If you build it, they will come!

We are back from Atlanta's America's Mart. It was amazing! However, getting there wasn't for the weary or faint of heart!

Coming from Colorado I never dreamed weather issues would be a concern on Atlanta's end,but alas, Atlanta was hit by ice, then snow, then ice again creating a storm of of epic proportions. The city of Atlanta owns 4 snowplows and everything came to a frozen stand still! Kate's flight was cancelled from DIA and Jackie couldn't get out of D.C.

America's Mart is the BIGGEST home and gift trade show in the nation. Buyers from all over the country and world travel to this pearl of the south to buy the latest, greatest and "just gotta haves" for their stores. Long story long. we were determined that we had to get there! Padibbles improvised and had its own rendition of "Planes, Trains and Automobiles" . Kate found a flight that had multiple stops and a crazy route, Jackie took the train from DC and Libby and I made it via plane, van and taxi without incident.

However...once there we learned all of the supplies for our booth that we'd shipped several weeks ago were stuck in a ship yard somewhere in Atlanta and because of the icy roads we were told that they may or may not get to our booth in time. We weren't alone~~~ vendors throughout the Mart were in the same position. The stress was palpable. This had the potential to be devastating for many...how do you sell if there is nothing to sell? Equally bad, what if those wanting to buy can't make it to the show?

We decided that you can only do what you can do so Libby and I started working with what we could to create a makeshift booth until our artist extraordinaire arrived!

Our walls were put up prior to our arrival but they were kittywampus, (not sure if this is really a word but my grandma used it all the time---think crazy or not quite right). Check out the photo below and notice the slant to the walls.

(We had the nice folks at George Fern help us put the walls on make- do foam core board joists to level things out).

Next on the agenda was to paint the wall Padibble green! We hired a brave taxi driver to take us on the icy roads to a local paint store.

Libby ready to work!

Our booth materials still hadn't arrived so.....
We waited, prayed, said things that our mom wouldn't like, checked in with the show peeps (again, and again and again), to see if our stuff was there, then waited some more and repeated the above all over again.

Then miraculously our pallet arrived!

And so did Jackie!!! Let the magic begin!

Jackie hanging up our Padibbles flowers.

We can't thank you enough for coming to visit us at the Mart! We had a true taste of Southern hospitality! Despite our rocky start we had our best show ever, (I know, I know, it was only our second show! Still, we really, really are so happy!). We hope we "Wiped a smile on your face!" Because you sure made us smile!

Thanks Y'all!

Patty, Libby, Jackie, (and Marla and Kate too!)

The Padibbles Crew :-)

Entertaining? Just add Padibbles!

I love to throw a party! Any party! For me, a party is a way to show friends how much I appreciate them! It's cheaper than going out to a restaurant... and in my case, a whole lot prettier! It's a whole lot more personal too! By throwing a brunch, the party is quick and friendly! It's also bright, energetic, and over in a flash! Luncheons are slower and more leisurely - and much more girlie! My dinner parties are a chance for my home to shine (just like the silver and crystal)!

Perhaps this crazy desire to entertain like it was 1955 came from my grandmother and great aunts? I adored their china hutches, and they would let me "play" in them! Sounds nutty, right? Would you let a 10 year old "play" with your china? But nothing ever was broken, and my relatives got a helper to set the table in the deal!

So, I guess it's a good thing I married a chef! Here's why....

My parents have this lovely group of friends! These friends have known both my husband and I since we were kids! So nice to have friends see you through your life. They were sitting together and one asked "What's your fantasy dinner party?" which got the answer "Oh, I wish I had a personal chef, who would make an amazing multi-course dinner for all of us, and I wouldn't have to cook or clean a thing!" (Dream On, right?!)

Enter my Mother, who replied "Did I mention that my son-in-law is chef?!" (Hahaha... they all know he is a chef!) So, several phone calls and emails later, the date is set for their Fantasy Dinner Party at our house! Finally! My chance to pull out all the stops! I want to use all the pretty tabletop things I've been given over the years! My husband planned the menu, down to the garnish & wine pairing!


The morning of the party, I awoke at 6am like a kid waiting for Christmas morning to begin! Filled with excitement from planning this event over the past 6 weeks, I just couldn't wait to set my table! It is such fun to see it all come together! I used Padibbles with each of the 4 different appetizers!

Our appetizers included pork rilettes on crostini is paired with Prosecco & "Say What?!" napkins! Love the green of the pickle with the green napkin! Bloody Mary & Crab Shooters looked great with "Let's Talk" napkins - and believe me, this tray was empty so darn fast! These were awesome! Above, you can see our Italian Olive, Pepper, and Mozzarella tray with cute "What a Hoot!" riddle napkins! Our last appetizer was Escargot with fresh herb & garlic butter served in mini bread bouches! Hot and savory - and super delicious!

The dinner table was striking! My Granddaddy always voiced how he wanted us to be prepared to dine at The White House! Although I may not get to actually have dinner with President Obama, we sure tried to make our home as warm and elegant as it would be at The White House!



So, welcome to "Fantasy Island"!
The party was a huge success! Everyone enjoyed our table just as much as they enjoyed the amazing cuisine! Hope your Thanksgiving is as much fun for you as this party was for us!
~Kate

mmm, mmm, good!

8:00 am –

It's a cold, dreary, rainy day here in our nation's capital. When the alarm went off this morning, it was still dark and pouring rain – a perfect day to sleep in. A tough day to rally the troops for school and work. As we all walked out the door – I didn't see too many smiles. Ugg.

It's the kinda day that people just scurry fast to their destination. There are no hello's, no holding the doors for each other – just a “everyone for themselves” kinda day.

8:15 am –

I arrived at the Metro, heading to work and was greeted by Doc. Doc hands out a free newspaper every morning to commuters. His has a great smile – only a couple teeth on top, but he smiles big and frequently. On this nasty morning – Doc had a smile for everyone. “Be safe on the elevators, they can be slippery – and have a good day!” he called over and over. Thanks Doc, I will try.

3:15 pm –

Still raining. Still grey. Still yucky. And now my kids are out of school – the phone starts to ring. It's like clockwork. At 3:20 pm everyday, my oldest calls me. We exchange pleasantries, important information and always it ends with, “What's for dinner?”

I pick up our youngest from school, it's the same deal. On the car ride home, she asks the same question, “What's for dinner?”

My other two girls ask the same question within the hour. Two more times – four times in all. This is every day!

4:45 pm --

If I were organized like my Mom was, I would have had the weeks' menu planned each Sunday. Shopping would have been done and I would adhere to the schedule. Well I am not. I am the fly by the seat of my pants kinda mom. I shop for the meal the day (okay hours before) we are eating it. I like to think I am more European.

I think one reason I do this is because it is hard to please my four girls. They all have different likes and dislikes and I refuse to be a short order cook. So I am tickled that today – on this very wet, non-smiley day, I will make every one around our table smile. I have the solution to the $10,000 question!

It's a winner all the way around! It's easy to make, especially if you have all the ingredients. But I don't – so I must go to the corner store to get what I need for Potato Leek soup! Yum. I will post pictures of the smiles tonight!

Soups on!

Libby

Heart Warmers

This morning I was running in the open space near our home. It was a perfect Colorado fall day-blue sky, a bite in the air and the mountains in the distance have their tips coated with white sugar. As I crossed the bridge over the creek I saw a couple ahead holding hands. As I got closer I saw that they were in their late 70's or early 80's~~~ahhhhh! I love seeing elderly people holding hands. I guess it is a real life version of happily ever after.
As I continued up the hill I compiled a list of other things that kick up my internal furnace and make me feel warm inside. Here are a few of the things I came up with:

• climbing into clean sheets
• making a dinner and having all 6 of us like it
• waking to my hubby bringing me coffee in bed-lucky me!
• doing weird things like having the wicked witches legs hang out of the back of my car for the entire month of October...love to see people smile!








• our dog Dudley. He is 135 lbs of sweetness! He is seriously missing some brain matter! He walks right into the tramp, barks at himself in the mirror, and spins around 3-4 times before he eats... weird but we love him!


• watching my boys be boys.

These are just a few of my heart warmers, what are yours?

'Cause Oprah Told Me To

Okay, I've watched Oprah, read Ekhart, shared the Secret, made a vision board and talked to the BIG man upstairs. I've wished on birthday candles and even formed a great wine sipping, goal listing, reality checking Mastermind group that is comprised of an amazing group of women.


So you may wonder: What's the BIG dream? What am I trying to manifest?


You see, I have one of those weird brains, the kind that spins nightly despite writing things down, counting sheep, saying prayers and taking Tylenol PM. My neurons synapse here, there and everywhere and seem determined to try to come up with the proverbial new and improved mouse trap.


13 years ago I invented a reusable giftwrap. It worked on boxes and had sticky "magic" goo on grosgrain ribbon so no scissors were needed and it could be thrown in the washer if frosting went awry. Being green was pretty much a hit that Kermit the Frog sang, so I think I was a bit ahead of my time. The experience taught me great lessons but didn't fatten our bank account. My silver lining from this experience is that someday, (hopefully not soon), my kids can tweet, (or whatever medium is being used at the time), that I have a patent in my obituary. It was an expensive accolade but I figure life is a journey.


Fast forward to 2008. UGH! There's that crazy brain again rearing its neuron synapsing head. You see, I've always written encouraging notes, jokes or gross-out facts on my 4 boys napkins and tucked them into their brown bag lunches. Why, I wondered, didn't anyone do this commercially and make my early mornings a bit easier? So there you have it, my ahhh-haaa moment. This was the inception of Padibbles, (I'm the "Pa", and my sister Libby nicknamed "Officer Dibble" ~trust me, long story~ is the Dibble). With the help of 3 wonderful friends, bleachers full of our cheerleaders, and a long 2 year gestation Padibbles due date is finally here.


Here are the stats:


DOB: 11/1/2010


Length: 40 ft by 6 ft high


Weight: A lot!





Like any proud new parents I have found this experience to be fun, scary, and exhilarating all at once. Many newbie parents think once the baby is born the labor is over. I know both in parenting and Padibbling the labor has only begun. And O, if you're listening, I can clear my calendar and make a trip to Harpo before you go off the air~~~you see that too is on by vision board!

The World According to Padibbles!

According to Padibbles, the world is all about FUN!

Founded in 2008, Padibbles is based in Centennial, Colorado (just south of Denver). Patricia Bolling thought of the concept as she wrote her umpteenth joke on a plain napkin for her four sons’ brown bag lunch. With the help of sister Libby Clarke, sales guru Kate Snapp, friend Marla Jeffress as well as artist, Jackie Sink, the 5 women took the idea of creating a fun, colorful, entertaining and one of a kind product, assorted napkin designs, and made it a reality. In
August 2010 after a year of designing, decisions and getting things all together, Padibbles made its debut (above) at the AmericasMart trade show in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a great success and you can see more photos on the Padibbles Facebook page. Padibbles has since shown at the MPLS Gift Show in Minneapolis and the NY International Gift Fair in New York City. GO PADIBBLES!

Padibbles are not just for lunch! The Padibbles Moms had a blast designing several series of napkins for all occasions and all ages -- lunch (of course), parties, entertaining, girls' night in -- just about any time you could use a little fun in your life!

Choose from 10 different and entertaining series such as "Sweet Somethings" which are sweet words of encouragement, "Looky Lous" which have secret words hidden in the colorful and whimsical artwork, "Funky Facts" which are a series of did-you-know's or "Let's Talk" which have great conversation-starter questions. There are currently 10 different series. Visit the Padibbles web site to see the complete list, photos of each napkin series and ordering information. Each napkin is fun, bright and colorful and the artwork was created by hand by artist-mom Jackie.

Stay tuned to "Padibbles Buzz." We plan to share great recipes, fun lunch ideas for kids, entertaining ideas and more. Get notices of new posts by becoming a Follower!