KADEN TURNS ONE - HIS 'FAVORITE FOODS' THEMED BIRTHDAY BASH

I was so excited when Amanda asked me to design a few pieces for her son's first birthday party. First birthday parties can be hard. One year olds aren't into Superman or Barbies yet, so it is hard to pick a theme. You know what they are into though?! FOOD! :) When Amanda told me her theme for Kaden's special day, I thought the idea was so cute and I couldn't wait to get started. I created his invitation, food tags and a 4ft tall menu board! His party was last weekend and Amanda sent me a few pictures of the day, including one of the fun, blue ombre cake she made him. Kaden is one lucky little man!

His blue highchair was refinished and painted by Oak + Olive, right here in Madison! Didn't it turn out adorable!?
Oak + Olive up-cycles, restores, and revives quality furniture for fun and function. Make sure you contact them the
next time you find a piece that needs a little TLC.

My next birthday assignment is a rhino cake for my adorable nephew for his first birthday.  The theme is this cute little stuffed rhino that he loves. They say he is more like a fat blue hippo that wants to be a unicorn. ;) 

These one year olds are keepin' me busy!

ELLIS - 16 MONTHS

Oh Ellis! You make me smile every single day and not a day has passed since you were born that I have not felt like the luckiest person on earth b/c I get to be your Mama. You are outgoing, loud, and the most lovable little human in my world. You are my world and you are your Daddy's world, too. You dance in circles, throw your toys, squeal with delight, and scream all of the time. You love Oliver and Emma (our pups) and you especially love baby dolls. You are not much of a cuddler b/c you want to be moving all of the time. You got your Daddy's looks, but I know you got my personality. You are, without a doubt, going to give me a run for my money b/c I sure did give my mom a run for hers. I wouldn't have it any other way. You think I am funny and you think your Daddy is REALLY funny. I am glad you do, b/c usually don't. ;) I cannot get enough of your sweet giggles and your cute little pigeon-toed walk. I love you to the moon and back Little Miss Ellis Averee. I do.

Like mother, like daughter. We are rockin' some summer white.

DECK OUT YOUR DESKTOP

My office cube at work is filled with paperwork, random crap and dust at the moment, but at least my desktop is always pretty! I love that so many talented bloggers/designers just GIVE us pretty freebies to deck out our desktops! Here are a few of my very favorites! (My computer is rocking the pink ombre at the moment :)

to to bottom - left to right

aztec print  |  house & clouds  |  fancy that  |  august poppies  |  let's run away  |  august butterflies & flowers

you git this  |  vintage floral  |  watercolor floral  |  popsicles  |  pink ombre

Hopefully after this big event is over this weekend, I can clean up my
workspace and make it equally as pretty as my mac. :) We will see...

CHAMBRAY AND PLEATS

So maybe I like chambray. yup, I think I do. A simple chambray button up is the perfect staple to pair with print shorts, colored denim, white denim, or is this case, a bright pleated midi skirt. And at this point, who doesn't own a chambray shirt?!!

ONE  |  TWO  | THREE

FOUR  |  FIVE  |  SIX

BAKED OATMEAL CUPS

These are great for so many reasons - they are healthy, freeze well, serve as a quick snack or breakfast on the go and Ellis gobbles them up! Yup, just a win all around. I cannot take any credit for these delicious oatmeal cupcake-like bits of goodness. I got the recipe from Sugar-Free Mom. I can only take credit for the lovely pictures. :)

Ingredients
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups applesauce, unsweetened
1 banana, mashed
½ cup honey
5 cups, Old Fashioned rolled oats
¼ cup flaxseed meal
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
3 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2¾ cups milk (I used 1%)
Optional toppings: raisins, walnuts, chocolate chips, blueberries, craisins, etc.

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix eggs, vanilla, applesauce, banana and honey together in a bowl.
Add in oats, flax, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and mix well with wet ingredients.
Finally pour in milk and combine.
Spray two 12 capacity muffin tins with cooking spray or use cupcake liners. Pour mixture evenly into muffin tin cups.
If using toppings, add them onto the tops of muffins now. If using fresh or frozen fruit, drop it right into the batter. (I mixed mini chocolate chips into the batter and topped with walnut pieces)
Bake 30 minutes until a toothpick in center comes out clean.

Cool and enjoy or freeze them in gallon freezer bags or tupperware.
To enjoy after freezing pop them in the microwave for about 45 seconds.

(makes 24 servings)

I freeze mine is tupperware containers and pull them out as needed.
They are pictured here with my blueberry bran muffins. I tend to do my baking all in one day. :)

PIGS, PUFFS, GUITARS & GRUB - A LITTLE (MUCH NEEDED) FAMILY TIME

Ohhhhhhhh family time. And by 'family time' I mean 'just the three of us' time. It is something we were in desperate need of. Every single weekend (yes, every one) this summer we have been running here and there for this, that, and the next thing. We packed our summer to the max with weddings, birthday parties, out of town visitors, and the list goes on. Don't get me wrong, we have enjoyed all of these events, and we needed some time to just be a family.  I begged & pleaded convinced logan to take off work on Friday and we headed to the Wisconsin State Fair. We saw the animals, ate fried food, ate some more fried food, and headed home. It was nice to just bum around for the day and hang out. Ellis did less than stellar on the car ride in, but was a perfect angel while we were there - except for when she chucked her stuffed sock monkey at this poor kid who was sitting on a curb. She just walked right up to him, looked him square in the eye, and chucked it at his face!  And she's a pretty good shot. Uggggg. She is really into chucking things lately - sock monkeys, food, toys, shoes... :/ Any idea on how to stop this? We usually chuck things back at her, but she just thinks it's funny. kidding, kidding ;)

Here are my takeaways from the fair:
1. Go early - it gets really busy later in the day
2. Come hungry - really, really hungry
3. Scope out all the food before you make your purchases  - you might be sad if you waste your appetite on the first thing you see (stupid, not that good, BBQ chicken sandwich)
4. Wear shoes you don't care about. You WILL step in cow poop - unless you are my husband and avoid getting dirty at all costs. (yes, I learned that lesson)
5. Get a cream puff. You cannot go to the WI State Fair and not get a cream puff. I think that is an official rule or something.

State Fair bound. A good shot in between her fussing.

Big piggy

The famous Cream Puff. yum, yum, yum.

Is my dress stuck in my undies?! Good thing this isn't embarrassing until a little later in life.

Logan and I had a House of Embers Groupon burning a hole in our pockets, so last night we decided to use it for a little date night. Our first stop was my parent's house to drop off E for a little Grandma and Grandpa time. It was super overcast (good for picture taking) so I asked my Mom to snap a few quick family pictures before we headed out.

We then headed to Wisconsin Dells for a kid-free night. We stopped at a guitar store, ate dinner at House of Embers, walked downtown to look at all the silly merchandise, got a DQ blizzard, and stocked up on candy at the Goody Goody Gum Drop. :) Even more than 'just the three of us' time, we needed some 'just the two of us' time.

Family pic attempt

Ellis! Ellis! Ellis! Stop flapping your arms!

Mediterranean shrimp pasta bowl - ribs, shrimp, and potatoes

Blizzard tiiiiiime!

Salt water taffy - Logan loves it, i think it is disgusting

YOUR PLAYING SMALL DOES NOT SERVE THE WORLD.

We all know I am a sucker for a good quote, but this one might take the cake - at least at this moment in my life. The other day someone said something to me that, believe it or not, actually hurt my feelings. Most of you who know me on a personal level, know that I am not exactly a sensitive soul. Naturally, I headed straight to work the next day and had a heart to heart with my co-worker (and friend) about it. She pulled out this quote and handed it to me.

It just might have changed my life in a tiny, little way - again, at least at this moment in my life.

After reading it, I read it again and again. I think I read it ten times that day.  It is just one of those quotes that gives me goose bumps.

Anyways, I had to make it pretty and share it.  Maybe it will speak to one of you like it does to me. :)

Anyways, enough of the sentimental mumbo jumbo. it is Friday and The Buells are off to the Wisconsin State Fair to stuff our faces with fried food and see farm animals! wooo hooo!