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!!!

Whale Decor and More!

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!

Today's post will show some of my favorite decorations from the shower!  Really, we had too much fun with this one!

The "Welcome Baby Banner" was displayed

above the lunch buffet tables!

This banner read, "Brady" and set the tone

for the punch table's blue and green decor!

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!

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!

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...???

Check out these sweet baby socks with tiny little whales!!!  Precious!  I added these to the dessert table display.

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

for the edges of the dessert table!   


 

 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!!!

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!

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! 

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!!!

A Time to Celebrate!

To everything there is a season and
a purpose under Heaven.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amy with her husband, Austin at a Bulls game this past winter

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 
one of my best friends!

Amy and I at the baby shower she threw for me {Gavin} a few years ago

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.

"Aunt Amy" and Gavin always make a good team for board games!

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!!!

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!

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!

  

Gender Reveal Parties

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

to miss this delightful post about the party she

styled for close family and friends.  Too sweet!

Kate Landers' "Make Way for Duckling"Gender Reveal Party

Can you guess what they are having?  I'll give you a hint.  Kate's party went much like the gender reveal

party we had for Kaden last summer. 

Speaking of...

{I've never posted these pictures!}

In celebration of gender reveal parties,

here are a few memories of our very own!

Disclaimer:  Our party was a last minute idea and was literally planned in the thirty minute drive home from

our ultrasound.  It was a happy {and humble} little event

with 13 guests {close family and friends that weren't busy

in the half an hour that we gave them to arrive!} 

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...

we weren't about to let them "figure me out."  Ha, ha!

My mom and friend, Stephanie were very persistent!  

Notice the sign I posted on the front door. 

First things first!  Our fam and friends were asked to post their guesses on the fridge.  Even the preschoolers voted!

We let big brother, Gavin cut the cake!  He looks so tiny in this picture...where does the time go?

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. 

Oh dear...not a pretty cake...but a great memory!

Blue Cake!!!  It's a boy!  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!

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}...

 and finally landed on the keeper...

We love you, Baby Kaden!  Our sweet snugglebug!!!

A Little Happy Along the Way

We're home from vacation!  We just spent a wonderful week in Gatlinburg, TN with my hubby's family.  Traveling is one of my favorite things about summer!   In the midst of tourism and

 sight-seeing, I made a few discoveries that I can't wait to share with you!

I can't believe

I went my whole life without indulging in this yummy frozen yogurt! 

Stop by

Tutti Frutti 

the next time you are in Pigeon Forge, TN or at any of the {many} other Tutti Frutti locations. 

You will be glad you did!

Delish...very delish!!!

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!  

 

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!}

Let me just say...it was love at first sight!  IveyCake 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!

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 Carrie Underwood's wedding!"  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 designed for Carrie Underwood!  {I just love Carrie!} 

Have you ever seen cupcakes look so elegant and glamorous???   That's talent!

My yummy cupcake!  {It was actually prettier than this but I smudged it a bit

when I got it out of the little cupcake box...oops.}  Isn't is precious?

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!

Gavin had a mini cupcake!  It was perfect for a little guy!

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!

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!!!

Something to Shout About!

I just received an email
that my "Fun in the Sun" banner
was featured on
 The Handmade Gift Guide 

in an article on Summer Shopping

and Pool Party decor!!!

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!

Hope your Wednesday is as happy as mine! 

 Spread some joy today!!!

School's Out for Summer!!!

Who doesn't love a good summer party?  Our church hosted an "End of the School Year"

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 for the ice cream table! 

{A good use of the boys' naptime, right?}  I enjoyed the afternoon of crafting!

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...Let the summer fun begin!!!