Last year, for Judson's first birthday, we hosted an Ice Cream Social in our backyard. For a summer birthday, an Ice Cream Social is a charmingly simple way to entertain. The party is featured in this month's issue of
that's available on newsstands in Western Washington now - or your iPad!
The only 'over the top' thing that I did was created cakes in pointy ice cream cones. The recipe + instructions are in the magazine!
I LOVE an ice cream social - it's the perfect way to eat ice cream any time of the day, but it's also a super simple way to celebrate any night of the week.
Have a birthday? Ice Cream Social
Promotion at work? Ice Cream Social
Passed the swim test? Ice Cream Social
Better yet, I made a video to show you just how simple this really is.
All week I'll share more fabulous ice cream ideas! I can't wait!
The secrets to this method are ::
1. A giant punch bowl + giant flowers. Scale is critical.
2. Floral foam holds the flowers in place. The heavy heads of the hydrangea would droop otherwise.
3. Add more water to the floral foam each day so it doesn't dry out.
4. Smash the ends of the stems to allow water absorption. Woody stems require "opening" up.
Why is this a good arrangement? It makes the table fabby in just minutes. Look at how grand it can be. Summer dinner party? Check.
Have you popped over to
to see your favorite girl featured there?! I met the fellas behind the amazing magazine while I was in New York - they are so fabulous, I had a crush on them immediately. If you haven't seen the magazine yet, you are missing out. The photography, recipes, and craft ideas are ridiculous. The magazine is
and at Anthropologie.
Swoon!
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
Mini Masterpieces 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!