Thursday, January 28, 2021

Fiesta Cookies for my Fortieth

I said adios to my thirties last week and along with that farewell, I was also able to say hola to my forties! What better way to say hello to this new chapter of my life than with fiesta themed cookies to celebrate my fortieth! I have never made cookies for myself, but I figured with this milestone, I deserved to treat myself. Plus, I just LOVE all fiesta themed designs and decorations, so creating cookies to fit my theme was just so much fun!

I am no stranger to making cookies with this theme, so I did recreate a couple designs, but this time around I added a couple of new fun designs. The tostada cookie in particular was inspired by a talented fellow cookier, Melissa from Cakeology by Mel. When I saw this cookie that she created, I knew I had to try my hand at it, and it fit in perfectly with my theme! 

Finally, the donkey piñata was designed to combine both the customary piñata silhouette with the traditional serape blanket pattern. Then to personalize it, I added a 40 surrounded by a couple rosettes. I really loved this cookie and it is probably my favorite design!

This was such a fun set to create and I look forward to the next set of fiesta cookies I get to design!

Taco 'bout a sweet 40th birthday! 

Friday, January 22, 2021

Adios Thirties Dessert Table

This week I officially said adios to my thirties and hola to 40! Though Covid didn't allow me to celebrate how I had wanted, my husband went above and beyond and planned a wonderful surprise drive-by party, decorated so beautifully, prepared me a delicious dinner, bought me gorgeous flowers, and he and the kids gave me gift cards to places that will allow me to continue the self-care I started months ago when the pandemic hit. My family made my birthday so special and though I thought 40 would sting a little, it actually has felt so great and I am so blessed to have reached this milestone feeling healthy, happy, strong, and very loved!

But, before I knew that my husband had planned an AMAZING 40th birthday for me, I took it upon myself to create a fiesta themed dessert table for me and my kids that would feature all the Mexican treats that I love! I figured if I cannot go to Mexico right now, I would bring a little bit of Mexico to me.

 
A fiesta themed 40th...so much fun and so easy to do! I was also very excited to pull all of the fun decor that I purchased a few years ago from when I went to Mexico for my husband's birthday celebration. 
 
I first started with placing the serapes (colorful striped blankets) over the tables like tablecloths and I draped one on the wall above my backdrop to frame my table nicely. Then I followed that by adding paper flowers that I bought at the Dollar Tree! Such a great and inexpensive way to decorate for a fiesta!
Then I decided to get crafty and I created a sombrero from a terracotta planter and saucer. I just glued the planter upside down and added a couple coats of paint and a ribbon...easy and cute candy dish! Inside the dish, I placed my favorite Mexican candies...the classic De La Rosa candies and my ultimate favorite banderas de coco, which is a yummy coconut candy! 

My table centerpieces included cute mini piñatas from Target wearing little sombreros that I found on Amazon! I also recycled our El Pato cans and used them as little vases for my paper flowers...though real flowers would look amazing as well!

The table wouldn't have been complete without the papel picado! I got this one from Party City, but Amazon also had many options!

The dessert table was filled with many treats, but I wanted to include a couple of adult beverages! So of course I chose Coronas...seemed fitting for the current timing, but I also needed margaritas because they are just delicious! They are even more tasty when they are from fresh squeezed limes and not from a mix. 

Piñatas have always been a part of my birthday parties growing up and so I couldn't let this party go by without having one! Though, I didn't have the heart to beat this cutie for candy, so he remained a cute centerpiece for the table! 

Pan dulce (sweet bread) was probably the most exciting addition to my table of goodies! Conchas are my ultimate favorite and I was so excited to share these little pieces of heaven with my kids. Let me just say they were also fans! I also included marranitos (little gingerbread piggies) and empanadas de calabaza...you bet we stuffed our faces!

The final element that I created for my spread of treats, though not quite a Mexican goodie, but a must have for all my tables....my decorated sugar cookies. Though it was a little strange making cookies for myself, I thought what the heck....it is a milestone and why not?! So I made little cookies to look like tacos, tostadas, cacti, little donkeys, and a plaque that said "forty". They turned out fun and festive and really complimented the table nicely.

I think everything turned out perfectly and this celebratory week was absolutely wonderful! I felt so special and having my family by my side, birthday wishes from friends, and so many delicious treats was really the icing on the cake! 

Salud to 40 and to this new chapter of my life!