DIY: Backyard Bash

Hi friends! I know Miss Heather and I have been MIA for a month or two, but we're back! I'm excited to share with you photos from my 23rd birthday where Heather and I crafted our little hearts out. Seriously. It was non-stop crafting and to be totally honest, Heather started and completed most of the crafts while I ran around like a chicken with it's head cut off. My birthday party started out innocently enough and next thing I knew, Heather and I were planning an over-the-top backyard party. We received so many compliments during the party and people were even telling us how cool the party looked from the pictures that Heather's lovely boyfriend, Tim, took. 

Therefore, I wanted to share with you how to turn any backyard party into the perfect summer backyard bash!

Table Layout

~We created "food" and "bar" signs by using foam poster board, spray paint and tissue paper. For the "food" sign, heather created a chevron stencil to paint the design and then we used black paint to spell "food".  For the "bar" sign, heather used the same chevron stencil,outlined the letters with a sharpie and then hot glued crumpled up tissue paper to fill in the letters. We used white candles, fresh flowers from Trader Joe's, white tablecloths and a lantern to decorate our tables.~
*our inspiration for the boards were found on pinterest and based on this and this.*

The Bar

~At our bar, we made spiked Arnold Palmer and it was delicious! We used equal parts iced tea, lemonade and added vodka to taste which we placed into a glass dispenser from World Market. On our table, we arrange some more fresh flowers, a bucket for wine, wine glasses and chalkboard mason jars.~

~Our chalkboard mason jars were a hit! Everyone was asking how we made them and they were by far our easiest craft! We bought 12 packs of mason jars from Wal-Mart, one package of sticker labels and chalkboard spray paint. We sprayed the labels the day before and placed a label onto each mason jar on the day of the party!~

~We made a "Keep Calm and Party On" banner to use as a photo backdrop. We used a pre-made banner from Hobby Lobby, spray painted it pink and wrote on it using a sharpie. It turned out great!~
*we based our sign off of this idea from pinterest.*

~What really pulled the party together were white string lights and paper lanterns that we strung up all over my backyard. It really set the mood for the party and I'm planning on leaving them up all summer! P.S.My friend, Ellen, made this giant wine glass for me using a glass from Micheal's, paint and baking it!~

~more photos using the string lights and lanterns as a backdrop~

~

~in addition to all our decorations, we set up our outdoor fire pit, created yummy chocolate cover pretzels, created "happy birthday" flag banner cupcake toppers and lined the way to the party using white balloons pinned to the ground with golf tees!~

We can't wait to throw more summer parties and to get inspiration for your own summer backyard bash, visit our Pinterest!

-Miss Mel and Miss Heather

A Glimpse of Our Weekend

Hey everyone! 

As Miss Heather told you, Saturday was my 22nd birthday and I thought I would share with you all of the activities we did! 

On Friday night, we headed out to one of my boyfriend, Tom, and I's favorite restaurants, McGurk's, and had a big family/friend dinner. 

*P.S. If anyone is looking to go to McGurk's, I HIGHLY recommend their spinach and artichoke ravioli. It's amazing! *

Then on Saturday, I had all of my close friends over for a brunch at which my lovely boyfriend prepared the most delicious bacon (the secret is brown sugar!), pancakes and Nutella croissants (will be posting a recipe soon!) I seriously ate so much of that bacon. so much.

We decided to take advantage of the beautiful day and head out to go kayaking. It was so wonderful! I'm seriously thinking about buying one of my own haha! 

Lastly, I had all of my friends and family over again for my favorite meal of spaghetti and meatballs followed by presents, cake and a bonfire. 

All in all, I'd say it was the perfect birthday weekend!

Below, are some pictures from the Friday night festivities at McGurk's!

Miss Mel and Miss Heather

Ellen, Miss Mel and Miss Heather

 Ellen, Sass and Miss Heather

 The Boys. 

Tj, Ochs, Kevin, Travis and Tim

 Ellen, Miss Mel, Tom and Miss Heather

 Tom and Miss Mel

 Miss Mel and Ellen

 Miss Mel and Tom

 Tim and Miss Heather

 Miss Mel and Miss Heather

Thanks for all of the birthday wishes!

xoxo

-Miss Mel and Miss Heather

Happy Birthday Weekend!!

Hey all just wanted to share that today is my best friend Miss Mel's 22nd birthday!! Miss Mel and I are basically sisters since we have known each other our whole lives. As Miss Mel may have already said we met through our mothers who were pregnant with us at the same time. I was born only a few months before her so we like to think that I was the hospital when Miss Mel came into this world so we've been besties since birth. Kind of a big deal. 

So with any birthday we have our traditions.

Every year for Miss Mel's birthday it sort of turns into a spa day, this year we got manicures and pedicures!

Another tradition is getting all pretty and going out with either just each other or all our friends and family! This is one picture from last night when we celebrated Miss Mel and Tom's birthday!

One more tradition we also always follow is crafting part of our gifts to each other. I don't have any pictures up just yet but that's only because Miss Mel hasn't gotten her gifts yet! Today we're going to have a lovely brunch to celebrate her birthday where yet another tradition will show it's face. This would be the one where we tell the birthday how she's getting old and that her hovercraft will be any day now. We're just so funny! 

Happy Birthday Miss Mel! I know you're going to have a wonderful day but really how could you not? There will be cake! I love you so much!

-Miss Mel and Miss Heather

How we celebrated this crazy chick's birthday!

Miss Heather

Miss Heather and Miss Mel

Miss Heather and Sass!

Miss Heather

Madison, Miss Heather and Miss Mel

Miss Mel, Ellen, Elise and Miss Heather

Miss Heather and Miss Mel

I wish the weekend never had to end!

-Miss Mel and Miss Heather

It's Miss Heather's Birthday!

HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY TO MY BESTEST BUDDY!!

That’s right readers, today is Miss Heather’s 22nd birthday!

Every year for our birthdays, Miss Heather and I have a couple of traditions we like to humor each other with.

Tradition One: Leave each other voice-mail's at the stroke of midnight. 

These voice-mail's usually consist of ramblings about how old the other is now and how our Hovercrafts are on backorder. The Hovercrafts are a long, long story about how we can’t believe everyone doesn’t just fly around on Hovercrafts and how WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE before we’re much, much older. I mean, come on, it’s 2012 for gosh sakes!

Tradition Two: We always have some sort of crafting project. This years is still a secret that will be revealed in upcoming posts!

Tradition Three: We must be together on our birthdays! No matter the distance we always try to be reunited to celebrate our birthdays together!

I can’t believe my bestest friend in the whole wide world is now twenty-two! How insane! Let’s take a walk down memory lane shall we?
*side note-I did some serious stalking for this video and I’m sorry, well not really...hehe*

I love you friend and I can’t wait to spend your birthday with you! Whoohoo!

xoxo
-Miss Mel and Miss Heather