cleaning house with cowgirl evie!

so as i mentioned last month, i'm busy working on the launch of my new blog.  it's taking a bit more time than anticipated but in the meantime, i figured i had some lil hoot biz-ness to wrap up.  the new blog will not be focused on kiddo parties, as this blog/biz began doing, so i'm trying to clean house and share some of lil hoot's work these past couple years before mr. hoot trades in his wings.

here are some never before shared images of cowgirl evie's 3rd birthday bash back in november.  this was another collaboration with some of my fave vendors/besties,.  evie's mom is also a friend who won our services at the queen of hearts auction to benefit the junior aid society. {this may sound familiar as she's a repeat philanthropist!}

glorious photos by meredith nelson photography {obvs}

fabulous paper goodies by paiges of style

purty cake by pickwick baking co.

pony {cake} pops by the cake poppery

 . . . and styled by yours truly

 

another party with heart for a cowgirl with plenty of spunk.

what. a. weekend.

once again, i find myself short a few thousand  brain cells on a monday morning.  this past holiday weekend was a "doozie" {as cousin ty would say}

it was mostly about celebrating america  mike o.  {you may remember this animal from the G party?}

we started the festivities off with a bang at mike's surprise 40th on wednesday night.  complete with kareoke and tropical drinks.

which made the next morning's horribles parade that much more horrible.

every year it gets hotter and we seem to get more hungover.  but again, at least the kids despise enjoy it.

this much fun should be illegal!  right, kids?

later that day, we headed out on scrimshaw for some more cocktails and fireworks.  kiddos are at a great age for the fireworks.  this seemed to make up for the child abuse  fun times at the parade that occurred in the am.

the thursday fourth sorta kills me.  i mean, it felt like monday, but it was only FRIDAY.  eff, actually this was saturday?  i lost an entire day somewhere?  anyhoot, on saturday we ventured out on elihu.  we picked up two of our fave people in manchester {they were in town for a wedding} for a trip to sand dollar cove.  

while out on the water, we spied rambler, in town for the halifax race.  rambler is owned by my former boss george david.  guy is legit.  seriously.  google him.  too bad his boat is so small.

are you bored yet?  because the weekend is only half over.  saturday night was the party mike o had planned for himself while he was moping around the two weeks prior to his surprise party, thinking no one cared it was his birthday.  this worked out for everyone because saturday night was amaze.  everyone brought it to the next level, mike o style.  here's a pics of some of the ladies of the evening.

{that's me keeping it real with a burger in my hand. foul.}

excellent times.

and yesterday i was a complete bag of crap tired gal, so CBC took girls on the boat without me.  and then we headed over to celebrate juney's 2nd birthday.

both my cameras and my brain were pretty much dead by this point but here's a shot of the birthday girl.

seems like just yesterday we were sipping & seeing this beauty {thx MW}

image by meredith nelson photography

so in conclusion, happy birthday mike o and sweet baby june - you two may be 38 years apart but i see a similar fire in your eyes. . . and i like it.

and happy birthday, america.  you dominate.

and dear friday, what happened to you?  perhaps it's best i don't know.

birthday belatedness

seems that i took a week off unannounced.  whoopsy!

it's been a pretty big week, too.

some highlights--

1. B3 was born 3 weeks early. {sugar on top's third bebe} and he's perfect. 

congratulations, B fam!

2. got to escape into the big city to celebrate fellow gemini, the bob, with some hilare peeps.  drank. ate. drank. and laughed. a lot.

3. commodore's ball 2013.  not the best ball ever but the primping i.e. pretending i'm famous was fun.  and the pretty cake from pickwick was delish.  obvs.

{obligatory annual photo of myself on the blog! so awk.}

and bonus, that flame didn't burn the club down.

4. dad's day BBQ at my father in law's.  

5. I turned 107  37 and was graced with multiple birthday cakes and sing-a-longs to commemorate {more awkiness but true}.

6. so many glorious and generous gifties from my fave people, including the golden piggy!

7. major progress on the new venture with the help of chocolate creative design.

8. most redonk rainbow evah.

lowlights--

1. last day of school, which = limited childcare = limited blogging.

2. lots of rain.

3. commodore's ball 2013. {ha totes kidding, by totes i mean sort of}

4. oh, and the bruins are ruining my life.

check out some of my loot!

how lucky am i?!

totes adorbs pillow

loren hope earrings

jewelry tray

dress via my gals at milly & grace

beaded pouch

and back to my golden piggy. he's sold out!  that's how fabulous he is.  i'm so grateful for my friends that picked up on my "hints" {in the form of multiple blog posts} and i'm using him along with the jewelry dish and a lovely monogrammed tree stand {another uber thoughtful gift from anthro that i can't locate an image of} to actually get organized.  i know you don't believe me but it's happening.  stay tuned . . .

hmmm. . . i'm noticing a lot of booze?  that's not at all a coincidence. the grey goose was accompanied by a jar of local pickles from maitland mountain farm so we can make the blue ox's hot n dirty pickles in the comfort of our own home! 

{apparently, this particular friend wants me to live until my next birthday so she substituted vodka for the gin}

my mom spoiled me so rotten i can't even post it all.  she also drove all the way up here on a sunday night just so she could see me on my special day, which meant i was able to start the day off right with a dunks date for an iced with george and loo {no, you freaks, they don't drink coffee, they do enjoy munchkins however}. 

thanks, mom.  

she's also giving us the best gift of all by taking care of c & p this weekend so horseface and I can go get in a huge fight about the bruins enjoy a trip to my happy place for our anni.

so gifts are grand as well as FB wall posts, phone calls/ birthday texts and cards - all much appreciated- big thanks to all who made me feel so blessed yesterday- but it was the sight of a full double rainbow that made this one to remember.  

this is how it went down - we ventured out for an unremarkable but pleasant enough meal in foul weather, cranky girls in tow, and then were headed home to watch the Bs . . .  {it wasn't exactly my "best. birthday. evah."}

and then it happened.

a real life reminder that the best things in life cannot be bought or planned, they just happen.  and that after thirty-seven years i can still be completely astounded on an ordinary monday by the sheer beauty of life and the unexpected.

we pretty much ripped the girls out of the car to get a closer look at it.  it wasn't until later when i was looking back at the pics that i noticed what C had in her hand. {totes cheesy but sort of amaze}

                                           

even horseface knew this was ridiculously awesome.  we risked the prompt start of the big game to drive over for a different view.  one that happened to feature elihu smack dab in the middle! {more cheesy amazingness}

happy birthday to moi!

gemini babies

so here we are, the fifth of JUNE, my birthday month! 

june is my absolute fave month of the year.  

summer starts in june.  

obvs, I was born this month, as were some of my very favoritest people on the planet.  

and GEORGE.  

need i say more?  because i'm about to . . . 

i married CBC in june {holla!}. . . 

and finally. . .  

i'm so so happy to announce that my latest baby - hold the phone, not a real baby -

 but my new blog, a true labor of love, as i've been working on it for quite some time, along with some uber- talented ladies, one in particular, ahem lucinda, will be born onto the internets . . . this month of june, 2013. 

i'm starting to realize it will never be perfect, much like myself, so i need to just put it out there, and what better month than june.

it's happening.  i said it.  

buy here

not sure how accurate this depiction of geminis is - particularly the independent part.  {scared to order pizza over the phone.  forreals.  it's a thing.} but it's super cute!  and i worship that twins are the gemini symbol.  {let's just go ahead and pretend it's not because we are  crazypants split personalities}

oh, and then there's these.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 

i really only want #2, which is unfortunate.

stay tuned for more of my birthday wishlist. 

pay attention, horseface!

frenchie fete

my fave lil hoot party was featured on amy atlas yesterday.  i had such big fun working on this frenchie fete for my four year old daughters who are somehow fixated on going to paris {obvs not happening}.  

hangin' with george & looloo {our french bulldogs} and a 7ft. light up eiffel tower prom decoration will have to do for now!

jayme marie designs never ever disappoints and we just had too much fun with this one! look at the adorbs invite she created for the lucky birthday girls.

she also created all of the paper goods for the party, including the keepsake poster behind the dessert table.  and the pin the beret on the frenchie poster!  and the precious favor tags, and jar labels, and the dessert labels  . . . the mini french flags . . . i could go on and on {literally because i worship this woman and her positively charming designs!} 

speaking of the dessert table, pickwick baking co. outdid herself . . . again.  every delectable french creation she slaved over on that table tasted every bit as good as it looked.  {i should post the pics of the post-party croquembouche.  i meaaan, not okay.  had many a miranda moment when i was eating the remaining morsels out of the trash. TMI?}  

BEYOND delish.  ali is a french pastry genius.

 pickwick for prez!

btw, how miz pumped are george & loo in their striped shirts?

i am drooling reliving this dessert table.  the chocolate mousse. . . omg, sinful.

and the "pancake cakes" for C & P!  they each had their individual crepe cakes with their fave flavors.  

 if i absolutely had to choose a fave, it would be the sweet charlottes.  they were divine!

but wait, the croissants?  i die.  they were perfection.  if you ever have a chance to buy some pickwick croissants, do it.  {or don't do it because it will ruin every croissant you ever taste again on this side of the atlantic.}

some other fun deets . . . my parisian themed books for the kiddos to read . . .

 pin the beret on the frenchie. . .

monkeying around the eiffel tower and demonstrating impressionistic techniques on their favor mugs. . .

{p.s. love that the guests dressed the part!  or wait, i maybe suggested that. . . either way impressive that they listened to miss bossypants hostess}

the mugs at each place setting on the bistro tables with the frenchie cookies . . . 

the cookies created by batches.  so yummy and so adorbs!

the personalized favor jars with hot cocoa and mini-parisian landmarks spray-painted silver.

viva la france!

and viva la meredith michaud nelson of meredith nelson photography!

thank you for commemorating yet another birthday with your beautiful work.  can nevah evah thank you enough.  merci beaucoup just doesn't cut it!

so again, so much vendor love to jayme marie designs, pickwick baking co., and meredith nelson photography.  so inspired by you all. . .

and thank you to our little guests - we love you!

but the biggest thank you of all goes to my favorite "clients".  seeing the world through your eyes is a joy greater than i could have ever hoped for or imagined.  

joyeux anniversaire, mes filles douces !

{yikes, i am super emo today!  big post tomorrow on why. . . stay tuned}

boxers or briefs?

horseface's birthday gifts were fairly unimaginative this year.  i'm still creatively tapped from Christmas.  but he seemed pleased with his new duds.  he's not exactly "designer jeans guy" but I love these AGs on him.  he was excited about the blundstones, too.  and obvs he was over the moon over the framed picture {totes kidding, he could care less about that shiz}  but I worship the images from the ash's wedding from white loft studio and this is one of my very faves.  sneaky heidi caught us holding hands under the table.  love.

1. blundstone's boots 2. AG jeans 3. patagonia beanie 4. brooks brothers boxers 5. lacoste scarf  6. kate spade picture frame

4! the princess & the cowgirl

last year i delivered a super emo birthday post, with an idea shamelessly stolen from miss meredith nelson, the ten things about you on your birthday idea, i mean, just too darn good not to swipe.

i'm going to be lazy and go off of last year's list: a) because as mentioned, i'm super lazy and b) i'm finding it interesting to see how things have evolved. . . or not so much.

phoebs.

1. You love pink and princesses and all things girly.

This year, you are proud to tell us, and i quote, you "love flowers & rainbows & princesses & sparkly things & the eiffel tower & all things that are beautiful."

2. You have spent about 50% of the last year wearing a tutu.

you have spent about 98 percent of the last year wearing multiple tutus.  multiple sources predict you have a future in high-fashion.

3. You also spent about half the year speaking with a scottish brogue. "I'm scarred" = i'm scared and "that's may charrr" = that's my chair. obvi.

you lost your brogue but still talk a little funny.  you put the wrong emPHASis on the wrong syLLABle quite often.

4. We love to talk about your 'crazy hair' that has only been cut once {a team effort by mommy and daddy.}

we still have not cut your hair!  and it is crazier then evah.

5. You're tall and skinny and strong. Just like when we brought you home from the hospital weighing 4 lbs. 7 ounces.

yup. such a scrapper. btw, we battle with you.  you do not love going to bed. . . or cleaning up . . .or listening in general.

6. You skip the tater tots and head right for the veggies, and then onto DESSERT, your fave.

hmmm, pretty sure you haven't touched a veggie in 2012.

7. You live in your own little world and we are so happy you let us be a part of it.

you are still in your own little world {see # 1}  your teachers tell us that you often skip snack because you are busy drawing & painting, mostly roses. obvs.

8. You pronounce about 17 different words - 'cock'. rock, sparkles, chalk, popsicle, clock, black, and so on and so forth. I'm pretty sure you do this to torture your father.

haha, forgot about this.  i think we are down to just a couple "cock" soundalikes.

9. Every night you want us to 'hold you like a baby' after your bath. We gladly oblige.

we still do this, more for us than for you.

10. {this one is new} you have recently changed your name to sarah grace.  because "it's a beautiful name and phoebe is a funny name"  whoops.  hoping we can move on from this sooner rather than later.

11. you are silly and lively and continue to live up to your name {your original given name, not sarah grace} 
phoebe = bright shining light.

and miss charlotte 

1. Nothing on this planet beats a Charlotte hug. You hug like you mean it.

this still holds true.  your hugs are ahhh-mazing.  and they come often, and they last a good long while.

2. After much discussion, it's official : Yellow is your favorite color.

yellow is still your fave.  you dig orange, too.

3. You ask A LOT of questions and you take the answers to heart.

yup.

4. You look exactly like I did when I was your age.

yup. it's crazy-town.

5. You are borderline obsessed with Kai-lan. 

hmmm, i did hear you counting in chinese the other day {pretend counting, obvs} but you aren't as smitten with kai-lan as your 3rd birthday.  peppa pig makes you LOL.  you worship TV in general {as does P}

6. You laugh hysterically whenever you attempt to throw a tantrum.

still true.  now we just say "charlotte, don't laugh, don't do it" works like a charm.  after you're done screaming at us to "go away!! everybody go away!", that is.

7. You've spent about 70 percent of the last year with a baseball cap on.

you totes ditched the cap!  maybe it's because you had horrible bangs last year?  you like to wear your hair "long".

8. You are a homebody. you're genuine 'i wanna go home' melts me every time.

you are still happiest in your "blue house."

9. You have a indescribable vulnerability about you that draws people in . .. and then there's also that smile of yours. 

this also remains the same, the sincerity and kindness in your dark brown eyes draws people in.  some people {ahem GNB, want to put you in their back pocket}

10. {new} you always put your shoes on the wrong feet.  let's work on this.
and the two of you together - well, i mean. . .

1. You talk and laugh for hours at naptime and bedtime. I'm already jeally of your bond.

you've added a little fighting to the mix, but you are truly built-in besties.

2. You are by far the worst 'dancers' in your ballet class and I just can't get enough of it.

your dance class is closed for viewing this year but i'm pretty sure you haven't made too many leaps and bounds in this category.

3. You like to tell people what kind of pizza your sister likes - pepperoni for charlotte, 'olibbs' for phoebe.

yup.

4. You worship your grandma. rightfully so.

more than evah.  you also love mimi, and frequently can be found packing for mimi's house in florida and then building a pretend airplane to get there.

5. You have played a very active role in planning your birthday party this year and lil hoot is very excited to give you a party with heart.

this is probably going to be a trend through the years.

6. You think we live in marblehead AND on nantucket and I'm pretty sure daddy is not going to buy us a house there before you're old enough to figure it out. 

you still have not figured this one out, often referring to our "nantucket house"

7. You adore your new cousin , a.k.a. "baby june". 

you still dig baby june, although i'm pretty sure she's going to lap you in pretty much everything within the month.

8. You love to "hide" on daddy when he comes home from work. This entails you running towards him screaming 'I'm hiding!' 

you still do this, you actually do hide for about twenty minutes before he gets home, then do the running and screaming towards him thing.

9. You're both painfully shy around other people. You are starting to grow out of it but we don't mind keeping you to ourselves for the time being.

still. so. shy.   and we still. don't. mind.
{except around your boo, g butts.  hoping you both don't stay in love with the same lil dude.  that could get sticky}

10. You've consumed enough fruit in the past year to ward off scurvy for life.

i literally cannot keep enough in the house.

11. You are so good to your doggies George and LooLoo. you are nothing but loving and gentle towards them. this is something i truly believe i taught you well. {c'mon people, you knew i couldn't write this post without mentioning the pups}

you still worship the pups.  often calling george "naughty" and " soooo handsome", a reminder that you are paying very close attention to the words out of mommy's mouth.  ruh-rowe!

11. YOU sing to US at bedtime now, and I am brought to tears- every. single. time.


this has become more of a dance party, and the tears are more in the form of laughs.  btw, charlotte you got my voice.  so sorry, my sweet.

12. {new one} you stole the hearts of many as aunnie ashly's flower girls.  nailed it.

13. mommy let you choose your halloween costumes for the first time this year.  phoebe, you chose a pretty barbie rocker princess outfit, and charlotte, in a sea of princess costumes, you chose a cowgirl outfit.  this pretty much says it all.

14. oh, one last thing. holy shiz, this is like 500 things, but i want you to know this.  whenever mommy is feeling like a waste of space, i look at you and think i must be doing something right.  you make me want to be better, you make me want to deserve you.

happy birthday, girls, with all of my heart.

HBD, june-bug!

can you believe the lil june-bug turned one?!

{seems like we just welcomed her with her sip & see yesterday}

amy atlas was kind enough to post some of the deets on friday.

my fave being the hair clip favors.  adorbs {if i do say so myself}

jayme marie designs created such darling paper goods for the party.  jayme truly never ceases to amaze me with her talent and adorable aesthetic.  she incorporated some of the same elements from june's welcome sip & see for continuity while making everything fresh for her milestone birthday!

big thanks to shannon from no. 8 photography for snapping a few pics of a very half-assed dessert table at the last minute while getting rained on.  {we were waiting for the fedex dude to deliver a few more sweets  - they arrived after the party started.  obvs.  and ahum, my favorite sister in law forgot to order a couple of things.  love you, sissy. xoxo } 

anyhoot, shannon is crushing it as the area's most up and coming food photographer and we were thrilled she popped over and grabbed some great shots despite the raindrops.

thank goodness these beauties from the art of cookies arrived.  they were just as yummy as they were precious.  love-love!

oh, and speaking of precious, there's the guest of honor . . .

 

we love you, we love you not, WE LOVE YOU, june-bug!