What ever happened to birthday parties at McDonalds? Remember the good old days when jumping in the ball pit and slice of cake was enough? Well those times are gone. And since I am firm believer of “When in Rome…” I have made an effort to keep up with the trends and changes in entertaining. Martha Stewart has set the bar high. And now a party isn’t ‘just a party’.
samantha conner
newest posts
- sort by
- newest
- most popular
-
Party Perfection: 5 Simple Steps
-
A Year of Change
Looking back, I can’t believe we made it this far. This was the first year that I sent a child to ‘real’ school. As a former teacher, I knew all about how to do the first day of school. But unfortunately I only knew the details of the day from ‘the teacher’s’ perspective. I had no clue what it would feel like being on the other side of the door. Once school started, both our lives changed so drastically… -
Brighten Up Your Home
One of my favorite ways to add interest with layers is through a lampshade. Gone are the days of the plain white lampshade. Now professional and amateur decorators are finding fun ways to dress up those shades. Look around your house. Got any plain or bare lampshades? If so, here are three easy ways to transform them without spending a lot. -
Resurrection Rolls
Among all the other goodies (jelly beans, chocolate bunnies, Cadbury eggs) that we will be munching on come Easter will be these sweet and meaningful Resurrection Rolls. This kid-friendly recipe is delicious, sugary, and very symbolic.
-
Dancing with the Band
The thoughts of a parade with two squirrelly girls made me nervous. There would open spaces, streets with moving cars, and lots of people. Staying home, tucked inside our ‘comfort zone’ seemed so much easier. But faced with the fear of contracting cabin fever, I decided the risk was worth the ‘experience’. -
Seven Days of Fun
With Spring Break just around the corner, everyone is scrambling to find something to do to keep the kiddos entertained for an entire week. Of course traveling somewhere exotic and sinking your toes in the sand sounds like a dream. But with work and budget constraints, the only sand most of us will be seeing is located in a box in our backyard! Luckily I have a plan. Here are a few things my girls and I will be doing for fun this Spring Break. Maybe our list will help you keep your little ones happy and busy too. -
Daddy Days
What did my husband do when I left him home alone with the girls? Did he worry about grocery shopping, naps, and laundry? No- he had fun. So right then and there, that’s what I made up my mind to do. Over the next few days we would do things a bit differently. We would have ourselves some good old-fashioned “Daddy Days”. -
Picture Perfect
I have always loved taking photos. Nothing fancy, just simple snapshots to document the moment and hold onto a feeling. I have taken thousands of photos. Some good, some not so good. But from each photo I learned a little more. If you have a decent camera and the desire to capture your family and the moments you hold dear, read on. Because with a few simple tips, even the most novice photographer can take photos that are ‘frame worthy’.
meet our contributors
-
Victorya Rogers
Victorya Michaels Rogers is a Life & Love Coach, equipping women to create and keep healthy relationships. Rogers’ authored four books, including Finding a Man Worth Keeping and The Automatic 2nd Date. Her latest release is the DVD “Straight Talk About Sex for Christian Couples” co-written with Sex Therapist Debby Wade. Victorya has been seen and heard on national TV, Radio, and print—from MTV to Focus on the Family, Cosmopolitan to Woman’s World. This former Hollywood agent is also an active REALTOR® at Coldwell Banker Residential. She’s part of First Friday Women and lives in Southlake with her husband, Will, and their two children. Learn more about her coaching services at www.Victorya.com. -
Samantha Conner
In my “past life” I earned a degree in Education at TCU and taught elementary school. But these days, I am working as a super stay-at-home-mom with a serious craft addiction. During naptime, I am an avid blogger, runner, and nester. My blog is the place where I chronicle my journey in homemaking and sell my fabulous handmade bows, tutus, and hair accessories. I have a loving husband and two young daughters. Their enthusiasm and support is what drives my creativity in home decor, unique crafts, party planning, holiday fun, and all things girly. I am dedicated to creating a warm, loving home for my family. And to me, that means a lot of 'crafty how-to’ projects along the way. I believe that life can be more fabulous with the use of polka dots, tulle, ribbon and rhinestones! I hope you enjoy sharing in our adventures and that I can inspire you to 'get crafty' in your own home. Follow my crafting journey at craftytexasgirls.blogspot.com -
Rhonda Sargent Chambers
Rhonda, a former model and owner of RSC Show Productions, considers herself a “naturalized Texan”. After moving to Texas from San Francisco, she began her modeling career at a young age walking runways around the world from Japan to Mexico. She transitioned from full-time modeling to fashion show production with the creation of RSC Show Productions. As an instructor and speaker in the modeling community for over 30 years, she is a respected figure who consults with modeling agencies to develop criteria and guidelines for professional models to follow. Rhonda and her husband Kit have been together more than 20 years. The busy mom’s schedule is somewhat flexible since she owns her own business, but it’s the couple’s two boys, Callahan, 12, and Ford, 10, who now shape Rhonda’s daily routine. She is active in the community both personally and professionally giving her time to organizations such as Children’s Cancer Fund, Mane Gait Therapeutic Center, Child Abuse Prevention Center, Big Thought and The Elisa Project. She is passionate about fashion, and her forte will offer wonderful shopping and wardrobing tips for busy moms on the go! www.rscshow.com -
Maxi Erdmann
I am Maxi Erdmann, and I reside in Keller, TX with my four sweet babies and my husband, Nathan. A University of Oklahoma grad, I love all things SOONER! I love food, but I don’t cook, I love music, but I don’t sing, (except in the shower), and I have a ridiculously expensive obsession with make-up. I have been writing since I could form letters and my mother put a pencil in my hand. Prior to having my third and fourth baby, I was a teacher at Southlake Christian Preschool. Before moving to Texas, I lived in Oklahoma where I spent my days as a full-time mom of twins and part-time make-up artist. I have also lived in Nashville, TN where I worked for Gaylord Entertainment and Springhouse Golf Course. My other interests include all things sports related and a new endeavor as an aspiring (learning!) photographer. It seems, along with my pencil, I have always had a camera around my neck. My days are filled with loud kids, tons of laundry and enough extra-curricular activities to keep six people busy. I’m up for the challenge, and I love every minute of it... -
Brooke Hortenstine
Brooke Hortenstine is a Dallas-based editor, writer and charitable volunteer. As editor-at-large of PaperCity magazine, Brooke chronicles the evolving Dallas social scene and writes about all things luxurious — fashion, food, beauty, and interior design, to name a few. She has appeared as a style authority in television segments, and has been published in periodicals such as In Style and Four Seasons Magazine. Contemporary art, dining, travel, music, modern furnishings, and southern customs — think iced tea, old monograms and SEC football — top her lists of likes, as well as giving back to her community. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Dallas Contemporary artspace and the President’s Advisory Council to the AT&T Performing Arts Center, and serves as a member of Cattle Baron’s Ball benefiting the American Cancer Society. Her family includes her husband Blake Hortenstine, a ranch real estate broker, and their two-year-old son, Rollins Hortenstine.
