Mystery Bag Party

Good Monday morning!

The Showcase Pic is of Alabama skies on Friday night. I may have embellished a little by saying EVERY Friday night... but not much. We have had rain at least some part of each and every weekend for weeks now, and while I am a "gray day" girl, I will have to say I feel as though I have been plucked down in the middle of Seattle... or the Brazilian rainforest. And I would never "pick" to live in those places on my own. (I would, however, visit a friend in Seattle and zipline while I was in Brazil.)

The Gallery Pics are of a couple of different things. One is of Roxie and some of her friends having homecoming pictures made before the game. The other pic is of my first Mystery Bag Party. I put 25 names in a bowl. Names of women I know very well and a few that I would like to know better. I drew six names from the bowl, and sent out the invites. If someone couldn't come, I drew another name. I kept drawing names until I had six women who said, "Yes." Details for this very easy and very special party are described below. (And it WAS very easy and very special.) I'm planning on having two more Mystery Bag Parties in January and April (with a few changes to keep the "mystery alive").

NOTE TO DAWN - Okay. I'm sorry I had to fuss, but you're in, baby!

CONTEST! CONTEST! CONTEST! - No pressure... But you only have FOUR MORE DAYS TO ENTER! Here are the rules one more time...

1. Pick one or two of the following things you DO like about the blog: Parties, Recipes, Seasonal Traditions, Dates, Books, TV Reviews, Wednesday Wisdom, Weekend Happenings, Weekend Family Fun, Contests.

2. Okay. Now that you've picked one or two, leave me a comment, an e-mail or a note on Facebook (it doesn't matter which one) telling me what you DO like. Be sure and leave your name.

3. When you've given me your input, I'll put your name in a bowl and a name will be drawn out of the bowl on Friday, October 16... the one-year anniversary of "A Simple Life."

4. If you win, you will have a choice between three different $20 prizes. The prizes you will pick from will be "tailor-made" for you and your personality. (If I pick your name, but I don't know you personally, I will send you a $20 gift card to your favorite store or restaurant.) Oh, and just so you know... that $20 gift card is an option for ANYONE who might win.

5. You have until midnight, Thursday, October 15 to leave a comment, e-mail or Facebook message, so there is plenty of time. Get busy. I'll post the rules every two to three days as a reminder.

We had a busy weekend, as did everyone in our little town. It was Homecoming. Not only was it Homecoming, but it was Homecoming with the chance of severe weather. Although it looked very menacing for a while, and the school moved the game up 30 minutes, the storm kind of fizzled toward the middle of the game and moved on. The football team won, and the kids were able to celebrate, and it all just kind of worked out!

Josh has six friends over after the game and they ate, and just hung out until around midnight. The kids were very, very well-behaved and it was an easy party to host. I'm enjoying the teenage stage more and more. Once I came to the realization a couple of years ago everyone was too old to play with Legos, Barbies and build forts in the living room with every sheet, blanket and pillow in the house, things started falling into place.

For teenage boys, it all revolves around food. It isn't complicated. "If you feed them, they will come."

For pre-teen and teenage girls, it all revolves around listening to music, putting on make-up and painting fingernails and toenails... and "Please, please can she spend the night?"

It's very simple. Doors stay open. Food stays accessible. Parents wander in and out of rooms and try not to embarrass the pre-teen and teenage girls by breathing.

I'm not saying I'm a good mother of teenagers... However, I finally understand the rules!

Roxie had a good homecoming, too. Her after-football festivities included pizza and basketball at another friend's house.

I spent Saturday morning shopping with Roxie and Grandmother at the Galleria which is an activity which cannot be beat on a rainy Saturday when the guys are staying home to watch the Auburn football game, and any other football game before or after.

Roxie went ice skating with some friends Saturday night and enjoyed herself immensely... until her head hit the ice. She was fine, but I kept having her spell words backwards and looking at her pupils the rest of the night.

Austin Update - I know you're wondering where The Boy was this weekend. This is the second weekend he has not been able to come home (Code for I'M HAVING LUNCH WITH HIM TUESDAY). He was in Georgia all day Saturday playing for two different Band Expos. Needless to say, he stayed in Jacksonville Sunday after getting back to the dorm in the wee morning hours.

He's been on the JSU radio station twice now giving football predictions on a late night show, and he is loving that part of Communications. For the Faulkner Five, especially me, Austin and Roxie, talking into an open mic about whatever interests you is a dream come true. When you add the fact no one can interrupt you, it is a little piece of heaven on earth.

He's also singing a solo at his campus worship service Tuesday night. It's "Open Mic Night" for Christians. (He's a little worried about committing to that one, but he has a nice voice and if he picks the right song, I think he'll be okay.) I'd love to be there for that one though... I think. (It's a little known fact, but sometimes kids EMBARRASS their parents. It's not always the other way around!)

All in all, he's still doing well. Mike and I are hoping to meet some of his new friends after JSU Homecoming in a couple of weeks, and we're making plans to have his roommate over for dinner during the Thanksgiving and/or Christmas break.

Roxie was the most vocal about the missed weekend at home bringing it up several times, but that's a good thing.

She misses him.

5 Things To Do When Kids Say, "I'm Bored!"

Remember the book I told you about Friday (A Mother's Manual For Summer Survival)? Remember I told you I was going to give you 5 things a day this week from the chapter mentioned above? Well, here are 1 through 5:

1. Colorful creative salt: Add 5 to 6 drops food coloring to 1/2 cup household salt. Stir well. Cook in microwave for 1 to 2 minutes or spread on waxed paper and let air dry. Store in an airtight container. Use as you would glitter.

2. Soapy finger paint: Whip 1 cup soap flakes with 1/2 cup of water. Tint with food coloring or dry tempera. Paint on white shelf paper or waxed paper.

3. Chalk paint: Dissolve 6 tablespoons sugar in 1/4 cup water. Soak chalk 10 minutes. Draw on colored paper with wet chalk.

4. Take a nature walk. Collect ferns, flowers, leaves and rocks to make a centerpiece for the dinner table.

5. Decorate a small clay pot. Plant flower seeds, nurture and watch them grow.

There are 295 more ideas. Some of these may seem simplistic, but none of the ideas are things you do every day, and most of them can be done with household items you already have. Also, as the list goes on, the things become more enjoyable for older children as well. Five more tomorrow!

Mystery Bag Party

As I said above, this is the easiest party EVER to put together. Make a list of as many friends as you can think of (old and new) and put the names into a bowl. Draw six names and send them the following invitation:

YOU ARE INVITED TO A
MYSTERY BAG PARTY

Your name was drawn from a total of 25 names! You and five other women are invited to the First Annual Mystery Bag Party!

1. We will leave the church parking lot (meet in front of the Family Life Center) at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, October 11, 2009.

2. You will need to bring $12. (THIS WAS THEIR LUNCH MONEY.)

3. You will need to wear a solid colored shirt or blouse... no patterns, but any solid color will do just fine. (THIS INSTRUCTION KEPT US FROM CLASHING DURING THE PICTURE TAKING PORTION OF OUR PARTY.)

4. If for any reason you cannot attend the Party, you will need to let Belinda know as soon as possible so another name can be drawn to take your place.

5. Although the destinations are a Mystery, and the purpose of the party is a Mystery, please do not worry. It will be an enjoyable, relaxing afternoon with friends.

6. We will return to the church parking lot at approximately 3:48 p.m. (THE TIME 3:48 WAS A JOKE. I DO THIS ALL THE TIME. SOME PEOPLE NOTICE AND THINK IT IS FUNNY, BUT SOME PEOPLE JUST THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME AND THEY NEVER SAY A WORD.)

Regrets Only: (PUT PHONE NUMBERS HERE)

If someone cannot attend, immediately draw another name and send them an invitation. Continue until you have six people who can attend.

I took the girls to one of my favorite places to eat, Klingler's European Bakery in Vestavia Hills. No one knew where we were going.

When the girls meet, make sure you have a bag in each seat of the van. Each bag contains the exact same thing.

1. Seven envelopes numbered 1 through 7. (Each envelope contains a different question.) The questions I used are listed below, but you can use any kind of conversation starters.

2. A small wrapped gift. (I love candles, so everyone received a candle.)

3. Three or four small pieces of candy in the bottom of the bag. (I used Hershey's Kisses.

4. A little bag containing two muffins for breakfast the next day. (I made pumpkin chocolate chip muffins... two per person.)

No one is allowed to look into their bag until you leave the parking lot. As you're driving, ask everyone to open the envelope marked with a 1. Have someone read the question aloud and everyone answers the question. (Everyone's question number 1 is the same. This is a good way to get to know the girls better, and it keeps the conversation flowing.) A few minutes later, ask everyone to open envelope number 2 which contains another question. Spend a few minutes answering that question. By the time we had answered questions 1, 2 and 3 we had arrived at our destination.

We had a very nice lunch at Klingler's. It was not rushed and it was the first time the other girls had been there. Since all the girls did not know each other, we went around the table telling about our families. Remember, everyone has a story, and these remarkable women all had a story to share. There was never a lapse in the conversation at lunch.

After lunch, it was back to the van. The girls were told to open their gifts as we made our way to our second destination... another favorite place of mine. We also answered one or two more envelope questions before we arrived at The Botanical Gardens. Then we had a photo shoot (yet another favorite thing of mine to do). By this time, it was fun to see the women walking and talking with other women they had only met an hour or so earlier... and we made some beautiful pictures.

Back to the van for the trip home. On this leg of the trip, the women were asked to open the small bag containing the muffins, and we answered the remaining envelope questions.

Questions for Mystery Bag Party

1. If you could have any actress play you in a movie, who would it be?

2. What is your favorite Christmas movie EVER?

3. If money and family and friends were not an issue, where would you most like to live in the world?

4. What is your favorite book of the Bible and/or Bible verse, and why?

5. What is your favorite smell?

6. If you could buy 10 of any one particular clothing item, what would it be?

7. Name one or two “Ah-Ha” moments that have occurred in your life.

I hope I haven't made it sound too complicated, because it is NOT. Pick a place to eat. Make the bags. Once you have made the bags, you just use them to keep things going smoothly. It's that simple... I promise.

Have a magnificent Monday. Tomorrow's recipe is a new dessert from a friend of mine. I think you're going to like it... especially if you're a fruit/dessert person. Also, we'll have five more things to do when your kids are bored.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda