Monday, November 8, 2010

Family Fall Brunch ~ A New Family Tradition


I wrote a little about the importance of creating and maintaining traditions in my Journal last week and I wanted to share a new one we have just created to keep our family connected during this busy fall season. We decided we would do a simple brunch so that we could just relax and be able to connect without really having anything else going on. The boys (Rick, Christopher and Sean) spend a little down time bonding over football, while Brandi and I do what we love doing ~ together; hanging out in the kitchen, making pretties, and trying out new things. The kids all came over yesterday and we enjoyed this adorable simple little brunch. Brandi and I both L.O.V.E a pretty setting, so we brought out her newest Fall Collection from Tweedle Dee Designs and I'd love to share it with you here.

So first we start with her simple yet sophisticated invitation and favor tags. I love the rich color palette she chose with the Napa Valley Grape, Pumpkin Orange, Earthy Autumn Browns, Olive Greens and Sun Kissed Golds. Just gorgeous.

Photos via Brandi Van Leer
 Like most families, we have a lot of family recipes and as you know, I am compiling a Through the Seasons family cookbook and I was happy to see Brandi adding recipe cards to her collection. It is such a great idea for families to pass down those beloved recipes, don't you think? How do you pass along your favorites?
Photo via Brandi Van Leer

Our brunch was simple: We started with Mimosas, Coffee, and Cranberry Juice along with adorable Mini Donuts and Homemade Cinnamon Rolls and then went on to Fluffy Scrambled Eggs, Big Flaky Biscuits and Turkey Shaped Butter Pats, Maple Bacon and Sausage and Aunt Mary's Potatoes. I love Brandi's labels too. They always give a gathering that extra special touch.
Photo via Brandi Van Leer
And, of course, no one goes home empty handed because there are always plenty of leftovers to send along. Brandi's little leftover tags solve the problem of which container goes home with whom. Everyone has their favorite dish and you can't tell which food is in which containers so these will be an awesome little help.I love this idea...and they are so cute!

Photo via Brandi Van Leer
 Remember the adorable velvet pumpkins I wrote about last week here and here? Well, here they are! Super simple, super cute and I am absolutely in love with the colors! They are a perfect little addition to my fall decor. Thank you Lynne Bonnell for your wonderful inspiration. I ♥ you :-)
Photo via Brandi Van Leer
Didn't they turn out adorable? I've got enough fabric to complete a few more. Brandi generously offered to loan me a space to sell them in her Etsy Shop...still thinking about that one :-) But, I thought it might be fun to do a giveaway. What do you think? :-)

If you are as in love with Brandi's adorable Fall Collection as I am, you can buy the downloadable files over in her Etsy Shop. She's got them at 50% off and at just $9.50, that's a screaming deal! I know, shameless promotion for my daughter but I just have to share something this adorable, right? :-)

Keep going and don't miss out on my weekend report of Candace's birthday gathering. It was so cute that it deserved it's own post as well...so it's double fun today! Enjoy! ~ Blessings, Janet

6 comments:

  1. ooooo I really think you should do a giveaway... they turned out so GREAT.... I have been doing some printables for friends parties but Brandi's are soooo cool... Not sure what I am NOT doing right.. hahahahah. I love all of hers.. and yes, how cool to use the new recipe cards.....you are both so talented.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'd love to. I'm going to talk with Brandi and see if she has a spot to host it...maybe even add her fall collection to it! Thank you so much for your sweet comments. You are truly a gifted encourager. And on your printables. It just takes time. I know Brandi's process is revise, revise, revise. She gets inspiration from things she sees around, trees, dishes, flowers, really just all of God's creation and then when The Spirit moves her....watch out! :-)~ Blessings, Janet

    ReplyDelete
  3. Very cute collection of Thanksgiving goodies! Ah, family brunch sounds like a wonderful tradition!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Last Christmas we gave my mom (83yrs young) two blank recipe file books so she could place copies of her favorite recipe's in them for my two adult daughters. The idea was for her to add a comment in her own handwriting on where or whom she got the recipe from so as to give us a reminder of her history. The girls are anxious to see what precious tidbits she will include and it will give her a chance to reminisce.

    I loved Brandi's printable's. It would have been a cute idea to purchase the printables, place your recipe on it and have them available to slip into their leftover bag when they take home a yummy treat...like maybe your home-made cinnamon buns YUM!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Michelle, thanks for stopping by again and for your sweet comments. As the kids get older they sometimes scatter during the holidays with other commitments and I make it a policy not to pressure or insist on their presence (which is one reason I think I am blessed with it more often than not). We've attempted once a month dinners and with everyone's busy schedules it just doesn't happen. So we decided on this Fun Fall Brunch...and everyone made it! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Candace, that's such a great idea to have your mom hand write all those stories. And I am sure Vi is loving the project. Again, great, great idea. I've been talking to our various family members and recalling the stories from memory to add to our book. BTW ~ You will love Michelle's blog http://a-tisket-a-tasket-books.blogspot.com/ She reviews children's literature in the most fun and engaging way. I know you're always on the look out for stories to read the kids that you can incorporate into your art projects...check it out...you won't be disappointed :-) Feel Better!

    ReplyDelete