My 14 year old daughter, Maddie, made me a very special chocolate for my birthday a couple of weeks ago. She kept sneaking off to the kitchen for day and days. I'd hear the sound of pots and pans and the smell of chocolate coming from the kitchen. I knew she was up to something yummy, I just didn't know it was for me.
She lovingly filled it with almonds, drizzled caramel and chocolate and topped it with a single white chocolate chip. She's a very artistic and sweet girl. It's the best present I've gotten in a very long time, it's delicious and handmade with love!!!
Well, I did it again. I turned 39 for the 4th year running. I know what your thinking, but it's true. Ask my kids they'll tell you. I had a great birthday this year. It started out on Friday night when I got home and found a new lamp in my bedroom--that man of mine really pays attention! Then on Saturday I got these two newbooks from the kids. (Somehow they ended up on the hubbies Amazon wish list, weird huh?)
For lunch I choose one of the few places that makes the whole family happy, Noodles & Company. I roll with a pretty picky gang. so I love this place. I get good food, and they get plain food. Look at these handy chopstick holders that kept us all very happy while we waited for out food.
"I did it!" How darn cute is this child of mine?
This one looks a little skeptical about the chop sticks actually working... that's my boy, always thinking!
Just in case you didn't understand plain food, its nothing but noodles and salt. The chopsticks did jazz it up, don't you think?
One of the other great reasons I chose Noodle & Co. was that it was in close proximity to Quilting Adventures. I sent Don and the kids to the comic shop so I could buy a little birthday fabric. I am sneaky, aren't I? I just had to go back for another round of fat quarters for more Betty aprons. I love these Robert Kaufman prints.
I didn't see these last week, but what the heck, right? Love me some fruity goodness.
After I met back up with the fam, we headed off to Movieland to see Gnomeo and Juliet in 3D. It was the perfect Saturday afternoon movie. So funny and so darn cute! I have to say it's as good as Shrek and The Incredibles, and I could see them 100 times. Oh wait, I have seen them 100 times. Silly me.
We spent the rest of the night cuddled up watching a Cupcake Wars marathon--it was almost as good as eating real cupcakes.
Every year I treat myself to a new pair of RED birthday shoes. My love of red shoes came from the movie Chocolat. If memory serves me right, that is the only color shoes that the main character, Vianne wears. What's not to love about Vianne? She's mysterious, powerful and gutsy, not to mention sexy as all get out!!! So, I figure if red shoes makes me a bit more like that, I'm all for it!
Well today, I set out for a bit of shopping with my dear friend Dawn. We started out at our local DSW, I must say it was a damn good shoe day. Not only did I get a pair of the requisite red shoes, but a pair of yellow and green flats too. I'm set for spring! Now all I have to wait for is the perfect spring day (a long wait)!
Sooooo, it's my birthday today and I see no reason why I shouldn't give one of you a present! To celebrate, I am giving away two small oilcloth party banners to a lucky winner. All you need to do is to become a Modern June Facebook Fan once you a fan come on back and wish me a Happy 29th Birthday for the 13th year running! I'll pick a winner on Sunday morning!!!
Don't forget to check out Oilcloth Addict additional birthday gifts!
Twelve years ago today, we brought our new bundle of joy home from the hospital in a handmade stocking. What a sweetie! Happy Birthday to my lovely daughter!
So Saturday was my cute hubby's birthday, and we had such a low key and peaceful day. The day started out with making these fun oilcloth letters (check out the 411 at the OCA blog). They are not the best looking letters, but hey I was working under the gun, trying to get them cut before everyone woke up. Every birthday guy needs a sign!
Once the kids were up, they created a table-card using our Scribble and Splat Mat! How fun is this? I still want to get around to making chalk cloth tablecloths. All in good time!
After we all were done being crafty, we got cooking. The kids made their daddy heart shaped pancakes. YUM!
After a few hours of lazing around the house we ventured out to the Cheesecake Factory for some really yummy stuff! I can't show you the silly pics from this outing because all three of them would kill me! Let's just say we had a lot of fun.
How cool is this? Last week I had to lug all of our party stuff to the pool. I didn't bring along an ice bucket but I did come up with a great solution. After some quick thinking, a trip to the ice machine and I was all set. I love my oilcloth totes!
Thanks for all the sweet birthday wishes! You all are so nice! Yesterday was a wonderful family day. It started off so peaceful. I did not jump right out of bed like usual. I sat up and read in bed for a nice long time! I have to remember to do this every now and then even if the rest of the day is going to be a crazy at least it started off nice. It was such a treat.
Don always takes our birthdays off. We never go on vacations so the time off gets well spent through out the year. A series of mini-breaks! Since Don was home I ran off after my shower to Target. I bought old lady face cream and foundation and hair dye to cover the gray hair. I am not afraid of forty but why look forty if you don't have to. While I was there I found a super cute shower curtain that matches my current color scheme. I show photos another day.
The rest of the day we went from shop to shop and restaurant to restaurant. We started out by having lunch at Double T's BBQ in Carytown, then we then ran around town for a bit doing a few errands until we made way to the birthday destination, the Cheesecake Factory. Our problem was that we were all so stuffed with BBQ that we were not ready for the yummy birthday cake of my choice. We enjoyed a few of the shops in the mall before desert. I was on a quest for some kick-ass birthday shoes but no luck! Once we were sure that there we no good shoes to have we enjoyed out decadent cheesecake feast. They brought my gifts for me to open there is was very cute.
Once home and out of the cold rain we all cuddled up to watch a new movie on DVD, the Corpse Bride. All and all a great family day with out Modern June getting her share of too much of me! I did attend to emails but not many! Our weekends are all Modern June for me and Don is a single Dad for most of it. So this was truly a mini-vacation, we really need more of these. What loot was I given for my birthday? Aidan gave me a nice top that I saw a few weeks ago and Maddie gave me a DVD, Breakfast at Tiffanies. I am excited to have another movie for the studio. Don thought Maddie and I could watch it together he obviously has not seen the movie. Don gave me a couple of movies too, Marie Antoinette and Garden State. The soundtracks for both movies are as great as the movies. I have one more gift that came from a mysterious Etsy seller but it has not arrived yet.
Lordy, lordy today I am bleeping 40. So I am going to be silly ( I know nothing new, right?) and pretend that I can pick out anything I want from the Crate and Barrel Everyday catalogue. A pretend shopping spree, like I used to do when the JC Penny catalogue came in the Summer time. I used to circle each piece of my new school wardrobe -- every page had a cute outfit. I'm sure I would have cut out each outfit and made a look book had my Mother not had a fit.
So here is my very grown up Crate and Barrel Wish list!
I love this lamp! My kids call this color Mommy green! This sofa is OMG good! I would not let the kids eat in the living room ever again! OH, I want this so bad! I have no place for this in my small scale 1927 home but it is really nice! I would be fab pushed up behind the sofa, right?
And here are some random things I would just love to have! Just cuz! It is still fun to have pretend shopping sprees!
The family finally wakes so I am off to be pampered like a queen. LOL!!! We have a fun day loosely planned Don has the day off so it is sure to be fun! Have a happy one! love, Kelly
I love the sign, made with loads of love! Maddie spent hours on this!
Pumpkin shaped pancakes! Yum! Janet sent me this link for halloween foods. I didn't make pumpkin flavored pancakes but I did use the idea for the shape! Maybe next week I will try the spicy pumpkin pancakes!
But the best part was this!
We treated Don to an afternoon at the Movies! The Nightmare Before Christmas!!! It's back and its in 3D. Maddie and I sat there singing the entire show. Can you tell this Movie is a family favorite! We even own the soundtrack!
This cracks me up. It looks like a pagan ritual! But really it is birthday brownies! Not at all homemade but very, very yummy! I think they were much better than my recipe! I need better recipe of brownies, any one have one?
UPDATE! keep the recipes coming and I will post them! Kimmy if you read this I need the no pudge brownies!
Here is Christie's favorite brownie recipe!
BROWNIES
From Cooks’ Illustrated
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped medium (optional) 1¼ cups white flour ½ tsp salt ¾ tsp baking powder 6 ounces unsweetened chocolate 12 Tbsp (1½ sticks) unsalted butter 2¼ cups sugar 4 large eggs 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 325.
Melt chocolate and butter in double boiler. When smooth, remove from heat and whisk in sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, whisking until thoroughly combined.
Whisk flour, salt, and baking powder. Add to chocolate mixture in 3 additions, stirring until batter is smooth.
Aidan is 7. I have no idea how this happened I am shocked to have my little ones be not so little any more! I am done letting them grow up. That it no more getting bigger around here. I know every mom says this but it is true it goes by way to fast. Last week I was changing diapers and nursing. The day after that I was teaching them to walk. The next day we were learning the alphabet. GEEZ.
Well in reality I had a "Super Mario Party 7" birthday party to plan. Ok what in the world was I thinking when I let my kids pick whatever party they wanted to have? This is getting harder. I had no idea what to do. It would help if I were playing game cube with them at night. But that is Modern June time and Don is charge of all video gaming!
So what do you do at a "Super Mario party 7" birthday party? Pass off almost all planning to the Hubbie and the kids.
This cracked me up! Watching the Naruto marathon and blowing up balloons. Actually those are Boo's and Bob-oms. We filled up the kiddy pool with them and the boys stomped on them. You know they loved that! This pool was at the end of a obstacle course that Maddie put together.
Pin the mustache on Mario! Don did Mario up on photo shop and then printed it out on to four sheet of paper and spray mounted it up on the poster board. He rocks!
And of course every party must have a pinata. This is a Disco ball pinata turned Bob-omb. Oh that Don is so clever! Here is a party tip... if you have a pinata you must have a "make it all better bag", this a bag of extra toys and treats. You give this to the little ones that don't get a lot of candy and are really upset about it. Until Don and I realized that this was an option we were never ever having another one of those upsetting things!
For cake we opted for cupcakes! Cupcake that were to resemble mushrooms. I hoped that these could be a bit more realistic but they are fun enough. Don came up with the idea to put white chocolate chips into the icing for the spots. I love that man! When I run out if ideas he is there to save the day!
Sooooo, it's my birthday today and I see no reason why I shouldn't give one of you a present! To celebrate, I am giving away two small oilcloth party banners to a lucky winner. All you need to do is to become a Modern June Facebook Fan once you a fan come on back and wish me a Happy 29th Birthday for the 13th year running! I'll pick a winner on Sunday morning!!!
Don't forget to check out Oilcloth Addict additional birthday gifts!