HALLOWEEN GIFT CAN AND A BIRTHDAY LUNCH!

I married into a family of very awesome women.  Whenever one of us has a birthday, we get together and have "Birthday Ladies Lunch".  This week it was my Aunt Jeanne's Birthday.  She is an amazing woman.  A retired high school teacher who loved her job and managed to retire with her sense of humor intact.  She underwent a kidney transplant when she was 70 that gave us all a scare.  We are very blessed to have her with us and I appreciate every minute I get to spend with her.  Now we don't do birthday gifts at Ladies Lunch, just cards.  However, I wanted to give her a little something sweet and handmade.  (I am a crafter after all.)  Sam calls her Aunt Sweetie sometimes and she does have a bit of a sweet tooth, so made her a gift can with some special fall sweetness inside.

Isn't that a fun looking Halloween Gift Can?  Kind of shabby and chic with it's ragged bow and hounds tooth cover.
Remember last week when I got my special package in the mail from Donna, who blogs at Distressed Donna Down Home?  It came wrapped in the cutest paper and I said I couldn't throw it away.

 Well, I'm glad I didn't, because with some double stick tape, an empty can, that tissue and fabric ribbon, I was able to make that cute can in about 5 minutes.  Seriously.

I put a piece of double-stick tape on the can, cut the tissue paper to size and wrapped it around it.  I cut two slits in the plastic lid, put both ends of the ribbon up through them from the underside, trimmed it and tied a bow.  Done.
What did I put inside to satisfy Aunt Sweeties sweet tooth? Well.....

 Keri who blogs at Shaken Together, made this "to die for" Caramel Apple Munch Mix and you can find the recipe HERE.  Keri made so many wonderful recipes in September, that I'm kind of blaming her for my jeans being a little snug this week!  She has a blog full of great ideas and yummy recipes, not to mention a fun Link Party every Friday.  Go check her out at Shaken Together.  She's as sweet as can be!
We ate lunch at a restaurant called Ocean Zen.  They have a wonderful menu featuring Pacific Rim style cuisine in a modern, contemporary setting.  I ordered the Bento Box, which is a good sampling of some of their best items.  I wish I had taken a picture of that Bento Box because it was just lovely.  But, I was hungry and I'm pretty sure it's not quite proper to whip out your camera and snap food pictures right when someone elses birthday lunch is being served!  My meal consisted of  Miso soup, Rice, a California Roll (that's sushi!), Crab Wonton, 2 pc. Pork Gyoza, Asian Slaw, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Macadamia Nut Chicken.  It was a lot of food and all of it wonderful!  It was my first experience eating sushi and my sister-in-law Jen, was kind enough to show me the proper way to eat it!  I have to say it was delicious and I will order it again!
Besides the wonderful food at Ocean Zen, one of the things we love best is the huge salt water  aquarium that seems to just explode out of the wall with gorgeous fish and colorful anemone.  We always request a seat next to it!

These are the wonderful women in my life and I'm so grateful to be able to call them family! (My sainted mother-in-law at the back left, across from her is the birthday girl, her sister Jeanne, front left is my fabulous sister-in-law, Jen and yours truly.)  After our meal, we had coffee and they brought Aunt Jeanne a birthday dessert....Creme Brulee with a candle in it!

Happy Birthday Aunt Jeanne!  You are loved very much!

Linking up to any or all of the fine parties listed HERE.