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TGIF

Well I'm busy putting the finishing touches on the Green Apple Wedding Shower for tomorrow so I leave you with this very refreshing cocktail to enjoy this weekend. 

Spiked Lemonade

 

Makes 3 1/4 cups

Ingredients

• 2  cups  lemon-flavored sparkling water or club soda, chilled
• 1/2  cup  citrus-flavored vodka, chilled
• 1/2  cup  fresh lemon juice
• 1/4  cup  sugar
• 1/4  cup  orange liqueur
• Crushed ice
• Garnish: lemon slices

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large pitcher. Serve over crushed ice. Garnish each serving with a lemon slice, if desired.

Be sure to check back next week for pics from the shower!  Have a great weekend!

(photo and recipe from myrecipes.com)

Fancy Flours Giveaway

I am thrilled to announce our Fancy Flours giveaway!  You know how much I love Fancy Flours' unique baking supplies.  I've mentioned them in several posts.  Remember the Peeps cupcakes and the Graduation Wrappers?  Here is what my friend Nicole had to say about them. If you are not familiar with their awesome website here is a bit more about them:

Fancy Flours, a unique online baking supply company, specializes in high-quality ingredients, hard to find cookie cutters, delightful muffin cups, sugar whimsies and much more. Fancyflours.com will bring out your artistic, whimsical, and imaginative side; the baking-lovers dream.

So true!  You must check them out asap.

They have kindly sent me TWO prizes to be given away!  That's right TWO.  All you have to do is leave me a comment telling me about your most creative cupcake idea.  I know many of you are cupcake connoisseurs so this should be easy and fun!

Now onto the goodies!

Prize One includes a Blue Poppy Field dish towel by Jessie Steele, Garden Cupcake Picks(12), yellow baking cups(40) and two recipe cards.

Prize Two includes a Pink Poppy Fields Dish Towel by Jessie Steele, Puffy Flower Cupcake Picks (12),red baking cups(40) and two recipe cards.

Cute and cute!  They would make a great gift for the hostess or your baking friend OR keep for yourself!

Just leave me a comment describing your most creative cupcake idea and I will randomly choose TWO winners.  Contest ends Friday, May 22!  Good Luck!

Patriotic Lighting

Memorial Day is just around the corner, can you believe it?  I can't.  Here is an easy way to make your plain candle holders look more patriotic for the occasion.  Also great for the 4th of July.

 

Tools and Materials
Assorted cylindrical clear-glass containers
Glassine sheets in red, white, and blue
Tape measure
Rotary cutter or edgers
Double-sided tape
Glue stick

Patriotic Votive How-To
1. Measure the height and circumference of the container, adding 1/2 inch to the circumference. Cut a piece of glassine to these measurements. Wrap the glassine around the container, and adhere using the double-sided tape.

2. Use the remaining colors to create patterns and decorations on the votive, such as stripes of colored glassine. Cut the stripes with the edgers or rotary cutter to give them an added visual appeal. Affix the decorations to the votive using the double-sided tape or glue stick.

Watch a how to video here.

For even more patriotic flare check out Hostess Jo's Patriotic Section!  Get 15% off with coupon code "memorial" now through Memorial Day!

(photo from marthastewart.com)

Question for You

Below is my English Bulldog-Bella.  Otherwise known as "Boogie" because she boogies when she is happy.  She is my baby.  Yes, I am one of those people who are crazy about their dog.  People say she does not know she's a dog.  What do you think?

(I promise this will be related to parties)

 

Well Bella's 2nd birthday is coming up this month and I was thinking about throwing her a party.  We had one last year but it was really just a reason to have a party.  It had nothing to do with Bella. 

I was wondering if you have ever thrown your pet a party?  I want details!  Was it pet themed or did you just use that as a reason for the party?

To take it a step further...I want to know... what is the craziest or funniest reason you've ever thrown a party???  Don't be shy.  This will be fun!

A Setting Fit for a Mom

I just love this Mother's Day table setting from Chris at Celebrations at Home!  The colors are so bright and cheerful.  This would be great for moms of all ages.  Best part is- it is budget and time friendly! 

 

Here's what Chris had to say about her design:

Are you looking for an easy, hassle-free, inexpensive way to dress the table for Mother's Day? I put together this setting with inexpensive, or free items from around the house, which is based around the color scheme of hot pink and orange(which I am so loving these days). Felt cut-out mats, feathers, floral paper, and butterflies from Hobby Lobby were about $5. The "placemat" above is doubled, but you could use one for each place setting to save cost.

 

See more photos of this setting here and be sure to check out the rest of Chris' celebrations on her fabulous blog!  You will leave there with a wealth of inspiration and unique ideas!

I hope everyone has a wonderful time celebrating the mothers in your life this weekend!  And to all the mothers-Happy Mother's Day!

Graduation Cap Cups

There are so many cute ideas for graduation snacks out there!  Here is another one to add to your collection.  I love that they are upside down cupcakes.  The tassels are fruit snack rolls!  Like Fruit Roll Ups, which come in a variety of colors.

 

Prep Time:

30 min

Total Time:

1 hr 25 min

Makes:

24 servings

 

Ingredients:

 

1 pkg. (2-layer size) yellow cake mix

1 env.  KOOL-AID Orange Flavor Unsweetened Soft Drink Mix

2/3 cup (1/2 of 7-oz. tub) BAKER'S Dark Semi-Sweet Dipping Chocolate, melted

12   HONEY MAID Honey Grahams, broken crosswise in half (24 squares)

2 cups thawed COOL WHIP Whipped Topping

2   chewy fruit snack rolls, any color

24 jelly beans

HEAT oven to 350ºF.

PREPARE cake batter as directed on package. Blend in drink mix; spoon into 24 lined muffin cups. Bake 20 to 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean; cool completely. Meanwhile, spread 1 tsp. melted chocolate onto each graham square to completely cover top; place on baking sheet. Refrigerate until firm.

REMOVE liners from cupcakes; place cupcakes upside-down on plate. Use wooden spoon handle to poke deep hole in center of each cupcake. Spoon COOL WHIP into resealable plastic bag. Snip one corner from bottom of bag; pipe COOL WHIP into holes and onto tops of cupcakes, reserving small amount of COOL WHIP for later use. Top cupcakes with grahams, chocolate-sides up, to resemble graduation caps.

USE fruit rolls to make tassels for caps. (See Tip.) Add 1 tassel and jelly bean to top of each graham square, securing each with dab of remaining COOL WHIP. Keep refrigerated.

Variation

For a black-and-white graduation, spread half of grahams with additional COOL WHIP instead of the melted chocolate. Line up different-colored caps in alternating rows.

How to Make Tassels

Cut fruit snack rolls into 24 pieces. Cut 3/4-inch slits at one short end of each piece to resemble fringe. Tightly roll up lengthwise to make tassel.

 

(photo from Kraftfoods.com)

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Here is a last minute easy tabletop idea for your fiesta tonight! 

 

I know you've got some colored vases lying around.  Place them on a brightly colored tablecloth with a festive flower in each and voila!  Grab some brightnapkins and glassware and you're all set.  That's the beauty of a fiesta-it doesn't have to be all matchy matchy and anything bright goes.

Check out our other Cinco de Mayo ideas here !

(photo from southernliving.com)

Facebook Fans Giveaway

Become a fan of Hostess Jo on Facebook and you are entered to win one of my APRONS!  We must reach 100 fans before I can give one away though.  So if you have a Facebook account please help me spread the word and become a fan for your chance to win!

Food from the Heart

Show Mom how much you love her Sunday with these heart shaped foods!  These would also be great for Valentine's Day, wedding showers or any occasion you want to show your love.

Heart Pancakes

 

Heart Shaped Egg Toast

 

A Heartfelt Message

 

Cucumber-Turkey Mini Sandwiches

 

Raspberry Almond Financiers