New Years Eve Table

Well here we are, another year come and gone. For me 2012 has been one of sorrow and celebration. I have to say it, I'm really happy to moving on to a new year. I am not one to make resolutions.  I usually try to set a goal or two for myself.  My goal this past year was to be kinder to others.  I think, for the most part, I was able to achieve that goal but, sometimes, those darn others made it hard LOL.  

I'm not certain what my main goal for 2013 is yet.  I do know what some of my goals are. Number one, I have is to get a job.  I'd like it to be something I love doing but, I know too well, you can't have everything you want in life. I want to be more consistent with my posting here on my blog.  I've kinda taken some time off for the holidays but I'd like to have a new post up at least twice a week, not including my favorite post of the week, the You're Gonna Love It link party every Tuesday. The powder room, kitchen and laundry room are all screaming to get a new coat of paint so I plan to tackle those rooms.  I really need to get my stash of dishes in some sort of real order, which, could mean getting rid of some of them {gasp}.  So, maybe my goal for 2013 is, finish what I start!  Yes, I think that is a good goal to have. There it is!  It's out there into the world and you all are my witnesses and motivation.  I can't and won't let you down. Pinky swear!

Now that that is all settle it's time for a party! A New Year's Eve party!

I wanted the table to be full of glitz and sparkle. I started with a black striped tablecloth from Goodwill. The silver sparkly square chargers are actually scrapbook papers from Michael's that I bought with a gift card from my youngest son and his girlfriend.

I then added Candlewick dinner plates, topped with clock faced salad plates I bought on clearance last year from Burlington Coat Factory.  I paid $3.50 for the set of four.

The napkins, done in a bow fold, are from Home Goods and the napkin rings were a recent Pier 1 purchase using a gift card from my son and daughter-in-law.

And my favorite vintage Rogers silverplate flatware added the perfect elegance to the setting.

For the centerpiece I used a few more sheets of the glittered paper and placed 3 of my Godinger goblets upside down for candle holders.

I found the lighted silver and pearl garland at Big Lots. It's on a timer so it turns itself off after 6 hours. LOVE it!

I added a couple of mirrored ornaments too.

Some clear and pearl gems are scattered around the table to mimic confetti.

Noisemakers to bring in the new year are set in champagne flutes.  

There are tiaras for the women and hats for the men, or, vice versa LOL.

A chilled bottle of champagne to toast the new year anchors one end of the table.

 While an hourglass sits at the other end of the table.  A reminder of time passing.

Whatever the new year brings, I want to wish you much happiness, love and peace!
You have made 2012 so much fun and I so appreciate you taking
the time to visit with me here and on my Facebook page!

Cheers friends!

I always share my tables with 

Kathleen at Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

Susan at Between Naps On The Porch Tablescape Thursday

and
Marty at A Stroll Thru Life Table Top Tuesday
 

Click here to see where else I may be partying this week.

 
AND
 
Don't forget to come by on Tuesdays

for my link party. 

{The party will resume on

January 7th at 6 PM Mountain}

Blog Hop Winner

Blog Hop Winner of It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas Blog Hop 

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas. Thank you to everyone that participated in the "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas" Blog Hop.There were so many amazingly beautiful decor, some yummy recipes and fun Christmas ideas....WOW... you all are so creative and talented. We would like to thank each and everyone of you that took the time to visit and link up during the busiest time of the year.

We would like to thank Cookin Stuff for sponsoring this Blog Hop!

Welcome to the evolution of Bialetti Cookware.

Our new Aeternum "EVOLUTION" line of cookware will transform cookware forever and this latest innovation will elevate your cooking experience to another level. Our beautiful "Aeternum-Evolution" line of cookware incorporates all the great benefits of our bestselling Aeternum line and takes this fantastic cookware to another level by adding even more great features.

And the WINNER IS .....
DRUM ROLL PLEASE... 
LIFE IN MY EMPTY NEST!!!!,

Please email your address to [email protected]

so we can send you your prize.

CONGRATULATIONS

and thank you for your participation!

We hope you all enjoyed "It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas Blog Hop" and hope to see you at our weekly link parties:

Life On Lake Shore Drive A Bouquet of Talent every Friday

One More Time Events Share It One More Time every Friday

Kathe with a E You're Gonna Love It every Tuesday

We would like to wish you all a Happy New Year!

Kathy from Life on Lakeshore Drive

Kathe from Kathe With An E

Doreen from HouseHoneys

Tammy from One More Time Events

*Merry Christmas*

From our home to yours we

wish you a very 

Merry Christmas!

Thrift Date

If you follow me on Facebook then you know that I recently had the chance to meet up with my bloggy pal, Elaine from Creating Wonderful Spaces. 

I had won her most recent giveaway and what a perfect excuse to get together for some thrift shopping and lunch!

We met in the middle at a Goodwill that neither of us had ever shopped at before.  Let me tell you! This was the nicest Goodwill I had ever been in! It was like shopping at a fancy boutique. And the people working there could not have been any nicer.  Totally different from the location near my home! I know I will be shopping here again!

Anywho, I can't go thrift shopping and NOT show you what I scored! 

 Elaine actually spotted this for me just as we walked into the store. 

Yellow tags were not 50% off but, into my cart it went!  It's a bit scuffed up but, I plan to paint it and put it up in my new office.  That's if Mr. B doesn't claim it for himself!

Elaine is a fellow tablescaper too so, we made sure to go through the plate aisles thoroughly. Look at what made it into my cart!

 4 sweet squarish salad plates. I can't decide what about them I like most, the shape, the checks, the flowers or the price.

White tags WERE 50% off so I only paid $1.00 each. There are some beauty marks, a few chips and crazing in the glaze but, I {heart} them!

I put this next piece in my cart because I really like the shape.  I also plan to paint it to either display in my office or, on one of the mantle shelves in the family room.

Another white tag, so I was only out $3.50 for it. 

Christmas decor was also discounted 50% so we also made sure to check out all of the holiday decor shelves.

I saw this big metal sled and I knew I had to have it!  I can use it next year for a centerpiece, on the buffet or, I can hang it on the wall by the cord. 

$3.00 was worth paying!

And check out these sweet snowman family napkin rings! I may regret posting them as my mother-in-law LOVES anything to do with snowmen and she may want them for herself.

At only $1.00 I may let her have them...if she makes some homemade cinnamon rolls in exchange for them LOL!

My final purchase was this set of four placemats.

 The birdhouses and blue birds will be perfect for a Spring tablescape.  

Only $1.00 for each placemat!

Elaine had a full cart too and I wish I had taken pictures of the beauties she made off with!  Not to worry, we have decided that we will be getting together more often to hit the thrifts.  Next time she will show me her haunts and then, I will have my turn to show her my little secret stores. 
Have you been lucky enough to make friends with a local blogger? I highly recommend it!

Click here to see where I may be partying this week.
And don't forget to come by on Tuesday's
for the link party.

Grandma's Gingersnap Cookie Recipe

It has become a tradition for the past few Christmas' for me to make a bazillion gingersnap cookies. We give them as hostess gifts for parties we attend and to friends as little gifts. Mr. B has to take a big batch to work too. And then, of course, we have to have some for us to enjoy!

The recipe I use came from Mr. B's beloved Grandma Weinberger. I only had the opportunity to meet her once. Oh the stories I had heard of Grandma Betty!  She cooked and baked all of the time.  When she did step away from the stove she tended to her huge garden or she could be found at the local thrift store.  I knew I would love her as soon as I met her.  She was, after all, the woman I hoped to be! We had gone up to Canada for Thanksgiving several years ago and I got to finally meet my mentor. 

Love of family always came first to Betty.  What better way for her to show her love than through food?  She had two freezers in the basement, filled to the very top with baked goods. A cold room was crammed full of canned veggies grown by her own worn hands. She was a small woman with a little kitchen that out of came the most delectable delights.

The first time I bit into one of her homemade gingersnaps I knew I had to have the recipe.  Of course, she didn't have it written down, she knew it by heart.  So, while she worked away at the stove, I wrote the recipe down as she told it to me. She even divulged her secret ingredient to me.  That one thing that makes them really snap! I cherish the memory even more now as she has since passed away. And now, as my Christmas gift to you, I want to share the recipe too.

Grandma Betty's Gingersnap Cookies

5 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons baking powder

3 teaspoons ground ginger

1 teaspoon cayenne (the secret ingredient!)

1 cup butter, softened (Grandma said to NOT use margarine, EVER, real butter only)

1 1/4 cup white sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 cup molasses

1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, ginger and cayenne.

In a separate bowl cream the butter and sugars until mixed together.  Add the eggs, molasses and vanilla and beat until well combined.  Slowly add the dry mix into the wet ingredients until a uniform dough forms.

Taking a small bit of dough, roll around in your hands to form into ping pong sized balls. With a plate of white sugar, press the balls lightly to coat one side.

Place sugar side up on an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake at 350 degrees until done, about 12 minutes.

Let them cool for a few minutes on the cookie sheet before moving them to a rack to fully cool.

This recipe makes enough for a sweet treat display,

(check out that sweet tiered serving piece I won from a giveaway hosted by my friend Elaine at Creating Wonderful Spaces),

with enough to fill a large cookie jar!

Depending on how big you make your balls, you can expect to get 8 to 12 dozen delicious cookies!  Plenty enough to share...or not ;-) 

They make the perfect snack.  Whether it be with a cup of hot cocoa enjoyed by the lights of the Christmas tree or with a mug of coffee while you read the morning paper or, your favorite blog!

 Click here to see where I may be partying this week.
And don't forget to come by on Tuesday's
for the link party.