Sugar and Spice baby shower

Meet my sweet friend Angela. (She's the gorgeous one on the left and that's pasty me on the right)

She actually has a waist now and the cutest little baby girl that she carries everywhere.  But, a couple of months ago, she was very pregnant and I threw her a baby shower.  This post is long overdue.  But, I was having too much fun with my kids this summer to spend time uploading pictures on blogger.  At least, that's what I tell myself.

She was having a girl. Since there aren't nearly enough of those in my house, I went very girly with the decor.  I designed the pink wooden sign for the party but might add it to my etsy shop soon.  The pink topiary was made by wadding up some scrap paper, wrapping it in duct tape, then shoving a stick from my front yard in in.  Then I cut some circles from pink flowy fabric and hot glued them on to make a Dr. Seuss style flower.  This project proves just how cheap I can be.  I had all the materials on hand and just made them work, even the white pot I fished out from under my sink.

The topiary sat atop my mantel along with a bunting that spells out gifts.  

Hanging from the gift table are some streamers I made by glueing circles punched from scrap book paper onto fishing line.

I used those same streamers all over the room to add some more girly flare. 

Here they are again with another simple bunting (scrap book paper glued to twine)

And again on the food table.

This is where this post gets exciting.  Everyone loves treats, right!?

But. before I expose you to all of our saccharine joy....I have to dwell on my favorite part of the party...the Chalkboards!

I saw a tutorial on pinterest on how to make your own oversized chalkboard here.

I just had to have one for my house and finished it just days before the baby shower.  I was so smitten by my newest project, that I just scribbled some girliness on it and propped it on the table.  I feel like it totally Made the buffet!  I am too OCD to stop with just one chalkboard and thus made several more mini ones to label my treats.  I loved how they turned out and need to host another girly get together so I can use them again!

On the menu was some tasty pink lemonade cupcakes.

Platters of mini lime tarts.

Baby fruit pizzas.

Antipasto salad.

Homemade breadsticks.

And a garlic and herb spread.

My kitchenaid and I definitely got a workout prepping for this one.

I'm getting hungry just remembering.

Here are a few pictures of the lovely ladies in attendance.

It turned out to be a wonderful day, thanks in large part so my amazing and very patient husband who offered to take all 3 boys to the movies during the shower.  

Sweet baby dreams,

Starving Artist Party

A few months ago, my sister in law invited us over for her 7 year old's birthday party.  She hosted the cutest, most colorful party I have ever attended.  I went crazy snapping photos and just realized that I never shared them with you.  I can't take credit for all her awesomeness, but it was too good not to share.

Introducing...Jen's starving artist party!

It was hosted entirely in her back-yard.

rainbow hued streamers and balloons livened things up.

clear paint cans held some sweet treats.

As the kiddos arrived, she quickly got them busy with a little chalk art.

A game of four square also spontaneously erupted.

The chalk project got upscaled into a full blown sand art frenzey.

The kids made their own "sand" by rubbing chalk on piles of salt.

These were then layered into cute little jars.

Creating unique little souvenirs.

 

 It was hard work for our little artists, but they seemed to love every minute of it.

Next, came out the paint brushes.

What kid doesn't love to paint!?

Our hungry artists were then fed a rainbow salad. 

 and what every starving artist eats, pb&j!

Cake time came next.

One kid said it looked like a pile of snow.

But there was a surprise inside that white confection.

An entire Rainbow!

Look at those giant slices!  Every one just had to have the entire spectrum of colors.

Before the guests left, they each received, their own hand made star crayon.

 And a rice crispy treat paint brush.

Kids birthday parties are the best! 

   

XOXO,