I popped over here to my much neglected blog to notice that when I thought I uploaded my apron swap post, it apparently went somewhere to the ether. So here it is again!

Shanna over at Pink Trees sent me the most amazing box of goodies!

Here it is all spread out! The apron is lovely and the overlay is removable! So you can cook in it and then pop the lovely dotted organza and it will look like you have never seen the inside of a kitchen. Here’s the breakdown of items: recipe box, recipes, vintage ornaments (3, so CUTE!), set of make your own disney frames for my daughter, pot holder set made to look like a sandwich, corsage pin & a lovely card, oh and of course the APRON!

Here are some shots of the swag!

It was so wonderful to open this box! Thanks to all at What’s Cookin’ and to Shanna! I was honored to receive your gifts!

Whoops! I’m miss latey lateperson who is late a lot!! Sorry partner but here finally is my meme for the What’s Cookin’ apron swap!

1. what kind of holiday party food do you like best? finger food buffet or sit down multi-course style?

Wow I really like both kinds, but the finger food is better at a party for me. There is more time to chit chat with everyone when we all are walking around getting tiny yummy bites of great food!

2. do you make/use those little name cards for your table seating or is that just another little something that magazines are trying to add to our already long holiday to-do list?

God no. I have place card holders but I never use them. As a matter of fact I should get them out and polish them they are so tarnished!! I do love the idea though.

3. do you miss sitting at the “kid’s table”?

Sometimes. At least then you got to laugh and be super silly and eat until you could eat no more. AND not worry about the cooking!

4. any particular holiday party traditions that you like to do every year?

Well we put up a pumpkin for halloween and make sure to put up a christmas tree as soon as my Thanksgiving feast is over! I consider Halloween the start of my holiday season and with a viewing of The Nightmare before Christmas we are off and running!

5. Which is your favorite winter holiday?

Thanksgiving. no question. I love the food, I love the family and I love to count my many many wonderful blessings.

6. do you make or have you tasted any good egg nog recipes…whether using it in a dish or as a drink?

I am an egg nog fool. I will drink the crappiest of crap egg nog and be so happy! It tastes like christmas to me. I make a super killer egg nog that will knock you OUT but so gently you won’t even know what happened!

7. fruit cake …. do you love it or think it should be used as a door stop?

Door stop.

8. What do you like to do to get yourself in the holiday sprit (ie. certain music, visiting certain seasonal sites, enjoying winter weather, ect.)

Really what gets me is the weather. And it doesn’t always cooperate her in GA. When the air is crisp and the sky is so blue and it is chilly enough for a fire which smells FANTASTIC btw, a little mug of cocoa and some great music on the stereo. That is holiday to me. We also watch “christmas” movies like “A Christmas Story” and “The Preachers Wife” (the GOOD version with Cary Grant, Loretta Young and David Niven), “Miracle on 34th street” (Natalie Wood version please!) and stuff like that. It’s a fun way to get into the spirit of the season.

9. What is your favorite holiday song and who sings it best?

Oh gosh. I love churchy christmas music, like Handel’s Messiah but I think my favorite is “Carol of the Bells” which is, I think, a song by Charles Stanford and I love to hear it performed by any good chorus. My favorite contemporary Christmas song is “Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas” performed by Judy Garland. Meet me in St. Louis is a great movie and has a wonderful Christmas scene.

10. Any ideas for interesting holiday themed parties? (Even if it’s really out there — like renting a snow machine and having everyone build snowmen if you live in a no-snow areas!)

We love to do a tree decorating party or an ornament making party. That’s a great one to do with kids and adults.

I was lucky enough to get into this apron swap and boy am I glad!! I got the most lovely package from jennicakes: 3 super recipes (the pasta one we cooked the night we got the package!! YUM!), a lovely card, some cool crazy crayons, adorable apple stickers and a BEAUTIFUL apron. I love the colours and the pockets are divine. I have already worn it to work in the yarn store and my daughter makes me wear it all around the house! She loves it as much as I do.
Thank you Jenn! You did a lovely job!

Here we are with our aprons on ready to work!

The Textile Worker by Terese Agnew: A quilt made entirely of garment labels collected from others made to protest the conditions of sweatshop workers.

Made ENTIRELY from garment labels. I am stunned and amazed and sad. Go take a look at her site and see the detail photos. It is an amazing work.