Friday Friend Feature

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.... 

Nonetheless, today marks the first ever Happy Hearted Hostess Friday Friend Feature!!!

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! 

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!!! 

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!! 

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! 

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 thehappyheartedhostess@Gmail.com! 

Do you have a crafter, baker, designer, hostess, party planner, or decorator "superwoman"
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!!!

A Whale-Themed Dessert Table

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?!

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!

What a party it was!!!!!!!!!!!!

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 The Dessert Table!!! 

This was one of my projects for the shower and I had a "whale of a time!"  Ha, ha, ha!  {Not a good joke???}

I enlisted Kaleigh from Lotte Lu and Brother Too 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!!!!

 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??

Kaleigh took the pictures I sent her of the color scheme, the vision I had for these cookies, and totally ran with the idea!

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!

The cake was too sweet as well!  B's Cakes Bakery 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

for this darling whale creation!!!

The cake is shown here with the cake topper I made!  The cake and cupcake toppers read, "Sweet Baby Brady." 

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!

 My favorite detail of the whole shower....drumroll, please...

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!!!

 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!

I think that sums up the dessert table!  It was a wonderfully fun summer project for a very sweet Baby!

  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!!! 

Trivia Night

Who doesn't love a great trivia night???  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!}

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!

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!

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!  These people know how to party!

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!

Shout out to my husband...(does he actually read this blog regularly...hmmm???)...anyway Hubby, I would love to own a copy of the book Crazy Love myself!  Just throwing that out there since my birthday is next month, you know! 

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!

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! Who knew??? 

Thank you to our friends who came early to pop the very delish popcorn!  Thank you to the

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!

Friends, Family, and Fireworks!

What a blessed day we had yesterday!  We invited some of our friends and family over for some old-fashioned summer fun! 

Kids ran through the sprinkler, played on a slip 'n' slide, and jumped {the bigger ones literally jumped} in the baby pool!  Barbecue, lawn chairs, and homemade side dishes added to the July festivities!  Our friends, all parents of children under the age of 5, sat on blankets with their toddlers eating blueberries and strawberries. 

 It was truly refreshing to be in such good company!  I wish I had more pictures...

but I may have had to dry my camera off for a while after getting Kaden out of the baby pool...oops!

Yesterday's party was simple but infused with red, white, and blue!  From the sweet little girls' hair bows to Americana themed goodies and treats, we enjoyed the 4th of July the way it is meant to be celebrated!

You can find the directions for these yummy strawberries at Grin and Bake It!  {I thought these looked a bit cuter in person...I don't exactly pride myself in my culinary skills, though.}  Still...a fun treat!

Our holiday was so reminiscent of the simple summer gatherings of my childhood!  We are blessed to have such 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 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! 

 May you be blessed with friendship, family, a good sprinkler to run through on summer days, laughter in your backyard, and a friend who always remembers to pack sunscreen and bug spray for your children when you forget!  May you enjoy summer days

under a shade tree with your best friends!

May there always be a blue popsicle to enjoy during fireworks...and some good laundry detergent to follow the blue popsicle!  All my love to you, readers! 

Spread some happy today!

  

"2 Infinity and Beyond" Second Birthday Party

Gavin's second birthday theme was an obvious choice for me. 

Although I thought about several other themes...I kept coming back to Buzz.  

Gavin loves Buzz Lightyear! 

 (He's only seen the first movie and has watched the same scenes again and again but

I don't think he's caught on!)  I decided to call this party, "2 Infinity and Beyond!"

 in honor of his second birthday.  I made this banner to hang beside the food table.

I made another banner to hang above the gift table...

The favor table included Alien birthday hats, Toy Story Blow-outs,

"Make Your Own Mr. Potato Head" Stickers,

and Buzz Lightyear flyers (a favorite of the older boys at the party.) 

Gavin was a fan of the big Buzz Lightyear balloons!



I ordered Gavin's shirt from a shop called Made Cute Just 4U through etsy.  She did a really nice job!  The shirt was customized exactly the way I wanted it and the quality was excellent!



When asked what Buzz says, Gavin always answers, "ZOOM!" 
 The party tables alternated between royal blue "Buzz"tables
 and lime green "Zoom" tables...

Shout out to my friend, Stephanie for assembling every rocket ship at the party...I owe you!

The theme for the food was, "Andy's Pizza Planet!"
 {Remember 'The Pizza Planet' from the movie???}

The menu consisted of: "Andy's Pizza Planet," "Mr. Potato Head Chips,"
"Woody's Canteloupe Stars," and "Buzz's Moon Pies."



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!

I asked several dads, in advance, to participate in the first game. 

The dads raced to put Mr. Potato Head together while wearing blindfolds.  HILARIOUS!!! 

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!

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. 



Gavin is very blessed to have such good buddies...



...and we are very blessed to be Gavin's parents! 

Happy Birthday, my sweet Buzz Lightyear!

We love you to infinity and beyond!!!