Thank you Luvs! I do enjoy coming over here to look at all of your creative ideas and beautiful pictures since I have gotten to know Kathleen but I don't have a digital camera.....yeah, yeah, I know I'm in the dark ages! Anyway, I'm not very creative but I am good at stealing some of your ideas and using them in my own home :-) BTW have you heard the story of Kathleen and me? I was reading a post of hers over on the cooking forum and thought it sounded like she lived near a good friend of mine. Turns out that they are neighbors and very, very good friends! Never underestimate the power of the internet to make the world much smaller!

Lynne, I will share more pictures when I finish. Is it the full mesh w/o garland that you don't care for? I was thinking about adding poinsettias to the one on top of my vintage china cabinet. It's great to have you back joining the fun. Have you been busy making goodies yet? Marlene, I'd love to hire out to decorate for others. Maybe in my next life.LOL I did have a position and was in charge of decorating for all the parties. It was so fun spending someone else's money when the sky was pretty much the limit. Jeanne, I was up till 2 am both nights. It won't be that late tonight with work tomorrow. I plan to share close ups when I get things finished. I have 3 nativity sets to share this year. Not sure what I want to add to the displays for them. Maybe some spanish moss.I'm going to try to go out and get some garland and a few more totes and do alittle more this evening. Thanks for your sweet comments ladies. You sure know how to make one feel good. Punk

Thanks again everyone for your input. Based on your suggestions, I changed the salad to baby lettuces (farm fresh!), added assorted rolls and butter from our wonderful bakery, and also picked up teeny tiny gourmet cupcakes (in grown up flavors like salted caramel, lemon, etc.). I also bought nice to go containers at the party store. I still had the fresh fruit platter with mango, berries, melon, the cold tandoori chicken, and the leek and goat cheese crustless quiche. But I also made a pearl cous cous salad, based on suggestions here. I served Panna water and Pellegrino sodas. It went well, and I was very glad for the excellent suggestions I got here. The teachers really noticed and appreciated that it was a lighter, healthier menu, and homemade. Since it was only 12 of them it was something I was able to do pretty much by myself so that's why we could do something a little different.

scaned these salads they all look good thought that I'd tell you that the Alaskian cole slaw is so good sence I went through so fast wasn't sure if this was in it it also is yummy Spinach and Strawberry Salad 2 bunches spinach, rinsed and torn into bite-size pieces 4 C. sliced strawberries ½ C. oil ¼ C. white wine vinegar ½ C. white sugar ¼ tsp paprika 2 T. sesame seeds 1 T. poppy seeds in a large bowl, toss together the spinach and strawberries in a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, vinegar, sugar, paprika, sesame seeds, and poppy seeds. Just before serving pour over the spinach and strawberries toss to coat. another of my favorites Gabbys Macaroni Salad 12 oz. Bow Tie Pasta, cooked according to direction 12 oz. can of chunky pineapple* 1 C. diced celery* 1 bunch green onions, chopped* 1 C. cashews 1 C. grapes, cut in half* 4 Chicken breasts, cooked and diced Dressing 1 C. Mayonnaise 1 16 oz. bottle of coleslaw dressing Mix dressing and combine with above ingredients, except cashews, and macaroni. When blended, carefully stir in pasta to minimize breakage. Chill in the refrigerator for several hours before serving. Add cashews just before serving. *If you want to make changes, just remember 2 veggies and 2 fruits doesnt matter what, just 2 of each. Also I never seem to use that many chicken breast I'd do it to taste and again maybe experiment wonder how it would taste with say salmon just a thought but again it is a yummy dish as is luck with your event sheila