Pinterest Inspired 4th of July Wreath

Yes, I realize that 4th of July has come and gone

and I have not had time to blog about this

so I'm doing it now...

better late than never, right?  :)

{Actually...this can be called a Labor Day wreath and that way, I'm way ahead of the game}

{{Yeah, right!!}}

 

I think it's safe to say that I love Pinterest.

It's probably also safe to say that I'm {a little bit} addicted!

I saw a 4th of July wreath made of...

BURLAP

and new I had to make one for myself.

So...here's my version.

It was so fun and simple to make.

Click HERE for a tutorial of my

quick

easy

no sew

version.

Blessings to you,

Kim

Pink Champagne Cupcakes

My first experience with Pink Champagne Cake was at one of my baby showers.

My sister brought the most delectable

Pink Champagne Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting.

It was divine!

{So divine that I proceeded to finish the remaining half of the cake that was left over}

{{all...by...myself}}

{{{within a couple of days}}}

Not my proudest moment

but so worth the extra calories!

I loved that cake so much that {of course} I had to figure out how to make cuppies out if it.  :)

I usually make them with a Cream Cheese Frosting but for Sydney's Birthday,

she requested Pink Champagne Cuppies with Buttercream frosting.

They are just as good...

light

fruity

refreshing

not too sweet

and just a bit "bubbly"!

:)

Click HERE for the recipe.

I hope they make you feel BUBBLY, too!

Blessings to you,

Kim

Homemade Peach Ice Cream

Ever since I can remember, I have loved Homemade Peach Ice Cream!

That being said, I NEVER buy or order Peach Ice Cream from a store.

Why?

Because it's just not the same!!

Growing up in & near San Antonio, I had the privilege of being close to

Fredricksburg, TX.

Fredricksburg is known for it's peaches.

AND it's shopping!

If you've never been...you must go!

So, I was spoiled early on when we stopped at a roadside Farmer's Market

and I had my first taste of sweet Texas peaches...

in the form of

Homemade Peach Ice Cream!

And since we had a Little Peach birthday party for Miss Shelby,

I just had to make it myself.

It is so heavenly!

Not too sweet

Not too rich

Just creamy, peachy goodness!

Here's the recipe...

HOMEMADE PEACH ICE CREAM

{adapted from www.allrecipes.com}

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 pounds fresh peaches, peeled, pitted, and chopped

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup peach nectar

1 tsp. vanilla

1 pint half & half

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk

2 cups whole milk

DIRECTIONS:

Puree peaches with the sugar, nectar, and half & half in a blender {you may want to do this in batches}.

In an ice cream freezer container, combine the peach mixture, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and vanilla.  Pour enough whole milk to fill container to the fill line {approx. 2 cups}

Follow the manufacturer's instructions to freeze the ice cream.

ENJOY!!

Blessings to you,

Kim





Amaretto Peach Jam

I think making jam is one of my new favorite things to do!

It is so gratifying for me to see all those little jars

lined up like sweet little soldiers of sticky goodness!

 Just look at them...aren't they so cute!?  :)

This is the batch that I made last night with all the peaches we had left over from Shelby's party.

I put this batch in larger jars to give away as gifts...

and of course, to keep for ourselves.

This jam recipe is absolutely de-lish!

It is my new favorite jam.

It is so good on biscuits {of course}

on toast.

But also good on these Fried Goat Cheese Rounds

that I made the other night

Oh My Lands!

The sweetness of the peach jam

combined with the tanginess of the goat cheese

are a match made in Heaven!

If you have never made jam, I highly recommend that you give it a try!

The reward is worth the effort.

I'm telling you...it is so gratifying

{that is...if you are a closet domestic diva {dork}...like me!}

Click HERE for the Amaretto Peach Jam recipe

Click HERE for the free Amaretto Peach Jam labels

Click HERE for the Fried Goat Cheese recipe

Go get Jamming!

Blessings to you,
Kim

Family Favorite Breakfast Casserole

Like most of you, I have had many breakfast casseroles in my time.

Some better than others.

I have to admit...I am not a huge fan of the casseroles made with soaked bread.

Maybe a texture thing?

{I think it reminds me too much of the cheese souffle my mom made me eat as a child}

{{Gag-a-rama!}}

Anyways, I discovered a recipe for a breakfast casserole made with

HASHBROWNS

and I've adjusted it a little to suit our taste.

Click HERE for the recipe

Blessings to you,

Kim

Our "Little Peach" Birthday Party

It is so hard to believe that my little baby

is 2 years old!

This time around I have

worried less

enjoyed more

and treasured every "little" moment!

Not that I didn't treasure the "little" moments with the other two...

but I was always looking forward to the next stage

and didn't realize how quickly they would grow up!

I call Shelby my "Little Peach"

so when I was trying to think of a theme that wasn't

{over done}

I thought...what would be more fitting than a

"Little Peach" theme.

I started with the color palette,
peach and aqua.
I wanted the feel to be sort of 
vintage country fair.
Then I thought of
doilies
fruit crates and baskets
and
simple, fresh food.
{All things peachy, of course}

Here's our beautiful "Little Peach"!

{I made this pillow case dress & bow to match the party}  :)

Here's the invitation

The main tablescape

 I had this old storm door window that I used as a frame for her

1st 2 years in pictures.

I made a rag wreath and put her latest "2 year old" picture in the center.

I was blessed enough to find a truckload of the gorgeous fresh peaches

on the side of the road!

Here's the Menu:

Ham Buns

Vegetable cups filled with Ranch Dressing

Fruit Cups with Marshmallow Dip

 Biscuits with Homemade Amaretto Peach Jam

Mini Biscuits with Homemade Amaretto Peach Jam

And the Dessert Table

Peach Cookies

Gummy Peach Rings

And Peaches N Cream Cuppies

Topped with the Pinwheels that I made.

Shelby's Cuppie got a special "2" topper.

And of course...my VERY favorite thing...

We also had Peach Tea, water, and a couple of Peach Sodas to drink

  

Here are some pictures of the decorations...

 My precious friend, Karen came in town from Texas to help me get ready.

She put together these dangling doilies.

They turned out to be so darling

 I made giant hanging peaches out of lanterns 

 and aqua and peach pom poms

 I created this bunting using the same graphics from

Digital Design Essentials

{as well as the invitations, food tags, pinwheels, etc.}

 Happy

 Birthday

 Shelby!

Click HERE for free printables.

I used a vintage lace tablecloth

peach crates

coral roses and peach carnations

blue Mason Jars

a vintage peach can

milk glass

and framed pictures of Shelby

and peach art

as the decor.

For the Party Favors, I made Homemade Amaretto Peach Jam {recipe coming soon}

and packaged it up like this...

and topped it off with these labels...

{free printables coming soon}

It was such a fun party!

I loved watching my vision come together as Karen and I set everything up.

But even more than that...

I adored watching Shelby enjoy herself!

Click HERE to see my "Little Peach" in action!

I hope you've enjoyed this peek into

Shelby's 2nd Birthday Party!

Blessings to you,

Kim

**I'm linking up to Tip Junkie**