Vibrant Colors of Fall!

Maybe you are redecorating a room or planning a fall wedding or thinking about Thanksgiving... we have brought you a color palette that is perfect for any of your plans this season.  Vibrant colors of  reds, browns, yellows and greens. Here are a few pictures of fall and a couple inspired color palettes. Hope you enjoy and happy decorating...

A Farm Inspired Birthday

This birthday party was inspired by adorable farm animal figurines. 

Chocolate cupcakes with animal toppers

Homemade ginger ale and mint tea

A moss terrarium 

Chocolate covered strawberries

Cocoa and Cream Cupcakes

Inspired by some ribbons hanging in my office and feathers I just bought, we put together a birthday gift for my niece. 

Vanilla cupcakes, butter-cream frosting, and a dusting of cocoa!

Happy Birthday Tirzah!

Red, White and Blue Birthday!

This birthday was designed with an excited four-year-old boy in mind.  From stars to stripes and even polka dots, we had a satisfied little man by the end of the day. 

This cake was decorated with edible, blue grass and marshmallows. Yes, I said edible!

 Red and White Stripey straws made the Hawaiian punch that much yummier.

We made paper garlands to add a little extra fun!

An enjoyable time had...by all!

Corinth Hometown Christmas

Thanks to the Village of Corinth and local merchants we enjoyed a festive Hometown Christmas Celebration. Children laughing and racing for holiday treats, was the site to be seen as the parade pranced down main street. Fire truck sirens, horse drawn carriages and Mr. and Mrs. Claus greeted each child with wonder for the holiday season. With Christmas carols ringing in the crisp winter air and fireworks lighting up the skies, it was sure to many that the Christmas season has begun. A parade, fireworks, and tasting from Corinth Wine and Liquor were a few of the many events of the day. Below are a few of the sites we saw. 

 Corinth's very own Ledge Rock Hill Winery wines with owner Gary Akrop. 

My absolute favorite is the Cabernet Sauvignon.

A quiet end to the evening by our Christmas tree with a bottle of Cabernet and 

Cabin Fever Maple Whiskey. 

Red and White and Sparkles All Over!

I have been so excited to decorate for the new Christmas season. My inspiration this year came from a set of gorgeous red birds and silver reindeer I bought last Christmas season. Anything I have found that sparkles or is red and white, continues to build upon the few surfaces my little 3 year old son can't reach!

Paper and Crystal garland I made to hang in the kitchen and living room.

Hard Candy Jewels

So, I am planning my daughters 6th birthday. I bought a mold to make hard candy jewels. What little girl wouldn't want diamonds on her cupcakes? Four attempts to make the jewels and I am settling with amber.

We intended to have diamonds and purple frosting, but my daughter enthusiastically settled for amber and white frosting. Not what I was hoping for, but still turned out in the end!

How to make the hard candy jewels:

1. Boil equal parts sugar and water

2. Heat until 300 degrees

3. Pour into greased molds or swirl onto a greased sheet of foil

An Unusual Birthday Present

Three weeks ago, when Abby asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday, I could not think of a respectable reply.  I know that at my age (which is a delightfully young 35), the expected response would have been along the lines of, "I don't need to celebrate my birthday anymore!  That's just for young people."  Or perhaps, "Dinner and a movie would be great."  Or maybe even, "A mani-pedi and a facial, please."  But none of those answers rang true for me.  The truth was that all I really wanted to do for my birthday was have a ridiculous amount of silly, stupid, rip-roaring fun.


Fast forward three weeks.  Along with two very wonderful friends, Abby and I spent the day at Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George.  We went on every fast and crazy ride the park offers.  We even went on the SkyCoaster - the 175 foot free-fall ride, which consists of only a harness and a very strong steel cable.  And I went on it twice.  Yes, twice.  In one day.


Four girls, long past our foolish teenage years, screamed, shouted and celebrated in the most outrageous and unusual ways.  We held our hands up in the back row of the Comet.  We plunged down 190 feet on the Sasquatch.  We got absolutely soaked and shivering on the Raging River.  It was the best birthday I could have ever imagined.


So here's to unusual birthdays and fantastic friends.  May this coming year of life be as blessed as the day that kicked it off.  And may all of your birthdays make you as happy as this year's birthday made me.
http://www.skycoaster.com/home.html

Celebrations as an Essential Part of Life

As I sit at my desk I can hear the squeals of delight from the other side of the office door.  Just outside this tranquil room the many preparations for a child's birthday party are being made.  Balloons are blown up, streamers hung, cakes frosted, and on occasion, an over-excited child is being calmed and cuddled.  Today is Abby's daughter's birthday, and princess pink decorations have invaded every possible space.

Easily, the greatest moment of my day was witnessing the look on the birthday girl's face as she busted through the door after school into the transformed house.  She was clearly overwhelmed and her cheeks flushed bright red.  I was reminded, in that tiny moment, that these celebrations are an essential part of life.

There are seasons when it seems we do not have much to celebrate.  But there are other seasons, thankfully, that bring us a reprieve and give us cause to kick up our heels, throw back our heads and laugh our fullest laughs.  Today we celebrate the birth of a beautiful girl.  But we also celebrate the promise and possibilities that her life holds.  We celebrate the miracle of becoming a family and all that family means.  We rejoice that pink frosted cupcakes can bring such joy.  We rejoice simply because there is joy to be found.  Today we celebrate the necessity of celebrations.  We lift off the pressures of life and work, and we smile.