The winner and more!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the voting for Maddie's second birthday party - the winning theme is Cute as a Bug!

Now that I finally have my theme, I'm ready to start the slow process of working on all of my homemade crafts - decorations, invitations, and cake/menu planning. I like to have a LONG time to work on things so I can try to bargain hunt and accomplish things by spending an hour a night (or less!) working on them.

Here is my first decoration - absolutely adorable fabric flowers! The full set of directions can be found on Going Sew Crazy's blog, but here are my step by step photos:

Costs

Fabric - Free! (I am using only scraps left from my various crafting projects)

Embroidery floss - Free! (leftovers once again)

Beads - $3 from Joann's (20 beads in the pack)

Championship

Time to vote in the final round of Maddie's Birthday theme contest, winner will be announced this weekend!

Irish Carbomb Cupcakes

The recipe was shared with me by one of my co-workers from the PICU, so I can't spread it around. BUT, if you are very nice to me, I might just make them for you someday...

1. Guinness chocolate cupcake

2. Fill generously with Jameson dark chocolate ganache

3. Top with Bailey's buttercream frosting

4. Enjoy!

Sewing fun

Months ago I ran across a website with directions on how to make "pillowcase dresses" for little girls. I've been wanting to try it out for my little bug, but just didn't have enough free time. Today I had a rare afternoon free as my attending took the day off. After spending a solid two hours in the kitchen cooking and finding that the bug was STILL napping, I figured this was my chance.

I don't have any fancy vintage pillowcases, so I just purchased a simple, cheap solid color pillow case from Walmart (2 pack for $5.50). I also happen to be a bargain bin shopper and have an entire box full of fabric bindings and rick rack embellishments that I purchased from a craft shop for 25 cents a pack that I used to fancy it up. The directions I used can be found here.

Cost breakdown

$2.25 - one pillowcase

$0.25 - white binding

$0.25 - white rick rack

$1.50 - elastic (used only 1/5 of the pack)

(+ white and teal thread from my sewing accessories)

_______________

$3.75!!

Final Four!

Vote now!

Round 2

Voting started at midnight - see which of the themes are still in the running!

The solution

When my husband got home from work I filled him in on how much I was becoming distracted by searching the web for party themes and ideas. Instead of scattering my attention in a million different directions, we came up with a fun idea - to take all the themes I've drafted and put them up to a vote. I created a bracket (like March Madness!) with 16 theme ideas. Over the next few weeks all of YOU will help narrow down the choices and choose which theme I'll continue to develop over the next few months for Maddie's SECOND birthday party!

The itch

We all have something that we get a little bit obsessed and crazy over. And no, I don't mean something normal like "Oh, I'm obsessed with impressing my boss" or "I'm obsessed with making sure my family is happy." No, I mean something that you're probably a bit embarrassed about and might not readily admit. Something that once it gets into your head, you can't stop thinking about it. It's that thing you ponder while you are trying to go to bed and is still on your mind when you wake up. Maybe it's a distraction from the not so niceties in life, or maybe it's just innocent fun.

So here is my confession...I can't stop thinking about planning my daughter's birthday party. There are much more important things going on in my family and my residency, but as soon as everything slows down, my mind drifts and I can't stop thinking about it. I've drafted about a dozen "theme" ideas and i just keep browsing the internet looking for crafty ideas.

It's like an itch I can't scratch. Although, I dare you to do a google search for "party inspiration " and not get drawn in. There are people out there that just create photo collages of party ideas. This person gets PAID to make "inspiration collages" for people. Total insanity.

And now I've realized this post did nothing to quell my desire to keep searching the web...