Day 14: Make something to give away.  Send a card to a friend or make a little gift for someone you care about.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been busy making a few things to give away. It’s just that time of year: end-of-school, graduation parties, summer birthdays, etc. And, I have all these ideas and inspiration, but there’s just never enough time. For my daughter’s teacher who is retiring, the class wrote letters of gratitude (or poems and just goodbyes). I put their little works of art together with pictures from school parties and their last field trip.

Over the weekend, we also hosted a going-away party for my sister-in-law and her husband who are moving out to the West Coast. *sad face* Really, we are so proud and excited for them. We will miss them so much… thank goodness for video chatting. So, a few friends and family came over, we laughed, we feasted on some favorite foods and bid them farewell. The thing about going away parties (I don’t like saying “goodbye”.), it’s all about spending time with your family and your pals. You could go nuts with decoration or theme, and I might have if there were more time. We just pulled together a few things. My daughter and I wrote cute messages on some vellum that we embossed, then we taped them to some glass jars for homespun hurricane jars.

And for our guests, something to conjure up Washington (state): some Starbuck’s to go, a copy of a vintage downtown Seattle postcard, and my sister and brother-in-law’s new address.

How would you prepare for a farewell party? Share some website loves in the comments!

Clearly, I’ve fallen off the face of the earth with journaling here. Last week, the house was finally clean and decorated, cookies baked, and menu prepared for our annual cookie exchange party. Nine years running. Amazing. I’ll be back this week after recovering from the sugar coma.

I was super excited to get these goodies from the offices of Martha Stewart Living via Craft Critique. If you’re getting ready for the holidays and looking for ways to wrap or package your baked goods, please take a look at my review on Craft Critique! Leave a comment at their site and you just might win your own set of treat bags and boxes!

Remember the Calphalon & Williams-Sonoma party I hosted earlier this year? There’s more…

Calphalon & Williams-Sonoma are proud to present the Easy & Elegant Brunch Video Contest!

There are 4 days left of this contest!

Submit a video answering these three questions:

1.  Why do you need Calphalon Unison cookware for the Holidays?

2.  Why are you excited to meet and cook brunch with Chef Michael Symon?

3.  What will you buy on your Williams-Sonoma shopping spree?

You could win a trip to meet, dine, and cook with Chef Michael Symon!

PLUS!  The first 150 approved videos will all win a FREE 8” Calphalon Unison Omelette Pan! (a $100 value!)

Important Dates:

November 14^th:                                             Entry Period Closed

November 18^th:                                             3 Finalists Announced

November 19^th – 28^th:                                  Public Vote

November 30^th:                                             Winner Announced

For more information, or to enter, please visit http://www.facebook.com/Calphalon.

All official rules and requirements are available at the contest entry page.

One Grand Prize will be awarded:

• Round-Trip Airfare for 2 to Cleveland, OH
• Hotel Room for 2 Nights in Cleveland, OH
• All Transportation Fees

• Meet Celebrity Chef Michael Symon
• Brunch Cooking Demonstration by Michael Symon
• Dinner for 2 at Michael Symon’s Acclaimed Lola Restaurant

• 1 10-piece Calphalon Unison Nonstick cookware set
• 1 Calphalon Unison Kabob Set
• 1 Calphalon Unison Frittata Pan Set
• 1 Calphalon Unison Double-Burner Griddle Set
• $500 Williams-Sonoma Shopping Spree

Picture by R. Lasquite

Picture by R. Lasquite

Picture by R. Lasquite

Picture by G. Feiereisel

More photos at Greg’s Photo Album. Thank you everyone for such a fun evening! Let’s do this again soon.