Giveaway at Cupcake Wishes and Birthday Dreams

My bloggy/ party pal Keisha over at Cupcake Wishes and Birthday Dreams is celebrating her 4 year Blogger-versary.  To celebrate she's hosting a giveaway all week long with something new everyday and today is my day along with many other fabulous vendors. So stop on by her blog any day this week until the 19th and enter to win some fabulous party prizes.  

Congrats Keisha!!!

~Sunny~

Happy Independence Day! (Our trip to DC)

I hope you are all having a wonderful 4th of July Holiday.  This year is our first year back in the United States for this special day.  For the last 8 years we have celebrated Independence day with other American's serving and working Overseas on foreign soil.  It's hard to put into words the emotions I feel being back in our home country during this time.  To our children this country is not home yet.  I hope with time and exposure to this beautiful country that they will learn to love it as much as I do.  

We are so blessed to live close to our Nations Capitol and many National monuments and historical places.  I know that right now at such a young age our children probably won't understand the significance of everything we share with them. Hopefully in time they will understand the sacrifice and hope and perseverance behind all of these memorials. If anything it will give them memories that they can carry with them the rest of their lives. 

Here are a few pictures from our recent trip to DC.  I hope it will inspire you as much as it inspired me.  

Lollipop love

I hope your summer is going well.  We hit the ground running with  Grandma and Grandpa coming to visit the day after school ended.  It was so nice having them in our home and the kids loved every minute of it.  They even got to learn how to make lollipops.  I think I was more excited about this than the kids were.  They enjoyed watching the whole process and certainly enjoyed eating the finished product. 

Prince and Princess Twins First birthday party (Real parties)

I just love when things come full circle.  I was recently asked by my friend Alicia to help her design and style her twins Sophie and Cameron's first birthday party.  What's so cool about this is that a little over a year ago I helped design her Thing one and Thing two baby shower. That's the party that was featured in papers nation wide.  So it kind holds a special spot for me.  

This day is also pretty significant for their family because these two sweet children were born with complications.  You can read all about their struggles and triumphs here at Alicia's blog. That made this day something to really celebrate. 

Free printable Splashy Birthday Card

We still have one more week of school here and we can't wait for summer to begin.  So when Marina got invited to a friends pool party she jumped at the chance. Normally she likes to draw her own adorably cute cards that take her hours upon hours, but today we were a little pressed for time and she asked me to make a card for her.  Well how can I say no to that?  I mean that's what I do. Which is why one hour before we had to leave I sat down at the computer and Marina told me exactly what she wanted the card to say and how it should look.  Since it was a pool party it had to say "Splashy" Birthday.  Get it instead of Happy Birthday.  Then we went from there.  

I think it turned out super cute and most of all Marina was all smiles.  She's so creative and I love including her ideas in my designs.  

I haven't shared a freebie in awhile so I thought this would be nice for any summer birthday.  Since my sweet little girl came up with the idea how can I keep it to myself.  So please feel free to download and use these for your own personal use and share the splashy love.   

Splashy birthday card

Splashy Envelope

Envelope assembly instructions

Baby Animal Gender reveal party

We recently moved from Germany to Maryland but because the world (and the military) is such a small place we still stay in touch with many of our friends.  They fly through our area or are already living within close traveling distance because they just recently moved as well.  Making it not seem like we are really that far away from everyone.  

Moving was hard we lived in Germany for eight years so it was very much our home.  Anything that reminds me of it or my time spent there I cherish.  When my friend Mareisa asked me to help with a few decorations and the cake at her gender reveal party in DC I was happy to oblige.  Besides she was flying all the way from Germany with her husband so how I could I miss that.  

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!