Maybe This World Needs Prayer, a Group Hug, and a Milk and Cookies Party!

photo:www.adoreevents.biz

and you think i'm kidding, right?

nope!

really, after this week. . .

year. . .

decade. . .

there's a whole lot of sense to this.

to me anyways:)

prayer is a given.

number one on the list.

because nothings really gonna change without it.

prayer and love. . . . .and Faith in God.

and a moral wake up call.

and some good ol' simple, Christian values.

but at least, let's start with prayer.

a group hug. . . .

you know what i mean by this, right?

there's so much hate floating around out there,

and while we can't "hug" everyone,

we can care.

and love.

and pray for them.

which is kind of like a group hug:)

and when all else fails,

we can throw an awesome party for those we care about.

a comforting, reassuring, 

remind you of innocent days kind of party.

like maybe a 

milk and cookies party!

i told you i wasn't kidding:)

actually, Robert Fulghum said it best in his book

All I Really Need to Know

 I Learned in Kindergarten

(one of my favorite books EVER)

“Think what a better world it would be if we all. . . .the whole world. . . .had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down with our blankies for a nap. Or if all governments had as a basic policy to always put things back where they found them and to clean up their own mess.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are. . . .when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.” Robert Fulghum

LOVE THAT QUOTE!

some of the pictures i'm gonna show you are

from a child's birthday,

which, in my opinion, is genius!

i mean, what else does a 1 or 2 year old even need for their party?

it's brilliant and adorable...what more is there?

other pictures are from weddings.

oh yes, some people know how to do it.

a rustic wedding, with great decorations and themed dessert tables,

like a milk and cookies table, a cupcake and ice cream cone table. . . .

and instead of confetti or rice, they throw sprinkles.

(are you listening girls?  because i know one of you

will let me plan a wedding reception like this someday:)

anyway, i hope you like these ideas.

and what am i trying to say here. . . .

oh heck, how could you not like them:)

alrighty then, let's get started!

photo: www.occasionsonline.com

i mean, these babies in their rustic chic setting should convince you,

but if not. . . .

this bride and groom have milk and cookies for the ride home.

cute:)

and some awesome party favors. . . . .

photos: www.swankypear.com, 

am i convincing you yet that this is a great idea?

photo:www.greenweddingplannerblog.com

photos: www.libbyjamesblog.com, party-wagon.com
 no one says you can't have other stuff at your party,
personally i think whoopie pies would be a fabulous idea too:)
photo below:shop.andersruff.com

 photo: glitterweddings.com

and because i'm kinda nice,

most of the time(;)

i'll share a few recipes with you.

one is mine, and it is a repost from a few years back,

but it's been pinned a lot of times so i'll make it simple and share with you.

These are so good, so white and sugary and look pretty wrapped in a

clear cellophane bag and tied with a ribbon.

Oh my gosh, I'm making myself hungry for sugar cookies at 9:30 in the morning!

*note. . . .these are not cut-out sugar cookies to decorate, but more like a classic

sugar cookie you would buy in a bakery.

you know, back in the day:)

AMISH SUGAR COOKIES:

Beat Well:

1 C Sugar

1 C Powder Sugar

1 C Butter

1 C Corn Oil (We used Canola Oil)

~~~ Beat the above ingredients, then add in:

2 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

1 tsp Cream of Tarter

1 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Salt

4 1/2 C Flour

mix thoroughly

Baking Directions:

Drop a heaping tsp on greased or parchment lined cookie sheet.

Flatten with a glass bottom dipped in sugar.

Bake at 350 for 10-12 min. or till edges are golden.

(we add a sprinkle of sugar when they come out too. . . what can i say:)

not in the mood for sugar cookies?

how about some big, soft, ginger cookies!

 go to allrecipes for the yummy recipe:)

 that's it for today.

i hope you have a milk and cookies kind of day:)

xoxo

Suzanne

More Precious than Gold. . . .

i love flowers.

even more, i love receiving flowers. . . .

who wouldn't, right?

i remember when my girls were younger, 

they walked to and from school.

it was so great. . . .i often felt we lived in Mayberry,

it just seemed so cute and old-fashioned.

probably the best part of them being able to walk

to school, was how every day

they would pick flowers for me on the way home.

they came running to the front door, 

dropping their backpacks on the porch,

screaming my name,

holding out a bouquet of beautiful flowers. . . .

red, yellow, white.

beautiful!

precious!!

i loved those flowers and whether there were 2 or 12 stems,

they went into a vase in a prominent place in the kitchen.

always.

they made me so happy. . . .

and my girls were so proud of their gift.

now, have i mentioned that these "flowers"

were actually weeds? 

we called them wildflowers. . .

but you and i know a dandelion is basically a weed.

maybe a beautiful yellow weed but still. . . .

especially when the fluff has blown away by the time they got home.

there were others. . . .little berry colored ones.

but they were still a treasure to me.

i guess i feel a need to remind young mothers out there,

that the best gifts they will ever receive,

besides an "i love you",

a sloppy kiss or a big hug from their child,

is the broken seashell, shiny rock, or colorful weed they so proudly give.

. . . . . treasure these gifts, for they are 

far more precious than gold.

hugs,

Suzanne

PINK Milk and Cookies.......

MILK + COOKIES = HAPPINESS!

they just go together......

they are a reminder of childhood days......

they are maybe the ULTIMATE comfort food!

they make you smile.......

they are just plain a HAPPY treat!

so what are we waiting for?
let's have some milk and cookies!

first up,
we have some ADORABLE cupcake cookies
on a stick.......with white milk.  OOPS:)

 pretty pink toile cookies from
the enchanted oven

pink dress cookies...pretty enough to actually wear:)

and if your pink milk and cookies party

includes some big girls too,

these bustier cookies are So PRETTY!

but for some simple,

you KNOW they will taste good cookies,

just put some pink coloring in your favorite cookie dough.

even better......substitute pink m & m's.

now i know there are actual "recipes" out there.

but why complicate something?
(i'm lazy:)

like i said.......pink food coloring works for me:)

click for some real recipes if you prefer.......(pink cookies)

now, if you're REALLY ambitious,

or have a special child to celebrate,

how about a pink milk and cookies SILHOUETTE party?

 how precious are these cookies?

(found at sippystix)

like the straws?

get yourself some some pretty straws here.......

add some pink milk,

and you have a PINK Milk and Cookies Party:)

OR......you could make your own Strawberry Milk,

courtesy of scrum dilly-do!

In a blender, mix the following:

Ingredients:

*1/2 cup milk

*1/2 cup frozen strawberries

*1/2 teaspoon vanilla or 2 tablespoons Ovaltine

*blender

*whipped cream and sprinkles (optional)

YUM-MY!

and while this last one isn't a cookie,

it looks so fluffy and delicious.....

and it's pink!

it's a strawberry milkshake whopper marshmallow 

cake from (culinary concoctions by peabody) 

here's all you need to do;

Strawberry Milkshake Whopper Marshmallow Cake
Classic White Cake(recipe follows)
Marshmallow Frosting(recipe follows)
Strawberry Milkshake Whoppers(two 6 ounce boxes)

or you could take the easy, lazy way out.......like me:)

BUY a cake mix,

some frosting and whoppers .......instant cake!

see......milk and cookies.

happiness.

childhood memories.

comfort!

and pink saturday:)

thanks to Beverly from How Sweet the Sound.

and happy saturday to all the other pink saturday ladies!

check them out here.......

XOXOSuzanne

Easter Parade...

don't you love this time year?
spring, EASTER...
it's such a beautiful time.

I remember when i was a little girl,
it also meant something else.
it was a time to go shopping with my mom for
a new PRETTY Easter dress...
there was just something about it that i'll never forget.
every little girl at church paraded in on Easter Sunday with their
Easter Dress...and sometimes a new hat/bonnet,
new little purse or matching shoes.
for some reason, i remember we could actually wear white...
before labor day...
as in white patent leather mary janes and
white sandals.

the colors were all so pretty!
i remember my favorite dress EVER.
it was a pretty robin's egg blue and white...
kind of like a "Heidi" dress.
it looked a little like this...

awwww...it brings back such memories:)

and when my own girls were little, i dressed them up...

and they were always matching:)

but i also remember it seemed to end at an earlier age than when i was a kid..

now, i'm wondering...and HOPING...

that girls still dress up for church.

in particular, Easter Sunday.

cause if they don't, they're missing out on something special.

look at these sisters from way back...

makes me wish i had a photo like this:)

truly the good ol' days!

down here in casual Florida, 

pastels and sundresses seem to ALWAYS be in.

but up north, where i grew up,

it's just one more sign of spring.

nothing like an EASTER parade to get you in the springtime mood:)

Easter Parade by shabbychicks 

 i also remember how we went to Florida when i was young...

and they had an Easter Bonnet parade.

it was soooo much fun making up cute, quirky hats.

i could be wrong but i vaguely remember dressing up one of my nieces.

memories:)

look at some of the clever Easter Bonnets and dresses in these parades...

Sweet Southern Belles...

 ADORABLE little girls in their bonnets...

WOW...these are amazing:)

they're wearing a whole Easter basket on their head!

i hope this family won...

 

and maybe after the parade, or for Easter brunch,

how about some PRETTY 

Easter Bonnet cookies!

isn't this so much fun?

tell me, did you get a new Easter dress or 

make a bonnet when you were younger?

if so, what did your favorite look like?

Happy Sunday!

xoxoxo

Suzanne

Happy Fall, Ya'll...Come on in for some recipes, crafts and...

i've been wanting to say that...

 just kinda makes you smile:)

AND...i've been wanting you to see my blog makeover.
let me know what you think!
goodbye (for now) pale...hello bright, fall color!

okay...

WELCOME TO THE SHABBY CHICKS FALL OPEN HOUSE!

first up... come on in and grab a candy corn tutu...

 it's okay...their cute and fun...

and no one will ever know you wore one:)

great!

now, how about some warm apple pie oatmeal?

oh YUM!!!!!

we're all about quick, easy and delicious food around here...

and this fits the bill perfectly.

simple to make...

slice up apples and place in large ziplock.

shake with brown sugar and cinnamon.

saute in a bit of butter till perfectly tasty and soft.

 make a big batch of your favorite oatmeal...

place a spoonful in the bottom of the bowl and a heaping serving on top.

add milk or heavy cream if desired and go ahead...

devour!

 (that's what we did. hahaha)

let's talk crafts...

and sweaters...

SWEATER CRAFTS!

it seems sweater pumpkins were HUGE last year.

 (they're still pretty popular cause they're so DANG cute!

I even got in on it.

and now we have SWEATER VASES!

they're all over the place and last night we made a few...

what do you think?

 not bad for a quick and simple craft, huh?

okay, i am terrible about doing a tutorial but trust me,

google sweater vases and all kinds of instructions will come up.

 but basically, you go to goodwill or some other thrift store

and grab a few vases and a cable knit sweater for CHEAP.

 have some scissors and a glue gun handy and you're ready to get crafting!

the most important thing is that if WE can do this in a half hour...

i PROMISE you can too...and probably much better!:)

aaaahhh...all this work makes me hungry!

hahahaha...only HALF joking:)

how about dinner?

as in...a warm, cozy comforting FALL menu...

something like low cal LASAGNA SOUP.

 warm soup on a dreary day...can't beat it.

and this soup is YUM-MY!!!!!

add a loaf of warm, crusty bread and voila...a real family please.

Go HERE for the recipe.

(courtesy of Paula Deen's boy's...
they are making over their mom's recipes:):)

The only changes we made were we only used ONE clove of

garlic and red pepper instead of green pepper.

(and please over look the weirdly skinny breadsticks...

don't ask me, I wasn't in the kitchen:)

 let's see, what else, what else...

I KNOW...

a simple decorating tip for seasons/holidays.

if you're like me, your children ARE your works of art.

and if you took a gazillion photos of them like me, 

you have some for all the seasons of the year. 

soooooo...why not dig out a few and replace the photos currently in frames or on the wall

with special memories of seasons past.

so simple, so quick and SO EASY!

just like the above crafts and recipes,

quick and easy is the name of the game:)

and here is a quick photo i snapped of my childhood home recently...

 i used to JUMP in these leaves!!!

MEMORIES.

well my friends,

that's about it for the fall open house

  with the Shabby Chicks for today.

oh wait...you can't leave without a treat!

My chicks made CANDY CORN COOKIES tonight.

 we used the technique from Kathie Cooks blog,

and because i already told you we try to keep things simple,

we BOUGHT the sugar cookie dough in a roll.

divided it into thirds, colored one yellow and one orange (left the other one natural)

cut out candy corn shapes and VOILA...

candy corn cookies!

ENJOY...

and come back soon for more fall fun...
and a GIVEAWAY Wednesday!

XOXOXOXOXO