GIRLS NIGHT OUT

Last night I hosted a jewelry party. This particular one was for sterling silver jewelry for which I used to be a representative. I decided it would be fun to do a little get together and if some friends would like to buy something, fine. But this is a very low pressure line to sell--the stuff is beautiful. My thought this time was just to get some friends together - I wasn't the one selling the jewelry, my rep was. I planned this about a month ago and invited about twenty women. I decided to serve a light supper and also have a drawing for a piece of my silver jewelry from my collection. I also planned to have Mama Mia- the sing along version - on the television for fun.

The menu was white chicken chili, cornbread, guacamole, salad, brownies, and beverages, to include sangria. If you knew me well you would know that I am a terrible procrastinator. By yesterday afternoon I was ready to have a major meltdown. I kept shopping for more things I needed and put off the prep until very late. People were due to start arriving between 5 o'clock and 6 o'clock. I gave up on my from scratch cornbread and used Jiffy mix and added a can of corn. Guess what? It was excellent! I also gave up on the brownies and bought frozen mini cream puffs and some strawberries. Guacamole - no. Just added the avocado to the salad. Sangria -- just bought the bottled kind and added slices of orange and a little ginger ale. The recipe I use for the chili is the one from Bush's Beans and I spice it up a little more. Served with shredded cheese and sour cream it is delicious.

And the twenty or so people invited? Almost everyone came and the party was a big success, if I do say so myself. Some people did buy jewelry and that means I get some free jewelry for being the hostess. Yay!

Everyone left by 8:30 or 9:00 and I was beat. I left the clean up for today. It is really tiring to be the "hostess with the mostest" - ha, ha. Actually I haven't done much entertaining for many years until recently.

I actually had another "girls night out" late this afternoon when a few girlfriends and I went to a concert at a local venue and saw the Diamonds perform. Do you remember them from the 50's? Well, maybe you aren't as old as I am. They are not the original guys, but they did a very good oldies show. We were rockin'! Four old (not really) chicks, looking around at all the old people in the audience and wondering if we looked that old -- no, of course not. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and I was home by 7:00!

Always,