{Party Bee} Sneak Preview: Jake's 2nd Birthday

Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street? Well...actually Jake Street! If you haven't guessed, my son is having a Sesame Street themed birthday party for his 2nd birthday. I can't believe he is already going to be TWO! He of course is learning so many things and is developing such a fun and energetic personality and this year he has become infatuated with Sesame Street. Therefore, it only seemed appropriate to celebrate with a Jake Street birthday party!

A little while back, my husband came up with a great idea to create life size (well... life size for toddlers anyway) characters for the yard for decoration and for photos with the kids. What a fantastic idea! Well he worked hard and they came out so cute! He is pretty crafty I must say, but he didn't do this freehand, he had some help from a fabulous tool called the Tracer Projector.

This is a fantastic tool to use when you don't have the time to draw something freehand (and with 2 kids who does). He just set up a smooth cut of quality plywood in the garage where he could get it pretty dark and traced the image with a black Sharpie marker. After he finished tracing the illustration, he used Behr paint color samples that he purchased from Home Depot in the colors that he needed and painted the characters. Look at the simple transformation of Elmo...outlined with Sharpie and then painted! So easy and looks great!

In some of them, he used a combination of both paint and Sharpie.

 

As you can see, Cookie Monster's present is colored using Sharpie. Same goes with Big Bird's legs, tongue, and eyelids.

And if you don't feel like using paint at all, you can color in the entire illustration using Sharpies like our Oscar the Grouch here!

Such a simple project that makes a BIG impact! The kids are going to love them...especially Jake!

Stay tuned for photos from Jake's 2nd Birthday Party!

{Busy Bee} Proudly Introducing Ava Belen

Just days after my beautiful baby girl was born, my wonderful aunt and talented photographer, captured my daughter on film for her newborn photos. Let me just say that she did an incredible job and my baby girl, Ava, looks mesmerizing. Seeing these photographs simply make my heart smile.

Thank you so much, Auntie! These are just absolutely beautiful!

Photography by K.L. Images

{Queen Bee} Happiest Easter

This past month for me has not only been the happiest month but also the craziest month! It is no surprise to anyone that taking care of a toddler and a newborn is hard work, though the little special moments, like hearing your toddler say mama and dadda for the first time or laugh so hard it is contagious or seeing your baby smile at you when you speak...these are the special moments that far outweigh the crazy moments of insanity!

Thus, with my month being consumed of babies, things like preparing for Easter kind of end up being left to the last minute. But although last minute, I don't think my Easter table and chocolate covered Oreos turned out too shabby. What do you think?

 

 

 

 

 

My little love bunny and a beautiful dinner with my family was the perfect Easter gift. This has been the Happiest Easter!

And a BIG thank you to my wonderful friend, Dary, for photographing my pretty little girl in her bunny outfit!

{Busy Bee} April Fools' Day Desserts

April Fools' Day is a perfect day to whip out the baking supplies and fool your loved ones with silly treats dressed up to look like another kind of food...such as the icky vegetables that seem to revolt your kids! For inspiration, I have a few examples from some awesome bakers that I thought are perfect and just too cute!

 Bakerella's Hamburger Cupcakes

 

 Hello, Cupcake! Spaghetti and Corn Cupcakes...just too funny!

 The Sweet Adventure of Sugar Belle's Pizza Cookies...LOVE these!

Sweetapolita's Asparagus Cake...AMAZING!

Happy April Fools' Day!

{Party Bee} The Welcome Ava Printable Collection

In honor of my new beautiful baby girl, the Welcome Ava printable collection was created and is now available for purchase! With a color palette of pink, yellow, and gray, and cute flowers all over, this collection is a fun and girly way to celebrate a sweet new addition to your family!

The entire collection is $20 and comes with the following:

- Birth announcement (envelope not included)
- 4 circle design tags. These are great for cupcake toppers, cookie tags, decorations. The uses are endless!
- Treat bags in 2 designs
- Water bottle labels
- Glass bottle labels
- Candy bar wrapper customized with baby's birth statistics. (Designed to fit standard size Hershey Bars)
- Flags in 2 designs to decorate paper straws
- "Welcome___" banner
- Birth date banner
- Coordinating paper in 4 patterns

Just send me the name of the new baby, birth statistics, etc. and receive the files electronically!

{Party Bee} Welcome Ava Dessert Table

After waiting nine long months, my beautiful baby girl finally made her arrival into the world. Seemed like it took forever, but as of March 5th my daughter, Ava, entered my life and my husband and I are truly smitten. But of course, my baby couldn't come into my world without having plenty of treats and printables created in her honor!

Had to have plenty of treats for all of Ava's visitors!

Kisses are a must for my sweet baby girl. And who can resist Dove chocolates...especially when they are wrapped in pink foil.

A very special day in my life.

A candy bar that has all of Ava's statistics...fun, informative, and yummy!

No table is complete without cupcakes...and this table needed pink ones!

Gotta wash all of the sweet treats with coordinating water and glass bottles.

Welcome my sweet baby girl...mama, daddy, and big brother love you!

{Sugar Bee} Valentine's Day Marshmallow Pops

Yesterday for Valentine's Day my son, Jake, visited me at work and brought along a couple surprises for me and my co-workers. He and my husband of course gave me cards, a beautiful rose and heart balloons that I absolutely loved. But even more fun was his Elmo valentines that he delivered to everyone in my office.

You would think that was enough, but nope...he also had a Valentine's Day marshmallow pops bouquet for my co-workers to enjoy! Jake of course had some assistance making these by yours truly, but for kids who are a little older and like to help mom in the kitchen, this is a great project and is so deceivingly simple. All you need are marshmallows, chocolate, sprinkles and lollipop sticks!

Step 1:  Push a lollipop stick into marshmallow without penetrating the top of the marshmallow. Do this for the number of marshmallows you want to dip.

Step 2: Melt the chocolate in a glass bowl in the microwave. I like to use my small (1 cup) Pyrex measuring cup. When melting the chocolate, use a low heat (at least 50%) and heat in 30 second intervals stirring in between.

Step 3:  Once you get a nice and smooth melted consistency of chocolate, dip the marshmallow 3/4 of the way into the chocolate.

Step 4:  Before your chocolate hardens, quickly add your sprinkles.

Step 5:  Place marshmallow pops in a glass or mug until the chocolate completely hardens.

Step 6:  Finally, package your marshmallow pops into small treat bags and place in a vase. Any kind of candy in the vase helps keep the marshmallow pops in place.

Whoever receives this bouquet will not only enjoy its beauty but will also enjoy how delicious they are! And they will think you slaved all day making it!

Now who can resist this little valentine?!?!

Hope you had a Happy Valentine's Day!