Memorial Day Treats: S'mores!

For many, Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer, and if you’re old-school like me, the beginning of white shoe season. 

Along with the Memorial Day picnics, BBQs and family gatherings, it's also a time of remembrance and reflection of what our armed forces do for our great country. I would like to express my sincere appreciation and respect to the men and women in uniform and their families for their sacrifice and dedication.

Rosanna's USA American Flag Tray, Roll Play Dice

One of my favorite Memorial Day activities is making s'mores! Gooey, chocolatey, and crunchy all at the same time-yum! Why not try to sophisticate the tradition a bit by hosting you very own DIY s'mores party to kick off the summer festivities? 

Even without a bonfire present, you can still enjoy the summer-is-almost-here excitement with a s'mores party!

Top: Rosanna's State Token USA Tray Large, State Token USA Small, USA Pennant Tray, USA American Flag Tray, USA Map Tray, Voyage Cookies Tray, Roll Play Dice, Moonglass White Votive

While I love the traditional graham cracker s'mores, everyone goes crazy for s'mores with a twist like the ones we made with Pepperidge Farm Brussels cookies, Reese's Peanut Butter cups and marshmallows.

Rosanna's USA Canvas Bunting

Here's what we put on our S'mores Bar (but you can purchase your favorite cookies and candy):

• Marshmallows

• Graham Crackers

• Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bars

• Hershey's white Chocolate Bars

• Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

• Pepperidge Farm Brussels Cookies

• Fudge Stripe Cookies

Are you excited about Memorial Day? Seeing all of these awesome dessert ideas is really revving me up. I can’t believe the summer kick-off is already here! Hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day!

Warmly,

R O S A N N A I N C . C O M

Waffles for Mother's Day Brunch!

Mother's Day is almost here! If you're stressing about something new and exciting to do for your mom--how about making a decadent and oh so easy-to-prepare waffle bar brunch?

Dore Dinner Plate, Dore Hexagonal Platter, Dore Nesting Scallop Bowl Set, Dore Mug, Kashmir Appetizer Plates, Kashmir High Balls, Kashmir Nesting Catchall Trays, Kashmir Mug, Lattice Glass, Napoleon Flatware

Our waffle bar includes fresh raspberries, fresh strawberries, sugar butter (recipe below) as well as our Farm Belle Marionberry syrup, jam and honey. You could also put out these toppers;  blueberries, blackberries, sliced bananas, Greek yogurt, nuts, dried fruit, maple syrup, as well as some chocolate chips and whipped cream for fun.  If you want to make the meal even heartier, serve some scrambled eggs and turkey bacon.

The key to making waffles that are crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside is preheating your waffle iron. Be sure to read your manufacturer's instructions as the time as each is different. 

Here's a delicious Basic Waffle Recipe, courtesy of Food Network, and my Sugar Butter which is out of this world on waffles!

If you don't have a waffle iron, you can buy frozen waffles.  I like Julian's Sweet Belgian Waffles, and Van's (which makes regular waffles, gluten free waffles, Belgian, and 8 Whole Grains).

And to toast your mom, make a batch of these fun Red Mojitos, courtesy of Every Day with Rachael Ray. They are colorful and refreshing, and you can make them with rum or without.

Wish you a very Happy Mother's Day! 

Warmly,

R O S A N N A I N C . C O M

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Happy Cinco de Mayo!  It's still not too late to invite friends over to celebrate this fun and festive Mexican holiday.

To make your party extra special, think about going beyond the traditional margaritas, and serving up these delicious Red Mojitos, courtesy of Every Day with Rachael Ray.  

On your way home from work, pick up some chips, salsa and guacamole, and your all set for a quick and easy happy hour fiesta.

Highballs: Rosanna's Kashmir Collection Trays: Rosanna's Portico Collection

And when you raise your glass, say "salud" as they do in Mexico! This toast means "to our health!"

Warmly,

R O S A N N A I N C . C O M

Celebrate May Day!

May Day is one of my favorite holidays. In most parts of the country, May is when spring becomes truly apparent, with blossoming fruit trees and bulbs bursting forth in a blaze of color.  These heady days of truly warm weather give us all spring fever, a feeling of joy that we naturally want to celebrate.

People throughout the Western world celebrate May Day, and the holiday has a long history harking back to medieval times.  When I was a little girl, my mother showed me how to make May Day baskets from construction paper and took me to fill them with flowers from our garden.  Then we would sneak over to our neighbors' homes, drop the baskets on their doorsteps, ring the doorbells and run away.  When our friends opened the door, a charming handmade basket filled with flowers greeted them.

May Day is the perfect opportunity to spread the joy of spring with your friends and neighbors. Get the kids involved by helping them weave their very own May Day baskets.  Click here to see AllParenting.com's easy instructions on how kids can weave their own May Day baskets for friends and neighbors out of construction paper.

Another super cute and easy May Day basket is this May Day Cone basket from TheIdeaBox.com. After making the cone, simply fill the basket with left over Easter grass, then add fresh flowers the children pick (even dandelions will do) or if you live in a cold climate, with no fresh flowers yet, have the children make flowers using their fingers prints (as pictured).  They can also cut pictures of flowers from magazines or gardening catalogs and glue them to toothpicks and arrange in the basket. Click here for full instructions. 

Adults can get in on the May Day fun by buying a plant at the local garden center or a bouquet of flowers and leaving it on the doorstep of a friend, neighbor or elderly friend. The gesture of celebrating spring by giving a gift of nature is a wonderful tradition that unites us as a community, encouraging us to give of ourselves while cultivating an awareness of the gifts that nature has to offer.

I have one young neighbor who has been ringing my doorbell on May 1 since she was six years old. Every year I'm touched by her sweet gesture and thoughtful heart.

Hope you have a very happy May Day!

Warmly,

R O S A N N A I N C . C O M