Exciting Announcement

Most of you all know that in addition to being a consultant with a gourmet food company, I am also involved with The Beaded Branch jewelry business. We have just marketed our first craft tutorial on how to make our beloved Present Past Treasure pendants. Teri and I are VERY excited about it. Now you have all of the tools at your finger tips to make these beautiful creations. If you would like to read more about how the Present Past Treasure pendants developed please visit the blog of The Beaded Branch by clicking the link! Enjoy!

This week's exciting accomplishment!!

The Beaded Branch is proud to announce their new craft tutorial! As many of you know, in addition to being a gourmet food consultant and school teacher, I am also Teri Landow's business partner with The Beaded Branch. We have created a craft tutorial for our Present Past Treasures pendants. They are available on both our Art Fire and Etsy shops for $10.
http://www.thebeadedbranch.artfire.com
http://www.thebeadedbranch.etsy.com

Cupcakes Galore!!!!!

I have just absolutely fallen in love with the world of cupcakes. They are easy to make, decorate, and clean up. Also you don't have to have someone stand at a table to cut and serve them like you would cake. You can't ask for more! I recently made some out of this world cupcakes for a baby shower. I used a pound cake mix and made my own icing they were FABULOUS! I added little rubber ducky pics to the top and they were absolutely adorable! However, if you want cupcakes and you don't have time to make your own, head on over to my friend Micki's shop. She is the owner of Baby Cakes Online Bakery where you can order gourmet cupcakes for ANY occasion. Next time you have a gathering consider making or ordering cupcakes to make things a little easier.

Beef Tips

Today I have decided to post a super easy recipe from the kitchen of my dear friend Hollie. When my husband and I go to re-enacting events, Hollie is pretty much the company cook. She does a fabulous job! One of our favorite recipes is her Re-enactor's Beef Tips. I hope you enjoy it too!
Re-Enactor Beef Tips

2lbs round steak cut into chunks {I buy the already cut up chunks, it's much easier}
1 can Golden Mushroom soup {the soup is Golden Mushroom, it is different from cream of mushroom}
1 bottle cheap red wine

1/2 pkg Lipton Onion Soup Mix

Place beef in a lined crock pot. Mix wine and soup in a bowl. Pour over beef. Cook in a crock pot on low for 8 hours.

Serves 4

I've Been Tagged!!!!

Ok so Teri of The Beaded Branch tagged me. Now I'm supposed to give 10 facts about myself and tag 10 people. Those 10 people are supposed to tag 10 people and so on and so forth.















1. I play the piano. I am actually the pianist at my church.















2. I'm a civil war reenactor.















3. I love to cross stitch.















4. I met my business partner Teri (owner of The Beaded Branch) in gym class when we were in college.















5. I love to read.















6. I wish I could sew.















7. I'm organized in my brain but not in my house!!!















8. I love going to the drive-in with my husband.















9. I love to travel.















10. I'm an awesome baker.








11. My best friend is the minister's wife.
(Ok I know that's 11 but I'm an over-achiever oops that's 12!)





Those I'm tagging are:







1. Covey Denton http://cjdenton.blogspot.com/







2. Micki http://babycakes1011.blogspot.com/2009/09/big-announcement.html







3. Jennifer Stoll http://ferfchat.blogspot.com/







4. Mary Reid http://satisfyyoursenses.blogspot.com/







5. Teri Landow ( just to tag you back!) http://www.thebeadedbranch.blogspot.com/







6. Kattia http://aleximanievents.blogspot.com/










7. Debbi http://debsgiftboutique.blogspot.com/







8. Rose http://rosestolarz-mommyof2boys.blogspot.com/

Ok I don't have the blogs for many folks so this list has 8 people instead of 10.

Party Favors

I know I haven't blogged recently because I went back to work at my full time job.  However the baby shower was a blast!  When I get pictures I will post them.  

Today I wanted to talk about party favors.  When I was planning the baby shower I didn't want to have the traditional candy or mint favors.  I wanted something unique but most of all USEFUL!  

I contacted Mary Reid owner of Hillside Soaps and Satisfy Your Senses. She custom made baby blue heart shaped soap that had the scent of baby powder.  They were an absolute hit!  I even had one of the guests ask me if she could make lady bug soap! 

 Mary even custom made prizes for me.   The baby shower theme was rubber duckies so she created soap to look like a "lake/pond" and had an actual rubber duck attached to the top!  Mary did a great job!

If you would be interested in contacting Mary Reid for your custom made soaps you can visit her website at http://www.satisfyyoursenses.com.

Event Planners

This blog is just a shout out to the event planners out there!!  

When I was growing up, event planners were just for the rich and famous.  The job of an event planner?  Well it was to help co-ordinate lavish weddings of course!

Well I couldn't have been further from the truth!  Of course event planners can plan weddings but they can help you plan ANY event that you want to be memorable and special.  Right now I am planning a baby shower and I am actually working with an event planner.

My event planner has been absolutely WONDERFUL!  She has come up with some of the most amazing and creative ideas I have ever heard of for a BABY SHOWER!  Of course I can't afford all of the ideas and suggestions but it has definitely helped to get my creative juices flowing.  I can't wait to share the pictures from the shower!!!

So an event planner isn't just for the superstars.  An event planner is for all of us.  It's for those of us who don't have a lot of time.  It's for those of us who want a memorable experience.  It's for those of us who just want help and support.   So the next time you plan to have an extraordinary event, contact an event planner.  You will be glad you did!