USA Banner & Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day & 4th of July!

I have a quick banner to share today and pictures from the parade we went to this morning.

First the banner, I used the Simply Created Build a Banner kit from Stampin’ Up! and added in the pinwheels from this months Paper Pumpkin kit. It was super easy to assemble using Real Red, Night of Navy and Black ink for the stenciled portions, and the pinwheels were super easy to fold and secure with a brad as they were already pre-cut. The Paper Pumpkin kit also included some cute stamps and paper straws I’ll have to put to good use soon!

 

Next, there is nothing better than a small town parade to celebrate the 4th and Independence Day!

My Mom made a request this year for me to recreate one of her favorite pictures. :) When the kids were little Jake would crouch down with them in anticipation of the parade starting and watch over them while they ran to get candy. It’s been several years since this photo below was taken (8 years ago!) and although I forgot they order they were in, we still got a new picture this year for my momma.

Jake, Brady and Gwynie – 2006

Brady was three and Gwynie was seven….!!!!

Jake, Gwynie and Brady – 2014

I love that some things never change like Gwynie and her long ponytail and my boys with their ball caps.

 

Oh man, I caught that piece of candy and then dropped it!

   

Brady was thrilled to get totally hosed down! It was so hot today! Check out his expression in the third photo!

 

Gwynie spent the majority of the parade texting her boyfriend. ;) He was in another parade going on around the same time for All-Stars.

   

Then both kids grabbed more candy, I think we have enough Salt Water Taffy to last us until Christmas!

We’re off to BBQ with Jake’s parents, check out the annual car show and then catch the fireworks later tonight. So thankful to be able to celebrate today and our freedoms!

Christmas Brunch

I hosted some friends on Saturday morning for a fun Christmas Brunch and jewelry party. I had such a blast putting it all together!

I had my table set up with lots of yummy breakfast foods, and my bakers rack served as a drink station. Come see!

 

My bakers rack: the drink station!

I decked it out with garland, beads and mini ornaments. These will definitely be staying up through Christmas!

I had a tray full of coffee cups, creamer, sugar and coffee, and also had a cute glass jar filled with Bailey’s Irish cream to add to your coffee.

I have a couple of these glass bottles, they were a fun find at Ikea a few months ago!

I did mimosas on the main table, but on this area I had everything to make Dirty Shirley’s which are basically Shirley Temple’s with vodka! (Thank you for sharing these at Bunco and giving me a new favorite drink Lyndi!)

Dirty Shirley

• 2 shots cherry flavored Vodka
• Sprite
• Splash of Grenadine
• Maraschino cherries to garnish

Add vodka over ice in your glass, fill with Sprite, add a splash of grenadine and then cherries to garnish and stir. Warning: totally good and dangerous! ;)

Now the main part of the brunch!

I kept my red table runner and wood tray centerpiece that I had out for my Christmas décor, and added a black tablecloth underneath. I accented the table with doilies, pinecones, candy cane candles and silk flowers with rhinestone brads in the center. In a few places I used mini clothespins to add the flowers to the containers.

Let’s dig into the food!

I found the mini cups (Wal-Mart) that I put syrup in and added triangles of French toast to the edges for an easy and portable treat.

There were donut holes next to the French toast…..

and a tray with silver ware, plates and candy canes.

I also set out sausage and had a container of Special K and milk for any cereal lovers!

I added a punched scalloped circle with a mini clothespin to the lid of the cereal container. For the milk carafe I tied some Christmas ribbon around it and added a silk flower with a green rhinestone in the center.

I had a metal basket filled with hot cocoa mix and more candy canes, and another clothespin flower.

There were also teas, orange juice and lemonade.

We also snacked on mini pancakes topped with blueberries and decorative picks. There was also a fruit bowl with mandarin oranges, pineapples and grapes!

One more picture of these cute pancakes!

The galvanized bucket/container held the chilled champagne for mimosas.

These little flowers came from my scrapbook stash, I’ll definitely be reusing these!

I also pulled out a few more things from my craft stash! I used bakers twine and more of the scalloped punched circles to make this simple cake topper. Christmas paper really added to the Christmas spirit and feel! :) This is Raspberry Liqueur cake that I got the recipe from my friend Sharon. It’s super moist and delicious!

 

Raspberry Liqueur Cake

CAKE

• 1 pkg white cake mix
• 1 small instant vanilla pudding
• 1 cup raspberry liqueur or framboise
• 4 eggs

SAUCE

• 1/2 lb. butter
• 1/4 cup raspberry liqueur or framboise
• 1 cup sugar

For the cake: Mix ingredients together well, bake in bundt pan at 350 degrees for 30 min. For sauce: Mix together all sauce ingredients in sauce pan, heat until melted. Don’t let it burn or get too thick. When cake is done, loosen sides and pour sauce over cake and sides. Let stand 20 minutes as sauce will soak into cake. Turn out onto cake dish.

 

A few more shots of the whole set up!

You may have noticed my “faux” chalkboard with the menu. Instead of an actual chalkboard, I used a black poster board and made it look more like a chalkboard by writing on it and wiping it off with a towel.

It’s night time and all cleaned up but I think I’ll be leaving this up for awhile longer. :)