January is cold . . . .

Had another game night last night. It was also a very secret surprise party for my sister Sara. Ok, so it wasn't so secretive. She was very aware of it being two days after her birthday and I happened to mention my ideas for her birthday cupcakes a couple of times. I'm sure she was still very surprised - not.

This January has been particularly cold, in my opinion anyway. I've been thinking about my garden a lot. Since I can't take a liesurely stroll through it anytime soon, I decided to set he table for game night in a garden type of way. My Mom got me started on the Pfaltgraf pattern Naturewood. I LOVE it. I now have several pieces. I also have napkin rings that look like old flower pots. How perfect is that? I'm sure nobody caught on to the fact that it was single digits outside and my place settings were meant for weather temperatures above 65. Either way, I was very happy with it. I also had a liitle Valentine's day put in for good measure.
Just can't see that in the picture.



Here's Sara with her birthday cupcakes that she knew nothing about (nudge, nudge, wink, wink).



Here's a close-up of the cupcake stand. I got the idea for the dice on the cupcakes off the web somewhere. The colors came from the Mickey Mouse dishes I got from Sara for Christmas that I used for snacks during the games. She got them from a Walt Disney World gift shop. When I saw them I really wanted to get them, but I was supposed to be getting gifts for other people, not me. She was awesome and picked them up. I knew I was getting them and couldn't wait the month and a half till Christmas! I should have taken a picture of them to show you, put you can see the colors on the cupcakes.



Here's the cupcakes close-up. Taking orders now!



And finally, here's everybody at game night last night. Winners of game night were Mike, Sara's husband, and Michele. Eric was happy because Michele gave Eric the prize. That's SO Eric-like.



Did I happen to mention that it's been a really cold January. It inspired me to make the decorations for my front door.



Well, stay warm! Time to plan next month's game night!
Jill

Been a while since I posted again. Christmas has been busy. Below is our annual Christmas dinner pic I take every year at my Mom's house. I love that you can see the snow outside - makes it more of a Norman Rockwell painting feeling.

Below are some of my favorite ornaments on my tree this year. The reason for the postcard ornament below is obvious.

November's trip to Disney World was my third. The other two I didn't get to see the Hall of Presidents with the wax figures. This time I really wanted to, and I figured I would be able to because it was just my sister and I, no kids. Well, I got go and this ornament is a reminder.

My Mom knows I really love blown glass ornaments. For the last several years she's been getting me them for Christmas. She also knows I have a thing for cupcakes. With the below ornament she captured both!

Alyssa had no idea she was getting an Staples Easy Button for Christmas. Every time she saw the commercial on TV she would say she wanted one. I would always say, "You know, it doesn't really work." When she opened it up, she actually gave me a hug. I wonder if she realizes it doesn't really work.

Hope everyone's Christmas was merry and New Year's is happy.