Birthday Inspiration

I can't believe how fast time flies by!!! My little one is about to turn 2 in a few weeks and I can't even believe it!  It feels like just yesterday that she was born.  

So these last couple of days I have been thinking a lot about what kind of theme we are going to do for her birthday.  She loves the movie Tangled right now and the show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse so I've contemplated back and forth between the 2 of them, however, since we are away from most of our family and friends right now, there will probably be more adults at the party then kids, so I have come up with the idea of doing a pool party with a Girly Lemonade theme.  Here are a few photos of inspiration that I have found throughout the web of colors, treats, drinks, etc. that I am thinking of using.

We are planning on having a lemonade theme at the pool.  Isn't this so dreamy?!!

I am wanting to use these exact colors for Lily's party.

Loving the simplicity of these cupcakes. 

Love how they have this ice cream stored in individual little jars

Love the colors and all of the pretty candies in this photo.

I think it would be so fun to have an ice cream parlor. I just don't know if the ice cream could handle all this  Houston heat!

 All photos via The Hostess with the Mostess.  Seriously, if you are in need of great party inspiration check out her site!  She has so many great ideas and photos from all different types of parties. 

I will post pictures of Lily's party when we have it at the end of August.  I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that we will have good weather then so we can have it outside at the pool.  

Hope you all have a great weekend!!!

Strawberry Lemonade

Wow, okay, so these last 3 weeks have been crazy busy!  It started with my mom coming to visit us for a week, which was so much fun being that this was the first time she has been able to come visit us while we have lived out of state. Then while my mom was here, my little sister came and stayed for 16 days!  We had so much fun, shopping, laying by the pool, going to the beach, and last but not least, enjoying WAY TOO many sweets!  

We had so much fun and I was SO SAD to see them both go, but I am ready to get back on schedule. My poor house has definitely gone to the pooper!  Laundry, dishes, groceries, cooking, cleaning, you name it, I have definitely been neglecting it!  My poor Hubs has not had a good cooked meal in weeks and has been surrounded around nothing but giggling girls, chick flicks, countless episodes of Friends, and honestly lots of mood swings! He seriously deserves a medal... or maybe just a cookie:)

So here is a quick recipe for the drink I threw together at our 4th of July get together.  I know, I know the 4th of July was SOOOO last week, but we liked this lemonade so much and it was so easy to put together that I wanted to share the recipe with you.

Recipe:

2 (12 oz) cans of Pink Lemonade(frozen)

4 (12 oz) cans of water (just use the empty juice containers)

1 liter sprite

1-1/2 pint strawberries (hulled & sliced)

3 Lemons (sliced thin)

4-6 cups of ice

Place the first 3 ingredients into a large pitcher and mix well.  Next, slice the strawberries and lemons and reserve 1/2 cup of the strawberries to make a simple syrup.  Once all sliced, place the fruit, ice and strawberry syrup into the pitcher and give it a good stir. ENJOY!

To make the strawberry syrup: Take 1/2 cup to 1 cup of sliced strawberries and mash them up. (I just use my potato masher for this step)  Place the mashed strawberries and 1-2 tsp of sugar into a small saucepan, and stir for just a few minutes over low-med heat, allowing the sugar to dissolve and the strawberries to break down and create a syrup. Let cool completely before adding to the lemonade.

Lemon Cake w/a Lemon Frosting

I made this cake for Easter and it was the perfect dessert to ring in Spring!  It was such a moist cake with the most luscious creamy lemon frosting that you would ever lay your lips on!  I think that this would be the perfect cake to make for all those Mother's out there this Sunday for Mother's Day!  

I am so sad that we are not going to be able to share this Mother's Day with our moms!  I just have to say that I have been truly blessed with the most amazing mom a girl could ask for!  She has taught me so  much throughout the years and has been the best example of what a mom should be!  She is the one who has inspired me to have a love for cooking and baking. She is truly one AMAZING cook.  I have also been blessed with the most kind and loving Mother-in-law.  She too is one of the most AMAZING cooks and has taught me a lot about cooking also.  We love you MOM and hope that you have the most amazing Mother's Day because you guys deserve it!

Happy Mother's day to all you moms out there!!! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Recipe:

For the Cake:

1 Lemon Cake Mix

1 (4oz) package of Instant Lemon Pudding

1 cup Sour Cream

3/4 cup Water

3/4 cup Oil

4 whole Eggs

For the Lemon Buttercream Frosting:

1 cup (2 sticks) Butter (softened)

6-8 cups Powdered Sugar

1/2 cup Fresh Lemon Juice

1 tsp. Lemon Zest

Mix together the cake mix and the pudding packet.  Mix in the sour cream, water, oil, and eggs and beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes.  Pour into 2 greased Round cake pans (or a 9x13).

Bake @ *350 for 30-40 minutes.  When a toothpick comes out CRUMBLY not CLEAN then the cake is done.  Cool in pans for about 5 minutes, than transfer to a wire cooling rack and let cool completely. 

For the frosting, blend together the butter, lemon juice, zest, and 4 cups of powdered sugar till smooth. Slowly add in more sugar till spreading consistency. I used about 6 cups.  Place the 1st layer onto a cake plate and spread a thin layer of frosting over the top.  Place the 2nd layer on top of that and frost the top and all the sides of the cake!  Serve with a strawberry for garnish and a big glass of milk! Enjoy!

(Recipe Source: An old co-worker Keveny)