Table for EIGHT! Decorate your Holiday table for $40!!

Our Women's Ministry is called King's Daughters and for our Luncheon we paired in groups to decorate the tables. Each group decorated each table to seat 8 guests and we were to invite other women to the luncheon. My BFF/Cousin and I are on a budget so we knew we wanted something Chic, Classy, Trendy and AFFORDABLE. My cousin Paypal'd me her half and I went shopping. Even though its Fall season I didn't want Orange Earth tones. I wanted Classic with a Pop of Color. I went to Hobby Lobby first to see if I could find a few statement pieces on Clearance. 

I went from aisle to aisle looking for a color scheme. Thats when these black/white Chevron print disposable plates stood out at me.  They would take a nice chunk of the budget but I had to have them...

I picked up a black plastic table cloth but I put it back when I seen this gold table cloth. 

I found these pretty gold, turquoise, brown plastic peacock thingy's to go in the centerpiece. Its hard to see in this picture the leopard flower and gold/copper seeds/beads on the other side.

I also bought silver/gold plasticware and gold ribbon from Hobby Lobby.

Right next door was Dollar Tree so I found the black disposable plates, cups and bowls. I stacked the plates/bowls to look like place settings. I sooo need an etiquette class so I will know which order the spoon/forks and knives go. Something was still missing so we added the turquoise napkins to pull the color from the centerpiece. The vase/blue marbles came from Dollar Tree also.

My Bestie looking pretty waiting for the festivities to begin. We were so proud of our little table. We didn't have fine china and real silver like some of the other tables but it was a wonderful event. Its great when women can come together and have a grand time!!  

The picture doesn't do the decor any justice! 

These are a few of the other tables...The ladies did their thang and the food was awesome.

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I'm inspired to entertain more guests at home and I'm really excited about decorating for the Holidays!! It doesn't take a lot of money to host and be creative.

Color Your Natural Hair with Kool-Aid!!

My teen daughter and I were having our usual random girl talk sessions about me when I was her age. Somehow I mentioned coloring my hair with Kool-Aid because I was too broke to afford store bought hair color. My daughter was extremely interested and asked me how I did it. When I was being plucked dry for all the deets I didn't realize my daughter had a master plan brewing. LOL! She brought me all the items needed and asked if I would help her . I was hesistant to allow her to color her hair red so I told her that I thought red was too grown up looking for her age.. Her reply was, "Mom, didn't you say you were 15 like me when you tried it?" LOL! HA! She cornered me, I agreed to only a few streaks so we decided to wait for the weekend to try it.

What we used:

1 pkg of Tropical Punch Kool-Aid
1 squeeze of conditioner

We decided to color only the highlights she already had.

One nice squeeze of conditioner...any kind would work

1 pkg of Tropical Punch Kool Aid. I would use 4-5 pkgs for the whole head. Maybe more depending upon the length of the hair.

Pour Kool Aid into the Conditioner

Stir until you have a paste

Kool-Aid/Conditioner Paste

I sectioned off the colored area and tied a baggie around it to keep it from getting on the other hair... Not necessary, just a preference.

I added a Co-Wash to the other hair and put a shower cap over her hair for 3 hours. 

She rinsed it out and now had red streaks... She's happy so I'm happy. :-)

Its a semi-permanent rinse because the color looses intensity with each shampoo.

Brings back memories of my Kool-Aid hair days! LOL!

Dinner is Served!

I love to cook...I take pics of dishes I prepare but I never know what to do with the pics. So basically they are just taking up space on my phone. Rarely do I use recipes. I am a self proclaimed "pinch of this and that" type of cook. These are a few family favorite dinners.

Salmon, baked sweet potato and cucumber salad

Salmon on a baby spinach salad

Lentils and spinach w/smoked turkey

Shrimp & Grits 

Spinach stuffed chicken breast wrapped in bacon served over Quinoa

My sous chef, my baby boy helps me in the kitchen. Well, I let him play with whatever to keep quiet while I cook... lol

My husband fried catfish, mac & cheese and brussel sprouts

Seafood Gumbo

Cheese Grits

Chicken Pot Pie

Fried chicken wings, spanish rice and steamed brocolli

Lasagna

Tilapia and mix veg

Chicken Fried Rice

Oxtails, pinto beans and rice, spinach and cornbread

Hubby caught the fish and I fried it up!

Roast, spinach, yellow rice, yams

Tortilla Soup

My daughters making cookies on Mothers Day

Potato soup

Curry Salmon/ Brussels

Mexican, black bean enchilada bake

Beef Stew

Baked wings, mash potatoes, spinach, corn/brocolli

Steak/potato soup

Baked Chicken, rice, spinach, brown gravy/onions 

Green Smoothies

Catfish for parents (too many bones)/ Chicken for kids, mac & cheese, normandy blend veg

Catfish, rice, black eyed peas, veg

Apple Cider

Chicken strips

Chicken strips, mac, , brocolli

Salmon, brussells, cabbage w/peppers

THATS ALL FOLKS....for now *wink*