"Not all those who wander are lost."

J.R. Tolkien

Dotters=Little Gals=Valentine Party

The dotter's loved all the pretty festive decorations for my annual Valentine party and thought they could capitalize on it. They begged for a chance to have their own party.  Why not? and I secretly wished for a reason to keep my cute decorations up a little longer.

We decided each dotter could invite 5 friends. We would decorate Valentine cookies and make Valentines for family and friends.

It was such a fun time with all the girls (imagine 15 girls ages 6-12 all in the house.)

All had a fun time and got to take home lots of sweet treats to their families.

 

Doesn't this look goooood??

Hope you had a wonderful and sweet Valentine's Day.

The "gals" at the Galentine Party

Wendy, Natali, Ana and Amanda

Cathie and Marci

Ready to fill their cookie plates.

My sweet sister drove all the way from Idaho to come to the party.

What a sweet and tasty party!

Lisa loves her cookie loot.

Danniey is happy to take some cookies home to her boys.

Wanted to do a quick post about my friends who came to the party. This is one of the few parties where I have a mix of all my different friends, neighbors, junkers/antiquers, theatre friends. I love them all. Such a fun time.....

Thanks to my wonderful friend Paula who took all these pictures, since I never would have.

3rd Annual Galentine Party=Fun&Cookies

I had a great time planning this year's party. People always ask me, "How do you have the time?" I've come to realize we make time for the things we love. I love to entertain, I love to decorate and I love to craft, so throwing a party is somewhat of a really fun hobby for me.

This year like all the year's previous, it was a cookie exchange. I love cookie exchanges, but Christmas is to hard for me to throw a party, so a Valentine party seems perfect.

This year for decorations I had lots of PINTEREST  inspiration. I am like totally addicted to that site.

I love the traditional colors of Valentine's Day, red, white and pink, but I wanted a little twist thrown in so I added this beautiful aqua color. I draped this rope across the living room and added vintage pom poms, white lanterns and red and aqua tissue paper poufs. I also used clothes pins to pin up red heart dollies.


I made the fabric banner, by ripping strips of fabric and knotting them onto rope. It was a big color punch. The burlap banner that reads BE MINE was bought on VERYJANE.com, she is also an etsy seller.

Everyone brings their cookies and I thought it would be fun to display them around the room. I set out all my platters and had them write on a little card what kind of cookie they made and who it was that made it.

I love to give little favors to my friends as a reminder of the party and this year I was inspired by these sweet vintage jelly jars that my friend Cathie had in her antique booth at TREASURES. She gave me a great deal on them and I filled them with valentine m&m's and decorated the top with vintage flowers, ribbon and lace. I stuck little toothpick tags that read Be Mine. (I purchased those at Hobby Lobby.)

I also got these cute bags with Be Mine Toppers at Hobby Lobby and put in some jelly bellies.
 

Brunch was simple, I love the FARM CHICKS recipes for an egg casserole and potato casserole. Throw in some fresh fruit and chicken salad rolls and you have a great brunch.

I bought these adorable milk bottles and straws, because what could be cuter than milk with your cookies?


Love tulips, my favorite flower.


My dear friend CATHIE COX (who is a real photographer!) took all these wonderful photos. My other bestie, PAULA PERKINS took photos of the guests that I will share in another post. Thanks you two!
Cathie also made a sweet banner out of a vintage cutter quilt and vintage pom poms. (See the picture of the brunch, it is hanging behind the tulips.)


After cookies and conversation we headed up to make the craft.  I loved this idea of 52 reasons I love you and my guests all made this sweet book out of a deck of cards for someone special in their lives.
Thanks Lisa for all your graphic help!

Of course, I have the most awesome friends and it was a joy to spend some time with them. Come back to see pictures of my GALENTINES in the next post!

Family=LOVE

 

I just had my annual Valentine Day party yesterday and I am so excited to show some photos. My sweet friend Cathie took them and she does amazing things with a camera. I know at around Valentine's Day we often think about our sweetheart or romantic love, but for me Valentine's is all about my awesome friends and wonderful family too! At the party yesterday my MOM commented on how I have such a great and unique set of friends. I thought...I really do. They are all so creative and interesting and when I am with them I always wish I had more time to spend with them. I am grateful for such wonderful women in my life, including my family.....mom, sisters, dotters. Love them all.

Speaking of someone who does amazing things with a camera is our photographer Andee McDonald. She took our family photos a few years back and I had an idea for some photos with a really vintage vibe so I called Andee and she really captured the feeling I wanted. Go visit her HERE.

Thought I would share some photos of the dotter's and the fam.....