Maggie's First Birthday Recap

Today seems like a good day to recap Maggie's first birthday party! She was pretty pleased with the whole deal. Everyone was paying attention to her, she got to hear people sing the "happy birthday" song (one of her favorite songs ever!) and she got her first lollipop. She wasn't a big fan of birthday cake, but we made up for that by feeding her her favorite: enchiladas.

I made one paper puff and hung it in the middle of the drink station with some papel picado (handmade, it's easy! see the tutorial under "sources" below) and I cut the letters quickly by hand.  My dad made agua frescas for the party with fresh strawberries and melons. Tasted just like a taqueria... actually, better! The juice was a big hit with the kids and Maggie got her first taste and loved it. The entertainment was a pinata for the kids, who took home more candy than their parents probably preferred. We sent the little girls home with the bow hair clip favors that I made and attached to pretty paper from Paper Source and slid into cellophane bags. 

It was a perfectly bright party for our sweet, happy baby! 

Sources:

• Bow Favor Tutorial
• Floral Puff Tutorial 
• Papel Picado tutorial
• Polka dot cake tip

* Maggie's party was featured on Apartment Therapy Family today too! Take a look HERE. :)

Quick Tip: Eggs

My husband loves eggs with runny yolks. I am about average in the kitchen as an overall rule, but when it comes to eggs, I am considerably sub-par. I cannot- for the life of me- get that egg yolk to stay intact. I'm talking 3/10 ratios here. Most end up scrambled in the pan... until recently...

We have this griddle that I got for our wedding. I've used it from time to time, but since I tried using it to make eggs, it has changed everything. I want to make eggs all the time now. I can do eight at a time! The yolks don't break... I don't even have to spray or butter the surface, which is a nutritional bonus. Just crack the eggs on to the pan, salt and pepper them, turn them over when they look ready, and voila! Eggs intact for everyone in the family.

Try it. Seriously.

Similar Presto Griddle found here.

diy: Pretty Little Bows

My Maggie is turning one next weekend, so I spent this weekend prepping for her party (and getting super sentimental... ONE already?). It's a girly fiesta, so I figured out how to make festive little bows for the little guests' favors. I'd always wondered if they were easy to make, and the cost of buying them motivated me to look into making my own! :) 

Supplies:

• Felt rectangles the size of a sheet of paper (they're like 30 cents at a fabric store- big spender!)
• Hot glue gun & plenty of glue sticks
• Scissors
• Cute ribbon. Mine is actually gold glitter tape from Paper Source. 

1. Fold the felt in half both ways.

2. Unfold it and cut an inch wide or so to the crease on the width side.

3. Your strip should be about 1 inchX4.5 inch.

4. Use your hot glue gun to make two stripes in the middle of the felt strip.

5. Fold in one side toward the center.

6. Fold the other side toward the other (do these steps quickly because the glue dries so fast).

7. Pinch the middle with your fingers to shape it.

8. Cut the ribbon or glitter tape to wrap it around the center.

9. Glue the ribbon on the back and you have yourself a pretty little bow!

Now hot glue it to a hairclip or headband, tape it to beautify a birthday present, or string it and make some garland... the possibilities are endless! Once I successfully made one (in about 3 minutes flat, mind you), I went a little bow crazy. Big, small, glitter center, felt center... kinnnnd of addicting!

See? When I'm motivated, I really can be crafty. You can too!