Tribal Themed Baby Shower

 

A co-worker/friend of mine is pregnant with her second baby.  She already has a little boy, and this time is expecting a girl.  To celebrate, we wanted to throw her a baby shower with a unique theme.  Most of the time you see lots of pink, lace, tutus, and princesses for welcoming a little girl into the world.  This time we found this terrific tribal themed decor from Oriental Trading.  From the colors to the table decor, balloons to cupcake stand, table confetti to hanging decor...it was perfect!!  So cheers to a fun shower and a healthy baby girl!!

For more decor, go visit Oriental Trading at 

THIS LINK and create your own celebration!!

**Oriental Trading sent me products for this post.  All opinions are my own.

  Thanks ~ Nichi

 I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Lollipop Centerpiece

Need a fun centerpiece for your next family gathering, kids party, or baby shower?  This Spring Lollipop Centerpiece if just what you need.  It is bright, fun, and edible.  Gotta love that combination.
Follow my easy instructions below and it will be the talk of the party.
Here are the details:

Supplies:

styrofoam ball

lollipops

artificial flowers and leaves

glass jar

aquarium rock or marbles

basket

Easter basket grass

 

Make an indention in the styrofoam ball with the jar.  This will show you where to leave an unfilled area of lollipops.

Insert lollipops into ball.  Have fun alternating the colors.

Add leaves to your lollipops and insert into ball for extra decoration.

Insert jar into your basket and fill with rock or marbles for weight.

Place finished ball on top of jar where you left the open space.  Fill basket with Easter grass and decorate with flowers.  Enjoy!!

Source: a Mandatory Mooch original

I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!! 

Please stop on over to say hi!!




Thanks ~ Nichi

Gender Reveal Cake: Question Mark?

Know someone that is pregnant?  Going to have a gender reveal party?  This cake is a fun surprise for everyone.  I created this one for a friend of mine that was having a baby shower for another friend.  She wanted the inside to be pink or blue depending on the baby's sex.

A week before the celebration, she brought me a sealed envelope from the doctor with the results.  I made a four layer cake thickly covered (no peaking!!!!) in vanilla buttercream.  Then, decorated the outside with colored fondant to match other colors of the shower.  I got to see a video later of the mom-to-be cutting into the cake.  She was delighted to find out she was having........A GIRL!!!!!  The cake was bright pink on the inside to match the dots on the outside.

This cake was made with Wilton fondant and buttercream recipe.

I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!! 

Please stop on over to say hi!!




Thanks ~ Nichi

Gender Reveal Cake - Lips and Mustaches

My sister just had baby #2, an adorable little boy.  So, a few months ago we had a gender reveal party for the family.  Another sister and sister-in-law put together lots of fun decorations and food.  The theme was adorable....lips and mustaches.

I was in charge of the cake.  What an important job.  My sister went to the doctor on a Thursday.  He put the gender in an envelope and she brought it to me.  I was the only one that knew what the baby would be.  So exciting!  I didn't even let my hubby or kids know.  I already had the white cake baked.  It was waiting to be filled with M&M's that would fall out to reveal the gender once cut.  The family gathered and made their guesses by stamping a mustache on a poster for boy, and lips for girl.  Overall, it was a pretty even split.  What a fun way to reveal the gender!!

I baked 4 round cakes to create the 4-layer cake.  I cut a circle out of the middle two layers.

Start putting the cake together by frosting the bottom layer.

Next, add the middle layers with the holes.  Frost each one.

Fill the cake with colored M&M's.

Add the top layer.

Frost the outside of the cake, smooth, and decorate.

The lips and mustaches were created with lollipop molds and 
Wilton candy melts from Hobby Lobby.

Here are the guesses before we cut into the cake.

The sequin ribbon decor & lollipop sticks were also found at Hobby Lobby.

Ta-da!!  IT'S A BOY!!  They were so excited.

  Source: a Mandatory Mooch original

I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!! 

Please stop on over to say hi!!



Don't miss Best of the Weekend linky party that I'm a part of.  
Live at 7pm CST each week!!

Thanks ~ Nichi

Fantastic Fruit Series - Week #2 - Wonderful Watermelon

For any of you that follow my blog you know that on Sundays I like to do a celebration post.  This post usually celebrates a themed party, holiday, etc..  So, I'm happy to announce that for the next few months I'm doing a 10-week Fantastic Fruit Series.

Week #1 was Lemon Love - 50 Amazing Recipes

For Week #2 I'm celebrating wonderful WATERMELON!!

These fellow bloggers are so talented and previously shared these recipes on my  
Tasty Thursdays linky parties and blogger groups.
I've also added a few of my own favorites.

Visit them, share them, pin them, and tell them I sent you. 

Next week's celebration is all about strawberries...stay tuned!!

Watermelon Margaritas from Cooking With Curls

Watermelon Krispie Treats from The Mandatory Mooch

Summery Watermelon Salad from Ashley's Dandelion Wishes

Watermelon Lime Frappe from It Bakes Me Happy

Watermelon Salad from Call Me PMc

Watermelon Slice Cookies from Six Sisters' Stuff

Fruit Bassinet from The Mandatory Mooch

Watermelon Star Cake from My Turn for Us

Watermelon Salad from Life After Empty Nest

Watermelon Salad from Sarah Howe

This post is linked up to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!! 

Please stop on over to say hi on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter.  
Thanks ~ Nichi

Creamy Dill Dip

This was another wonderful appetizer that my sis-in-law 

brought for my sister's baby shower.  

You can serve it with bread, crackers, or veggies. 

To see the entire owl themed shower post click HERE. 

(printable recipe)

Ingredients:

      1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature

      1 cup sour cream

      2 tablespoons finely chopped green onions

      1/2 teaspoon salt

      2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill weed

      1/2 teaspoon minced garlic (optional)

      2 tablespoons milk (optional)

Directions:

In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese and sour cream with an electric mixer until smooth. Mix in green onions, salt, dill and garlic. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to blend flavors. If the dip is too thick after chilling, stir in milk 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency.

Source:  "mooched" from my sis-in-law that found the recipe on www.allrecipes.com

This recipe has been posted on Good Recipes Online, The Tablescaper, Fireflies and Jellybeans, The Kings Court IV, Gingersnap Crafts, My Turn For Us, The Shabby Nest, Twinkle in the Eye, Brambleberry Cottage, Michelles Tasty Creations, Delightful Order, Its a Keeper, Polkadots on Parade, Lady Behind the Curtain 

Jalapeño Crescents

 These were a delicious appetizer that my sis-in-law 

brought for my sister's baby shower.  

They were so good you couldn't eat just one.  Hope you enjoy them too!!

To see the entire shower post click HERE. 

Ingredients:

1 package of cream cheese, softened

1 small can of jalapeños, chopped

1 can of crescent rolls

Makes approx. 30 rolls

Directions:

1. Roll out crescent rolls on parchment paper.  Press cut edges together to form one rectangular piece of dough. Cut in half lengthwise. 
2. Mix cream cheese and jalapeños together. Spread mixture over dough to edges. 
3. Roll both dough pieces up LONG edge to the other LONG edge, making two long rolls. 
4. Place in refrigerator until chilled to make cutting easier. 
5. Cut rolls into 1/4 inch slices. 
6. Lay them on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until light golden brown about 12-14 minutes.

Thanks ~ Nichi

 I like linking my posts to THESE GREAT PARTIES!!!!

Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

I made these cupcakes for my sister's baby shower.  

Of course I added a little pink food coloring 

so they would match up with the pink and green theme. 

To view the entire owl themed shower post click HERE.

(printable recipe)

16 cupcakes:

1 cup sugar
1 vanilla bean
1 3/4 cups cake flour, not self-rising
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 large eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup full-fat sour cream
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In a small bowl, combine sugar and seeds from the vanilla bean. **I had to watch video online to see how to remove seeds correctly
3. Using the back of a spoon, break up any clumps of seeds in sugar and mix through. Set aside.
4. In a medium-sized mixing bowl, mix together cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
5. Add the vanilla bean sugar and mix until well combined.
6. Add butter and mix on medium speed for three minutes to form a fine crumb texture.
7. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, sour cream, oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.
8. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and beat on medium speed until just combined.
9. Slowly add milk and mix on low speed until just combined.  The batter will be liquid. 
10. Fill cupcake liners just over 1/2 full.
11. Bake for 14 - 16 minutes and then test to see if they are done. They are done when a toothpick comes out without sticking. 
12. Let cool completely before frosting.

** I topped them with a Vanilla Buttercream Frosting
 

Source:  The Mandatory Mooch - "mooched" from www.cupcakeproject.com

This recipe was featured on Ginger Snap Crafts

This recipe is posted on Fireflies and Jellybeans, The Kings Court IV, Gingersnap Crafts, My Turn For Us, The Shabby Nest, Twinkle in the Eye, Brambleberry Cottage, Michelles Tasty Creations, Delightful Order, Its a Keeper, Polkadots on Parade, Lady Behind the Curtain, A Bowl Full of Lemons