A Little Birdie Told Me....

Look at the pics of my good friend, Barb's, baby shower that I hosted with a few of her friends. It was so exciting because we were pregnant at the same time and our babies were born just three days apart.

These invites turned out perfect! I requested something crafty, pink birdie themed, and reasonably priced from Kim over at The TomKat Studio. I think she nailed it! Don't you?

I fell in love with a version of these cupcakes that I saw online. I asked Tammy from Cakes by Kasarda to create the cupcakes with pink birds. I love the coconut for the nest. :) And of course those are tea sandwiches from Hamby's Catering and my cheese straws.

The clothes line full of goodies turned out to be adorable. We also attached a copy of the invitation on the line. It is fun to monogram a bib and hang a couple personalized items that the mom-to-be can take home.

Check out the wreath hanging on my front door. I was very proud of this masterpiece. ;) I wrapped 2 pink feather boas to a basic grapevine wreath using hot glue and floral wire. Then, added a big bow and the cute little bird hatching from the shell to stick with our theme. I sent this home with the mom-to-be to hang on her door to announce the arrival of her new baby. I have loved making this wreath for my expecting friends.

I made these sweet jars of strawberry jam as party favors for the guests! The pink birds are actually pens that the ladies used to offer words of wisdom to the mom-to-be.

Here are all the expecting ladies that were at the shower. How fun to have so many friends all expecting. Lots of playdates and parties!

Frog Prince Party

Frog Prince Creative

While searching for a few frog princess party ideas for Cate's first birthday, I stumbled across this gem from a super creative mom, Paula at Frog Prince Creative. She was so sweet to share these pics with us, so check them out! Trust me, you will wish you were a guest.

These are just two of the versions of invitations that Paula custom designs on her Etsy site. I am sure that family and friends would jump for joy to open an invitation with pictures of their prince or princess.

Doesn't this look yummy! There are so many details that make this candy buffet so special and jaw dropping. Paula made this beautiful birthday banner to coordinate with the apple green and tiffany colors that flow throughout the color scheme of the party.

I LOVE anything monogrammed or personalized and these cookies hit the spot. Paula also shares directions to make the sparkly and dipped marshmallows on a stick on her blog.

The lollipops were each personalized for the guests attending the party. Paula painted the white clay pots and covered the top with a layer of green jelly beans. What are a great way to display the lollipops.

Of course, the cupcakes are my favorite. I love the party circles and cupcake papers that she made add a little sparkle.

The smash cake was made and delivered by one of her dear friends, who lives 3 hours away. That's a fantastic friend.

Who could resist this prince? She even made her little man's crown.

The tissue paper poms are very festive and the centerpieces are too cute!

These precious favor tags are also available in her Etsy shop.

This party has given me so many ideas for Cate's froggy princess party. I am making my shopping list..... tissue paper poms, lots of candy, invites, cupcake toppers, favor tags, ....... I would love any ideas ya'll have seen. Be sure to visit her blog, Frog Prince Creative for more ideas and paper party supplies. Feel free to leave a comment and share.

Cheers!

Thinking of strawberries, summer heat, and vacation automatically makes my mouth water for a festive drink by the water or on the beach. Wouldn't a cabana be nice??? These drinks can be made as mocktails or cocktails for the adults. Cheers friends!

Strawberry Margarita

Ingredients (Makes 4): 1 cup frozen whole strawberries 6 tablespoons tequila 1/4 cup frozen limeade concentrate 2 tablespoons triple sec 2 cups crushed ice Directions: Place four 8-ounce glasses in the freezer. Place strawberries, tequila, limeade concentrate, and triple sec in the jar of the blender. Blend until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Add ice and blend until liquid is smooth. Serve immediately in chilled glasses.

This delicious margarita recipe is courtesy of Mo'nique's "Never Trust a Skinny Cook."

Lava Flows - Pina Coladas with Rivers of Strawberry

Ingredients: 2 cups frozen sliced strawberries in juice, defrosted 2 cans coconut milk drink mix (recommended: Coco Lopez) 2 cups pineapple juice 6 shots coconut rum or light rum * For mocktails, omit liquor and use a few extra ice cubes 1 tray of ice Directions: Blend strawberries in a blender on high until smooth. Place 1/2 cup strawberry puree in the bottom of 4 hurricane or double rocks cocktail glasses. Rinse blender and return to motor base. Place remaining ingredients in blender and blend on high until smooth. Pour pina coladas into glasses on top of the strawberry puree. The puree will run up through the pina colada, making a lava flow effect.

This delicious recipe is courtesy of Rachel Ray.

Tequila Rose is one of my favorite creamy liqueurs. You can use it to make a multitude of cocktails! Check out their web-site for a huge list of drink recipes.

And last, but not least is one of cutest garnishes I have ever seen from Cheeseburger in Paradise (Thanks Tammy)! Are you thirsty yet?

Strawberry Shortcake 1st Birthday Party

I could not dedicate a week to celebrating strawberries without including an amazing Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Party. The party was designed and hosted by Valerie for her her daughter's first birthday party. The details are just precious.

Valerie is a scrapbooker so you will notice that she incorporated many scrapbooking techniques in her birthday party planning. She handmade the invitations too.

Isn't she adorable in her custom made strawberry shortcake outfit?

Valerie made the smash cake by covering 2 round cakes with store bought pink fondant and edible sugar strawberries. The birthday cake was topped with a Wilton Strawberry Shortcake candle.

The cupcakes were baked in strawberry shortcake liners and topped with the pink fondant that was punched with a round scallop cookie cutter. The cupcakes are topped with a 3D paper flower from Martha Stewart's Zinnia line. The variety of colors coordinated with the party beautifully.

The larger Strawberry Shortcake cake was baked in a specialty cake pan. Valerie's mom had saved the pan from her Strawberry Shortcake party when she was little, so she had to use it!

I love all the decorations from the door sign to the pinwheels. Valerie has a Quickutz pinwheel die cut which she used to create this Strawberry Shortcake table centerpiece.

Guests were treated to these yummy jars of jam. The jars are covered in strips of strawberry scrapbook paper and attached using double stick tape. The "You are sweet" tags were stamped onto cardstock, punched into scallop shapes and attached to the front of the jam jars. For the top of the Sweet Jars, Valerie cut out squares of fabric with pinking shears and tied with pink ribbon.

The treat boxes are made from green cardboard sheets. Valerie has a die and used it to cut the boxes. The boxes were filled with candy rings, little tiaras, bubbles, and little slinky's. They were finished with tulle and ribbon.

For the table Valerie purchased an inexpensive plastic table cover and then used a yard of Strawberry Shortcake fabric as the table runner. It is an inexpensive way to get a little pop of color without having to spend a lot. She also used a combination of Strawberry Shortcake supplies and pink party supplies for the plates, cups, napkins, etc.

This place setting is so cute!

The menu was even inspired by Strawberry Shortcake.

Thanks for sharing your wonderful party Valerie!

Lunch Anyone?

Strawberry-Turkey-Brie Panini

I have been eyeing a Krups panini maker from Williams Sonoma, but I have not had the reason to splurge yet. This delicious recipe may give me the reason! I love the presentation and I can use my favorite Brie and homemade pepper jelly. Yummy!

Ingredients:
1 (8-oz.) Brie round
8 Italian bread slices
8 ounces thinly sliced smoked turkey
8 fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries
2 tablespoons red pepper jelly
2 tablespoons butter, melted
Garnish: strawberry halves

Preparation:
1. Trim and discard rind from Brie. Cut Brie into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Layer 4 bread slices evenly with turkey, basil leaves, strawberries, and Brie.
2. Spread 1 1/2 tsp. pepper jelly on 1 side of each of remaining 4 bread slices; place bread slices, jelly sides down, on top of Brie. Brush sandwiches with melted butter.
3. Cook sandwiches, in batches, in a preheated panini press 2 to 3 minutes or until golden brown. To prepare sandwiches without a panini press, cook in a preheated grill pan over medium-high heat 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until golden. Garnish, if desired.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Southern Living

Strawberry, Candied Pecan, and Goat Cheese Salad

This is one of my easy crowd pleasing salad recipes! There are not exact measurements - I just eyeball it until it looks good. Salads are one type of recipe that you do not always have to be exact, so wing it. I am a HUGE fan of Earthbound organic lettuce mixes and I like the baby romaine or baby spinach for this recipe. I add goat cheese that is made at a local farm on John's Island, Burden Creek Dairy. It is yummy, really fresh, and supports buying local. I toss in a container of sliced strawberries and some candied pecans or walnuts. You can make a homemade honey balsamic vinaigrette or I LOVE Olde Cape Cod all natural White Balsamic and Honey Vinaigrette (available at almost any grocery store). Voila - wholesome goodness.

Strawberry Cupcakes

This recipe is one of favorite summer cupcake specialties. I adapted it from Martha Stewart.

Ingredients (makes 34):
2 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cake flour (not self-rising)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
8 oz. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/4 cup sugar
3 large eggs, plus one egg white
1 cup whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups finely chopped strawberries, plus several for garnishes

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. Whisk dry ingredients in a large bowl (except sugar). Cream butter and sugar with a mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at at time, beating after each addition. Reduce speed to low. Add dry ingredients to butter mixture in 3 additions, alternating with wet ingredients and ending with dry. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Divide the batter among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake cupcakes until testers inserted into centers come out clean, about 20 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks. Once tops are cool, frost tops with strawberry cream cheese frosting. Top with a strawberry garnish before serving.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Icing

This is a recipe from my mom's recipe box. I am not sure where it started from, but I love it. Martha Stewart calls for a buttercream recipe, but I am not as successful with buttercream.

Ingredients:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
3-3 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1/2 cup mashed drained fresh strawberries
Directions:
Blend together the cream cheese and butter using an electric mixer on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Add 3 cups powdered sugar, gradually, and the mashed strawberries; blend frosting again on low speed until the sugar is incorporated, 1 minute. Increase mixer speed to medium and blend frosting until fluffy, 30-45 seconds more, adding up to 1/2 cup more sugar to make desired spreading consistency. Use as desired.

Strawberry cupcake recipe adapted from Martha Stewart. Photo courtesy of Martha Stewart.

This is my idea of a perfect lunch! Just add a glass of wine and you are set! Just stay away from the Boone's Farm, even thought it may be strawberry. He! He!....

Strawberry Fun

Strawberries scream, "It's summer!", so why not add a little strawberry inspiration into your everyday life. These are some of my favorite products that have a hint of strawberry inspiration and some great kitchen gadgets to use in some of your favorite recipes.

1. Strawberry Bow from Lexi Lou Designs
2. Strawberry Dog Collar – PB&J’s World
3. "Strawberry Social Collection” by Nitwit Collections – Ideal for scrapbooking!
4. Shrimp and Grits Kids smocked strawberry clothing
5. Strawberry Huller from Williams Sonoma
6. Red Mixing Bowls from Williams Sonoma

And who can forget Bonnie Bell?? It is so yummy, you could almost eat it.


Feel free to share any of your favorite strawberry inspired favorites. Tomorrow we are back in the kitchen with some more delicious recipes.

Strawberry Bonanza!

I have had a crush on strawberries ever since I was given a Strawberry Shortcake doll for my 6th birthday! I think it was the sweet smell of her hair and all the pink clothes. In preparation for strawberry season and summer, the posts this week will all be about delicious strawberries. I will share my favorite recipes, strawberry products, and much more!

Today we will start with You Pick Strawberries!


One of my favorite things to do this time of year is head over to Ambrose Farms for You Pick Strawberries! You-Picking is great fun for the entire family and it is very economical. There is nothing better than sweet fresh strawberries for snacking and cooking. The many acres of strawberries are amazing and you can pick until you heart's content.

Here are a couple valuable tips for storage and freezing.
Storage: Do not wash the berries or remove the caps until you are ready to use. The riper the fruit the shorter amount of time they will store. Place them in a colander uncovered in the refrigerator.
Freezing: Freezing is quite simple. You can first wash and remove caps then place them on a cookie sheet in the freezer for about 18 hours or so. Bag them and put back in the freezer. You can use them frozen or thaw in the refrigerator.

Check out your local farms for You-Pick options.

Now that we have our strawberries, you need a fabulous recipe. Every southern lady has some sort of recipe for cheese straws, macaroni and cheese, and a punch bowl cake recipe. Strawberry Punch Bowl Cake is one of my specialties for a summer dessert. I love it because it is easy to make, very refreshing, feeds a lot of people, and can be waistline friendly. Another reason to love this recipe is that it requires NO baking. South Carolina is hot enough, so why crank up the oven if you don’t have too?




Be sure to download this yummy recipe and add it to your recipe box. Download here! Enjoy! Can't wait to share more strawberry recipes, tips, ideas, etc. during Strawberry Bonanza!