Circus Birthday Party Treats

Recently I was lucky enough to be asked to make the treats for a cute neighbor's cute son's first birthday party. 

 I was so excited about the classic circus theme and I love making first birthday cakes.  Mainly because they a usually small and fun.

I blame the tilting elephant on the heat.  It was not tilting when  gave it to her, I swear.  

I made the cake, cupcakes, and the circus animal cookies.

I adore how the cookies turned out.  The inspiration cookies had a very whimsical childlike feel to them so I really tried to incorporate that feel into them.

HOW CUTE IS HE?

(all photos were taken by the wonderful alisha gregerson)

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Friday Night Features

How is it Friday already?  I swear I am so busy doing nothing that the days are just flying by.   Next week we start another round of swimming lessons, then ballet starts up for Emma, the next week soccer starts back up for the boys, and then finally, SCHOOL STARTS AGAIN!   I LOVE my kids, but not having them   in the house all day every day will be a nice break.  I might even get the house clean again.  Although I am quite proud to report that I have been making better use of the neighborhood pool.  I have still been SO sick with the pregnancy and getting everyone ready to go to the pool seems like so much work, but it is always worth it.  The kids have so much fun and I have found then when I am in the water I don't feel quite so much like I am going to throw up at any moment.  Ahhh the joy of pregnancy.  I also got to go to Wicked last night.  It was so awesome.

Well even if I have been useless all week at least there has been plenty of awesomeness to feature.

Herringbone Dresser from The Golden Sycamore

Linen and Ruffles Coin Purse from Flamingo Toes

Paper Heart Art from Honeybee Vintage

Homemade Twix Bars from High Heels and Grills

Ollie from The Salvage Collection

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Friday Night Features

Now that I am back from the dead, I have been trying to get caught up on all the awesomeness you all have been up to and doing a lot of dishes and laundry.  I am still way behind (on all of it), but here are a few things I came across that I just had to share with all of you.

I am so in love with this Goldfish party over at See Vanessa Craft.  You have to go check out the full party.

How great is this flower from Christina's Adventures.  It is huge.  She used a hoola hoop as a base.

Raspberry Limeade Pops from Poofy Cheeks.  Yummy!

Owen's room reveal over at Owen's Olivia

No-bake Coconut Cookies from The 36th Avenue

Faux Butcher Block Desk from Vintage Revivals.  This technique is total awesomeness.

I hope I have one of these ruffle blankets from Made in my future.  I love knit baby blankets... fingers crossed I get to add ruffles.

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Worlds Yummiest Soft-n-Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Oh these are so good.  Trust me.  You are going to LOVE them and so will everyone else.

Well as long as you love cookies that stay soft and chewy.  These are amazing.  I have tried recipes in the past and the cookies start out nice and chewy, but within a few hours they are hard.  I actually hid one from my kids so that I could test that they would stay soft, and I am please to report that if your cookies somehow make it 24 hours without being eaten then will still be soft and chewy.  YAY!  

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients: 

3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened (but not too soft)

3/4 c. brown sugar 

1/4 c. granulated sugar 

1 egg 

2 tsp. vanilla extract 

1/4 tsp. almond extract

2 c. all purpose flour 

2 tsp. cornstarch 

1 tsp. baking soda 

1/2 tsp. salt 

about a cup or so of your favorite chocolate chips

First, as you may have guessed, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Next cream together your butter and sugars.  I used the paddle attachment on my mixer.  First I mixed them together on a slow/medium type speed and then I turn my mixer all the way up to high for about a minute.  This makes the butter nice and fluffy.  (ITs SO FLUFFY)

Next beat in your egg and extracts.  Then add in the cornstarch, baking soda, and salt.  Mix those in well before adding in the flour.  Then slowly mix in the flour.  Once it is all mixed together add in the chocolate chips.

Drop the dough on your cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 10 mins.  10 minutes.  That is it.  Do not over bake your cookies.  They should still be pale on top.  Let them cool for a few mins on the cookie sheet and then move them to your cooling rack.

This batch makes about 24 cookies.

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Not Dead

In case you were wondering, I am not dead.  It was touch and go for a while there..... kidding.  But, I do have 3 major reasons why it has been about a month since my last post.

First, there is the fact that I am pregnant again (12 weeks 4 days to be exact) and I have been SO sick.  I don't think "SO sick" really covers it.  I don't want to go into all the details, lets just say that there were DAYS at a time that I didn't really even get out of bed and for the past 3 weeks or so I have just been constantly nauseous and pretty much useless.

Second, most days I haven't even been turning my computer on.  It has been sick itself and running really SLOW and I have been so sick that turning on my computer just felt like too much work.

Third, it is summer and summer with 4 active kids it CRAZY.  Anytime that I am feeling good enough to do something, I am doing something for the kids.  Our summer has been quite full, even with a sick mama.

We have had many outings to the zoo, museums, movies, and parks.  

Emma helped with the Miss Utah Pageant at the Capitol Theater.  

She lead the Little Misses for their little evening gown part.  The Little Misses didn't compete or anything, but they did a little dance number in the opening routine and escorted the big girls during their evening gown competition.  Emma was so excited and had such a blast.  The Capitol Theater is the same place they have So You Think You Can Dance tryouts when they come to Salt Lake.  It is a big stage, but it didn't scare her at all.  Emma also had to give up her Little Miss Farmington  title this past month.  I know she was sad to have her year over.  She really enjoyed all of the service projects.

We have also had swimming lessons...

...and a family reunion camp-out.  (My husband's Mom's side of the family now has 80 people so it is a big couple of days with lots of cousins).

Don't you love the funny face my Alan Boy is making in this picture???  This park is really great.  It is the Legacy Park in North Salt Lake, UT.  If you live close you should check it out.  It has a great Splash pad, playground, bathrooms, and a pavilion.

The kids have also spent a lot of time in our newly fenced back yard on the swing set and playing in water whenever possible.  I wish we would have gone to the neighborhood pool more, but a mama who doesn't want to get off the couch, really doesn't want to put on a swimsuit and take four kids to a pool.  OR that could just be me.

Anyway, things are looking up.  I have been feeling a lot more like myself this week so cross your fingers and please pray that everything goes smoothly from here on out!

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