Can it Really be 21 Years?

Today we celebrated 21 years of wedded Bliss. Hard to believe. In some ways it seems like just yesterday walking down the aisle and saying "I Do". My husband and I started dating in high school, and continued to date for eleven years until be got married. It has been a wonderful week. We headed up north for the week. For the first time we went away without our boys in tow. Our oldest is working full time for the summer and will be entering college. So it was time to leave them in charge and give them a bit of responsibility. I'm sure they won't disappoint us. We celebrated by going out to dinner and just enjoying some quiet time together. Life can get crazy, but it's sure nice to have someone you love to share it with!

The weather has been beautiful. Blue skies and quite days sitting by the water with our feet in the sand.

A long marriage is two people trying to dance a duet

and two solos at the same time.

More Graduation Creations....

I had grand plans for the party to create some wonderful graduation display boards. Being "down and out" the week of the party, unfortunately that did not happen. I wanted to share with you the only board that I had done early. I was pleased with with how it came out.

I took Brandon's graduation photo and enlarged it to an 8x10 on the copy machine. I then made a mat for the photo and used my gold craft paint to embellish it.

Before my son was in kindergarten I purchased a special book to store all his school pictures and report cards. I made a copy of each photo from kindergarten through eleventh grade.

I added more of his graduation photos along the bottom edge of the board.

Another one of my ideas for the party was the dessert table. Now, that is something that can't be done weeks ahead of time. I did make about 70 chocolate cups a few weeks prior. The day of the party they were to be filled with a chocolate moose. "I" (key word, I) was also planning on making 6 variety of gourmet cupcakes. 150 total! This is where some of my wonderful friends came to the rescue to help a sick friend. I laid on the couch and showed them what I wanted each variety of cupcake to look like and then they got to work. I couldn't have been happier and the guests loved them! My friend Amy made dozens of cookies for the party. All different kinds and each were delicious. She out did herself. She truly blessed me and the guests that day with her gift of baking.

(click on photos to enlarge and see all the yummy treats!)

The German chocolate cupcakes were a favorite with everyone.

More of Amy's wonderful cookies and some chocolate covered strawberries were sure to satisfy any sweet tooth!

The day of the party my friend Tracy was coming over to help decorate the tent. Well needless to say, she did not get any help from me. She brought her son, and they used rolls of gold and black plastic table covering to swag around the tent. There were lots of balloons on the posts. Due to the heat of the day they continued to pop!

Lights were added to add a wonderful glow in the evening.

I had seen this Good Humor cart at a gradution party last year. I wanted to rent it but the cost was $150.00 for the cart plus the cost for the ice cream. So what to do? I had an idea.

I went on the internet and looked up the logo for Good Humor. Here's what I found.

Off to Michaels Crafts to purchase some craft paint and white cardboard. I put the copy of the logo on my overhead projector and traced and then painted the logo.

My girlfriend had a cart on wheels for her patio which she was happy to let me use. I covered the front of the cart and added a beach umbrella. My cost for the ice cream cart, $5.50. The photo below of my son shows the cart in the background.

I may have been sick for the party, but I learned through out that week to let things go and just trust that it will work out. God has blessed me with many friends who came over to help me out. So many of the guests commented about what wonderful friends I had that came to help. I was truly touched by all their kindness. How beautiful A day can be when FRIENDSHIP touches it.

The Graduation Centerpieces...

This week I thought I would share with you some of my creations from my son's graduation. Now that I am recovered from the pnemonia I can begin to reflect on the day (or at least what I can remember). Thank goodness I made the cenbterpieces a few weekes prior to the party because I was to sick to do them the week of the party. I had 13 round tables and I decided to make a cloche for the centerpiece. So here is what I came up with....

I made the glass cloche from a vase, votive candle holder and salt and pepper shaker (turned upside down). I posted about months ago HERE. I used three different graduation pictures that I copied in black and white on my printer. I set the cloche on a plastic square black charger that I found at Walmart for $2.35

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I added some gold foil stars and and some marbles I purchased at Michaels Crafts.

The school colors are BLack & Gold so you can imagine my loud squeal in Walmart when I found this PERFECT ribbon for the bow!

I mounted the photos on some chip board that I cut and folded into a triangle. I used scrapbooking paper to cover the chip board and added more gold paint. Some metallic shred and buttons were used to embellish my creation.

I didn't want the black charger sitting on the table. I wanted it to be elevated, so what to do? I cut a piece of white foam core board about 2" high. I formed it into a box and covered it with scrapbooking paper that was black with gold stars.

Just a little more gold paint on the edge of the black charger.

The day of the party the centerpieces were placed on white table linens. I had a wonderful group of friends who rallied around me that day. The centerpieces had different size stars scattered around on top of the linen table covers. The centerpieces were unique and inexpensive to make. They cost about $10.00 each to make. This was my oldest son's graduation and I wanted everything to be perfect. The guests loved the centerpieces. After the graduation was over, my good friend asked if she could purchase them from me. She has a son who will be graduating from the same school . She is going to change the photos with pictures of her son. If you have an upcoming celebration consider making a centerpiece that will be one of kind. This was truly a "Creations From My Heart", just for my son!

Pink Saturday...It's Good to be Back!

It's great to be back. I've missed blogging. Three days before my son's graduation party, I got sick. I mean really, really sick. I thought I got the flu, but after three days of not being able to get out of bed, I began to think it was something else. The party came and went. 130 guests, and I could barely get out of bed. I have been blessed with wonderful friends who all rallied around and took charge of getting things together for the party. They set up everything, got the food organized and even cleaned up. Well what was wrong with me....I had pneumonia! I had never had it before and 4 weeks later, I am back to feeling like myself. One of my friends took some photos of the party. I will share some photos with you this coming week.

So lets get to PINK Saturday. I wanted to share some photos of all my flowers. Early spring I planted lots and lots of PINK flowers in all different shades of PINK. I wanted everything perfect for the graduation party. I always plant PINK flowers. I'll start with my front door.....

This wreath just sings Summer. I made the wreath last year and the door cans are new. I always have a wreath on the front door. A special one for every season. Here's a better view of all the PINK flowers as you approach the front door.

The cans are very easy to make. I used some of the same PINK flowers from the wreath and used a variety of ribbon. I took some photos of the supplies. I'll share this with you during the up coming week.

I just love the PINK and Green color combination. The vintage button was used to secure the ribbon that is used to hang the can.

I have had this bunny for years. She looks so cute popping out of the PINK flowers.

This was a wonderful wall grate I found and I just added a wall basket under it. Now I can plant even more PINK flowers!

I Love geraniums. The color was Strawberry Field.

The PINK carpet roses are in full bloom. They will continue to flower until the first snow.

In the back yard, I use bolder shades of PINK flowers. Just looking at them puts a smile on my face!

The hostas are blooming now. I love the accents of PURPLE.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by. It's great to be back. Take some time to enjoy other PINK Saturday Posts Here. The kiss of the sun for pardon,

The song of the birds for mirth,

One is nearer God's heart in a garden, than anywhere else on earth.