dream big.

Party + Green Dessert Stands!

We had a successful party for my oldest last Friday and then left for the BEACH! More on the beach later, today I wanted to share some party decor pics and an alternative to cake.

This is the birthday girl who is not fond of cake. I know, who doesn't like cake...I never said my children weren't weird! So, instead of cake this year she decided she wanted pie. Cool, I LOVE pie. Her party was at the lake, so I had just a small table to add decor and I needed a way to dress up pie. Here is a peek at the party decor table.

I have been placing plates on top of glasses for a quick cake stand for years, but I wanted something more festive. So after a quick trip to Goodwill for plates and glasses and picking up some spray paint I quickly created some sweet little dessert stands.

I set the plates on top of coordinating glasses and I was finished. Now, if I had been worried about the stand being wobbly I would have hot glued the two together, but I live dangerously and wanted these to be stored easily as well!

Oh all of this cute little jars are pies in a jar, from the cookbook Our Best Bites.

They all had a great time, friends, cousins and relatives. Love when fun and decor come together like that!

Tasty Tuesday

 

In the spirit of a healthy New Year I thought I would share a salad I am eating this week. Yes, I said week, because it is that good! I found the salad recipe at The Tasty Kitchen and opted to not use the pomegranate seeds this week, and guess what it is still divine!

 

I made my own salad dressing, which is wonderful on this salad.

Raspberry Vinegrette

Here are the ingredients:

1 T. hot stone ground mustard

3/4 Cup vegetable oil

3 cloves or garlic -  finely minced

1/4 C raspberry vinegar

1/4 C. Seasoned rice vinegar

Costco's No Salt seasoning

Whisk garlic, mustard and oil together...adding the oil gradually. It will be a beautiful creamy mixture.

Add vinegar and seasoning and whisk.

This dressing will keep in your fridge for up to a week.

 

Yummy! I think I am off to make another of these for lunch this afternoon!

Enjoy.

Gingerbread Houses

This is another Christmas experience I am doing with my family next week...and the book the idea comes from as a Christmas gift. My find of the week is the book No-Bake Gingerbread Houses For Kids.

So, if you know me just a little, then you know I am all about saving sanity and enjoying all life has to offer. I think that this little book is perfect for doing just that! How stinkin' cool is creating gingerbread houses with all premade cookies, graham crackers and supplies. And this little book is filled with easy to follow directions. LOVE this!

Here is a peek at the cool projects inside:

 

I LOVE that this book is filled with little houses that can be made for any season of the year. My girls will be all over making houses after the Christmas season.

 
And how cool is it to make a house that is different than most gingerbread houses? Beautiful.

And there are plenty of FUN ideas for the Christmas season as well! How fun is this?

 
So, if you have kids home next week and are wanting to add som fun and easy experiences to your holiday season, I recommend checking out this book! Imagine the fun photos and memories you will be creating!

Something sweet

Delicious pumpkin bread. More importantly, a house filled with warmth and sweet smelling spices.

Cooking and pumpkin bread happens to be one of the reasons I love fall. Well, cooking is why I need to exercise...okay, so eating what I cook is why I need to exercise if I am going to be technically accurate, but who needs that?!

 Speaking of cooking, I am cooking up a new project that you can join in on, if you feel up to it. More details to come tomorrow. It will be fun, creative, and get you scrapbooking.

 

Most importantly it will get to scrap with raw materials of life and turn it into sweet smelling, delicious, I love it so much I could eat it up final project.

 
Funny how talking about scrapbooking can lead me to food. Obviously I have some issues...maybe I should bake something today? Or workout? Or bake?

No matter, creating is what I have on the agenda for tomorrow. Well, that and a few extra sit-ups.