udder-ly in love

I LOVE the idea of doing a milk and cookie themed party for kids, but after seeing this beautiful, vintage Milk and Cookies shoot at Love and Lavender, I know a milk and cookies shoot for adults is not only fun, but gorgeous too. In fact, for cookie lovers, I think this party theme is a necessity. It’s official…I’m UDDER-ly in love…as Love and Lavender so eloquently say in the shoot!

 I love all the details in this shoot – the chocolate chips weighed on an antique scale, the menu on wood shingles and a recipe for love guest table…oh, it’s too cute for words! Thank you to the creative and talented sisters-in-law pair, Ellen and Aileen, at Love and Lavender for sharing their photos with us. And, definitely check out the rest of the shoot here {there’s a lot more fantastic inspiration waiting for you}.

If you thought Part I was amazing {you’re right because it was}, but you’re in for a tasty treat with Part II of their cookie shoot. See the full shoot here.

{images courtesy of  Jonda Spurbeck Photographers via Love and Lavender}

they are adding to their nest baby shower

A beautiful, vintage iron birdcage from the Pasadena Rose Bowl was the inspiration behind this They Are Adding to Their Nest baby shower. Experts are telling me birdcages are the “it” thing right now in decor, so this birdcage, and all the details to go along with, really NESTled in with the trend beautifully. We adore the soft color palette, vintage china patterns, the beautiful invite, the bird bath centerpiece and as always…the chandelier.

Brooke of Brooke Merrill Photography captured the sweet details, and fills us in on the inspiration behind the photos.

Using square tables and chiavari chairs, Ellen and Brook {the mom-to-be’s inseparable best friends since elementary school} were able to maximize the space within the backyard and allow friends and family to sit with the guests of honor, Jodi and Travis.

According to Brook, “We also pulled in vintage china patterns, silver-plated flatware and a burlap table runner to complete the vintage, chic feel we were going for. The wow factor came from the regency-style, gold and crystal chandelier that we hung over center of the table so that it was the first thing guests saw when they walked outside.”

And, only as truly genuine friends would say, Brook commented, “When it was all over, Ellen and I both agreed that the best part of the evening was being there to witness our best friend with her best friend celebrating a new first adventure together…getting ready to welcome their baby.”

Well done ladies! Everyone deserves life-long friends like you.

VENDOR LOVE
Photography: Brooke Merrill Photography

{images via Brooke Merrill Photography}

rx: sweet happiness

My sister-in-law recently graduated from nursing school {you go girl!}, so in addition to the new Bayan Hippo purse and Curly Girl travel mug we bought for her, I wanted to fill the purse with something medical-related and sweet.

What did I come up with?

Happy Pills.

Sometimes we need a reason to smile…and sometimes laughter, happiness and joy is the best medicine. Instead of filling prescription bottles with real drugs, we filled empty, clean prescription bottles {you can re-use old bottles or buy from amazon.com} with candy, gum, chocolate and mints.

If you’re hosting a medical school or nursing grad party, another fun idea is to stack them for a display on a dessert table, or give them as take-home favors. It’s affordable and so cute!

Or, for the girlfriend who just had her heart broken by a man – these would certainly cheer her up.

Or {the possibilities are endless}, how cute would it be to give to the bride in her day-of essentials/emergency kit or for a newly-engaged bride to get her through a year of planning? An I Do prescription bottle filled with breath-freshening mints. Or, one for each of the bridesmaids.

Good news for you…we are selling these in our Fleur de Lis, a paperie etsy shop. Check them out here and order today. {$5 for file as is and $10 for a custom file}

{images via Tutto Bella}

easter diy

These DIY projects are just too precious not to share. I’m giddy to try them…phew, it’s going to be a busy week!

Flower Easter Eggs, Pizzazzerie

Peep S’mores, Confetti {love this for the kids}

Easter Bunny ‘Carrots’, Loralee Lewis

DIY Succulent Eggs, Roy Joy

DIY Doily Candle {or in this case egg holder}, Budget Dream Weddings

DIY Word Egg, Poppytalk {this would be a sweet way to send a note to friends and family out-of-town}

Daffodil Candy Cups, Martha Stewart

{images via Pizzazzerie, Confetti, Poppytalk, Roy Joy, Martha Stewart, Budget Dream Weddings and Lorelee Lewis}

my funny valentine

We’ve bought boxed Valentine’s in year’s past, but this year we got creative with our words. Some are healthy and others are not, but they are all adorable, and for Valentine’s Day, that’s all that really matters, right? We have cutesy kid-and-adult-friendly DIY Valentine’s for…all the hot mama’s, the stud{s} in your life, all the cutie’s and for those who make you giggle! You can buy them here for just $3, and they are an instant download.

DIY Adult Valentine’s

you are one hot mama
{fill the bag with hot tamales, fold over the custom tag and staple closed}

happy valentine’s day stud muffin
{fill the bag with a homemade poppy-seed muffin, fold over the custom tag and staple closed}

Poppy-seed Muffin Recipe
Makes 12 muffins
recipe adapted from our wonderful mom

Add the following ingredients to a large bowl and mix:
2 cups flour
1/8 cup poppy seeds {a used a little more, but less than 1/4 cup}
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter

Add 2 eggs{1 at a time} to the above ingredients and mix well

Add 1 cup plain yogurt and 2 tsp. almond extract and mix into the rest of the mixture.

Put the muffin mixture in baking cups and bake in the oven on 400 degrees for about 15-20 minutes {It took me about 18 minutes}.

DIY Kid Valentine’s

i think you are quite a cutie
{fill a bag with clementines, fold the custom tag over the top of the bag and staple closed}

friend, you make me laffy
{fill the bag with laffy taffy for your silly friends, fold the custom tag over the bag and staple closed}

Last year’s fold-over labels {above} were so popular, we revamped them, and we did it with colorful stripes.

If your looking for the original cutie file {the orange bubble}, you can buy it here.
The original laffy taffy file {the blue bubble} is available too.

Tags are 2×4. Purchase them here.