garden birthday party

Last night Janie(and her cute baby bump) and I threw a little Garden Picnic Birthday party for our dear red headed friend Lisa.

We had:

big balloons

watermelon popsicles

brie and homemade crabapple jelly

chocolate coconut milk cake

pomegranate gingerale

ultimate dance party 1997 iTunes mix

layered vintage table cloths (many from the old oat house on the ranch, THANKS KATHY,I LOVE THEM!)

binding garland from last Christmas

fresh flowers from Trader Joes in milk glass vases

big balloons

Happy Birthday sweet friend, we love you!

he finally caught up

Mr. Murphy caught up with me this weekend.  We are both back to being the same age.  

We had Turkey Chili, Chocolate and Coconut Milk Cake from the little red house, a bonfire, friends, baby boys, and a little night music.  It was a simple and lovely night in the cool weather underneath the stars.  The chili was the perfect thing to warm us up next to the fire.

Happy Birthday to the man of my dreams.

See Mr. Murphy's birthday last year here.

Vintage tablecloths, Handkerchiefs, and Birthdays-1

This weekend I enjoyed quite the birthday celebration.  I have been out "partying" so please forgive the lack. of. posts. 2 days, big deal right?

Friday I was not feeling so hot so my dear friend Meaghan came and relieved me from my babysitting job. (Thanks Meg!)

My hubs was home Friday so he was able to be with me on the day honoring my birth.  So, he took me to Fresh 2 Order and we had a yummy birth DAY lunch.

(I dig these mustard plates)

Then we had these incredibly moist and chocolaty birthday cupcakes from F2O.  The only thing missing was a candle.

Then hubs took me to see Toy Story 3 at the dollar theater.  I laughed, I cried, I really wanted to be a child again and go home and play with my Baby Lissy and Maryanne.  It was the perfect movie for a birthday,  I felt surprisingly reflective about my life and nostalgic for my childhood.

Then John took me one more place for my last birthday gift.  We went to Antiques and Interiors in Sandy Springs and he bought me a vintage tablecloth and 3 old handkerchiefs.  I had really been wanting some colorful hankys to hang on my wall (much more to come on this later, our dining room now looks incredibly wonderful), so like he always does, he fulfilled my wish.

Then we went home to Mom and Dad's and they planned a special dinner for me.

(Apparently, I made everyone stand on my right.)

We had...

and...

Daddy bought me sunflowers.

My mother, once again, did not disappoint.  She lit torches on the porch and we ate by firelight and the moon and stars.  The night bugs were making their sounds and we kept our family tradition and my parents told me about how I was born.  I really love hearing that story.  It was a magical moment.

I learned that birthdays are much better with husbands to share them with, particularly mine.

 I only have 363 more days til the next birthday.  I wonder what life will be like then...

We have beautiful vegetarian friends

You know those people who just give you good vibes?

I do, I know a lot of them.  We spent our evening with 3 lovely friends, Michele and her husband John (they are real hippies.  Also, 2 Johns's in the house made it a little confusing) and also our friend Sara.

Michele and John are moving to the BIG APPLE and we are so excited for them.  They are leaving in 6 days which made us feel so good that they would take time out of their crazy schedules and come and see us before they left.  Michele probably invited us to come visit her in NYC approximately 25 during the night.  I think we will go.  

I love cities.  Atlanta has done it for me for about 5 years.  I love Atlanta.  There is something about the energy of a city.  I love that there are millions of people all working together who don't even know each other but somehow we all work together to create this amazing microcosm.  I love walking down the sidewalk and feeling small next to the buildings, I love feeling like I could help an outsider get around in the city, I love that everyone has somewhere to be.  The expanse of the towering skyscrapers all the way to the depth of the subway systems challenge my mind to think about how small I am compared to this huge place I am living in. (sorry for the tangent)

Anyway, I would love to live in the heart of a large city someday.  Who knows, maybe we will join Michele and John in NYC?

So, Michele is vegetarian and I really really wanted to try to make a yummy vegetarian meal.  I have NEVER eaten tofu in my life but I wanted to try to cook it.  So, I searched and searched for the perfect recipe, we are talking probably an hour or two!  I found the recipe for Tofu Vegetable Stir-Fry.  YUM!  

So, I made it (with husbands help of course)!  I have to say, for my first vegetarian meal it was pretty great!  I would love to know if anyone has any other vegetarian suggestions.

Don't get me wrong I LOVE meat, it's just always nice to try something new! (Plus I still have a package of extra firm sitting in my fridge) 

*Find Tofu Stir-fry Recipe here*

We also made homemade sweet potato fries and Michele brought a vegetarian dish and I don't know the name of it!  Michele help me out...here is my best guess at the spelling Quinoua?!?

I also made a Sour Cream Chocolate Cake, oh my it was great.  The batter was the silkiest and smoothest batter I have EVER made.

For cake layers:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1/3 cup water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1/3 cups firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3 large eggs

For frosting

• 1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup whipped cream cheese
• 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Michele was so funny.  She said when they went apartment hunting in NYC, she purchased a Glamour Magazine for the first time since middle school!  She is trying to read up on all the latest fashions, which is quite precious (and smart).  She says that the "just got out of bed" look for hair is still in.  YES!

I gave her the middle part.  Apparently thats not going anywhere anytime soon either.  I think she is beautiful.

Her hippie hubs, John.

Sara sporting a beautiful messy bun.

Moi, in my workout clothes.  Don't be fooled I was not working out, just babysitting, which is basically a workout.

(Yes, we use a day bed for a couch)

Then John and I performed two of our original creations for our friends. We will post a recording soon.  We love sharing our music and we hope you like it too.

Good luck to Michele and John, we will miss you!