I think dressing up for the Fourth of July is mandatory.  At least a shirt with starts and stripes on it.  But then I started looking at the Statue of Liberty crown and I thought "There's something so fun and patriotic about this..."  Then when I found glitter paper at the craft store - this crown was born.  Pearl is ecstatic.  

You'll need

1 sheet craft paper

this template printed out

hot glue + gun

plastic head band 

Step 1  ::  Print out template and trace onto the glitter paper

Step 2  ::  Cut out of glitter paper

Step 3  ::  Fold the bottom of the crown along the fold lines

Step 4  ::  Glue folded bottom to the plastic headband.

BTW, in case I haven't told you, there's a video.  It's awesome.  And stay tuned for tomorrow because I have something really cool + I'm on Q13 FOX News in the morning at 8:45am!  Tune in and I'll see you on the Fourth!

Oh my goodness I love the Fourth of July.  My entire family gathers at the beach on Whidbey Island and celebrates for as long as we can.  There's karaoke, cocktails, fireworks, bonfires and a whole lot of people.  I can't imagine a more fun holiday - which is why I created a simple {and fool proof} way to celebrate.  Hang out with me all week long because I have loads more ideas and recipes for the Fourth of July that are utterly simple and fabulous.  Have a fabby Fourth!

With Father's Day fast approaching, the struggle for what to get for Mr. Hedin wages on.  The dads in my life tend to buy themselves the things they need and aren't interested in excess stuff - thus making gift giving nearly impossible.  Luckily, there is always room at the bar for a new glass - especially when their kids made them.  

Lars helped me make these and they were incredibly simple.  And he is incredibly proud of them.  Which makes this a win win.  Plus, it's a great excuse for a crazy good cocktail {try this one}.  

You'll need

Adhesive Stencil Film

Glass Barware

Q-tips

Glass Paint

Step 1 :: 

Clean glass surface completely

Step 2 ::  

Cut out letter or shape from the adhesive stencil material and adhere to the glass

Step 3  ::  

Lightly apply paint using the q-tip.  Don't add too much!

Step 4  :: 

 Immediately remove the stencil and allow paint to dry.  Follow paint instructions to set paint.  

Simon Pearce decanter

 ::  

custom napkins

 ::  

Mikasa swizzle sticks

This week was our first station party and holy heavens was it awesome.  We had so much fun, drank a little wine, ate a little food and laughed a lot.  I really wanted to share it all with you, but how on earth do you capture an evening of fun?  I decided the best part of the evening was the Instagram images our guests took and a little video of our fun together.  I hope you can join us for the next one!

instagram image from /crawn2160 

instagram image from /supisa

instagram image from /crawn2160

I adore a picnic.  It's my children's favorite thing to do too.  Sometimes we'll just pack up whatever we've planned on eating for dinner and take it outside.  Something about lounging about on the grass and eating is lovely.  It's part of what inspired me to keep a picnic bag in the basement with a blanket, thermos, and everything else we may need for a picnic {like a wine opener}

How about you?  Do you picnic?  Picnics are a great way to have a family dinner that doesn't feel too fancy.  Also a great way to spend a t-ball/baseball/kite flying afternoon.

Pressed sandwiches are one of my favorite picnic foods.  Martha Stewart has buckets of sandwich ideas.  I made the 

Tuna Nicoise Sandwich

 with fresh fruit and a

Honeydew Aqua Fresca

{hot tip - Honeydew Aqua Fresca is amazing with rum!}

Follow Alexandra Hedin's board Inspired by a picnic on Pinterest.

These items are from the Martha Stewart Collection, exclusively at Macy's and part of the 'American Icons'

Martha Stewart Collection White Wicker Picnic Basket for 2

   ::  Martha Stewart Collection Sea Stripe Picnic/Beach Blanket Bag (not available online)  ::  

Martha Stewart Collection for 'American Icons

' 

Set of 3 Star-Spangled Melamine Nested Storage Containers

)

Product ℅ 

Martha Stewart Collection available exclusively at Macy's

This year Cinco de Mayo is the ultimate Weeknight Party Girl Extravaganza!  It's a Monday!  Because it's a Monday, I put together a crazy simple dinner that is perfect for entertaining.  This is not fancy pants entertaining - this is fun cocktails, good friends, and salsa.  This is simple.  This is fun.

have fun.  be fun.

{all week I'll be posting the recipes + cocktails + MORE TEQUILA so stay tuned}

I can't even tell you how many times a week I bring cookies, fruit, snacks, you name it - somewhere.  T-Ball practice, a game, a friends house, to the park - it seems never ending.  Leaving platters places makes me crazy.  

So I came up with a solution.  And not just your average 'grab-a-paper-plate' solution.  A real-live-looks-cute-in-public solution.  With a little help from Chinet, I created colorful serving tiers.  I even tested them at a real life party and they did not tip over or break.  They held together perfectly - and washed up nicely if you're interested in trying to reuse them.  

You'll need

Chinet Cut Crystal Dessert Plates 

Chinet Cut Crystal Dinner Plates

Chinet Cut Crystal 9 ounce cups

Acrylic Paint in bright colors

Craft Epoxy {like E6000}

A Q-tip or small sponge

Step 1  ::  Pour a small amount of paint on the inside of each glass.  Swirl it around to coat the entire inside and pour extra back into the paint can.   Let dry upside down, but check often that they are not sticking to the newspaper

Step 2  ::  Spread a small amount of E6000 on the rim of one of the glasses using the q-tip and press it onto the center of a dinner plate.  

Step 3  ::  Spread a small amount of glue on the bottom of the glass that's glued to the plate and line up a second glass base on top of it.  Press firmly.

Step 4  ::  Spread a small amount of glue on the rim of the top glass using the q-tip and press a dessert plate on top.  Let dry.  Repeat with all of the glasses and plates until you have enough tiers.

Also, I discovered that two cupcake wrappers - one upside down and one right side up - fit perfectly into a 9 ounce cup!  The perfect way to serve cupcakes!

Want to win an entire Chinet Party Pack yourself?  That's a bunch of plates, cups, and silverware for your summer entertaining.  Leave a comment below and we'll choose a winner on April 18th!  Don't think you need a Chinet Party Pack?  That's where you're wrong my friend. It's really handy to have plastic or paper plates and cups on hand.  

UPDATE  ::  Comgratulations to Erin Smith!  Happy Entertaining!

Entries must be posted by 

Thursday, April 17th at 9pm PST

, and one winner will be chosen at random. The winner will be sent one Chinet Party Pack.  Good luck!  

{Limited to US residents only. Please do not leave your email or web address in the body of the comment, only in the allotted boxes.

Winner will be contacted by email once comments close, posted on Facebook and announced on the bottom of this post soon after.}

Chinet Party Pack and Chinet Product used in this post courtesy of Chinet.  

I love a birthday.  LOVE LOVE LOVE.  Occasionally, I have found that a birthday sneaks up on you right when you were least expecting it and you are stuck trying to pull off something that seems planned when it really was maybe not *that* planned.  Here are my suggestions for pulling off a fabulously fabulous birthday party in minutes.

Happy Birthday!

Photography by Brooke Clark

Studio B Portraits

I love making valentine's with my kids.  I love not buying the store-bought Valentines that are lumped up on the shelves and look entirely un-thoughtful.  Sometimes it's hard to come up with exactly what that fabulously fabulous Valentine is going to be.  Which is why I was so thankful for my friend

Chelsea's

post last month featuring her

cement Valentines

!  Finally I knew what to do with that giant tub of Plaster of Paris I bought before Christmas!  Finally, an adorable Valentine that both boys and girls will dig!  Finally, something my children can EASILY help with!  Hooray!  

Pearl and I made tiny hearts using Plaster of Paris and heart ice molds from Ikea.  After the hearts dried, I set them loose with red and white paint and a lot of red glitter.  

I may or may not have purchased an entire case of playing cards a few years ago because - well, you never know.  So we mounted all of the little hearts on "hearts."  That's right, I picked through all of the playing cards to find only the hearts for this project.  After my children wrote their names on the back, I loaded them into clear bags and closed them with a sticker.  

Happy Valentine's Day!