+ hiking snowbird ski resort at dusk.
+ the boden catalogue does it again!
+ favorite healthy snack: greek yogurt with a swirl of jam.
+ dan & associates meet the bee.
+ two dudes balancing rocks.
+ making big (exciting) plans. more on that later.
+ hope my in-laws don't mind me taping stuff to their walls.
// tune in tomorrow. am launching a special series for september.
mr. benjamin has been talking about his birthday party for months now. or let me rephrase that, he has been talking about a lightning mcqueen birthday cake for months now. i think it's awesome when kids come up with their own ideas; i hope to encourage his planning skills from the get-go. (let me warn you; licensed characters don't come cheap however. don't get me started on the price of a disney themed pinata. which is why the cake and the puny paper plates were really the only thing i went all lightning mcqueeny theme-y on. not sure he would've wanted to bash his race car hero to oblivion for the tootsie rolls inside anyway.) but i was delighted we could make his one birthday wish a reality (may they always remain so simple and sweet)!
so plans for the party were bubbling. i toyed with the idea of hosting friends, cousins and the like but stopped myself and decided instead to keep the event down to the basics. our summer has been hectic enough with so much house-hopping hassle. i wanted to give him a birthday devoted to what he currently loves: cars, his grandparents, chocolate birthday cake, surprises, and--most important to a three year old--our undivided attention. here are a few glimpses of our day together.
THE MORNING OF // benji noticed the birthday banner and knew it was a very special day. we opened a few simple presents; including a doctor kit and a patient, johnnie (isn't he cute?! we adopted him from ikea). we ate german pancakes. together we unbubble-wrapped the singing cake plate. we watched it turn and spin a few times for rehearsal. he loved all the birthday prep. i even took him with me to granite bakery to pick up his cake. but no peeking til the party. now you know i'm all about from-scratch-cakes, but i must admit, there is something very charming about picking up a giant white box from the bakery and attempting to tote it home with care.
AN HOUR BEFORE // i decided to think about 'decorations'. since grandparents were the only guests, i wasn't as hyper about having everything just so. it was much more relaxed and fun. i surveyed my mother-in-law's collection of linens and discovered the vintage car sheets from dan's youth! perfect! i took them in my arms, along with a roll of masking tape, down to the patio. a fitted twin sheet fit like magic on the large table and i used two pillow cases as 'table toppers' for the smaller tables. i taped the edges underneath to disguise their bedding appearance. i gathered a few of benji's favorite vintage fisher price cars to display as centerpieces. as luck would have it, a flower arrangement was delivered to us on the very day of the party. i love a happy coincidence. we set out cars and a small welcome sign. we also laid out a car mat inside for benji to play on while the adults mingled.
LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED // we pulled out the bubble machine to welcome guests in style. (best nineteen dollars ever spent at Target; on clearance last year at the end of august!) benji was happy to man the machine. after cutting the cake, serving it up, and singing to the smiling guest of honor, the big surprise was unveiled.
THE MAIN ATTRACTION // luckily our 'grand' guests didn't mind that the main party game was watching how many men it takes to put together a wagon; three generations! the birthday boy was happy to observe, feel it out and read the instructions about his new set of wheels. i don't know who was more excited; benji or his dad. (it's pretty cute to see a papa and his boy work on a project together.)
FAVORS FOR PENPALS // while we did away with many of the typical birthday party elements (finger foods, balloons, etc.), i still thought it would be fun to do a party favor. these were so darling, i couldn't resist! however these racers didn't go home with the guests.. they were mailed in padded envelopes to benji's buddies (now penpals) back in idaho. (wooden race cars w/ paint set available at Target, in the party aisle.)
this happy birthday party was a piece of cake.
photo shoot with blue lily; my favorite photographing duo.
// admittedly i've been distracted this summer with the big move and the woes of not having my regular space of blogging blogdom and not having my old life of lots of spare time to sit and think and take pictures of clouds. and i'm feeling a wee bit guilty. as a few of you have mentioned, my blog hasn't been so much writerly as it should be. i know this and already feel bad about it. but then again in blogging there are no shoulds and shouldn'ts. and as we obsessive bloggers sometimes forget, life is for living. so i must just say i promise that the writer in me will come out to play someday again soon. i'm sure she has something deep and thought-provoking to say. i hope. for now, i'm brainstorming up a new project for featuring etsy artisans and crafters alike. it feels good to be figuring out a new way to promote artsy entrepreneurs; it's one of my favorite aspects of being online. i hope you (as readers) like hearing about the great stuff i find and love. i'm looking forward to lining my ducks in a row so i can get going on it. ideas are a-brewing.
have a great weekend. do something out of the ordinary.
today you are three. you are enthusiastic about life and continue to fill our lives with joy. we are so in love with you. i'm grateful you show us what life is truly about. you have a mighty big heart and a fierce sense of loyalty. you make friends easily and find life mostly rosy. you love your teddy and want me to snuggle him while you are busy playing, just one example of your kind heart.
this year has been full of adventures; from hospital stays to finding a new home. i often thank you for being so flexible and you always ask, what's flexible? i chuckle a little and feel glad that i get to explain new words to you. you've learned so many in the past six months; what big (dinosaur) steps you've taken in one year! you also know about good manners, pushing elevator buttons, blowing bubbles, asking for a couple more minutes to play, whispering in church (trying to at least), telling me which foods you like and which ones you don't like. you notice a car / truck / bus / train from miles away. you tell me about the strangers you spy; i see a construction worker. you keep the world new (and bright). you are curious and thoughtful and sweet and wonderful. my heart holds yours. happy birthday.
in related news // last night we headed into the mountains for a family photo shoot with blue lily photography. what fun we had together. i can't wait to see the shots they took. benji thought it was a birthday party for him; games and a make-shift tent included! dan said the family photo session was way better than he imagined. tyler and wendy laughed and agreed; family photo shoots should be short and sweet (and fun)! we headed home and as benji noticed the moonlit sky (he loves telling me if the sun is up or if the sun is down) he requested a bedtime snack. thus the birthday banana splits were born; a new tradition for the eve of birthdays.
i've decided one of the best parts of being a mom is declaring something a tradition. family traditions are my fave. off to make some happy birthday memories at the pool. we're having a very basic birthday party with the grandparents tonight. i'm excited. but what's even more awesome is how excited benji is.
// a few archived birthday links
+ last year's birthday on the playground: here and here.
+ the birthday box is so handy for special occasions like today.
+ still my favorite birthday wreath (still haven't attempted it yet).
+ benji's first party; all the little guests tried to eat rocks.
+ create your own celebrate party banner (so glad it's laminated).
+ upcycled story book page lamp shades by eclu
+ cheery letterpress cards by printerette press
+ amazing handlettered print by mary kate mcdevitt
+ lovely graphic linens by unique shiny
+ typewriter note card by girls can tell
+ antique wooden type drawer by blue flower vintage
+ map heart garland by bookity
+ clever sayings tote by pamela fugate
in other news // i am all geared up for this week. for an upcoming family photo shoot with the amazing blue lily duo (hurrah!). for a very happy three year old birthday (hip, hip!). for the look on his face when he sees that lightning mcqueen cake. for back-to-school (even though i'm not a student nor am i a teacher). for hopeful-new-house painting projects. for dreaming of chunky sweaters and riding boots. for collecting leaves and making autumn art. happy monday. taking a short hiatus to enjoy the last drops of summer.
so this is the summer of ice cream. lets just put that out there. this may be my favorite flavor yet, definitely the most sophisticated (or maybe it's just because we served it up after the kids were tucked in). next time i'm definitely adding the flaked coconut to give it some texture. still it's pretty perfect as is. the best part about it is it's a marta original.
Homemade Coconut Ice Cream
adapted from Williams-Sonoma vanilla ice cream recipe
*makes about 1 quart
2 cups whipping cream
1 cup coconut milk
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
2-3 cups sweetened flaked coconut, optional
In a bowl, whisk together cream and coconut milk. Add sugar and salt and whisk until the sugar is dissolved, 3 - 4 minutes. There should be no visible graininess left in the bowl. Keep cold until ready to pour into ice cream maker. Pour cream mixture into the mixing container of your ice cream maker and freeze (or hand-crank) according to manufacturer's instructions.
Once the churning is almost through, add the flaked coconut and churn a bit more until blended. Pour soft ice cream into containers. (I like using rectangle pyrex pans as they fit so easily into the freezer. Lightly press plastic wrap directly on the surface of ice cream to avoid any freezer burn. For longer storage, wrap a tinfoil layer on top to secure.) Freeze 2 - 5 hours longer and serve.
*note / i doubled this recipe for our bucket ice cream maker. (you can ease up on the sugar if doubling.) it was enough ice cream to fill a 9x13" pan and a 8x8" pan. (perfect for saving some and giving some!) one more thing, if you're serving the ice cream in bowls or ramekins, be sure to freeze the stack of bowls as well. the ice cream won't immediately melt once you scoop and serve. enjoy.
// check out the other sweets we've devoured this summer
oreo ice cream (dan's fave)
cookie dough ice cream
coconut krispie chocolate chunk cookies
lemon buddies
peanut butter cookies
mini chocolate layered cakes (utterly adorable)
i am excited about the new launch of twig's marketplace. it will be the perfect go-to when i decide i can let go of some of my beloved crafting supplies. it'll be a bit easier knowing they will land in happy homes (and fellow artists)! read the details about becoming a seller...
Think of The Starving Artists Marketplace as an online shop where established artists like yourself can sell your used equipment and supplies (cameras, sewing machines, etc.) to up and coming artists trying to get their start. We all know buying new equipment can be expensive, and may have even caused you to miss a meal or two. This is a wonderful opportunity to sale the equipment you're not using anymore, make a little money, and help young artists get to where you are now. If you're interested, please email us and we'll give you the details. We hope you'll be a part of The Starving Artists Marketplace. - Steve & Michelle | twig website + blog
images by twig creative
// have a fab weekend. any big plans? am hoping to see The Help soon. anyone seen it yet? we saw Jane Eyre finally and loved it. will be whipping penne pasta & sausage up again. it's my latest family fave. tune in next week. exciting things are on the horizon.
