Pinterest Party Planning

I will be throwing my very own Pinterest Party in a few weeks and I am stoked! I have invited a lot of girls from the area that I know are going to love it (based on their mutual Pinterest obsession)!

The object is for them to bring a Pinterest inspired project: a recipe, a craft, an idea. They're to have all the materials, ingredients AND directions and have it wrapped. Then we'll exchange the gifts white-elephant-style. This way, you bring a fun idea for someone else to take home... while you get one in return. Meanwhile, we'll be feasting (and drinking, of course) on all Pinterest inspired foods and drinks.

Needless to say, I'm very excited. I've already made the party favors for them to take home, a few of the decorations, a raffle gift as well as the wreath for the front door that I'll put up on the day of the party. Yes. I am a wee bit obsessed. But I can't help it! It's my first shindig at our home and I want it to be a blast!

I thought I would share with you, just how easy the wreath was to make! Here are the materials you need: wire wreath, three 6' feather boas, and pipe cleaners. Easy, right?!

As you can imagine, you simply attach the boas, one at a time, around the wire wreath, securing it with the pipe cleaners. I was literally done in 5 minutes. And, voila!

So easy-- and so cute! In fact, I made one for Halloween this past year-- using black boas instead-- and adorned it with a few accessories (glittered mini pumpkins and glittered spiders) from Michael's.

The white wreath will be fun because I can use it at Christmas by attaching a gorgeous red bow; at Easter, by putting a cluster of Easter eggs on one corner; and at Valentines day by adding a few glittered hearts.

See?! Told you it was an easy idea! Yes--it's a wee bit tacky up-close, but from afar it's absolutely adorable... and certainly one of a kind.

In the spirit of the party, I've also created a few other ideas I've seen on Pinterest-- but I'll keep them a secret until after the party. I want to keep a few surprises for the girls!

And in other news, Jack has started eating solids! And little Ava had her first dental visit today. Cavity free, baby!

Safe to say, both kids have happy mouths!

Look what I found!

So I was cleaning out email folders and came across a rather interesting one. Here goes:

Ken,  

I would like to thank you for speaking with me this morning.  I truly enjoyed meeting you and learning more about the company.  After interviewing with Jason, and now you, I have been able to learn a great deal about Access One and realize why my interest is so invested in becoming part of your sales team. 

 

Your company possesses the values I have been hoping to find in the job market; the upbeat environment, rewarding benefits, and opportunity for growth are all very appealing to me.  More importantly though, I want this position for the reason that it is in outside sales for a very lucrative, expanding company; increasing the overall earnings while improving and perfecting my selling skills are ideal goals of mine. 

 

I realize you are in the process of interviewing other applicants, but I want you to know that I am the candidate you have been looking for.  My strong work ethic, my attitude and my perseverance are all qualities I possess that will contribute to the success of Access One.  I hope that you will give me the opportunity to prove this to you. 

Once again, thank you for meeting with me this morning, Ken.  I look forward to becoming an integral part as well as an asset to your sales force.   I will be speaking with you this afternoon, as promised.

 

Regards,

Kristi Houston

This was my thank you email to my now-husband Ken. Apparently I def became an asset to him! :)

Something for your tastebuds

While snooping around on Pinterest, I came across a delicious looking appetizer: Bacon wrapped pineapple. It sounded so good, my mouth literally started to water.

Why do you care? I'll get to that...

You see, I was responsible for bringing an appetizer to our monthly paddle tennis group, so I thought, what a great opporunity to make this tasty little nugget?! After all, who doesn't love anything that is surrounded with bacon?! I knew it would be a hit... especially with the guys (I think Ken ate around 12 or so).

I should first give credit to Aunt Nubby's Kitchen Blog, because that's where I found the recipe (via Pinterest).

I followed the directions perfectly and found that there should be some modifications to make this particular recipe even more delicious! Here goes...

First of all, leave out the brown sugar. The pineapple is oozing with so much sugar already-- the brown sugar makes the overall flavor entirely too sweet. And second, unless you like your bacon smacking you in the face like a rubberband, you need to flip them over halfway through the cooking process, and cook them longer. Following her directions, the bites weren't great; the tops were cooked but the bottoms were still chewy and fatty.

After I flipped and cooked them a little longer, they were great (despite being overly sweet).

Oh, and more importantly, line your cookie sheet with aluminum foil. The brown sugar literally molded itself onto the pan during the broiling process-- had to throw it out because it was impossible to get off.

They were a hit at the party to say the least! There were only 2 left from a pan full of 2 lbs of bacon. :) Now that I've perfected them I'll be sure to bring 3 lbs next time!

I ove you