Greta's Garden Party

For Greta's first birthday we had a garden party theme.  I decided on a garden theme, as I wanted to celebrate how much our lit' peanut has grown, and so the garden party was born!

I was hoping I would share a post that was photo-heavy with all the details I put lots of time into, but sorry to tell you very few photos were taken just due to being rushed and then too busy to think about photos - I really should have dedicated someone to grabbing some photos for me, but that didn't cross my mind till around gift opening time.  I'll tell you, planning a party while not living at home during the week, being busy with my fieldwork placement, and with unwanted rain in the forecast all week was quite stressful!  The weekend prior to the party I had most things prepped and decided, all that needed executed the Friday & Saturday before the party was food prep and prepping of the yard (grasses etc).  All of Saturday was busy but very productive, and that evening while I was making room in the fridge for the dessert, I injured my toe (my whole large toe nail detached from the nail bed -- don't ask how, just know I'm accident prone). Let me tell you that is painful! So the rest of the evening was a right off as I rested and controlled the pain so I could get a descent night sleep.  I feel like it only made the next day worse, we woke up to rain, and so I rushed around and prepared to bring all my party plans indoors, our house it not function for large groups so I was so stressed of where I was going to put the 25 adults and 12 kids (most under 4)! Well we made it work, not fulfilling my ideal plan for all my details and as people started to arrive the sun began to shine and therefore they got their food inside and headed to the yard and deck to eat and let the kids eat, guess things have a way of working out.

Anyways, enough of my babbling, what's done is done and I have many more birthdays to host and work out all the kinks. Here are some photos and a little info on some of the fun details!

I worked with Carli of Perfect Salt Design again for the invites & and a banner (which unfortunately never got photographed) - like always she did a great job and I was so happy how well they set the theme for her party!

For food we served sandwiches (chicken salad, hame & cheese, and PB & J), potato salad, pasta salad, veggies and dip, and fruit.  We also had a lemonade (which was to be served at the lemonade stand but ended up inside without all the details. The veggies were served in "garden planter boxes" and the berries in berry baskets for more of a garden-y feel as well as the sandwiches were served on a garden tray lined with greens while they were labeled garden style with a marker placed in a terracotta pot filled with moss.

Dessert included birthday cake and dirt cups with gummy worms (which I never got a photo of).  The birthday cake I made my self, it was a simple white cake with lemon flavored polka dots inside and lemon curd filling with a lemon cream cheese frosting, wish I had gotten a photo of the inside, as it took me 3 trail to get it right, but here is a photo of it waiting to be eaten.

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Overall, the party turned out excellent and the afternoon weather was perfect as the kids played in the sandbox, blew bubbles, and threw around some balls.  I had sheets available for people to sit picnic style as they relaxed and watched the kids play.

Hard to believe our little girl is ONE!

Hope you enjoyed the little peek into Greta's garden party!

Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs

Today, during Greta's unusually long afternoon nap, I decided to dye Easter eggs, but realized that I didn't have any food coloring. I didn't let that stop me! I hit Google and Pinterest where I found how to dye them naturally with items I had in my fridge and cupboard! I really love this idea, think it is a great project to do with kids than just food coloring as I'm sure they will be amazed at what else we can do with our food!

I also attempted to do lace-printed eggs. They didn't turn out with a crisp white lace print but still think they look ok.

So, here is what I did.

I used the color chart here to decide on what I needed for materials to create natural dyes.

1. I boiled my eggs, I use this method (perfect eggs every time, thanks Martha!). You can use white or brown but with brown you have to check what color the will turn with which dye as it's different, here you can find what color a few of the ones on the list will turn brown eggs.

2. As I wanted to try lace-printed eggs as well, I wrapped lace trim pieces around the center of the egg. You want it to be really tight, some places suggested using a rubber band, but I just tied it, with this method won't allow for a uniform circle around the egg, so if your need for perfection is deep, than a rubber band may be better!

3.  Prepare your dyes. Most of the material require to be boiled so let it boil for 15 minutes, or longer if you don't find the color is strong enough, then stain the material and add to a jar or glass. You will want to add a tablespoon of vinegar per cup of water to help in the dyeing process. Below (left to right), I used boiled red cabbage (as I have it on had like any good German wife, lol) which turns eggs blue. To do yellow/orange I boiled a mixture of cumin & turmeric, and lastly to do green eggs I boiled spinach. I was going for pastel eggs so I let my eggs sit for 15-20 minutes to let the color develop, but if you are wanting dark vibrant eggs you will want to use jars and then store eggs in the fridge overnight to let the colors develop fully. (Note: after doing some reading, you can actually just boil the eggs in the water with the dyeing product you choose if you just a plain colored egg and not lace printed a few of mine were - saves time!)

4. Let eggs dry, if you want to add a sheen to them after they dry you can always rub them with grapeseed oil or vegetable oil, if you prefer glossy to matte eggs.

A few notes:

• I found the spinach difficult to develop color, and I didn't add the vinegar as when I added it, the color green seemed to disappear, green eggs will definitely develop better with the overnight method
• I had difficulty with the brown eggs, and actually found the dye rubbed off, although it lighted the brown and with the lace added a interesting look.

(lighting really does not show the green & yellow very well)

Have you dyed eggs naturally? You have any tips or tricks I could try the next time? I'm happy as I wanted pastel colors but would be interested in hearing on developing more vibrant colors for future reference!

Have a great Easter weekend, it is suppose to feel more like spring here so I am getting excited!

desk DIY

When I found out that I was going back to school this fall - I immediately knew one of the first things I needed to get working on was creating a nice office space. I needed to make a space that would make me happy to spend hours and hours studying in {err...that "studying" is what I dread!}. 

First order of buisness would need to be a desk. You see, I have had the same desk in my possession since I was 12 {so not that long.....lol} and it was not very functional; in fact throughout my undergrad it was a nice dumping ground corner display space in my little apartments bedroom and the dining room table ended up as my "desk".  So when I got thinking about a functional desk for me I knew I needed a large, wide "table" like space to fulfill my study needs.  While searching online and purusing pinterest I found this World Market beauty! Problem: they don't ship to Canada. Well not actually that big of a problem I could have got it shipped to the border pickup and went and got it but when I did a little more research I found this building plan.  After showing it to my husband we decided we he would follow the plans and build it ourselves himself.

In the end we adjusted a few measurements, made the desk higher and wider, and ended up with some a little different than either of the original inspirations but I absolutely LOVE it! I am so happy to have a handy husband who was patient as I changed my mind a few several times along the way.

After it was built - it was my DIY turn.  I had really wanted the desk to have a rustic/weathered feel to it and had read on pinterest {of course where else!?} that if you let steel wool sit in vinegar for 24-36 hours you could "ebonize" or "weather" wood. So I gave it a shot. After testing it on sample pieces, I found that it was a lot more "weathered" than I would like. So after further research - I prepped the wood with steeped tea - let it dry and then applied the vinegar-steel wool mixture. Turned out perfect!

Finished it off with some Tung Oil to seal it and voila! I have my dream desk for far less than it would have been to purchase.

Next I hope to recover the chair, create some shelving, add a chalk/cork board and add a little more style to this office!

So what do you think? If you want some tips further on the construction, staining or finishing process feel free to leave a comment or send me a mail!


 

so it begins...

{pretty corner of my desk}

I'm still a few months from the beginning of school and I am already busy with "school-related" stress.  Paperwork and more paperwork has been on my plate, from filling out applications for a student loan to providing my immunization records to my faculty, then add on the prep for our honeymoon, finishing up my last couple weeks of work and trying to keep our home in order I am nearing the end of my sanity - and it's only just begun. Yikes! Thank goodness we have Africa to look forward too for a bit of R&R before it begins again.

My hubby and I have been busy prepping my office for an ideal study area and we DIY'ed a desk.  It turned out really, really great - I'm so happy and I love that I am writing my blog from it today {much better than on the couch on the little coffee table. 

Stay tuned, I'm working on a post to show you the process and reveal the desk! If you follow me over on Instagram you have already seen it.

Have a happy weekend!



Well it's been a bit since my last post and I'm sorry!

I told you I was going to start working on a DIY project and well it's complete!

This is the pin-inspired pallet coffee table my hubby and I build together - and are still married! Kidding, it went well once he got the vision I was going for.

We started with a pallet I got from my sister - so it was free! We actually got two but were able to complete the project with just one because we made a smaller table...so I may work on a second pallet project soon too!

We removed all the boards by prying and hammering from the otherside. (Whew - what a workout that was, sure didn't need to exercise that day!)  Once all the boards were off, we measured the planks to the length we had measured using a mitre saw {which was the gift I gave my husband for Chrismas - no alterive motive I promise!} After they were cut I used an electric hand sander and sanded all the pieces until smooth.

After all that work we put it together and go this!

I wanted it higher so instead of putting it on industrial castor on we used some of the remaining wood to make legs instead. 

And finally....

 the stained finished project in our living room!

I am really loving it! I feel it gives our room a little cozier feeling.  Now to purchase a nice rug for underneather to anchor the room.

Sorry, I never took photos of the in between steps.  If you have any questions about the construction I would be happy to answer them! It actually was not too hard of a project and I love that when people ask where we got it I can say "I made it" (well "I" being my husband and me - but he is letting me take the credit because it was my vision and all he really did was cut the board). Being able to say this is empowering!

It was funny a few days after it was completed I got an email from my sister with a picture of dining room table she asked if I could "build" her! I think that might take abit more knowledge and power tools.

Hope you like - Happy Monday!

xoxo

Kelli