Thursday, January 8, 2009

So Tonight We're Going to Party like it's 2009...



Ashley hosted a New Years Eve Gathering,
for a few of her girlfriends, on the 31st.

For decorations, we hit the After Christmas Sales looking for "anything cheap and sparkly," at Pier 1, Family Dollar, and Maxway, spending less than $20 .....and lots of imagination.

My MIL gave me a CRICUT for Christmas. It is one of those things I couldn't justify buying myself, but absolutely am thrilled to get it as a gift. Ashley and I both love it!
Ashley read the directions, (so she can explain it to me later, LOL!), and made the little '09 cut-outs.






Monogrammed place cards made with the CRICUT.

Place settings...

Goodie bags & Party Favors...

Sparkling Apple Cider Chilling...
Party snacks set-up on the bar.

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
served with Chocolate Teddy Grahams.
{Delicious and great for kids or adults!}

Recipe at the bottom of the post....

This is probably the ugliest Hors Devours you will ever see, but I guarantee, it is one of the best!
...Baked Brie, below. I usually serve it with square crackers, but Ashley prefers Ritz.
I made a smaller portion than usual, for the girls. They didn't know what it was, but they liked it! {LOL}

Recipe at the bottom of post.


For one of their activities, they tie-dyed T'shirts in the garage.


As I was warming the Baked Ziti and bread for the meal, David lit the candles and poured the Apple Cider.


A waiter dressed in Carhart pants, ...we are a classy bunch, huh? {LOL}

The picture below is blurry, but I had to share it.

It seemed to take forever for the Ziti to warm and cheese to melt on top, so the girls grew quiet and starting passing the time texting on their phones.
All of the sudden, David belted out a country song, singing at the top of his lungs.
These girls are 15, country is not cool!
But it was hilarious!
{Guess you had to be there! :) }
After supper, they decorated cupcakes.


Can you tell which girl is the prankster in the bunch, below?
Hint, she has her tongue hanging out! {LOL}

Coco welcomes 2009!

"But life is just a party,
and parties weren't meant to last."
~Prince
~~~~

Recipes

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball

1 - 8 oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup butter
1/4 tsp vanilla
2 tbs brown sugar
3/4 cup confectioners sugar
3/4 cup mini chocolate chip morsels
3/4 cup pecans (optional)

Beat softened cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until creamy. Slowly add sugars until blended. Stir in chips. Shape into a ball, and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Roll in pecans (optional).
Serve with Chocolate Teddy Grahams or any chocolate cracker/cookie.

~~~~

Baked Brie

puff pastry sheets
1 round brie (doesn't call for rind removal, but I prefer to)
raspberry jam
pecans or walnuts, chopped
brown sugar
maple syrup (sugar-free Smucker's)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a non-stick pan, lay out pastry sheets and put brie on top. Spread jam on brie and top with a layer of nuts. Pull pastry up around brie, cinching ends together on top. Drizzle maple syrup on top and place a handful of brown sugar over syrup. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving with crackers.
~Enjoy!

31 comments:

Missy Wertz said...

Your decorating job is fabulous!

Darlene said...

What a FABULOUS party! It looks like a GREAT time! Cute, CUTE decorations and the recipes sound YUMMY!

Kristen said...

Man you guys are fun!!! Can I come next time?
David is sooo funny!

Thanks for the recipes. I found the baked brie already wrapped and filled at a local shop during holidays and now I can make it anytime I want...yeah

Beth at Aunties said...

Wow!!! What a great mom and FUN party! Wonderful Memories and great times will be remembered forever!!!
You are awesome for creating this for your family and friends!
Thanks for the recipes!!!

♥♥♥

Becky said...

Seeing all the kiddos make me miss mine being little even more. We always had everyone at our house. One of my friends once told me "you house is like a three ring circus". Silly me....I took that as a compliment!

Thank you, thank you, thank you for including the recipes!! YUMMO!!!

mysteryhistorymom said...

Rhonda- You are such an awesome Mom- with a fabulous daughter (and family!). That party looks amazing! Love the decorations, refreshments, guests and hosts.:) Such great activities, too! Lori

onlymehere said...

This looks like so much fun. Kaje' turns 16 the end of this month and I'm going to make this cheese ball for her party! She's just having a couple of friends over but I'm calling it a party! LOL! Have an utterly fabulous day!

Happy To Be/ Gl♥ria said...

How fun this looks girl..what a great Mother you are to make memories like this for the kids..Thanks for sharin a fun time..hugs and smiles Gloria

Anonymous said...

Hi Rhonda! It's nice to see a group of kids having fun instead of trying to just get drunk!!!(I know of some even at their age!!)AND that is the cutest waiter I've ever seen!!! I am so jealous of the cricut!! I too can't justify spending on one but must drop hints for my up coming birthday!!lol It looks like so much fun! Have a great night - Sincerely, jeannette

Anonymous said...

Lots of fun happening!
The recipes sound delish and the decorating fabulous! Plus an entertainer, to boot!

Great post, Rhonda.

Anonymous said...

Two things:

1) This looks like so much fun.

and

2) I didn't have lunch, and this made me even hungrier. Are there any of those cookies left? :-)

SmilingSally said...

Oh, 15 year-old girls with the texting and eye-rolling going on! What a great party.

Robin Beck said...

Oh my goodness! You guys sure know how to P*A*R*T*Y!
Everything looked perfect!

Hey Rhonda, funny thing-I didn't realize till yesterday that you are the Rhonda I put with Anne. I thought the Rhonda I hooked Anne up with didn't have a blog. But now that I went and looked back at all the info I see you didn't list your blog on your fill out sheet. I've been hanging out on your blog all this time and had no clue it was the SAME Rhonda-Makes me feel kind of lame! :)
I'll tell Anne you said "hi" the next time I see or hear from her!
Take Care,
Robin~♥

Amelia said...

What fun for you (to do the decorating and cooking) and then for the girls to enjoy it all.

The choc chip cheese ball sounds so delicous - just may have to try it (like after I lose these extra pounds I have gained in the last couple of years) LOL

amelia

Dawn said...

That party looks like it was a great time!!!! I've had that cheese ball and it is soooooo good. I also like baked brie. YUM!!!

I would love to have a cricut but since I haven't used the things I have in so long I just can't do it :) I love the decorations you made.

FUN FUN FUN!

take care,
Dawn

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Now that looks like Fun with a capital "F". Great job on the decor! laurie

Anonymous said...

Hi Rhonda. So glad that you liked your board. Yes!!! I would love to share that picture with you. I totally understand the name thing. I didnt think about that when I started my blog. My name is so out there now... no turning back. I wish I had thought about that when starting my blog. Enjoy~

Anonymous said...

Hi Rhonda
What a great New Year's Party...wohooo everyone was right into it and having so much fun!
I love the recipes especially the brie one. I love baked brie so I will have to give that a try.
I love your puppy with the glasses...life of the party.
thank you for sharing such a great evening.
have a lovely one yourself!
Judi

The Kramer Angle said...

Hi

I made my way to your blog via "confessions of a 40 something mama queen's" blog because I was curious about the name. We must be like minded because your New Year's table decorations (with the branches) looks just like what I did for my Christmas decorating!

I love your blog!

GARAGE SALE GAL said...

Can I be invited to the next party. It all looks wonderful and so much FUN:)I am going to try the Chocolate chip chees ball recipe soon...
It looks like you live on/by water...maybe the ocean?? or large lake??
Have a great weekend.
Warmly,
Deb

imjacobsmom said...

Looks like you girls had a fun time planning, preparing and partying! Thanks for sharing the recipes, too. Happy 2009! ~ Robyn

Pearl said...

Hi Rhonda... What an AWESOME post! My invitation must have been lost in the mail... tee~heeee! So delighted that Ashley had a beautiful party... it ALL looked gorgeous! Loved the photo of David singing 'n the girls cracking up... and Coco celebrating, too! ~Laughin'~ ... it all made me smile... When are you going to take a break and get some rest?!? I'm sick, again, and am hoping to be able to stay in bed for most of the weekend... what are your plans? Take special care... talk with you soon... God bless...

~hugs, love ♥ 'n prayers~

Pearl

Monogram Queen said...

Looks like a very good time and I am very intrigued by the baked brie! I have always wanted to try it.

Anonymous said...

Oh what fun! It looks like you had a fabulous party. Thanks for the recipes. I have never had either of these.

Patti said...

Oh my gosh Rhonda! The party looks fabulous- what fun! That sounds like a party I would like to go to too!(really!) What a great way to welcome the new year in! Thanks for sharing the pics and recipes~

~Patti

Unknown said...

Looks like such a fun party with great decorations! And yummy recipes! You should link it up to chocolate Friday for that chocolate chip cheese ball.

Nancy M. said...

Looks like everyone had a ball at the party! Love the decorations. I found you through Carolina Mama's site. It's nice to meet someone else from Carolina! You have a nice blog!

bj said...

What a great party..looks like a good time was had by all.
I can not WAIT to try both these cheese balls...they look so good.
Thanks for the recipes....
bj

Essential Oil Premier University said...

Rhonda, God Bless YOU ~ allowing your daughter to have a New Year's Eve party. What a great mom you are!! And, by the way, what a great MIL you must have to buy you a Cricut!! You lucky girl you.
Love all your party decorations too. You all did great for $20 I would say. I need to take lessons from YOU ALL! And finally, thank you for sharing the cheese recipes. I will add them to my recipes for our next gathering. . . probably SuperBowl gathering.

Blessings,

Sher

onlymehere said...

Rhonda, do you mind sharing your baked ziti recipe with a terrible cook like me? I have a recipe but it lacks something. I guess I'm spoiled bz I love Fazoli's baked ziti! If you wouldn't mind I'd love to try a new recipe. Everything I've tried of your's I've loved! You must be a fantastic cook! (whisper, did I butter you up enough that you'll share it?) LOL!

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