Mothers and daughters Baking

This is just one of the things we did this Mother's Day weekend. I hope your Mother's Day is spent with all your loves doing what you love. Happy Mothers Day my friends.

Mocha Latte Cupcakes

Have I ever mentioned that I love coffee?  

I have been putting coffee in my chocolate cake for a couple years now.  Thanks to Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) one of my favorite lady chefs.  I don't use her recipe anymore but I still use the coffee.  

White chocolate crackle candy

I have wanted to post this quick and easy recipe for months now.  Ever since our Minecraft party I've had numerous requests for how to make "Redstone" candy.  For those that are Minecraft illiterate, "Redstone" is an ore in the Minecraft game that is sparkly and a little bit sparky.  It is used to create circuits that can control levers, doors, switches and tons of other elaborate things.  For our party I wanted to make a candy that had a little kick to it just like Redstone. 

Tip Junkie Printable-Shop-a-thon

I'm participating in the the Printable Shop-a-thon over on Tip Junkie. Where my Itsy Bitsy Spider invitations and envelopes are 30% off.  They are only on sale for 24 hours.  To get the discount enter the coupon code TIPJUNKIE30 when you place your order.  I will be discontinuing the coupon on Saturday so don't wait too long or you might miss it.   Have a happy Friday!

~Sunny~   

Something a little different

I just added these to my Etsy shop and I have to say I'm a little smitten.  They aren't my usual style but I adore their sketchy whimsy.  I wish my Mara would let me use these for her Birthday but they aren't quite froofy and filled with little girl glam the way a typical 5 year old likes.  She does like blue so maybe just maybe there is hope.  I know I would love a tutu and tea party.  Who wouldn't?

~Sunny~

Yay! I made Hostess with the Mostess party of 5

Thank you, thank you, thank you Hostess with the Mostess for posting my Country Garden baby shower in the "Friday, party of 5 picks".  I am a huge upon huge fan of Hostess with the Mostess and tickled pink to appear on her blog.  There are so many beautiful parties on her site.  I have to say I am guilty of spending countless hours browsing through the pages of splendiferous party goodness.  Sorry, I told myself I wouldn't gush. 

So if you have a few hours to spare you should go check out her lovely blog and store and  website.  Okay now I'm off to celebrate.  Hope you have a great weekend. 

~Sunny~ 

Donckers candy and confections

   

I recently went to visit my home town of Marquette, Michigan.  It's such a beautiful city, rich with history and natural beauty, nestled along the coast of Lake Superior.  While I was wandering around downtown I was delighted to see the old Donckers candy store open for business.

There's something so comforting about places that were familiar to you as a child welcoming you home after so many years.  

Peanut Butter Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip (flourless) Cookies

So I had a lot of ripe bananas sitting around and thanks to my friend Gina at Contemplating Beauty I had a craving for flourless peanut butter cookies. If you've never had flourless peanut butter cookies it's a must try.  They have an intense peanut butter flavor that is amazing.  I knew there was some way I could use up my bananas and make some peanut butter cookies at the same time.  So I found this recipe on Pinterest from Dinners for a year and beyond.  

Operation Showered with Love

For a couple of years now I have been a fan of Operation Shower and their wonderful mission.  Last week I had the chance to lend a helping hand with one of their lovely events honoring military moms.  For those who are not familiar with Operation Shower, they are a nonprofit organization that provides baby showers for military families to help ease the stress of deployment. 

The experience was beyond what I expected.  There were 40 mothers, beautiful decorations, delicious desserts, and a showering of gifts. It was amazing and so touching!  

St. Patty's Day free printable cupcake toppers

With Saint Patrick's Day right around the corner I thought I would post these free lucky printable cupcake toppers.  Now isn't that lucky?  If you would like to share in the luck you can download them here.  I hope your Saint Patty's Day is filled with lots of Kelly Green, lots of luck and maybe some Bailey's if you're lucky. 

~Sunny~

Giveaway at Any Given Party!!!

Yay! My friend Christine at Any Given Party just hit 1,000 fans on Facebook.  To celebrate this wonderful occasion she is hosting a giveaway for the next week with gift certificates to various fabulous Etsy vendors.  I just happen to be one of those fabulous vendors.  So if you'd like to win a $30 gift certificate to my shop, just visit Any Given Party, on Facebook or her lovely blog.  Good luck, I hope you win.

~Sunny~

Baby Dorothy invites

I may be in a hotel but my Etsy shop is still keeping me busy.  I have to share these super cute red ruby slippers that I just designed for a client.  They are a much cuter version of my Dorothy invites.  

I love when customers come up with wonderful ideas that I wouldn't have thought of in a million years.  I hope to add these too the shop very soon.  Thank you Sara for the adorably brilliant idea. 

~Sunny~

Our adventure begins

It has definitely been an adventure and a half.  Traveling with six people from Germany all the way across the Atlantic to the United State.  It hasn't been easy but we have all grown from this experience in ways I never imagined.  

The kids were so excited to get on the plane.  Mara thought the airport was the United States.  Little did she know we had a 9 hour plane ride ahead of us. 

Everything must go.

So it's official.  The movers came and went and everything we own is in crates on it's way to the US of A.  They came in like a swarm of locusts and what was once a home is now an empty shell of a house. Yes I'm sad but most of all this move has reminded me how unimportant all of my stuff is.  The most important things I still have with me.  

My sweet family.  Through the entire experience we've tried to stay positive and give lots of hugs and encouragement.  We've lived here in Germany in the same house for almost 8 years.  That's the longest we've lived anywhere.  Myles and Mara have never known any other home.  But they seem to be doing just fine.  

We've always been honest with our kids.  They see their friends move away and ask when it will be our turn.  We tell them someday. So I think this has made the transition that much easier for them.  There have been no tears, only some disagreements and lots of running around an empty house yelling to hear the echo's (echo, echo, echo).  

I think that it has been harder for me to let go than it has been for the kids.  I'm just glad that they are here to remind me of what's important.  It's not the house that you live in but the people that fill it up with love and laughter.  Okay no more sentimental posts I swear.  I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday and now it's off to a New Year and new beginnings.  

~Sunny~

We're Moving

It's official we are moving from Germany back to the USA! 

We're sad to be leaving our friends and the country we've grown to love, but we're happy to be closer to our family and friends in the states. When we leave this January we will have lived here just shy of 8 years and we've enjoyed every minute.  Our children don't realize yet what they'll be missing but I'm sure we'll find wonderful new adventures and friends in Maryland. Yes we are going to Maryland a beautiful state filled with culture, history and very close to a lot of really fun stuff.  I am trying to contain my excitement about being able to shop at large craft stores and Target and Walmart again and Starbucks. 

It's bitter sweet though because we love our life here and feel like we are leaving a part of ourselves behind.  So bear with me the next few months as our family makes this huge transition back to the states.  

Have a wonderful New Year!

~Sunny~