Beach Spa Sneak Peek

About a month ago, my sweet little girl, decided she wanted just a few girls from her class to come have a slumber party for her birthday. But, not just any slumber party. She wanted a spa party...but also a beach party... (can you see where this is going?)

So, we've been prepping and decorating...and getting everything set. We (meaning her) decided to stick with the bright colors, rather than the muted vintage look. She is so excited about turning 8, and I couldn't be happier with how things are going.

She has several snack items that are on the must have list...

We'll have lots of fun girlie activities including nail painting, hair styling, and even a little fashion show of the beach babes...complete with the photo booth.

I'm excited about seeing all their cute feet in these fun DIY flipflops!

I'll give the tutorial on those next week...perfect cheap and easy fun addition to any spring or summertime girlie gift!

Now, after all that sweet stuff, let's hope that there will be at least a little sleeping happening this weekend!

Linking up with Jen at In the Studio today. Go have fun and visit all those artsy folks!

(The After) Birthday Brunch

Turning 30 may not always feel like something to look forward to. It brings with it the feelings of losing youthfulness, becoming more "mature", and truly being an adult. However, even though the world and culture around us tells us to fight our age... to "defy" age, there's nothing like embracing the milestone with a good ol' party.

When Alisa and I first met and talked about her vision, I was thrilled to see all the creative ideas she had. I knew that this party would be one that I would absolutely love to design. What's not to love about food on sticks and flowers in tea cups?

As any event I design, I have a plan of how I want everything to look beforehand, but pulling it all together and seeing it come together, is always my favorite part.

This is a list of the must haves...something I always like to have when I'm planning.

This is how it all came together...

It was so much fun, and everything turned out fabulous! And with all the details taken care of, Alisa could truly, "keep calm and turn 30."

Linking up with In the Studio.

Before and After 30th Birthday

My friend Alisa is turning 30. The big 3-0. And no way in the world, she wants to ruin her party by being the one in charge. She just wants to have fun at her party...a girl after my own heart.

So, our sweet friend has hired me to do what I do, so that Alisa can love every minute of her amazing party.

First, let me say, Pinterest is my friend. It allows conversations with clients to go like this:

Me: So what are you thinking about for your party? Any ideas yet?

Alisa: Have you seen my pinterest board for my party?

And, voila, I have a spring board, and they have a plan. It's a beautiful thing. Of course, we still have meetings to hash out the details, but that's where we start.

I thought it might be fun to do a before and after series with this party...so now you have the before. Come back Monday to see the after! I can't wait to show all the fun details we got to put in on this party!

Linking up with Jen's Sneak Peek today!

Grate{full}

With costume pieces flying around and presents being wildly unwrapped, we successfully managed to have a fabulous carnival for the birthday boy, and celebrate three great performances with our little star. I say "we managed", but really, I had nothing to do with it.

As I arranged the pumpkins on the back table for the {Paint Your Own Pumpkin!} activity, I caught myself almost taking for granted how the day had turned out to be such a glorious fall day. It was warm and sunny, and not a hint of chill. Back when I decided to start planning this party, I remember thinking to myself so confidently, how November is still a really nice time of year here. Being confident that the weather wouldn't interfere with our plan to have an outdoor carnival. But, really, I was forgetting the many pasts November 12ths that were full of cold wind, rain, and even snow. I begin to think of my ideal as my expectation, rather than being suprised with appreciation.

I think sometimes we are so eager to see things our own way that we forget to thank the giver of all good gifts. We become focused on what we have, and almost expect to have things go our way. Then, when it doesn't go our way, we become bent out of shape, like how could it not go our way?!

As I continued to place things outside and prepare for our party, I realized how much of a gift the day was. As I watched little ones playing games and saw parents chatting and enjoying a minute of friendship amongst crazy preschool days, I found myself so grateful for the gift of celebration.

That as much as I had wanted a fun party for my little boy, my Father had even greater plans of celebration in store for us. And even if it had rained, sleeted, or snowed, I wonder what gifts we would have found inside our home, waiting to unwrap. I wonder if I had been so willing to give Him praise even when my plans got "messed" up?

My challenge to you over the next few weeks, as Thanksgiving approaches, is that you would find the goodness in your day. That you would see even trials as gifts, and that somehow you could celebrate the time you have been given. That we would be grateful, today.

On Your Birthday...

Sweet Asher,

After working most of the weekend, I decided to spend yesterday morning trying to straighten out our crazy house. Rearranging furniture and cleaning here and there, until you came home from preschool. Immediately you commented on how great it looked, but then, you couldn't wait to tear apart the sofas and take all the pillows you could find to build a fort.

I refrained myself from stopping you, though (unfortunately) it was my first instinct. Rather, as I saw your excitement about the fort, I realized in that moment, it was more important to build the fort than to have my house straight. It was more of a gift for both of us, to let the messy take up residence for a bit so that we could simply play.

It could very well be, that in just a few short years you won't care so much about the forts I make. You might not even ask me to make them...mine aren't usually the best anyway...but you would never guess by how enthusiastic you were about it. You complimented me on how I was stretching out the blankets, and were so encouraging when I would give an idea of how to structure your secret abode.

It seems that the light of God's love has already taken up such a home in you, that it shines out to all you are around. I love how kind you are to others. How willing you are to share even your most treasured possessions. How you ask if the man on the corner with the sign has enough food to eat, and if we have any we could share. I love that you are already the man that you will become one day. And, more than anything, I love that I get to see that happen.

Ash, you are such a blessing to our family in ways that I can't even explain or understand. You have only lived with us for five years, and yet, your fullness of life seems to expand to a lifetime of joy. You are the most precious son I could ever have, and I am so grateful to be able to be called your Mama.

I love you always.

Mama

Day 11: Come One, Come All...

After having been inspired by a pack of stickers,

I went on a hunt to find an artful invitation.

I knew Etsy would have more than enough options to find the perfect one. I simply searched for my theme ("vintage circus invitation") and up came a ton of choices.

I always love supporting a fellow artist, and it's so fun to be able

to carry out the theme of the event. To me, the invitation is like a

sneak peek into the event!

We were well on our way to making this circus party a grand celebration!

Catch up on the 31 Day Posts!

Day 1: 31 Days to an Artful Event

Day 2: The Haves and the Have Nots

Day 3: A Few of My Favorite Things

Day 4: Thinking Outside of the (Berry) Box

Day 5: It's the Little Things

Day 6: Layering is a Good Thing

Day 7: Allowing it to Be

Day 8: The Finished Product

Day 9: Indulging on a Sunday

Day 10: The Greatest Show on Earth

Day 10: The Greatest Show on Earth

Have you ever designed a party around a pack of stickers?

Ok, maybe it's just me, but I love these. I found them for about .14 cents each this summer, and decided that someway, somehow, I was going to design a vintage circus party.

When we were first pregnant with my oldest (about 8 years ago), we decided that we would be surprised, and not find out if we were having a girl or a boy. I didn't want to just do the same old green or yellow, safe gender neutral colors. I wanted to use reds and browns and amber, and sage. I wanted to use old antique toys and books to decorate. I couldn't stand all the choices at all the big box stores, and so for a while, it felt like it would never come together. But, then, we found this beautiful little blanket in the most unsuspecting spot.

And it was perfect. It was all I needed to design the sweetest little nursery for the little one growing in my belly. And she was a beautiful surprise when she came out. From the beginning I could tell she was a star, so the vintage circus theme seemed just perfect for her.

Then, when we found out our second was going to be a boy, I saw no need to deter from using the same nursery things. So my dear friend surprised me with this fun lamp she found.

A show stopper indeed. I remember pulling it out of the diaper box it had been wrapped in, and exclaiming...

"This is so much better than diapers!!!"

So, there you have it. My love for vintage circus must run deep. I'm not big on the cutsie animal themes, or the character clothes, but give me a bear drinking tea any day.

Since those days, my babies have grown, and almost outgrown any care for things circus related. But, when I told my son we'd have fresh popcorn, tug o war, and relay races, he got pretty excited.

So, off we go to have another adventure this week on our 31 day journey to an artful event. Won't you come along?

Previous 31 Days Posts:

Day 1: 31 Days to an Artful Event

Day 2: The Haves and the Have Nots

Day 3: A Few of My Favorite Things

Day 4: Thinking Outside of the (Berry) Box

Day 5: It's the Little Things

Day 6: Layering is a Good Thing

Day 7: Allowing it to Be

Day 8: The Finished Product

Day 9: Indulging on a Sunday

Love Me in Blue

Friday, maybe for the first time ever, I lied to my Grandmother.

It was her 90th birthday on Friday, and when she asked if we were coming up the next day to see her, I lied and said...

"No, I'm sorry, Grandmom. We're just really busy."

I choked back the chuckles (as did my two children) and we pulled off a fun surprise when she walked in on Saturday and saw us all there.

When my Aunt Jackie asked if I would be in charge of the tables for the birthday party, I agreed without hesitation. However, then, I started to wonder how I could make them meaningful and pretty? It came to me, as it usually does, as I pondered who the celebration was for, and things that reminded me of her.

Ever since I was little, whenever we would go visit my grandparents, I could be sure of seeing the cobalt blue glass scattered all over her house. From vases on the windowpanes to china in the china cabinet, she had collected it for years, and it was her signature color.

She has passed down plenty to me through the years, and so I decided to put some on each table to showcase some of her old favorites.

I was going to go to the Farmers Market on Saturday morning to get a few bouquets for the tables, until I saw my hydrangeas already in full bloom. They had made their debut, and I couldn't have been happier.

I took several of her old recipes and made photocopies of them, and then placed them around the tables. And, yes, I used those cute paper clips!

It was so much fun to celebrate with my sweet Grandmother, telling stories of back in the day, and enjoying our family together. 90 years...I tell you, that really is something to celebrate!

linking up with simple pleasures

80s Done Right

A few weeks ago, I helped a friend out with her fabulous 40th birthday party.

We did an 80's theme, and it was "totally awesome"!

Everyone came decked out in their favorite 80's style

from head...

to toe!

Some 80s celebs made an appearance,

including L.L. Cool J. and Tina Turner...

Even Alf showed up for a bit!

We had a few games including 80s Movie Trivia and 80's TV Show Name that Tune. The winners got our fabulous 80's CDs or DVDs as their prizes.

Then, came the costume contest. It was a tough choice, but we had several categories including:

Best Couple (Prom King and Queen)

Biggest Hair

and many more!

For an adult birthday party, it was such a fun way to celebrate. Everyone had a blast, and really got into the theme. It was a great way to put the fun in turning 40!

And, who's the birthday girl? I'll never tell!

Girls (& Little Brothers) Just Wanna Have Fun

Today my sweet girl turned seven. We had so much fun this weekend celebrating her life. When we were planning the party a while ago, she said that she just wanted to go to the mall with some of her best friends. Well, I decided that I would spruce up her little adventure by adding a few fun surprises.

I did not want a brood of six and seven year old girls aimlessly meandering through the mall. I figure they'll do enough of that when they're teenagers. So, I came up with a fun scavenger hunt, covering all the places in the mall where she wanted to go with her friends. I had gone beforehand and talked with the clerks and planted the clues, and so it was all set to go!

We all met at the Starbucks, where we started our party

with our signature drink of fancy chocolate milk.

Then, the clues began.

We went from here...

(I love all their expressions in this picture)

To there...

And saw funny things everywhere.

(Couldn't help but throw in Dr. Seuss this week!)

But, we really had so much fun. And as far as birthday parties, it was her favorite thus far! You could make it more specific to what your little girl likes, but it was actually a very inexpensive party. A little more time consuming with the planning part of it, but so fun for them!

We ended at the food court for pizza and cake.

(Don't ask me about the healthy snacks! haha)

These little women are so amazing. I pray that they will stay friends for all their lives, encouraging one another daily. It does my heart good to be around them, and to have their fresh and fun personalities add a little more spunk into my own life.

I love you, River, and I'm so glad that I get to be your Mama. These last seven years have been the best of my life. You bless me beyond measure, sweet girl!