I'm back...and very THANKFUL!!

Hi Everyone! Wow...I missed my blog! I have been trying to get back into my routine and it has been a bit hard. But yesterday, I got my cooking on, and all is right in the Marcie world again! I had such a great time getting all of the food ready, and it all tasted so good! Here are some pics:












I finally used my gift from my dear friend Dena...these beautiful monogrammed napkins, just the right touch for my table. I LOVE these Dena! Thank you!

We had a quite thanksgiving...just four of us, but I still cooked like I was feeding 10. :) Thanksgiving is all about those comforts of home, so I had to make everything!

I also made some desserts...the pie is the Pumpkin Banana Mousse Tart by Ina, and a regular Pecan Pie....that I have to have every Thanksgiving.





We then sat outside by the fire, and had more champagne...it was a great night! That is Kristy in the pic. She is a new friend of mine and someone I have LOT in common with. I think I have a lot to learn from her and I look forward to a beautiful friendship! Here she is with my BFF Vivi:


I have a lot to be thankful for...my awesome husband, and wonderful friends. Paul and I are alone here in Florida, so It is nice to have friends that feel like family. My heart is full and life is good!

On to the next bash (or shall I say BASHES)

So, fresh off of Halloween, I am planning 4 parties in a row! For work that is. There is a huge tradeshow in town for the Attraction Industry (IAAPA) beginning Monday. My company sets up a hospitality suite to entertain in each night after the show. This isn't bad...we do it every year and it is pretty common, a bit of food and drink...nothing special.

Well this year, we are trying to make it more memorable...so, for each night, we are theming the suite...to a different decade. Monday is the 60's, Tuesday is the 70's, Wednesday is the 80's, and Thursday is music of the 90's and beyond. This is the invite I designed. We printed these on little credit cards and mailed them in velvet pouches, tucked inside little gold boxes, tied with a black ribbon.



My office is filled with lava lamps and love beads, peace signs, movie posters, candy of the era, pacman, rubix cubes...I am even donating my own disco ball to the cause! What I love about things like this is I get to go hog wild in places like World Market and Whole Foods for wine and food with my corporate credit card...my kind of heaven!

So needless to say, I will be super busy for the next week...I am already tired just thinking about it...and I worry a lot, I don't know why, because I have a team of 5 people helping me make this happen and we have done so much already...just my nature.

I might not get a lot of opportunities to blog for the next week...but I will definitely share photos when I can. I will miss you, my little blog and blog friends...stay tuned...

Hey Jude!

Have I told you how much I love YouTube? I found some vids I just HAD to share...they have nothing to do with cooking or parties, but they make my heart happy...and I hope you love this as much as I do!!!

I have always said that I would each my kids the Beatles...and when I have kids, there will be vids like this of my kids too!

Halloween Leftovers

I have finally got all of my Halloween decorations put away...that was like the end of Christmas...I have 5 big bins filled with stuff!

I did find some things I didn't post so I wanted to share those now...then I am done with Halloween till next year!

This was the set up I put above my kitchen:






I bought the Martha Stewart pom pom kit for above my buffet....they looked great, and were so easy to make, I bought some more tissue paper and made more. We put these in the living room and and above the chocolate fountain.



I also made Cup Cake Pops...that I totally forgot to put out! have you ever done that??


I also made these marshmallows dipped in graham cracker crust for my chocolate fountain dessert...like they do at the Melting Pot Fondue Restaurant...so simple, and a nice detail:




Just set up a little bowl of water, and one of the crumbs....dip in water then dip in the crumbs...and set on a piece of parchment to dry...then you can put into a plastic bag to keep them fresh. You can also do this with the chocolate wafer cookies.

I haven't posted 2008 photos yet, but I wanted to share my website for our party....this has all of the past years, and soon the newest photos...I didn't share it before, because I was kind of embarrased at the buffet tables I set up in the past, and I wanted to really strive to have a different look....and I think I succeeded in doing that, so now you can all see! :)

PIKELWEEN

Goodbye Halloween...now it is time to get baking! I have lots of Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years festivities to prepare...stay tuned!

xoxoxo - Marcie

A gift from France

(Hiya Claudine...I know you will like this one!)

My boss and friend, Steve recently had to go to Cannes, France (I know...terrible job huh!) Here are some of his pics:








Here is his hotel...


This is Steve....he is great, isn't he!

He is the best boss ever, really...he always tells me how amazing and talented I am, he is just awesome and wonderful!!! :)

Whenever he goes on trips, he brings me back things from the region...he went to Greece and brought me back some olive wood salad utensils...just lovely! He went to London and brought me back shortbread cookies from Harrods...so when he went to France, he asked me what I wanted...I said "Sea Salt". For me, the best gifts are things I can use...I love food, jams, spices, olive oil, things I can actually use to cook...love that stuff!

Well, when Steve got back from Cannes, he brought me this adorable little bag of goodies from the Comtesse du Barry:







Here is a shot of the storefront...doesn't this shop look amazing!


He said he had to go to 10 stores to find sea salt...and I LOVE HIM FOR IT! Thanks so much, Steve! You are the best!

My Good Fortune

We got a Pei Wei by the office, and go about once a week...it is owned by PF Changs, and has great food fast! The first time we went...this was my fortune:



It was like a message from my subconscious! Then the following weeks, it kept happening...so I kept taking pictures...this is like a ritual for me now...







Woah...what!



I don't know what it is...but I am on a good fortune streak! What a great marketing gimmick, cuz it keeps me coming back every week...haha!

Ripley Family Picnic

We have a family picnic at work...this is the 2nd year and it is a lot of fun. They ask my husband to take the photos, cuz he is a great photographer, and I always make a slideshow...here is this year's result:



I am loving this version of Hey Ya! by Obadiah Parker...I can't listen to it enough!

The Devil is in the Details

I know, Halloween is over, but I just wanted to post a few more pics, and THEN I will move on! :)





My table centerpiece turned out great. It even goes so well with the painting that is always on the wall. That is because Vivi brought these roses to me...and they really brought the whole look together. Thanks Vivi!



My fang placecard holders from Pottery Barn...yes, they are upside down, but they were easier to read on the buffet this way.


Here is part of the bar outside...

More party pics:







Here I am making the final placement...I did this so much...but it was so helpful to plan this out so when my friends helped me, they knew where to put everything...and at crunch time, you need all the help you can get!!

Pikelween Wrap up

Well...it is over! I can't believe it comes ang goes so fast. I am not feeling so hot...lack of sleep and a little too much booze...but I think I can say a great time was had by all! here are some shots:



Here I am! Getting the food ready..all of these pics are by my dear friend Dena...who served as the official photographer for Pikelween 5. She got some amazing shots...


This is my husband, Slash


Here is my final buffet...the planning paid off, I think it looked really balanced and clean.


Here is a set up I made...using the awesome labels from JOHNNY LOVE! Thanks so much!!



Here is my chocolate fountain. Dena put all the food on the plates and it looks amazing...Thanks DENA!!! I couldn't have done it without you guys! I love you so much!


Here they are...Heath helped me so much too...he was trying really hard to help me get the food out so I could have a good time. Thanks Heath!!!

They are standing below the photo op area we created...I just printed out Pikelween in large letters, glittered them, and we had everyone stop here for a pic. Felt very red carpet! :)


And I could have done it without my girlfriend Viviana...she is amazing and so creative...she made the flower costume for her husband Nick...don't they look so cute! I love you girl...thanks for always giving your time to me so happily...even when I get stressed...I love you!

And just more pics of the party:




Oh, and I wanted to say Congratulations to my friend Leighann...she had to leave early to pick up her daughter, but she won BEST FEMALE at Pikelween this year! She was the Bearded lady...so great!

I will post more photos tomorrow...

Let me know what you think! Thanks for staying tuned during my Pikelween journey...I don't know when the next party will be...cuz after this job, I want to take a long break! But I promise, I'll be back!

Marcie