my poor blog.....

This poor ol' blog is sure being neglected.  I actually miss it.  But I have been VERY busy lately.  Some good things, some bad.  Just thought I'd share a little of what I've been upto and why my poor blog is so pathetically ignored lately.

Mama, though doing over all MUCH better, has had more bad weeks then good recently.  Which takes up a bunch of time when that happens.  I try to spend every second with her possible when shes having a bad time, and being that I'm staying down here with her for that very purpose right now makes being with her all the time pretty easy lol.

My brother and his family recently moved an hour and a half away.  So we met up and took the girls to Busch Gardens since we never get to see them anymore.

We even brought mama. (who was having a very good week at the time.)

We bought a new truck!! Which I am totally in love with.  We got it at an auction through my brother in-laws father who owns a dealership. Totally worth it money wise....not to much worth it by way of time, stress, and confusion.  Im not so good with spending hundreds of hours on the internet looking for a car, going down to the auction with a list of cars you might like and hoping you end up with a good one.  Very Stressful.  But like I said, TOTALLY worth it as far as money goes.  We got WAY MORE than we thought we would for our money and REALLY appreciate it!!

Mamas new thing is redecorating her house.  I think she constantly needs a project to keep her busy lately.  Good luck to my dad when I go home, haha.  Anyways so we have been doing lots of work.  I did her guest bedroom completely by myself.  My brother and dad helped with the floor, but thats all...and I even did some of it.  I'm pretty proud of how beautifully it turned out!!

this is BY FAR my favorite part.  I stripped, sanded, painted, and antiqued my nanas old cedar chest....all by my lonesome. I LOVE the way it turned out, and I double love the way the little pile of shell filled vases looks on top of it.

I also covered her two rocking chairs and couch, and made pillows for them...I still have to cover the ottoman.

* I staple gunned this much tighter, but I havent taken any more pictures since then....but you get the idea.

We had our first bon fire smore roast with Alyvia the other night.

She said the fire was too hot and wouldnt even try the smores haha.  She did enjoy eating the ingredients separately, however.

If that's not enough to keep you busy I also have been baking (of course)! and AS SOON AS I GET A COUPLE MINUTES I will be doing a tutorial on this cake, and making misc. item out of fondant for "CAKE IT PRETTY" on Bird Crafts.

* please excuse the q-tips that were holding up the guitar while it dried. hehe

and if that wasn't enough, Alyvia is currently sleeping next to me with a 102.5 fever that I can't seem to get to break.  (which is the only reason I'm awake right now). 

So please forgive my neglect.  I miss my blog.  I'll be back on track soon....i hope! :)

I love summer BBQ's!

One of the best things about summer is BBQ's!!  I love getting together with friends and family, I love being outside, I love BBQ'd food, and the list goes on and on.  Totally a win, win, win, win, win situation if you ask me!! Now, what to serve and how to serve it?? KABOBS....for everything!!! Much easier to eat while walking around outside, much less clean up, and super cute ways to display them on your food table!! Check out Martha Stewarts slide show of kabob recipes HERE!!

You can even kabob dessert! These Brownie Fruit kakobs from Betty Crocker look soo delish I'm fighting going to make them right now!!

HERE is a list of tips of displaying your kabobs.
PS...they have kabob sticks at the dollar store;) just fyi. 

Enjoy! :)

I love this ice cream in a jar party favor idea from Style Me Pretty.  Things like this is why I love the summer so much!!!! SOO cute. check out the tutorial here!!

Team Edward! :)

I found these pics through a friend on facebook.  She was a guest, not the host. I just fell in serious love with this Eclipse deput party.  Check out these AMAZING pics of this AMAZING party.  Bravo to Joanna and Lauren the hosts, you're amazing, whoever you are!

Check out these pics!

I wish I had some explanation of the details of this party.  I'm trying to contact these amazing hostesses on facebook, so maybe I'll be able to get them to write something up for me. 

I seriously can't get over this party, being a huge Twilight fan myself. 

Popcicle birthday cake!

not in the mood to bake a cake? or buy one? what a super fun summery idea for a summertime bday party! A POPCICLE BIRTHDAY CAKE! My wonderful and always amazing friend chelsea made this cake for her little boy.  She stacked two pieces of foam and simply stabbed the popcicles in, and covered it with cute birthday ribbon! TA DA! I love it!

YAY

FINALLY I HAVE A COMPUTER AGAIN!! MANY MANY MANY POSTS SOON!! IM SO EXCITED :)

computer crashed:(

lots of things to share when the new hard drive gets here!!

4th of July Must Haves!

With the 4th of July coming up so soon I thought I'd share with you some links to some of the things that I have found meandering through cyberspace that were definite essentials for your July 4th Barbecue! Check em out!

These Stars and Stripes Folding fans would be VERY appreciated by your guest, and make a nice favor!

These Firework Picks are SO adorable, and take any ordinary dish and turn it into a decoration!

If you have ever read this blog, then you know how much a cake/cup cakes mean to me!! These are SO cute and a total must have!

This CD would make for super fun karaoke, and GREAT video I'm sure!

This cooler is not only adorable AND convenient, but its deflatable which makes it easy to store for next year!

Don't forget to decorate yourself with something patriotic! Check out These super cute 4th of July earrings for only $5.00.

Hope this helps you get the patriotism flowing!  If you have any fun 4th of July party ideas please send them my way!! Thanks!!

Cake it pretty!!!

Want to learn how to make this Fathers day "fake cake" and get some fondant practice?? Check out the tutorial I did on Bird Crafts later today.
PS There is a GREAT give away attached to the post. DONT MISS OUT!

Cake It Pretty!!

I am SOOOO excited to tell you all that I will be teaming up with BirdCrafts to start a new cake decorating series "Cake it Pretty"!!! I am thrilled that someone thinks enough of my cakes to even ask me to guest blog.  I can't promise that the cakes I will help you create will be the BEST or the MOST AMAZING cakes you will find.  But I think they're pretty great, and I will do my best to show you what I know, give you any and all tips, tricks, and mistakes that I have learned and made to make things easier on you, and help you to make Beautiful, Wonderful, and Delicious Creations!!  Please go check it out!! While you're over there you MUST look around Birdcrafts!! Her blog is wonderful and she has a ton of wonderful ideas, crafts, tutorials, party ideas, blog tips, etc.  Shes slightly amazing, and you'd regret it if you didn't!!

p.s. The first "Cake it Pretty" cake will have a Fathers Day theme...and soon!! Please be on the look out for it!!

Baby shower gift!

I made this wall hanging as a baby shower gift for a friend of mine.  I didn't take any pics of it until right before the shower like the dork that I am.  Luckily it was super easy, so it should be easy to explain.

I found a 12"x12" wooden square at Michaels.  Some Cute fabric and a wooden K and acrylic paint at Hobby Lobby.  Some E-6000 Glue from Michaels. Some Ribbon.  A staple gun, and 1/4 and 1/2 inch staples. And spray adhesive.

First I sprayed the front of the square with spray adhesive and glued the fabric to it.  Then I stapled the excess fabric to the back of the square with the 1/4 inch staples so that it wouldnt go all the way through.  Then I painted the K green (which I had to make the proper color by mixing off white, lime green, and brown).  Then I glued the K on to the fabric with the E 6000 glue.  Then I stapled the K on from the back with the 1/2 inch staples.  Be very careful when stapling the K on that you done miss the K and just put holes in your fabric.  I then cut the ribbon to hang it from and stapled it to the back of the square.  Next I cut another square of fabric and folded the edges under so that it was just a bit smaller than the wooden square (about 11 1/2x11 1/2) I put it over the back of the square and covered all my ugly staples and just stapled it in the four corners so that those four staples are the only four you see.  And then I tied the bow which I learned how to do by googling "tying bows" and found a tutorial on you tube....which I would link but I cant remember which one I used....theres lots on there that are essentially the same. Last I hot glued the bow to the corner of the ribbon and WA LA! I really think it turned out cute!

4th of July BBQ

This 4th of July BBQ by Kara @ Kara's Party Ideas is sooooo adorable. I love how put together it is.  Everything and I mean EVERYTHING is part of the theme.  So creative!! I love the watermelon beverage despenser.  Check it out HERE!

YAY ME!! and Ucreate!!!

Just wanted to let you all know I'm being featured this week as the "new craft blog" on UCreate!!! (which is like my favorite place on the web.)  I feel a little like I won the lottery! Thanks Kari!!!!

I LOVE this lace photo back drop from Martha Stewart found HERE. What a fun idea for a wedding, or anniversary party...or any party for that matter. And the pics are a great favor too!!

Little Miss Chef Party!

I am SO in love with this super creative party theme by Bee in our Bonnet!  This cooking party is so adorable, and my inner 5 year old is totally jealous.  I love the aprons she made as favors.  Great Idea!!!! Find it HERE!