WELCOME TO MY BLOG PARTY

Today you are not just checking my blog, you are coming to an EVENT. Now let me remind you, it is BYOB, so run get a beer or glass or wine, whatever your poison, and settle in with me. And remember to INVITE A FRIEND. I'm counting on you to spread the word.

Okay, are you back now? First of all, I'd like to begin our gathering with a big THANK YOU! Nearly 400 of you have visited this site since its fall inception, and I am so grateful. Please continue to make comments, suggestions and other feedback. FEEDBACK IS THE BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS. I want to be the blog you love to visit.

I thought I'd share some new pictures, per a reader's suggestion. So let's see if I can make this work the way I want. The first picture is of my husband and me at a wedding, looking presentable.

The next pic is the redneck picture of my friend from college and me in the huge bathtub in the bathroom at the location of the wedding. I have no idea why we thought it was a good idea and why we photographed it, but I have no secrets from you, my readers.

The next picture is of me and my husband on our boat in Nags Head. I love this boat, but I have a pet peeve about it, too. Everyone always says, "I love your old Whaler." But this Boston Whaler is the same age as ME. So I wonder if they're thinking "and your old wife." ha Another one of me on the boat, so you can see its old self.

Now the next image is of the whole family in the mountains in February. My kids are 11, 10, 7, and 5.

***Okay, after I posted the blog, I saw that not only were the pictures not inserted where I wanted them, but they're out of order. So consider it a party game, match the picture to the caption!


Now the next fun thing for our blog party is a fun new quiz. Find out what your underground DJ name is here at www.blogthings.com/whatsyourdjnamequiz/
I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours.

You know, it's hard to host a cyberparty. I'm actually a pretty good cook. IF you were all here, I'd make you enchiladas. Fun and yummy, good with margaritas, but not too fancy. Also great with chips and salsa--always a good thing. But I'd like to make a toast now, everyone raise your glass, you, too!, to supportive readers! Woo hoo!

Okay, now the next request fulfilled. Some more redneck tips. This is actually my first set of Redneck Entertaining Tips, so I hope you enjoy.
1. Make one spectacular homemade, lots of work recipe, then have premade stuff for everything else. For example, make yummy, fresh, cheesy enchiladas, then doctor store-bought salsa, frozen margarita mix, etc. Just throw some fresh cilantro on top of the salsa and you're golden. (And bury all the jars and cans in your trashcan, so no one can see them)
2. If your house is a mess, invite your guests to bring their children. You don't have to clean up, they don't have to get a sitter, and no one's exactly sure where the mess came from, but you're the one with the testicular fortitude to throw the party. Plus, no one stays too late.
3. I'm almost embarrassed to type this, but here goes. WE entertain a lot at our cottage in the summer, and I often ask people to bring their own towels. We have plenty of towels, believe me, but it's a lot less laundry when they all leave. Now if I could just get them to bring their own dishes...
4. Now here's a redneck GUEST tip: Whenever people come to the cottage in the summer, they want to know what they can bring. Of course you now know I say towels, but the other thing I want to say THAT I NEVER SAY is toilet paper! Paper towels! Napkins! That's the stuff we really need when hosting a crowd, so the next time you're heading to someone's vacation home, bring the twelve pack of double roll toilet paper, and you'll be asked back SOON.
5. Redneck Entertaining MUST- Specify the grown-up space and the kid space. If kids are hanging all over their parents, no one has a good time, so plan in advance for a kid activity (spread a plastic tablecloth and sit them down with play doh and cookie cutters, turn on the WII, or show a kid-friendly movie --something obscure they've never seen--we always have the Brady Bunch which a surprising number of kids of all ages have never seen and instantly love).

OK, all my redneck entertaining tips for today, but I have many more up the tattered sleeve of my flannel shirt, so stay tuned.

Last of all (wow, time has flown, hasn't it?), the party favor. I thought long and hard about the right party favor for you. So I'm sharing my favorite website. It's a special secret only for my readers, but I LOVE it. Don't go to the site unless you have a good 45 minutes to kill. It's totally addictive, AND you can add the link to your igoogle page for daily updates. www.totallyfreecrap.com I promise, you'll LOVE it.

THanks for coming, everyone! I look forward to seeing you again soon! xoxoxox