Cupcakes for Hunter's Barnyard Bash

This past weekend was my best friend's son's birthday. She was doing a "Barnyard Bash" Party theme.

How cute is that? What 2 year old doesn't love animals? And animal cupcakes... well that's just a win-win right there! Of course I offered to make the cupcakes for her. With a theme this fun how could they not come out cute?

I purchased these adorable red gingham cupcake lines on etsy

 I knew I wanted the frosting to look like grass. I got the Wilton No.233 Tip which creates the grass like effect. I also purchased the Wilton Kelly Green Coloring to make the green frosting.

You only need to use a little bit of the coloring gel. Add a little at a time with a toothpick until you achieve your desired shade.

I also found these Picket Fence Cupcake Wraps

How perfect for the Barnyard theme! I used a hot glue gun to secure them closed and then dropped each cupcake in when they got out of the oven. 

(easier to frost the cupcakes already in the fence rather then frosting them first and then dropping them in)

I topped each cupcake with an adorable Barnyard Cupcake Topper.

Happy 2nd Birthday Hunter!!!

Ringing in the Summer with a Backyard BBQ

We had some friends over this past weekend for a Ring in the Summer Backyard BBQ.

I spent so much time planning all the little details and then of course ran out of time to take pictures of all of my hard work (kicking myself). Above are a few shots I was able to catch before our friends started to arrive.

The weather held out (no rain, thank god!) and everyone had a great time drinking, eating and catching up. 

When people first arrived I put out my homemade guacamole (always a crowd favorite) 

What you'll need:

5 ripe Haas avocados

1 jalapeno pepper, seeds removed and finely diced

A handful of cilantro, chopped

Half an onion, finely chopped

Juice of a lime

salt & pepper to taste

A good bag of Taco chips, my favorite are the Xochitl brand

I served mine in an authentic molcajete

I also put out a crudites platter. My husband said "why don't you just buy the already made one at the grocery and save yourself time"... as if! Obviously that wasn't even an option!

I went to the market that morning and bought fresh carrots, celery, radishes, cucumbers, string beans, zucchini and peppers. 

I set everything up on my Oversized West Elm Board

(this board is a must have! I use it every time I entertain and get endless compliments.)

I also used my Chalkboard West Elm Planters to put the carrots, celery and string beans. Not what I intentionally bought it for, but ended up looking super cute and very Farm to Table. 

I also used my Farmer's Market Baskets to hold the radishes and cucumbers.

The finishing touch was a spinach artichoke and onion dip in scooped out peppers. 

The Dinner Menu was

Tomato, Basil and Mozzarella Skewers

Cold Pasta Salad with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Spinach and Pecorino Cheese

Potato Salad and Cole Slaw

Hamburgers and Hot Dogs

Buttermilk Chicken

Corn

and all the fixins

I wrapped plastic utensils in red and white paper napkins and tied them with jute.

I put them in these cute gingham lined picnic baskets I found.

For dessert I made red velvet cupcakes topped with cream cheese frosting, sprinkles and a fresh cherry on top.  Our friends brought plenty of cake, cookies and brownies to go around. 

For the tables I used these Berry Baskets and lined them with these Red Checkered Basket Liners and filled them with fresh cherries.

I also filled mason jars with fresh blue hydrangea.

Below, I listed some great links for planning your own Backyard BBQ

Paisley Palooza

the bakers confections

pink lemonade party

The Pink Picker

Simply As That

The front porch 1950

save-on-crafts

World Market

And of course, a special thank you to my friend Lisa of Larkspur Studios, who did all the fabulous signage for me!

Such a fun day hanging with all our friends and family.

 Can't wait for an excuse to plan another party soon!