Something Sweet to Welcome their Long-Awaited Sweetheart!

I was honored when Emily, of Emily Photography, asked for my help as she was planning a “Welcome Home” party for their recently adopted daughter, Lyla. I was beyond happy for this amazing family! I just have to share a glimpse into their story…

I met Emily back in 2013 at a wedding that we were both working and we hit it off right away! I learned a bit about her that evening … how she had two adorable and spunky boys at home, but a piece of her heart was overseas. Emily and her husband were in the process of adopting Lyla from Africa. They knew it would be a long and difficult journey, but had no idea of the emotional roller coaster that was in store for them over the next 2 years.

Emily and I stayed in touch, and every time I saw or spoke with her, I hoped for good news on the adoption front! I was excited with her when gains were made, and when Emily went to meet and visit with Lyla for the first time. But, I shed tears on her behalf when I heard of delays and the roadblocks they faced in trying to bring their daughter home. I stood in awe of Emily and her family as they worked through each hardship and sacrificed so much of their time, energy, and resources to do whatever they could to bring this sweet girl home to her forever family.

That’s why, over TWO YEARS later, I was SO THRILLED to learn that Lyla was finally HOME! This was certainly something to CELEBRATE!

So a princess-themed celebration was planned! Emily chose some of her favorite colors, pink and gold, and asked for my help with glittery invitations and a table full of gorgeous goodies for the party! I had so much fun with this custom invitation design, and choosing sweet treats for all of the guests to take home as favors. I loved seeing pictures from this event, especially Lyla’s incredible SMILE! She is where she belongs and you can see it all over her face!

All photos by Emily Photography of course!

I am over-the-moon excited for this special family, especially Emily, whose heart is whole again! (And is NOW bursting with love and joy as they look forward to welcoming another baby boy into their family very soon!) I LOVED working with them for this special event, and I look forward to watching their family grow in numbers and LOVE for one another.

A Very Special Mermaid Celebration

It is not very often I am given the opportunity to share with everyone a dessert table that is so personal and not just near my heart, but from my heart! This table was designed and set up to celebrate my gorgeous little angel Remy turning 1 year old. Because the party was such a huge part of my heart, I refused to fall into the cookie-cutter 1st Birthday party ideas.  Pulled out the list and ran through it many times. Barbie Party…nope! American Girl party…no way! Dora the Explorer…I think not! I turned to the professionals on this one, my 5 year old son. With my expertise and his endless imagination, we came up with a fun unique idea, Mermaid/Sea themed 1st Birthday party for our little Remy.

I spared no details on this one!  I teamed up with a frequently used vendor, Hudson Valley Cakery, we worked and slaved over ideas for Remy’s dessert table. After kicking around ideas, themes, colors and which of the millions of amazing options available from Hudson Valley Cakery, we painfully narrowed it down to 1/2 dozen of our favorite featured desserts.

As you can see in the pictures, we have a final product that is nothing shy of edible heaven! From the decadent cream filled sugar cookies turned into “Oyster Cookies”, to the “Starfish” sugar cookies and Cake Pops, we supplied Remy’s guests with an array of ocean desserts that brought them begging for more.

With a beautiful satin streamer backdrop, Remy’s two-tier cake was the star of the show!  The flawless ruffles of the ocean water, to the shiny rich pearls brought the base of the cake to life. The seashells and coral that wrapped the second tier helped bring her cake to a climatic finish with a proud “1” to show all of our guests how big our little Mermaid was that day.

I apologize that as you read this, you are unable to sense the happiness and pride that is beaming from my heart to the keys as I type this blog for you all to read, but I do thank you for taking the time to allow me to showcase the many talents that were brought together to make this dessert table the masterpiece that it had become.  A HUGE thank you to all the ladies that helped and make this possible!!  You know who you are!! 😉

Oyster cookies wouldn’t be the same without that perfect chocolate pink pearl!!

Chocolate and vanilla cake pops decorated with glitter sugar – YUM!

Rock Candy Sticks in water pearls went over ‘SWIMMINGLY’!

PERFECTLY decorated starfish sugar cookies – another huge hit!

To ensure each Sea-goer did not leave soggy and unhappy, each party goer was given a Diver’s bag of treasures to spoil themselves at home with.  Topped to the gills with candy and sealed with burlap and Remy’s seal of approval.