Photo Credit Molly Dues
Summer parties are a blast as space is not constricted and can be held outside. Our boy’s birthdays fall smack dab in the middle of winter. Brr. Vivian’s is in the dog days of summer-August. We let our boys have some friends over too, so they can enjoy an outside party.
That gigantic ice cream cone is bigger than life! Where you pick that up? A closeout store in Dayton called Mendelson’s! It’s an experience, just go and you’ll see why. Wink. I happened upon these and no plans in mind, but they were inexpensive. It’s handy to have a sweet stash of party supplies on hand!
If you want the easy route, these giant ice-cream honeycombs are available at the same place, where I purchased the petite honey comb balls, Devra-Party Supplies.
Are you fond of these checkered style laundry baskets? Me too! I use them a million different ways. Yes, it’s possible to be totally in love with these baskets. Flea markets, antique store & google searches!
To keep things simple for this summer party we have served this Cilantro Lime Salad with Grilled Chicken for 3 years in a row. Trust me, it’s good. As the hostess, having the same salad every year means less work for a busy mom! Please grill the chicken like it says, it makes the salad! Also, make plenty as this is a one dish meal and the men gobble it up!
One of my favorite things about Vivian is when she hugs me…..she wraps her arm & legs around me….just like a monkey.
Little folks enjoying a picnic. {Those eco-friendly boxes come in handy, go here to learn about them}
Documenting a party on this here blog is more than just a post. It’s a diary, and a beautiful way to remember that day!
Props! My favorite part. Where you find them? Farm table came from a Church auction. Read about that here! The garden cart was picked up at National Trail Antiques and is in my hometown, Lewisburg, Ohio. The tablecloth came from there as well. What’s that yellow drape-y swag in the front with the tassels? Another favorite haunt is The Little Shop in Verona. I’ve been shopping there since 1999. When we lived in CA I would fly back and stock my shop in CA with things from The Little Shop! Now I live 4 miles up the road from this gem- of -a shop! Oh, yes the yellow swag, I did pick this up in the aforementioned shop, it was from a curtain set in a previous life.
The buggy was falling apart and I fell in love with this $5 find. Vivian used it as her “outside stroller” for her baby dolls. Then my husband there it away because he thought it was junk. Well, that’s a story for another day!
The other items came from garage sales and the Springfield Extravaganza flea market.
Sweet little braided bun. Bare feet. Summertime. Bliss. Green grass.
Festive hues. That day made me so happy and my sister plus here kiddos, were visiting from California–such a bonus that they got to be here at the party!
Pretty wrapped presents.
I have kept an eye out for one of these cake tins. Finally I found one in a shop I popped into for the first time! There it sat for $5.00! Sold.
I love wedding day mints, otherwise know as cream cheese mints. I remember these as a child and being served these mints at weddings. Usually they were in shapes, butterflys. hearts, etc. I tried to use my molds and they would pop out broken. I solved that problem by rolling them into balls, then a sugar finish. Perfect, polka dots! {It works} The recipe is available here, Betty Crocker’s.
What is it about those dime store vanilla & strawberry cream filled wafers? They have that nostalgia factor for me. Plus, they just scream party! Vivian’s making a wish! Three has been a delightful age, enjoying every minute of it with her. Glitter candles from Dollar Tree, because we all need a little glitter now & then.
On her tippy toes for her cupcake. I should say “pupcake” as that is what she calls them! I don’t correct her as it makes me smile when she says it.
My absolute favorite go to for a box mix is at Trader Joes! It’s a vanilla bean cake mix and calls for butter. {all butter, all the time is my motto}
I have these on hand most of the time for last minute baking. This icing recipe, Salted Vanilla Caramel Icing by King Aurthur Flour is another go to favorite. I use this for all sorts of baked goods, it’s swell on top of big baked apple pie! Please do buy the meringue powder, this makes the icing stiff and keeps the icing’s decorative swirls pretty.
I have also used caramel syrup instead of melting caramels, to save on prep time! The decorative circle on top of the cupcakes, are Necco wafers!
The streamers on the left hand side of the cupcakes was from the flea and some sort of old may pole decoration. It’s cute and girly.
I love this photo. Can you spot Luke our oldest making quite a “I’ve had it face”……who knows what was going on! I’ts pretty funny.
Oh, this little girl who is our sunshine! She loves her brothers and calls them Lukey and Zachy. If she can’t find them she says “where’s the boys?”—love!
You just can’t forget ice-cream. It’s a birthday and it’s hot out. We all scream for ice-cream!
One thing I don’t want to ever forget is a few days after the party, remnants of the party remained outside. Walking Luke to the bus, Vivian stated in her sweet voice, “my party went by-by”. Where did it go?”. Oh, sweet little one! You are a gift from above!
Concentrating on the noisemakers…..who has time to eat?
Since, it was held outside, the kids had the run of our property. From the big trampoline to a small apple orchard and paths through the garden; they ran with no care in the world. The sandbox provided entertainment too! They use their imaginations and had no problem showing up for cake & sweets! Our Zach fell out of the apple tree that afternoon. Some tears then, pell mell back into the festivities!
We dine in between curly-q, old mulberry trees and the adults discussed current events and some parenting advice thrown in! The golden afternoon faded to evening and string lights lit up the night. The children’s laughter sparkled the night with memory magic.