This week is my birthday!  So we're celebrating all week long - both in real life and on the blog.  I rallied a few of my favorite gals to help me celebrate my birthday.  Melissa of Lulu the Baker has an amazing appetizer tomorrow, Amy of This Heart of Mine baked a cake, I made a cocktail {doy yoy}, but first, Jen of Classic Play curated a play list that literally has me dancing on the tables already!  

I realized the invitations could easily be cut and used on the records - perfect decor by the DJ stand when a record isn't as useful {to anyone other than my sister} as an iPod.  But it's the most fabby backdrop for a tiny bluetooth speaker and an iPod.  

Party on!

The girls and I partnered with

Tiny Prints

to bring you an entire week of fabulous birthday party celebration all inspired by

this invitation

on the

Tiny Prints

site.  

Can you believe it's already tailgate season again!?  The Huskies and Cougars both have games next week which means we all have to start planning how we're going to tailgate.  Since the Huskies will be playing in Hawaii to kick off the season, Dawg fans will have to tailgate from afar...  

While I was planning a little tailgate soiree, all I ran into was fall flavors and warm soups and cider. And I just couldn't do it.  It has been amazingly beautiful summer in Seattle and I'm not ready for summer to end - even if it means more football.

So I put together a perfect SUMMER tailgate with all of the fruit that is still ripe and a refreshing cocktail that you may not have tried yet!  Cheers to tailgate season

and GO DAWGS!

Also, if you aren't following me on

Instagram

, I suggest you hightail it over there!  There is going to be a huge HUMONGOUS giveaway this week that you'll want to be watching for!  Especially if you are a Cougar fan.

Get the recipes here

Spicy Summer Salsa

 ::  

Pineapple Margarita Salsa

 ::  

Michelada

The Weeknight Party Girl got to throw the most amazing dinner party last week for a group of friends thanks to KitchenSurfing.  The usual problem with a weeknight dinner party is cooking the actual dinner part.  I've give you a few ideas

here

,

here

, 

here

,

here

 and

here

of things you can serve at a weeknight party that are simple and fabulous.  But what if you could have a chef completely cater the dinner.  And not in a "catering" way but in a truly special, unique, "there's a chef in my kitchen" way.

That's what Kitchen Surfing is - bringing the chef into your house.  We chose Chef Ryan who's ideas around local, organic, and simple were so similar to my own.  The menu she sent over was ridiculously awesome and we went from there.

To compliment the local and seasonally inspired menu I made a giant batch of my

Basil Gin G & T

and served it in my vintage ombre punch bowl.  The hilarious part about collecting vintage bar ware is how dramatically the serving size has changed over the years.  Five large fellas with tiny 1940's punch cups in their hands was awesome.

geranium ricotta on honey bruschetta

To go with the rest of the light summer dinner I had

our friend Matt

bring over a case of his phenomenal wine.  We chose the rose and the sauvignon blanc to pair with the fresh local flavors.  That and they are my favorite.  One of the perks of having good friends in the wine business!

I wanted to put something fun on each plate.  Since I had billed this as a "fancy-pants dinner party" it seemed like putting something completely the opposite of fancy pants was in order - in come grocery store chocolates.  Who doesn't love a Hershey's kiss?

my garden roses were in full bloom 

Summer Gazpacho

Melon, Mint, Basil and Pancetta Laced with a touch of chili pepper and Feta Crostini, cool, sweet and salty and a gorgeous hue. 

Crepe Pasta Ravioli

Spring Pea and Ricotta filled homemade pasta crepe, with Sausage, fried Sage and brown bacon butter with pea shoots and flowers

Blueberry Shortcake

Bow Hill Blueberries, Cream scone brown sugar short cake, honey whipped chantilly cream, balsamic syrup and honey thyme caramel.

I am so enamored with Kitchen Surfing.  The chefs are throughly vetted to be interesting and quality chefs who not only cook an incredible meal, but bring all of the ingredients, plate all of the food, and clean up ALL.OF.THE.DISHES.  I think this is a great way to celebrate a weeknight with friends.  But I think it's an even better gift!

You can GIFT a chef!  Think of the new parents who can't get out of the house for a date night!  Think of the birthdays you could celebrate!  Valentine's Day!

Check out KitchenSurfing.com and get a $50 credit

If you use Kitchen Surfing, tag it with #kitchensurfing because I can't wait to see your parties too!

Dinner ℅ Kitchensurfing.com

I can't tell you to do this project.  It's crazy messy, not entirely kid-friendly, and it takes an eternity to dry.  But I had the idea for this project and I became obsessed when it started not working the way I envisioned.  Then it turned out cool.  And maybe you are as crazy as I am?

I started with water based paint, water balloons, and a gang of willing kids to throw balloons at a tablecloth.  But it didn't work.  

So I tried a tennis ball dipped in paint.  

And food coloring.

Finally, I broke down and bought oil paint.  I did not want to use oil paint because I did not want my children anywhere near oil paint.  And if I don't, I'm sure you don't either.  After doing this project so many times with every other kind of paint, I knew it would get messy.  And it did.  My hands looked awful and it took forever to wash off.  

But I finally got it to look the way I wanted and it's incredibly therapeutic to throw water balloons at a hard surface.

If you want to take the leap and create your own Firework Tablecloth for the Fourth of July, here's how to do it.

You'll need

1 white tablecloth

water balloons

water balloon filler

oil paint

plastic syringe {available at the drug store}

Step 1  ::  Fill water balloons with ½ teaspoon paint and top off with water.

Step 2  ::  Set tablecloth on a hard surface outside.

Step 3  ::  Throw water balloons at the tablecloth until it looks the way you like. 

Step 4  ::  Let dry {takes about 72 hours}

This project is a part of 

Endless Summer Projects

, a collaboration between Alexandra Hedin, 

Classic Play

, 

Pars Caeli,

Lulu the Baker

, and 

This Heart of Mine 

to bring you fabulous summer projects for the whole family for the whole summer. 

We took pictures of the first failed attempt, click through the jump to see them.  It was really fun.

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}