My version of margaritas couldn't be simpler. And I make a whole pitcher, so you can share.
1 cup good tequila 2 cups limeade 1/4 cup triple sec
Pour ingredients into a pitcher. When you're ready to serve, pour four (ish) ounces into a cocktail shaker and shake well over ice. Garnish with a lime.
This week is my birthday! In honor of my thirty three years of age, I'm giving away a little something I use to stay looking a little younger. My new favorite obsession, Seattle's own Kari Gran Skin Care is sending one lucky reader one travel set + two lip whips. FABULOUS!
Enter by leaving a comment below and a winner will be chosen this Friday afternoon.
Good luck!
*Legal Business
The 'giveaway' is a sweepstakes contest wherein the winner will be chosen at random based on those who have entered a comment in the comment section of the blog. Facebook 'likes' are not a requirement of entry and will not be considered when choosing a winner, but encouraged. Winners will receive one Kari Gran Skin Care travel set and two tins of lip whip as defined by the makers of Kari Gran. The 'giveaway' is open to US residents aged 18 and older beginning September 10, 2012 and ending September 14, 2012 at 5:00pm PST. By entering the giveaway through this website, you release Alexandra Hedin Design from any liability whatsoever and waive any and all causes of action related to any claims, costs, injuries, losses, or damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the giveaway.
A birthday party like no other, ice cream for the little brother. Molly Moon and cone cup cakes, red beach balls and root beer shakes. We love you little baby Jud - you are the ultimate little stud.
Monday is Judson's first birthday. Today we are frantically getting everything pulled together for the perfect ice cream social. Have a great Friday and a great weekend. I'll see you at Happy Hour today!
These are not hard to make - I promise. And because I say that all the time (because it's true) and no one believes me, I thought a video may help.
I love to create fun elements like this - because with custom napkins all you need to make the table awesome is white table cloths and white plates. The napkins become the star of the show. As they should be. These don't take much time - I did thirty - and you'll have them forever.
B Day Custom Napkins blank napkins (washed and ironed) fabric paint brayer carving base (Speedball makes a good one) pencil pattern or initial print out exacto knife double stick tape + wood block (optional)
Step 1 :: Rub the side of a pencil over the 'right' side of the print out covering the design completely Step 2 :: Flip design over and center the image on the blank carving base Step 3 :: Trace around the up-side-down design Step 4 :: Remove paper and you will be left with a reverse image of the design. Step 5 :: Cut out with an exacto knife Step 6 :: Optional :: Using double stick tape, adhere stamp base to a small piece of wood Step 7 :: Place a small amount of paint on a washable surface Step 8 :: Lay napkin out flat over paper towels or other non-ruin-able surface Step 9 :: Roll brayer through paint and onto stamp. Be sure to create an even and smooth layer Step 10 :: Gently place stamp on napkin and press down. Step 11 :: Follow package instructions for setting the paint. Mine required a 24 hour air dry and a short trip through the dryer.
You can totally do all of this yourself. Well, maybe not the Baked Alaska. I wasn't sure we were going to pull it off. Especially after so many cocktails. But there it is - a fabulous summer menu.
In honor of my sister's birthday, we hosted a sit down dinner for thirty people at our house. It was a really fun and over the top evening with rented tables and chairs, champagne toasts, and an abundance of "B"s. My sister has always chosen Bs - both the letter and the insect - to have have around her. It seemed appropriate to flood the room with a big green B (her initial).
I made a stamp (tutorial to come later this week) to stamp the napkins and the kraft paper covering the tables. The theme was carried through in a banner and tiny tags on the herb plant favors.
While we may have taken the party slightly over the top (overheard :: "This is the nicest wedding I've ever been to.") there are elements that are super easy for you to recreate for your own party. All week I'll share with you the elements so you can host your own B Day party.
On Wednesday night we hosted a birthday party for my sister. And we've now recovered. It was a lovely dinner affair and I'll share the whole thing with you next week. For now, I'll tease you with a few photos. Have a great weekend, see you today at Happy Hour!
The current issue of 425 Magazine features Lars' fourth birthday party! Can you believe he's four? I cannot.
It managed to snow on his birthday (again) this year. Plus our basement wasn't as done as we were hoping. So rather than having all twenty (yep - twenty) kids playing outside or downstairs. All twenty kids were playing in the middle of everything. Our house was total chaos.
I love that I get to share a little of my personal life with you - through the magazine. I really do entertain. I really do go over the top to celebrate everything. I really love doing all of this. If I didn't have a public platform to show all of the things I do - I'd still be doing them. Just at home. For my family. Privately.
I choose to share them with all of you because I want to encourage you to entertain and celebrate everything. It doesn't have to be a birthday or a special occasion to celebrate - but when it is, why not go over the top!?!
Mr. Hedin and I. "What the frick is happening at our house right now?"
If you don't get the magazine, you really should. It's a great, glossy, magazine with beautiful features (including mine) and it comes out every other month. I highly recommend it. But I could be biased.
When we were trying to figure out invitations for Lars' birthday party we asked him what he would like. Tiny Prints generously offered to supply the invitations - so we set him free with the website and let him pick anything. He chose a 'jungle' theme invitation that is super bright and colorful. Good choice son.
Picking lots of colors + a pretty generic theme left me able to create what I want/ have time for for the party this weekend. Here is the inspiration I am starting with and I'll share the actual photos on Monday.
Four years ago I had my first child and left my steady job (well paid, with adult interaction) for the unruly and unpredictable life of motherhood. I could not have chosen a better route.
Lars is a smart, funny, quick witted, and amazingly perceptive child. He listens to everything everyone says - and remembers it. And can repeat it later at a completely appropriate (and usually embarrassing) time.
He is funny and adorable and totally fun to hang out with. For his birthday I suggested 'sprinkle cupcakes' and he said "that's a really great idea!" I love that kid. It is a really great idea. I think tonight we are ordering pizza - at his request. Except when I mentioned Red Robin he thought I was brilliant. So we'll see what happens. Either pizza and salad or Mud Pie and a burger.
I also made Lars a shirt for his birthday - just like I did a few years ago here. They are really easy. And if you need the recipe for the cupcakes, check it out here. Maybe you'll frost a little better than I did.
Today is Mr. Hedin's birthday. We have a lovely day planned with moving the moving boxes out of our current house, meeting Mr. Hedin for lunch with the kids, then dinner tonight with family - but no children.
My baby girl turned one. I can't tell you how excited I was for this party - and to see the look on my baby girl's face when she saw the balloons. She loves balloons. I was not disappointed. She came around the corner from her bedroom and looked with awe at the ceiling. Finally she said "boon."
She was incredibly overwhelmed because she was napping up until after the party started. So she woke up to a house full of people and full of balloons. Lesson for next time, wake her up first!
Pineapple Coconut Cake - my new favorite!
Favors we inside of balloons filled with toys, candy, and glitter. Next time, no glitter - it ended up all over my house!
Cake pops are a pain in the ass to make. But everyone loved them - I would probably make them again because of that. Chocolate dipped oreos were also a hit. I may have eaten most of them, but they were a hit with someone.
My baby girl turns one tomorrow and I am so excited - we are going all out to celebrate this momentous event. I have gone with a pink theme (doy) and tons of balloons. Pearl's first "word she surprised me with" was balloon. They were hanging in the kitchen and one morning we walked out and she said "boon" - the next day we were at a store and I couldn't figure out what she was doing. Then I realized she was pointing to balloons and saying "boon." She loves them. We have them in our house now and she is in heaven looking at them on the ceiling and playing with the ones on the floor.
I can't wait until tomorrow when the house is truly filled with "boon" We are taking lots of pictures - and Jeff is coming over, so we'll have amazing photos to share soon.
The favors are filled balloons that will hang from the back deck
Getting the table prepped - I have notes to tell me where everything will go so I know I have enough platters. Plus party hats of Pearl!
Prep in my office- fabric corsages, balloons, and glitter!
Right now I'm baking cookies and making my final grocery list for the last minute items I still need before tomorrow morning. And my mother-in-law is coming over today so I can function without two children at my heels.
An arrangement for the front door!
Everything else - vintage punch cups, Pearl's birth announcements, pink wrapping paper and pink roses.
Have a fantastic weekend! We'll see you Monday morning with a few pictures!
