Baskets Overflowing With Good Cheer!

Often the best way to package good cheer is in a basket.... to tote to a neighbor's house, to hand off to a favorite teacher, to present to your hostess at that yearly, jolly, Christmas party, or simply a fun way to give a cherished friend or family member that perfect gift.

Current Obsession: Monogrammed Cloth Napkins

I love shopping estate sales, thrift shops and tag sales -- I get a thrill out of saving money. A few years back, on a cold fall morning, as I was digging my way through a lovely old home here in Dallas, I came across a treasure trove of cloth napkins with our initials monogrammed on them. I could not believe my luck and I bought all of them before anyone else saw the wonderful prize I had found.

Happy Thanksgiving 2016

This morning, as I find myself in the kitchen cooking and preparing for our family to join us later in the day (and Mr.P is drinking his coffee while THE parade plays in the background) I turn my mind to the things that I'm most thankful for this year. 

Spicy Cranberry Cilantro Holiday Salsa

Looking for a last minute party starter?? Well look no further. This spicy cranberry salsa recipe is a mouthwatering addition to your holiday spread. It takes only a few minutes to prepare and is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet.

Our Favorite Cinnamon-y & Sugar-y Treats Round-Up

I've still got the cinnamon-sugar coated sopapillas on my mind after dinner last night. Are you in the baking mood? Do you love the cinnamon-sugar combo as much as me? Here is a list of some of our favorite cinnamon-y and sugar-y treats that would be perfect to bake for the holidays or any day! Follow the links and enjoy.

Extending Your Dining Table for the Holidays

When the holidays come around and the decision is made as to who will be hosting the big dinner, panic may set in when you discover you will be the hostess and you realize there is not enough room at your existing dining table to sit 10 – 12 family and friends.   Do you have a buffet style dinner or do you try to be a little creative with your seating plan in order to accommodate the traditional family style meal?  Here are some tips on how to tackle your seating dilemma that can be used for any large holiday gathering.

30 Fun & Festive Halloween Cupcakes

Halloween is such an awesome holiday! Dressing up in costumes and pigging out on sweets – that should be on the agenda every day. ; ) Though I’d never turn down chocolate and Halloween candy, my most favorite dessert is a cupcake. For this reason I rounded up 30 of the most original, silliest, spookiest and cutest Halloween cupcakes the Internet had to offer. From mummies to ghosts, bats to witches, and even a few with fake blood (!), here are the 30 best Halloween cupcake recipes, and their links, that are sure to be a huge hit at your Halloween party! ENJOY!

MAKING HOMEMADE ICEES!

Here's an easy way to make Icees, create fun memories with the kids and keep cool this summer - all at the same time!

Endive, Orange & Roquefort Salad

I like salads that taste good all year long. Using ingredients that I can easily find anytime at my green grocer or market. This salad is the perfect layering of sweet orange and tart apple, spicy Roquefort cheese, and peppery arugula. I love arugula! It makes everything taste better.... but that's just my opinion.

BLT PIZZA

A fun variation on an old classic, my favorite sandwich, the BLT.  

Healthy Fresh Fruit Breakfast Pizzas

Quick and easy to pull together, these delicious and nutritious fruit pizzas are a wonderful go-to breakfast. But honestly, they are a wonderful treat anytime of day.

Edible Easter Basket

There is no shortage of creative ways to celebrate the Easter holiday. I recently stumbled upon this adorable, edible Easter basket made entirely out of cereal and marshmallows! How fun is that??

Torn Tissue Decoupage Eggs

A common title for such beautiful things! The title says nothing about how easy these pretty eggs are to make, or how creative one can get making them, or how stunningly beautiful they turn out. I can’t wait to show you how because I think you will love making them too…

PRALINE TURTLE PIE

So easy and decadent, this pie couldn't be any simpler—all you need is whipped cream, caramel candies, pie crust, pecans, and chocolate. This rich dessert is another one of my blue ribbon winners, and I'm very proud of it. It's straightforward enough to make for every day but special enough to serve guests or take to a potluck.

The Porch House, Cotswolds, England

The Cotswolds is a rural area of south central England covering parts of 6 counties, notably Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire. Its rolling hills and grasslands harbor glorious thatched medieval villages riddled with beautiful old mansions of honey-colored stone, thatched cottages, atmospheric churches, and rickety old pubs. If you've ever coveted exposed beams or lusted after a cream tea in the mid-afternoon, there's no finer place to fulfill your fantasies.

DIY VINTAGE BOOKMARKS

You can easily fashion these bibliophilic baubles for just a few bucks each.

Essentials For Every International Flight

Over the years I’ve gathered a short list of items I have with me on every flight. I also keep an eye on what other, seemingly seasoned, travelers bring with them. Over the years, my list has grown, much to Mr.P's dismay! The items above can be found here.  They are my favorite creature comforts for flying. I added ten more items below for you to take into consideration. So sit back and enjoy the flight!

Displaying Kids' Art Projects At Home

What do you do with all of the pictures that come home from school? As a young mom, I quickly realized I could not keep EVERY piece of paper that my kids drew on, but there are definite keepers. This round-up is full of terrific ideas on how to save/display the creativity of our budding artists. You’ll find suggestions for rotating displays as well as more permanent features. Did you ever think of using a curtain rod and rings, wood, wire and clips or a repurposed cabinet door for showcasing artwork? There are hinged frames that store and display, magnetic boards, corkboard tiles and clipboards. Use clothespins, wood hangers or make colorful temporary tape frames. Learn how to re-size art for a changing gallery in a multi-windowed frame, transfer images onto fabric or scan and input images onto your computer to print out a collection in book form.