plum

girl getaway

 

This would be our sixth annual Ramsey Girl Getaway {first in a suite!} and Canyon Ranchwas quite the hostess.  ...with her luxurious accommodations and healthful fare and Aquavana thermal suites {amazing!}.  If ever the chance, get there.

 

 

 

 

 

If you're after a world class spa experience with a thousand things to do ~ or not do ~ Canyon Ranch is for you.  And, while my puffed up foot nixed my plan for "sun up/sun down" exercise, it in no way dampened my experience.  It left me with a bit more beach time, an eye on upper body work and a few extra treatments {hellooo, Oxygen facial}.  Really there's no better spot to suffer an injury!

 

thanks Mom!

 

 

Have your elephant and eat it, too.

 

Baking magic.  That's what this is. 

Yeah, yeah it's a three-year-old's birthday party.  And yeah, yeah any old Dumbo-style elephant cake would have been fine, but why stop there?  It's a party!  I crave design!  As soon as Baby Bear demanded "elephant cake!" I knew only Patti Paige would do.  Do you see the trees?!?!  Look at the detail on those elephants!!!  And the best part of all?  They were d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.  Delicious!  The most perfectly baked sugar cookie topped with the delicate crunch of sweet icing.  Baking magic.

So, thank you.  Patti Paige.  For giving young Max his elephant and giving me and the little partygoers such a treat. 

 

 

See more of Patti Paige and her amazing work on Facebook or Bakedideas.com.

 

 

 

Herd photos by Patti Paige

others by Michael Handwerk Photography

 

 

 

for him

 

The details were for him.  His favorite things. 

1. yellow {still and always}  
2. elephants {forever}  
3. M - A - X  {letter obsessed}

Two and three could be my favorite ages.  It's such a great phase of development and fun.  I want to remember these days forever.  Thankfully, I can through the great snapshots Michael Handwerk Photography captured for me on party day. Hostessing is busy, busy and I never had a second to snap a thing.  My tip for you:  post on Craigslist.  The few dollars you'll spend are more than worth it.  I'm so grateful he was there. 

warning: photo overload  :)

While my party at the park wasn't to be, all the party prep paid off and we bounced and planted and bubble chased and laughed...  My boy never stopped smiling and we all met bedtime exhausted and content. 

Happy Birthday my sweets.  I love you so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow meet the herd.

 

 

 

pretty eats

 

Everything I hoped for and more.

Patti Paige delights.

 

stay tuned for more!

 

 

 

 

party prep

 

painting chairs. painting pots. tracing hearts. picnic blankets.

we're well under way.

 

 

 

 

 

golden yuck

 

In the spirit of trying new things and wanting smaller pants, I've recently tried Whole Living's Golden Elixir.  Friends.  Don't bother.  Gross doesn't begin to describe it.  I'll stick with lemon water.

 

 

 

 

Patti Paige

 

Not only will Max get his much-requested elephant cake, but it will come from the very talented hands of Patti Paige. 

I can't wait!

bakedideas.com

 

 

 

 

the great outdoors

 Mother Nature had the nerve to drop more snow today.  If she even THINKS about serving up rain on party day, why I'll...

The way the weather's been, I'm beginning to think we might be making snow angels instead of spring crafts at Max's fete.  But, being the eternal optimist I am, I'm forging ahead with plans for warm weather activities including Bird Feeders, Scavenger Hunts and Color Matching.  I'll settle on one or two come party day, along with a fun take-home for the kids ~ decorate and plant a planter.  My kids love to plant seeds, water them and watch them grow.  And who doesn't love flowers?

 

 

{opening nature art photo}

 

 

eat this pin

 

~ Cauliflower Garlic "Breadsticks" ~

I had every intention of keeping up with my weekly recipes this year, but here we are in March, mid-March!, and I haven't done a thing.  tsk, tsk. 

Like brussel sprouts last year, cauliflower seems to be all the rage.  Pinboards and blogs are pro-cauli these days.  We're way ahead of the trend in my house, it's long been a staple and Miss Pippy loves the stuff.  New techniques are fun and I never thought to grate cauliflower, dah!. It is a tad messy ~ flying bits ~ but that's about as difficult as this recipe gets. 

 After a bit of mixing and pressing, it was in the oven.  Easy.  In the end, I wasn't expecting the eggi-ness of it, but the flavor was yum.  I doubled the recipe, so next time maybe I won't double the egg content.  And it makes for a great base to throw just about anything else on in the future. 

 

Ingredients = cauliflower, garlic, egg, oregano, chili powder, onion, cheese, olive oil, salt/pepper. 

Dificulty = 0, Tastiness = 7

{scale = 1-10} 

Taste Testers:

Emerson ~ "mmmmm, that smells yummy Mommy.  Can I try some?"   My super eater happily tried the new dish, but wrinkled her nose upon tasting it.  "It smells better than it tastes".

Max ~ "I don't like that."  never got near it.

 

 

three

Baby Bear has a birthday next month and we'll celebrate with a party at the park.  We handed out invites to his little friends this morning and I've been pinning ideas for days.  So far, I see a fun welcome board, tents, tattoos, balloons and lots of fun. 

Should April showers have the nerve to wreak havoc on my plans, we'll head indoors to my house.  But where ever we land, I can't wait to celebrate him on his special day.  He's a sweet, sweet boy whom I just ADORE.

 

~ welcome board, balloons, decorating, crayons, tattoos, twister, balloons, gift bags, tents ~