My Go-To Dish. A Casserole by the Queen of Southern Cuisine.

Everyone needs that go-to dish that they whip together for friends and family when they’re in need of a good, home-cooked meal. Maybe you know someone who has been sick, or has had surgery, or better yet they’ve just brought home a brand-new baby… whatever the occasion may be, the recipe I’m about to share with you is the perfect meal to prepare for a friend in need.

Merry Christmas!

Well, the shopping, decorating, cooking, running about, and general holiday craziness will soon be at an end.... and we will all have a chance to enjoy the true and sacred meaning of this wondrous holiday.  To our readers that celebrate Christmas, Catherine and I hope that you have a wonderful time commemorating Christ's birth with your friends and family!


But first.... 

I'm dreaming of a {Fabulous} Christmas....

Happy Friday dear readers!  


I am so excited that we are right in the heart of the Christmas season.... I've been busy shopping for the children my husband and I sponsored through a local charity, enjoying time at Christmas parties, dinners, lunches, and teas, and taking our almost-6 month old (!!) to fun activities such as Christmas photos with Santa, Christmas at Callanwolde (recall a previous post on Callanwolde here),

'Tis the season to GIVE!

Every year around this time, our bunco group comes together to help those in need. This year we sponsored 5 families through Operation Homefront – Georgia, an organization with the mission of providing assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors.  Everyone in our group contributed with a donation and about half of us were able to meet at Target for the fun stuff, shopping!

We're back!

Guess what, Buncolator fans?  We are back and excited to share our new web page and blog with you!  Thank you so much for your patience as we've been tweaking our layout and content.  We think we've made some great changes, and we hope you'll agree.

Here are a sampling of our new features:

• Instead of taking you straight to our blog, Buncolator.com will now take you to our new central website.  

An update for our readers

Buncolator fans, we are in the midst of some changes here at buncolator.com.  As a result, the blog posts will be sparse for a little while.  Please be patient with us while we (technologically) regroup and make what we think are some awesome changes.  Thanks in advance!

If I had Twenty Dollars....

Today will mark the first in a series entitled "If I had Twenty Dollars..."  (Is If I Had a Million Dollars by the Bare Naked Ladies in your head yet? If it wasn't, I apologize, but gosh, what a catchy tune that was... "but not a real fur coat, that's cruel...." ) But I digress.


Now, the purpose of this series is to reveal what I would do if I found myself with a twenty-dollar bill that just had to be spent immediately.  (And contrary to my husband's beliefs, that is not the state of all twenty-dollar bills that make their way into my wallet).  Why $20?  

Free Bunco Party Printables!

So Catherine's and my good friend Amanda over at Dixie Delights gave us the heads up on a fabulous deal for all our readers.... free Bunco party printables!  Dixie Delights, by the way, is a too-much blog that is one of my personal faves - and surely you recall that I define too much as too fabulous, or in other words, just perfect.  Anyway, the printables are absolutely adorable, and hey, did we mention they're free?  :o)  

In honor, in memory, in love

Today is a day not to focus on Bunco, or parties, or football, or any of the wonderful fun things that life has to offer.  Instead, today is a day to reflect, to put those things in perspective, and to be grateful to our brothers and sisters who've sacrificed their all so that we can enjoy such frivolities, and often without second thought.  

You Go, Pregnant Girl... and take those tacky shoes with you...

With Labor Day now having come and gone, there is a surprising crispness to the air here in Atlanta.  It sure is a nice change from the down-right sweltering weather we were having.  So that our readers in less, shall we say, near-tropic climates can understand, it was literally stifling hot.  And you know what they say about Southern humidity....

Labor of Love....

It's Labor Day!  We hope all our readers are enjoying their holiday in whatever way suits their fancy.  Here in Atlanta, it's been a dreary/cozy/sleepy kind of day... I must admit, it's been a nice and relaxing way to end a 3 day weekend.  

Workin' 9 to 5: an ode to the American Worker

"Heaven is blessed with perfect rest but the blessing of earth is toil."  Henry van Dyke

"God sells us all things at the price of labor."  Leonardo da Vinci

Delicious Sangria in 4 Easy Steps

Whenever I entertain I make this Sangria. It’s always a big hit and if you can uncork a bottle of wine then you can make this simple yet crowd pleasing wine punch. The great thing about this concoction

Be it ever so humble.... it still deserves a gift

"Home is an invention on which no one has yet improved."  Ann Douglas

As most of our readers know, my husband and I just moved into a new home (and yes, I have already had our Bunco group here to appropriately christen it)!  We are loving it, especially

Drink a little drink for me

"Sometimes too much to drink is barely enough."  Mark Twain 


Ahhh.... Labor Day weekend... that glorious end-of-summer holiday marking the end of a season, the start of a new one, and the commencement of many little lovelies such as

Hi, my name is Lindsay, and I'm a furniture-aholic

Y'all, I have a confession.  And while I try to keep this little secret hidden, I probably don't do the best of jobs.  In fact, my confession is one that won't make my husband, family, or good friends bat an eye.  

Oh Baby! Part Two: Southern sweetness!

Happy Friday dear readers!  Catherine and I hope you had as nice a Friday as we did.  We got to share some time together with our babies over lunch with two of our other best girlfriends and their little ones.  Good food with good friends (and a skinny margarita for me, I will have you know)

Pinterest!!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!


If you sense my excitement, then just take the level of excitement that you are imagining and multiply it ("times it," as we said in middle school) at least by ten.  Seriously, I could only be more excited if, for example, Dolly Parton

You're Invited...

Hello, Dear Readers!  Please excuse my blogging absence for the past few weeks.... as Catherine let y'all know, my husband and I just welcomed our first baby.  As those of you who are mothers will understand, my life has been a blur of

Creative Cupcakes

I was reading the weekly email blast I receive from Skirt! Atlanta and found a recipe for cupcakes that would be a big hit at any summer soiree... I love how they used a stick of gum to create the lounge chair, hysterical! Even better, when you bite into

Welcome Baby Forlines!

I’m pleased to announce that Lindsay had her baby! A perfectly healthy, beautiful, snuggly, cuddly, little boy who was born June 22^nd at 6:13 PM. Lindsay’s trip to the hospital went smoothly and

'Such Pretty Things' - such a pretty blog!!

Happy Monday dear readers!  Catherine and I hope you had a simply mahvelous weekend.  I was blessed to celebrate four good friends' birthdays this weekend, and as such, attended a birthday brunch for a near and dear girlfriend (and she's Catherine's little sis to boot), an afternoon birthday party

Beautiful Cakes for Any Occasion

There is simply nothing like a custom-made cake to put that final touch on a special celebration.  And in this day and age of TV shows like Cake Wars and Cake Boss, not to mention the oodles of designs to be found on the internet, the inspirations out there are endless.  

The MacBeth Collection: Stylish storage and entertaining pieces

If you, our savvy readers, are anything like us, you are constantly on the lookout for cute and fresh options for storing things - especially if they are often in plain view or used for entertaining.  Fortunately,  there are countless options out there for keeping things neat and tidy (and in guests' easy reach) while still keeping the look chic.  

Vidalia Onion Pie - a delicious summer treat

"Cooking without onions is like leaving your house without any underwear on. You can get away with it, but are you sure you want to?"

- Valerie Usowski, Culinary Institute of America graduate.

Dear readers, I know that Catherine and I can be a bit biased towards the Southern region of the U.S., being as that this part of the country is

A perfect spot for gaming, a la Eddie Ross

If any of you have not heard of Eddie Ross, well, Catherine and I are glad to be the ones to share news of him with you!  Now the creative force behind a design studio, columns in Southern Living (you know my feelings on that publication!)

Cake balls, how we love thee!

When it comes to desserts, if you’re looking to really impress your guests, then serve them Cake Pops!

Oh Baby!!

Today will mark two firsts for the Buncolator blog... one, Catherine and I have decided to stop writing in the royal "we" - although blimey, it's been fun :o) - and write our posts as individuals.  That way, our readers (that would be you!) can get to know each of us.  


Secondly, this will be the first post in a series of posts on baby showers.  

Beer Punch (aka Raspberry Beer Cocktail)!!

We hope you all enjoyed the Memorial Day weekend!  Here in Atlanta, it was hot but lovely, perfect for hanging out at the pool, a cookout, or just out on the porch.  We had great holiday weekends with our families and friends, appreciating all that the service men and women of the U.S. have done for our wonderful nation, now and of course in the past.  They are heroes, each and every one.


In honor of Summer's official kickoff weekend, we wanted to share a favorite recipe with you - "Beer Punch."  OK, we must admit, it's not really called Beer Punch.... its technical name is actually the much-more dignified "Raspberry Beer Cocktail."  

Our Bunco Group Turns 2!

Normally our Bunco group meets every 2^nd Monday of the month to roll the dice, but since the month of May marked our 2^nd anniversary, we decided to celebrate with a weekend-evening Bunco Bash.  No game, just uninterrupted girl time... with lots of good food and drink of course.  And since the festivities took place on a Friday night, we could have that extra glass of Sangria guilt-free.  Well, almost guilt-free - Catherine and a few others got up the next morning to run a 5K so they couldn’t get too crazy, but needless to say we had a good time.  ;)

Everyone brought a dish or their favorite cocktail beverage, and we gathered on a friend’s porch and did what women do best - talked the night away.  We also chipped in our usual $15 but this time, instead of going to the prize pot, the money went to charity.  We decided to donate to the Alabama tornado victims.  Being that we live in Atlanta, this disaster hit close to home; we all wanted to do something to send aid to our neighbors just one state over. Caitlin Zygmont, one of our group's founders, acted as treasurer.  She collected the cash and turned it over to the American Red Cross on our behalf.  She also took the group picture you see above.  (Caitlin is a budding photographer and you can see more of her work on her blog: caitlinzygmont.blogspot.com).

In addition to our usual chatter, we did a round robin of introductions as in the past several months we have welcomed several new-comers.  It was really cool to look around at so many faces (new and old) and think about the friendships that have formed through this group. We’ve met so many wonderful women whom we would not have met if it weren’t for our game night gatherings… and that gives us much reason to celebrate. Because after all, Bunco is more about raking in new friends than it is about raking in the winnings.

Cheers to many more Bunco anniversaries!

Calligraphy.... maybe a little fancy for our usual Bunco nights, but....

OK, OK, we admit.... we know you are not going to generally send out fancy invitations with calligraphy for your monthly Bunco nights (us neither!).  But we just can't help but love the swirls and intricacy of a hand-lettered envelope or place card for a special event.  It just gives paper goods that little extra oomph, you know?  And we believe that calligraphy should be utilized far more often than just for weddings.  Try it for your next wedding/baby shower, holiday soiree, or girls' only event - we know your guests will love it.  The tone such beautiful handwriting sets is memorable, and your invitees will know a truly special occasion awaits them.

A lover of all things paper-related, Lindsay had always wanted to try her hand - pun intended :o) - at calligraphy.  So she decided to research taking a class.  First things first, who knew about all the gorgeous styles out there?  Italics, Pointed Pen/Copperplate, contemporary... they are all just lovely, with their own personality.  Lindsay chose Pointed Pen/Copperplate for its traditional vibe and gorgeous swirls... plus, Lindsay wants to add some extra "flair" to her capital letters, once she has the basics down pat of course, and Copperplate lends itself nicely to extra flourishes.

For about the past month, Lindsay has been making a weekly trip over to the beautiful Callanwolde Fine Arts Center in Atlanta for her class.  At the start of the course, Lindsay was delighted to find that the instructor, the uber-talented Mrs. Carol Gray, is her neighbor.  Carol's talent at calligraphy is unbelievable - she could take even words like "potato" or "garbage can" and make them glamorous.  The class itself has been just wonderful as well; Carol breaks the sessions into learning the strokes for related sets of letters, and she is a constant encouragement as her students practice their words and phrases.  She also shares the insider tips and tricks, such as must-have equipment like light boxes, special inks and paper, and nibs.  Always adding to the fun, the class has been full of personable and eager fellow students, creating a perfect environment for learning such a delicate and challenging art.  

If you are interested in taking a calligraphy course in the Atlanta area, you simply MUST check out Carol's class:

Callanwolde's Summer 2011 Course Catalog

(Callanwolde also offers a host of other great classes - if you have an interest in art, music, writing, or dance, take the time to peruse their offerings). 

And if you have a special event for which you want to utilize calligraphy services, do yourself a favor and contact Carol.  Her talent, dedication, and kind demeanor make her a true professional.

Carol's website

Last, we would be remiss if we did not mention what a gorgeous site Callanwolde is - the mansion itself and the lush grounds are breathtaking.  Don't forget to consider it for your next special event!  (We are biased, we'll admit - Lindsay's wedding reception was there).

Have a wonderful weekend!

  

An ode to our mothers....

A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.  ~ Tenneva Jordan


Every day should be Mother’s Day because every day our mothers love us unconditionally. They teach us the basics in life such as how to take that first step, tie a shoe, and ride a bike, but they also teach us things that are less tangible, such as how to be a good friend or how to be a mother ourselves. Leading by example is one way they accomplish this; you might say we are able to give love because we have been loved: children grow up and have children of their own and pass that love on to the next generation. 


This year, Mother’s Day takes on a new meaning for us – Catherine now has a 4 month old daughter and Lindsay is only a few weeks away from giving birth to her first child, a little boy. As we enter this new chapter in life we would like to thank our mothers for the love they so willingly poured out on us and for teaching us the meaning of friendship.  After all, that's really what the game of Bunco is about.  

Catherine and her mother Kathy

Lindsay and her mother Sandy 

Thank you Sandy and Kathy!  

In loving memory of Sandy

April 19, 1949 - September 24, 2003

Viva! Cinco de Mayo

Hola Senoritas!  Here in Atlanta, this morning is a tad bit chilly, but it looks like it will be a beautiful day to celebrate the Mexican Army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.  And it sure does help us forget about any twinge of chill in the air when this holiday's traditions include delicious food, fun colors, vibrant music, and tasty cocktails!


Although, sadly, we are not hosting a soiree today (Bunco-centered or not), these beautiful images and party inspirations sure made us wish we were!!  Enjoy... and after you do, why don't you go enjoy a tasty margarita in a pretty salt-rimmed glass?  Yum!

Vintage castanets - what could be finer? 
Image courtesy of mzhollygolightly.blogspot.com

These pics from this island wedding just say tropical, warm-weather fun!  
(And can we please try those adorable cupcakes with dried pineapple on the top???) 
For more on this event, visit myislandwedding.blogspot.com

Cute and casual - no better way to celebrate and eat  outdoors!
Image courtesy of mostazaseed.blogspot.com

Beautiful and colorful oilcloths will protect your eating surfaces from hot sauce spills in style.
Several of Atlanta's local Ace Hardwares carry yardage of these gems for a great price in Atlanta.  
Image courtesy of mostazaseed.blogspot.com.

Tissue paper party decorations - adorable, easy and affordable.
Image courtesy of mostazaseed.blogspot.com

Isn't this vintage Mexican dish towel great?
If you had enough, they would be perfect as place mats or party napkins!   We love to score vintage linens like these at flea markets, ebay.com, or etsy.com.  

Another GORGEOUS wedding that gives us loads of ideas for warm-weather parties!  
We just love the succulents, don't you?  (For more on this wedding, visit poetrybooths.com).

Image courtesy of b-townblog.com

These next three scenes are simply lovely - they would be perfect for an intimate Cinco de Mayo dinner!

Image courtesy of marthastewart.com

Have a fun and festive Cinco de Mayo, everyone!

Sweets for your Bunco sweets

Although any snacks are well-appreciated come Bunco night, sometimes what really gets us geared up for rolling the dice is the sweet stuff.  We're talking cookies, cakes, brownies... you know the drill, ladies. A few Bunco nights ago, Lindsay brought little strawberry shortcakes for each player to enjoy.  A little messy, yes, a true finger food, no... but delicious and (mostly) eaten up nonetheless!

This past Monday was our March Bunco night and Catherine had just the idea for a fun new dessert - petit fours in the likeness of dice!  We knew that these would be a sure fire hit.  After all, they're small, tasty, and feminine too, besides being the perfect shape for dice to begin with.  Our local Publix bakery was happy to oblige Catherine's swell idea, and the results are below.  Yum!

And isn't the tiered dessert stand that Catherine's mother-in-law gave her for Christmas just perfect?!?!

After the success of these petit fours, this got us thinking about other Bunco-themed desserts to try at future Bunco nights.  The web is the perfect resource for inspiration.  Just look at these adorable sweets that other Bunco players are creating out there!

We can't wait to borrow a few of these adorable ideas in the future.  

Happy rolling and sweets-snacking, ladies!