eggs in the nest

Last March I began my search for different types of blown-out eggs to put in a nest on our coffee table. I thought it would be a great way to teach the little miss about birds and hatching. So far in our collection we have eggs from an ostrich, emu, chicken, duck, goose, and quail. Clementine likes to pick them up and feel how smooth or textured they are; she is very good with them, realizing their potential fragility.  I made some flash cards with pictures of the birds and their babies. We match the egg to it's appropriate picture, talk about where the bird lives, what sounds it makes, how big they are, and other observations, and then thanks to you tube we can watch these birds hatching from their eggs!  I thought putting out our nest of eggs every year would make for a fun spring tradition. 

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Green Grass Wedding {with a pop of pink}

On the calendar it's the first day of spring. Sure, the trees are in blossom, the daphne is intoxicating, and the daffodils and crocuses have been smiling at me for a couple of weeks,  but when I close my eyes I'd like to imagine running around with bare feet on a carpet of thick, lovely, green grass with the sun shining down on me.

For that reason, I thought it would be a great time to share pictures of my sister's wedding that happened back in August. Her theme was green and pink. The green being glorious wheat grass; simple and perfect. 

The couple chose Capellero's in Bethel, CT for the location which was just the right setting. It has a sort of rustic barn-like appeal with a slightly more polished edge, mixed with a vintage summer mountain resort (for some reason I kept thinking Dirty Dancing) feeling. They've painted the inside walls and ceiling dark gray and hung large white paper lanterns and painted white branches covered with white lights down from the ceiling. This was a day wedding with BBQ on the menu. A sunshine, bring your kids along, yes, there will be cotton candy there, everybody have fun kind of affair.

As the maid (oh, I guess matron!) of honor and personal florist/wedding planner, I was put to work as soon as I left the baggage area of JFK. (Enter sister's eye roll here.)

I loved it. 

First, the grass centerpieces. The bride had been soaking the grass seed so it was ready to be planted. She had done a test run and knew we needed seven days to achieve the look we wanted for the centerpiece. We also planted the wooden tray that would become the place to "Find Your Seat", where place cards were cut like little flags and hung from mini wooden clothespins on a line of twine, and the "Box of Love". (Both of these were painted with chalkboard paint so they could easily be labeled and look cool, too.  This coordinated well with the table numbers that went into each centerpiece.)

Box of love? The couple came up with the brilliant idea of making a box with a hinged lid and built in slot on top. Grass could be planted around the slot and wedding cards could be inserted. GENIUS! It was such a big box we decided to make it a place for guests to leave messages or ideas for date nights as well as their cards. "Box of Love" seemed like an appropriate title. 

To add a pop of color on the table we made mini bright pink tissue paper flowers tied with thin green satin ribbon and placed one on each napkin. 

Pink and green lanterns in all sizes decorated the pergola where the wedding ceremony occurred, and I placed some on the floor in front of their table which over looked the dance floor. I had never used lanterns on the floor before. I liked it. It added some color, and by the end of the party, the kids were throwing them around like beach balls. Oh dear.

Guests were able to leave their mark by making a thumb print balloon above a classic camaro (the groom is into cars!) We used washable ink and left a package of baby wipes close by to clean up with. It was a fun activity. Cupcakes were served for dessert, of course, placed in grass printed baking cups and topped with edible pink butterflies we found on etsy. 

All of this grass made it especially easy for me as the florist. I only had to make the bride's bouquet which was an array of hot pink blossoms with some beautiful emerald hydrangea. The little miss was delighted to be a flower girl and toss out hot pink rose petals but, she was mostly delighted to wear a long hot pink satin dress with a bright green crinoline underneath,  just like her mama. Crinolines are super fun. Even my niece, the mini flower girl, had one. Too cute.

Although I'm sure I was bossy from time to time (enter sister eye roll here), I was really happy to be a part of my sister's special day. I know that most brides and bridesmaids opt for a day at the spa before the big affair, but I like that home made, frantic, work together and get it all done feeling. It makes the wedding day even more filled with love.

{P.S. On a Do-it-yourself wedding budget? A grass themed wedding is a budget friendly way to make your own wedding centerpieces! Looking for green grass invites? Here's the printable wedding invitation she used from etsy!}

Mini Rainbow Cakes

​What's St. Patty's Day without a little rainbow cake for the leprechauns? 

Same layer cake recipe as last year, different approach. ​

I used a 2" circle cookie cutter and cut out as many circles as I could from each layer. I managed to get 8.  Next, I stacked each color of the rainbow with a bit of freshly whipped cream in between. Topped with more whipped cream and finished off with with tiny edible gold star sprinkles! 

​LOVE these edible gold stars. They added just the right sparkle.

They can also be made in a small glass. No worry about them toppling and you can add a little extra whipped cream!​

Everything's coming up rainbows

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Ah, the week before St. Patrick's Day brings so many rainbows. I love it. We're painting and cutting and glittering things gold.​ It makes me smile to see the water color rainbow she painted, clouds and all.

We will start getting this year's leprechaun trap together soon! Not a day has gone by that she hasn't pretended to be a leprechaun who tricks me into thinking he has buried gold in my back yard. I giggle every time she says "Better luck next year!" at the end.

Weezie {and Chet} are looking for the Official State of Summer

Our little Weezie's on the big screen! Well, depending on the size of your monitor. Ha.​ This is her 'acting' debut for Malibu Rum's new product campaign for Malibu Cans and their instagram game to find the Official State of Summer.

Play the game. Win prizes.

(@malibucans on ig or visit www.officialstateofsummer.com)

​C'mon, did you see that high five?! Professional!

​Check them out!

We're so proud of our furry superstar.

Should I start a Weezie fanclub?​

{fresh} pineapple upside down cake

I've got sunshine on the brain. Spring break lurks. For us, well, it's in the form of two pineapples that the mister brought home from work. There they sat on the counter just begging for some attention. ​

Thanks to the Joy of Baking, ​one lucky pineapple will have its dreams answered; to be lovingly consumed by us as we imagine our toes in the sand and the sunshine upon our face. 

Yes, that is me above hand whisking my egg whites ​and cream of tartar into stiff peaks. The little miss was kind enough to document it as she waited patiently (kind of) to see if I would let her lick the spatula or have a maraschino cherry. Although this process of separated eggs is a bit more work it is so worth it in the end. This RECIPE does not disappoint! Using fresh pineapple put me one step closer to those tropical fields.  I could taste it in every sweet bite.

FAVORITES

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Want easy access to our favorite ideas and posts from the past?  Now you're just one click away! 

Favorites is a pretty broad word.  I mean ask a parent to pick their favorite child or me to pick my favorite flower or color, and well, it's impossible. So think of this as a greatest hits collection, a creative inventory of sorts. It's a way to browse ideas and get inspiration for holidays, making, baking, roots & stems, parties, and of course, Clementine approved. One click on the picture and you'll be taken to the blog post.

FAVORITES is a work in progress that I'll continue adding ideas and categories to. Let me know what you think!