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 dash salt
1 (8 1/2 ounce) can crushed pineapple, well drained with juice reserved
1 cup grated carrot
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

PINEAPPLE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
1 3/4 cups powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon reserved pineapple juice


Make cheesecake,
In large bowl of electric mixer, beat together 2 pkgs cream cheese and 3/4 cup sugar until smooth.
Beat in 1 tablespoon flour, 3 eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla until smooth.
Set aside.

Meanwhile prepare Carrot Cake:
In large bowl, combine oil, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla, blending thoroughly.
Stir in 1 cup flour, baking soda, cinnamon and dash salt, mixing well.
Stir in drained pineapple, carrots, coconut and walnuts.

Spread 1 1/2 cups carrot cake batter over bottom of greased 9-or 9 1/2-inch springform pan.
Drop large spoonfuls of cream cheese batter over carrot cake batter; top with large spoonfuls of remaining carrot cake batter.
Repeat with remaining cream cheese batter, spreading evenly with a knife.
Do not marble with a knife.

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven 50 to 65 minutes or until cake is set and cooked through.
Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate.

When cake is cold, prepare Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting.
In a bowl of electric mixer, combine 2 oz cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 1 tablespoon reserved pineapple juice and dash of salt.
Beat until smooth and of spreading consistency.
Frost top of cheesecake.
Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours before serving

Final step, prepare for applause and cudos!!!!! That is if you decide to share it!

Enjoy!

Melinda

Another cute Halloween Food Idea!

Halloween Hats – Witches Hats

32 Hershey's® Kisses® milk chocolates, unwrapped

1 package (11 1/2 ounces) fudge-striped shortbread cookies (32)

1 tube (4.25 ounces) orange or red decorating icing

Attach 1 chocolate candy to chocolate bottom of each cookie, using decorating icing.Pipe decorating icing around base of milk chocolate candy.

So Cute! (photo upper left hand corner)

Fun Halloween Treat!!!

I've been finding the cutest Halloween food items this year. For the next few days I'll be posting a couple of them. First up, Witches Hat!!

Witches Hat

2 ounces semisweet chocolate
Chocolate-rolled sugar ice cream cone
Candy pumpkins
Waxed paper
Purchased unfrosted plain or chocolate cake doughnut
Canned chocolate icing
Nonpareils or sprinkles
Orange, yellow, and green Starburst candy or candy-coated gum (we used mini Chiclets)
Directions
1. Melt semisweet chocolate according to the package instructions. Holding the open end of the cone, dip the bottom half at an angle into the melted chocolate. Immediately press candy pumpkins into the chocolate. Place the cone on waxed paper and let sit until the chocolate sets.
2. Frost the top and side surfaces of a doughnut with icing. Sprinkle icing with nonpareils or sprinkles. Center the open end of the cone on the frosted doughnut. Use a sharp knife to cut candies or gum pieces into quarters and adhere them around the bottom of the hat with icing.

Wouldn't this make a cute class party favor for your kids?????


Melinda

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month

www.ovariancancerawareness.org



I lost my Mom to this disease and now have a friend who was just recently diagnosed, she started her chemo on Monday.





Please remind your friends to visit the ob/gyn annually, and to know the systems. bloating, constipation, frequent urgent urination, fatigue and back pain. Visit the Ovarian Cancer Awareness website for more info.


Thanks!

Melinda

15 Ways to Charm a Southern Belle

Being raised in the south used to come with "standards". Young men were taught how to be Gentleman, and I'm afraid that is falling by the wayside. It's never too soon to start teaching boys how to be gentlemen.

There's an article in this months Southern Living Magazine that tell is like it is, it's by Amy Bickers and it's titled "15 Ways to Charm Her". Here's the list.

#1 Stand up for a lady: Actually this doesn't just involve chairs!
#2 Know that the SEC has the best football teams in the nation
#3 Kill Bugs: Paraphrasing Suzanne Sugarbaker "Men use Women's Lib as an excuse not
kill bugs for you.
#4 Hold doors open: Ladies go thru first!
#5 Fix things or Build Stuff:
#6 Wear Boots Occasionally: Not the fancy ones, we're talking about mud-crusted,
I could have just come in from the field boots.
#7 TAKE OFF YOUR HAT INSIDE!!!!
#8 Grill Stuff
#9 Call us: If you want to ask us out, don't text & don't email, pick up the phone and call us.
#10 Stand when we come back to the table: Just a little half stand is enough to make a
girl melt.
#11 Pull out our chairs: Wait, that's not all, scoot them back in before we hit the floor.
#12 Pay the tab on the first few dates: If you ask me out, you pay, if I ask you out, you pay.
#13 Don't show up in a wrinkled, untucked shirt: Care about your appearance, but don't
look like you spend more time in front of the mirror than we do.
#14 Never get in bar fights: You don't look tough, you look like an idiot.
#15 Know how to mix our favorite cocktail, just the way we like it.

Guaranteed to make a Southern Belle swoon!

Melinda

Enough said!

Melinda

GOOD TO KNOW!

You can make your own custom color chalkboard paint by following these instructions from Lowes Creative Ideas magazine.

To make custom-colored chalkboard paint, pour 1 cup of satin latex paint into a container. Then add 2 tablespoons of white unsanded tile grout. Using a paint stick, mix thoroughly. If the mixture becomes too thick to brush on, add a tablespoon of water, and mix again.

I love this idea of writing on flowers pots, this would be really cute for herbs.

Melinda

Woodlawn United Methodist Church

\\\/////////

This is the church I was raised in, accepted Christ and was Baptized in, and got married in over 30 years ago.

Today it burned to the ground.

Built in 1912, it was a gorgeous structure, the interior was as beautiful as the outside, it had a fabulous antique pipe organ, and now it's all gone.

I didn't realize what this church meant to me until I saw it go up in flames. I have shed many tears this afternoon, as I remember how special this church was to me.

Please remember this church family in your prayers.

As the pastor, Larry Horn, stated today on the news, "today is Pentecoste, the birthdate of the church, today Woodlawn United Methodist Church, was born again."

Melinda

Happy Mothers Day!

As we approach Mothers Day weekend, I again feel the loss of my Mom as if it happened yesterday. I find myself missing buying a present, planning a nice dinner for her and making her feel special, I only hope I did that to my best ability while she was still with me.

This Sunday I will take her flowers to her grave and tell her how much I love her and how I had not idea how much I would miss her, but I will also tell her how fortunate I was to have a Mom like her. Thanks to her I had a wonderful childhood, and as an adult, she became my best friend. I now realize the sacrifices that she made for us in order to give us the best.

So this Mother's day if you're lucky enough to still have your Mom, give her an extra hug, tell her how much you love her because one day you won't be able to.

Happy Mother Day Mom, I love you!

(In loving memory of my Mom, Dorothy M Hodgens)

Melinda

Tuesday Morning Deal!

Look at this terrific two tiered basket that I got at Tuesday Morning for $9.99, including the liners!

I plan to give this as first prize at Bunco next week, which I am hosting, that is, unless I just can't part with it after a week.

It's got a yellow Gerber daisy, pink begonias, peach verbena, hot pink Wave petunias, verigated monkey grass and a couple of different kinds of vines, one has white flowers and the other will have blue flowers on it.

I plant to add a few dangling sparkly stones to finish it off and I think it will be a fabulous grand prize for about $25.00. I know I would love to win it. I may have a problem parting with itwhen Bunco gets here in a week.

Tell me what you think, would you like this as a prize or should I rethink it?

I've shopped Tuesday Morning a couple of times lately, and have loved what I've found.

Check it out!

Melinda

Girl Trip!

I'm doing something next weekend that I have not done since I got married 30 years ago, I'm going to the beach with 6 of my high school girlfriends. GIRLS RULE!

Lucky me, one of my best friends moved from Birmingham to Gulf Shores several years ago and built a house with guest quarters, so she could have friends visit.

We are currently planning our 35 year reunion High School reunion for June and we are having a "committee" meeting, (that's what we're calling it), at the beach! My family is not sure what this means, they think I'm revolting, they're worried (good). Never mind that every year my husband goes on a boys only fishing trip, my daughter goes several times a year with her friends, but let Mom say she's going to do this, well, it's UNUSUAL. I haven't been to the beach in six years and nothing is going to stand in my way this year.

I guess they think we're going to sow a few wild oats, (hey, I still have a few, somewhere), or should I say we'll do what 52 year old women at the beach do. I'm sure we'll have a couple of late nights, sit on the beach and do a lot of gossiping (I mean planning) and enjoy a few frozen drinks as we discuss the reunion details.

WHOO HOO!!!!! Look out Gulf Shores, six fabulous wild woman are headed your way!

Melinda

Easter Dessert!

I've been searching high and low for something "new" for Easter Sunday, and I think this might be it. There is a very popular catering company in Birmingham, called Ashley Macs, and this is their recipe.

Ashley Mac's Coconut-Caramel Pie(yields 2 deep-dish pies)

1/4 cup butter1 (8 ounce) package flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecan halves8 ounces cream cheese
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
16 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed
2 deep dish (9-inch) pie shells, baked
1 (12 ounce) jar caramel topping

Melt butter in a large skillet. Add coconut and pecans. Cook until brown and set aside. Combine cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk in a mixing bowl. Beat with mixer until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Layer ¼ cream cheese mixture in each pie shell. Drizzle caramel topping (about half the jar) on top of cream cheese mixture in both pies. Sprinkle half coconut mixture on top. Repeat the layer, beginning with the cream-cheese mixture.

Freeze. Serve frozen.

I love anything that is eaten frozen. Sounds yummy doesn't it?

Happy Easter!

Melinda

Love it!

A woman was sitting at a bar enjoying an after work cocktail with her girlfriends when Steven, a tall, exceptionally handsome, extremely sexy, middle-aged man entered. He was so striking that the woman could not take her eyes off him. The young-at-heart man noticed her overly attentive stare and walked directly toward her.. (As All men will.)

Before she could offer her apologies for staring so rudely, he leaned over and whispered to her, 'I'll do anything, absolutely anything, that you want me to do, no matter how kinky, for $20.00... On one condition' Flabbergasted, the woman asked what the condition was. The man replied, 'You have to tell me what you want me to do in just three words.'

The woman considered his proposition for a moment, And then slowly removed a $20 bill from her purse, which she pressed into the man's hand along with her address. She looked deeply into his eyes, and slowly and meaningfully said....

'Clean my house'

Wow, imagine getting your house cleaned for just $20.00!
(OMGosh, I now know exactly how old I am!)

Raising the porch swing to new heights!

Close you eyes, feel the gentle back and forth swaying, relax and rewind, ceiling fan blowing above your head, the sound of crickets in the background, as you take a nap on this SWINGING PORCH BED! OMGosh, I've got to have one! Somebody find me a carpenter, quick.

Directions are here http://www.lowescreativeideas.com/idea-library/projects/Hanging_Bed_in_Sunroom_0508.aspx.

Melinda

Another Who Knew Moment!

Did you know that by savings your coffee grinds and tea bags, and using them as mulch around hydrangeas, it will change the ph of the soil, and make your pink blooms turn blue.

Wow!

It's amazing what you learn from reading isn't it.

Melinda

Who knew!!!!

'Water Displacement #40' or WD40, as we like to call it.


The product began from a search for a rust preventative solvent and degreaser to protect missile parts. WD-40 was created in 1953 by three technicians at the San Diego Rocket Chemical Company. Its name comes fr om the project that was to find a 'water displacement' compound.. They were successful with the fortieth formulation, thus WD-40. The Convair Company bought it in bulk to protect their atlas missile parts. Ken East (one of the original founders) says there is nothing in WD-40 that would hurt you.. When you read the 'shower door' part, try it. It's the first thing that has ever cleaned that spotty shower door.. If yours is plastic, it works just as well as glass. It's a miracle! Then try it on your stove top ... Viola! It's now shinier than it's ever been. You'll be amazed.

Here are some other uses:
1. Protects silver from tarnishing. 2. Removes road tar and grime from cars. 3. Cleans and lubricates guitar strings. 4. Gives floors that 'just-waxed' sheen without making them slippery. 5.. Keeps flies off cows. 6. Restores and cleans chalkboards. 7. Removes lipstick stains. 8. 20 Loosens stubborn zippers. 9. Untangles jewelry chains. 10. Removes stains from stainless steel sinks. 11. Removes dirt and grime from the barbecue grill. 12. Keeps ceramic/terra cotta garden pots from oxidizing. 13. Removes tomato stains from clothing. 14. Keeps glass shower doors free of water spots. 15. Camouflages scratches in ceramic and marble floors. 16. Keeps scissors working smoothly. 17. Lubricates noisy door hinges on vehicles and doors in homes. 18. It removes black scuff marks from the kitchen floor! Use WD-40 for those nasty tar and scuff marks on flooring. It doesn't seem to harm the finish and you won't have to scrub nearly as hard to get them off. Just remember to open some windows if you have a lot of marks. 19. Bug guts will eat away the finish on your car if not removed quickly! Use WD-40! 20. Gives a children's playground gym slide a shine for a super fast slide. 21. Lubricates gear shift and mower deck lever for ease of handling on riding mowers. 22. Rids kids rocking chairs and swings of squeaky no ises. 23. Lubricates tracks in sticking home windows and makes them easier to open. 24. Spraying an umbrella stem makes it easier to open and close. 25. Restores and cleans padded leather dashboards in vehicles, as well as vinyl bumpers. 26. Restores and cleans roof racks on vehicles. 27. Lubricates and stops squeaks in electric fans. 28. Lubricates wheel sprockets on tricycles, wagons, and bicycles for easy handling. 29. Lubricates fan belts on washers and dryers and keeps them running smoothly. 30. Keeps rust from forming on saws and saw blades, and other tools. 31. Removes splattered grease on stove. 32. Keeps bathroom mirror from fogging. 33. Lubricates prosthetic limbs. 34. Keeps pigeons off the balcony (they hate the smell). 35. Removes all traces of duct tape.. 36. Folks even spray it on their arms, hands, and knees to relieve arthritis pain. 37. Florida 's favorite use is: 'cleans and removes love bugs from grills and bumpers.' 38. The favorite use in the state of New York , WD-40 protects the Statue of Liberty from the elements. 39.. =2 0 WD-40 attracts fish. Spray a little on live bait or lures and you will be catching the big one in no time. Also, it's a lot cheaper than the chemical attractants that are made for just that purpose. Keep in mind though, using some chemical laced baits or lures for fishing are not allowed in some states. 40. Use it for fire ant bites. It takes the sting away immediately and stops the itch. 41. WD-40 is great for removing crayon from walls. Spray on the mark and wipe with a clean rag. 42. Also, if you've discovered that your teenage daughter has washed and dried a tube of lipstick with a load of laundry, saturate the lipstick spots with WD-40 and rewash. Presto! The lipstick is gone! 43. If you sprayed WD-40 on the distributor cap, it would displace the moisture and allow the car to start.


Bet you didn't know this!
The basic ingredient is FISH OIL.

I've tried everything else on my old stiff knees, might as well give this a try.

Smiles,

Melinda

Happy St. Patty's Day!

May there always be work for your hands to do...

May there always be work for your hands to do

May your purse always hold a coin or two;

May the sun always shine on your windowpane;

May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;

May the hand of a friend always be near you;

May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Melinda