Family Bites

A Circus Party

I promise, this will be the last party post for at least a week or so. :)

This circus party isn't for one of the many January birthdays we recently celebrated.  Instead, it's part of the Party Savvy feature over on Savvy Mom that I work on each month.

I created the desserts and food for this soirée, and as I was making everything I wondered how it's possible that I've been a mother for almost twelve years and I never thought to go with this theme for any of the parties I've thrown for the boys. I LOVED working on the many elements of this birthday bash, and feel that it looks super impressive without being difficult to execute, wouldn't you agree? I mean, a cake made out of Rice Krispies. Could it get any easier?

The Ringmaster Lemonade was my one of my favourite elements, and I think kids will look so sweet slurpping their beverage with a moustache, courtesy of the ones attached to the drinking straws.

Please feel free to visit Savvy Mom for the remainder of the recipes and decorating ideas. 

DIY: Simple Lego Party Decor

My sweet boy turned 10 yesterday.  

For tenth birthdays we don't do parties, but instead I take the boys on a trip, just the two of us.  When Ben hit his double-digit birthday we went to New York City for four days, and Jackson and I are now making plans to visit Washington, DC, in March when the weather is a little more favourable.

We did have a family dinner though, and while there was no official theme to the party, I incorporated a little Lego love into the decor, to represent Jack and his favourite hobby/toy. There was a large Lego birthday sign and some primary-coloured balloons in a small Lego centerpiece.  The cake was Lego-ish but not quite what I hoped it would be, however I was much happier with the Lego man cupcakes I made yesterday as a treat to mark the day.

To Make a Lego Birthday Sign:

I used coloured cardstock, a large circle punch and glue dots.  I cut out sqaures and rectangles, and affixed the circles with the glue, which raised the dots, giving it a 3D appearance.  I shaped the paper "blocks" into the number 10, and attached it all to a large mirror using double-sided table.

To Make a Balloon Centrerpiece:

I picked up a package of coloured balloons with sticks and blew them up, inserting them into a glass jar that I filled with Lego pieces.  I used these on the mantle and the dining table.

To Make Lego Minifigure Cupcakes:

The cupcakes were a hit, I must admit.  For Christmas, Jackson received a Lego minifigure ice cube tray in his stocking.  I melted some coloured chocolate and filled the tray with it, creating a mold for the edible men. I made a small batch of yellow cupcakes and vanilla buttercream, and added the chocolate Lego figure and a few sprinkles for decoration.

 

 

A Birthday Cheese "Cake"

It's birthday week around these parts.  Rob turned 45 yesterday, and Jackson turns 10 tomorrow.  Forgive me, but I think the next few posts will be mostly birthday inspired.

What you see above is my idea for a birthday cake for the person who doesn't eat cake.  Or any sweet treats for that matter. Rob's sweet tooth is fairly non-existent, which works out well when it comes to birthdays, otherwise we'd have to eat two celebration cakes within three days.  

So, this year I made him a cheese cake.  As you can see, it's a small wheel of cheese placed a top a cupcake stand.  Insert a candle, use crackers instead of a plate, and you have the perfect cake for those who don't want to make their birthday wish over a floury confection.