tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21483649757025134792023-06-20T23:26:35.158-05:00The Happy-hearted HostessUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-91211864605627033182011-08-05T19:35:00.000-05:002011-08-05T19:35:29.218-05:00Friday Friend Feature<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>How many of us have a friend with amazing abilities to craft, decorate, bake, or design??? You know what I mean! Those ladies who seem to turn every simple occasion into something completely spectacular just by tuning into "their skills!" I have chosen to dedicate Fridays {from time to time} to featuring those "superwomen!" It is my blogging hope...my vision, if you will, to honor one of these talented chicas a month {on a Friday, of course!} As you know, I am a teacher and the school year is about to begin...so we shall see how that blogging vision really unfolds.... </strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Nonetheless, today marks the first ever Happy Hearted Hostess Friday Friend Feature!!!</strong></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>The first "superwoman" I have chosen to feature is named Rhianna. She is actually one of my own besties, my cousin, and was the matron of honor in my wedding! So, of course, she gets to be the first! Rhianna is incredibly talented and very creative. Of all of the many things she does well, I think the most blog worthy are her sugar cookie centerpieces! They are nothing short of brilliant!!! You will wonder why you didn't think of it first! </strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RwZwHYRVctw/TjyKuamkcoI/AAAAAAAAAJk/STfUoaMFy8k/s1600/Rhianna%2527s+cookies+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RwZwHYRVctw/TjyKuamkcoI/AAAAAAAAAJk/STfUoaMFy8k/s640/Rhianna%2527s+cookies+3.JPG" t$="true" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Rhianna says that she makes these for everything from birthday parties to bridal showers. They are adorable on the center of a table and {I can tell you from experience}...they are delish!!! </strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>When asking her about these yummy creations, Rhianna said, "I can't take credit for the idea. I have a friend who used to do it as a small business and she let me in on the secret!" This, my readers, is what the Friday Friend Feature is all about! Friends sharing and inspiring each other because really....Behind every superwoman is a superwoman friend!!! I know, by now, you must be hoping I will let you in on the secret. Your wish has been granted! Read on, happy hearted readers!! </strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0hp2GTXoq6Y/TjyLAdX0AuI/AAAAAAAAAJo/YxduHC1hTH4/s1600/Rhianna%2527s+cookies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0hp2GTXoq6Y/TjyLAdX0AuI/AAAAAAAAAJo/YxduHC1hTH4/s640/Rhianna%2527s+cookies.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Make the dough and let it chill overnight! Roll and cut the cookies. Place the sticks in and bake them. Let them cool before you put on the base coat of icing. Pipe the outline and let it dry. Bag the cookies and decorate, decorate, decorate! </strong></span></em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U0xCu9a_i0I/TjyL4mjrQFI/AAAAAAAAAJw/9NyRf8OOqj0/s1600/Rhianna%2527s+cookies+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U0xCu9a_i0I/TjyL4mjrQFI/AAAAAAAAAJw/9NyRf8OOqj0/s640/Rhianna%2527s+cookies+4.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Rhianna, thank you for sharing your savvy {and oh, so cute!} culinary skills with us! Readers, if you have been inspired by Rhianna's cookie centerpieces, I would love to see your very own cookie creations! Please email pics of your finished products to me at </strong></span><a href="mailto:thehappyheartedhostess@gmail.com"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>thehappyheartedhostess@Gmail.com</strong></span></a><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>! </strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Do you have a crafter, baker, designer, hostess, party planner, or decorator "superwoman"<br />
pal that you would like to see featured on the Friday Friend Feature? I will be choosing many more friends to come! Simply email me your friend's amazing ideas, tips, and pictures of finished products! Can't wait to hear from you, readers!! Have a wonderful weekend and spread some joy today! Love to you all!!!</strong></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-80394628590865882122011-07-27T11:56:00.002-05:002011-07-27T12:12:09.246-05:00Whale Decor and More!<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Happy Wednesday! If you have been following the blog the last few days, you have likely read the first two posts about the whale-themed baby shower I hosted this past weekend!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Today's post will show some of my favorite decorations from the shower! Really, we had too much fun with this one!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">The "Welcome Baby Banner" was displayed </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">above </span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">the lunch buffet tables!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PWdJmq1BmMA/TjA2pLZODmI/AAAAAAAAAIU/599BZEziTLk/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PWdJmq1BmMA/TjA2pLZODmI/AAAAAAAAAIU/599BZEziTLk/s400/146.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This banner read, "Brady" and set the tone </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">for the punch table's blue and green decor!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KRtqsciFjDs/TjA2yJjp7DI/AAAAAAAAAIY/dBpmpcEs1zQ/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KRtqsciFjDs/TjA2yJjp7DI/AAAAAAAAAIY/dBpmpcEs1zQ/s400/140.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Do you rememeber the "whale" faucet cover that I bought for Baby Brady from yesterday's post? {It held the white cakepops on the dessert table.} This is the matching toy caddy that we bought to lend to Brady's bathtime adventures! While it will probably hold toy boats and rubber ducks in the future, I used it on the buffet to hold napkins and forks! It was the perfect size!!! Once again...a functional present doubles as a stylish table decoration....always nice!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqBJHUKX3aQ/TjA260y7AOI/AAAAAAAAAIc/1ECRbnnWxE0/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KqBJHUKX3aQ/TjA260y7AOI/AAAAAAAAAIc/1ECRbnnWxE0/s400/142.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The prizes for our two {very funny} shower games were blue and green colored antibacterial soaps from Bath and Body Works! I am always finding a way to fight those germs away... ha, ha! Just kidding...though I do love these soaps!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NnxL_rVUa1I/TjA3GMeBonI/AAAAAAAAAIg/YVWh0c_zmxo/s1600/137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NnxL_rVUa1I/TjA3GMeBonI/AAAAAAAAAIg/YVWh0c_zmxo/s400/137.JPG" t$="true" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday's post covered the dessert table, so I am not sharing much about it today...but this is the banner that was displayed at the front of the table. It read, "Sweet Baby." Get it? Sweet...dessert table...???</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Sx3GDo9ATo/TjA3ObnLFWI/AAAAAAAAAIk/dGrw6PwteAs/s1600/117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9Sx3GDo9ATo/TjA3ObnLFWI/AAAAAAAAAIk/dGrw6PwteAs/s400/117.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Check out these sweet baby socks with tiny little whales!!! Precious! I added these to the dessert table display.</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t8X5gX_Sk3Y/TjA3qmm80hI/AAAAAAAAAIo/tsGT96YlJqE/s1600/086.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t8X5gX_Sk3Y/TjA3qmm80hI/AAAAAAAAAIo/tsGT96YlJqE/s400/086.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Ribbon topiaries added to the color scheme and the table decor! I made ribbon topiaries for a week...5 small for {every other} guest table and 2 large topiaries </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">for the edges of the dessert table! </span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ajd44BlhbV0/TjBGg9I8TEI/AAAAAAAAAJM/S7UN5yTwEic/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ajd44BlhbV0/TjBGg9I8TEI/AAAAAAAAAJM/S7UN5yTwEic/s400/033.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W5zICljMzwM/TjBGpKfW-mI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/vwYma6pyJ50/s1600/049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W5zICljMzwM/TjBGpKfW-mI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/vwYma6pyJ50/s400/049.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I alternated the ribbon topiaries on the guest tables with these decorative pick centerpieces...a staple in my etsy shop...if ever you are in need!!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pJOGEJx4tRs/TjA4Kg-bawI/AAAAAAAAAI8/S8fgH1e3LN4/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pJOGEJx4tRs/TjA4Kg-bawI/AAAAAAAAAI8/S8fgH1e3LN4/s400/030.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iosJa8FW6Js/TjA4OoRdoHI/AAAAAAAAAJA/3gi1AlWg114/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iosJa8FW6Js/TjA4OoRdoHI/AAAAAAAAAJA/3gi1AlWg114/s400/047.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Notice the ribbon backdrop on the dessert table! Maybe you saw it yesterday but I thought it deserved it's own shout out, today! See more about the dessert table in yesterday's post!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qvt7LoR2Dk/TjA4dvgdqSI/AAAAAAAAAJE/JgiL1-FkGgQ/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3Qvt7LoR2Dk/TjA4dvgdqSI/AAAAAAAAAJE/JgiL1-FkGgQ/s400/122.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I truly enjoyed hosting this whale-themed baby shower! It was a special day full of special people! Now I am ready to meet Baby Brady!!! We just can't wait to hold him! </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Have a wonderful Wednesday, readers! I hope you are blessed and find opportunities to be a blessing to those around you! Spread a little joy today!!!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-43848755924926069852011-07-26T10:51:00.000-05:002011-07-26T10:51:17.330-05:00A Whale-Themed Dessert Table<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I've heard it said that it takes a village to raise a child. Perhaps that is true. Many special people take part in the nurturing and education of our sweet babies in those early years! Along with parents there are: grandparents and other significant family members, friends, teachers, caregivers, church families, and often many others willing to walk with us as we raise the tiny lives that God has graciously entrusted us with. How true is that saying?!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I suppose it is no wonder that it took a village to throw this baby shower! Amy is much loved by friends, family, and church members. A multitude of folks {seriously... many, many people} asked me if they could help in some way in this celebration for Amy and Baby Brady! I worked with a great team of friends and family members to plan this shower! </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">What a party it was!!!!!!!!!!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Yesterday's post introduced the Mommy-to-be behind today's post! This whale themed shower was a "splash" of fun to style and to host! There is simply too much fun to share in one post, so today I am going to focus on my favorite aspect of Baby Brady's shower! Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce you to<span style="color: blue;"> The Dessert Table</span><span style="color: blue;">!!!</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y68WU8ywIq8/Ti7RzVmrUII/AAAAAAAAAIE/KkJw-HbFkhI/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y68WU8ywIq8/Ti7RzVmrUII/AAAAAAAAAIE/KkJw-HbFkhI/s640/106.JPG" t$="true" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">This was one of my projects for the shower and I had a "whale of a time!" Ha, ha, ha! {Not a good joke???}</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I enlisted Kaleigh from</span> <a href="http://lottelu.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: orange;">Lotte Lu and Brother Too</span></a> <span style="color: #3d85c6;">to design and bake these incredible whale sugar cookies! She did not dissapoint!!! They were exactly what I had hoped for. She's so talented! Check out her blog to see what she can do. You're in for a treat...I assure you!!!!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzdcNElIyjw/Ti7PEW4HdUI/AAAAAAAAAG4/gWm0nKySqkw/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kzdcNElIyjw/Ti7PEW4HdUI/AAAAAAAAAG4/gWm0nKySqkw/s640/016.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I had to show the cookies as they were when I picked them up on this little platter and tied in tulle! How cute are they??</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Kaleigh took the pictures I sent her of the color scheme, the vision I had for these cookies, and totally ran with the idea!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">She made whales, a "B" for Brady, and various other shapes and designs to match the ribbon I was using. They tasted incredible, as well! These cookies completely rocked out the whale theme!!! Shout out {and a huge thanks} to Kaleigh!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Inp2Vx6EwQ/Ti7POfB9EVI/AAAAAAAAAG8/RoR5WaPk5eg/s1600/079.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Inp2Vx6EwQ/Ti7POfB9EVI/AAAAAAAAAG8/RoR5WaPk5eg/s640/079.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_01DKyRm9wI/Ti7PXfyf8UI/AAAAAAAAAHA/AWpNwDwg1pg/s1600/084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_01DKyRm9wI/Ti7PXfyf8UI/AAAAAAAAAHA/AWpNwDwg1pg/s640/084.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The cake was too sweet as well! <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bs-Cakes/111536252235449"><span style="color: orange;">B's Cakes Bakery</span></a> did a fabulous job making my dreams for the shower cake come true!!! Shout out {and a special thanks} to B's Cakes! Brandy of B's Cakes was creative and wonderful to work with! Thank you, thank you, thank you </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">for this darling whale creation!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYkbhm1Bs9A/Ti7PeHWpbVI/AAAAAAAAAHE/ODYs1UVZssY/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eYkbhm1Bs9A/Ti7PeHWpbVI/AAAAAAAAAHE/ODYs1UVZssY/s640/018.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: right;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tX5T6-hkziM/Ti7QltK2YII/AAAAAAAAAHc/YeSc6ugR8og/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tX5T6-hkziM/Ti7QltK2YII/AAAAAAAAAHc/YeSc6ugR8og/s320/125.JPG" t$="true" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppFTFwIHRMQ/Ti7PnK9AttI/AAAAAAAAAHI/nBUfUgd2-9E/s1600/075.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppFTFwIHRMQ/Ti7PnK9AttI/AAAAAAAAAHI/nBUfUgd2-9E/s200/075.JPG" t$="true" width="150" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The cake is shown here with the cake topper I made! </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">The cake and cupcake toppers read, "Sweet Baby Brady."</span> </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e87PobQIyVQ/Ti7P39T6erI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/uUEeQk24m-Y/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e87PobQIyVQ/Ti7P39T6erI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/uUEeQk24m-Y/s640/056.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tywplZCiSJY/Ti7Qq1ptLpI/AAAAAAAAAHg/XReLpixHIW0/s1600/074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tywplZCiSJY/Ti7Qq1ptLpI/AAAAAAAAAHg/XReLpixHIW0/s640/074.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yrdh78rn1n0/Ti7RMk8zDJI/AAAAAAAAAHw/H-CeCj6G6x4/s1600/105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yrdh78rn1n0/Ti7RMk8zDJI/AAAAAAAAAHw/H-CeCj6G6x4/s640/105.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The cakepops for the shower were from my very own kitchen! {Though they would not have made an appearance had I not pulled a crazy college-like all-nighter Thursday into Friday morning!} Safe to say that I won't forget these cakpops anytime soon!!! They aren't perfect...but I've said it before...I'm very humble about my culinary skills for a reason! Ha, ha, ha!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wYXVox8NKwA/Ti7RSBNIzeI/AAAAAAAAAH0/V8XG-W0Xu78/s1600/099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wYXVox8NKwA/Ti7RSBNIzeI/AAAAAAAAAH0/V8XG-W0Xu78/s640/099.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> <span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">My favorite detail of the whole shower....drumroll, please...</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Look at the whale below {actually a faucet cover that we bought for Baby Brady} with the white cake pops coming from them! What's that you say? Functional baby gift meets stylish shower detail? I think so!!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fOpbVYvthSE/Ti7RZxjnmDI/AAAAAAAAAH4/BS1NBgIkDH8/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fOpbVYvthSE/Ti7RZxjnmDI/AAAAAAAAAH4/BS1NBgIkDH8/s640/129.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--G_bkLzuWBk/Ti7Rf9WOItI/AAAAAAAAAH8/4Qw7QaKlPJY/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--G_bkLzuWBk/Ti7Rf9WOItI/AAAAAAAAAH8/4Qw7QaKlPJY/s640/061.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3_YxbeQw8o/Ti7Rnu2xLEI/AAAAAAAAAIA/bOtEhwm1vOM/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b3_YxbeQw8o/Ti7Rnu2xLEI/AAAAAAAAAIA/bOtEhwm1vOM/s640/095.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The rock candy was a big hit with the little girls at the shower! Rock candy...who would have thought? They loved it and kept coming back for more!!! Kids are funny!</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qbj7Lnvzihc/Ti7RAn2cbGI/AAAAAAAAAHs/TMJjfBYF1vY/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qbj7Lnvzihc/Ti7RAn2cbGI/AAAAAAAAAHs/TMJjfBYF1vY/s640/091.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I think that sums up the dessert table! It was a wonderfully fun summer project for a very sweet Baby!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVQAVqIvl4o/Ti7iGdfLQ_I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/6s2uZyOiTZQ/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVQAVqIvl4o/Ti7iGdfLQ_I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/6s2uZyOiTZQ/s640/111.JPG" t$="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I'll share more about the details of the shower {decorations,etc...} on the next post!!! Have a wonderful Tuesday! Spread a little happy today...everywhere you go! Love to you!!! </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-17992151103990341592011-07-25T21:58:00.000-05:002011-07-25T21:58:46.560-05:00A Time to Celebrate!<div align="center"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: magenta;">To everything there is a season and </span></em></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><em><span style="color: magenta;">a purpose under Heaven.</span></em> <em><span style="color: magenta;">Ecclesiastes 3:1-8</span></em></span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Saturday, I was able to throw a baby shower for one of the most incredible women I have ever known! I have anxiously awaited the day we could celebrate in her honor and it was{for me, at least}...an absolute blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-272wjhA6wXs/Ti3uSDcETEI/AAAAAAAAAGc/Dzm9h0nQWCs/s1600/Amy+%2526+Austin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-272wjhA6wXs/Ti3uSDcETEI/AAAAAAAAAGc/Dzm9h0nQWCs/s400/Amy+%2526+Austin.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;">Amy with her husband, Austin at a Bulls game this past winter</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">You see, I have been truly blessed with good in-laws. Each of them is special to me in their own way and I recognize that some people are(how should I put this???)...well...not as fond of their spouse's family! I am very fortunate and I don't take that for granted. Today, however, I am writing about my hubby's older sister...who is undoubtedly </span><br />
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">one of </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">my best friends!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g6GNuDHmDBk/Ti4lkhA28_I/AAAAAAAAAGg/LDe4KjJ-A84/s1600/November+2010+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g6GNuDHmDBk/Ti4lkhA28_I/AAAAAAAAAGg/LDe4KjJ-A84/s400/November+2010+019.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: magenta;">Amy and I at the baby shower she threw for me {Gavin} a few years ago</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I did not have a sister growing up. I had a few close cousins who were much like sisters...but no one to share shoes with, you know? I consider it no coincidence that God gave me a sister-in-law with the same taste in clothing and the same shoe size. Maybe that sounds silly to you. To me, it is just another example of God's divine timing in our lives...because my sister-in-law is a truly special person.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpnvu7OQdrA/Ti4omiTM_VI/AAAAAAAAAGw/AqMoVVYDo4g/s1600/096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mpnvu7OQdrA/Ti4omiTM_VI/AAAAAAAAAGw/AqMoVVYDo4g/s400/096.JPG" t$="true" width="300" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: magenta;">"Aunt Amy" and Gavin always make a good team for board games!</span></div></div><div align="center"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div align="center"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Amy is the kind of woman that is loved by all! She is compassionate, giving of herself, strong, and resilient! So, while I do love to throw a good party...this shower was completely for her...her turn to be celebrated!!!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_lK5HK3lqyU/Ti4qTMmT--I/AAAAAAAAAG0/Qg4Vz8x2l3o/s1600/146.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_lK5HK3lqyU/Ti4qTMmT--I/AAAAAAAAAG0/Qg4Vz8x2l3o/s400/146.JPG" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">And boy...did we celebrate! I am going to spread out the various details of this shower over a few posts. Stay tuned and watch the party unfold! Happy Monday, sweet readers!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-15409561525111621042011-07-18T17:36:00.001-05:002011-07-18T17:37:58.408-05:00Apple Green...Ooh, La, La!!!<div align="center"><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Are you enjoying your Monday afternoon, friends?? I certainly hope you are! I just completed a custom <span style="color: black;">order that I am so excited about! The customer asked me to create a door sign and centerpiece picks</span> for a bridal shower with an apple green and black and white damask color scheme! She told me that <span style="color: black;">this bride loves unique details. For example, the flower girl will be wearing an apple green tu-tu down</span> the aisle! CUTE!!!</span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uS_5qsXbziM/TiSy8t5w6II/AAAAAAAAAGQ/vt5RmNrcK6Y/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uS_5qsXbziM/TiSy8t5w6II/AAAAAAAAAGQ/vt5RmNrcK6Y/s640/001.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>This is the door hanger/sign.... and...</strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85q2c9NM3zg/TiS0AgYL8bI/AAAAAAAAAGU/ZZ2tvv10iIc/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-85q2c9NM3zg/TiS0AgYL8bI/AAAAAAAAAGU/ZZ2tvv10iIc/s640/006.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Here you have the centerpiece picks! It was so much fun to design these for a customer that is so very <span style="color: black;">special to me! I wish her the best as she continues to plan this very fun and unique bridal shower! Have a</span> wonderful week, readers! I hope you are blessed each day with friendship and sunshine! Spread <span style="color: black;">some joy today...and everyday! Big hugs to you.</span></span></strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-41400546210786265652011-07-11T00:34:00.002-05:002011-07-11T00:36:22.319-05:00Trivia Night<div align="center"><span style="color: magenta;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Who doesn't love a great trivia night???</span> <span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Okay...maybe I'm not the biggest fan of trivia in general...but I do love the social scene and the great snacks! {Once in a while, I know a little something that I can contribute to the game...it happens!}</span></span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TCNmYjVKUqg/ThqE32m-03I/AAAAAAAAAFw/YUpboRK_RYM/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TCNmYjVKUqg/ThqE32m-03I/AAAAAAAAAFw/YUpboRK_RYM/s640/029.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">This particular project was actually for my husband. He is the music minister at our church and organized this trivia night for our choir members and their spouses! Very fun!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VhkdUrT37JY/ThqEkz7AzOI/AAAAAAAAAFs/VpIvNRfnhGI/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VhkdUrT37JY/ThqEkz7AzOI/AAAAAAAAAFs/VpIvNRfnhGI/s640/005.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0mAsYkIXrd4/ThqFAF1m3gI/AAAAAAAAAF0/fBL1BHaEfz0/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0mAsYkIXrd4/ThqFAF1m3gI/AAAAAAAAAF0/fBL1BHaEfz0/s640/028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">These treat boxes held popcorn and doubled as table numbers for the teams! Our friends make the best {seriously it's movie-theater amazing} popcorn ever!!! They were gracious enough to fix plenty...some for each table....yum!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RK-EmQJzTKg/ThqFblDdiQI/AAAAAAAAAF4/yqeXXQaSyoM/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RK-EmQJzTKg/ThqFblDdiQI/AAAAAAAAAF4/yqeXXQaSyoM/s640/001.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Trivia-goers brought snacks to share! Check out this terrific table full of appetizers...We had everything from spinach and artichoke dip to home-made fudge! <span style="font-size: small;">These people know how to party!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-piV3OpKW-rQ/ThqFoYzTjwI/AAAAAAAAAF8/sGzWw1ZUU_o/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-piV3OpKW-rQ/ThqFoYzTjwI/AAAAAAAAAF8/sGzWw1ZUU_o/s640/032.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p9yS5-fy_W4/ThqF8uvdwXI/AAAAAAAAAGA/fh8CBNp08dM/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p9yS5-fy_W4/ThqF8uvdwXI/AAAAAAAAAGA/fh8CBNp08dM/s640/033.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The prize table had mason jars {find them at Walmart} tagged with the names of each prize! Guests got to put their names in their prizes of choice to be drawn at the end of each round!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wv0ScgL_jLE/ThqGMfNahGI/AAAAAAAAAGE/3x2UaUFUmQw/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wv0ScgL_jLE/ThqGMfNahGI/AAAAAAAAAGE/3x2UaUFUmQw/s640/034.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Shout out to my husband...(does he actually read this blog regularly...hmmm???)...anyway Hubby, I would <span style="color: magenta;">love</span><span style="color: orange;"> to own a copy of the book <u>Crazy Love</u> myself! Just throwing that out there since <span style="color: magenta;">my birthday</span> is next month, you know!</span> </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7WwDXcwQAU/ThqGcATH2II/AAAAAAAAAGI/UVR5nOGNs4g/s1600/036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7WwDXcwQAU/ThqGcATH2II/AAAAAAAAAGI/UVR5nOGNs4g/s640/036.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Our church has a soda fountain these days! {It's the new beloved summer addition to our church family!} I am going to be honest. The next picture is really only posted because the brigthly colored lids on the soda pitchers makes me smile!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7XOjeXD1HAQ/ThqI8AHzWyI/AAAAAAAAAGM/GPl2V3pXy8Q/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" m$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7XOjeXD1HAQ/ThqI8AHzWyI/AAAAAAAAAGM/GPl2V3pXy8Q/s640/030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">The trivia night was a blast because we have the best church family! Truly, they are wonderful people...and it turns out, they really know some trivial things! Impressive!</span></strong><strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> Who knew??? </span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">Thank you to our friends who came early to pop the very delish popcorn! Thank you to the </span></span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta;">trivia-goers who brought those fabulous appetizers! Your culinary skills amaze me!! ...and a very special thank you to the nursery workers who watched many little ones for the party! We love you all!</span></span></strong></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-72906385548768776442011-07-05T11:41:00.000-05:002011-07-05T11:41:11.155-05:00Friends, Family, and Fireworks!<div align="center"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What a blessed day we had yesterday! We invited some of our friends and family over for some old-fashioned summer fun! </span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KD6RPiIyXIY/ThM51wxPiHI/AAAAAAAAAFY/snTqiZl_LDg/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KD6RPiIyXIY/ThM51wxPiHI/AAAAAAAAAFY/snTqiZl_LDg/s640/025.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Kids ran through the sprinkler, played on a slip 'n' slide, and jumped {the bigger ones literally jumped} in the baby pool! <span style="color: red;">Barbecue, lawn chairs, and homemade side dishes added to the July festivities! </span><span style="color: blue;">Our friends, all parents of children under the age of 5, sat on blankets with their toddlers eating blueberries and strawberries. </span></span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ca8Xn5RS0ss/ThM6KsSqpfI/AAAAAAAAAFc/pMr5Jz1KlBc/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ca8Xn5RS0ss/ThM6KsSqpfI/AAAAAAAAAFc/pMr5Jz1KlBc/s640/029.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> <span style="color: red;">It was truly refreshing to be in such good company! I wish I had more pictures...</span></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">but I may have had to dry my camera off for a while after getting Kaden out of the baby pool...oops!</span></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Yesterday's party was simple</span><span style="color: red;"> but infused with red, white, and blue! From the sweet little girls' hair bows <span style="color: blue;">to Americana themed goodies and treats,</span> <span style="color: blue;">we enjoyed the 4th of July the way it is meant to be celebrated!</span></span></span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FTi8G8NKvXU/ThM6f_JyV2I/AAAAAAAAAFg/GIG-DEmG2DQ/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FTi8G8NKvXU/ThM6f_JyV2I/AAAAAAAAAFg/GIG-DEmG2DQ/s640/026.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">You can find the directions for these yummy strawberries at <a href="http://grinandbakeit.com/all-american-chocolate-covered-strawberries">Grin and Bake It!</a> {I thought these looked a bit cuter in person...I don't exactly pride myself in my culinary skills, though.} Still...a fun treat!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Our holiday was so reminiscent of the simple summer gatherings of my childhood! We are blessed to have such <span style="color: blue;">wonderful friends for our children to grow up with! When you look past elaborate decorations and beautiful appetizers {the kinds of details I typically love and </span><span style="color: red;">adore}, the company you share an event with is really all that matters...and all that our young children will remember twenty years from now! </span></span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ao65JEc9YUM/ThM673swH-I/AAAAAAAAAFk/1ebI339qhag/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ao65JEc9YUM/ThM673swH-I/AAAAAAAAAFk/1ebI339qhag/s640/003.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> <span style="color: blue;">May you be blessed with friendship, family, a good sprinkler to run through on summer days, laughter in your backyard, and a friend </span><span style="color: red;">who always remembers to pack sunscreen and bug spray for your children when you forget! </span><span style="color: blue;">May you enjoy summer days </span></span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue;">under a shade tree with your best friends!</span></span></strong></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uDmQzAFwf1Y/ThM78E3jrxI/AAAAAAAAAFo/CQ7vFsh0-Yw/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uDmQzAFwf1Y/ThM78E3jrxI/AAAAAAAAAFo/CQ7vFsh0-Yw/s640/006.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">May there always be a blue popsicle to enjoy during fireworks...and some good laundry detergent to follow the blue popsicle! </span></strong><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">All my love to you, readers! </span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Spread some happy today!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"> </span></strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-4328093286316431282011-06-30T23:38:00.000-05:002011-06-30T23:38:40.702-05:00Gender Reveal Parties<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I just read a charming blog post about Kate Landers' gender reveal party. Many of you are likely familiar with Kate Landers Event, LLC. If Kate is new to you, you won't want </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">to miss this delightful post about the party she </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">styled for close family and friends. Too sweet!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong><u><a href="http://www.laylagrayce.com/blog/2011/06/30/celebrate-with-kate-baby-landers-gender-reveal-party/">Kate Landers' "Make Way for Duckling"Gender Reveal Party</a></u></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Can you guess what they are having? I'll give you a hint. Kate's party went much like the gender reveal </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">party we had for Kaden last summer. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Speaking of...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">{I've never posted these pictures!}</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">In celebration of gender reveal parties, </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">here are a few memories of our very own!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Disclaimer: Our party was a last minute idea and was literally planned in the thirty minute drive home from </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">our ultrasound. It was a happy {and humble} little event</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">with 13 guests {close family and friends that weren't busy </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">in the half an hour that we gave them to arrive!} </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I was not gifted in the area of "playing it cool" so we told our guests that they couldn't show even a minute early...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">we weren't about to let them "figure me out." Ha, ha!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">My mom and friend, Stephanie were very persistent! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Notice the sign I posted on the front door.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3hBM3tYYbUU/Tg1FozLKt3I/AAAAAAAAAE4/-hmvZ6qluTo/s1600/November+2010+770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3hBM3tYYbUU/Tg1FozLKt3I/AAAAAAAAAE4/-hmvZ6qluTo/s640/November+2010+770.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">First things first! Our fam and friends were asked to post their guesses on the fridge. Even the preschoolers voted!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qWlYJoytGOU/Tg1Hso61q_I/AAAAAAAAAFA/IlGNxe6_MpE/s1600/November+2010+764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qWlYJoytGOU/Tg1Hso61q_I/AAAAAAAAAFA/IlGNxe6_MpE/s640/November+2010+764.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">We let big brother, Gavin cut the cake! He looks so tiny in this picture...where does the time go?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SkHN9OP7odI/Tg1J5DG1jzI/AAAAAAAAAFM/7r-cDC5Vtso/s1600/November+2010+766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SkHN9OP7odI/Tg1J5DG1jzI/AAAAAAAAAFM/7r-cDC5Vtso/s640/November+2010+766.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Please overlook the {very ugly} icing on the cake...yikes! The hubby was trying to conceal the bright blue cakemix that we could see right through the white icing. As stated before, this was a last minute shindig...an idea that came to us that very afternoon on the way home from the doctor's office. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Oh dear...not a pretty cake...but a great memory!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uf1F9ZmV2No/Tg1Lra6iU1I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/nAJR3FFKvK4/s1600/November+2010+768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uf1F9ZmV2No/Tg1Lra6iU1I/AAAAAAAAAFQ/nAJR3FFKvK4/s640/November+2010+768.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Blue Cake!!! It's a boy!</strong><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> We were excited to know that Gavin would have a baby brother to share his childhood with and we would have another precious little boy to love!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">That day began the longest naming process ever known to man! We discussed a new name nearly every day! For longer periods of time, we called our sweet guy, "Cooper," "Hudson," and "Blake" {which almost stuck forever}...</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iTD4n-7qrog/Tg1NkpbjWWI/AAAAAAAAAFU/2P3o9picwsU/s1600/DSC00353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iTD4n-7qrog/Tg1NkpbjWWI/AAAAAAAAAFU/2P3o9picwsU/s400/DSC00353.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> and finally landed on the keeper...</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">We love you, Baby Kaden! Our sweet snugglebug!!!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-48614928222632439272011-06-27T10:49:00.000-05:002011-06-27T10:49:17.460-05:00A Little Happy Along the Way<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're home from vacation! We just spent a wonderful week in Gatlinburg, TN </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with my hubby's family. Traveling is one of my favorite things about summer! </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> In the midst of tourism and</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> sight-seeing, I made a few discoveries that I can't wait to share with you!</span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3O3GcTtPG90/Tgf00IF2X5I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/HGQq0e6aKs8/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3O3GcTtPG90/Tgf00IF2X5I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/HGQq0e6aKs8/s640/092.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can't believe</span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">I went my whole life without indulging in this yummy frozen yogurt! </span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Stop by </span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://tfyogurt.net/"><span style="color: blue;">Tutti Frutti</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">the next time you are in Pigeon Forge, TN or at any of the {many} other Tutti Frutti locations. </span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">You will be glad you did!</span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Delish...very delish!!!</span></div><br />
<br />
<div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial;">Perhaps you've been to Tutti Frutti before...but it was a great discovery for me! You simply grab a cup and choose from one of the many {ice-cream like} flavors. Then the toppings....too many to choose just one. To be honest, I had a hard time deciding and ended up with an unorthodox combination of toppings...and yes, I will be counting calories this week! </span></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f7yQyioCrPs/Tgf6VKlkAyI/AAAAAAAAAEU/Jjk_NEWH0vY/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i$="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f7yQyioCrPs/Tgf6VKlkAyI/AAAAAAAAAEU/Jjk_NEWH0vY/s640/091.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The next discovery thrilled my soul to say the least! We were staying in the Brentwood area of Nashville on the way home. We decided to find a fun place for dinner when I spotted this adorable little shop that appeared to be right up my alley! {It was!}</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BEdF7lVbcHA/Tgf9cHRTjwI/AAAAAAAAAEc/VYBblDCHxDo/s1600/140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BEdF7lVbcHA/Tgf9cHRTjwI/AAAAAAAAAEc/VYBblDCHxDo/s640/140.JPG" width="480" /></a><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Let me just say...it was love at first sight! <a href="http://www.iveycake.com/">IveyCake</a> had the most stunning cupcakes I have ever seen in my life! So much talent in the form of a cupcake! BRILLIANT!!! Who doesn't love a great cupcake? Traveling through Brentwood or Franklin? Stop by one of IveyCake's two locations!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Cupcakes were adorable and had the cutest names! I chose the "I Do" cupcake. The {very kind} lady behind the counter said, "That's actually the cupcake Ivey made for <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20355330,00.html"><span style="color: magenta;">Carrie Underwood's wedding</span></a>!" I was stunned! I said, "Oh? She made the cupcakes for her wedding?" The lady pointed me in the direction of the magazine article on the back wall where I read that Ivey was actually a bridesmaid for Carrie Underwood and baked for her at the Ritz Carlton!!!! WOW! The cupcake tower was tall and gorgeous....and I was thrilled that I had ordered the cupcake <u><a href="http://www.brentwoodhomepage.com/carries-cupcake-bakery-opens-doors-cms-4403"><span style="color: magenta;">designed for Carrie</span></a></u> Underwood! {I just love Carrie!} </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nPXwLpPMxEg/Tgici7yYN1I/AAAAAAAAAEg/TaSFLM_sNxM/s1600/ivey+cake+for+Carrie+Underwood+wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nPXwLpPMxEg/Tgici7yYN1I/AAAAAAAAAEg/TaSFLM_sNxM/s200/ivey+cake+for+Carrie+Underwood+wedding.jpg" width="178" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever seen cupcakes look so elegant and glamorous??? That's talent!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: right;"></div><br />
<div align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tlVoY1BhwJE/Tgic5BdBkWI/AAAAAAAAAEk/hP_TaZcKJwM/s1600/132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tlVoY1BhwJE/Tgic5BdBkWI/AAAAAAAAAEk/hP_TaZcKJwM/s640/132.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My yummy cupcake! {It was actually prettier than this but I smudged it a bit </span></div><div align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">when I got it out of the little cupcake box...oops.} Isn't is precious?</span></div><div align="right" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The rest of my fam got cupcakes, too! Check out the hubby's cupcake. He loves anything cookies 'n' cream flavored! {It had an Oreo on top...but Bret didn't know I was going to need a pic for my blog!} Ha, ha!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I_FQbsuq8eM/TgigJAg5AzI/AAAAAAAAAEs/6nQ9idKzArw/s1600/136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I_FQbsuq8eM/TgigJAg5AzI/AAAAAAAAAEs/6nQ9idKzArw/s640/136.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gavin had a mini cupcake! It was perfect for a little guy!</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fy6vJUVALRE/Tgig1zYSyLI/AAAAAAAAAEw/pObV70mWeEY/s1600/129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fy6vJUVALRE/Tgig1zYSyLI/AAAAAAAAAEw/pObV70mWeEY/s640/129.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: orange; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course, Kaden can't eat cupcakes yet...but he watched us longingly { as he really wants to eat table food.} So, I let him hold the box...it was the least I could do. That made his day!!! Bless his little heart. He was so happy!</span></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nto8JA9WQ7Q/TgihxFfJWmI/AAAAAAAAAE0/nB7Mwa0DzXU/s1600/138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nto8JA9WQ7Q/TgihxFfJWmI/AAAAAAAAAE0/nB7Mwa0DzXU/s640/138.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">Such fun findings, right?! Of course, these two shops were just a small part of our vacation...but I won't go on and on about the rest. I hope your summer travelings are adventurous, rejuvenating, and that you find a little happy along the way! My husband's grandfather, a retired pastor and very wise man, gave us all this bit of advice for vacation {that I must share with you...} "Enjoy life!" Summer love to you all! Spread some joy today!!!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-54729461325010365792011-06-15T19:39:00.003-05:002011-06-15T19:48:27.468-05:00Something to Shout About!<div align="center"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: lime;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">I just received an email </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: lime;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">that my </span></strong></span><span style="color: lime;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">"Fun in the Sun" banner </span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: lime;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">was </span></strong></span><span style="color: lime;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">featured on</span></strong></span><br />
<span style="color: lime;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.thehandmadegiftguide.com/2011/06/pool-party-handmade-summer-shopping.html"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">The Handmade Gift Guide</span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span></strong></span></div><span style="color: lime;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">in an article on Summer Shopping </span></strong></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: lime;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">and Pool Party decor!<span style="color: blue;">!!</span></span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppD1RT-6Xck/TflRXAnM_FI/AAAAAAAAAEI/hwgK3Wfh0mU/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ppD1RT-6Xck/TflRXAnM_FI/AAAAAAAAAEI/hwgK3Wfh0mU/s640/007.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Readers, I am always honest with you...so I must confess...I've been jumping up and down for the past thirty minutes! I couldn't wait to share the news! Head on over to their blog to check it out!</span></strong></div><br />
<strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Hope your Wednesday is as happy as mine! </span></strong><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;"> Spread some joy today!!!</span></strong></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-2030987691439229702011-06-13T13:38:00.002-05:002011-06-13T13:41:23.312-05:00Grand Opening of the Happy Hearted Hostess Shop on Etsy.Com!<div align="center"><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">I am excited to share that I have opened a shop on Etsy! If you are unfamiliar with this site, it is so much fun! Etsy is the place online to sell and buy all things handmade. Check it out!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Be sure to see my new shop @</span></strong></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: large;"></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyHeartedHostess"><span style="color: blue; font-size: large;">http://www.etsy.com/shop/HappyHeartedHostess</span></a><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">Want to share the shop with your friends on facebook or twitter? There is a place on my etsy page where you can "like" the HappyHeartedHostess! Don't forget to visit the shop again for some new collections, partyware items, and much more!</span></strong></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Keep an eye on my blog for an exciting </strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Grand Opening giveaway...coming soon! You won't want to miss it!!! Happy Monday!</strong></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-2455070429110887532011-06-05T21:47:00.000-05:002011-06-05T21:47:36.135-05:00School's Out for Summer!!!<div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Who doesn't love a good summer party? Our church hosted an "End of the School Year" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Ice Cream Party tonight for the kids...and adults! As a member of the children's ministry council, I was heading up the decorating anyway...and (who am I kidding??)I just started this blog...so, I made a banner and a centerpiece <span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">for the ice cream table</span></span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">! </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">{A good use of the boys' naptime, right?} I enjoyed the afternoon of crafting!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GPRNd-2d3eE/Tew86YXHwyI/AAAAAAAAAEA/0fzUPjzyDVc/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GPRNd-2d3eE/Tew86YXHwyI/AAAAAAAAAEA/0fzUPjzyDVc/s640/005.JPG" t8="true" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFVCRXKl1Fg/Tew9TUHRKiI/AAAAAAAAAEE/GEyEH6UUbP4/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFVCRXKl1Fg/Tew9TUHRKiI/AAAAAAAAAEE/GEyEH6UUbP4/s640/010.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Aren't you inspired to take a run through the sprinkler in the backyard and eat a slice of watermelon? I knew you would be...</span>Let the summer fun begin!!!</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-16794411902756857122011-06-03T01:15:00.001-05:002011-06-03T01:17:48.273-05:00Ballerina Birthday Banner<div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My bestie's daughter turned five last Saturday </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and celebrated </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">with a Ballet themed birthday bash. </span><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">(She is becoming quite the dancer!) </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I made this birthday banner for the ballerina party to match the</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> pink and black invitations and cake. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YggxHzB-9bA/Teh31QiymXI/AAAAAAAAAD4/tAEQFsQ3n6U/s1600/212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YggxHzB-9bA/Teh31QiymXI/AAAAAAAAAD4/tAEQFsQ3n6U/s640/212.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></a></div><div align="center"> <span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I really liked the way it looked by the pink and black polka-dotted balloons. I would have taken a picture but the banner was hung across a ballet mirror...not ideal for photography. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> These pictures that I took (while the banner was at my house) will have to do, I suppose! I loved the color scheme of this party! {Pink is my favorite color! As the mommy</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">of two little boys, there isn't much pink in my life anymore! Ha, ha :)</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That is quite alright but I did enjoy making this girly-girl's birthday banner!} </span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zPAo3ezUy-g/Teh4Ov3nCsI/AAAAAAAAAD8/Vpfyb9hmoN8/s1600/220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zPAo3ezUy-g/Teh4Ov3nCsI/AAAAAAAAAD8/Vpfyb9hmoN8/s640/220.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" t8="true" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">Happy Birthday, Mercedes!!! </span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-10990226157521317252011-06-03T00:40:00.003-05:002011-06-03T00:44:23.903-05:00Retirement Banner<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">A wonderful teacher retired from our school, last Friday...tear. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This is the banner I made for her (luau themed) retirement dinner!</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k6xHFdt99gw/TehxBiQua4I/AAAAAAAAADk/iWLxApPg6_Q/s1600/198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-k6xHFdt99gw/TehxBiQua4I/AAAAAAAAADk/iWLxApPg6_Q/s640/198.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-8ZYDeUZXI/TehxulaoJfI/AAAAAAAAADs/f5B95Q8AN8g/s1600/210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f-8ZYDeUZXI/TehxulaoJfI/AAAAAAAAADs/f5B95Q8AN8g/s640/210.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I made a few initial letters to match and used them as table decorations on the head table.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeoo9Es_gI0/Tehyghde5XI/AAAAAAAAADw/iri3Id58uF0/s1600/204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oeoo9Es_gI0/Tehyghde5XI/AAAAAAAAADw/iri3Id58uF0/s640/204.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">She is such a special person and will be greatly missed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BkNAgZfrMzA/TehzOnlHQFI/AAAAAAAAAD0/2prpDntSRdI/s1600/211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BkNAgZfrMzA/TehzOnlHQFI/AAAAAAAAAD0/2prpDntSRdI/s640/211.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Best of luck in retirement, Mrs. Yow! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-17482960335838694612011-06-03T00:19:00.003-05:002011-06-03T03:36:04.700-05:00"2 Infinity and Beyond" Second Birthday Party<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="color: #660000;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia;">Gavin's second <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">birthday theme was an obvious choice for me. </span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Although I thought about several other themes...I kept coming back to Buzz. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Gavin loves Buzz Lightyear! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> (He's only seen the first movie and has watched the same scenes again and again but </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I don't think he's caught on!) I decided to call this party, "2 Infinity and Beyond!"</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> in honor of his second birthday. I made this banner to hang beside the food table.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-adRkMlEMQyI/TehSJfM_YZI/AAAAAAAAAB4/EBevPNkj6VI/s1600/092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-adRkMlEMQyI/TehSJfM_YZI/AAAAAAAAAB4/EBevPNkj6VI/s640/092.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I made another banner to hang above the gift table...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_j4qrQs0nmk/TehZNQkPKBI/AAAAAAAAAB8/boJ9coMZBy8/s1600/106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_j4qrQs0nmk/TehZNQkPKBI/AAAAAAAAAB8/boJ9coMZBy8/s640/106.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IGiOnAco6X4/TehZnEXGPnI/AAAAAAAAACA/sXmudzI2HCc/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IGiOnAco6X4/TehZnEXGPnI/AAAAAAAAACA/sXmudzI2HCc/s640/108.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The favor table included Alien birthday hats, Toy Story Blow-outs, </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"Make Your Own Mr. Potato Head" Stickers, </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and Buzz Lightyear flyers (a favorite of the older boys at the party.) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r--mtruO24A/Teha7RSNaII/AAAAAAAAACE/2TXHFw-4Xss/s1600/091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r--mtruO24A/Teha7RSNaII/AAAAAAAAACE/2TXHFw-4Xss/s640/091.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuSKT7aJY-A/TehbOyHCQLI/AAAAAAAAACI/uqkeSPXXQB0/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vuSKT7aJY-A/TehbOyHCQLI/AAAAAAAAACI/uqkeSPXXQB0/s640/104.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjGnpKdRbaw/TehbjUSWYJI/AAAAAAAAACM/GPIeLVGrnEo/s1600/102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pjGnpKdRbaw/TehbjUSWYJI/AAAAAAAAACM/GPIeLVGrnEo/s640/102.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Gavin was a fan of the big Buzz Lightyear balloons!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6TwL7E1g-c/TehcIS93uDI/AAAAAAAAACQ/qmw807vm_Yw/s640/097.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" t8="true" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;">I ordered Gavin's shirt from a shop called <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/madecutejust4u"><span style="color: blue;"><strong>Made Cute Just 4U</strong></span></a> through etsy. She did a really nice job! The shirt was customized exactly the way I wanted it and the quality was excellent!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d6TwL7E1g-c/TehcIS93uDI/AAAAAAAAACQ/qmw807vm_Yw/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpzfqXbBfZk/Tehc8sphUeI/AAAAAAAAACU/QzvkePf4rw8/s1600/142.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dpzfqXbBfZk/Tehc8sphUeI/AAAAAAAAACU/QzvkePf4rw8/s640/142.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">When asked what Buzz says, Gavin always answers, "ZOOM!" </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"> The party tables alternated between royal blue "Buzz"tables</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"> and lime green "Zoom" tables...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1SYbQGaFBU/TehdMc0t8II/AAAAAAAAACY/WFtBJlqaFho/s1600/109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-V1SYbQGaFBU/TehdMc0t8II/AAAAAAAAACY/WFtBJlqaFho/s640/109.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Shout out to my friend, Stephanie for assembling every rocket ship at the party...I owe you!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztyxVdbhj7s/Tehey0shBdI/AAAAAAAAACc/NrHox9ioNfk/s1600/110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ztyxVdbhj7s/Tehey0shBdI/AAAAAAAAACc/NrHox9ioNfk/s640/110.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">The theme for the food was, "Andy's Pizza Planet!"</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;"> {Remember 'The Pizza Planet' from the movie???}</span><span style="color: #660000; font-size: small;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fCJM-BvsSSQ/Tehg_0UtsfI/AAAAAAAAACk/eX7XF9mBygo/s1600/111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fCJM-BvsSSQ/Tehg_0UtsfI/AAAAAAAAACk/eX7XF9mBygo/s640/111.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">The menu consisted of: "Andy's Pizza Planet," "Mr. Potato Head Chips," </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">"Woody's Canteloupe Stars," and "Buzz's Moon Pies."</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Nf_qzcKDpk/TehfMk3bJEI/AAAAAAAAACg/goAFL_CbVrg/s1600/095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_Nf_qzcKDpk/TehfMk3bJEI/AAAAAAAAACg/goAFL_CbVrg/s640/095.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYKcs9tTrMk/TehhXpMhuiI/AAAAAAAAACo/CxktIsWWek8/s1600/116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYKcs9tTrMk/TehhXpMhuiI/AAAAAAAAACo/CxktIsWWek8/s640/116.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpd2dBpxpDI/TehhpbEothI/AAAAAAAAACs/E1VO35yYtcU/s1600/114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dpd2dBpxpDI/TehhpbEothI/AAAAAAAAACs/E1VO35yYtcU/s640/114.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yjJIPswxXTQ/Tehh4u9k5iI/AAAAAAAAACw/Nahk1Sz8Twg/s1600/112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yjJIPswxXTQ/Tehh4u9k5iI/AAAAAAAAACw/Nahk1Sz8Twg/s640/112.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jPjw5sd99E/TehiHH7qU9I/AAAAAAAAAC0/QsO-yP0zkWk/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jPjw5sd99E/TehiHH7qU9I/AAAAAAAAAC0/QsO-yP0zkWk/s640/113.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_rS_gImwaY0/TehidONpYuI/AAAAAAAAAC4/ixHHoIqqZOs/s1600/119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_rS_gImwaY0/TehidONpYuI/AAAAAAAAAC4/ixHHoIqqZOs/s640/119.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">We played the Toy Story Movie (original movie) as guests arrived and ate at the beginning of the party. The toddler guests were excited to watch such a big version of the movie!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ne6fyjfRatw/Tehjh8rk0YI/AAAAAAAAAC8/iYeByzK_c28/s1600/125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ne6fyjfRatw/Tehjh8rk0YI/AAAAAAAAAC8/iYeByzK_c28/s640/125.JPG" t8="true" width="480" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I asked several dads, in advance, to participate in the first game. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The dads raced to put Mr. Potato Head together while wearing blindfolds. HILARIOUS!!! </span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VlZKQJtjWuE/Tehk6TR75lI/AAAAAAAAADE/93oZeu_ZLPs/s640/129.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The next two games were toddler-friendly. We played, "Don't Let the Aliens (balloons) Touch the Ground," and "Return the Lost Army Men to Andy's Room." The preschoolers were so funny to watch hitting the balloons around. They had a blast! Gavin's cousin (also a two-year-old) won the second game with a total of 23 army guys collected! She took the game very seriously and won a Toy Story coloring book!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IuCyz1uDvJk/TehoYDArZiI/AAAAAAAAADI/pRViTz8cems/s1600/139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IuCyz1uDvJk/TehoYDArZiI/AAAAAAAAADI/pRViTz8cems/s640/139.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Toy Story Coloring Table was a popular place to be! We stuck jumbo-size coloring sheets to the table with double-sided tape and layed out crayons. </span></div> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PCHnfUKRtq8/Tehp3dwwstI/AAAAAAAAADQ/40DHjwzt2UI/s1600/158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PCHnfUKRtq8/Tehp3dwwstI/AAAAAAAAADQ/40DHjwzt2UI/s640/158.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Gavin is very blessed to have such good buddies...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2C2mng1J2Y/TehrhWbdlWI/AAAAAAAAADc/_RP5TaZPqys/s1600/165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2C2mng1J2Y/TehrhWbdlWI/AAAAAAAAADc/_RP5TaZPqys/s640/165.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">...and we are very <strong>blessed</strong> to be Gavin's parents! </span></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy Birthday, my sweet Buzz Lightyear!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwByU8TeuTg/Tehs7p6ml4I/AAAAAAAAADg/2eGY18BZ8P8/s1600/171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwByU8TeuTg/Tehs7p6ml4I/AAAAAAAAADg/2eGY18BZ8P8/s640/171.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">We love you to infinity and beyond!!!</span></span></strong></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-17995169740111332542011-05-24T18:37:00.002-05:002011-06-03T00:47:04.304-05:00"Old MacDonald Had a Farm" First Birthday Party <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">When Gavin celebrated his first birthday, last May, he absolutely loved farm animals!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">His very favorite song was "Old MacDonald Had a Farm," </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and he loved books about the farm!</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7PjMFzgLlB8/Tdrp-5LxQZI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/x06xzDby0do/s1600/DSC00237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7PjMFzgLlB8/Tdrp-5LxQZI/AAAAAAAAAAQ/x06xzDby0do/s640/DSC00237.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This barnyard bash was a perfect way to honor his first year. I loved the party favors! Each child went home with a copy of <u>Down by the Cool of the Pool</u>, a rhyming story about barnyard friends. I found these great animal hats (cows, ducks, horses, and pigs) on the Oriental Trading Company website! The cow and pig suckers (shown here in the glass jars full of jellybeans) were from Oriental Trading Co. as well! The farm party guests also took home animal stickers. Gavin's friends were so sweet in their farm animal hats!</span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tD7VX7O7UkY/TdruBPCrm1I/AAAAAAAAAAU/Zm5ZBFciouA/s1600/DSC00266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tD7VX7O7UkY/TdruBPCrm1I/AAAAAAAAAAU/Zm5ZBFciouA/s640/DSC00266.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I made a birthday banner that read "Happy 1st Birthday, Gavin!" out of bandana-themed scrapbooking paper from the Martha Stewart scrapbooking line. I used the same paper to continue the brightly-colored bandana theme to bring a barnyard feel </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">to the whole party and to tie the theme together!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vVwA104vK88/TdrvAmNFE_I/AAAAAAAAAAY/KE1ZGKsawmc/s1600/DSC00239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vVwA104vK88/TdrvAmNFE_I/AAAAAAAAAAY/KE1ZGKsawmc/s640/DSC00239.JPG" width="640" /></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I was super stoked to find the cow print balloons on the celebration express website! I used them at each table with red #1 balloons. Each table was designed to represent a different farm animal. The color, stuffed animal, and books at each table were specific to that animal. We gave the farm books to Gavin as birthday gifts from mommy and daddy. (I suppose that's the elementary school teacher in me shining through!) I used the same bandana paper to cut out the animal's sound and attached it to the table using double-sided tape. I had so much fun putting these tables together! These are a couple of the tables.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SW5JjuTJrxY/TdwxDA1h-tI/AAAAAAAAABA/x9szOFsscKE/s1600/DSC00247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SW5JjuTJrxY/TdwxDA1h-tI/AAAAAAAAABA/x9szOFsscKE/s640/DSC00247.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rc6_2SiU9FQ/TdwwIc3T4vI/AAAAAAAAAA8/_7Ik9FI6rmk/s1600/DSC00242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Rc6_2SiU9FQ/TdwwIc3T4vI/AAAAAAAAAA8/_7Ik9FI6rmk/s640/DSC00242.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The Old MacDonald's Farm menu included: "Moo Treats and Quackers" (Cheese and Crackers), "Little Piggies" (Pigs in a Blanket), "Gavin's Veggie Garden" (A vegetable tray arranged in garden-like rows), "Chicken Feed" (Chex Mix), Watermelon, </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">and "Hay" (Pretzel Sticks.)</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jbgXk2h-_4Y/TdwyrG5Pq7I/AAAAAAAAABI/9nSJR0C8xZQ/s1600/DSC00226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jbgXk2h-_4Y/TdwyrG5Pq7I/AAAAAAAAABI/9nSJR0C8xZQ/s640/DSC00226.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">My favorite menu item was the "Corn on the Cob" (cupcakes!) I found this great recipe in one of my favorite cookbooks, "Hello Cupcake!" It was fairly simple. I just lined up three yellow (cake-mix) cupcakes in a row and put them in yellow cupcake liners. I added a corn on the cob skewer on the ends of each set of three cupcakes to create the illusion of corn. The icing was vanilla with yellow food coloring. I added yellow, cream, and white jellybeans to the tops and used green sprinkles to look like seasoning. Love it!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhoEPFEx_EA/Tdwz6yl--YI/AAAAAAAAABM/PWFQ1pTsu8A/s1600/DSC00229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BhoEPFEx_EA/Tdwz6yl--YI/AAAAAAAAABM/PWFQ1pTsu8A/s640/DSC00229.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20GbZE1yrhI/Tdw2JQnNFdI/AAAAAAAAABQ/14S8yckmR4g/s1600/DSC00228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-20GbZE1yrhI/Tdw2JQnNFdI/AAAAAAAAABQ/14S8yckmR4g/s640/DSC00228.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGZXSjEvYw8/Tdw2bRMFhsI/AAAAAAAAABU/HX78neMStro/s1600/DSC00233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JGZXSjEvYw8/Tdw2bRMFhsI/AAAAAAAAABU/HX78neMStro/s640/DSC00233.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rb0TP9pXgcM/Tdw2q0vHEFI/AAAAAAAAABY/QKN2I9BthHU/s1600/DSC00230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rb0TP9pXgcM/Tdw2q0vHEFI/AAAAAAAAABY/QKN2I9BthHU/s640/DSC00230.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8nhdYJH7S8/Tdw28bD5Q2I/AAAAAAAAABc/IB6mg2vU6II/s1600/DSC00235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K8nhdYJH7S8/Tdw28bD5Q2I/AAAAAAAAABc/IB6mg2vU6II/s640/DSC00235.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Our party activities consisted of a farm animal bean bag toss that I found on Oriental Trading Company and a "decorate your own sugar cookie" table.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nvz51_7mCXk/Tdw3-fNQYCI/AAAAAAAAABg/aEWf_j0GGIM/s1600/DSC00249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nvz51_7mCXk/Tdw3-fNQYCI/AAAAAAAAABg/aEWf_j0GGIM/s640/DSC00249.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WJVKxYrYky8/Tdw4NuNAQvI/AAAAAAAAABk/GZ6SRW5vHPM/s1600/DSC00241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WJVKxYrYky8/Tdw4NuNAQvI/AAAAAAAAABk/GZ6SRW5vHPM/s640/DSC00241.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zzuVCpyu78g/Tdw5sRDYmeI/AAAAAAAAABo/B1kTWUDw1ls/s1600/DSC00257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zzuVCpyu78g/Tdw5sRDYmeI/AAAAAAAAABo/B1kTWUDw1ls/s640/DSC00257.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I used tractor, rooster, cow, pig, duck, horse, and chick cookie cutters to bake these sugar cookies. I added a variety of sprinkles (including cow and pig shaped sprinkles) and several colors of icing to the table. The kids...and a few of the adults...enjoyed decorating their own farm cookies. Several kids came back again and again! It was a hit!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ni86mD9p94U/Tdw7psTR7MI/AAAAAAAAABs/ZSqM5VBcIEU/s1600/DSC00261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ni86mD9p94U/Tdw7psTR7MI/AAAAAAAAABs/ZSqM5VBcIEU/s640/DSC00261.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">...and it wouldn't be a first birthday without a smash cake!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" Party was perfect for our sweet Gavin!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Gxq5fmzJEU/Tdw-5wRh-iI/AAAAAAAAAB0/YnZFxtGEyZg/s1600/DSC00286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--Gxq5fmzJEU/Tdw-5wRh-iI/AAAAAAAAAB0/YnZFxtGEyZg/s640/DSC00286.JPG" t8="true" width="640" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2148364975702513479.post-58577183152423002442011-05-22T01:35:00.002-05:002011-05-23T18:05:31.998-05:00The Beginning of the Happy-hearted Hostess<div class="post-header"><div class="post-header-line-1"></div></div><div class="post-body entry-content"><span style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #660000;">The day has finally come! I am really starting the blog that I've been discussing with so many of my close friends and family members for the past year. {A special thank you to my hubby, family, and besties for patiently listening to my ideas, reservations, ideas again, and reservations again about starting this blog! Thank you for encouraging me to move forward with this new creative outlet!} </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">I am thrilled to be combining my love for party planning with my interests in writing, decorating, designing, and even a few new crafting skills! For those friends who've somehow managed to miss my year-long, ongoing, verbal thought process as I determined exactly what I wanted this blog to be...let me catch you up!</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;"> I have always had a <span style="background-color: white;">love for entertaining</span>! My mom was ahead of her time, throwing elaborately themed birthday parties for my brother and I...which wasn't necessarily quite as in vogue in the eighties/nineties. Way to go, Mom! I think my passion for parties and holidays began with her love for a reason to celebrate. The rest is history. From the annual end of the school year sleepovers at my house to the "Happy Almost Christmas Day" (the holiday I sort of made up in college...shout out to my HACD friends)...I wish I had started documenting my hostessing projects earlier! Now, as the mommy of two precious boys, I enjoy throwing birthday parties fit for toddlers! </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">A far cry from magazine-worthy, my parties are usually simple and joy-filled events that tend to reflect my (slightly detail-oriented) personality and love for life! I can honestly say that being with friends, in even the smallest of get-togethers, makes my heart happy! </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">My true joy, of course, comes from my Savior and the hope and peace I have in Him...refer to <u>1 Thessalonians</u> <u>5:16</u>. I hope my life: my husband, my children, my career, my hobbies, and even this blog are reflections of that joy...the joy that comes only from God. I hope that everything I do will be done with a happy heart. I suppose that is how I finally decided on an official name for this blog. </span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: medium;">It is with a joyful heart that I invite you to follow my new blog: The Happy-hearted Hostess!</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0