Showing posts with label party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label party. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Bow Ties for Guys - The Easy Tie Way

Bow Tie are so popular now. I just had to create some fun ties for the coolest guys. I know, the really cool guys know how to tie them, but who has the time? And those little bungee things make your ties all twisty and fall down and are a pain to adjust right?



My ties are on a super comfortable Grosgrain ribbon with velcro closure that is adjustable and so easy to wear. They are even comfortable enough to wear on a bare neck. Women can be styling too. The great thing about them (here comes some technical stuff) is that the ribbon is the same width as the knot, so no twisting and falling. I mean, unless your friends lift your collar for a closer inspection, there's no way they'll know it's not knotted.


































Some ties are made from vintage fabrics, some are my own custom design that I have printed. I can make you, anything you want. This is just a sampling of the fun ties I carry in my shop. Stop by Poppy's Garden Gate for more.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Lets Have a Party


Sunday, October 28, 2012

What's Cooking? Halloween Feast

It's getting so close to Halloween and I know you're having a party. Here are some last minute recipes. You still have time to go out and get these easy ingredients. Some are great for kids, others are adult only (OK you can make the NA version).

These are recycled from older posts. Click on the Title and it will take you right to the recipe.

      Shrimp Brains 











                                                                                                   Snake Sandwich















 Vampire Blood Punch  



These are all my own recipes. The image for the Punch is from Workman and they have their own Punch recipe. Screaming Red Punch it looks pretty good too.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Life on Mars - Gummy Bears and Bruises

Another crazy week in costume hell. DD ordered fabric that was promised and never shipped. She had to rum out and buy more, interrupting her work flow. At the end of last week our NEW serger broke so we had to order another and wait until Tuesday to serge. DD did all her cutting while waiting. Good thinking Poppy.

We really could have used the babysitter all week, but she had things to do, so I had to deal most of the week with the baby and the 9 year old's school. Both boys got a little sick and were a bit whiny. The 15 year old had to go to the clinic and get meds for a sinus infection. By the end of the week, they were feeling a bit better and the sitter was back on the job.

Poppy and I were stressed and got into a big fight. There was lots of yelling and crying. But the puppy is finally starting to sleep at night. She seems to settle down when it's dark out. I love that in her. She actually slept one whole night all the way through. But mostly she only wakes once to go out. I don't mind that at all. I guess she was just too young when we got her. She was only 7 weeks. Now she's a very mature 10 weeks.

Luna in Gummy Bear costume 
The mother in law was putting on a Halloween Party at our clubhouse this weekend. Besides being a little off normally, she gets even worse in the fall. The stress of putting on a party by herself makes it even worse. She told the older boy that her party will be much better than the one his mother did. That was the best party our association ever had and he was very offended. She has a habit of offending the kids. Like when the middle one almost lost his eye and she bought a gift for the girl that instigated the accident and not her own injured grandson.

I was supposed to be helping Poppy with the costumes, but when I took the dog for a walk and stopped in the clubhouse, there was nothing there, no decorations, no dishes for the chips she bought, no food at all, just a few posters on the wall. I took the pup back home and got the middle boy, the baby, and our decorations, and we went back and decorated. I set out all the chips and helped as much as I could. There wasn't much there to work with. I wasn't really in the mood, because I was getting sick too.

I left when the baby got cranky, but there were only 2 kids at the party and I could't stand listening to the Pumpkin Patch Polka one more time. No kid over 3 would be interested in that garbage. I have no idea where she found that horrid Halloween CD, but it was scarier than chains and screams.

Dink with Bruised Cheek
After Luna napped a bit. Poppy took her back down and the 15 yr old went with his dad to decorate more. The party had gotten bigger, more kids came. The older boy doesn't like parties and came back. Asked me if I heard about the middle child. He fell and injured his face and had to go to the hospital. I went down to the clubhouse and there he was with a bag of ice on his face and arm.

I guess the swelling went down, because everyone said he looked better. I thought he looked like a zombie. Huge raised bruise and small cut on his cheekbone. He could barely move his arm. I checked him out and it seemed like just bruises, but they took him to the ER later just to be sure. That one needs a padded helmet with goggles and protective clothing.

At least when I walked the pup Sunday Morning at 5 am, I got to see just one meteor flash by Orion's thigh. I didn't even have my glasses on. That's the good thing about the stinking puppy.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Bizz Buzz - Retention and Rewards

Seller sites for e-commerce. It's almost like they think THEY are what makes them what they are, and you should be grateful that you have a venue to sell on. Did you know that YOU are what makes them what they are and THEY should be grateful to have you there?

Today I received a Congratulations from eBay. I've been a seller there for 6 years (actually Poppy started the shop and I took it over 4+ years ago). I've probably had 4000 - 5000 sales, maybe more as I have over 1900 feedback and the rate of feedback is 50% or even less now that you can't leave negative feedback for buyers, no matter how bad they are and how they shaft you. You think Etsy is bad? Try selling on eBay. And now they can have PayPal hold your funds if you are new, sell out of your category, or sell an item over $250. Whaaaaat?????

Back to my  notification from the President and CEO of eBay. After 6 years of making them money (decent money too with the fees they charge) Did I get a one day discount on fees? No. Did I get a gift certificate for an eBay Purchase? No. Did I get Cake and Ice Cream? No. Well what the hell did you get?


I sold on eBay for 6 years and mad them, I guess about $4000 in that time (averaging sales) and all I got was a lousy virtual certificate that I had to print myself. They suggest that I print it and display it proudly. Does it have my name on it? No. Does it say how many years I've been a seller? No. Does it have Balloons and Ribbons? Yes. So here I am, displaying proudly this piece of crap that means absolutely nothing and isn't even personalized so you have to take my word for the fact that I've been a seller there for 6 years.

In case you didn't get it, I'm not proud of this piece of crap. And this is not a Reward or a way to Retain sellers. As a matter of fact I'm pretty pissed. I was thinking about re-opening a store and now I just feel like dirt and I'd like to sell at a venue that genuinely cares. Or one that takes the time to at least have the computer generate a certificate with my shop name and the total years on it. After all, it's just virtual. How about an anniversary discount eBay? How about a free listing day on your anniversary?

Oh and eBay? Thank you for making my day.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

What's Cooking? - Vampire Blood Punch

Punch Bowl from Leonord1.etsy.com
Having a Party and Not sure what beverage to serve? Well if you really want to liven up the party serve my Vampire Blood Punch, but take away your guests keys and make up the guest rooms. This one is wicked sneaky and you don't want to be responsible for Out of control behavior. But on Halloween, it's so much fun.

Very Simple recipe, just add ingredients and stir. I like to add ice cubes embedded with plastic, insects, fingers, anything to gross out my guests. The beverage is wonderfully dark and concealing so the surprises don't really show until they bottom up. I am so wicked.

VAMPIRE BLOOD PUNCH

2 - 2 liter bottles of Cherry Strawberry Soda
2 - 2 liter bottles of Dr Pepper Soda
1 liter of vodka

Sunday, October 2, 2011

What's Cooking? - Shrimp Brains

Aaah Halloween. We love it here in this household. We always have a feast after Trick or Treat. For the next few weeks I'm going to share some of our favorite Halloween recipes.

This is an old recipe, you might remember it from the 80s. But the twist is to put it in a brain shaped mold.  Add some Red Pepper "Bloody Fingers" and Green Olive "Monster Eyes" to pretty it up.

SHRIMP MOLD

2 cans shrimp, drained and chopped, or 2 cups cooked chopped shrimp
8 oz package cream cheese
1 can tomato soup
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 cup cold water
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
dash of Tabasco

Melt cream cheese and soup in a saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat. Add gelatin to cold water and dissolve. Add gelatin mixture to soup mixture. Add shrimp, vegetables and mayonnaise and mix well. Pour into oiled mold. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

To unmold, place mold in warm water for a minute. Put your plate on open side of mold and quickly invert. Your "brains" should fall out easily. Serve as a spread with your favorite crackers. For super gross, bloody brains, drizzle a bit of ketchup around the "brain" it won't really affect the taste much, because the mold already contains tomato.
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