Such Pretty Things

Cherry Blossom Picnic 2013

The Cherry Blossoms here in the D.C. area have been very, very slow to bloom this Spring - resulting in a great many disappointed tourists (and residents!). And even though we were skeptical of reports that they would finally be at peak bloom this past weekend, we took our chances yesterday and headed down to the Tidal Basin for our family's annual Cherry Blossom picnic.

Honestly, the blossoms still had a way to go. A few trees were displaying all their puffy, pink gorgeousness, but most were only partially in bloom. We truly didn't mind though because the weather was absolutely perfect - sunny, warm and breezy. Now, typically, in an effort to beat the crowds, we head down early in the morning for a breakfast picnic, but this time we decided to try something different - an evening picnic! And I am so very happy we did. That late afternoon/early evening light was just so beautiful - it was truly rather magical.

After a proper picnic dinner of fresh turkey and brie sandwiches, a layered vegetable salad with a lemon vinaigrette (served in mini mason jars), and fresh fruit, I set out our dessert...

As always, I like to make things extra festive by bringing along items like real vintage china plates, tole trays for serving on, and vintage floral tablecloths. I also like to bring my own fresh flowers - especially since picking the blossoms is strictly forbidden!

For dessert, there was something for everyone. Cupcakes for the girls...

With pink roses, of course.

Some more adult-like treats for the husband and myself - Italian candies and these yummy sugared almonds...

Mini mini-me even brought along some of her pretty prized M & M's (from Dylan's Candy Bar in L.A.) to share...

It was such a fun evening. We just sat by the water - watched as the ducks swam by and enjoyed our treats. Then, as we do every year, we took a bunch of family pictures and the girls climbed on the rocks and fountains at the FDR memorial.

When the sun started to fade, we packed everything up and headed back to the car.  It was a lovely evening, but it was time to get home - the season premiere of Mad Men was starting in just an hour!!!

:-)

Jessica

The Cake Decorating Party: Take Two

Yay!  We did it!  Mini-mini-me managed to stay healthy this time around and the cake-decorating party (finally) went off without a hitch! I can honestly tell you that I have never been so happy to have a party behind me. But, it really was a great party and I promised to share, so here it is...

We had twelve girls attend the party. This was a manageable number, but I really wouldn't suggest going too much higher than that. Upon their arrival, we greeted the girls with one of the frilly no-sew tulle aprons that I showed you all previously. They seemed to go over pretty well - I mean, who doesn't like tulle and ruffles? After the girls washed their hands and put their hair back in ponytails, they got busy decorating their cakes.  I had already set up the table with all the necessary cake decorating supplies and a two-layer cake was placed at each setting. Now, if you have the time and the desire, by all means, bake the cakes yourself. Sadly, I didn't have the time (or the desire), so I ordered them from a local bakery. ;-)  I specifically requested that the cakes be "smoothly" iced with white icing and with no additional piping or decoration. This was important because I wanted the girls to have an opportunity to practice with the icing bags.

I had pre-filled 12 icing bags with six different colored (pastel!) icings and fitted them with a variety of tips.

I placed one bag at each place setting, but made sure to instruct the girls to take turns sharing colors and tips. I also set out plates of pretty sugar flowers that I bought from a cake supply shop...

...and lots and lots of butter-cream roses (which I had piped myself ahead of time)...

Of course, there were also a variety of colorful sprinkles and sugars...

Each girl also received a hunk of pink fondant with which to practice making their own roses and decorations. The girls took the task of decorating their cakes very, very seriously.

And, as you can see from the results, the cakes turned out just beautifully!

Some, like my daughter, took the opportunity to truly "gild the lily"...

While others showed a bit more restraint and went for a simpler design...

When everyone was finished decorating, the girls went off to sing, dance, and scream to Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, while I packed up the cakes and quickly switched the table over to party mode. Instead of paper plates and cups, I used these pretty pink and aqua plastic ones that I found at Target in the children's housewares aisle! They were such a great deal, too - about 50 cents a piece! And we can use them over and over again!

We had scheduled the party for mid-afternoon, so I was luckily able to avoid the whole pizza ordeal (not good when you have shabby chic white sofas!). Instead, we served cake (ordered from a favorite bakery, so as to not destroy any beautiful works of art)...

..and ice cream with confetti sprinkles. Beverages included pink paper-wrapped water bottles and pink lemonade. Served with lots of pastel striped straws!

And if that wasn't enough sugar, I also gave each girl one of the old-fashioned candy baskets that I showed you the other day...

When it was time to go home, the girls left with their beautiful cakes, a cake decorating kit, and their tulle aprons.

So, that's it. We did it! It was lots of fun and Mini-mini-me had a wonderful time, but next year I think I'll be doing my best to convince her to go bowling!

Don't worry - we'll make it pretty :-)

XOXO

Jessica

Old Fashioned Candy Cup Favors

I made these little favors for Mini-mini-me's cake decorating birthday party...

I had actually intended for them to resemble old-fashioned candy (or nut) cups from the 1950's and 60's (LOVE that retro look!), but my friend, Michele, promptly informed me that they looked just like little Easter baskets! She's right, of course. But whether you use them as birthday party favors or Easter baskets (how timely!), they are easy peasy to make!

I simply used a bit of hot glue to attach a little sprig of forget-me-nots and a tiny pink bow to each basket.

Then I filled them with pretty pastel candies (O.K., Michele, those are speckled jelly bean eggs in there). :-)

Be back soon with all the party details!

XOXO

Jessica

The Party That Didn't Happen

Remember that cake-decorating birthday party that I was working on for Mini-mini-me?  The one where I was making favors and tulle aprons, ordering a dozen cakes, and staying up until the very wee hours of the morning piping icing roses?  Well, it didn't happen. The party was scheduled for a Sunday afternoon.  As of that Friday night, I was in pretty good shape. The house was actually clean, balloons were ordered, tables and chairs were rented, and the tissue pom poms were all fluffed and waiting to be hung. I must confess that I am usually putting the finishing touches on my parties right up until that very first guest rings the doorbell, so I was feeling pretty terrific.  So organized and on top of everything. But then...

...Mini-mini-me woke up on Saturday morning with a fever of 101!  As I stared at that silver strip of Mercury, my heart sank.  I knew it was just a party, but I also knew that Mini-mini was going to be so very disappointed.  And frankly, so was I. All that planning and hard work!  And all those cakes! :-( Definitely not a big deal in the scheme of life, but disappointing nonetheless. We immediately reassured a tearful Mini-mini that we would reschedule the party for as soon as was humanly possible.  Then, after I ensconced her on the sofa with the remote control and all the popsicles she could eat, my husband and I got busy canceling the party.

And now, I find myself getting ready to do it all over again!  I'll let you know how it goes. In the meantime, I am off to pipe some more icing roses...

:-)

Jessica

Cake Decorating Kit Favors

Now that I am back from London, I am shifting into high gear for Mini-mini-me's cake-decorating birthday party! This past weekend we worked on the party favors - little cake-decorating kits for the girls to take home...

Each kit contains disposable icing bags, a coupler set, two wilton piping tips, and a variety of colorful sprinkles. I packaged up the sprinkles in cute little bags...

And the tips, too...

I then packed everything up into little boxes with clear tops and added a label.

Each girl will also take home a can of Wilton's Decorator Icing (the type specifically designed for piping roses, leaves, etc...).  To pretty up the can, I covered the existing wrappers with scrapbook paper and added a label.

Tomorrow I will be back with the party aprons I made (hint, hint - lots of ruffles and tulle involved!).

XOXO

Jessica

 

Another Year, Another Cake Decorating Party

Some of you may remember that "Mini-mini-me" had a cake-decorating party for her birthday two years ago. We held it at a wonderful local bakery and the girls all had a blast. Just last week, I was discussing possible themes for this year's party with Mini-mini when she mentioned that she would really, really like to have another cake-decorating party this year. At first, I was a bit hesitant.  We've certainly done a lot of party themes over the years, but surely we could come up with something new and exciting? But, after some thought, I decided Mini-mini really should have what she wants. After all, It is HER birthday! And it really is such a fun party.

So, yes, we will be doing another cake-decorating party this year. But we will be doing things a bit differently.  For one, we will be having it at home this time around. The bakery was lovely, but I think it will be even more fun to do it ourselves. This way, we can have all the pastel prettiness we want!

I will, of course, be delighted to share all the details with you here. For starters, this is the invitation that we picked out (not our wording, but you get the idea). Isn't it just adorable!

It was designed by the very talented Sarah at Delight Paperie and we found them on Etsy. Her shop also has lots of coordinating items like stickers and pretty envelopes! I have a ton of decorating and favor ideas, so there will definitely be more to come in the upcoming weeks...

XOXO

Jessica

Audrey Saves the Day

Truth be told, Mini-me is a bit of a party-pooper these days.  This was the second year in a row that she outright refused to dress up for Halloween. This came as a great disappointment to her mother (moi), who LOVES to come up with pretty costumes each year. I suppose it was inevitable, but nonetheless, a bit disappointing. It would actually have been completely devastating if not for the fact that I still have my Mini-mini-me - through whom I can continue to live out all my tulle-festooned fantasies.  Ballerinas, brides, and princesses - we've done them all over the years. This year Mini-mini decided that she would like to dress up as Audrey Hepburn.  I had contemplated making a costume for her and then I found a gorgeous vintage prom dress on Etsy.

It was a stunning shade of Tiffany Blue, tea length, and sized in something like a double zero.  It was perfect...and with a few alterations, fit her beautifully!

We accessorized with some large Tiffany Blue pearls and some sparkly earrings...

Then we piled her long hair high up on her head and, as a finishing touch, added a rhinestone tiara.

I am so happy that Mini-mini-me loved her costume and that I had one more year to indulge in frothy layers of tulle. It all goes by way too quickly, but I remain hopeful that Mini-me will once again someday rediscover her inner princess.

XO

Jessica

Waiting Out the Storm

Like millions of others, we've spent the last few days anticipating, and then waiting out, Hurricane Sandy. We stocked up on batteries, ice, and bottled water and settled in for the long wait. I always find storms very anxiety-producing and the anticipation almost as bad, so I decided to get a few things to pass the time more pleasantly. Pale pink roses to counteract the dark and rainy skies.

My favorite French candles at the ready.

Bowls of fresh fruit.

And s'mores.  Gotta have s'mores.

We told the girls to put away the iphones and ipads and instead broke out the board games and playing cards.

We decided to all sleep downstairs in the family room last night - piles of pillows and blankets everywhere. It was scary when the high winds swayed our huge trees and sheets of rain pelted the windows, but it was also so nice to all be together.  All cozy and snuggled in. We awoke this morning to find that we had somehow managed to come out of this monster of a storm largely unscathed. I know from many, many hours of following the news just how lucky we are.  I cannot believe the devastation seen all along the East Coast and in my beloved hometown, New York City.

I hope that wherever you are, that you are safe and warm today.

XOXO

Jessica

{Half} Birthday Sprinkle Pancakes

I'm not quite sure of when we started celebrating the girls' half-birthdays, but it has become a sort-of tradition in our house. Yes, there are some years when life is crazy busy and I completely forget.  I guess that's why "Mini-me" threw herself a party last year - complete with invites, a cake, and presents that she got for herself! So, this year I was determined to remember. I didn't really want to bake a cake, but I recalled a recipe for birthday cake pancakes that Rachel Ray posted some years back and thought I would give it a try.

You can find the recipe here, but they are so easy.  You basically just make up a box of yellow cake mix and add lots of these to the batter...

For the "syrup", I just made some pink icing to drizzle over the top and then threw on some more sprinkles for decoration.

Add some pretty, colorful candles...

...and you've got a fun (half) birthday breakfast!

"Mini-mini-me" recently suggested that we start celebrating quarter-birthdays, too.  Such a lovely idea, I told her...but soooooo not happening!  :-)

XOXO

Jessica

Pretty Collecting: Vintage Handbags

I have always had a special love of vintage handbags. It began as a young girl when my grandmother gave me some of her beautiful old beaded evening bags.  Hers were the kind that were so delicate and so intricately woven with teeny, tiny beads that they resembled a tapestry fabric. I will have to get them out and show them to you sometime, but today I am sharing these lovelies with you.

They actually belong to "Mini-Me" and she, too, has been collecting them since she was a very little girl.

She has amassed quite a collection over the years and I just love how they all go together so beautifully.  Quite a sophisticated color palette, don't you think?

Many of them are from the 1950's and 1960's. The Italian beaded ones are my favorites.  This one came from our recent trip to the Paris flea markets.

I've found that having a child start a collection of their own is a wonderful way to get them involved in antiquing trips. It gives them a way to participate in the activity and they also get to learn from an early age how exciting and thrilling "the hunt" can be!

I especially love the handle on this gold and white one and, if I'm lucky, "Mini-Me" may let me borrow it.  :-)

XOXO

Jessica