A Peach Filled Weekend

This weekend is Labor Day weekend here in the states.  It's summer's last hooray for many of us.  It's one last camping trip or barbecue before the crisp cool air of autumn touches us and the school year begins. For me, I'll be celebrating my weekend at the Peach Festival.  I grew up in a little town, where my parents still live and like many small American towns, there's an annual festival filled with carnival rides and parades.  My family spends the weekend at my parents' house and we take my daughters to the daily activities in town and we all have our fill of peach everything.  I'm planning on buying some fresh peaches from one of the many local orchards to make a peach blueberry cobbler for dessert.  So, that's how I'll be spending my weekend.  How will you be spending yours?   

 

 

Coffee In Bed

Canoe and Paddles

 

I'm falling for Coffee In Bed's linocut prints made by artist Mike Dale.  They totally remind me of summer.  Light, happy, sun filled days that you will hope will never end. 

Beer and Bike

 

Forest Fern

 

 

We The Sciencey

I am forever on the hunt for Star Wars related gifts for my Star Wars fanatic husband.  I found this "May the force be with you" stamp from We The Sciencey.  I thought he could use it to stamp his students papers when he corrects them and add a little personality and fun to that sometimes not so fun task.  We The Sciencey is a shop where science meets art, fun and fiction.  As you can imagine it has all sorts of great gift ideas for science fiction lovers from Trekkies to Dr. Who fans. 

 

The crayon set was named by the Asperkids.com crayon contest winners and include super fun names like "Wookie Brown" and "Dragonfire Red".  10% of the profits from the sale of these crayon sets will go to fund enriching, fun, and educational programs for children with Aspergers Syndrome.  How great!  "Beam" (sorry, I had to do it) over to the shop is see all the great gear that We The Sciencey offers.

 

1. Meteorite Fragment Necklace 2.Trekkie Spock Greeting Card 

3.Asperkids Sciencey Crayon Set 4.Math Symbol Cookie Cutter Kit 5. Force Stamp

 



 

Sent Well

Are you one of those people who is rushing out at the last minute to buy a birthday card because you forgot or are simply short on time?  The company Sent Well is the perfect solution for you.  You simply choose from their selection of wonderful cards and they will write a note in for you and send it off.  How easy is that?!  You can even queue up all your cards with their card list so that you won't be behind again.  Check out Sent Well and send out some love.

 1. Congrats on Your New Baby 2.CONGRATS to you both on tying the "knot"

3. Go Hog Wild! Happy Birthday 4. Sending a Big Thanks Your Way 5. You're Killer

 

 

First Communion Party

If you've been following along, I've been posting here and there about my daughter's first communion.  If you missed it, you can read about it here and here.  The day finally arrived at the end of April and today I'm sharing how the party turned out.  I wanted the style to be sweet and feminine, so I decided on a palette of pale pink and gray.  When my daughter chose a dress that had some lace in it, I also added some touches of lace to the decor.  

 

The trellis pattern was scattered throughout, starting with the invitations I designed.  I also made napkin rings with the same trellis pattern. 

This light fixture hangs above my kitchen table.  I like to add special touches to unexpected places.  I also like placing decor up high so that your eye moves up, like the greens I added above the dessert table or the flowering branches I hung on some pendant lights. 

 

The cake and macarons were made by the wonderful Heather of Gracie Moonpie & Co.  I really admire Heather's attention to detail.  She didn't just make the cake, she asked me the right questions to ensure that the cake fit well with the overall style of the party.  As you can see, the gray cross and trellis pattern also found its' way onto the design of the cake.  If you live in Southeast Michigan and need something sweet made check out Gracie Moonpie & Co.  Their cakes taste as good as they look and Heather is an absolute joy to work with.   

  
My mother-in-law made cross shapped cookies and my mother made various mini desserts including coconut cheesecakes topped with mango.  It's so nice to have family who are willing to lend a hand.

   

  

 

 





It's Her Business: Paper Fort

This post will be a It's Her Business + Blog Love in one type of post because I have lots to say about this small business owner.  I LOVE Twitter and I'm on it a lot, probably too much.  I find so many great people, blogs and products through Twitter like the person I'm about to introduce to you.  Meet Khrystle, owner of Paper Fort.  She creates these super adorable travel journals for girls.  These immediately caught my eye because I have a daughter in second grader who I'm always trying to encourage and empower in every way possible.  The journals are made right here in Michigan too, which makes this fellow Michigander smile.  

Khrystle hopes that the travel journal inspires girls, and their families, to go on adventures and explore new places. She would love to see families put away their electronic devices and play road games together. She also hopes that girls are inspired to draw and write about their travels, because her favorite memories are ones that she captured this way.  On top of offering travel journals, Khrystle also offers other graphic design services too.

 

You have to check out Khrystle's blog Paper Fort Studio too.  It's unique, fun and honest.  I love her series Fear Confessions that includes guest bloggers who are small business owners like Khrystle.  What I love about this series is that we see so many blogs out there where the bloggers seem to live these perfectly stylish lives, which is totally not realistic.  The truth is we all have faults and fears and it's comforting to know that someone else does too.  It's something that I and I think other people can relate to.  I don't always wear the perfect outfit and I've had more than one craft fail.  I'm a person trying to make my dreams come true just like the people in the series and along the way we have a bump or two in the road.  Whether you're a creative or not, you will be able relate to these personal stories in Fear Confessions. 

So did I give you enough reasons to go over and visit Khrystle and Paper Fort?  I sure hope I did.  Summer vacation is just around the corner and I know plenty of families who are planning trips.  It's a great time to buy a travel journal for a special little girl in your life and support a small business owner along the way.  

Dressed Up Mantel

Happy Friday friends! I just wanted to share with you today a picture of my mantel. Last weekend my family celebrated my daughter's first communion and I had a bunch of left over flowers from her party, so I dressed my mantel with them. I should have changed the water in the vase with the branches in them before I snapped the photo, otherwise, I think the mantel looked really pretty and full of life with the fresh blooms. I hope to share with you some pics from the first communion celebration in the near future so, stay tuned. I had tons of fun planning it and I think it turned out to be just lovely. This weekend I'll be celebrating my daughter's fourth birthday, so there's no rest for me. What are you up to this weekend? Whatever you have planned, I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

First Communion Banner

I was busy preparing for my daughter's first communion last week and I wanted to share this little project with you that my family made together for her special day.  My daughter was given the option to create a first communion banner which would hang on her chair during mass.  I suggested to my husband that he oversee this project, because he is Catholic and I am not.  I didn't want to put together anything that wasn't appropriate for the occasion.  If you know me, I still had to put in my two cents about the design and it ended up being a family project that we all became involved in.  I have to tell you that my husband actually assembled most of it.  My husband, who is a big burly man, is quite crafty.  While we were dating, he once gave me a bouquet of paper flowers he made himself.  Yep, I married a good one.  Anyway, back to the project.  

Here's how it went down.  We were given the directions to make the banner out of felt and perhaps write out our child's name and first communion date on it in puffy paint.  I knew that this would probably end up looking a bit messy so, I typed up my daughter's name and the date in a nice font and printed it onto transfer paper that I then ironed onto a white piece of felt.  My husband cut a chalice out of yellow felt and I suggested that he highlight some areas with some darker shades of yellow too.  Grapes leaves and grapes in two different shades of green and purple were then cut out.  We knew that we wanted shafts of wheat on the banner, but my husband wasn't sure how he could make felt look like wheat, so I suggested using an actual piece of wheat bought from the craft store.  The host was also cut out of a wheat colored piece of felt.  I had some left over gold glittery scrap book paper that my husband used to make the cross.  There you have it - my daughter's first communion banner!  What do you think?  Does your family craft together too?

      

Buy a Cup for a Cop

Somewhere Splendid

 

I, like so many other Americans was following last week's events in Boston and Texas.  I watched, read and listened about the brave first responders who as always, comes to the rescue of all of us.  Maddy over at Somewhere Splendid was also moved by last week's events and has started a fantastic movement to show a bit of gratitude to first responders by simply buying them a cup of coffee and she has put a call out to her readers and bloggers to spread the word about the movement.  I absolutely, positively love this, so here I am doing my part.  I personally have some first responders in my life and I know that it is sometimes a thankless job that involves lots of hours and lots of sacrifice for not only police officer, firefighter or emergency technician, but also for their loved ones.  Everyday they put their lives on the line for you and I and the least we can do is what Maddy is suggesting - buy a first responder a cup of coffee.    

Here's how you can join the movement:

What to Do: Buy a cup of coffee for a local firefighter, police officer, or other first responder when you come across one. Approach them and explain that you’d like to buy them one out of appreciation for their service, and ask what they’d like or have them escort you to a coffee shop. On the run, or shy? Get a gift card with the approximate value of a cup of coffee (or more!) to a local or chain coffee shop and keep it on hand.

Spread the Word: Let everyone know you’re participating so we can engage more people. If you have a blog, post a note about it. If you’ve bought a cup of coffee for someone, Instagram it with the hashtag #cupsforcops – share your gift card photos, too!

Be sure to hop on over to Somewhere Splendid for a free printable gift card to give to a first responder too.  Thanks Maddy for coming up with the brilliant idea!  Tell me, will you be buying a cup for a cop?  Hugs to all of you friends!  I'll be seeing you again soon. 

In Bloom: Spring Flowers

Spring is coming and going here in Michigan.  One moment I go can out with a light spring coat and the next minute I have to haul out my winter jacket again.  I'm dreaming of spring with days full of sunshine, bike rides, and flowers.  To fulfill my need for flowers I'm starting a series called In Bloom.  We all know how flowers can add life to a party and everyday, so as I come across pretty little blooms from across the web I'll share them with you.  I'm trying to be a little adventurous and put together some of my own floral arrangements.  If they're not too embarrassing, I might share them here on the blog too.    

Here's an adorable idea from Midwest Living.  Chalk board paint on some white ceramic vessels were used to spell out "spring" and a variety of different flowers are placed in each vessel like tulips and forsythia.  Tulips are among my favorite flowers and I have some orange tulips sitting on my kitchen table right now.  Bright yellow forsythia bushes remind me of my childhood and my parents' house.  My parents had the bold buds growing both in their front and backyards as I was growing up.  Do you have a favorite spring time flower?  Which type and why? 

      

First Communion Invitation

I've been busy preparing for my oldest daughter's first communion.  My daughter has been studying and doing her work and we recently went on a shopping trip to pick out the cherished dress and veil.  I didn't realize how much my little girl has grown until I was snapping pictures of her trying on first communion dresses and then I looked back at the pictures and I no longer saw the baby and toddler that I once remembered. 

For her first communion invitation and party, I decided to go with a pink and gray color palette.  I was inspired by the pattern of a trellis and I came up with this design and my sister helped me assemble them.  The print is in gray and I made daughter's name pop out in pink.  I then incorporated a gray colored cross at the top and a trellis like pattern at the bottom.  The envelopes came unlined, but I dressed them up with a little pink paper.  What do you think?

     

St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas

How are you celebrating St. Patrick's Day?  I'll be honest, I normally just celebrate by eating a little corned beef and cabbage and by wearing a hint of green.  I know, not very exciting at all.  If you're still looking for a few ways to add a little more fun to your St. Patty's Day, I put together this round up from around the blogging world.  A pretty DIY barrette, pot of gold pinata, an Irish peppermint shake, a styled tabletop and a clover shaped cookie are included.  Happy St. Patty's Day!  Stay green peeps!  xx

 

 

 

1. Lovely Indeed 2. Oh Happy Day! 3.Sugar & Cloth

4. Coordiantely Yours 5.The Proper Pinwheel

It's Her Business: Detroit Metal Works

Today as part of the It's Her Business series, I'm really happy to introduce to you Kirstie.  Kirstie's business is Detroit Metal Works.  She and I have a mutual friend and when I was introduced to Kirstie's creations I just loved seeing a woman working with metal, which I typically think as a masculine type of material.  Some of her work includes this super cool "eye chart" that I'm obsessed with along with many other designs.  That's enough from me, let me have Kirstie tell you a little about herself and Detroit Metal Works in her own words.       

What motivated you to start your business?

 My husband, Dan, has been in the steel business (welder/fabricator) for over 20 years. We've been married for 24 years and have 3 boys (23, 11, & 9). With our younger sons reaching 4th and 6th grades I wasn't helping out in their classrooms as much so I began going to Dan's shop every day to help him. I began doing more and more on the CNC machine and I found that I really liked it! So this business just kind of happened! I love being in the shop, and I love working along side Dan. Two of our three sons weld so this business is a way for me to be in their world and to use my own creative style at the same time.

 

Where do I find inspiration?

Artistically I'm inspired by other artists and their work. There are a few women who are metal artists that I've started to follow. Their work is so beautiful that it really inspires me to take mine farther. I tend to like things that are different and I'm working towards so many projects that will showcase my style and capabilities. I'm also inspired by my customers; I love when they add their own creativity to a piece.

How has the process of starting your own business been for you so far?

The process of starting a business has been really exciting, however there have definitely been times where I've had to turn to friends and family for help with different business related issues! I'm very fortunate to have such a great support system.

If I ever have a mountain retreat I would like to have this amazing mountain and deer address sign.  Are you interested in seeing more of Kirstie's work or having her create something one of a kind for you?  Connect with her and Detroit Metal Works on Facebook and Pinterest.

 





It's Her Business: Kelsey Garrity Riley Illustration

Bell Flowers

 

I have to tell all of you that I'm having so much fun putting together the It's Her Business series.  It's no suprise that there are incredibly talented women out there doing incredible things.  Meet Kelsey and her business Kelsey Garrity Riley Illustration.  When I saw Kelsey's illustrations there was just so much love behind her art that came through.  There is a sense of calm and sweetness in the familiar scenes she creates.  I adore the combinations of soft, slightly muted tones Kelsey uses and the adorable faces of the people in her illustrations. 

This work above is titled German Breakfast.  Wouldn't this be perfect for a kitchen?

Lady Mary

 

This one is for you Downton Abbey fans.  I know there are lots of you out there.

 

Kelsey also does commissions for illustrated and hand lettered wedding invitations.  Isn't this just gorgeous?!  Stay connected with Kelsey on her blog and if your interested in one of her prints hop over to her Etsy shop.

 

  

Asian Style Fish

If you're observing Lent, you may be eating fish on Fridays for the next few weeks.  My husband is Catholic, so our family is doing the fish Friday thing.  I enjoy it, because it gets me out of cooking rut and it makes me search for and cook more fish dishes.  It seems as though fish is a scary thing to cook and it shouldn't be that way at all.  I swear to you that this is a super simple dish, that's fast, fresh and yummy, even if you're not observing Lent.      

Tip alert!  The most time consuming part of making this dish is chopping all of the veggies.  If you are short on time, chop the veggies earlier in the day or the day before you make the dish.  Put the chopped veggies in a plastic bag and stick them in the fridge until your ready to get cooking.  Do you have left over fresh ginger?  You can slice it up, lay it flat in a freezer bag and pop it in the freezer to use later. 

Celebrating Date Night This Weekend

I'm sooo looking forward to this weekend.  My husband and I are finally getting a long overdue date night.  We are treating this date night as our Valentine's Day celebration.  We usually don't exchange gifts, but we do exchange time.  With two small children, we rarely get a dinner alone where we don't need to cut someone else's food or that we actually get a chance to sit down through an entire meal.  Parents, you know what I'm talking about.  I can't wait to slowly eat my food, perhaps have a cocktail and enjoy an uninterupted conversation with my beloved.  I love spending time with my husband and way too often we take on the roles of "Mom" and "Dad", but forget to focus on the roles of "husband" and "wife".  Cheers to date night!  Have a beautiful weekend friends! xx 

My Valentine's Day Wish List

 

I think you can tell where the inspiration came from for this mood board.  I know some people find Valentine's Day annoying, but I just see it as a way to tell someone special in your life that you love them, because so many times throughout the year we forget to do just that.  It doesn't need to be a significant other or a spouse.  Tell your kids or your friends that you care.  These are just a few things I have on my wish list.  What's on your wish list?   

1. H & M 2.Essie 3.Send The Trend 4.Vintage Confections 5.Parc Boutique

DIY Mini Cookie Gift Box

 

You know the old saying "bigger is better", I don't think that always the case.  I love mini everything - mini horses, mini bunting, mini candy bars, I could go on, but you get the point.  I was out grocery at the grocery store and came upon these heart shaped paper mache boxes.  I have a collection of mini cookie cutters and I thought what a great way to package some heart shaped cookies for Valentine's Day. 

Here's how I did it.  You can use your favorite sugar cookie dough recipe or take a short cut and buy some premade dough from the store.  No one will know the difference and it will be a little secret just between you and I.  First I baked the cookies, allowed them to cool, and then frosted them with pink royal icing.  I allowed the frosting to dry overnight before placing them into the box.  I decorated the box with a pink arrow I that cut out of felt, which I then glued onto the top of the box.  I was able to put four cookies in the box, which I lined with parchment paper.  For the finishing touch I wrapped the box in red and white stripped twine.  Adorable, don't you think?

Celebrating Snow This Weekend

It's Thursday and as I sit here writing this post, there is a major snow storm headed my way and to the east coast of the U.S.  I'm making sure we have everything we need in the house so that I don't have to run out tomorrow on the slippery roads.  My husband, my daughter and many other students are praying for a snow day so that they can have an extra long weekend.  One thing that I enjoy about snow is shoveling.  I know a little weird, but hear me out.  I like breathing in the cold air and standing in the silence of the neighborhood and simply hearing the scrape of the shovel against the pavement.  To me this is therapeutic, although I wouldn't be saying this after a week long snow fall.  Stay warm friends!  See you next week! xx 

P.S. We got our snow day.

Peppermint Meltaway Cookies

Sometimes you find good recipes in unexpected places, like when you're clipping coupons.  That's where I found this one a few years ago and you can find a copy of the recipe here.  I usually make these cookies for Christmas, but I always thought the colors would be perfect for Valentine's Day.  My family loves these light tasting, buttery cookies that have the perfect hint of peppermint to them.  I hope you make these for someone you love too.