Loving...

I love her house (have tried to mimic it!), love her blog, love the name of her blog and now I love her new stationary (I ordered some too!) - yes, I feel like a stalker!

http://www.prettypinktulips.com/2010/07/pretty-in-pink.html

Here's the cute stationary...

http://www.prettypinktulips.com/search/label/stationary

I am loving Seleta's foyer re-vamp - just beautiful..

A few years ago we moved our laundry room and had a mudroom/cubbies installed in its place...however; since then I have struggled...how to keep it clean, organized, efficient, clutter-free, functional, pretty, etc...I felt like if "I built it, it would all come"...not so much!  Even the light fixture has shorted-out...and the hunt is on for a new one.  Don't hate me because I am already looking forward to back-to-school - just another reason to re-organize and strive for order in there.  We spent a very good chunk of change having custom cubbies built-in and while I still love them I am convinced that you could achieve the same goal of organization just by using lots of hooks around the space or down a long back hall or in a foyer above a bench.  Take a look and see...

Seleta's beautiful design...

I love this - very doable and I think would be pretty affordable...I like the totes above too that could store art supplies/crafts...etc.

I love this version below...beautiful and different! 

Most mudrooms have the cubbies.

I love the shutters as doors and the chicken wire

 on top, I just love everything about this room!

I love the one below...more like what we have but ours is a smaller version...

I like how it goes along the long wall and has drawers too!

Charming and fun with the letters, love the clock too!

I'd love to know how/where you store backpacks, purses, shoes, etc...?!

What do you LOVE today?

Happy Independence Day

Happy 4th!!!!

We are headed out of town to see friends and we can't wait!

Wishing you loads of family, friends, food , fireworks and fun!

And aren't we lucky

to live in the USA...

In any place and in any home!

God Bless our troops!

Boys

Just beacuse I have missed my boys faces on here!!!...

Look and see

The Mantle...all about the Birthday Girl and her sidekick (dollie!)

Last post on this party...are you tired of it yet? 

Charlotte, one day, when you read this blog "book" you'll know how much love we have for you...how we live to make all your dreams come true, your brothers dreams' too!  You'll know there is nothing we would not do for you.  You will know how deeply you are loved - I am so proud and honored to be your Mommy, what a sweet girl you are - beautiful inside and out, kind, thoughtful, appreciative and easy-going!  Thank you for blessing our family beyond measure...we love you sweet girl - Happy Birthday!

Manis...

Monogrammed towels as favors!

Decorate Flip-Flops to take home...

Because pretty toes need pretty shoes!

 Pedis were done on the loveseat with a pink furry pillow to relax with... and party hats; girls and dolls - cupcakes and brunch bites were enjoyed inside this year with small tables set for the girls and their pampered doll "friends"

 Doll styling - hair and facials

 HUGE pink flowers hung in front of the kitchen window

(visible from the front door)

 Custom Birthday banner from Etsy (sucky picture though)

American Girl bags and boxes went a long way in decorating and bringing the theme full circle - it never hurts to hang onto things that might work for your party...think "outside the box" - more is more if you ask me!

The banner on the mantle is from Michaels'...did you know they have their own line of AG crafts - they are darling...I had fun using all the goodies!  The banner says "Charlotte is 5!"

You can see some of the items here:

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/search?type=0&searchWords=american+girl&pageNumber=4

Spa Fun...the Food!

Individual water bottles and a pitcher of water with fresh raspberries...

these were enjoyed as the girls were being pampered!

Pink Punch for the girlie's

and

Mimosas (with fresh raspberries) for the Mamas!

""Felicity's Fruit Kabobs

and

"Rebecca's Red, White & Blue Yogurt Parfaits"

Yummy!

More Yummies...

Sweets for my sweet...

a candy bar, cupcakes (with custom AG doll picks)

 and an AG dollie cake for Charlotte

"Lanie's Lemonade",  "Kit's Krunch"  (cereal snack mix w/ Craisins, yogurt covered raisins and pastel  marshmallows)

and "Bitty Baby Bites" (donut holes)

Up next...decorations... but here is a sneak peak!

(the banner on the front door was purchased at The Christmas Tree Shoppe)

I added lots of ribbons, tulle and a silver glittery star.  I also added a "5" that I painted a pale pink - I dated it in silver metallic pen)

You can't tell in the picture but the banner is battery operated - there are little colored lights on the cake that light-up and blink..

-it was a steal at $3.99, I think!

What She Wore...

After the invitation I get so excited to find just the right outfit for Charlotte!  I was excited when I found a cute tee/skirt set from TJMaxx.  The petticoat type skirt was full and the fabric has little cupcakes all over it with the waist being all pink and white polka dots.  The white tank was trimmed in pink ric-rac and had 3 gathered ruffles long the neckline made from the same fabric as the skirt.  I usually splurge on something from Etsy that is made to order but I was so happy with the set I found and thought it looked just as good as an Etsy piece and it was only $14.99!  This will also get additional wear for other birthday parties she'll attend this Summer! 

I did feel like the tee could definitely use some bling though so a "fabric cupcake" was added - hand sewn by a friend.  The "frosting" was pulled and gathered using an adorable already ruffled fabric from Hobby Lobby.  The cupcake "base" was just cut to look like the wrapper and sewn onto the shirt.  The "candle" is sequins that were individually sewn on with a jewel as the flame!  It turned out so precious!  Jen (my friend) went above and beyond by creating a matching dollie outfit too!  I purchased the white tee from a doll clothing set and she added the same cupcake on it.  She found an almost identical cupcake fabric that she sewed into a skirt that Velcro-ed at the waist.  It was just perfect and I love that it was made with so much love!  Thank you Jen!

Spa Day Invite

My little girl has been dreaming of an American Girl Spa Party for months now...ever since I stumbled upon the idea/party set that is listed on AG's website.  What I did not know at he time was it had been discontinued!  Well, she was set on the theme so I set out to re-create the party kit but do it even better and personalize it just for Charlotte Rose.  So for the last few months we have planned and shopped and glittered and glued and created and decorated and just had a wonderful time together...she would help in small "spurts" and it was so much fun to have her be a part of the whole process - and just like her Mama she has/had grand ideas and a very clear vision, ha!  I might add she had some high expectations! But I think I rose to the challenge - take a look and see!

I'll probably be breaking down all the party pics into a few posts!

I'll start with the invite...

I wish I had gotten a pic of the invite by itself but for now this is what I have...you can see it hanging on the upper left.

I prefer to make my own invites or in this case I found the "perfect" one in a paper store in NC while travelling.  It was a little girl holding her doll and they looked and were dressed alike - I knew I had found it!  But I still wanted to add our own touches and personalize it to the birthday girl!  I like to try and include a picture whenever I can too, it just adds another layer I think!

I added some sparkles and glitter across the top of the card as well as onto the little girl's shirt.  She is holding a red balloon and I added a glitter "5" or a glitter "C" on the balloon.  Where the text was supposed to go I added a pic Charlotte holding her AG doll - they were dressed alike too!

We then typed-up the party info on vellum (so you could still see the pic underneath), used the Martha Stewart butterfly punch and tied it with fun, color coordinated ribbon...

The invitation said:

Grab your Dollie and come play with me

Lets celebrate my 5th birthday with an American Girl Spa Party!

You and your Dollie will be pampered!

Mommies can stay for Mimosas or drop-off

Then I listed Charlotte's "spa info"

I think you most definitely set the tone for the party with your invitation and the color scheme too...I always pull my colors from the invite it is a great starting point!  And while we are on the subject of invites...I do not understand why so many people do not RSVP anymore - I try and always reply to an invitation the day I get it because otherwise we forget and no one wants to call or be called regarding their replies!

Be back later with pictures of the decorations!