Love for the Holiday Bloggie Bash

How amazing is this contest via Laura Winslow Photography?!   What a talented group of vendors/artists!  
http://laurawinslowphotography.com/blog/2011/11/21/10000-holiday-bloggie-bash-laura-winslow-photography/

Not only am I a fan of Laura Winslow and the other vendors, but I saw the vendor of my latest obsession - mini top hats!  This is the vendor and each of the hats I ordered for my 2 1/2 year old are shown below.  They are currently serving double-time as gorgeous decor items in my little one's room when not being worn.  All photos are from the www.charmingnecessities.com site.  Seriously cute, wouldn't you say?

Double Header for Double Digits - Baseball Themed Party (Age 10)

Last year was the year of parties.  My youngest turned 1, my middle turned 10 and my oldest turned 16.  For my 10 year old, who doesn't prefer a big fuss over him, I decided to take his passion for baseball to celebrate the double digit milestone.  It turned out pretty well, I think!

It all started with this fun ticket style invitation from Paisley Prints etc.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/57355970/15-baseball-ticket-party-invitations-for

Paper party printable decorations were by Dimpleprints.

http://www.dimpleprints.com/

What's a baseball party without a baseball game?  All partygoers had matching team shirts that I designed via CustomInk.

http://www.customink.com

Instead of the traditional pinata process, we pitched ours!

The birthday boy was treated to tickets to a professional baseball game as a birthday gift.

Sweet 16 Country Western Party

Some photos from the event are shown below.  Prepare yourself, I am clearly not a) a photographer and b) great at narrowing down photos to only showcase a select few...  I promise, I left a whole lot of photos out of this blog (really, I did).

Invitations and paper party decor by Party Box Design!  Many of the country props are compliments of a dear friend.  I need to note the cookie vendor!  Delicious oreo balls made by my talented neighbor.  Cake from a local bakery.

Guests dressed according to the "Country Western" theme, danced the night away to the beats of a DJ, dined on good ol' southern cookin' with choices like fried chicken and, of course, red velvet cake.  This Midwest November night was more like a hot Southern boot stompin', chandelier swingin' barn party.  We loved it ya'll!

http://www.partyboxdesign.com/item_229/Western-Chic.htm

As I started gathering everything for my daughter's country western themed 16th birthday party, I took a few pics of the decor. My poor dining room was overtaken for a while.

Project Junkie

I have decided that I like projects. I just plain love 'em. If my children have a project due for school that is remotely creative, I get giddy. If something needs to be assembled - despite the fact that I have a husband in the trades - I am ALL over it. I like hands-on, do it yourself projects. This includes anything that involves planning details. I also love planning parties and decorating. My latest small projects include door posters for my fifteen year old daughter and her camp roommate and a tent for my one year old. My larger projects include planning my son's doubleheader for double digits 10th birthday party and my oldest's 16th country western style party.

I would probably be far more intense if I didn't work full time and go to school. Would it be obnoxious if I talked my husband into a craft room/workshop? My craft cabinet is almost at capacity. I secretly long to be Martha Stewart. My dream is to be an accomplished photographer, graphic artist, interior carpenter and woodworker, painter, scrap-booker, stamper and interior designer. Oh how I love being crafty and artistic. Oh how I love projects.

Time to Breathe

Fourth of July. Happy Birthday to the United States of America! What a great time to be festive with the family. This year, both my husband and I had a three day weekend. Well, part of the family. Our oldest spent the weekend at her friend's new house. We purchased a great playhouse for the 1 year old, attended a parade, set off smoke bombs and snappers with the kids, and cooked out on the grill. A lot. We had breakfast and dinner on the grill. It was delicious! My poor diet is suffering. What an amazing weekend with my lovely husband and children without a schedule to follow. Time to breathe. :)

"Why blog?", you ask...

As the blog title suggests, I am inspired to craft a blog to capture our life together as a family. With a 15 year old, 9 year old and 9 month old, I feel the time slipping away. I want to ensure that all data is dumped. I wish I could sift through the archives of my brain and file each precious memory in an easily retrievable place. I will tell my story...if I remember it. :)