Pinterest Challenge: It's all about strawberries!

I recently decided to join up with a Pinterest Challenge link party, because let's face it...I've done lots of pinning but little recreating!

Months ago, my 3 year old daughter decided she'd like to have a Strawberry Shortcake 4th birthday party. The SS things on the market are cute, but I wanted to add my own touch to the party. Hello, Pinterest!

Here's the link for my Pinterest Board where I gathered ideas: 
Michelle's Strawberry Shortcake Inspiration Board

 And now for my interpretation:

First off, I bought a pack of papers at Joann Fabrics and used these papers for everything I did. I used them on the drink wrappers, the circle punch outs you see around the cake, etc. The paper I used is:

First up is the awesome cake my sister made!!

I thought it turned out adorable!!

The large strawberries around the side of the cake are a pack of 8 coasters from the $1 spot at Target! I also randomly dropped card stock circles punchies around the cake as well. 

I bought these strawberry recipe cards at the $1 spot at Target as well. I used them to make little signs. I bought 4 little metal buckets from the $1 spot to hold the snacks. The clothespin holders (holding the little signs) I made with regular clothespins and adhesive ribbon found at Joann Fabrics.

Below is my interpretation of the framed invitation. I bought an 11 X 14 frame at Michael's on clearance for $6.99. I used a sheet of scrapbook paper for the background. I cut out the flower and the 4 using my paper pack from Joann's. 

Last minute addition: cute flowers! :)

Below: even the hand-wipes container wasn't safe from my paper pack! lol

Below is the goodie bag topper we made. 

The goodie bags were filled with awesome finds from the $1 spot at Target! Strawberry shaped note pads, Strawberry lip gloss, swirly straws, candy and more!

The birthday girl!!

I'm sorry my pictures didn't turn out the best. The lighting wasn't the best, but I hope you've enjoyed seeing my favorite party pins come to life!

Summer time!

Wow! My last post was in January! Crazy! But here we are now in the midst of temps in the 90's! We had very little winter to speak of here in Indianapolis...but who's complaining, right? lol

Our family spent the first 16 weeks of this year going through grief counseling. After losing so many family members and friends (8) in 13 months, we were stuck...couldn't move forward in the grieving process. It was too much loss in too short of a time span. We just passed the first anniversary of the loss of my father in law to cancer. One more "first anniversary" for my grandpa and we'll have made it through the "firsts" for each person lost. What a long, painful journey. But as a Believer, I KNOW God carried us through. He didn't lead us...He carried us!

My DD turns 4 in 2 weeks! Wah! How did that happen?? And, DH and I will celebrate our 19th wedding anniversary two days after DD's birthday! My mind is already spinning with big plans for our 20th anniversary!

Our little Princess!

She finished up her first year of preschool and is currently splashing in her Aunt and Uncle's pool for the summer! lol

I hope summer treats you well!

The Covered Front Porch Designs

I recently stumbled across The Covered Porch Designs ~ a gorgeous etsy shop and blog.

Check out the snappy cards she created for me using my initials!

I also adore her Personalized Monogram Flair Gift Tags:

Hop on over and check her out! You just might find a goodie or two you can't live without!!

Scenes from a local Craft Mall...it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Free whimsical Christmas tag printables!

I LOVE free printables! I just happened across these adorable free Christmas tags and thought you might like them as well! Go here: The Black Apple

I'm a guest blogger!

Thanks to Facebook, I've been able to reconnect with old friends from school. I love that!! How fun is it to catch up on the years we missed, "meet" their children, etc.

One of the friends I've reconnected with is Angie. She's a beautiful woman, inside and out, has a beautiful family and loves God!

She recently asked me to be a guest blogger for her inspiring blog the front porch. I hope you'll swing by for a few minutes and enjoy the view from the front porch!

Catching Up

So often, I think about sitting down and updating my blog, but...something always gets in the way. Most often, it's exhaustion or my 3 year old. LOL

This has been such a difficult year for our family. We lost 5 family members in 7 months, including my father-in-law at the end of May. He fought a great battle in the war on prostate cancer, but God called him home. Every single family member we've lost has left a void in our lives that at times, has felt too great to overcome.

We moved here in the summer of 2010 to help care for my father in law. My house remains undecorated for the most part...unpacked...a bit unsettled. Little by little, I'm getting my mojo back and can't wait to make this house a home!

My baby girl turned 3 in July and is now attending preschool and just thriving. She is doing great!

In Sept. & Oct. my mom was in the ER 5 times and hospitalized for about 2 weeks or so total, then went to a nursing home. She is battling emphysema. She is back home now and we're hoping she'll get stronger and live a full life.

Life goes on...and God is still good! Hope to catch up with all of you ASAP!! Hugs to each of you!