Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

May 2013 be a happy, healthy and memorable year to y'all.

images via pinterest 

New Years Eve Party Ideas

Adorable NYE invite via Kate Spade Stationary

Easy and budget friendly decor with black balloons, cream flowers, and silver accent 

Christmas ornaments seen here.

Even kids can have fun counting down to the new year with a cheese sandwich and yogurt cup via here

We will be celebrating the end of 2012 by going out for pizza with some of our friends.

How will you be bringing in the new year?

Our Christmas

Our 1st Christmas spent in Texas was really nice even though I was sad we were not at my sister's house. Good thing for being able to face time.

Due to how early we would need to get our church for the children's mass we opted to attend a service at the Methodist Church. It was one of the nicest Christmas service's I have attended. From lighting of the candles, to signing 'We Three Kings' {my favorite Christmas song} this service reminded me a lot of the Christmas service we would attend at my Grandma's church when I was little.

The rest of the evening was pent having appetizers and opening presents with the two greatest blessings of my life.

Merry Christmas

May your heart be filled with the Christmas spirit.

Merry Christmas Friends!

photo 1 , photo 2, photo 3, photo 4

Milk n' Cookies Party

Last week I hosted a Milk n' Cookies party for my little girl who turned 2!

I went with a red, aqua, and light pink color combination vs. the classic pink and brown or blue and brown color combination that you often see.

Her party was a lot of fun as it was exciting to see her interact with her friends and who would have thought that four, 2 year old girls could drink a gallon of milk?! We also spent some time making a few holiday crafts during her party. We decorated gingerbread men made out of this playdough recipe, along with decorating foam Christmas trees found in the $1 spot at Target.

Since, her party was held later in the afternoon I only served cookies, milk and cupcakes. I did not do a birthday cake this year.
The decorative mini size sugar cookies were made by Hayley Cakes and Cookies. If you live in the Austin area you must check her out! In addition to the birthday cookies, I made chocolate chip, kiss cookies, and snicker doodle rolo cookies.

The cupcakes came from my local Target Bakery and are from Kimberly's Bakery. Kimberly's Bakery  ships in limited supplies of their cupcakes to various Target Bakeries. We had vanilla bean and they were delicious.

Overview of the Party Table

 birthday sugar cookies from Hayley Cakes and Cookies

 milk bottles from the TomKat Studio Party Shop accented with pink and white stripe straws 

and white pom pom ribbon

 waiting for my party guests to arrive

My daughter's white play table is the Nantucket Kid Kraft Table

We love it!

 Kids party table decorate with brown kraft paper with coordinating red, aqua, and pink ribbon

 party favors were cookies and a milk n' cookies hair clip 

from MBmine 2 on etsy

Birthday door banner made from glitter paper found at Hobby Lobby

 Party decor consisted of paper lanterns in red from Hobby Lobby and tissue paper poms

 Craft table where we decorated our gingerbread men and Christmas Trees

Wednesday Words

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Angels

Being a former school Social Worker I have dealt with my fair share of heartache situations but I know nothing can compare to the anguish the community of Sandy Hook Elementary School in CT is going thru. There really are no words to express, but to pray and let our faith be stronger than our fear.

I came across these beautiful angel cookies via the Sweet Adventures of Sugarbelle which she created in memory of all the victims.
I also read someone donated 26 Christmas trees to be decorated in memory of the victims.

Even though cookies and Christmas trees cannot undo what happened, its little acts of kindness that can help lift spirits to those most in need....

Birthday Wishes

Sweet baby girl on Saturday you turned two years old and we had a such a fun day celebrating along with throwing you a Milk N' Cookies party the day before!

Not a single day goes by where you don't make me laugh or smile.  Oh, how I could listen to your laugh all day. Your smile along with your innocent, brown eyes have away of melting your mommy and daddy's heart. 

This past year I will always remember when:
You started walking at 15 months, the swimming lessons we took together this past summer, celebrating your 18 month bday with frozen yogurt {you loved it}, the first night you gave me a hug before bedtime, hearing you say the word "wow" for the first time when we went house hunting and guess what?.. we now live in that house! In August, we moved to Texas from Arizona and I will always remember our first night in Texas. Hearing you say your name in September while you were swinging in our backyard for the first time, getting to see your cousins, and going shopping at Mall of America. In October, you were Elle the  Elephant for Halloween and it was so much fun seeing you eat a candy bar for the first time, and how much you enjoyed ringing people's doorbells for candy. We learned that you do not like scary Halloween decorations though. In November, you experienced your first presidential election, and we celebrated our First Thanksgiving in our new home. In December, just days before your birthday you started saying your ABC's and counting numbers.

Some of your favorite things are:
coloring and playing with play dough
going to the park to swing and going down the slides
playing with puzzles
watching Angelina Ballerina and Clifford,
you LOVE to read. In fact, some of my favorite moments are when we get to snuggle and read together. 
You love bath time
You love to eat cheese, yogurt, and pasta
some of the cute things you say are; "cookie', "cupcake', 'mall", "shoes", and recently learned how to say "Jesus" and "Please". 
You like to help mommy with the laundry and you also enjoy unpacking the groceries.
You are obsessessed with shoes. There are so many times where I will find you siting in your closet trying on shoes or mommy's shoes. 
You LOVE buses! It is so cute to hear you shout out "bus" every time we are in the car. 
You love puppies so we often FaceTime with Auntie so we can see her puppies and every time we go on a walk you get so excited when we see a puppy.

and if there is one thing you should know- darling try to never grow up too fast. Your daddy and I are trying to give you the best childhood as we both know it is over way too fast, and most of all if there is one thing I can't thank you enough for, is thank you for bringing back a piece of my own mom, your grandmother, whom you are named in memory of. 
Love you, Ellie Bellie- Mom

Airplane Birthday Party

This Friday's Airplane Party Feature is a very special party as I get to feature a little guy who turned two yesterday.  Mr. Owen happens to be the little boy of one of my most dearest friends. Not only is his momma beautiful inside and out she is also a Martha Stewart.  

The Airplane birthday theme was chosen after their family took a vacation to California and seeing how Owen was intrigued by all the excitement going on in the airport. I love how this theme is not only an adorable theme for little boys but it holds a special memory as well.

I love how the balloons mimic clouds. The balloon feature was created by stringing the ends of the balloons together with fishing wire and sticking them to the ceiling with tape.

Airplane sugar cookies baked and decorated by Owen's mom.

For having these be the first cookies decorated by hand I think his mom did an excellent job!

Luggage totes as the party favors. Beyond adorable.

and... the cutest pilot I have ever seen!

PS: Did I mention Mr. Owen is Miss Elle's boyfriend?! 

Thank you Brooke for allowing me to share my "nephews" party! 

I can't wait to see what you come up with next year!

Wednesday Words

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Oreo Truffles

I made oreo truffles today via this recipe.

So simple, 3 ingredients, no baking, and little hands can even help make these! 

They are so good. 

They also make the perfect treat for your neighbor or for a secret Santa

Christmas Stockings

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care"

love these shabby chic stockings via Pink Slip Inspiration

adorable navy and red stockings via Monarca Designs

classic red velvet personalized stocking via Potterybarn Kids

What I'm Loving this Week: Christmas Hair Clips

I am so excited to feature MBmine2!

I discovered MBmine2 on etsy while I was planning Elle's Milk and Cookie's party.

These will be E's party favor! Super cute, right?!

Marybeth, the owner of MBmine2 currently has an adorable collection of Holiday clips for girls of all ages.  All of her hair clips are made with high quality ribbon and felt,  the clips have a non slip pad attached, (love that as I hate losing hair clips) and she also accepts custom orders.

If you are in need of that perfect stocking stuffer or accessory for your little ladies outfit look no further. 

PS: Her delivery is super fast and is only $2.00 for your first item, additional items ship at no extra cost.

Thank you Marybeth for allowing me to feature your etsy store!

If you have an etsy store and would like to be featured on my blog please email me at heidijrieck@gmail.com

Thank  You!

Christmas Dinnerware for Kids

Tis' the season for festive dinnerware... 

Here are some cute Holiday pieces that are sure to please and would also make a great gift!

via script and scribble