Sunday, April 26, 2015

Much Ado About Monday {No. 109}

Hi, y'all!
What a wonderful weekend we've had! Emily came to visit from Ohio and it was super fun getting together for a mom's night in. It was way long overdue and so nice to just be able to catch up with all of the mom's group that was able to make it. And since it's been so warm, the kids and I have been swimming all weekend too! They start swim team this week, so hopefully they're ready for the unheated pool :-)

This week, Jamie posted about Taylor's 1st birthday party. It was a super cute strawberry theme! Be sure to check it out here!

And thanks to everyone who joined in on Much Ado About Monday last week! We almost had 300 links! You guys are making it super hard to pick, but I absolutely love seeing all of the new and returning blogs and what you've been up to this week!


Jamie's pick: Garden Hose Spring Wreath via Scrapality
Jill's pick: Lego Superhero Birthday Party via The Scrap Shoppe Blog
Emily's pick: Lemon Honey Cream Ice Box Cake via Simply Suzanne
Lydia's pick: Lemon Cupcakes with Blackberry Buttercream via The Gracious Wife

And the most viewed link:


DIY Stenciled Nautical Beach Tote via Vintage Zest

Congrats to all of our featured bloggers!  Be sure to grab our 'I Was Featured' button to display proudly on your blog. :)


Now it's time to party!


The Rules:

*We love our followers, and always follow back. Please follow us on GFC as well as BlogLovin:

Follow on Bloglovin


*You can also find us at these favorite social media sites: FacebookTwitterPinterestInstagram, and Google+
* Please link back to us in your post. Whether it be through a text link or by posting our super cute button somewhere in your post. We appreciate it!
* If you do NOT link back to us in your post, you will NOT be Featured on Much Ado About Monday. So, link back! You'll thank us later. :)

*Features posts will be pinned on Pinterest and promoted on Facebook and Google+
* Feel free to link up decorating tips, DIY projects, recipes, organizational ideas, sewing and crochet creations or anything else crafty or that you find inspirational.
* Please do not link up giveaways, Etsy shops, or projects that were not made by you.
* You may link up to three posts a week!
* If your post has been featured, please do not link it up again.
* Remember to visit, visit, visit! That's the point of a party, right? Have fun!

**We've switched things up just a bitFrom now on the links you post will be placed in random order to give everyone an opportunity to be at the top of the list.**


Thanks for stopping by to party with us!!







Friday, April 24, 2015

'Sensational Strawberries' First Birthday Party!


I can't believe my littlest just turned one. It saddens me how fast they grow, but it is so much fun to watch! The changes they go through in such a short span of time is fascinating.


Anyway, I like to have themed parties for my girls so I decided to go with a Strawberry party for Taylor. They are probably her favourite fruit and are super cute so it was a no brainer.

For party decor I chose a bright pink and lime green colour palette. It just seemed younger and more girly then the traditional red and green. So, with a few colour coordinated balloons, streamers, tablecloths, dinnerware and a handmade Strawberry banner (of course) the Strawberry themed party came to life!


I even made a tissue paper #1 for the front door. Check back later for a full tutorial on how you can make your own. They make a great wall hanging for a childs room too.


Parties are never a party without some munchies so besides having a boatload of strawberries to munch on, we also had a veggie patch (veggie tray), strawberry and grape shish-kebobs, chips and queso, popcorn chicken, fries and wings and a few strawberry flavoured candies.


For dessert I made strawberry cupcakes for the party attendees and a strawberry smash cake for the birthday girl.


Thanks to Jill, the treats were decorated beautifully, and obviously from Taylor's reaction to her cake,


they were delicious too!!


And just because there weren't already enough sweet treats for the kids, we had strawberry ice cream cones as well. :)


A lot of Taylor's party guests were a bit older than her so we had to have some games to play.

Pin the Tail on the Donkey is always a hit with the kids so I made up a Pin the Stem on the Strawberry game.


I wanted to have a pinata too, so even though I couldn't find a strawberry one and didn't have time to make one, I found a super cute #1 that worked perfectly.


The last game we played was by far my favourite. While the kids were outside in the backyard playing, I went into the front yard and threw a bunch of Brach's strawberry filled hard candies everywhere. I then told the kids that a strawberry patch had grown up in the front yard and we needed help gathering all of the strawberries. Then we let the kids loose out front for a strawberry picking free for all. (It was basically like an Easter egg hunt). The kids loved it!!


All of the games were a huge hit and even though she is only one, we found a way to include Taylor in all of them.


We always like to send our guests home with a little treat to say thank you, so in sticking with the strawberry theme, I made chocolate covered strawberries for all of our attendees. Yummy!!


All in all the party was a huge success and even though she couldn't exactly tell me herself, I know she had an absolute blast!!


Linking Up Here:














Sunday, April 19, 2015

Much Ado About Monday {No. 108}

Hi, friends!
Thanks for stopping by for our weekly link party! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Ours seemed to fly by. Aside from a bit of rain, the weather was wonderful and we were able to get outside and play tennis with the kids. 

Last week, we were quiet around here. We've got lots in the works, so expect some fun posts coming up! Stay tuned for Lydia and Jamie's posts this week.

Thanks to everyone who joined in our last week's party, you had so many fun projects and recipes!!!
And without further ado, our features are:


Jill's pick: Border Print Peasant Dress via Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom
Jamie's pick: Easter Bunny Plate via Lamberts Lately
Emily's pick: Flutter Ruffle Trim Nightgown via Sew Can Do
Lydia's pick: Spring Butterfly Wreath via Craving Some Creativity

And our most viewed link:

Healthy Homemade Tortillas via Homegrown and Healthy


Congrats to all of our featured bloggers!  Be sure to grab our 'I Was Featured' button to display proudly on your blog. :)


Now it's time to party!


The Rules:

*We love our followers, and always follow back. Please follow us on GFC as well as BlogLovin:

Follow on Bloglovin


*You can also find us at these favorite social media sites: FacebookTwitterPinterestInstagram, and Google+
* Please link back to us in your post. Whether it be through a text link or by posting our super cute button somewhere in your post. We appreciate it!
* If you do NOT link back to us in your post, you will NOT be Featured on Much Ado About Monday. So, link back! You'll thank us later. :)

*Features posts will be pinned on Pinterest and promoted on Facebook and Google+
* Feel free to link up decorating tips, DIY projects, recipes, organizational ideas, sewing and crochet creations or anything else crafty or that you find inspirational.
* Please do not link up giveaways, Etsy shops, or projects that were not made by you.
* You may link up to three posts a week!
* If your post has been featured, please do not link it up again.
* Remember to visit, visit, visit! That's the point of a party, right? Have fun!

**We've switched things up just a bitFrom now on the links you post will be placed in random order to give everyone an opportunity to be at the top of the list.**


Thanks for stopping by to party with us!!







Sunday, April 12, 2015

Much Ado About Monday {No. 107}

Hi! 
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! Ours consisted of finishing up some projects, t-ball, planting, and a wonderful brunch with my brother and his family. I love seeing our kids play together <3 And I finally got a chance to look at some of the photos we took when we went to Hill Country to see the Texas wildflowers last weekend. We've made it an annual trip, to take photos in the fields of bluebonnets and finish the drive off with bbq. I just had to share a few photos:-)


This week, I shared my latest project: Map Art {on a budget}. Check it out, it's really easy to make! 


And now onto the party... A big thanks to everyone who joined in on Much Ado About Monday last week. It's really cool to keep up with all of your projects and add even more to my inspiration board! And though it was difficult to decide, here are our picks:



Jill's pick: Raspberry Limeade Gin Fizz via Frugal Foodie Momma

Emily's pick: Herb Container Garden via Farmhouse 40
Jamie's pick: DIY Colorful Chalkboard Calendar via Hawthorne & Main
Lydia's pick: How to Make Beautiful Fabric Roses by Pocket Full of Posies

And our most viewed link...



Mini Banana Puddings via This Silly Girl's life


Congrats to all of our featured bloggers!  Be sure to grab our 'I Was Featured' button to display proudly on your blog. :)



Now it's time to party!


The Rules:

*We love our followers, and always follow back. Please follow us on GFC as well as BlogLovin:

Follow on Bloglovin


*You can also find us at these favorite social media sites: FacebookTwitterPinterestInstagram, and Google+
* Please link back to us in your post. Whether it be through a text link or by posting our super cute button somewhere in your post. We appreciate it!
* If you do NOT link back to us in your post, you will NOT be Featured on Much Ado About Monday. So, link back! You'll thank us later. :)

*Features posts will be pinned on Pinterest and promoted on Facebook and Google+
* Feel free to link up decorating tips, DIY projects, recipes, organizational ideas, sewing and crochet creations or anything else crafty or that you find inspirational.
* Please do not link up giveaways, Etsy shops, or projects that were not made by you.
* You may link up to three posts a week!
* If your post has been featured, please do not link it up again.
* Remember to visit, visit, visit! That's the point of a party, right? Have fun!

**We've switched things up just a bitFrom now on the links you post will be placed in random order to give everyone an opportunity to be at the top of the list.**


Thanks for stopping by to party with us!!







Saturday, April 11, 2015

Map Art {on a Budget}

Hi y'all!

I have some exciting, budget friendly, art I'd like to share with you today. So, we've been in our home for two years now, and are finally around to decorating our family room and entry walls. And since our budget was blown on new flooring, we weren't looking to spend too much. So for under $80, I was able to fill our entry way with art that meant something to us. 



Check it out! I was inspired by my neighbor, Jen, who has these exact frames from Hobby Lobby, that I love love love. They're the perfect color, and really pull the whole house together. I just had to find a frugal solution to the actual map portion, because I wasn't about to spend $20-$30 a pop on vintage maps. 


Well fate had it that a large travel atlas came up on our neighborhood free fare site. My husband kind of questioned my vision as I brought this large atlas home {probably way too excited} for my new project. But all turned out great and I am pleased to report that he approves of the final project. 

I used a self-healing mat, exacto knife, and straight edge and cut my maps down to 7.5" x 8" rectangles. I mounted these on white textured cardstock with dates printed below in american typewriter font. Once those were ready to go, I stopped by hobby lobby to pick up the 11x 14 frames {at 60% off!} and custom matting. I opted for the matting opening to be 8" x 10" instead of the standard 7.5" x 9.5" to have a larger area of whitespace around the map. 

And in about 10 minutes, my vision came alive! I absolutely love that this art is meaningful to our lives. The three maps represent where my husband and I met, where we married, and where we bought our first house. In a home that's mainly focused on our kids, i.e. their artwork, photos, etc, it's nice to have something that focuses on our start together as a couple. 

Thanks for the inspiration, Jen!



Sunday, April 5, 2015

Much Ado About Monday {No. 106}

Hi y'all! Thanks for joining us for Much Ado About Monday :-) 


And we hope you all had a wonderful Easter! We've been busy bees over here, with an exciting new venture, sewing, and crafts taking up our free time. Last week, I whipped up this super sweet dress for Ella's Alice in Wonderland themed father daughter dance. They had a blast, and I think they made quite the cute pair.


It's the same pattern as this one from Lydia's pattern test, just with puff sleeves.  I love the variations that this pattern offers!

And now onto our party!

Last week, y'all shared so many great crafts, recipes, and DIY's! I absolutely love going through the links and seeing what you've been up to!

Our features this week were...

Emily's pick: Blueberry Cheesecake Bars via Kleinworth & Co
Jill's pick: Sewn Saying Decoration via Nimble Note
Jamie's pick: Spring Wreath via Anything and Everything
Lydia's pick: Easter Bunny Treat Jars via Happiness is Homemade

And our most viewed link...


The Easiest Open Shelving Ever via The Hatched Home

Congrats to all of our featured bloggers!  Be sure to grab our 'I Was Featured' button to display proudly on your blog. :)


Now it's time to party!


The Rules:

*We love our followers, and always follow back. Please follow us on GFC as well as BlogLovin:

Follow on Bloglovin


*You can also find us at these favorite social media sites: FacebookTwitterPinterestInstagram, and Google+
* Please link back to us in your post. Whether it be through a text link or by posting our super cute button somewhere in your post. We appreciate it!
* If you do NOT link back to us in your post, you will NOT be Featured on Much Ado About Monday. So, link back! You'll thank us later. :)

*Features posts will be pinned on Pinterest and promoted on Facebook and Google+
* Feel free to link up decorating tips, DIY projects, recipes, organizational ideas, sewing and crochet creations or anything else crafty or that you find inspirational.
* Please do not link up giveaways, Etsy shops, or projects that were not made by you.
* You may link up to three posts a week!
* If your post has been featured, please do not link it up again.
* Remember to visit, visit, visit! That's the point of a party, right? Have fun!

**We've switched things up just a bitFrom now on the links you post will be placed in random order to give everyone an opportunity to be at the top of the list.**

Thanks for stopping by to party with us!!