Bachelorette Bash

I wanted to share some of the details from a bachelorette party I helped host over the weekend.  I was surrounded by some very creative ladies so I can't take all the credit.  The planning process was a ton of fun, but loved watching it come together even more!

The bride to be is lover of white wine, so we decided to do a blind white wine tasting during happy hour to see how well everyone knew their wine!

All the decorative signs were courtesy of Jocelyn, loved them!

We thought it would be fun if everyone could take home the glass they used for the tasting.  It was my job to personalize.  

Aren't these darling?  I just used oil-based paint pens to make polka dots and letters, which happens to be about as artistic as I get.  Easy, peasy and bachelorette style cookies topped the whole look off!

(They were all hand washed at the end of the night and seemed to hold up.  

The jury is still out and long term use.) 

Our dinner was simple...make your own pizzas and a homemade caesar salad.  Unfortunately, this is the only picture I got:(  We came up with five kinds and had the fixin's ready, though you could create your own too.

To all the bridesmaids...you were a blast to work with, can't wait for the big day!!

Signature cocktail...strawberry lemonade cocktail, courtesy of Meghan P.

The countdown is on!  See you all again soon!

XOXO

Aubrey

Buckets of Fun

Did you make a summer bucket list?  Mine is done!  

We had some friends over today for a little fun in the sun and got to check one item off the list.

I'd been wanting to have a summer playdate for awhile.  Set up all the water toys, bubbles and serve lunch.  I made these two new recipes which were delish and a hit with the mommies.

Greek Hummus Dip

via

Dream Bars

 via

Even this little party was more work than I thought, but totally worth it.  Lauren was so excited when she woke up to see the entire backyard set up and special snacks made.

I don't have a picture, but made a summer snack mix for the party too.  The kids ate it up, but I'm now stuck with a box of Trix.  Both Lauren and William picked "the beach balls" out.  

 Here's my list!

Nothing too crazy, just a few things.

Making real lemonade and going to the drive in are being carried over from years past, but I can now check off the lemonade:)

Lauren's Lemonade

*1 1/2 cups sugar

*1 1/2 cups fresh squeezed lemons (6-8 lemons)

*8 cups water

Mix sugar and 1 cup of water in a sauce pan and bring to a boil, stir continuously, until sugar dissolves.  Cool completely and add syrup mixture to a pitcher of the lemon juice and then add remaining water.  Refrigerate and serve.

Super easy and a new summer staple.  Maybe someone's signature drink:)

XOXO

Aubrey

Kiss Me I'm One!

Here a few party pics from William's birthday bash.  We kept it small and easy for a few reasons and think this will be the way to go until he can remember.  And we may also decide that the way to go will be outside our home.  Parties are work!

Anyone remember parties at Major Magic's?  Easy peasy, right?

Custom onesie c/o of Grandma Mary.  She did it for Lauren and after a last minute reminder, did for Wills!

You are the best, mom!

Just a few decorations...the "i'm irish" sign was from Home Goods, but I made the wreath and the birthday sign.  Lauren made the shamrock paper plate at school.

The birthday sign is actually really easy if you have some scrapbooking tools.  I print the letters here on different colored cardstock, and then glue on top of scrapbook paper in coordinating prints/colors.  Use a hole punch and thread ribbon.  You can see the one I did for Lauren's 3rd birthday too.

Also, if anyone out there local wants to borrow...they are yours!  I have a few others too.

My mom and brothers arrived a little early and we were able to snap a few pictures.  This is such a cute picture of Sean and William.

Godfathers with their godchildren!

Awww...I just want to eat him up!  And I do, everyday!

As I said on Friday, my cake pops were a fail.  Before that even happened I had gotten a last minute idea for party popcorn.  It was so good and I don't even like popcorn.  A crowd pleaser too, I think because I did single servings.  People love anything they can pick up and munch on.  Store bought cookies replaced the cake pops, oh well:(  Better luck next time.

And the entree was Reuben Bar.  

We had all kind of fixins' and the panini press heated up and ready to go!

As you can see he got his cake...and ate it too:)

(Ahh...couldn't resist)

Best part was he was willing to share...thank you Kroger for the $3.99 smash cake!

We couldn't have asked for a better day...gorgeous weather, exactly the same as last year.  Billy made a great video of William's first year and it was the perfect way to end the party.  And can I share?  I would if I could, but I'm not that tech saavy.

Yes, it was a lot of work.  It was worth it, but I'm glad it's over.  

Our little family.  Makes me smile.

XOXO

Aubrey

Tangled Party

I wanted to share all the details from Lauren's Tangled Party...

what we did and where I got my inspiration from.

The birthday sign was all me.  

I made a similar one last year and just used the same idea with purple and yellow.  

This picture was snapped in a matter of seconds right before the guests arrived.  Grandma Robin tried to make them both laugh and even though Lauren isn't looking...they are matching, under the tree and smiling!  I'll take it!

After getting inspired at Christopher's birthday, I began my internet search for the perfect Rapunzel cake.  Perfect and easy!  I modified the cake tutorial found here.

Everything I bought was from Kroger.  The cake was two 9" layers of a Betty Crocker box (raspberry jam held them together and added something fruity) and topped with one container of frosting and just a hint of green food coloring.

The tower is just plain donuts and a sugar ice cream cone that I frosted with the remaining frosting (mixing red and blue food coloring).  The key was Billy's state of the art stand.  The tutorial suggested a dowel but other people said it was falling over.  His stand was made of twine that had a base.  I  can email a picture to anyone interested.

I then had purple, yellow, and green icing with 4 different tips to create this masterpiece.  The assembly/frosting took 30 minutes.

(I'm even wearing "the magic flower")

We played two Tangled inspired games...  

Getting Tangled!

Not a big win with Lauren's guests:)

We then pinned the frying pan on Flynn Rider.  All three girls enjoyed this easy game.  I skipped the blindfold and just spun them around a few times.

I got the idea from this blog.  She had the right idea on taking the image to a copy center to be printed vs. drawing your own.  She also did a variation of the tower cake.  Her daughter's party looked like a great time!

Of course, everyone was a winner!

Each girl got to take home their own set of Rapunzel paints.  

Also borrowed from Pluckymomo...she was full of ideas!

(Yesterday we used our paints to make Flynn Rider more colorful)

Opened presents, ate pizza, 

and sang Happy Birthday!

It was the perfect little party with a few special touches!

As much as she loved the cake I made and getting new presents, it was having her friends over that she liked best!

XOXO

Aubrey