Dad's 60th Surprise Party: The Invitations

.

Last weekend my sister and I hosted a surprise party for my Dad's 60th birthday.  We had been planning this party for months - I can't believe that it's over with!

.

The first step to any good party is choosing the perfect invitation, right?  I had high hopes of making the invitations myself, but realized that of all the things I wanted to do, the invitations just weren't going to get done.  We searched and searched and my sister found the perfect one on Shutterfly.  The one we chose is called "Big Celebration Cocoa".  I'm so happy with how they turned out.  I really like that we were able to use two photos of my Dad and we loved the quality of the paper and envelopes.

.

{ I've taken out the last name on this one, obviously!}

.

I still wanted the invites to have a personal touch, so I made these envelope wrappers {which are very similar to the ones I made last year for my Christmas cards.

.

.

The invite wasn't specifically a "surprise party" invitation so we wanted to make it clear that the party was a surprise!

.

I purchased the digital chevron paper from Katie's Wish on Etsy.

.

.

I printed the labels on 8-1/2 x 11 adhesive paper from Avery.

.

.

Here's how the back looked:

.

.

My sister and I were originally planning on using green & blue as our colors for the party.  We changed to blue, yellow, and brown once we chose these invitations.

.

.

Back next week to share other details of the party and decorations!

.

{ P.S. Just wanted to let you know that Shutterfly has no idea who I am, and did not give me these invitations in return for posting about them!  I am just a happy Shutterfly customer - I've been using them since 2000! }

.

8 Petals Giveaway Winner

.

We have a winner!

.

.

Congrats Stacy!!!

Stacy and her cousin Alyssa have a very cute blog called The Cozy Urban Home.  Check it out!

.

Thank you 8 Petals for hosting this fun giveaway!

Tasty Tuesdays: Summer Tastes Like Pesto

.

Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

.

How was your weekend?  Mine was busy - it included breakfast with a friend from high school (who I haven't seen in 14 years...Hi Carrie!), A Keith Urban Concert with an overnight stay Downtown, and a surprise birthday party for my Dad.  It was busy and fun.

.

I am re-posting this pesto recipe from last Summer because my basil is in full swing and it's definitely pesto season!  Yum.

.

Pesto is such a wonderful, easy meal to make in the summer. Cooking is minimal and pesto only requires 5 ingredients!

.

.

Pesto is so simple, you don't really even need a recipe, but just to make sure I got the measurements right I followed Mark Bittman's recipe from one of my favorite cookbooks.

.

Basic Pesto - Ingredients:

- 2 loosely packed cups fresh basil leaves, big stems discarded, rinsed and dried

- Salt to taste

- 1/2 to 2 cloves garlic, crushed

- 2 tablespoons pine nuts or walnuts, lightly toasted in a dry skillet or in the oven on a cookie sheet

- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, or more

- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan or other hard cheese

- cooked pasta

.

.

Basil is the star ingredient in pesto, so make sure you use the freshest basil you can find. I have lots of basil growing in pots on my deck so basil has been showing up in lots of summer meals lately.

.

.

1. Combine the basil, salt, garlic, nuts, and about half the oil in a food processor or blender.

.

.

2. Process, stopping to scrape down the sides of the container occasionally, and adding the rest of the oil gradually. Add additional oil if you prefer a thinner mixture.

.

.

.

When finished, the pesto will look like this:

.

.

Toss with freshly cooked pasta, top with additional nuts and grated cheese, and enjoy!

.

Pesto can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks, or in the freezer for several months.

.

.

What did you cook this week?

.

{ Please add a link in your post back to Tasty Tuesdays or add the Tasty Tuesdays button which can be found on my sidebar.  Thanks! }

.

Tasty Tuesdays: Chocolate Cream Cheese Bars

.

Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

.

I wanted a quick and simple dessert bar to bring to a family golf outing this weekend.   I searched the internet and found these chocolate cream cheese bars.  They weren't the prettiest dessert I've ever made but they sure did taste good and were super easy to make!

.

Ingredients:

- 3/4 cup butter, plus more for greasing of pan

- 1 cup chocolate chips - semi sweet, divided

- 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

- 1/2 cup peanuts - unsalted, dry roasted and chopped

- 16 ounces cream cheese - softened

- 1 cup sugar

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

.

.

1.  In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 3/4 cups of butter and 1/3 cup of the chocolate chips. Stir until smooth.  Stir in graham cracker crumbs and peanuts.  Press this into a buttered 13x9x2 inch pan.
.

.

.

2.  Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or until set.

.

3.  In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth.  Spread this over the bottom layer.

.

4.  Melt the remaining 2/3 cup of chocolate chips until smooth.  Carefully spread this over the cream cheese layer.  Cover and refrigerate until set.

5.  Cut into 24 squares and serve.

.



.

.

What did you cook up this week? 

.

{ Please remember to add a link in your post back to this post or add the Tasty Tuesdays button which can be found on my sidebar. }

.

I have a jewelry giveaway from 8 Petals going on right now...click right here to enter.

..

Giveway: 8 Petals Jewelry

.

I have a fun giveaway for you today!  I was recently contacted by 8 Petals about having a giveaway. 

.

Here's a little bit about 8 Petals (from their website):

.

"8 Petals was created by designer Toni Chirico, a passionate self-taught artist who embraces the artistic learning process. Rather than forcing designs, she gently guides her materials to create unique, bright, bold, wearable art with personality. Working exclusively with sustainable materials, the designs celebrate the whimsy and joy of the creative process.   Like art, 8 Petals believes that life is a creative process and that art should be worn everyday."

.

Each 8 Petal piece is hand-crafted in Spartanburg, SC out of fused glass.

.

Look at this beautiful belt buckle:

.

.

8 Petals belt buckles are made from layers of fused glass that have been fired in a kiln.

.

{ Turquoise & Ivory Belt Buckle }
.

Next week I am seeing Keith Urban in concert...this belt will be perfect!  It will look great with my cowboy boots!  Now I just need to find the perfect shirt...

.
The petal earrings are really pretty.
.

.
They are much larger than they look.
.

{ Turquoise / Ivory Earrings }
.
I love wearing the color turquoise.  I have several pieces of jewelry in that color and I find that it looks good with most things I wear!
.
These earrings are also very pretty:
.

{ Brown / Black / Ivory Earrings }
.
Look at the pretty patterns the different colors of glass made.  Sort of reminds me of tortoise shell.
.

.
8 Petals offers many, many more beautiful pieces, including rings, and necklaces.  All the bright colors are so pretty!
.

.
* One winner will win their choice of one necklace and one pair of earrings. *
.
To Enter:
.
First entry (Mandatory): Head over to 8 Petals and leave a comment telling me your favorite piece.
.
Bonus Entries:  You can get additional entries is you (1) "Like" 8 Petals on Facebook, (2) Follow 8 Petals on Twitter , (3) tweet about this giveaway, (4) post the giveaway to Facebook or (5) blog about it.  Each of those items earns you one bonus entry, just leave me another comment!

..
* Winner must live in the Continental United States. (So sorry to my Canadian friends...)
.
I'll pick one winner using random.org sometime on Wednesday, July 27th. Good Luck!

.

Home Tour: Downstairs Bathroom

.

My lower level bathroom is the next installment in my Home Tour posts.  This bathroom is downstairs in my finished basement and serves the family room, bar, guest bedroom, craft room, and my home office (yikes, that sounds like a lot of rooms!).
.

.
Just like the rest of my house, I picked everything out 6 years ago when my condo was being built.  So, there are a few things I would do differently, but overall I still really like this bathroom.  You know I love the green walls!
.

.
I love the octagon tiles on the floor and the subway tile in the shower.  Such a classic look that doesn't get old.
.

.
The sink and faucets are the same ones I used in my master bathroom.  The countertop is a solid surface from Wilsonart.
.

 .

.
Here's the tile floor & subway tile in the shower:
.

.
And storage cut-outs:
.

.
I bought the glass jar at Target in the kitchen section.  I think it's supposed to be a sugar bowl but I'm using it for Q-tips.  It was under $3.00 and made in the USA by Anchor Hocking.
.

.
The white ceramic tray also came from the kitchen section at Target.
.

.
The orchid is not real, but is a pretty good fake!
.

 .
I bought this vintage reproduction print off of Ebay a few years ago.  It combines two of my very favorite things:  Italy & the color green.
.

.

.

.
Sources:
- Paint:  Benjamin Moore; Hillside Green #495
- Cabinets:  Diamond Cabinets; cherry cabinets in "Chocolate" stain
- Toilet:  TOTO
- Floor Tile:  Daltile; Octagon & Dot
- Wall Tile:  Daltile; Semi Gloss, 3" x 6" in white
- Sink:  American Standard
- Faucet:  Delta
- Countertop:  Wilsonart Solid Surface; Juniper Mirage 9085MG
.
I'm sure I missed something - If you have any questions, please ask!
.

Linking to:

- Show and Share Day at Just a Girl
- Saturday Nite Special @ Funky Junk Interiors

.

Tasty Tuesdays: Summer Couscous Salad

.

Welcome to Tasty Tuesdays!

.

Did you enjoy your weekend?  Summer is in full swing here and the weather has been just beautiful - it finally feels like Summer!  The recipe I am sharing today is one that I make all the time in the Summer.  Usually when I don't feel like cooking and want something easy.  I almost always have all of these ingredients on hand and it doesn't take any time at all to make this.

.

.

Ingredients:

- 5.7 oz package of seasoned couscous (Near East is my favorite brand.  I buy the Mediterranean or Parmesan flavor)

- 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced

- 1/2 cup kalamata olives, diced

- 1 can garbanzo beans, drained & rinsed

- 2 handfuls fresh spinach

- olive oil

- Parmesan or feta (optional)

- salt & pepper, to taste

.

1.  Prepare couscous according to directions on package.

.

2.  Stir in tomatoes, peppers, olives, and beans until combined.

.

3.  Stir in spinach until wilted ( the warm couscous will wilt the spinach )

.

4.  It's hard for me to eat a meal without cheese so I like to add Parmesan or crumbled feta to the top along with a dash of olive oil.

.

{ makes 4 servings }

.

.

I like making this because it's light and healthy.  It's also perfect picnic or beach food because it tastes great cold.

.

.

You have all been linking up some really great recipes...can't wait to see what you made this week!

.

{ Please add a link in your post back to this post or add the Tasty Tuesdays button which can be found on my sidebar.  Thanks! }

.

Also, I wanted to let you know that my sister is hosting a Shabby Apple giveaway on her blog right now.  You can enter by clicking right here.

.