{ Super Hero Graduation Party }

My son is graduating! Seriously?!!! I can't be that old! Yet, here we are. :)

I have 2 adorable nieces who are also graduating this year. One of them lives far away, but since my other niece lives near us, her mom & I decided it would be fun to throw a party for them together.

The theme was easy since my niece loves Superman & my son loves Batman! 

We wanted to keep it pretty simple, but add some fun too. We held it in our back yard.

I found the GRAD 2013 banner at Michaels, bought 3 of them & made my own banners out of them.

I love how the comic book pendant banners turned out. I found the idea on Pinterest, from Be Different Act Normal, but I couldn't find comic books so I googled images & printed them out in color. They turned out great!

This is another idea I found on Pinterest, from Martha Stewart. It was a little bit time consuming but it turned out soooo cute!!! Each number is the size of a posterboard, so it is pretty big. The pictures are of the graduates (of course) in chronological order.

We used Superman & Batman fabric squares on the tables & simple centerpieces. I got the cool graphics from One Charming Party. The balloon sticks were from Hobby Lobby. I will definitely be using them again.

The dessert table. Yum!

Love how these custom cookies turned out! I ordered them from Raechal's Custom Cookies. Check out her Facebook page here.

And, of course, my little girls had to decorate their chalkboard for the occasion.

The graduates loved the party & they had a lot of people come to support them. Next step is graduation day. Yep! We aren't done yet. 3 more school days left!

{ Garden Party Salad Recipes }

I've got two yummy salad recipes for you today. We served both of these at our Garden Party the other day. Yum!

BASIL & TOMATO PASTA SALAD

created by Martha Stewart

2 large ripe tomatoes, seeded & coarsely chopped

4 oven-dried tomatoes, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 clove garlic, chopped

coarse salt & freshly ground pepper

1 lb. garganelle or penne rigate

1 cup fresh basil leaves, loosely packed

also:

12 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise

1/4 cup olive oil

coarse salt & freshly ground pepper

coarsely chopped fresh herbs such as oregano, marjoram, flat-leaf parsley (optional)

Combine fresh & oven-dried tomatoes, oil, garlic, salt, & pepper in a large bowl. Marinate at room temperature for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Boil pasta in salted water until al dente, 7-10 minutes. Drain well, and while still hot, toss with tomato mixture.

Coarsely chop basil & combine with pasta. Serve immediately, or at room temperature.

Preheat oven to 275 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place tomatoes cut side up o baking sheet. Drizzle with oil & season with salt, pepper, & herbs. Bake until shriveled but still moist, 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 hours. Keep refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

PEAR & CUCUMBER SALAD

created by ??? {my SIL gave it to me}

1 half lb. bag of Spring Mix lettuce

2 pears, diced

2 cucumbers, diced

Craisins, as much as you like

candied pecans, as much as you like

BRIANNAS Poppy Seed Dressing {my fave!}

{Here's a picture of the dressing. I get it at Target because it's cheaper.}

Toss all ingredients together & serve right away

ENJOY!

{ Garden Party }

Well, I'm still alive & figured it was time to move those Christmas pictures down off the top of the blog. Haha.

Yesterday a few friends & I put on a luncheon for a few of our friends just for fun. We talked about gardening and ate and talked. It was great!

Of course, I forgot to take pictures before everyone got there so I hurried quick and took them before too any people got started. But that means they are not the best quality.

Yummy salads. Here is the recipe for the Italian Chopped Salad.

My next post will be recipes for the Basil & Tomato Pasta Salad and the Pear & Cucumber Salad. They were all delicious!

I love my utensil set & have been waiting to use them! I got two sets here and just keep adding to them.

I put the paper plates in a cute pie dish that I had.

My friend made these chocolate cupcakes baked in terra cotta pots. So cute!

She even put candy rocks on top that looked so real!

The Rasperry White Chocolate Bars that another friend made were delicious!

I couldn't stop eating them! You can find the recipe here.

And another friend {it's great throwing a party with help...so much easier!} made these carrot cake cupcakes with little fruit roll up carrots on top.

Adorable! She got the idea here.

Drinks

We also talked about when we serve others how it nourishes us as well. There are so many ways to connect gardening with spiritual concepts.

We handed out potted flowers with this little quote, "Pollinate the world with the pure love of Christ."

It was such a fun afternoon. I can't wait to do it again!

One last thing to share...

My new chalkboard! I found the idea on Pinterest {of course!} and my husband and I threw it together on Saturday so it would be done for the luncheon yesterday.

I love how he hardly blinks now when I tell him I have a new project. Here is the link for the outdoor chalkboard.

Happy Spring everyone!

{ Christmas }

I know Christmas is over, but before I take down the decor I thought I'd post a few pictures.

They are totally unedited so please forgive the sloppy photography.

Our little tree, covered in my kids' ornaments.

Love my Christmas quilt on the back of the couch.

I copied the chalkboard art from this website which I found on Pinterest.

I know, I know, I should have taken that cheap gold foil off the poinsettia.

I was in such a hurry the day I got it that I stuck in there and never looked back.

I got new shutters in the dining room.

It was a perfect place for Christmas cards.

My beloved hutch.

I love using natural elements in my Christmas decor.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Now, on to the new year!

{ Miss Sassy's Bedroom Redo }

Miss Sassy really wanted to redo her room.

She's a teenager now and she wanted it to reflect her style.

I was excited to help her do that.

We took a trip to IKEA and she picked out colors, furniture & other stuff she liked.

We bought a few things, reused a few things she already had & this is what we came up with...

She really needed a place to do her make up & hair so we got a desk, chair & mirror at IKEA.

She loves art & wanted to keep her art collage wall.

She has her own art pieces that she's mixed in with other favorite pieces.

And then there is her 1 Direction wall.

Hung all on her own to her much joy!

She loves it...I love that she loves it.

I think the kids bedrooms should be reflect who they are.

 

While walking around IKEA, Sassy found a bedroom layout that she really liked.

They had used a cube bookshelf to separate the bed area.

The one at IKEA was larger, but we had this one already in her closet {from Target} so we decided to try it.

It turned out that we both really like this layout!

 

I added a few tiny shelfs & a basket {all from Target} under the window between her bed & the bookshelf for her clock, phone, the all important retainer & her scriptures.

The b&w floral bedding we already had {Target a while ago}.

We purchased the turquoise polka dot sheets, turguoise bed pillow, red velvet pillow & white faux fur pillow all at Target.

The red printed curtains are from IKEA.

 

All in all I think it turned out cute.

I sure wish it was this clean all the time.

{ Pinterest Inspired Halloween Luncheon }

Ah, Pinterest...don't you love Pinterest?

So many pins...so little time.

Here is a real party inspired by Pinterest at my home, hosted by me & some fun friends {thanks, Monica & Kate}.

 

click on titles below pics to go to the links on Pinterest... 

Yarn Wrapped Wreath

 

Jack o Lantern candle holder

{battery operated candle inside}

 

Mummy Water Bottles

{used medical tape instead of duct tape}

 

Israeli Couscous Sald

 

Sand-"witches" & Witch Legs

 

Veggie Dip served in a Pumpkin

 

Clementine "Pumpkins"

 

Vampire Teeth Place Card Holders

 

Creepy Eye Sugar Cookies

 

Spiderweb Cupcakes

 

Mini Caramel Apples

{We found out the caramel doesn't stick to the flesh of the apple}

 

Eyeball & Washi Tape Banners & HALLOWEEN Free Printable Banner

 

Lace Webs in Picture Frames

  

And the oh, so popular Caramel Apple Dip made from Sweetened Condensed Milk.

 

Other Pins used:

Fun Halloween Games

Miniature Candy Covers- free printable

Fall Photo Checklist

{ New Basket }

Two more weeks of school for us!

We are really looking forward to summer & we have started making our Summer List. Yay!

I wanted to show you the new basket I got on clearance at Hobby Lobby a few months ago.

I thought about hanging it on the blank wall in the dining room, but after putting it on my coffee table, I think it is going to stay put.

I had the lantern & plants there already, but the basket added a bit more dimension & warmth.

I really love it.

And here's a small view into the dining area...I added curtains!

Hope you have a great week!