Party Prep: Placecards and Pearls

The girls' 4th birthday party is less than a week away now and I have mermaids swimming through my thoughts day and night. The girls themselves are giddy with anticipation and that's all that really matters.
The major components of the party have been in place for a few months, now it is time for a few last minute details. I love party details. They can make or break a party for me and they are my favorite part of planning.

Here are the placecards I just made to label all of the food. I tried to name the food to fit in with our mermaid theme as much as possible.

A little curious about this one?

First let me say, I swoon over all those gorgeous candy buffets you see in parties lately- so sweet and pretty.
Here is the beginning of what will be our own mini-mermaid version....pearls.

I picked up a few different size pearl candies for a pick-your-own pearl candy buffet.

The best party tip I have from planning this party is buying a digital scrapbook kit. I am not a digitial scrapbooker and I had never purchased one before but I am so glad I did. I used all the coordinated images for everything- the invitations,  the banner, the placecards, our Soup-er Favors  ...

I did use some of my traditional paper scrapbook supplies too. I cut pretty water paper into strips to make these napkin rings. The girls even helped assemble them by adding little sea creature stickers. 

I like how pretty it looks but it also makes the buffet easier when the cutlery and napkins are together in a pretty little package. I bought a wooden treasure chest to hold them all and some pearls to spill over the side as decoration.
Can't wait to post actual photos from the party- wish me luck,

Bittersweet

Our cabin is only 17 by 31 feet. 527 square feet of shelter tucked in among the trees but leaving it this past weekend for the winter was like saying goodbye to a friend who you know you will not see for a long time. Bittersweet.  As I reflect on the times we spent there this past year, I am grateful for so many things...

...special journeys.

Traveling down well worn paths towards precious new discoveries...

cherishing these moments through the eyes a child.

Sometimes traveling into the past and pondering from where we came...

Reflecting on the beauty of constant change all around us.

Spending time with friends and family...

... and some quiet stolen moments to enjoy the peace of the forest all alone.

It has been a wonderful spring, summer and fall at the cabin.

I will miss it dearly all winter long.

I feel so lucky and blessed to have this special little place. Life is good.

And I am so very grateful to share it with you...

Bug-A-Boo!

For Halloween this year the girls decided to be a Bumble Bee and a LadyBug.  Since they are only three years old, they are still a little leary of all the traditional witches and goblins and ghosts- Oh My!
So for our Halloween party I decided to use their costumes as my inspiration and go a little buggy...a Bug-A-Boo Party!

The Invitations.

Dragonflies are holding up our "Bug-A-Boo" banner.

I know I probably shouldn't add any more candy to the day but I couldn't resist adding these to our party theme...

I am still working on figuring out the rest of the buggy menu but I think we have the beginnings of pretty buggin' bash!

Linking to these parties- check them out!