Want a REALLY cute idea for wrapping up treats for celebrations, picnics, or food gifts?

I'm just loving how easy it is to take a cupcake liner (or cupcake wrapper - whatever you want to call it) and add a little bit of creative fun to any dessert presentation.

The liners provide an easy way to add a quick splash of color AND they make it convenient to "grab and go" - so they are perfect for dessert tables, bake sales and

SUGAR | Supermom Dessert :: Easy Whoopie Pies

Do you have a favorite dessert you enjoy making that makes you feel like a "Supermom"?
You know…the desserts your kids rave over and beg you to make over and over again.
Desserts that teachers are still requesting you bring them…YEARS after you first shared them with the staff?

I LOVE desserts like that.
I have a handful of them and these Homemade Oreos, Polar Pies, Whoopie Pies (whatever you want to call them)…are

FREE | Monthly Printables Blog Hop :: Patriotic Printables

Who's ready for the Memorial Day weekend we've got coming up? I know I am. And I'm planning on taking full advantage of the time I will have with my family. It seems like the last few months of my life have been out-of-control-busy. I am trying to reel it all in and simplify but it seems the more I try to simplify the more things/tasks/deadlines/commitments seem to multiply. I think things are exceptionally busy for me with a daughter who's getting ready to graduate from High School this year. (Graduation, 18th birthday + present, college preparations, Graduation Party, Graduation Present, Graduation Photos, Graduation Announcements, Baccalaureate, Senior Prom, Grad Bash, Yearbook, and on and on and on…

Plus…I've got little Ella who will be graduating from Pre School - and since I've done NO volunteering in her class this year…aside from chaperoning a couple of field trips and handing out food & drinks at one party...I took on the task of organizing the graduation party for her class coming up on May 22nd.

Meanwhile, Ema is still waiting on me to take her to her birthday lunch from March. 

So I'm looking for something simple…simple and cute for celebrating ANY of the Red, White & Blue holidays throughout the year!  These might be just the thing you are looking for too!!

FREE Patriotic Dessert and Straw Flags

These were supposed to be part of the MONTHLY Blog Hop I've been participating in this year but I missed the deadline to get it posted with everyone else's things!! Yep! I'm that girl! See…too many irons in the fire. *blushing*

Anyway, you can use these on cute party straws, toothpicks for food items and desserts, lollipop sticks, The Pastry Pedestals and Pretty Party Skewers too!

Even though I missed the group deadline for participating in the Blog Hop...no worries for YOU!
You can still download them for FREE 

AND…you still have access to all of these other fun (and FREE) Red, White & Blue printables from these talented bloggers by still participating in the actual BLOG HOP I missed out on this month!! Just click on the links below to snag your FREE goodies!!

Top to Bottom - Left to Right
Hostess with the Mostess – printable party popcorn labels
30 Days – 4th of July printables for kids
Catch My Party – Patriotic BBQ sign
Skip To My Lou – printable flag pinwheels
NoBiggie – United States Flag print
Nest of Posies – pinwheel cupcake toppers
Kori Clark – Summertime BBQ invitation
Living Locurto – free printable patriotic wall art

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I still have not photographed my own daughter for her graduation announcements but I'm happy to say I was at least able to photograph one of my beautiful cousins for her graduation announcements. (on Mother's Day as a matter of fact). If she gives me permission I'll post some of the pretty photos here on the blog! *wink*

HOLIDAY | Easy Patriotic Fruit Kabobs

Patriotic Fruit Kabobs 

Happy Memorial Day everyone!!
In celebration, I used the NEW Pretty Party Skewers to create some patriotic fruit kabobs!

I'll also be making some Whipped Coconut Cream today...
to bring to a family celebration this afternoon!

I hope you enjoy the rest of your day...
celebrating and honoring our service men and women...
along with their families...
who have sacrificed so much on our behalf.

I am grateful for those who have served...
and those who are currently serving!!
THANK YOU!!

Holiday | Happy Memorial Day

Sending out a heartfelt
THANK YOU
to all of the service men and women who have:
• fought for our freedom...
• sacrificed in ways the rest of us will never understand
• served our country in order to defend our beliefs and values
• left their families behind for the greater good
• represented our nation through dedicated military service
and....
• given the ultimate sacrifice - their life

Remember...Reflect...Respect

And because I hold a special place in my heart for my grandfather
who was a P.O.W. in Ofuna, Japan during World War II
and also served in the Korean War...
take a peek at this video I found...
honoring World War II Veterans.
(I wish he was still here to experience this).

TEACH | All-Occasion Denim Pocket Banner (Part II)

When I told you the "Pocket Full of Posies" denim pocket banner was versatile...
I meant it.
By simply adding a splash of red and white to the denim pocket banner...
We're now ready to celebrate every patriotic holiday we have coming up...
and this could even be used at Christmas and Valentine's Day too!! LOVE!!!

Here's how to do it.
First, reference Part I of the "Denim Pocket Banner" tutorial right here.
Second, gather your supplies:

SUPPLIES NEEDED:
• Pre-made Denim Pocket Banner (already strung together)
• Red Fabric (or ribbon of your choice - amount is dependent on the amount of pockets on your banner)
• White Fabric (or ribbon of your choice - amount is dependent on the amount of pockets on your banner)
• These Fiskars tools for cutting fabrics easily (or just your favorite sharp scissors)
• Scissors (for trimming the ends of the fabric after they are tied to your banner)

STEP ONE: Cut your fabric. (or ribbon)
Cut your fabrics into strips that are 1 inch wide and about 8 inches long.
The number of strips needed will be determined by the number of pockets you are using for your banner.
Count the number of pockets, add one to that number and you've got your total.
I used ten pockets therefore I needed 11 strips of both fabrics.

STEP TWO: Pick ONE fabric color - either the red or white- and cut the existing strips in half. 

By cutting one of the piles of strips in half, you will actually create a surplus for yourself to store away for use on a future project of your choice. (Keep reading to see how this works)

STEP THREE: Creative tying

You'll be tying the fabric strips at both ends of the banner and in between each pocket.
Place the longer strip of fabric, (right side facing down), underneath the twine.

Lay the smaller strip of fabric, (right side facing up), on top of the twine - creating an "x" with the two strips of fabric.

Working with the longer strip of fabric, grab both ends and creat a knot. (Like the first step in tying your shoes).

A 2nd knot is not needed and will make changing out the fabrics much easier for your next celebration/holiday.

STEP FOUR: Trim 

For a more finished look, I used scissors to add an angle to each of the ends of the tied strips of fabric.

Notice how even though both strips of fabric started off at different lengths, they ended up just about the same size.

TIP: Use the technique above for all of your ribbon tying projects. 

You'll thank me for saving you tons of money because of  all of the extra ribbon, string or fabric you end up with.

Now...
Who's ready for Memorial Day?
And why bother taking it down when you are already set for 4th of July too!!
I LOVE when holiday decor items effortlessly and conveniently flow into the next celebration.

KEEPiNG iT REAL

If you don't have a sharp blade on your rotary cutter...

Your fabric strips will end up looking like this...

You THiNK you cut nice clean strips of fabric...

but when you go to pull them apart...

...they are partially stuck together because my wimpy blade never cut completely through.

Good thing I have another one as back up...

Note to self...
pick up some fresh blades.

home | one of life's little pleasures

Did you know I have a peach tree in my yard?
(If you saw the peach crisp I made for Memorial Day than you already knew that).

I know nothing about fruit trees.
I never even knew peach trees grew here in Florida.
The tree was here when we bought the house a little over a year ago.
And it was a pretty small tree at the time.
But the idea of it producing fruit sounded pretty cool.

Admittedly...I'm completely ignorant as to how to properly care for them - Martha would be so disappointed. *wink*
Despite my ignorance though...
and without any special doing on my part...
Nature took things into it's own hands...
and gave me my first sample of a homegrown peach last year.
We were excited to have the tree produce a handful of delicious peaches.


Completely different story this year.
With the tree having tripled in size...
I'm guessing our "crop" consisted of 50+ delicious...
beautiful...
homegrown peaches.
(Even though I STiLL had not done a single thing to the tree).
They were SO very good.
And there was SUCH an abundance of them.
There were so many in fact...
we were offering them up to neighbors and giving them to anyone who would take them.

And now...
Well, now I'm sad.
I guess the peach season has ended because there's not a single peach left in sight. *sniffle*

But I've got the pictures to prove they really did exist.
And I feel SO extraordinarily lucky to have the good fortune...
of having one of life's little pleasures growing right here in my own yard.
I can only imagine what next year's crop will hold for us.
I'd better start collecting some delicious recipes now...*wink*


Don't forget the Father's Day giveaway ends today!!
I'll be picking FOUR winners...
Each winner will receive one of Compendium's fabulous inspirational Father's Day gifts to give to that special someone in your life.



KEEPiNG iT REAL
With Ella at 2 1/2 years old now, it's nearly impossible to get ANYTHiNG work-related done these days.
One nap a day just isn't enough time to put a dent into my "to-do" list.
Mixed emotions have settled in though...
We received news that she's been accepted into the preschool we were hoping for...
starting in the Fall.
I'm completely excited for HER.
She'll make some new little friends...
and have some real educational structure.
I'm excited for ME to have some extra free-time 3 days a week to
stay on top of my design work and projects.
However...
I know all too well how quickly children grow.
(It was just yesterday my 15 year old and 12 year old were born).
Knowing she'll be starting school means the start of an entirely new phase in our lives...
her life...
my life...
and sadly...
the ending of the sweet time I've enjoyed having her home with me everyday. *sniffle*

holiday | memorial day 2011

a wonderful Memorial Day weekend...

I spent Saturday at the beach with my two older daughters...
I SO enjoyed the one-on-one time with them and it was a gorgeous day.
We vowed to continue going every other Saturday - weather permitting. *wink*

Sunday was a quiet day at home except for a quick trip to the park with Ella.

And although J had to work for part of the day on Memorial Day,
we enjoyed a festive dinner with the girls, my mom and stepdad yesterday...

sliders

homemade rosemary garlic french fries

fresh peach crisp 

(peaches were picked from our very own peach tree - WHAT??!!)

bing cherries

(creatively displayed on The Pastry Pedestal™)

I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend as well.

I'm looking forward to a fun productive week ahead!

Remember the Father's Day giveaway I've mentioned a couple of times now?

It's scheduled for posting tomorrow, so don't miss it!

Enjoy your Tuesday - make the most of it!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I can't help myself...

I absolutely have to tell you...

I LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! the way the cherries look on The Pastry Pedestal™! 

SO cute!!

And I'm loving the photos I'm receiving from those of you who've ordered yours!

Keep sending them in!!