Happy Memorial Day

Hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day weekend!! As a weekend treat for neighbors, Ashlan and I made some chocolate covered oreo's with our new cookie molds...



Just melt some chocolate. We used white chocolate and added blue and red food coloring to make a red, white, and blue treat


Pour a spoon full of chocolate into the mold. Then I placed an oreo into the chocolate (I used the double stuff oreo's because they are thicker) Spoon some more chocolate over the top and use a knife or flat spreader to smooth the top of the chocolate


Refrigerate the mold for 7-10 minutes. Then pop the chocolate covered oreo's right out of the mold...
Here is our red, white and blue oreo's...


Then we packaged them with a small tag and delivered them to our neighbors! YUM!

Treasures in a Box

Ashlan came home today with all her drawings and stories that were done in the classroom this year. What I love is how her teacher sent those treasures home! Each child got a box with a poem written on it from the teacher to the child. Then inside the box were all the keepsakes for Brent and I.

Party Planning

This little sweetheart turned 7 last month!



In all her 7 years, she has only had TWO birthday parties that included a group of friends; her 1st birthday (balloon theme) and her 4th birthday (at a farm). Every other birthday she has had, she has not wanted a party. She almost always just wants her family to go somewhere special together like a waterpark, or theme park. So this year, when I asked if she possibly wanted a party, she said YES! I was thrilled!!!! I love party planning and unless Brent and I host a gathering of friends, I never get to do it!

So we got to thinking about themes. Her favorite 'things' are horses, unicorns, rainbows, stuffed animals and shoes. Yes, shoes. (she is my daughter afterall!)

Since we didn't have a free weekend for a party until June (warmer weather) , we agreed a swim party would be fun! And since Ashlan has friends of all ages, we wanted another option besides the pool. So we thought renting an inflatable water slide would be fun. So once we started researching inflatables, we came across one that literally finalized what our theme would be!
RAINBOW!



Now for decor planning...... There are endless ideas online for how to throw a Rainbow themed party! Obviously, since it is a swim party, most of the decor will be outside and I will have to consider weather when planning (wind, wind, wind)

I would love to hang balloons or tissue paper balls from the outside arbor.
Do you like these tissue paper balls in the bottom right corner?


Or the balloons? (actually, I might use both - just in different areas)


And food. Ah, food. The party is going to be late afternoon, but before dinnertime.....Therefore I don't need to serve heavy food. I'm thinking just quick snacks the kids can grab for energy in between playing in the pool or on the slide....

For instance, a rainbow fruit kebob


Rainbow twizzlers....


And that one special treat..... Cupcakes?


Or a cake?


Ashlan wants a cake, BUT with it being a swim party, I think cupcakes are a more logical treat. Quick, easy, and they can walk around with it.

Lots of decisions to make, but boy do I love to throw a party!!!!!

Derby Day

Are you ready for the Kentucky Derby???

I've always watched the Derby, but never made an event out of it. This year, for the family, I'm going to make a Mint Julep Cake!


Here's the recipe I plan to follow:



Mint Julep Cake (courtesy of Alexandra's Kitchen)

Yield = 12-18 servings
2 cups white sugar
1 cup butter, room temperature
3 cups cake flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup buttermilk
½ cup sugar
½ cup butter
¼ cup bourbon

1½ cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1 tablespoon white crème de menthe liqueur (I used just a touch of mint extract and a bit of green food coloring)

1) Preheat oven to 325ºF. Coat a 10-inch Bundt pan with cooking spray.
2) Beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Meanwhile, whisk together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a large bowl.
3) Add eggs one at a time to butter mixture, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla.
4) Sprinkle half the flour mixture into the butter mixture and stir until just combined. Add half the buttermilk, stir. Repeat with remaining flour and buttermilk. Pour into prepared pan and smooth evenly around center.
5) Bake for 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Place on cooling rack.
6) Meanwhile combine the ½ cup sugar, butter and bourbon in a small saucepan and heat until butter is melted. Stir until smooth and remove from heat.
7) Using a skewer, poke holes into cake. Pour sauce evenly over the cake. Let cake cool to room temperature in the pan before removing.
8) Meanwhile whisk confectioners’ sugar, milk and crème de menthe until smooth. Add more milk or liqueur to reach desired consistency. Drizzle sauce over cooled cake. Garnish with fresh mint leaves.

I can't wait to see how it turns out!!