ONE

My sweet little One year old..

You are the sweetest thing I know. I couldn't have picked a better spirit to come into our home. Your "Dada" and I adore you. You've brought more joy into our lives than we had imagined. I know you won't remember this day, but I always will. Here are a few pictures from your special day..

 It was my first time frosting cupcakes with decorating bags and tips. I don't know why I didn't do this before! I used to just slap on the frosting with a butter knife.. Never again! I had so much fun with them! Girls are the best!

You looked so pretty in your party dress I could have eaten you alive!

Gotta love those rolls!

Inspiration for this cake: Pink Peach Cakes.. So adorable.

You have become so playful these days. You love to be tickled, tossed up in the air, kissed (oh wait that's what mommy likes) You love the pool, reading books, clapping, waving bye-bye, your food.. seriously.. this kid LOVES to eat. Even dog food, which you get into more than I want to admit. but most of all you LOVE your "Dada". You have been talking now for about six months. You can say the following:

• Dada
• Dog-dog
• Bye bye
• duck
• Ca ca (mommy doesn't like that one, but it's my fault)

 You sleep in "childs pose" and Daddy and I love to come in your room while you are asleep and take pictures and laugh. You amuse us.



I got this rose cake idea off of Pioneerwoman.blogspot.com LOVE her! (thanks Jess for the link!)

You had a very sad break down moment when the party guests arrived. It's a new thing you being scared of strangers. Hope it passes soon!

 You were still a little under the weather on your birthday so you probably didn't enjoy the sugar like you normally would have. Your dad and I enjoyed it for you!

I had no idea you could color powdered sugar until now, but you can! White chocolate dipped caksters yumm..

You have grown so much since you were born. One year is Huge in baby world. We can't wait to see who you have become this time next year!

  

You still only have two bottom teeth. I love your big gummy smile I don't want those others to start coming in!

Your tiny newborn ballet shoes you used to wear



Chloë's party dress



I had so much fun baking, dipping, and frosting. I'm sure I gained 5 lbs just making your party treats.. Oh well worth it!

                                                   What happened to my teeny tiny newborn?
                               Happy Birthday to my beautiful daughter. We love you more than you know.

Everyone's doin it!

I know really EVERYBODY is doing these coffee filter wreaths, and so am I ! I figured if I hated it, it only cost me a few bucks, so who cares. The thing is.. I love mine! It inspired me to redecorate my mantle for summer... if it ever gets here (I hate the rain!!)  Anyhow here it is my copycat craft of the week..

Ah I really need to align those lanterns!

This is all I had of a BEFORE shot. I was really just trying to take a pic of my tissue paper decorations I started for Chloe's b day party, but you can kinda see the mantle right?

Toutorial found here http://www.aglimpseinsideblog.com/2010/07/coffee-filter-wreath-tutorial.html

Oh and I have to add this funny little pic I tried to take of my dog with muddy feet. She is NOT photogenic. He he makes me laugh just lookin at it.

Nautical glass & Pom flowers

 Today at a garage sale I found These Nautical glass floats. I had no idea what they were when I came across them, but I thought they would be pretty hanging from our tree in the back yard. The price was right so I bought them. When I got home I was a little nervous to show Adam what I found. I didn't figure he would share my vision. Well come to find out Adam really liked them, and I learned that they are Nautical Glass Floats that were once used to keep Japanese fisherman's nets from sinking. These floated over from Japan and the lady I bought them from had a mother who collected all things nautical. She had no idea what they were and sold them to me cheap.. Score! Adam decided to hang them from the beams on the eve of our house. I really like them and they catch light beautifully!

I also made these oh so easy Pom flowers that I love tutorial here http://www.domestifluff.com/2008/10/how-to-make-pom-pom-flowers/

Pretty eh?

Who doesn't love free!!

So I was reading up on a blog I follow, and found out that you can go to your local "waste Management facility" ..The dump..  And you can drop off your household chemicals (Cleaner, garden, PAINT, stain etc)  anyone who wants them can pick them up for FREE!! So I googled our local county dump, which is just a couple of towns over, and it's true in our area too!So I went bright and early this morning and picked up a TON of GREAT products! Paint, glazing, Polyurethane, wood glue, fertilizer, and so on.. I am so excited about this!!! I can save myself hundreds now on projects I am refinishing YAY!!!

Cotton Candy out of Jolly Ranchers?

Yes this is possible! Actually you can make cotton candy out of most any hard candy! Yum! We are scouring our house to find different things to use to make cotton candy.. butterscotch, mint, endless possibilities, AND even Sugar-free cotton candy.. Strange but guilt free! Mmmm cotton candy..A great idea for part of the treats at Chloe's 1st birthday!
On that note.. I decided to do a vinage theme for Miss Chloe's first birthday with an emphasis on lace and pearls I cant wait!! :)

Chloë & The Big Apple

 We took 11 month old Chloë on her first big trip to New York City. She was mesmerised by everything! After a loooong flight with a tired baby.. we thought she might get overwhelmed and out of her comfort zone, but she did well! She ate, and ate and ate.. She had curry @ "Room Service" , cupcakes from "Crumbs", famous Brooklyn Bridge vanilla Ice cream, Marie Belle's dark hot chocolate.. Yum! She saw China town, and Manhattan, and thousands of people on the street and she was completely entertained.

She loved hanging out with her Uncle Seth. They spent time together while Adam and I went to see the show "Catch me if you can".

Just over the Brooklyn Bridge

Why are the fire hydrants always busted open in the city??

 

 It was a great little family vacation I'm glad Chloe-lu liked the trip!

Rags to Riches

My first mothers day was FAB! Adam treated me like a queen. With breakfast in bed, taking care of Chloe's needs all day long, and presents! I asked for a food processor (which I used today and it's amazing!) I also wanted a high power staple gun, and A delivered! Here is my first project with my new mothers day gift!This chair is a piece in the set I am re-finishing right now. This before picture is so disgusting.. Rags..

Who sits on this thing?? So filthy!! Nasty mushroom seat. So I pulled it off and started to take the dirty sick material off and found.. yet another nasty material underneath..

So I painted the wood, added glaze,stripped it and with my handy dandy nail gun thingie I made this..

Riches!!

Revamped Couch & end tables

I am kicking myself in the butt right now because I didn't remember to do a before picture of these!!!! The end tables were black and the couch table was light oak. I painted, distressed, and added black seaming on the edges. Here they are..

 I found this fabric in the remnant section and thought it may look nice in the bottom of these drawers. So I measured, then cut out the fabric peices and glued them in the bottom of the drawers.

Thinking of buying some cute vintage inspired glass knobs to add a little kick to these drawers whata ya think? Stay tunned for the BIG BIG exciting project thats in the works.. Can you tell I'm so excited about it??