Home Sweet Home

{image here}

Happy Friday Everyone! I first want to start out by saying Thank You Melanie for doing a guest post for me! I really appreciate it as I love having guests here on my blog and its fun to be inspired by new ideas. So, if you are ever interested in wanting to be a guest I would love to have you!

Our babymoon was wonderful. Not as relaxing as if we went with our second choice which was Florida or Hawaii and had a beach escape, but it was a great still a wonderful getaway. I loved how various pockets of the city reminded us of being back in Paris and everyone was so friendly. Of course, the food we ate was amazing which means I better get in gear and get going to my Friday morning Zumba class. I will definitely share more with all of you next week. I have some fun photos I am wanting to share and especially tell you about the best cupcakes that I have ever eaten! {yes, that plural on the cupcakes is correct :)}

Have a great weekend!

Please Welcome Melanie

I am so excited to be guest posting on Cherry Blossom’s today. Heidi, I hope you are not even looking at your computer, and enjoying your “babymoon”!

As a “style scout” I have always been passionate about fashion. But my love for clothes is definitely trumped by my love of accessories. With fall right around the corner, I can’t help but daydream about what wonderful things we will have to choose from this season!

Last spring we started to see a lot of the cross body bag and it seems as though this trend is going forward into fall. I could not be more thrilled because I love the silhouette! And for all you mom’s out there, this is the perfect “hands free” bag. The bag sizes are much smaller than we have seen in the past, which makes for lower prices and a lot less weight on our shoulders.

Here are a few that really caught my eye, all courtesy of www.shopbop.com

This would be a major splurge, but Alexander Wang kills it with this one. Love the color and all the amazing details. $825

Simple, but great little details by Linea Pelle $325

Do you love Gold hardwear? I do!!! $325 by Rebecca Minkoff

WGACA vintage floral bag…love the distressing on this one. $118

If you love something more classic, this option by State & Lake is perfect $148

For other stylish finds, Check out my blog at www.yourstylescout.blogspot.com

Golden Gate Vacation

{photo via we heart it}

My husband and I leave on Sunday for our last hurrah aka "babymoon". Usually we love beach escapes but this heat {100+ days} is taking a toll on me so I am excited that we have decided to go to San Francisco. I haven't been there since high school and my husband hasn't been there since college so in some ways it will be like visiting a whole new city. I am thrilled to be packing for 60 degree weather {gives me a reason to wear some new fall items I have purchased}, eat some delicious food, go on a bay cruise, seek out some cupcake bakeries, and of course San Francisco has some great shopping areas that await my arrival. I am pretty sure someone said new ballet flats were in the shopping forecast!

As much as I love going on vacations I always find myself overpacking, stressing about making sure the house is clean before we leave, being in mid flight and having panic thoughts as to "Did I leave my makeup bag on the bathroom counter and did I pack my phone charger?", and then the there is the dreadful unpacking when we return home. Ugh.

Anyone else feel this way when it comes to traveling or am I just being whiny?lol.

On the bright side...I know we are going to have a great time and I can't wait to share my adventures with all of you when I return.

PS: I will be having one of my blog friends Melanie, doing a guest posting for me next week so please make her feel welcomed! You will love what she has to share.

Too Pretty to Eat

{Images seen via sweetopia}

Don't these sugar cookies from Decadent Cookie Favours look amazing? My love for sugar cookies reigns right behind my love for cupcakes. I love all the delicate detailing and of course we can't forget about the ribbon. The only downside is I would feel so guilty for eating such a pretty dessert..and then again maybe not!

What I'm Loving This Week

I heart this ring

I heart this initial necklace

I heart this bowl

Decorating with Photos

I am wanting to redecorate my hallway by rearranging some photos and adding to my photo collage. I am thinking about removing all of our color photos and go with a classic black and white look as featured here. I really like the look of thicker and thinner black frames placed together and how the photos are not hung in perfect straight rows. Now if only this could be my home!

How do all of you have your hallways decorated? If you have any suggestions/helpful tips please let me know!

A Stripe Delight

Nothing is cuter than striped straws + a strawberry milkshake + a pink striped straw + a cupcake shop

=

one blissful sweet treat!

(Photos via ritzy bee}

Happy Friday

Wishing you all a happy weekend and most of all....thank you so much for the compliments on our baby gender revealing party and the congrats on the baby girl that will be arriving in December.

{image via we heart it}

What I'm Loving This Week

I heart this bib. {In fact I heart everything from Truly Bella}

I heart this baby blanket
I heart these ruffle baby bootties

I heart this headband {is it wrong I want it for myself?!}

yes its a little lady come December!

Baby Gender Revealing Party

We had our baby gender revealing party on Monday evening and it was a lot of fun!

I had a lot of fun planning this party thanks to Rebecca from fresh chick design studio who designed the cupcake toppers, party dots, favor tags, and dessert labels! { I can not thank her enough for how wonderful everything turned out!} Some of you have asked me to share photos and the details that went into this party which I am happy to do. However, for whatever reason the lighting on these photos is not the best so I am a little disappointed.

The details:

Colors: Hot Pink, Baby Blue, and Lime Green

Theme: "Oh, Sweet Baby" where we served candy, desserts, and beverages all in the theme of being sweet and of course either being pink, blue, or lime green.

Menu:

Raspberry macaroons from essence bakery

home made cheesecake serve with raspberry sauce, raspberries or blueberries,

homemade vanilla cupcakes with homemade vanilla frosting from my hummingbird bakery cookbook {its my favorite}. I used pink ruffle liners from the Wilton brand. I have included a photo and these were purchased at Joann Fabric Store.

Lime green, baby blue, and pink colored taffy

Pink and blue stripe gummy worms

Beverages:

Raspberry lemonade served in jelly jars with hot pink and white paper striped straws from cdk designs.

Sparkling water, Blue Moon beer, and of course several bottles of bubbly for the guests.

Party Favors:

Mini chocolate bars wrapped in scrapbook paper served in chinese takeout boxes

We shared the news by putting a certain color frosting inside the cupcakes which were served last. We had our guests either wear blue if they thought we were having a boy and pink if they thought we were having a girl. Lets just say the team that was outnumbered ending up losing! I will share the result with you all tomorrow in my What I'm Loving this Week's posting.

Here are the photos. Enjoy!

Dear Monday,

{via everything fabulous via bits of beauty}

I simply love this note. Today we find out if we will be welcoming a little man or a little lady into this world come December. Not only is it "my day" but another person who is very dear to my heart is expecting a lil bundle of joy herself, {in fact we are only one day apart!} and she is finding out today as well!

Winner!!!

Congrats to Cheryl for winning the $40 CSN Stores gift card!

I hope to do another giveaway real soon as my blog will be having its 1st birthday in September and as always thank you for reading cherry blossoms!

PS: Cheryl if you can please email me your contact information I would greatly appreciate it as I will need to forward it to CSN. Please contact me by Monday, July 12th. Thank you!

What I'm Loving This Week

I heart this bow pillow

I heart this silhouette plate

I heart these rice bowls

I heart this print

Last Chance for Giveaway!!

{via we heart it}

If you haven't had a chance go here to enter for a $40 CSN Store gift card!

The giveaway ends on Thursday, July 8th at 9pm Pacific Time!

Best of luck!

cherry blossoms

Its a Hot One!!

{photo via p is for party}

Its going to be another hot day with temps hovering around 110. I will be hibernating inside as I'm pretty sure one of these yummy beverages is calling my name.

PS: Don't forget to enter my giveaway that is being sponsored by CSN Stores! Giveaway ends tomorrow at 9pm Pacific Time!

My Newest Love

I have found the neatest thing and I want it for Christmas! {Granted, I am in no position to be needing or wanting a Christmas gift this year} But..... I would love to have a Silhoutte Machine! Have any of you seen this crafty machine or already own one?!

I enjoy searching for new decorating ideas but I am often overwhelmed by the instructions or I don't own have half the supplies that are required so I tend not to bother. However, I think this Silhoutte Machine is my answer in changing that.

This machine can do it all! It can make cupcake wrappers, wall vinyl decor images, etch glass designs, make scrapbook designs, make greeting cards, and best of all silhouettes! I would love to create a family portrait wall in my hallway using silhouettes such as Melissa's wall from Project Nursery!

Isn't this stunning?

Giveaway Time!!

I am so excited to be hosting my first giveaway thanks to the wonderful people from CSN Stores! CSN Stores is a wonderful on line site that has 200+ stores and carries products from platform beds, bedding, an assortment of cookware, to clothing, and games for the entire family!

CSN Stores has offered one of my lucky readers a $40 gift card to be used on any product at any of their sites! How cool is that?! Some of their sites include www.allmodern.com, www. cookware.com, and www.toysandgamesonline.com.

There are three ways to enter this giveaway*:

1. Leave a comment & tell me what you would purchase with your $40 gift card. I know if it were up to me I would buy a purse or baby items

2. Become a follower if you are not already and leave a comment telling me you are a new follower - or if you are already a follower, leave a comment telling me you are already a follower.

3. Post about this giveaway on your blog and include the link to your blog post in a comment.

The giveaway is open until 9 pm (Pacific Time) on Thursday, July 8th. I will announce the winner on Friday, July 9th. I will pick a winner using a random number generator and pass your info onto CSN stores; the gift card will be sent directly to your residence!

Good luck and cheers to a great giveaway!

* Giveaway is only open to US and Canada residents

* I am not being compensated from this giveaway/ post.

Happy 4th of July Weekend

I can't believe its the 4th of July weekend already. I feel as if summer has just started! Growing up I have always loved the 4th of July. When I was younger my favorite fireworks were smoke bombs and once they cooled down I would draw on the sidewalk with them. I also loved lighting off the little black fireworks that turned into ashy snakes, and of course my all time favorite sparklers!

I wish you all a safe and fun filled weekend as we celebrate our freedom!

{personal photos from 2007, Chandler AZ with a monsoon approaching}

What I'm Loving this Week

I heart this button necklace

I heart this wedding invitation. {Oh how I wish etsy was around in 2007 when I was planning my wedding. Then again, maybe its a blessing it wasn't. I probably would have really gone over budget!}

I heart this pillow. It would look perfect in my living room