What's New...

I just added a new recipe section to the recipe page...  Crock Pot Favorites!  I listed two great soup recipes that I love to make for parties.  Soup is a fantastic party food that is often overlooked.  Three Pepper Sausage Soup and Simple Italian Wedding are super yummy!   More recipes to come!

Recipe of the Day...

Three Pepper Sausage Soup

Ingredients:
1 large box chicken broth
1 large can tomato sauce
1 onion-chopped
3 celery stalks-chopped and some celery leaves as well
1/2 of a green, red and yellow pepper-chopped
1/3 of a regular can of spinach
5 Italian sausage links-Mild, hot or sweet(which ever you prefer)
Noodles-egg or shells - cooked separate
Salt and pepper

Chop vegetables and cook in a skillet with a few tablespoons butter and salt and pepper.
Add all ingredients into a crock pot.  Cook on low in crock pot for about 6 hours, at least.  Cut up sausage into bite size pieces.  Add cooked noodles with soup when serving and garnish with some cheese (Mozzarella or Parmesan)  Enjoy!  Very flavorful!  No other seasonings needed!

Woodland Christmas tree w/ white lights, berries, pine cones, ice, a rusty star and pheasant feather.

Woodland Christmas decorations are among my favorite kind.  Any natural elements can make great decorations for a woodland style tree. 

Country Christmas tree with handmade ornaments and garland

I hand painted these ornaments for a home spun look. 

How-to for Country Garland:  Take different plaid materials in various colors and styles.  Cut into strips about 1in x 5in long, depending on the look you want for your garland.  Begin tying together in simple knots, attaching another strip, then another and so forth, until you reach the desired length.  Alternate ribbon styles and colors.  It is time consuming, but so super, country cute!  I have had this garland for years.  Spray it with a little country fresh fragrance for an extra touch.  I also made the star from the material I used in the garland.  Have a Merry Country Christmas!

Sports Banners - Pittsburgh -Pens, Steelers, Black & Yellow, etc.

Camp Adventures Birthday Banner

Birthday Girl Banner

Princess Banner

Sweet 16 / Diva Banner

Zebra and Hot Pink 18th Birthday Banner

Great Baby Shower Idea!

The cake inside is dyed pink or blue, to revile the sex of the baby, when the mom-to-be cuts the cake!!!  What a great idea and surprise for all of the guests!  I know what color it is, but I'm not telling.  ; )

Ladybug Themed 1st Birthday Party

Ladybug 1st Birthday Party

Next week, I will post pictures from a wonderful Ladybug party.  I will be doing the sweet treats, custom banners and cupcake tree toppers.   The sweet treats include an amazing cake (design by Pink Cake Box-- www.pinkcakebox.com ) ladybug cake pops and cupcakes with fondant ladybugs on leaves.  It's going to be very special! 

Ladybug party supplies available on http://www.1stbirthdayparty.com/ .

So check back next weekend to see all the goodies.  If you would like to order ladybug banners, treats bags or sweets, email me:  samanthaeyth@vzw.blackberry.net 

Custom Birthday Banners - Ladybug 1st Birthday

Custom Birthday Banners

Ladybug 1st Birthday - Cupcake Tree Topper - custom made by S S Party Theme

Recipe of the Day---Snowball Cookies!

Snowball Cookies---Light and delicate and oh so easy!

 1 cup softened butter
 1/2 cup powdered sugar
 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
 1/4 cup cornstarch
 1/2 tsp. vanilla
 more powdered sugar for coating. 

Heat oven to 350, cream butter, add other ingredients and mix well.  Add more flour until dough may be formed into balls.  Roll into balls, bake about 9 minutes or until set and just golden brown on bottom.  Watch they don't burn.  Roll in powdered sugar gently.  So light and delicate!  Can add different flavorings or nuts, etc.  Yum!

Christmas Snowball Cookies!

Make them Cooler Cookies!

Key Lime Coolers, Lemon Coolers

~Just add 1 tsp. of real juice and 1 tsp. zest, flatten cookies after rolling into balls. 

Snowman Cupcakes!

These snowman cupcakes are cute addition to any Christmas party!

1.  Make two chocolate covered pretzel sticks for each cupcake.
2.  Make one marshmallow snowman face for each cupcake, with chocolate dots for eyes and mouth.  Use orange frosting for the nose.  Let dry.
3.  Frost cupcakes with white butter cream.
4.  Place marshmallow head and pretzel sticks.
5.  Sprinkle with edible glitter and other decorations, if desired.

So cute, so easy!  Perfect for a snowy themed Christmas party!

Christmas Party!!!

     Soon I will be posting pictures of a wonderful Christmas party!  The theme is... "The Key to Christmas is Love!"  *Including a super sweet dessert table by Samantha's Sweets.  The party, thrown by my sweet sister-in-law Rachel, will have an elegant color scheme of red, white and silver. 
    Rachel will be providing fun games for the kids and adults.  We are having an "Ugly Christmas Sweater" contest, which should produce lots of laughs!
     Remember my party tip, B.Y.O.C.D., bring your own covered dish?  That is an important tip when throwing a party around the holidays, when money is tight.  Everyone is glad to bring something great to eat for the party!  Guests will be bringing lots of yummy food and I, of course, will handle the desserts, including...  gingerbread cupcakes with spiced butter cream, snowball cookies, chocolate fudge brownies, chocolate turtle cake (caramel and pecans), peppermint cookie pops and various Christmas candies.  I know it will be a hit!
     Rachel will be decorating with lots of lights, white table clothes, silver candle sticks with red candles. 
     I will post pictures and how-to information soon.  I hope and pray that YOU have a lot to celebrate this Christmas!!!

For brownie and snowball cookie recipes, go to my recipe page on this site.  And as always, feel free to post or email questions anytime.  : )

Transform old tutus into fun Christmas tutus, for your special little elf.

Simply tie bells to ribbon strains and hot glue the tops of each ribbon to the elastic top of the tutu.  Jiggle Bell Rock!