I Scream for Ice Cream

Leah turned eight and with our recent move to Hawaii, I wanted to make her birthday as special as possible. We decided to do an ice cream(her favorite food)/swim party(because we finally have one in our backyard). The decorations were the funnest part for me. I made pom pom flowers out of tissue paper and coffee filters. I also used the coffee filters to make an ice cream sundae with a red pom pom and brown pipe cleaner for a cherry. I had my parents send me about 20 IN-N-OUT hats. I covered them with scrapbook paper that I found to look like an ice cream parlor hats. They turned out really cute and the girls all wore them.

All of the girls were invited from her class and we started the party with pool games. With a bunch of screaming eight and nine year old girls in the pool it was very disorganized so I figured the girls rather just swim and play.
We served some ice cream and the girls got to embellish there ice cream with yummy goodies. We ended the party with a water balloon toss, which ended up in a fight and then opening up presents. After our guest left Leah's auntie and uncle came to diner with us to CPK. It was a great day for my little girl.

Two friends and I threw this baby shower for a dear friend last week. I got my inspiration from an invite form Pingg (they have a great selection of e-vites). Sailboats it was. I went to my craft room to pick put the color scheme for the shower and found some in my vintage stash. I used the fabric to make a pendant flag and as ribbon on the sailboats. I figured out how to make sailboats out of paper and decided to use brown paper bags from the market and sticks from outside for the pole. They were perfect to use as food cards. The table runner was burlap with a blue and white polka dotted ribbon down the center. Our guest each took home a sailboat shape sugar cookies with the quote “One if by land two if by sea, with love we welcome this baby.” Fun vintage handkerchiefs were used under the lemon water. It was fun seeing all the pieces of this shower fall into place.
 
 
 
 

Sunny Side Up

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I love it when Heather from Amorology is invited to do photo shoots. This amazing table that was featured in Exquisite Magazine will invite anyone to come sit down and "Eat". Her attention to detail is amazing and inspiring and I get excited every time she asks me to be apart of her creative experience.



The set of six hand-embroidered napkins that I made are available on Etsy.

Finally Finished

I have been wanting to build a bench in my upstairs playroom since we have moved into our home 6 years ago. With much scared hesitation I did it. I really like how it turned out and the best part is it only cost me $40 and it hides all of the plastic boxes, but still lets the kids find what they are looking for.

I also finished the rain gutter book shelves. It was the easiest thing that I have done with such a great impact.

Added some great old wooden crates to hold books for my little one to grab. I also made throw pillows for comfort. The larger pillow was made by two dishtowels from Anthropologie. This is a great way to find fun fabrics and it will fit the size of a 16 x 16 pillow perfectly. The middle pillow was inspired by the lotus pillow from Anthro. Using all of the rement fabrics from my vintage fabric collection. The small pillow was just something fun.

Best Sugar Cookies

These have to be the best ever sugar cookies ever. I have made them several times and they turn out fabulous each time. The frosting turns hard(sounds kinda dirty) so you stack the cookies without them sticking (get your mind out of the gutter).
Thanks Kat for finding this delicious recipe.

Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt


Directions

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour (or overnight).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Roll out dough on floured surface 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes with any cookie cutter. Place cookies 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 6 to 8 minutes in preheated oven. Cool completely.

Frosting (I double the recipe)

Ingredients
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons milk
2 teaspoons light corn syrup (makes the frosting hard so you stack the cookies without them sticking.)
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
assorted food coloring

Directions

In a small bowl, stir together confectioners' sugar and milk until smooth. Beat in corn syrup and almond extract until icing is smooth and glossy. If icing is too thick, add more corn syrup.
Divide into separate bowls, and add food colorings to each to desired intensity. Dip cookies, or paint them with a brush.

Shawdos

The other day the kids were laughing in the front yard and yelling there is a Leprechaun on our house. I got excited hoping that he brought me a pot of gold or even a box of Lucky Charms would do. I came outside and sure enough I saw the shadow of a person smoking a pipe that looked like a Leprechaun.


I swear the kids and I looked for about 15 minutes trying to figure out what was the shadow was coming from. My 7 year old was convinced that it was a Leprechaun. Then we figured it out. It was the weird cactus that we have in our front yard that I refuse to cut down because it is so out of place it makes me smile when I walk by it.

Roses are red, pink, blue, mustard, and coral

These rosettes are just another beautiful detail Heather from Amorology had me make for a wedding she has coming up. After making them I was inspired to make a Valentine's dress for my little sweetie. The dress was made with red coudery with white with mustard lace on the sleeves and bottom of the dress with the rosette clusters on the waist made it seem like see walked off the set of Mad Men (if you haven't seen this show I highly recommend it).
Thanks again Heather for always inspiring me.