Celebrations have been abound in our world lately. The mister and I celebrated our 30th birthday party with a joint bash in our basement. We held a backyard fête at the beach for my brother-in-law who recently got engaged. Then there are the showers and bachelorette parties in the near future. For each of these occasions I have found myself making cupcake flags. They are pretty much my new favorite thing. They bring pizazz to the life of handheld deserts. They make it a little party on a cake plate.
As a side note, making that gif was so much fun. I might have a new addiction.
If you want your own set of cupcake flags you can find them here.
Hope you are having a happy Friday!
This weekend we spent our days prepping an engagement party in the beautiful city of Santa Cruz. My brother-in-law found the lovely lady he wants to spend the rest of his life with and I can’t think of a better excuse for a party than that! Given that our family loves throwing a shindig, we had all hands on deck to cook, decorate, and create a little gathering for 65 family and friends.
Guests were greeted at the gate by an arrangement of white hydrangeas, tulips, and twisty willow that had the invitation tucked amid the branches. My sister-in-law, Kelly, put it together. She has a way with flowers that she may have inherited from her green-thumbed mother.
My favorite detail of the party was the guestbook. My mother-in-law, Debbie, had the brilliant idea to purchas The Newlywed Cookbook from Crate & Barrel and have guests write a note to the happy couple on a page of their choice. After flipping through its pages I may have to purchase one for myself, despite the fact that I think my “newlywed” window has long since closed.
The welcome table also dawned a card box Debbie covered in the teal of the party. She attached a sea star to the top to add a little of the elegant ocean vibe we were going for. The picture was a favorite from their engagement photos and a handful of pens sat ready for guests to grab.
As you entered the backyard my “Happily Ever After” banner was there to greet you. Paper is my thing. I used scalloped cards, foam stamps, and gray paint to create the cards. Then I backed them in teal and cut slits that allowed me to string them onto satin ribbon. I have made a similar banner before and love how it looks as a backdrop for photos of the happy couple.
The yard was lit with tiki torches and a mixture of teal table cloths covered round tables. It was so nice to sit and chat and hear from people who I hadn’t seen in far too long.
My hubby acted as bartender for part of the evening, mixing delicious margaritas and chatting people up. It was a beautiful afternoon and a fun filled night. Congratulations Nick and Sharilyn!
by Lila on December 1, 2012
… making crafts day in and day out for craft fairs. It is exciting to put myself out for the public eye to see and find out what happens next.
… sipping warm beverages that have been simmered with orange peel, cloves, nutmeg, and a little brown sugar.
… using a headlamp to read aloud Peter Nimble to my mister while sitting around our fire pit in the dark. Best date ever.
… eating pumpkin pie for breakfast.
… having the love of family to wrap you up in a little cocoon when sad times strike.
… sitting outside in the November light, tasting the wines of MJA Vineyards, and talking into the evening.
by Lila on November 28, 2012
I love it when you take inspiration and start making those ideas really come to life. The shelving is up, the walls are painted. Our little office closet is on its way. Next, filling and organizing. I did a lot of thinking and looking
here and I have found the pieces that can make this closet space everything I want it to be. Now I just have to make adjustments to fit my purchases all within a budget… Gotta dream big even when filling a little closet, right?
Industrial Flare: (1) scissors (2) tape dispenser (3) stool
Lighting: (4) pendant (5) lamp
Whimsy: (6) brass owl (7) bird clip (8) book ends (9) usb port (10) pencil holder
Calm Simple Organization: (11) calendar (12) magnetic file folder (13) cord catch (14) letter boxes (15) chest of drawers
Real Life Pinterest: (16) Naomi Murrell print …i couldn’t find original links for the rest of the photographs, let me know if you know where they are from…
Hope you are finding ways to make your inspirations a reality. I would love to hear about them!
by Lila on November 25, 2012
… the clear days that seem to fill San Francisco during these late days of fall. The light is beautiful.
… growing my hair back out so that I can have a sock bun again!
… crafting up a storm while I prepare for upcoming winter fairs. So many candles and cake banners!
… getting back to drinking my juice. I have wandered off my healthy path. I am determined to get back on. Morning juice here I come.
… taking walks with the mister every night. This is a goal we set and set again. This time it is going to happen. I can feel it.
… taking more photographs. I want to start bringing my camera with me everywhere. I want to capture more moments, but I also want to live in the moment. How to do both?
by Lila on October 14, 2012
This week was filled with hard labor, teacher trainings, runs along the ocean, and piles and piles of mulch. The yard had undergone a transformation in 5 days. The week began with ripping out concrete, digging out the patio, and wheelbarrowing mass amounts of gravel. Much to my delight and dismay there were seven yards of mulch waiting for me in my driveway when I arrived home on Wednesday. We spent the hours between 5:00 and 9:00 taking one load at a time from the front of the house to the back of the house. Totally worth it. With the mulch down the yard looks finished! A labor of love that was worth every drop of sweat! How was your week?
by Lila on October 10, 2012
To make more room for life I am working on putting an office in a closet. Yes, turning a little space into an organized workspace where I can close the door on the bills and paperwork that can consume life. In search of inspiration I perused my pinterest boards for pictures of work spaces that I loved.
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Lessons Learned:
- I am drawn to the industrial look. Note to self, search for vintage desk supplies.
- Awesome desk lamp = necessary. This especially true given that my office is in a dark closet…
- Include a real life pinterest board to create an inspired space. Hanging clipboard, snapshots, quotes, letters, & numbers.
- Pen/pencil storage = opportunity for cuteness.
- Need a seat with style.
- Under desk drawers. I especially like the white chest under the desk in the fourth image.
- Simplicity is calming. I want to keep the clutter low, but storage high. I’m going to try buying uniform color storage boxes in an attempt to keep an uncluttered look, while still having plenty of storage.
by Lila on October 7, 2012
I’ve been thinking about happiness a lot lately. What is it? How do you achieve it? How does it work. I think it is a bit of a mystery, but one that is unique and personal for every individual. When I think about what actions I could take to increase my own happiness I find myself thinking about what makes me frustrated or overwhelmed and how I could change those things. It is endlessly interesting to me that when I think about happiness my first thoughts go to what makes me unhappy… huh. The second thought that enters is what do I love that I can increase. With all these thoughts floating through my mind I have been dreaming of…
…setting a little time aside (I’m not sure where I will find it) for learning some of the skills I am passionate about. I have a couple how-to books sitting on my side table that I keep wanting to crack open. I think turning it into a regularly scheduled program might help. Photography, illustrating, story boarding have been passions that have tugged on my heart for awhile, I think it is time to make some time for them.
…eating healthfully. I even chatted with an incredibly talented nutritionist, Jess Krefting, whose insights and recipes are helping guide me onto the path I have been searching for.
…turning my closet into a mini office. I want there to be an organized, hidden area, where bills, mail, and other realities of life live and can be hidden with the close of a door. Ahh the joy of a new project.
…feeding my creative side by creating beautiful little goodies for a holiday crafty sale. If your interested in joining us the first weekend in November, leave me a note and I’ll send you the information.
…friends. I’m constantly in awe of the power of being surrounded by the ones you love and who love you. Even a quick message or chat can turn a day around.
by Lila on September 26, 2012
I have found that I like to look at life through a lens. Looking through a camera I have fresh eyes. Snapping a couple frames has also turned into a awesome way to spend an afternoon with friends. Kate, Gina, and I mounted the Muni tracks not far from Dolores Park to walk the rails in our photo shoot, this time around. Any vibration in the track or sound of a motor sent us running for cover. Blood pumping fun!
With every photo I take I am developing a better sense of light, shadow, white balance, aperture, and so much more. Here are a couple of my shots that I love a little.
I put on my cute shoes and got in front of the camera for a bit as well. I’ll have to share a couple shots of me next time. Thanks to Kate and Gina for an awesome afternoon of laughter, railroad tracks, and side light…
