For Fun Friday February 29, 2008

This is pretty interesting. You can go to this site, type in your blog address, and it will tell you if someone has copied any of your content.

http://copyscape.com/

I think Tetris is one of those games for those left brained people because I just cannot get those blocks to fill in right.

http://www.gizdic.com/freegames/gamespages/tetris.htm

Here's a word game where you try to create a word or words from eight letters. Who plays Scrabble? OK, you should do well!

http://www.eastoftheweb.com/games/Eight1.html

I'm a little ashamed to admit I could only think of 32 countries. What about you?

http://www.justsayhi.com/bb/view2/countries

Mr. Potato Head? Pah! Create a Picasso head.

http://www.mrpicassohead.com/

Chips And Onion Dip. Could There Possibly BE A Better Food?

Check out my new blog over there on the sidebar. Looking forward to seeing you!

When I was in high school, or maybe sooner than that - as you know, I have no memory - I began a lifelong love affair. With chips and onion dip. I think maybe I tasted it at some party my parents had - why, I don't know. If you had looked in the dictionary at that point in my life under the heading "picky eater", you would have seen my picture.

I refused to eat tomatoes (but tomato soup was OK), sour cream, mushrooms, onions, anything that had large chunks in it, anything that looked like it might taste funny, anything that was a strange color, pretty much anything except Campbell's soup. And can I just say? When I went to college and went to the cafeteria for the first time and tried their soup and realized it was Campbell's? It was probably the most exciting experience I had in college. Including the first time I went on a date and the first time I tasted liquor. Yes, I had been rather an innocent before college.

If my husband was writing this blog, he would tell about how I tried a Big Mac for the first time on our honeymoon and loved it. Previously, I had always ordered a plain cheeseburger. Because of the pickiness mentioned above. And all the other things listed above? I love them now.

I can't believe I tried something that consisted of two of the things I hated most in the world. But I did. And I loved it. My other favorite thing at that time was vienna sausages. Sometimes I would stop on my way home from my fabulous job sorting and pricing stock in the stockroom at Mason's department store (picture a pre-Walmart store) and purchase sour cream, Lipton's onion soup, wavy chips and a can of vienna sausage. And I would have me a little snack when I got home. This was my idea of teenage heaven. I think I needed to get out more. Perhaps a lot more.

And I just remembered something else I loved from that time. Taco chips. Not nacho chips, but taco chips. They actually tasted like tacos and they were so yummy and delicious, my mouth is watering right now. Of course, it is lunchtime. They quit making taco chips at some point. I remember my mom sending me a care package to college and the taco chips were sort of smushed. I had to pour them in my mouth. And, oh you better believe I did pour them in my mouth. I still miss them.

I bought food for my party a couple weeks ago and in the shopping cart went sour cream, onion soup and wavy chips. Because really. A party is not a party at my house without chips and dip. Chips and dip have been the one food I have eaten for years and years and year. Oh. And vienna sausages. I still like those.

Why, yes. I AM quite the gourmet.

A Tisket, A Tasket, A Green And Yellow Basket

Baskets work for me.

I love baskets. AND I love a great deal. I find baskets at second hand stores and dollar stores all the time. Tom says I have way too many baskets, but really, what is too many? As long as I have room to store them, it's not too many, right? As long as you can walk in the storeroom, that should be fine. If you have to turn sideways to get through there, well, that's just fine also. I NEED my many baskets. I use basket to store stuff and I use them to make up gift baskets for friends and family. Baskets are wonderful.

I have summer baskets.

And winter baskets.

I use them for parties.

And I stick flowers in them.




I put books and magazines in them.

And bath supplies.

Toilet paper.

Bubble bath, bath gel and lotion.

I put bread in them.

Even my sink strainers have their own basket.


Really, why would anyone use anything else to store stuff? Baskets are so great. Cheap and cute. What do you put in them?

I Had A Meeting With My Editor

As I was typing that blog title, I was just amazed that I could type it. Not that I COULD type, since that typing class in high school has been the most helpful class EVER. Not like Algebra, which I will never use. Never. I use math absolutely as little as possible. It's like Peggy Sue said "Well, Mr Snelgrove, I happen to know that in the future I will not have the slightest use for algebra, and I speak from experience."

So, not that I COULD type it. But that I WAS ABLE to type it. Because. Yes. I met with my editor. MY EDITOR. I might have to flip my hair and toss my head just the tiniest bit at this point. Because the online editor from the local newspaper has been reading my blog. And she likes it. She likes it. She thinks it is "delightful". Wait. SHE THINKS IT IS "DELIGHTFUL". Yes. Much better. She wants me to write a blog for the local online newspaper.

This could not have come at a better time. I've been writing my blog for a year now, I've done a little freelancing, and with retirement looming in the near future, I feel confident I will have time to do more writing. I just hope people like my stuff. That they will read. That they will come back. And that you, my faithful readers, will make time in your busy schedule to read both my blogs.

I promise not to write about Pop-Tarts again. Unless they come out with a new flavor. Because. You know. That would totally be blog-worthy.

Read my new blog "On The Patio" beginning Thursday, February 28. Just check the button up in the right corner. See you there!

Mrs. Who's White Elephant Blog Giveaway - Cherry Plate

OK, so everyone else has too many picture frames too? Noted. No more picture frames in the great blog giveaway. Nobody wanted my polka dot picture frame, so how about a cute little plate?

Mrs. Who's White Elephant Blog Giveaway

White Elephant: Something of dubious or limited value (value being in the eye of the beholder)

For details about the FREE (Yes, FREE. No strings attached. Well. Except you do have to visit my blog.) White Elephant Blog Giveaway, just click here.

Now, make a comment. You know you want to.

This is a really cute little white plate with cherries painted in the center and red and white checks painted around the rim. It is about 8", so it's just the right size for some cookies to go with your milk. Or some sliced fruit, if you are feeling quite annoyingly healthy that day.

For Fun Friday February 22, 2008

Hey, I'm an artist! I ALWAYS knew I had it in me. It's a little plain, but that's OK. It's mine. Let's see yours.

Masterpiece by Mrs. Who. Check with me for the sale price. (I'll make you SUCH A DEAL.)

Click here to create your own painting.


OK, I have really tried but I DO NOT UNDERSTAND SUDOKU. A friend told me it doesn't really matter what is in the squares - that it could be different kinds of flowers. It's the concept of the game you are trying to get. But all I can see are all those numbers and my brain just shuts down. What about you?

http://www.gizdic.com/freegames/gamespages/sudoku-original.htm

At first, I thought this site was some sort of joke. But no. It's real. Just kind of freaky, if you ask me.

http://www.tinypocketpeople.com/

I'm dead on the moon. At least I would be if you based my survival on the quiz. How did you do?

http://www.justsayhi.com/bb/moon

This is kind of cool, but I think I would be a little afraid this lion was going to SNAP HER NECK.

http://www.telestereo.com/Archivos/video.html

My Family Is Quirky. Who Knew?

So. The Pop-Tart butter battle. I thought I would get a variety of comments. I thought some of my family would reply and adamently defend the right to butter the WRONG SIDE OF THE POP-TART and some people would support me in THE CORRECT WAY TO BUTTER A POP-TART. What I didn't expect was that a lot of people don't even butter their Pop-Tarts. Have never even heard of it. And, frankly, think it's a little...weird.

It's funny how when you are raised a certain way, you just think everyone knows about that way and feels it is the correct way and the only way and of course everyone does it that way. Well. Apparently, that is not true. Huh.

Some people do not spread butter on their Pop-Tart. And by spread I actually mean slather and by butter I mean that marvelous whipped up margerine in the tub. It's truly a fabulous combination.

You should try it. I'm talking to you there.

Chocolate+Cherry=Ecstasy

So, have you tried the new Chocolate/Cherry flavored Diet Dr. Pepper?

Oh. My. God.

This stuff is SO GOOD.

Now, granted you have to like Dr. Pepper and it would be beneficial if you also liked cherries. And, obviously, chocolate. But, really. Who doesn't like CHOCOLATE?

The nice thing about this drink is that it can actually serve as a snack when you are craving something sweet. And you don't even have to eat Crack Cookies with it. It's like a snack all by itself. Because when your brain is saying "Hey, I didn't actually have any FOOD with that particular snack", your mouth can say "Hey, yes you did! Because I have a CHERRY taste in here and also a CHOCOLATE taste and that means we just had something really good. You dork." (Because. You know. The brain can be kind of stoopid sometimes.)

So your mouth can totally FAKE YOUR BRAIN OUT. And then you don't actually eat anything at all.

And this is a good thing.

The Butter Battle

So, you remember when I wrote about my Pop-Tart obsession ? Well, I was at the grocery store the other day and I found THESE.

Can you believe it? Whole grain Pop-Tarts! Healthy Pop-Tarts! And is that an oxymoron or what? Anyway, of course I had to buy them and because they are so obsessively delicious because I am concerned about your health, I decided to do a taste test to determine which Pop-Tarts tasted the best since I just happened to have the other box of regular Pop-Tarts as well. And since it was a snow day and I had some extra time on my hands.

Our two competitors. And, ironically? They are BOTH 4 Weight Watcher points. Even though the whole wheat ones have more fiber, they also have more sugar and fat. I guess to make the fiber a little more palatable.


The two competitors on a plate. The whole wheat Pop-Tarts immediately lose some points because they don't have as much icing as the cherry ones. Or spinkles.

Buttered, on a plate, ready for the taste test.


Sound a drum roll please. The taste test has begun.


Hmmmm. And nom nom nom. I do love Pop-Tarts. I was all prepared to put one of the boxes in Photoshop and drape a gold medal on it but:

1. I don't know how to do that in Photoshop and

2. The taste test was a tie.
   

Really. They taste about the same. The cherry ones are a little sweeter but the whole grain ones have that wheat taste that I like. And, since they are both the exact same number of Weight Watcher points, you might as well eat both. Or really. Neither. You should be eating some whole grain cereal and fruit. Like me.

And, in conclusion, I have to tell you a story which came to me as I was buttering my Pop-Tarts. A long, long time ago when our kids were still kids, my whole family was vacationing in a beachside condo in Pensacola. My sweet and lovely sister-in-law popped some Pop-Tarts in the toaster for her girls, took them out and PROCEEDED TO BUTTER THEM ON THE WRONG SIDE. Of course, you know and agree with me because you are my faithful readers, that you are supposed to butter your Pop-Tarts on the icing side. OF COURSE. But she buttered them on the wrong side. The plain side. And was surprised that I thought this was absolutely appalling.

So, about buttering your Pop-Tarts ON THE WRONG SIDE. I'm right, aren't I? My faithful readers. You know I am right. Please tell me so in the comments. Tell me that you butter your Pop-Tarts on the icing side and not THE WRONG SIDE. Because even though I know we are in the middle of trying to decide on the right candidate for president? We must set our priorities here. And Pop-Tarts are #1.

So? Which side? And by the way. Not to sway your vote or anything. But your hair looks REALLY pretty today.

Mrs. Who's White Elephant Blog Giveaway - Polka Dot Picture Frame

Winner of the dessert plates from Mrs. Who's White Elephant Blog Giveaway last week:

#1 Commenter was Boo from Optimistically Waiting. I'll contact her about her little dishes. Congratulations! Don't forget to comment/register for the giveaway today!



Mrs. Who's White Elephant Blog Giveaway

White Elephant: Something of dubious or limited value (value being in the eye of the beholder)

So, once again. I am stealing an idea from Shannon over on her Bloggy Giveaway blog and just GIVING STUFF AWAY. Because, you know. One man's trash is another man's cute little candle holder shaped like a daschund. Or something like that. Every Monday will be the White Elephant Blog Giveaway and I'm going to have something interesting to give away. Something I think is interesting anyway. Maybe you won't think it is interesting at all.

So I will just take my fabulous plate with the raised image of the Statue of Liberty and keep it all to myself.

My preeeecioussssss.

OK. You know I don't actually have that candle holder or plate, right? Because those were just EXAMPLES. The stuff I have is much more fabulous than that. So. I will post pictures and a description and, if you want to have the fabulousness of this item in your very own home, you will need to make a comment.

You can comment on the wonderfulness that is me or you can say something like "I want that." Either is fine. Just comment. Then I will take the three ten one hundred many, many comments and randomly choose the lucky winner. We may end up with just three comments from my family members and that's fine. Saves me shipping costs. I can just hand it to them. These first few times, I will give everyone until Friday night to comment. Then I will email you for information and ship your package. If you do not have a blog link in your comment, you will need to leave an email address so I can contact you.

Are you ready? The excitement is palpable.

I love framed photographs. I have them all over my house, on every flat surface, and they are plastered all over my refrigerator. So I have no room for any more frames. But I just had to buy this very cute, black and white polka dot picture frame. Maybe you have some room in your house for it? It's 9" X 7 1/2" and the photo part is 5" X 3 1/2". Remember to make a comment if this frame has a place in your home. Good luck!

And Now I'm A Little Embarrassed

Did you read my blog post yesterday? Well, this was the first thing I saw yesterday morning. Mind you, this was about 5:30 A.M. He had not read my blog post yet. He fixed this up for me last night while I was sleeping so I would see it when I went in to eat breakfast.

Here. Maybe you can't see it really well.

It's a WHITMAN'S SAMPLER. Not only did he stay up later than me and fix this little tableaux so I would see it in the morning, he bought the ONE THING I SAID I WOULD LIKE.

And I UNFAIRLY said he might not even know it was Valentine's Day. He knew, baby. He knew. I think he's a keeper. Don't you?

Oh. And the name on the card? I don't have to blur it out because that's not my name.


Don't forget to check the Mrs. Who's White Elephant giveaway from Wednesday - and then check every Monday.

Wait. It's Valentine's Day?

Tom and I are not going to have a big Valentine's Day celebration. I'm not sure he even knows it's Valentine's Day. After 30+ years, we get more enjoyment out of playing silly tv games together than buying each other heart-shaped boxes of candy.

Wait.

Maybe if it is a Whitman's Sampler, I just might accept a box. Maybe.

We have our own brand of romance. Our own kind of love. A love that is bolstered with silly nicknames and laughing out loud. The best kind of love.

So. A Whitman's sampler. And. Possibly something like this.

Could you just eat him up?


He was born in Japan with a large, clear, love-heart-shaped pattern in his coat. The Chihuahua was born in May as one of a litter to a breeder. Shop owner Emiko Sakurada said it was the first time a puppy with the marks had been born out of a thousand she had bred. She had no plans to sell the puppy, which has been named ‘Heart-kun’. The long-coated male Chihuahua puppy was born in Odate, northern Japan .

Works For Me Wednesday: Mrs. Who's White Elephant Blog Giveaway

What works for me is fabulous second-hand stuff. My house is full of it. Baskets, trinkets, tablecloths, silk flowers, you name it. I LOVE shopping, rooting and digging at Goodwill, the Salvation Army, garage sales and flea markets. You can find the most interesting things. Once I started selling on Ebay, Goodwill and places like it became my shopping mecca. I find all kinds of things.

But I am constantly finding just the cutest, kitschiest, darlingest things that are absolutely not right for me. I have no room, I have no desire to dust it or clean it or store it, I just quite simply don't need it. But I just know that someone out there does. Because it is SO FABULOUS.

So I am stealing an idea from Shannon over on her Bloggy Giveaway blog and I'm going to start just GIVING STUFF AWAY. Because, you know. One man's trash is another man's cute little candle holder shaped like a daschund. Or something like that.

So, today I'm going to give away a White Elephant item to get the ball rolling and, then starting on Monday, February 11, every Monday I'm going to have something interesting to give away. Something I think is interesting anyway. Maybe you won't think it is interesting at all.

In that case, I will just take my fabulous plate with the raised image of the Statue of Liberty and keep it all to myself. My preeeecioussssss.

OK. You know I don't actually have that candle holder or plate, right? Because those were just EXAMPLES. The stuff I have is much more fabulous than that. So. I will post pictures and a description and, if you want to have the fabulousness of this item in your very own home, you will need to make a comment. You can comment on the wonderfulness that is me or you can say something like "I want that." Either is fine. Just comment.

Then I will take the three ten one hundred many, many comments and randomly choose the lucky winner. We may end up with just three comments from my family members and that's fine. Saves me shipping costs. These first few times, I will give everyone until Friday night to comment. Then I will email you for information and ship your package. If you do not have a blog link in your comment, you will need to leave an email address so I can contact you. Are you ready?

The excitement is palpable.

Mrs. Who's White Elephant Blog Giveaway

White Elephant: Something of dubious or limited value (value being in the eye of the beholder)


Today, I have a set of darling pudding/jello/ice cream/whatever you want to put in them dishes/cups that I found. They are plastic in peach, light green, dark blue and hot pink colors. I think they look a lot like depression glass and would be just fabulous with whatever you want to put in them. If you think your kitchen will not BE COMPLETE until you own these dishes, make a comment. This could be your lucky day. Remember to check back on Monday. I have the CUTEST...well. you'll just have to wait and see.






Remember to comment if you yearn for these cups with every fiber of your being. And remember to check back on Monday. Good luck!

Eating Pop Tarts in Wal-Mart

Actual things my husband has said to me recently. Really.

In the past: Can you bring me a slice of that chocolate cake?

In the present: Can you bring me an apple?

In the past: Can you pick up some chicken nuggets and fries when you go out?

In the present: I don't want fast food - can you get something healthy?

In the past: Can we have fried chicken/roast beef/meat loaf/ for dinner?

In the present: Can we have salad for dinner?

In the past: Just let me finish this video game before I get ready to go.

In the present: Just let me walk on the treadmill before I get ready to go.

In the past (in response to "Did you get some lunch while I was gone?") Yeah, I had a peanut butter sandwich.

In the present: Yeah, I had some yogurt and fruit.


And. So. Here's me.

I went to Wal-Mart the other day to pick up some groceries and, unfortunately, I went when I was hungry. You remember in "Pretty Woman" when she says "Big mistake. Big, big, huge mistake."

Yeah. That. I was trying to wait until I got home when I could at least eat something light and was in the middle of purchasing some healthy cereal when I saw them.

The Pop-Tarts. God. I haven't had Pop-Tarts in AGES. They looked so good. Brown Sugar Cinnamon, Blueberry, Chocolate - all iced of course, because really? Who buys the other kind? And then I saw them. Cherry iced Pop-Tarts. And my mouth quite literally FILLED with saliva. I had to have them.

Had.to.have.them. I took the box. I opened the box. I took out a Pop-Tart. And I ate it while strolling around Wal-Mart. I am absolutely, without a doubt, the CLASSIEST person in the world.

But man. It was good.

And this could possibly, just possibly be why he has lost 25 pounds. And I have lost 3.

"Cookie Cookie Cookie Starts With C"

You know how people say there are three things to keep in mind when you are buying real estate? Location, location, location. Well, there are three things to keep in mind when throwing a party. Food, food and, strangely enough, food. There ARE other things that are important. Funny, happy, lovely friends who care about you enough to make cookies (or go to the bakery - both are equally difficult with our busy lives) and come to your house to spend a few hours. Decorations. A fairly clean house. The ability to plan and organize a party and then actually enjoy yourself at said party.

The Valentine Party Cookie Exchange on Saturday was a smashing success. Everyone had fun, there was enough to eat, we didn't run out of ice and, best of all. Best of all. My guests all left me with enough cookies and candy to ruin my diet for the next week. Or longer, if I don't share them. And I may not. Because they look pretty darn good.

After some cleaning, I began my decorating. Fresh flowers are an absolute necessity for a party at my house and now that they are so incredibly cheap at the grocery store, I have fresh flowers around virtually all the time. Here's the arrangement I made for the dining room table which is where everyone put their cookies.

Remember the little Valentine tins I got for my part of the cookie exchange?

I made chocolate and peanut butter fudge, put it in little baggies and tied them up with a valentine ribbon.

Here is how it turned out. Pretty cute.

And here they are, all ready for my guests.

Here's my coffee table in the family room. The lace is just an old tablecloth I cut up, the bowls are from Target and the candles are vanilla scented ones I found for a dollar at the grocery. And you know how I feel about dollar items.

I have learned in the past that it is best if I don't try to prepare ALL the food for a party myself. That leaves me a sweaty, exhausted nervous wreck as my guests arrive - not really the way you want your hostess to look. So, now I prepare some food and purchase some. I got potato salad at a local deli and purchased most of the sandwich fillings, then got fresh bread at a local bakery. I made dip and the fudge for the exchange and that sounded like a perfect menu for a light supper. I also got this fabulous chocolate strawberry roll for dessert at a local bakery. The cookies and candy for the cookie exchange are to be taken home, not eaten, so OF COURSE we had to have a marvelous dessert.

I had a lot of fun making several kinds of heart-shaped sandwiches.

Here's all the food, ready for my friends to dig in!

Drinks are all iced down.

And here's the cookies and candies everyone brought.

Everything was delicious, everyone was laughing and talking and I'm pretty sure they had a good time. I know I did. Now I'm going to go to work on those two plates of cookies I got to keep. It's not often you have a party and people bring YOU food!

For Fun Friday

OK, this game has absolutely no point, but it is STRANGELY MESMERIZING.

http://www.trevorvanmeter.com/flyguy/

Great site with tons of fabulous, interesting and weird photographs.

http://very-bored.com/

We were watching Smallville the other night and one of the characters was Brainiac - the brain interactive construct. I have heard of Brainiac for years and never knew that he was actually a character in the Superman comics. Take this quiz and find out if you are a Brainiac. I, unfortunately, AM NOT.

http://www.blogthings.com/areyouabrainiacquiz/?newquizlist=yes

If you are Ebay junkie like me or even if you are MILDLY interested in what INSANE things can be listed on Ebay, you must check out this site. If you buy something, please let me know. Seriously.

http://wirelessdigest.typepad.com/bayraider/

And last. But certainly not least. If there was ever ANY DOUBT IN YOUR MIND that you can find virtually anything on the Internet. Behold. A web site about dogs in bee costumes. No. Really.

http://www.beedogs.com/index.htm

The Cheapskate's Guide to Redoing A Room For Less Than $100.

My family room furniture is a lovely, squishy, comfy set in that faux-suede stuff that cleans beautifully. It is also a neutral, putty color. I chose that color intentionally because I often like to change things up and I figured it was cheaper to buy new pillows than to buy a new couch every month or so. I'm sure Tom agrees with me. I have written before how much I like dollar stores and shopping at second hand stores like Goodwill, so you can just imagine how cheaply I can redo my living room.

When I began planning my Valentine cookie exchange party, I knew I would have to do a little redecorating before the party, although in actuality, I'm not sure my friends and family ever notice. They are rather a chatty bunch and, once we start talking, I think a rabid skunk could walk through the room and nobody would even notice. But I would notice. The decorating. And probably the skunk as well.

And so the redecorating began. I had intended to redo my living room curtains anyway so (after finding that my FREE curtains would not work), I began browsing at Target through the clearance items with no preconceived ideas about color - I was open to anything - and found some fabulous chocolate brown sheers. I managed to hang them without hurting myself or getting them hung backwards.

OK. Yes, I DID hang them backwards but just as soon as I noticed the tag in the front, I fixed them. No problem at all.

They turned out quite nicely, but I thought they were just a little bland.

So I went back and got some cream sheers and stuck them in the middle. Still not quite right...

So I added a scarf. Ah. Perfect. Although I have to let Liz give the seal of approval before I decide I'm completely in love with how this looks.

I found some chocolate brown pillows and threw them on the couch.

And added a cream and chocolate brown throw.

I decided we might have just a little too much brown so I found an old vase and put together a pink arrangement. I keep old vases and silk flowers for just such a situation.

Then I found some dark brown baskets at Wal-Mart and added them.

And...I think I'm ready. I'll share more of my party decorations and pictures from the party on Monday. Just as soon as I finish eating all the cookies my guests will leave for me. I LOVE the whole cookie exchange idea. How else can you get people to bake cookies for you?

And the whole room? Done for quite a bit less than $100.

The Dollar Store Is My Favorite Place To Shop. Next To Goodwill.

I LOVE the dollar store. I'm talking about places like Dollar Tree and the Dollar Zone (which does not seem to have a web site - astonishing in this web-focused world). The local Dollar Zone is my favorite. Since they have an online store and you can even purchase things in bulk on the Dollar Tree site (GREAT for teachers), I'm going to share this on the Works for Me Wednesday online store theme day.

I remember when the first dollar store opened here at the local mall and we were AMAZED that there could actually exist a place where everything in the store WAS ONLY A DOLLAR. There was a joke going around for a while about dollar stores where a person kept asking "How much is this? And that? Well, how much is this?" And the answer was always a dollar. A dollar. A dollar. EVERYTHING is a dollar.

That's not precisely true anymore, since there are some things in the store that are more than a dollar, but most are still A DOLLAR. Where else can you find SUCH A DEAL?

I am having a party at my house on Saturday. For the last few years, I have had a Christmas cookie exchange party for my friends and family. It's a lot of fun and you end up with all kinds of goodies to take home. The last couple of years, everyone has been so booked up and busy that I decided to have a Valentine's Day cookie exchange instead. I'll blog about the party itself next week, but I wanted to share what I found at the dollar store in preparation for the party.

Why pay for expensive party supplies when you can get such cute things for only A DOLLAR?

Some people may just throw their plates and utensils on the table, but those people don't live at my house. Although this basket is not from the dollar store, it was A DOLLAR at Goodwill. So still quite a deal.


This cute wreath will welcome my guests on Saturday. Yep. A DOLLAR.




My guests will be taking home their cookies and candies in these fabulous bags. For (just in case you were not paying attention) A DOLLAR.

I have to confess these little treat cans which I'm going to fill with peanut butter fudge for my part of the cookie exchange did not come from the dollar store, but they were A DOLLAR. At Target.


So, if you are planning a party or event or even if you just like an incredible deal, check your local dollar store. And if you already have - what did you find?