Dance/Theater Costumes for DIY Party Centerpieces

Real dance or some theater costumes can be

recycled into cute party centerpieces.

We have 2 white foam core body shapes

that work for most all costumes and

their matching head pieces.

The costume size that works best is Size 8-10.

But just about ANY size will work with

some stretching or pinning in on 

larger ones.

We've even made centerpieces that

make use of the dancing shoes.

We can make a little shelf for the

heavier shoes to sit on OR you can

hang light ones like ballet shoes 

with ribbons.  The design can even be 

customized with your party title and in 

your party colors.

We can send this party decoration above completely

finished to you or we can send the white foam core

forms for you to dress. 

Here's the instructions

that show how easy it is to do.

Or, here's another idea to display

those beautiful costumes that may have

been used in a theater play production.  

Put the name of the play, 

the year and a photo from the play along

with the original costume on a big piece of foam core.

What a fun memory to display at the party.

Dance themes are so fun!

Email us if we can help with

any of your Do It Yourself projects.

Or, if you want us to Do It For You.

Smaller Candle Lighting Centerpieces

There's a trend going on to make Candle Lighting

Ceremonies quicker and shorter. 

This one had only 10 candles to light.

I don't think Candle lighting ceremonies will

 ever stop though because they are fun and heart-warming.

So I think they'll stick around.

But smaller can be good also.

Here's some with 3 candles.

 This one had seven assorted kinds.

Things are evolving. Let's move with it.   

We can do cut out names like the top one

on the black base that was made to free stand.

It can stand on a table with as 

few candles as you need surrounding it.

Then we can make a matching name for

the Sign In Board....and viola!...simple 

yet coordinated. Sometimes that's
all you need.

Healthy fluffy egg white omelet

OMG....my breakfast this weekend.

I eat this and I dance out the door I 

feel so healthy.

I feel like my body should be singing my

praises and thanking me all day long for

giving it such a delicious and healthy treat.

(Actually, it's just the opposite of the feeling I get

whenever I indulge in White Castles or

spareribs.....which I do....I'll admit to it.

I slink out the door.)

 It's a fluffy egg white veggie omelet.

No hashbrowns.....carrots instead.

Dry toast...but with strawberry jelly.

It was from Sunny's Cafe in

West Bloomfield, MI.

I had to drop some party

decorations off early this weekend

about 2 miles away

and I headed right over afterwards to

Sunny's and had me some fluffy omelet right after! 

 It makes me wonder why I don't eat one

of these EVERY morning!

 

Photo Placecards and Table Numbers

I was drinking a cup of coffee and

scrolling thru my iphotos and I came

across these really cute placecards we did

awhile ago and I didn't post a picture of them.

 

Murray Goldenberg, a great local Michigan

photographer, did the photo shoot of the

Bat Mitzvah girl in various poses holding

a white card. She changed clothing as 

well as poses so this made for some interesting

and fun photos to work with. It was hard to

pick a favorite because they were ALL good.

 

We made the placecards for each guest and

a matching table number for each table that

stood on the table with beautiful flowers and

silver candles in assorted styles of clear

glass candle sticks.

 

This was elegant and cool all

at the same time and featured lots of

purple....one of my most favorite colors.

Did I ever tell you I have a purple leather jacket

and once owned a purple car? 

That proves I'm tell 'ya the truth.

Inexpensive Memory Books for Parties

We make these 'easy-on-the-budget'

MEMORY BOOKS

for parties such as

birthdays, sweet 16's, graduations,

bar/bat mitzvahs or weddings. 

                                                       

They are big (12" x 16") and

glossy and have just enough (20)

pages for party goers and only $65.

Here's some fun ones we've also 

done to give you some ideas.

Send us an email and we'll design

one up for you.

marlyss@mac.com

My kind of Smoothie...3 hours of power!

I LOVE Smoothies.

 

These are my favorite ingredients that 

I use over and over.

 

1. FROZEN STRAWBERRIES

Sometimes with mixed berries but I'm not

fond of the seeds in the raspberries.

2. ORANGE JUICE CONCENTRATE

I always use it undiluted and straight

from the box from Gordon's or can from

the supermarket.

3. MILK 

Often soy milk but regular skim 

milk works for me too...never

ice cream. Although I think it 

would be good but defeat the

healthy factor.

 

4. YOGURT

Always fat free or low fat and

often Vanilla flavored. I always try for

Greek yogurt because I think it's better for you.

 

5. CARROTS

Baby carrots are sweeter. If they add some

crunch, so what. I love that.

 

6. FROZEN BROCCOLI

I put 2 or 3 florets in. It doesn't turn the

smoothie green and you can't taste it. I call

it my secret ingredient. My granddaughter knows

that "secret ingredient" means broccoli and often asks if I've put

in the secret ingredient and smiles at me. Hey, broccoli

is good for you.

 

7. ALMONDS

Any kind of almonds work but the sliced ones really

blend up nice.

 

8. ALMOND FLAVORING

Gordon's Food Service has a nice big bottle for

a reasonable price. I use it so much I need a big 

bottle. I love almond flavoring and really notice

the difference if I forget it.

 

9. BANANAS

A must!!  I can't believe I forgot to put that

in the picture. But I'm telling you. A banana

is a must-have ingredient. I love bananas.

I keep some peeled frozen bananas in my 

freezer and if I'm out of fresh ones, I always

have a stock in the freezer to pop one or 

two into the smoothie.

10. OPTIONAL INGREDIENT 1

Powdered protein powder. Sometimes I

have it...sometimes not. It's not a must but

something I use sometimes.

 

11. OPTIONAL INGREDIENT 2

Ginger root. I love the taste of fresh ginger.

I just have trouble keeping a fresh piece

hanging around in my refrigerator or remembering

to buy a new piece. But when I

do, I'll grate some up or put in a few slices.

Slices don't blend up well and you end up having

to chew a few pieces so getting out the grater is

really the best option. But it's just another thing to

have to clean. Sometimes I get too lazy.

12. A PRETTY GLASS

It tastes so much better in a pretty glass.

I often use my Mom's crystal glass for my 

smoothie and put the extra in another glass and

keep refilling my crystal glass. EVERYTHING tastes

better in a pretty glass but especially smoothies.

I just use a regular blender but I'm thinking of

getting a Ninja blender that holds 72 ounces or that one 

from Costco that costs an arm and a leg. If I ever do bite

the bullet and pop for an upgrade,

 I'll post an update on it.

I'm also thinking of getting some kale to add on a regular

basis but I've added spinach in the past and it 

 turns the smoothie a St. Patrick's 

Day Shamrock green and the kids around here 

really are turned off by green smoothies.

I think I need to branch out and try new ingredients 

but these are the ingredients I really love and this 

smoothie gives me 3 hours of a 

powerfully full feeling of healthy happiness.

Not your ordinary totem pole

Hey...sometimes you just have to give 

folks some big kudos.

I'm sure this tree had to be cut

down for some reason and

these folks went to a whole

bunch of effort and expensive to

make what was probably a sad 

decision into something creative

and beautiful and show stopping to me.

I was driving along a road in my 

neighborhood and WOW...there was this

big fish and turtle.

I jumped out of the car and started snapping pictures

with my trusty iPhone.

The guy across the street yelled over to me

"Isn't that great!" and I confirmation that

it sure was. He then informed me that it 

cost $1,000. 

Now here's some folks that sure made

some good lemonade from the lemon of 

having to lose their tree that was in a

prime time spot at the end of their driveway.

Now every time they drive in and out of their 

driveway, they get to admire it. 

And every time I drive down

their street, I'll be admiring it also.

It sure beats the other style of tree 

stump salvage decorations. This one

is in my neighborhood also.

Sorry....no kudos here.

Magnolia Tree Heart Break

 I have a Magnolia tree in my yard.

I transplanted it from my previous house and

it was the only thing I brought over. 

I love this tree but it has a painfully brief time of

beauty in the spring.

This year it was even more brief.

I went out over the weekend and took the pictures in

the top photo. I took some really close ups with the macro

lens on my iphone. The tree looked exquisite.

Monday we got a frost.

Of course.

It's still March. 

Whew....Glad I at least have the pictures 

because I now have a brown tree in my yard.

Another reason I love my iphone.

The boss

The whole house to pick from and my

Daisy picks my favorite fleece with

the zipper pocket I love to put my 

iphone in to keep it safe.

I couldn't bear to move her.

I had thrown my fleece on the floor at the 

top of the stairs and I had to walk 

around her all day as she siesta'd.

As I traveled up and down the stairs

in various times of the day, she never

budged. She had laid claim to it and

was staying put. 

 She's 'da boss and

I know it.

Restaurants Around Town

SIEGEL'S DELI

Love the fact that they had the

courage to put an Unhealthy 

omelet on their menu AND make you feel

guilty if you ordered it. Mama is looking 

out for you!

FAMOUS DAVE'S

Who feels like doing math after

you've stuffed yourself with ribs?

 Thanks Famous Dave's for

making life both delicious and easy. 

MAIN STREET TAVERN

Really?? Only Bud Light on tap?

With all the really wonderful craft beers brewed

in Michigan and you only have Bud Light on tap??

Well, at least they only charge $2.50 for

the crap. But if it was free, I still wouldn't

drink it.

THE BREAKFAST CLUB
Commerce, Michigan
Oh Yeah.....sweet place.
Right to the very end.
I want my check always brought to me
like this.

My Amaryllis plants are like people

I planted both of these bulbs on

the same day in December. They looked to

be the same size bulb from the outside

but who knew what was going on inside.

They were placed in the same spot by

my kitchen sink so I could keep 

them sufficiently watered in an easy way.

Turns out they are like people. They

grow up at their own pace.

I'll bet if I were still in school I could

write a whole essay on how people are

like amaryllis flowers. Instead I'll just ponder 

on how much my name

Marlyss is like Amaryllis...especially if

you take away the A.

What is it about those Chipmunks??

What is it about those darling

chipmunks? 

I taped the movie on my Dish Network.

I was watching it last night and...darn it...

I fell asleep. Not because I wasn't just

enjoying it like crazy. I was sleepy.

I just love them.

I have Alvin scream at me when

I get a text message on my phone.

He goes:

"text message, Text Message.

TEXXXTTTTT MESSSAGE!!!"

I never get over loving it.

Now little Eleanor is my computer screen saver.

I'm so hooked.

Is there no hope for me?

I'm too old for this. 

Or not. I guess there is no 

age limit on chipmunk love.

Inexpensive Memory Books for theme parties

Last year we started making these

simple and inexpensive 

Memory Books for parties.

We've made them for Bar/Bat Mitzvahs,

Sweet 16's and Birthday Parties.

The book is 12" x 16" and have 20 

big pages inside. The cover is a 

glossy bright white so any color 

decorations look good on it.

They are only $65. plus shipping and

often can ship with other items that

are ordered so the shipping costs nothing.

We just slide it into the box with other things.

We like making one-of-a-kind things because

we often have to make multiples of things and 

that's takes so much more time. It's why we

also like making Gift Card Boxes for their

unique and one-of-a-kind qualities.

I hope we get to make many more Memory

Books this year in 2012 'cuz we like to do them. 

Front Porch Holiday Decorations

Well...last year it was around March before

I decided to remove the decorations.

It probably will be the same this year.

I'm in no hurry about it at all.

A fatal fall we couldn't save her from

My Mother always worried about falling.

We installed an extra stair rail. 

We installed bars in the bathroom. 

My brother put a rail by the front porch and 

one in the garage by the entry into the house. 

We taped down the rugs. 

My Mother steadied herself with a rolling walker and had a cane. 

Yet she still fell and sustained a fatal bleed on her brain 

from which she died on November 7th, 2011.

Now it's January 1, 2012.

Pickin' up life here again on this blog.