I'm going to tell you the honest truth here, I came up with this idea on Seis de Mayo.  That's right, the day AFTER the day when Mexican party ideas are big.  The day AFTER all of my friends posted amazing Mexican inspired projects.

But then I decided that it's always time for a fiesta.  And what better way to fancy up Taco Tuesday than with a kitchy tablecloth?  And if you make this now, then when Cinco de Mayo rolls around, all you have to do is pull it out of the cabinet!

This is the perfect tablecloth for kids to help make.  My own opted out... But it's really just a few bottles of spray fabric paint from the craft store and you're in business.

You'll need

1 cotton tablecloth

2 packages Picado Papers (preferably plastic coated variety)

4-6 colors spray fabric paint

Masking tape

Step 1 ::

Wash, dry, and lightly iron the tablecloth

Step 2 ::

Layout cloth on a large, flat, washable surface

Step 3 ::

Measure the width of your table mark it out on the center of the cloth with the tape (I used blue tape)

Step 4 ::

 Begin the banner at the edge of masking tape mark and "drape" it across the front of the cloth.  Repeat on the other side.

Step 5 ::

Spray the paint on the banners carefully until all banners are sprayed and the paint is heavily applied.

Step 6 ::

 Remove the banners very carefully - it may take two people to lift it straight up.

Step 7 ::

Follow paint instructions for setting the paint and enjoy!

This project is part of a series of projects that I'm doing all summer with my friends!  Check out their blogs for more fun summer projects each Wednesday! 

And don't forget to check out the last month of projects ::  

Mosaic Stepping Stones DIY by Lulu the Baker

Weeknight Barbecue by Alexandra Hedin

Sharpie Dyed Tee Shirts by Pars Caeli

A Bug Habitat by Classic Play

Mini Masterpieces by Lulu the Baker

Memoir Boxes by Pars Caeli

Friendship Bracelets by Classic Play

Marble Shaving Cream Paper by Lulu the Baker

Are you ready for Cinco de Mayo?  You can start celebrating early this weekend with a little something grapefruit flavored.  Next week I'll show you another fabulous margarita recipe + a total party you can pull of in just minutes.  Have a great weekend!  See you soon

2 ounces tequila

3 ounces fresh squeezed grapefruit juice

1 splash Cointreau

two lime wedges

salt

Run the center of one lime wedge around the rim of a highball glass.  Dip in a dish filled with salt and fill the glass with ice.

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice and pour in tequila, juice, and Cointreau.  Shake well.  Strain into prepared highball glass and squeeze remaining lime on top.

I dig St. Patrick's Day.  It's such a fun and quirky day of the year to dye random things green and eat corned beef.  Plus it's the only time of year I buy Lucky Charms cereal.  My kids have eaten their weight in it already, so I almost didn't get to make these Lucky Charms Treats.  But I whisked away the box in time to rescue enough ingredients for a batch.  

If this is your first time making these, they are super easy.  I have tried them a variety of ways and have learned the best way to make them is with a combination of Rice Krispie cereal and Lucky Charms cereal.  Sadly, to get the best ratio of tiny charms marshmallows to cereal you have to rob most of the box of Lucky Charms which leaves cereal behind with no fun marshmallows.  My children were not humored.

Oh well.  

Grease the bottom of a 9x13 pan and set aside.  Mix together cereals + Lucky Charms marshmallows in a bowl.  In a 4 quart sauce pan over low heat, melt together butter and marshmallows, stirring often, until everything is melted.  Pour in cereal mixture and stir very gently until all of the cereal is coated in marshmallow.  Spread mixture into prepared pan and do not pat down.  Grease the tips of your fingers with butter and gently pat mixture into the corners. 

Let sit at least one hour.  Cut into squares and serve.  Delish.

3 cups Rice Krispie Cereal

3 cups Lucky Charms Cereal (marshmallows removed)

1 ½ cups Lucky Charms Marshmallows (cereal removed)

40 regular sized marshmallows (about 10 ounces)

¼ cup butter

Pearl turned three this month and we celebrated with a charming little party.  She loves pink - like to a weird obsession - but what ever.  I assume she'll grow out of it one day.  Until then, viva la pink.

We hired a songleader to entertain the children and she was amazing.  We had cake, balloons, tiaras to color, and candy necklaces.  All in all, it was everything she loves best.  Pearl seemed to dig the bubbles too.

Happy Birthday Princess P!

Lars turned five earlier this month and we hosted a charming little art party at the fire house to celebrate.    I highly recommend this party for anyone who has to host a crowd of kids and wants to do something fun.  Each child got a small canvas when they walked in the door that we wrote their name on the back of.  They lined up at little tables and painted to their hearts content.  Most of them turned out amazingly awesome little 'modern art' pieces.  A few were not.

Happy Birthday Lars!

If you don't watch a lot of television in the Pacific Northwest, then it stands to reason that you missed our little family in an Audi ad for Barrier Audi in Bellevue.  We filmed it ages ago and I took a handful of 'behind the scenes' shots while we were filming.  Don't blink - you will miss us!

huge high fives to

Stanton & Everybody

::

The Academy

::

More Dust than Digital

:: Mr. Hedin

You may remember I was featured in Better Homes and Gardens last Christmas.  Or maybe you don't - which is no problem, because here's

the link

.

Well this year they've put my images online in their galleries!  Hooray.

Find this one

here

And this one

here

.