Vintage First Birthday Tea Party for Evaleigh

This past weekend we celebrated one whole year of Evaleigh Joy's life.  We had a Vintage Tea Party for her at our little townhouse in Atlanta.  So many people helped to make this day special.  (A special thanks to Karen and CJ for helping me learn how to frost a ruffle cake!)  EJ was a perfect birthday girl.  She walked around so proud of her new dress and smiled and was happy the whole time (except when she almost inhaled all of the frosting off of the top of her cupcake).  We loved watching her with all of her family and friends who came.  It was a tight squeeze in our little space but thankfully the weather was kind and we made it work.  We had all of EJ's monthly videos playing in the living room for everyone to watch.  Thank you to everyone who made her First Birthday so special!

Happy Birthday darling girl, we can't wait to see what this next year is like with you!

Cupcake: Sweet Dee's Bakeshop

Hairbow: Bow to the Queen and King

Tea cups and mugs: Anthropologie-similar

Striped Paper Straws : Target

Big Round Balloons: Balloonsfast.com

Felt Balls: Tadaa Studio Felt

...and just like that, a year went by.

Last night Mr. Murphy and I celebrated our one year anni with some beautiful music (and maybe a little slow dancing during one special song).

Last night we went to the James Taylor concert at Chastain Park.

I can't believe he is 63 and still rockin' it.

He is a faithful member of our record collection.

John surprised me with the tickets a few months back. 

We went bearing a picnic basket full of yummy treats and sparkling refreshment.  Nothing says sexy anniversary dinner like roasted pine nut hummus, tuscan flatbread, Publix Bakery cupcakes and cannolis(i don't really know how to pluralize that), chocolate covered strawberries, and Welch's sparkling grape juice from an Anthropologie tumbler.

A tear rolled down my cheek when James played, "You Can Close Your Eyes".  

Mr. Murphy and I have many songs and that is one of them.

Spring Jam

This past week we had a jam sesh to welcome spring back in to our lives.  Spring has arrived in all of her glory.  We missed her and she is beautiful.  She arrived flaunting warm breezes and copious amounts of pollen and new critters.  She asks us to open up our windows and let the air roll in to make our curtains dance and we oblige.

Our little apartment was donned with pink and white snap dragons and a plethora of instruments.  The apartment was vibrating with with an unmistakable energy.

We gathered nine lovely people around our very small heirloom dinning room table.  We all cuddled closely and conversed and laughed as we filled our bellies.  Then we each decorated our own cupcakes and became giddy from the sugar. 

We poured our new energy in to thanking Spring for coming back once more. 

We celebrated the new life of spring with improvisations and spontaneous eruptions of pleasant sounds.  

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...

Bananas Two-ways

We are going to start a series of posts called "Two-ways".

We are going to be making two completely different dishes out of one common ingredient.

Bananas

Today we are

doing:

Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

AND

Sour Cream Banana Pancakes

(compliments of the Flying Biscuit Cookbook)

Cupcakes:

1/2 cup shortening

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1/4 cup buttermilk

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, bananas, and buttermilk. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in separate bowl; add to banana mixture.

2. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

3. Cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

3 tbsp milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

(for the butter I do a half and half mixture of cream cheese and butter, it really makes the difference, and thats what makes it cream cheese frosting!)

Add all ingredients and mix well together. (make sure you taste some for yourself before it goes on the cupcakes, I always like to eat as I bake!)

We had the cupcakes for a dessert for a jam sesh night.

I have made these cupcakes for John to take to work for his coworkers and it was a big hit. He said there was a discussion as to the true nature of the cupcake. The men said it is the perfect cross between a cupcake, banana bread, and a muffin. You decide!

NEXT UP....

Sour Cream Banana Pancakes

Yes, please! I got this cookbook from a family who I babysit for. She said she hadn't used it in over two years! So, she let me "borrow" it, but I'm going to see what I can do about making this a permanent arrangement.

(If you can't see this recipe very well and you want the specifics, please message me!)

The batter is tres tres tres thick! Beware.

John made some fried bananas to go on top and then garnished with a sprinkle of powdered sugar! The recipe didn't call for that but he is a genius.

We think Jack Johnson had it right...

And these definitely don't have to wait until the weekend.