The Annual " Great Fall Festival "

A few weeks ago my girlfriends and I hosted our annual " Great Fall Festival" once again. We hold this event every year in late October. It started several years ago as a simple day with me and a friend of mine spending a day with our other girlfriend's daughters baking & carving pumpkins. I blogged about it here and again here.

Over the years it has evolved and gotten bigger and bigger. Each year we have invited a few more children here and there and now we just turned it into a full fledged party ! You know how we do.


So now we have costumes, games, giveaways, food....the whole nine yards.

Here are some pics from this years event


I got some really good ideas for treats for the kids from Pinterest. They were simple & fun to make. We had a "Prep Party "AKA "Adult Baking party"  the night before to decorate & setup for the event which included lots of wine LOL

Treat Table

We kept the food menu very simple since it was just kids: Hot Dogs, Chili & Cheese for the Hot Dogs & to make Frito Pie, chips & drinks.  One of my girlfriends also made candied apples the night before.

Food Table

The big surprise this year was we hired a Clown. She came about an hour into the event & surprised the kids with some games, songs, dance contests, face painting, balloon animals, popcorn and snow cones. It was quite a hit.

Clowning with the kids

Games

Dance Contest

Face Painting and Balloon Animals

Of course we had Pumpkin Carving this year too.....

Seriously focused on those pumpkins

Mommy can you help me ?

We also had a costume contest and lots of participation too. We had several winners: Ike & Tina Turner & Old Lady &  a Boxer. People were so creative this year !

Ike & Tina & their little ones !

Beautifully Complex as Bat Woman !

This Little Old Lady on a Walker..........

...actually looks like this in real life !

Our Little Boxer was one of the winners !

My girlfriends and I have grown this into an anuual event that we are really proud of and look forward to each year !  The guest list continues to expand. We love traditions, we love making memories and we love partying and having fun. We are blessed to be surrounded by so many beautiful children and it has been a pleasure to watch them grow and learn and develop.

The other 2  Hostesses with our Suprise Guest the Clown !

How do you celebrate the Fall Season or Halloween ?

Parties ? Family Gatherings ? 

Did you Host or attend and fun events this year ?

Did you see any creative costumes ?

Thoughts ? Comnments ? Questions ?



Beautifully Complex

The Love Post

Hey Blog Peeps !

Hope your 2014 is going well. I have been great, just too busy to blog.  Just landed a new position (same company) but I am getting a new manager and that I am very happy about :)  I start in about 30 days.

I read a really funny post about Valentine's Day from my girl A Belle in Brooklyn, I thought it was pretty on point. You can read it here.

I wish we could move beyond the focus of romantic love ONLY on this day. In the true spirit of Valentine's Day.   Here are some things that I love.....

.THINGS I LOVE….

...my family…all my nieces, nephews and cousins, aunt’s, uncles, of course my parents & sisters, you mean so much to me. Along with the huge new family I have married into, it is a blessing that is immeasurable.

....my closest friends who support me, encourage me,  listen to me, keep my secrets, share with me & challenge me, even the ones I don’t see or talk to everyday. Just knowing that those bonds are there is comforting.

...the internet, I love to read & write. I have always been an information junkie and the world wide web just makes it so much easier. It could be a recipe for something I want to cook with the kids, an archived article from Ebony magazine from 1962, or a music review, all at my fingertips ! This digital age  & the access we have in 2014 constantly amazes me.

...social networking, i enjoy sharing photos, blogging, sharing ideas, thoughts & concepts with people near & far. Keeping up with my friends and family on twitter, instagram, yelp & of course facebook.

...a nice, intense foot massage (thanks babe). Man I am in heaven !  I just love being rubbed on period, but there is something about the nerve endings in your feet ! LOL

...music makes me high…enough said.

….New Orleans…. the food, the culture, the people, the music, the architecture, the weather,  I have so many beautiful memories from my favorite city.

...wine.. vino.. I love so many different types: Malbec, Shiraz, Syrah, Prosecco, Riesling, Chardonnay and still learning…. just call me a wineaux, LOL

…..my husband Michael… who has taught me what true, unconditional love is & the laughter he brings to my life each & every day.

….God’s grace and His perfect will…. I have a testimony…I am His child….. the things He has done, only He could do ! Praise Him.  

MY PERFECT DAY…...relaxing outside on a patio,  my bare feet in my husbands lap, he is smoking a cigar, I am sippin’ on some vino, listening to the sounds of my girl Lalah Hathaway, my friends, family or both are in the midst and we are telling stories, sharing opinions,  laughing,  reminiscing and making new memories !

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY. CELEBRATE ALL OF THE LOVE IN YOUR LIFE ! 

Beautifully Complex  

Thoughts ? Comments ? Questions ? 

 

The Art of Love

A couple of weeks ago, my friends in Houston came out to help me celebrate my upcoming wedding. My wonderful Bridesmaids who live here, hosted me and several friends at Pinot's Palette.  I was super excited as this is a place I have literally been trying to go to for almost 3 years !

My lovely Bridesmaid

Me & my cousin

Painting with a purpose

The theme of the shower was, " The Art of Love" and I must say I truly felt loved on this day. I have wonderful friends who care for me.  The two Bridesmaids who hosted brought a nice spread of food, decorated the place and paid the fee for all of my guests to paint. My guests bought plenty of wine for us to share & I got some lovely gifts that I will enjoy on my honeymoon.  I ended up putting my painting up in my utility room. It really looks nice there.

A nice spread

My beautiful hostesses !

Having a blast

We had a really cool instructor who was funny & cool. As the wine flowed, we got a little rowdy and a little risqué and she hung right in there with us. We got to bring in our own music, so you know it was going down ! We had a nice little private party.

Me & another girlfriend

Yummy Cupcake- Wedding Cake Flavor

I was giving her tips on the technique

The finished product !

More good friends !

Showing off our artistic talent

Of course all of the Wineaux's in the house had to keep the party going !  We left there & because we were not ready to go home ended up at the Tasting Room & did some " Patio Parlaying "  into the early evening with more wine & more laughs. I had a very nice time.

Have you ever been to one of the paint & wine places popping up all over the country ?




Thoughts ? Comments ? Questions ?


Beautifully Complex

Recipe for Romance ! * Photo Heavy *

Greetings my Blog Peeps !

I have been MIA, getting ready for the nuptials coming up in.....28 days !

My beautiful sister, along with a couple of my Bridesmaids hosted the most wonderful shower for me in my hometown last month. My little Sissy is super creative and I love her to life !

The invites read...

Help the Bride-to-Be learn to cook up the perfect "Recipe for Romance." Join us and the award-winning Chef Derek Nettle in the kitchen at the Venue 104 Bistro where he will teach us the fine art of making Italian cuisine. Please bring a gift for the Bride to help her and the Groom keep the romance alive.


Myself and 14 ladies had the most amazing day ! We had the entire restaurant for almost 4 hours. They set up one side with tables for us to partner up and cook & the other half of the restaurant was where we ate all the food that WE had prepared under the direction of the Chef.

We had such a great time. I am still getting emails & texts about what a unique, fun and non-traditional idea it was. My sister is the best. She and one of my other bridesmaids put it all together & I was totally blessed that day.   Here are some pics....

They were setting things up

I was focused !

My beautiful Bridesmaid

Even my mama learned something new !

My lovely sister, the creative one.

Trying to get it just right

We were teasing her because she NOT known for cooking

He was teaching me a trick !

On the menu was Panzanella Salad, spinach Stuffed Cannelloni, Classic Turkey Meatballs and for dessert, Butter Cake with Macerated Berries and Mascarpone. It was all delicious and we learned quite a few tips, tricks & techniques from the Chef & his Assistant.

We even made our own croûtons !

Yummy Dessert

My stepdaughter & her baby surprised me !

They were so hungry they forgot to take off their gloves LOL

By the look on her face, the romance gifts got a little spicy !

The Chef was funny & friendly !

Such a fun group !

It was a wonderful day, not soon to be forgotten. I was so appreciative & just happy to be in this place in my life.


What's the most original party idea you have ever experienced ?


Thoughts ?   Comments ?  Questions ?

Beautifully Complex

Love Renewed

Last weekend we traveled for the wedding of one of my Sorors. It was actually a 10 Year Vow Renewal. However, it was a full out extravaganza. They had 200 people in attendance !  This is a much loved couple. It was a beautiful ceremony. It was held at a museum, they had the cocktail hour BEFORE the ceremony, and the music was great.  The personal vows really did me in since this couple had real life to reflect on, they were just that much more meaningful. 

Lovely expression

The food, was good, but the cake was phenomenal & very creative.  I managed to eat just a little bit in moderation, since I have a wedding dress to get into very soon, LOL.

The Groom is a Golfer !

It was pretty and tasty !

It was great for Mr. Mixologist to get to meet some friends he has only heard about & it was like a family reunion of sorts. My line sisters,  college friends and old co-workers were all there.

Line Sisters  !

The Blushing in Blue Bride !

My intended :)

It was such a beautiful wedding & nice pre-lude to our big day which is fast approaching ( T-minus 67 days !)


How was your weekend ?


Thoughts ? Comments ? Questions ?


Beautifully Complex