Rantings of a Creole Princess

From BellaDomani: "WICKED"-LY FABULOUS!

Hi, Monica!
I know you lurves the kiddos and I wanted to send you pics of O in her Halloween costume. A's party will be tomorrow so I will send some of her then. <[:-) By the way, her makeup took a solid hour to do! Did I mention she REALLY wanted to be Elphaba? LOL!

(((HUGS)))

 

 

From Lisa:

Okay...warning...this is bad.  It's funny...but it's bad.  ROFL!

Trick-or-Treat Pics!

Foxy Brown goes NINJA and yup...that's Prince Charming ST!
13700 looks spoooooooooooooooooky all dark huh?

 

It started raining just as soon as the kids were supposed to head out.  I'm so disappointed as I've only given out a half cauldron full of candy.  I'm just CRUSHED indeed!

From TravelDiva

Pics from the party!

Hey Yall! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Whatchall doing?  How's the weather out by yall?  Send me some Halloween pics!  I LURVE, LURVE, LURVE seeing folks dressed all up for Halloween!

It's a beautiful Fall day out here today and we've been expecting rain all day today but it still hasn't started.  I hope it doesn't start right at Trick or Treat time because I have an entire cauldron of candy to give out!

Have I shared with yall how much I LURVE Fall?  The colors are so beautiful to me which I why I used them throughout our home!  I'm posted up on the sofa nursing my sick and look at my view!

 

I plan on putting my leaf blower to work tomorrow on the deck for sure.  Not in the mood today.

I love this red flower trying to hold on till the last bit of warm weather leaves us!

 

I hope you are somewhere REALLY seeing the beauty around you and REALLY enjoying it.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! (Off to take my Robitussin DM!)

Kids are Fun-tay!

Caption this...

Did we have fun?

What do YOU think?

So...carving and painting pumpkins is a messy job indeed.  Because of...I put a big, black, plastic paint tarp down stretched across some parking spaces.  Then...I put those vinyl tablecloths you get at the dollar store on top of all of those tables and tied them down with balloons from the dollar store too.

This way...all you have to do is roll em up completely and put everything in the garbage can for a quick cleanup cuz TRUST...this is MESSY!

Each table had a pack of baby wipes and a roll of paper towels as well as tins with paintbrushes in them.  I got the tins from the $1 bins at Target and there were 25 paintbrushes in a pack for $4.99 at Michael's.

The big kid's table had the carving tools in a plastic bowl in the center.  (Notice all this plastic and vinyl right?  RIGHT.  T-Monnie KNOWS KIDS.)

All of the snacks were inside and I basically played server to make sure the kids had some outside with them.  The party was just PERFECT.  It wasn't crazy, over the top and exactly what kids who want to have a messy fun time wanted. 

LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!

The kids had a blast.  I had a blast and the parents had a blast!  Afterwards we all cleaned up together and everyone was long gone and my home clean by 7:30pm. My kinda party!  Oh...and there was face painting!!!!!

I believe we should know who our neighbors are.  Some of my neighbors have lived here over 7 years and never even KNEW a lot of the people they met today.  It was just LOVELY and I was really glad that I was able to make that connection for them.  The funny thing was they all knew me.  ROFL!  "Oh yeah...we know Monica!"  Why?  Because Monica makes it a POINT to get to know who her neighbors are.  Grownups, children...et al.  Ain't nuttin wrong with knowing who you live next to and to consider them "friend."

I promise!

Halloween Party Playlist

Halloween Party Planning!

In Monnie-land today has been a FABULOUS day!  I really would have made a video had I not sounded and looked soooooooo awful but since I didn't...ya just hafta take my word for it!  LOL!

First things first...pumpkins!  WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

I went to the orchard/pumpkin patch to get pumpkins!!!!!  Why?  Because I know some parents are going to forget to bring a pumpin and I'm not trying to have anyone left out!

 

So many choices!  Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!  LOVED THIS MUCHO!!!!! But I knew I wasn't going to pick this big azz pumpkin for sure.  ROFL!

 

That sucker was big as me!  Um...no.

So then I ran around and did a bunch of other shopping and headed home because my neighbor was helping me put together the BOO bags!

 

While we were putting together the BOO bags we put the kids who kept asking could they help to work cleaning the pumpkins!

 

 

 

They did a good job but I made them do it again just so they could stop asking me could they help with other preparations!  LOL!  Evil huh?  I know.

 

There are BOO bags for little kids and "cooler" bags for the 14 and overs.  LOL!  I figure they are going to show up because they keep asking all nonchalant if they are invited.  ROFL!

I went down to my basement entertainment pantry and started pulling stuff for the party.  All orange stuff, of course.  Base colors are white and silver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jaru and Lucy don't know yet that they are going to be gated.  Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh...don't tell them.  Parents are welcome inside because the grown up table will be inside and the kiddie table will be outside.  NO.KIDS.IN.MS.MONICA'S HOUSE!  LOL!

 

E has been briefed on his duties as a host and his mom is doing the BOMB swamp juice for the kiddies!  T-Monnie is making Bloody Eye Sangrias so YEAH BOY!  It's going to be BIG.POPPING at 13700 for Halloween!

I'm going to pick up the cupcakes tomorrow and I have a few more things on my list that I didn't get today:

Tealights

Apples

Juice Boxes

1/2 pint water bottles

Cookies

Black taper candles

I'm VERY excited!  We'll have painted mini pumpkins as well as carved big pumpkins.  Should be FABULOUS!

GO ME!

What say you?  Whatcha think so far?

Halloween Party Countdown!!!!!

E's pumpkin carving Halloween party is tomorrow and I'm spending the day today getting the last of the things I need to make it a super-dooper BASH!

My schedule for today:

1.  Shopping (tealights, pumpkins, more poster paint and brushes, more carving tools, apples, caramel, sticks to make caramel apple slices...etc.)

2.  Making treat bags

3.  Baking cakes

4.  Choosing serving ware from my pantry

5.  Reminding kids to NOT knock on Ms. Monica's door today to ask to help or she will cancel the party, tear down the decorations and pass out pencils and erasers for Halloween.

That is all.

I've already created the music playlist and I have printed out several carving patterns for the kids to use.  I'm sure it's going to be pure chaos...but hey...it's HALLOWEEN!!!!!!!!!

If I didn't look and sound so horrid...I'd make a video.

Are YOU going to a Halloween party?????

Question...

How much do you spend on candy for Halloween?

Would you let your child dress as a pimp for Halloween?

FUNNIEST HALLOWEEN VIDEO OF ALL TIME!

From Stan:

"In honor of Columbus Day I'm going to get lost on my way to work, kill whoever is there and take up residence."

He has us over here HOWLING with laughter!  LOL!

Columbus Day

Does this holiday bother you?  Why?

Me LURVE Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween and Thanksgiving are my absolute FAVORITE holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I'm already planning for both, of course.  LOL!  I bought a piece of jewelry yesterday for my costume this year and it makes me happy, happy, happy!

What about you?  Do you dress for Halloween?  What are you gonna be this year?  Do you pass out candy?  Do you get the good stuff?

My Ghost Hangers!

 

Of course I have to reposition them since I went out to hang them and all I heard was...

Neighborhood Kids:  MISS MONICA, MISS MONICA CAN I HELP, CAN WE HELP?????????

Ms. Monica:  MAY we help.

Neighborhood Kids:  MAY WE HELP?

Ms. Monica:  Of course. 

T-Monnie loves the kids even though they make extra work for me.  LOL! (Shall be repositioning while they are at school manana.)

My Ghost Makers!

Every.single.time I look at my flower beds I wanna CUT ST...

Don't worry...that tape is coming off the tree.  ST was helping me get started with my Halloween decorating.  Since he couldn't damage anything...I let him wrap it around the tree.

Yall see my flower beds?

*sigh*

I'm going to have to do something with it.  No way I'm going to be able to last till Spring.

Halloween Pumpkin Carving Party!

E is having a pumpkin carving party this Halloween and just as soon as he and his mother finish his guest list and send out the invitations I'm going to start planning!  Wheeeee!

I was thinking you guys could host something for your kids and the kids you love too!

We're hosting it outside in front of my house where the hose can reach.  LOL!

I figure I'll get a paint tarp to spread over our parking spaces and place two long tables there for carving stations.  We'll decorate the tables plainly with stuff we can just throw away because I'm sure it will be a MESS!

There will also be a treat table with cupcakes, cookies, caramel apples and cider!

Music will be of the Kids Bopz variety and each kid will receive fun filled grab bags!  OOOOOOOOOOH!  CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!

Have YOU ever hosted a Halloween party for kids?

I needed to find my smile today...

When I went to the doctor on Monday I got the sentence from HELL.  An additional week of Lupron because my body wasn't suppressed yet.

ANOTHER.

WEEK.

So yeah...it's been pretty rough on me.

I was sitting here today listening to Lucy snore and decided to go find something to make me smile and since I'll start decorating for Halloween tomorrow...I figured I'd go check out a few things!

FINALLY...someone made a cupcake stand I can live with!  I haven't ever seen one that was this nice and sturdy and it only costs $19.99!!!!!!!  GO ME!  Cupcake Stand

A haunted wine stopper!  ME LIKEY!  ME LIKEY!!!!!

The colors just make me sooooooooooooo happy!  Yes...I saw these and SMILED!

Now THESE are cool candles!  LOL! 

I don't wanna see a grown man dressed as a chicken.

And I DAMN sure don't wanna see a grown man dressed up like a banana either.  LOL!  WHO COMES UP WITH THIS STUFF?  (I'm thinking we should get the chicken one for oneblackman.  ROFL!)

How has YOUR day been on a scale from 1 - 10?

HAPPY TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY!

"Argh, it's Talk Like a Pirate Day again, mateys!"

4th of July!

Whatchall doing for the 4th? 

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

To all the fathers I know and "know" I hope you're having a lovely, lovely day!

How are yall celebrating the fathers in your lives today?  Breakfast in bed?  Steak on the grill?  New tie?  Peace and quiet for the day?  ROFL! 

How to Make Tub Teas

Mother's Day for the Motherless

I try not to focus on my mommy being gone for Mother's Day.  Sometimes it's hard but I try my best not to.

We need to focus on happy times with our mommies that make us smile.

Do you remember the last Mother's Day you had with your mommy?  What is your FAVORITE memory of your mommy?  If your mommy was still here...what would you do with her on Sunday?

How to make a Mother's Day flower arrangement for about $12!

Happy Cinco De Mayo!

What, if anything, are you doing today for the holiday?

HAPPY EARTH DAY!

What do YOU do to help and/or give back to our planet?

Besides Life...

What's the greatest gift your mother ever gaveyou?

Mother's Day Brunch

Do you do brunch with your mother for Mother's Day?

The day is done...

Good eats!

Juru is just HOPING some ham drops!

Scattergories was SUPER fun!  HILARIOUS even!

Queen Lucy.

Sissy's shoes DESERVED a mention:

After dinner, the table was turned into a dessert buffet.

I had a lovely evening.  Everything was super fun...the food was good, the company great!  Nothing annoyed me till I went to look for that damn crawfish macaroni and cheese.

SOMEONE WILL BE CUT BOUT THAT ISH.

Seriously.

 

Easter Table Decorating!

I've started decorating my table so I don't have to worry about it tomorrow.  My guests will know where they are sitting by their initial on their potted hyacinth that is simply a brown sticker that I found at Target in the scrapbooking section.  Instead of ribbon I decided on a lovely raffia in a complimentary shade of metallic green with a fun decorative egg on each one.  It's not often I decide to use a tablecloth but I truly wanted to DRESS the table in fun color and I found this tablecloth on clearance at TJ Maxx for $10.

I think I'm off to a good start although it may change by tomorrow as I can't decide on how to include the linen napkin (I currently have two ideas that both look fun and FABULOUS.  I'll decide by guest arrival time tomorrow.

What say you?  Think I'm off to a good start thus far?  Be honest.  I can take it.

The 13700 FINAL Menu

Mixed green salad
Lamb chops
Ham
Dirty rice
Asparagus
Crawfish macaroni and cheese
Greens (my nice healthy swiss chard dish has been voted off the island and a cheeky azz guest is bringing some)
Bread
Southern Comfort Cake
Dessert (Don't know what Mercy is bringing)

I'm adding not a dang thing else.  I only have a few more things to pick up and I'm going to yell at the next person who suggests something additional.  They mess around and I will boil some noodles and stir in some butter.

Holidays

Easter

What does Easter mean to you?

Happy Good Friday!

Are you at work today?  If you are...what time are you leaving?  If you're not...what are you doing today?

Easter Dinner at 13700

 

Daviece:  Are you having people over for Easter dinner?
Me:  No.

(thinking...thinking...thinking...hmmm...lemme check and see if Becca going home to Louisiana...)

Then I called her. 

Becca:  No I'm not going home...Imma be by yall.
Me:  Fo sho.

(thinking...thinking...thinking...hmmmm...leme check and see if Mercy going home to Louisiana...)

Call her, leave message, she calls back...

Mercy:  No I'm not going home...Imma be by yall.
Me:  Fo sho.

Guess I'm having folks over for Easter dinner.  Need to check to see who else who is in town but doesn't have family in town and needs somewhere to be for Easter.

So yeah...we got a table full of folks coming eat cuz we don't believe in people being alone for the holidays.  If you're in the area and know or "know" us and are alone for a holiday it's your own damn fault.  So there.

We gonna be eating cuz apparently Mercy is bringing a dessert.  :)

Easter Dinner Menu

I was just gonna do lamb chops but then Robby's eyes glazed over when he mentioned a ham so I guess Imma have ham too.  LOL!  I also asked him should I do scalloped potatoes or baked macaroni and cheese.  The answer?  Both.  *sigh*  His rational is that we work out so much we should be allowed to have both.

My menu is growing every time I ask him something.  Imma stop now.

What's on YOUR menu?

Are you wearing green today?

Lent

Are you going to give up something for 40 days and 40 nights for Lent?  Are you going to ADD something for 40 days and 40 nights for Lent?

Why?

Why not?

Have you ever before?

HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

That exclamation mark makes it seem as if I'm excited and happy. 

Well...I'm not. 

And neither is Weezy. 

And neither is Mercy. 

We are sad. 

Way sad...deep.deep.down.

Weezy and  I have put our spouses on notice.  We WILL be at Mardi Gras 2010.  Our spirit just can't take no mo.  We need to be with our people.

*sigh*

Oh yeah...Gladys...I had the story wrong.  Zulu is today...the BALL was Friday night.  That's what Shelly nem were going to.  I be half listening when I'm mad cuz I can't go.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hL7aZNCssidTM4QtZC_y7dqXTyfwD96HU84O0

HAPPY LUNDI GRAS!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lundi_Gras

HAPPY PRESIDENT'S DAY TO YOU!

Are you working today?  What are you doing?

________________________________________________________________________________

YOUR first Valentine...

How was your first Valentine's Day with your S/O?

Our First Time

Valentine's Day 2002 was my and my love's first one together.  We met on Memorial Day of the previous year and became exclusive in September of that same year which means that by the time Valentine's Day rolled around, we'd been dating exclusively for 5 months.

I remember flying out to Houston to spend the holiday with him.  It was my first time visiting his home so it was pretty exciting for both of us.  For me...because I'd never seen how he lived and for him cuz he was in a flurry of activity getting everything ready for my visit.  I was a bit concerned over the cleanliness of it all and had my sister, who also lived in Houston at the time, at the ready in case I needed to ditch his spot for greener pastures. 

I remember him picking me up from the airport in his truck and he seemed so excited to see me and I remember grinning at him and relishing in the warm temps of Houston seeing as though I was coming from DC.

I also remember rolling the window down and letting the wind blow in my hair and him laughing his wonderful, hearty laugh at me being silly.

I remember pulling up to his apartment and being pleased with the way it all looked from the outside.  Nice and neat.  Clean.  Nice cars in the parking spots.

I could tell he was nervous and it warmed my heart.  By this time I knew that I cared deeply for him and I knew through his actions that he cared for me as well. 

We had yet to know we were in love.

Lava, lava.

Those were the words we'd say to each other breathlessly as we closed our eyes and inhaled the other's scent. 

Lava, lava.

More than like...not quite love but something oh so special, beautiful and wondrous to us both.

Lava, lava.

I remember his welcome mat not being quite that welcoming.  GO AWAY it said.  I laughed because it wasn't out of place at all.  The gruffness I'd come to lava about him was the type that would have a welcome mat that said GO AWAY.

And...he opened the door.

My Valentine!

I truly have every thing I need and want in life so when my husband walks in the house with one of my FAVORITE little boxes...I just melt.

Truly.

Life.Is.Magical.

Yup...I got one of the boxes that makes me grin even GOOFIER than I do when the box is blue.  I got a TINY JEWEL BOX!

*sigh*

Me loved.

Valentine's Day Gifts!

What's the most memorable gift you've ever received?  Who gave it to you?

Valentine's Day

Did/does your father get you something for V-Day?