"on to baby" blog & i'm on it!!

This was such blissful news to hear! My lovely friend Diana Elizabeth submitted the photos of the mini-cooper baby shower that I did to the new and adorable site on to baby.  She captured it!  As she always does being the wonderful photographer she is.  

I thought I'd share some of my ideas and links of how I did it all!

I custom ordered rubber stamps of the mini-cooper car & logo which I used for the invitaions.  The info was printed on vellum.  Instead of gluing it together I used washi tape & divine twine to attach the two pieces. For paper decorations, lollies or rosettes (whichever you prefer to call them) and circle orbs were all made out of paper.  I stuck them on wooden dowels and put them in vases and also hung them with clear jewelry string throughout the party areas.  I got the idea for the candle stick & picture frame stand from an awesome engagement party that I can not find the link to right now.

I ordered green paper straws and printed "cooper" on paper to make straw slips.  From the direction of, another amazing, friend Jaimee Rose I made mini-milkshakes and colored them green.  And yes, I made the cake pops myself!  It was a bit nerve-wracking trying it out but I did it!  And I heard that the hostess' hubby ate all that were left after the party.

I wanted to be as detailed as possible with the colors and was so excited when I found trays, plates & napkins that coordinated so well and all at one place-IKEA!

I loved how even the choices of food went with the theme, I may have gone a bit OCD.  But I think the crowd appreciated the healthy fruits & veggies mixed with the sweets & sugar area.

I hope you enjoyed seeing how the party was constructed, it was a great deal of fun!

xox
ricki"on to baby" blog




Links:

• paper straws - Kikkerland shop 
• cake pops instructions - bakerella
• cake pops supplies - abc cake decorating supplies
• custom stamps - Blossom Stamps
• paper supplies & rosette tutorial - Paper Source
• trays, plates & napkins - ikea
• bakers twine - divine twine
• amazing photographer - Diana Elizabeth

baby girl shower package

This weekend a baby shower was hosted by sweet friend Mckenzie of Labyrinth
I sent her a package to help decorate her table and have her guests go "ooh so sweet!" We didn't know the name of the sweet baby girl-to-be so instead of a name we chose sweet messages. A big (well only 4 years old) sister was feeling a little left out and needed a little something special for the day.
Her goodie box was filled with:
paper straws with slips saying "love, family & sisters",
banners for "welcome" and "baby girl",
a ribbon banner and pink glittery cone hat for the big sis.



I look forward to seeing pictures very soon and hope they all had a great time!

xox
ricki

It's a new year

So before January ends I thought it would be productive to finally say out loud, via the computer, what my goals for this year.  And by doing so in front of people, essentially, I may set out to accomplish them.  That's the goal anyway.

1. Complete my living room with two new chairs, art work and re-paint the front entry console/dresser piece. Yes, this is very much a priority for me!  It's been far too long the way it is.  There will be before & after pictures for you, don't worry.
2. Be more creative!  I've bookmarked many, many DIY's & tutorials and now I must actually set out and conquer some of them.  Not all of course, but a handful would be a good way to get over this fearful hump I'm in.  Ok, so let's say 5 projects!  I'll keep you in the loop as to which ones I decide soon.
3. Make la Ricki a success this year!  I see that happening in these ways:  meet with business consultant and do absolutely everything she tells me to, create portfolio, continue to grow relationships, maintain a creative presence at jam with stationary, tags & other paper goodies I sell there, and be amazingly persistent.
4. Blog!  The goal is to post a new entry 1-2 times a week.  Of course included in this goal is to master blogspot as well.  I want it to to look pretty!
5. Be of service.  This one I'm not sure as to where or how.  My time may be valuable but I know that I can give some of it in some way.  Also to make small (very small as of now) donations to some sort of organization; one that is local and one that is for or in a developing nation.  -if anyone has suggestions for Number 5 please feel free to tell me please!
6. Say 'please' and 'thank you' to my son, husband and really anyone in my life.  How can I expect my son to learn politeness if I don't practice it all the time? 

         

Number 3 is really the priority of making everything else fall into place.  I'm not perfect and far from it.  I don't know everything but I do know some things.  What I do know is that I love being creative!  I didn't know that a few years ago.  For so long I was trying to fit myself into this perfect box, one that was way too left-brained and it wasn't working.  So here I am, in 2011, a mommy of an almost 2 year old, wife to an amazing husband and a girlfriend to so many beautiful girlies, working on a new business and learning to be more confident of my talents and beginning success.  This year is starting off well, I'm very excited for what it brings and for what I can offer as well.  

What are your goals this year?  Feel free to share!

xox

ricki

ps-just a little pic of Ethan & I, this is what keeps me

going & inspired!

Baked Explorations

Have you all seen this fabulous desserts book?!  These two men, with sassy instructions and detailed guidance have taken some of the best classic desserts and brought them into the modern light.  I love it!  I do not claim to be a baker (at all) but these recipes are so inspiring. I'm ready to add these fine ingredients to my shopping "to-do" list: cocoa powder, bittersweet chocolate and vanilla bean paste.  I actually have some of the other ingredients they suggest, yes I'm already patting myself on the back.  I didn't realize this book was such a hit until I noticed many of the blogs I read daily have made posts about it and right now it's in the front window of Williams Sonoma. I was lucky enough to steal this book. Yes, steal!  My lovely friend Alissa hosts an annual gift exchange and one of our equally as lovely girlfriends always has the BEST swag.  So great are her freebies that I got a John Derian cake plate too!  Remember his cool stuff at Target this past summer?  You don't?!  Well clearly nobody at the gift exchange had either and the poor new girl at the party wound up with a not so cool re-gifted item.  I hope she doesn't remember me when the party rolls around again this year!

I will keep you posted on my baking adventure, I'm hoping something will appear for Valentine's Day to impress my handsome hubby.

xox

ricki

on the news!!

yes, you read the title right!  i was on the news!!!  how exciting for la Ricki and also my amazing friend Shauna's boutique JAM.  we were asked to give new year's eve party tips on a budget.  for that, we chose repurposing holiday gift boxes, newspaper, brown paper bags and glass jars.  the boxes were wrapped in newspaper with positive messages for the new year.  they were also meant to place easy-to-do food platters on top and create a fun and simple table set up for a party.  

the positive message theme was consistent throughout the decor by attaching circles, from a craft punch, to jars used as vases, as well as, to champagne flutes.  as for a thoughtful, but budget-friendly, gift for a host we suggested croissants & jam for their 'morning after party' or a unique gift from a boutique like JAM

how fun for us!  thank you Shauna and of course thank you Jami Thompson, the amazing publicist of The Shine Factory, for making this all possible.  xox

a big thanks to Nadine from channel 5 as well!

here's a link to watch it for yourself!

http://www.kpho.com/local-video/index.html?grabnetworks_video_id=4475282

emerson's 3rd birthday

a lovely friend asked for a little help at her daughter's birthday party.  having it hosted at a restaurant made my job super-easy!  i arranged a cute tablescape of pink, yellow & turquoise to go with an adorably fashionable little girl.  

i took two cylinder vases, wrapped them in burlap, filled them with lemons to keep all my branches in place.  then, i made several small tissue paper poms and wrapped them on the branches.  i also made a sign with some circle punch crafts and tied them to some teal divine twine.  a few of my friends can confirm that i am obsessed with using twine.  i love it and covet all the colors.  cute, i tried to rhyme!

for the treats, i purchased pink cupcake liners from my local baking shop, ABC baking.  i could spend a lot of time in there debating on the many shades of sanding sugar, edible glitter, gel pastes, and then what to bake!!  vanilla cupcakes, simple and easy for kids to like and caramel dipped, chocolate covered marshmallows for everyone to nibble.  

lastly, the children's party favors were slinkies, a pencil & stamp topper, twistie crayons and a few silly bandz.  they were packaged in white paper sacks, sealed with washi paper masking tape and, of course, divine twine. 

i was also able to print the kiddos initials and add those on the favors to make them a little bit more personal. 

and here's the cute b-day girl herself.  look at those beautiful curls!!