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Seven Heaven Birthday

August 10, 2011 jennifer Entertaining, Musings on Life and Beauty

I neglected to post about out little evening birthday party for my 3rd daughter last week. I love seven year olds. They’re helpful, sweet, teachable. It’s an awesome year if you’ve got a 7 year old in your house. After our early outdoor breakfast I let the children play while I baked the cake. It was so sweet to watch my eight year old offer to french braid her sister’s hair on her birthday. Lots of little things like that happened on her birthday which are precious for a mother to observe.

The highlight of our party was an outdoor movie projected on the side of the house. We watched Ramona & Beezus which happens to be a movie I love. It makes me laugh. It was really fun and made us all wonder why we don’t do it more often (perhaps because this summer’s mosquitoes have been terrible). Before the movie we had my brother, his girlfriend and her daughter come over along with some neighbors for cake and ice cream.

She also requested lasagna, which didn’t sound like much fun to make on a hot August night. I wondered if I could somehow make individual lasagnas in my muffin tin and what do you know but a quick google search yielded plenty of people already doing it. I got some pointers from those ideas and whipped some up. They were delicious (recipe to come).

We also served a special treat: Marionberry licorice, her favorite.

The cake turned out beautifully. It’s the first birthday cake I’ve ever made that I really feel proud of. (I’m not good at birthday cakes but would like to be.)

Everything about the cake was made according to her request and I think she liked the final product.

It’s hard to believe this sweet girl is already seven. I can still remember so clearly having her crawl around my house as a baby. One of my favorite pictures of her is her standing on our front porch the day she turned 3. It’s true that time speeds up with each child and I am reminded that there are still many moments for me to catch and hold on to a little longer. I don’t want to miss any of this. I love her so much.

And I still adore her freckles . It was a happy birthday in so many ways.

HH

Celebrate the 4th: Be Thoughtful

July 1, 2011 jennifer 4th of July, Entertaining, Pretty Packages

Are you getting together with family or friends for your 4th of July celebration? If you’re going somewhere as a guest, consider taking along a small gift for your hostess. If you’re the one hosting you could send your guests home with something to remember the day.

What about a box of sparklers? Tied with a ribbon and a little tag you’ve got a quick and easy token of appreciation.

You could also consider sharing something homemade. I filled a pint size mason jar with good water for a refreshing drink. These would be a fun thing to give your guests when they get in their hot car to head home, or for your hostess to enjoy when she’s finally able to sit down and relax at day’s end.

A bouquet of flags would also be pretty with or without flowers. It would be useful and a great reminder of the day you’re celebrating.

These are just a few little ideas to spark your creativity when you either head out the door or open your door in welcome. I’d love to hear what you do!

**If you’re looking for an easy 4th of July activity for the weekend, check back tomorrow morning for a pdf version of my annual trivia!
Hopeful Homemaker

Celebrating the 4th: Dress up the table

June 30, 2011 jennifer 4th of July, Entertaining

Holidays and food seem to go together. Every holiday is made festive by adding a few touches of personality to your table. Over the years I’ve learned to watch for items that will work for many occasions and holidays. I try to purchase dishes and decor that are one color plus white. This means I can mix and match for multiple occasions. I like to challenge myself to see new potential in the things I have on hand when I get ready for a party instead of feeling like I need to go shopping. It’s so much fun to survey what I already have and be creative.

Vintage tablecloths are a great way to set the mood and my red, white and blue tablecloths are among my favorite. I like the aqua touches in this one because they play well off the aqua table on my back porch. Notice the Pop Shoppe bottles are just red and white which makes them versatile enough to use year round.

I also used a blue and white tray, polka dot napkins in both blue/white and red/white topped by forks that are white with blue stars. None of these items is exclusively for the 4th of July, yet used together they’re perfect for my favorite holiday.

I have a talent for collecting tiny but adorable dishes when I visit Crate & Barrel. These small bowls are new this year; again two of them are just one color with only the third having red and blue stripes. They’re perfect for serving desserts or snacks.

A plain red serving bowl, white drink dispenser and some American flags complete the serving table. By mixing colors and patterns it’s a beautiful table.

A few other ideas: make a bouquet of flags for the center of your table, find some red and white striped fabric and make a table runner, hang stars above the table. Buy paper flags on toothpicks and stick them in one of your dishes. If you want to use plain white napkins try this idea with festive ribbon. I avoid paper plates and napkins with actual flags printed on them; it doesn’t sit well with me to be “eating” off the flag or wiping my mouth on it.

Dress up your table for the 4th of July, even if it’s a simple meal with your immediate family. This little dinner was just for my husband and children and it warmed my heart to observe how much they enjoyed and appreciated my efforts. It made them feel special and communicated my love to them. I hope you find something new and creative to do with what you’ve already got.

One comment 4th of July, entertaining

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