Coffee Punch

This is another recipe that is great to put together in an instant during the holidays.  Just brew up some strong coffee to keep in the refrigerator or freezer, and keep the other ingredients on hand.  Well, that is if you can keep everyone out of the ice cream! 

Photo by Ms. Tasha York

Ingredients

1 1/4 Cup Sugar

1 Gallon Strong Coffee

1 Pint Whipping Cream 

1 Pint Vanilla Ice Cream, softened

1 Pint Chocolate Ice Cream, softened

Stir the sugar into the hot coffee.  Chill thoroughly.  Fold in whipping cream and ice cream just before serving.  If it is too sweet for your liking, add more coffee and whipping cream.

You can also add vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon or chocolate if you like.

This is so, so, so addictively yummy!  

What else can one say!

Hmmm........

I don't know if this is me making more, 

or drinking more.

Thanks for stopping by,

Ellie

Precious Daughter Gift

My daughter recently took a trip to New Orleans for her job. Since I love that deep south, New Orleans style - but have never had a chance to visit - I asked her to bring back something for me that said New Orleans.  I thought it would be lovely to have a piece that truly came from there.

While she was there, we talked a couple of times on the phone.

"So what do you think of New Orleans?  Is it amazing?"

"I don't know, Mom.  I'm not feeling well at all and the smells here are killing me."

"But what's it like?  Are you having a wonderful time?"

"I'm just so tired!  When we're not  in meetings, all I want to do is come back to the room and nap."

Poor Baby Girl!!!

It's always such a bummer to get so excited about a trip, and then miss all the things you want to do and see because you're sick.  I was so sad for her.

In spite of her illness, however, she still made it to a few shops........and bought a piece of New Orleans for me - as well as a pair of killer high heels for herself.  No girl is too sick to buy killer heels, after all.

By now I'm sure you're thinking the Fleur-de-Lis pictured throughout this post is the special gift she brought me from New Orleans.  Well........that's true.  She did buy this just for me, and she did purchase it in New Orleans.  But the real gift........the truly special thing she brought home

Was the realization

That she was so sick 

And Tired

Because She is Making a Baby 

Just For Me!!!

Since Baby Girl lost a baby earlier this year, it was something none of us was anticipating yet.  What an absolutely delightful surprise!

We've all kept fairly quiet about it up to now, but she is about to begin her second trimester and the ultrasounds are showing a beautiful, growing, new little person to love.  It's time to party like we were at Mardi Gras!

I don't think I will every look at this Fleur-de-Lis and not think about my first grandchild.  In my heart, I've already been calling him or her My Little Fleur.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing this very special moment with me!

Fleur's Grandmama

Trash Bag Wreath

I know it seems like most of the things I post on my blog only cost $1-2.  It's not that I will not spend more, but I know what it's like to feel discouraged when you don't have the money to keep participating in the activities of our culture.  I mean, we went for over two years not being able to eat out, go to movies, take vacations, etc.  If you've been there, you know how that wears on you a little - especially when you have kids.  


The statement I try to make at The Lavender Tub is.......

Live Anyway.

So having said that, here is another project that cost very little to make.

I simply cut the drawstring off of a plastic trash bag, cut the sides open and ended up with a long strip of black plastic.

Then I wrapped the plastic around a wreath form (recycle an old wreath or even make one out of newspaper), and finally attached a bow.  This ribbon can be found at The Dollar Store for $1.  Whoo hoo.

I'm not into the scary stuff at Halloween, but I love the colors.  After all, I am an Oklahoma State Cowboys fan, so it's Black and Orange around here all the time, Baby!

Thanks for stopping by,


Ellie

Linking to Show and Tell Friday - See Cindy's Romantic Home Link in Sidebar

I Was Featured!!!

It's always such a thrill and honor when another blog features one of my posts.  Today, Under The Table and Dreaming featured two!

Click here if you'd like to see.

Thank you so much, Stephanie.  I don't know what to say!

Ellie

Dollar Store Cake Plate

With cakes and cupcakes being all the rage, it's nice to have a cake plate that compliments your hard work. 

When I saw this plate at the dollar store, 

I thought it was so pretty, 

  

especially when paired with this bowl.  

They are pretty and look nice for fall alone, 

but doubling up on that pattern 

enhances them both.  

Sometimes when you have an idea, 

it seems so simple, 

but then you spend a long time getting it just right.  

This is one of those projects.  

Gluing the bowl and the plate together 

just looked like a bowl and plate. 

They really needed something more. 

I tried inserting lots of different candlesticks, 

doilies, cylinders, etc., 

but nothing looked just right.  

I finally decided these natural wood beads complimented them the best.  No, it doesn't look like a high end, expensive cake plate, but for $2, some glue and a few old wooden beads, I think it makes an attractive display surface.  

I think I'm going to put a big Aubergine candle on mine for now.  

The point is this:  

there are so many really cute dishes at the dollar store

 and thrift stores that it's easy to  create something to serve your baked goods on for just a couple of $'s.  

This was a fun project, with pretty instant gratification.  

Thanks for stopping by,

Ellie

Fall Fleur-de-Lis

I printed fleur-de-lis from The Graphics Fairy onto 

some textured natural colored paper.

Then carefully cut them out using 

an exacto knife.

Finally, I glued them onto orange 

plaid scrapbook paper.

So Fall Festive!

Thanks for stopping by,

Ellie

Antique White Frame

   I built these gold frames a long time ago out of some frame molding. They are a nice size for framing a small plate.  

I have changed them out several times.  

I'm tired of the gold, though, and need something

 in an antique white.

This is the space that frames the window around my kitchen sink.  First, I painted the frames Krylon's Oil Rubbed Bronze

 - one of my favorite colors.  

I don't think it looks very good with the old metal tile.

I painted Krylon's Satin Ivory over the top 

and let it cure for a few days.  

Next, I gently sanded the raised spots allowing 

the bronze and gold to show through.  

Finally, I wiped it down with thinned rust brown paint, 

then wiped most of that paint off.  

I don't want it too matchy, but I kept holding it up 

to the metal tile to check the color.

Tomorrow I'll show you what I'm putting in the frames.

Thanks for stopping by,

Ellie