I am Loving: Cinco de Mayo Stripes

I love all-things-striped when it comes to decorating for Cinco de Mayo! 

Colorful stripes are so festive & make me think of Mexican food! 

Image Credits:

Fun lanterns from Cost Plus

Dinnerware from Crate & Barrel

Striped glasses from JCPenney, spotted at Real Simple

Salsa striped dishtowels from Crate & Barrel
Party Tub from Cost Plus

Pitcher from Bed, Bath & Beyond

If you haven't already, make sure you stop by The TomKat Studio for the adorable free Cinco de Mayo printables! They'd go perfectly with any fun striped serving or decor items! 

Real Party: Rubber Ducky Baby Shower

I recently shared with you some decorations I made for a rubber ducky baby shower. 

The hostesses sent some pictures of the party to me.  I love way it all came together! 

Tulips, rubber duckies, bath items, the polka dot fabric square, and my ducks & bubbles confetti made a cute centerpiece. 

The baby shampoo, duckies, and sponge were given to the new mom.  

The welcome banner hung over the fireplace. 

Straw flags at the drink table. 

The hostesses gave chocolate chip cookies as party favors, and used one of my fabric squares to line the basket. 

Thanks so much to the hostesses for sharing their pictures with me! 

So glad to hear baby Gillis is doing well!

Real Party: Girls Dinner

Last night several of my girlfriends came over for dinner. 

We had dinner in the backyard...and I was able to use some of my newest table decor items. 

Fun for spring, huh?

I also made some Sangria, as I mentioned last week.  Yum! I made the second recipe I listed here (and substituted strawberries for the melon due to a friend's allergy). It was delicious, and everyone loved the "fizz". 

 Not the smartest move I've ever made:  I made the Sangria in my drink dispenser. Oops, the fruit quickly clogged the spigot.  I should have stuck with a pitcher!  A ladle saved the day. :)

Several months ago I told you about a product that I think is so fun: The Zoku Quick Pop Maker.

We had fun experimenting with this for dessert.  My friend, who is apparently an undercover popsicle expert, and came up with this amazing pop: 

The little heart is a thin apple slice, cut with a cookie cutter. Isn't it cute?!

The only boys invited to Girls Dinner certainly loved them!

Are you as ready for summer as I am? 

DIY Idea: Lime Drink Tags

Love this idea from Better Homes & Gardens! 

Label guests' Cinco de Mayo margaritas with a lime wedge.  

Use a citrus zester to mark their initial into the peel. 

Isn't it great?!

Yummy Sangria

I've been looking around trying to get an idea for some beverages for a girl's night this weekend.  

I think I might have to make Sangria! Yum! 

Perhaps I can hurry summer along with one of these summery drinks?!

Recipe and photo via Better Homes & Gardens

Blackberry Sangria

In a medium saucepan, combine 2 cups fresh blackberries, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 1/2 cup water, and a dash of salt. Bring to a boil. Then reduce head and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

Remove from heat, and cool.  Strain through a colander. Discard the berries. 

Combine the blackberry syrup, 2 bottles of rose wine, 1 cup cognac, 1/4 cup lemon juice, 2 cups fresh blackberries, and 3 cups peaches or plums

Cover and refrigerate for 4 to 24 hours before serving. 

 Recipe and photo via Better Homes & Gardens

White Sangria Punch

Combine chunks of 1 small honeydew melon and 1 small pineapple.  

Add think slices of 4 medium peaches, 1 lime, and 1 lemon.

Add 2 bottles white wine, 1/2 sugar,  and 2 tablespoons lime juice. Stir to dissolve the sugar.

Cover and chill for at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours. 

Just before serving, add 1 liter of carbonated water. 

Sangria calls for a gorgeous glass pitcher, wouldn't you agree? 

Here's some that I'm currently drooling over: 

Images via: Pottery Barn, Crate & Barrel, Cost Plus World Market, Crate & Barrel 

Recipe: The Best Cookies Ever!

Seriously, these are my favorite cookies of all time.  

Lately at least one of my girlfriends has brought them to every event.  They are to die for.  

Thought I'd share the recipe with you all!

Salty Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix together: 2 sticks softened butter, 1 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 sugar, 2 eggs, 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix in: 1 3/4 cup flour, 3/4 teaspoon baking powder, 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

Stir in: 3 cups oats, 2 cups chocolate chips*

Chill dough in the freezer for ~30 minutes, or the refrigerator for ~60 minutes

Bake golf ball size dough balls for 15 minutes

Sprinkle with kosher salt immediately after taking out of the oven 

Enjoy! 

*You can also add 1/2 cup nuts or 3/4 cup raisins/cranberries.  

I didn't, because I don't like anything competing with the chocolate!

I am Loving: Scarf Wrapping

image via

I love this idea! Instead of paper gift wrap: use a pretty scarf! 

 image via

Perfect for Mother's Day, or bridesmaid gifts, or even a little hostess gift. 

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Not only will the recipient get a cool scarf out of the deal, but you'll feel good about being green! One less crumpled wrapping paper in the landfill...

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I like the idea of using a blanket to wrap up a gift for a baby shower too. 

So sweet!

DIY Idea: Doily Vase

This little cutie would be perfect for a Mother's Day luncheon. 

A simple little doily "collar" added to a vase!  Tutorial is here. 

Shower Kit: Rubber Ducky

I was asked to make some shower decorations for a Rubber Ducky themed baby shower. 

This is an extra-special affair: Baby Gillis was born a little early, and has finally come home from the hospital! 

Here's the decor items I whipped up to celebrate this new mom: 

A Custom Banner ~ "Welcome Gillis"

Custom tags for party favors

(cellophane bags and ribbon for tying not pictured)

 Custom confetti ~ "Ducks & Bubbles"

Custom straw flags

Can't wait to see how it all comes together...

Congrats to the new Mommy!

DIY Idea: Paper Sunflowers

How cute are these sunflowers? 

They would make such a cute backdrop for a spring or summer kid's birthday party...don't you think? 

The tutorial is here. 

I am Loving: Books as Decor

Maybe I'm feeling guilty about slacking on my latest book club book...but whatever the reason, I've had books on the brain this week.  I've seen some really cute weddings and showers on the web that incorporated books into the decor. 

I think vintage books are just so beautiful.  Even if its not for a school-themed event, books make a nice addition to any vintage-style decor.   

A meaningful or favorite book can double as decor and a party favor too.  (I love double-duty items!) 

A ring "pillow" made from a pile of books. (Spotted on Better Together Events, originally from Chewing the Cud Weddings)

A wedding centerpiece made of books and other vintage items. (from Once Wed)

Beautiful stack of vintage books

Books and greenery make a nice centerpiece display. (from Ritzy Bee Events)

I love the stacks tied with raffia in this photo. (used as a centerpiece for a wedding by Ritzy Bee Events)

A stack of books with brown bag book covers- love it! (from this shower, thrown by Whitney Smith.)

Real Party: Jungle Animal Baby Shower

I went to a jungle-themed baby shower recently. 

I think these invitations, by Graham & Snow, are adorable. 

They'd be cute for a kid's monkey-themed birthday party too.

The hostesses had a couple simple ideas for decorating that I wanted to share:

They used lots of greenery down the center of the table to create a jungle feel.  Balloons were tied to the plants to give the tablescape some height. The plants doubled as favors. I snagged a cute one to add to my husband's herb garden! 

 They bought several wooden animal puzzles, like this one, and scattered the pieces around the table.  The puzzles were given to the mom-to-be as gifts later.  It was a cute way to incorporate the theme, and add some whimsy and color to the the table.  I love decor that doubles as a gift too! 

I know I've mentioned it before, but I love brunch showers! The food is always delicious, and there's still a lot the day left when the shower ends. 

Congratulations Sheila! Can't wait to meet your little one!

This is not related to the shower, but I couldn't resist sharing anyway! Aren't these flowers at the home where the shower was held to die for?  Beautiful! And they smelled wonderful too!

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone! Hope the Easter Bunny paid a nice visit today!

With my little mini-vacation, I went the store-bought route for the niece and nephews. Not enough time to get crafty this year. 

I did manage to whip up a yummy lemon cake for dessert. 

I thought I'd share the recipe with you. It was delicious!

recipe adapted from here

Lemon Bundt Cake

Cream together 1 cup of softened butter and 2 cups of sugar

Mix in 4 eggs (1 at a time)

Add 3 cups flour and 2 tsp baking powder and mix

Add 1/2 cup lemon juice and 1/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup cream and mix

Stir in 1 tbsp lemon zest

Bake in greased bundt cake pan for 60 minutes at 350 degrees

In a frying pan, whisk together 1/2 cup lemon juice, 3/4 cup sugar, and 1 tbsp water over medium heat until combined and slightly thickened

Spoon over the cake before serving

This is a great cake for spring or summer! We ate it with sliced strawberries - Yum!

I'm off again...

image via

Off for some fun in the desert with my girls! 

See you all when I return!  

(and then this procrastinator will really need to figure out what to do for niece and nephews for Easter! eek!)

Real Party: Sweet Pea Baby Shower

My friend Samantha is one of the hostesses behind this shower. 
She threw a baby shower recently and was SO nice to share her pictures with me.   It is just too cute! 

The hostesses used pink & brown for the color scheme, which are the nursery colors.  They decided to use a sweet pea theme (one of my favorites!), so they incorporated a little light green also.  The invitation was ordered from Tiny Prints. 

Details, details...

Samantha was inspired by this post to make the adorable centerpieces:  Pink gerbera daisies, with split peas as vase filler.  They turned out so great! 

Yummy pink & white cake balls for dessert.  

Roll-ups of different flavors are perfect for a luncheon shower.  I love how they served them on different cake stands.  

Samantha made the cute BABY onsie banner. 

Pink (of course!) punch was served in glass drink dispensers, with and without alcohol. 

Favors were Sweet Pea scented antibacterial hand gel, from Bath & Body Works.  I think this is a perfect favor: functional and coordinates with the theme.  The tags read: "Thank You For Your Help in Welcoming the Sweet Pea".  So cute...

Lastly, the hostesses hung baby clothing in colors that complimented the party decor...making a cute banner and a gift for the mom-to-be. 

Congratulations Maya!

Thanks so much for sharing your pictures Samantha!  

Great party!