We had a WONDERFUL time! We ate lots of cake..
...and Cupcakes... 
...We sang Happy Songs... 
...opened lots of fun presents... 
...played with our friends...
...had some belly laughs...
... and read pretty books.
{Just LOOK at that little pointer finger!}
Most of this wonderful serving-ware is from the thrift store! I think I REALLY lucked out that day and found some great pieces!
{To see the Birthday Girl's 1st Birthday photo shoot, complete with smash cake, go here.}
...and Cupcakes... 
...We sang Happy Songs... 
...opened lots of fun presents... 
...played with our friends...
...had some belly laughs...... and read pretty books.
{Just LOOK at that little pointer finger!}
The Dessert Table.
I really wanted to do an "Amy Atlas" inspired dessert table. {http://amyatlas.com/ PLEASE don't compare my work to hers. She is AMAZING.) I just LOVE her work! While I am not a fan of contemporary design, I love her clean, symetrical, repetitive lines. She does a wonderful job of softening her contemporary lines and making a theme look fantastic. I went for a very soft, very feminine, vintage style with a tiny modern twist on it in a pallate of pinks, whites and creams.
I really wanted to do an "Amy Atlas" inspired dessert table. {http://amyatlas.com/ PLEASE don't compare my work to hers. She is AMAZING.) I just LOVE her work! While I am not a fan of contemporary design, I love her clean, symetrical, repetitive lines. She does a wonderful job of softening her contemporary lines and making a theme look fantastic. I went for a very soft, very feminine, vintage style with a tiny modern twist on it in a pallate of pinks, whites and creams.
Most of this wonderful serving-ware is from the thrift store! I think I REALLY lucked out that day and found some great pieces!
Great tissue Pom-pom tutorial from Martha Stewart here.
These were strung on a White picture frame. Sorry for the lame picture. ;)
Party Favors {Ali's "kisses"}
These were strung on a White picture frame. Sorry for the lame picture. ;)
Cookies 'N Cream & Milk Chocolate Hershey Bars that read:
"Alice Rebecca, April 21st, One year filled with pure, SWEET joy."
FANTASTIC paper from Hobby Lobby. I cut the medalions with fancy scissors then took a stamp-pad to the edges.
Super cute marshmallows that I found at Wal-mart (of all places). They were really gross. But they were pretty. ;) 
Meringues
{Recipie here. I just made mine fancy by piping them out of a piping bag with a fancy tip (Wilton 1M) }
Another Cake Stand made from Thrift-Store finds!
6 Layer Chocolate Fudge Cake
w. Whipped Ganache filling {Tutorial here. To make my life easier, I used Ghiradelli chocolate chips instead of chopping my own chocolate.} & Amaretto Swiss Meringue Buttercream {Tutorial here.}I followed this buttercream ruffle tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHYX0qXDVy0
White Rassberry cupcakes w. edible feathers and "pearls"
Beaded Chandelier tutorial here from Dollar Store Crafts!
6 Layer Chocolate Fudge Cake w. Whipped Ganache filling {Tutorial here. To make my life easier, I used Ghiradelli chocolate chips instead of chopping my own chocolate.} & Amaretto Swiss Meringue Buttercream {Tutorial here.}I followed this buttercream ruffle tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHYX0qXDVy0
My Gumpaste Flower tutorial here.
This Cake Stand was made from two FABULOUS pieces that I found at the Thrift Store!! I think it cost me a total of $2.75.
This Cake Stand was made from two FABULOUS pieces that I found at the Thrift Store!! I think it cost me a total of $2.75.
White Rassberry cupcakes w. edible feathers and "pearls"
{White cake (Box mix!!)w. Rassberry filling {from Orson Gygi's} and Fresh Rassberry American Buttercream
*The 'Pearls' were made by rolling white fondant in a ball, then rolling it around in 'Pearl dust' from Wilton. The 'Feathers' were actually made from rice paper! I found the rice paper at my favorite local kitchen supply store Orson Gygi's. I just cut it into the shape of a feather, then took my scissors and made the slits on the sides.
This Cupcake Stand was made from placing two glass stands from Wal-mart. They were on sale and cost me $9.00 total!
This Cupcake Stand was made from placing two glass stands from Wal-mart. They were on sale and cost me $9.00 total!
Cupcake wrappers were made from {Grease-proof} paper doilies!! Tutorial here from Intimateweddings.com.
Beaded Chandelier tutorial here from Dollar Store Crafts!
For more peeks at the photos hanging here, click here.
Beverage dispenser: $6.00 from Wal-mart!
Carrot Cake Cake Pops
Tutorial from Bakerell here.
My hubby from Tomseth Construction made this Barnwood flooring that I used as a photo prop in Ali's 1-year Photo Shoot. It was AMAZING in the photos. I ran to Hobby Lobby and grabbed 4.5 yards of their ruffled material from the spool [instead of making it myslef] and it saved me SO much time.
This lovely cream and sugar set were also a thrift-store find!
{Pssst, here's a secret. I made this Pink Lemonade (Crystal Light!) look extra fancy by adding the lemon slices!}
Beverage dispenser: $6.00 from Wal-mart!
Carrot Cake Cake Pops Tutorial from Bakerell here.
My hubby from Tomseth Construction made this Barnwood flooring that I used as a photo prop in Ali's 1-year Photo Shoot. It was AMAZING in the photos. I ran to Hobby Lobby and grabbed 4.5 yards of their ruffled material from the spool [instead of making it myslef] and it saved me SO much time.
This lovely cream and sugar set were also a thrift-store find!
{Pssst, here's a secret. I made this Pink Lemonade (Crystal Light!) look extra fancy by adding the lemon slices!}
The nametags just added that extra fancy, put-together touch. ;)
The "Guess how old I am" game. You had to guess which month of her life each of these pics were taken in. Super hard! Lemme tell ya! 
We had some wonderful family and friends come up! My brother, Scott and his awesome family came all the way from Payson. Our good friend, Mark ('Uncle Mark' to my kids) drove up from Saratoga Springs, my good friend, Sara and her kidlets came. GUESS WHO else came?!! My In-Laws!! It was such a {WONDERFUL} suprise! They came all the way from Cali JUST for Ali's 1st birthday!! What amazing parents and grandparents. I am so lucky to have them as family. ;) We had a great time eating, talking, laughing, eating and playing.
*A BIG 'Thank-You" to the lovely Jen from Tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com for the wonderful Mother's Day spotlight!*
This is the birdcage that they focused on. The lovely milner's head and french cracker jar belonged to my Great-Grandmother Ardis. She was a professional hat maker by trade in the 1930's and the jar was a gift for her wedding in 1928.
