Biggest Girl Birthday

We had our biggest girls birthday a few weeks ago. We decided on a flamingo theme. Happy party, happy hearts. 

It was a chocolate cake that was amozing, yes, amozing. I have made it since. It was a 4 layer chocolate cake with our own pink icing.  We found the flamingo little sticks somewhere but my daughter helped decorate the cake. I like how a flock of flamingos set themselves up right there on our cake. 

I used green fabric on super sale, thank you Chrysalis, for our table cloths. My daughters and I cut out scrap fabrics of pinks and corals and created the garland overhead. I love making those, not only for my sake but little hands and hearts can help too. 

My aunt was here and her birthday is a couple days from my daughters so we celebrated them together. This was a peach crystal. We named it that. Its a twist on my strawberry crumble.  Its an embarrassment as to how many times I have made this dessert. Ahh, delightful. The candles also melted into the peach crystal because it was so hot. We were eager!

The flowers were just.... there are no words. I am so thankful for this house and this yard the Lord has given us to cultivate. My husband has a knack for the yard and gardening. A hobby that came later in life for him but I am grateful to reap the rewards. These flowers were from some of our harvest.

Happy birthday biggest girl! 

Baby Girl Birthday: stars and hearts

We had the season of baby girl birthdays here in June and July. It was fun for them and for me!

For little girl turning 2, she loves stars and hearts. She wants you to draw them, she wants to color them, and she wants to say them. 

All the flowers came from our yard. I was so impressed! My husband has worked very hard in the yard the last few years and it shows. 

I bought small wooden hearts and stars at the craft store and my girls and I used watercolors to paint them. After they dried, we glued sequins on. I used these on the table and the cakes. Plus, it was a fun activity a 2 and 5 year old could do together. 

I finally broke down and bought lots of clear glass jelly jars. It was time. I used them here for flowers but have already used them for straws, forks and more flowers. Good decision. 

We had hotdogs for lunch and I ( or rather I put my mom and dad to work on it) cut out stars from the watermelon. They were cute and festive. 

Our cake was coconut cake and it was something special. Divine. 

I had a new cake plate to bust out. Love the color. I found stars and hearts glow sticks and put them in a jar near the cake. The party hats were decorated with stars and hearts. 

My older daughter made the fabric weaving a few days before and wanted to use it for sisters cake. Sweet. I also made chocolate cake in tin cans. I had seen it on pinterest and wanted to try it. It was fun to experiment and my cake was good. They were a tad tall and wanted to tip over. Either way, my daughters got a kick out of so many candles to blow out.

Happy 2 year old birthday!

10th birthday party

Last week, we had a 10th birthday party at mi casa. I used the colors out of the napkins for the decor and tried to keep it simple. I had to clean AND decorate. 

This garland took longer than I had hoped so I made him a tad short. I used felt and cut out of the tens and squares and sewed them all together. Our theme was 10. 

I made little signs for each type of food we had. We had a mexican supper so there were lots of toppings. I like that the numbered signs weren't perfect. I like the homemade look for some things. 

And here is our food. The vase of flowers was a glass bottle I painted for a quick pop of color. Easy and I liked. 

For the dining room, I didn't do much but used the same felt from the above garland and made tens to hang from the ceiling. I also used fabric I already had in my stash to cover the table and bought tulips for the center. Tulips are a nice change ( they don't really grow around here in the muggy heat) and they are happy. 

Happy 10th birthday!

valentine's day

I know this is after the fact but one of the reasons I have this blog is to remind myself of things I have made and created to celebrate special days around my house. And we had a special valentine's day here. We had our cousins and another family over to decorate cupcakes. It was easy and delightful. 

My daughter and I pieced together this heart garland. I simply cut hearts from felt and she handed them to me as I sewed them together. It stood out so well against the white, and was a nice pop of happy pink and red.

Have I talked about this runner? I can't remember. The top was finished for the soiree but I still haven't finished the back. That's the boring part so therefore, I haven't sewn it yet. I already have plans for my next runner. It was nice because cupcakes and icing didn't get on it from the kids but it provides some pizazz. Plus, I can still sew something for the table. I could have used boring old brown paper but that is certainly not as fun for me.

I must admit, I made the cupcakes from a box. Gasp. I can't believe I was okay with it but they were good. Plus, one of my nephews is gluten free and I found the box to be easier. I will say, and I was shocked, the gluten free chocolate cupcake was better then the red velvet normal ones. 

Hope your valentines was stress free and enjoyable!

valentine's day quilted runner

I have been working on this puppy for Valentine's Day. It is a bit of a wonky styled runner. Say that 3 times! Wonky Styled Runner, Wonky Styled Runner, Wonky Styled Runner!

I like!

Thanksgiving Table

I am hosting Thanksgiving this year. No pressure. Actually, I could care less about the food but more about how the table is set. Its really all about the fabric, right? This will be the first Thanksgiving at our house.

I did Christmas one year and a certain, dear loved one was not a fan of my standing rib roast. I will admit the apple something dressing was a tad strange. 

I just got my new plates in the mail today. I was down some from my original set of plates I got when I got married. So, I introduce my new plates. 

I know, I know. A tad bland for me. However, I am excited about colorful glasses, which I have found are hard to find. And I am excited about colorful napkins and linens. Again, its all about the fabric. 

My vision for my table, included the napkin and plates above, involves a turquoise cake plate, 

a few small leftover pumpkins, and 

perhaps these if I can get them in time. I am trying to delay, that way I won't buy them.

We might be eating strange food for Thanksgiving but at least my table will be amazing:)

Husband: No decor for me birthday party

I realized last week that I do installation art every 2 weeks or whatever is in between birthdays. I have another one in T minus 15 days. I better get to pinning. But for my last party...

My husband wanted little decor for his birthday because he didn't want me to stress. It was kind however, I like to decorate. Excessively though sometimes:)

 So, I turned my decor energy into baking a 4 layer cake. I created a Pioneer Woman strawberry chocolate layer cake. Hello, work. But so good. 

So, so good. It took 3 people to cut it and while we were enjoying the cake, some of it toppled over on the counter. We then turned it into a trifle. Still unbelievably good. I can see why many reviews of the cake said they had trouble with it staying put. I skewered it with lots and lots of skewers but it still had a life of its own...

I lined the table with white paper and put out pots that were planted with succulents. 

My husband can now plant these outside in his latest yard design. We all win!

It was simple decor and a fabulous cake for my main man.