poppartiesink

Thank you ! I am in awe of you and all the strong, beautiful, smart, creative, and endlessly resourceful women I am lucky enough to gaze upon, through a lens of gratitude, and thus be inspired by every day. ❤️😘🤗🤗

Happy Easter! 🐣🌸 Is everyone is having a safe and wonderful holiday? What fun have you been up to this weekend? 🌸🐇🌸

I found this picture from when Dashell was 3 and just had to post it. There was so much joy, it made me smile. The second pic is of the two boys now. Time. It's crazy. It seems to alternate between flying by and slowing down to a crawl. The moments I want to savor are seemingly gone in an instant, and the ones I could do without linger forever. Thank goodness for photos and video!🎉

I've been sorting through photos of the boys over the years and trying to decide how to construct some photo albums. By year? By holiday? Do you put together albums? If so, how do you tend to organize your pictures?



@ Pasadena, California

Do you have a treasured item that whose presence makes a holiday a little more special for you? 💕✨When I was quite young, my parents brought a hand carved creche set back from Europe. Every year, when my mother would unwrap the pieces and set it up, I knew Christmas was around the corner. It was enchanting and not only captivated my imagination, but seemed to embody the magicalness of the season.

Years later, around the time of my oldest's first Easter, I bought this carved, wooden Easter bunny. It wasn't made by a special artisan. Nor was it bought at a fancy shop. But there's just something about it's placid, yet delighted expression, paired with the memories of all the Easters we have now celebrated together as a family, that brings me so much joy each year when I pull it out of the box to decorate. 🐇🐣

I know holidays are about family and friends, and not about things, but there is something wonderful about how objects can be emotional conduits to our treasury of priceless memories.

What decoration do you have, without which your holiday would not be complete?

WHEEE! I recently contributed to an article for Martha Stewart Living. Such a thrill! 🎉It's all about how to host a virtual Easter egg decorating party. 🐣 SOOOO if you're throwin' one together, be sure to hop on up to the link in my bio and check out all the fun ideas!🐇

I'm in the middle of planning an egg hunt in our backyard for Easter this weekend. What are you up to? Did you have a virtual Seder? Are you planning a shelter-at-home egg hunt? Or a virtual Easter dinner? I'd love to hear everyone's plans! Maybe we can all create some fun new traditions in the midst of all this craziness!

Who's craving Spider Guts?! 🕷🤮😜 If you're looking for a creepy, crawly, delicious dessert for Halloween, be sure to give these Mint Mousse Spider Gut Cups a try! Check out the recipe below and scroll through the pics for instructions. 🎃🎉

Do you make special themed food for Halloween or is handing out candy as Halloween-y as you get?👻

Mint Mousse Spider Gut Cups

1. You will need:
- wax paper
- black candy melts or chocolate chips
- candy eyes (I like 2 different sizes)
- 2 decorating bags
- 12 miniature glasses
- Mint Mousse (recipe below)

2. Melt candy melts or chips in a double boiler or microwave.

3. For hairier legs: spoon melted candy onto wax paper in shape of leg

4. For cleaner leg: put the melted candy in decorating bag, clip end, & pipe candy, onto wax paper, in shape of leg. Make 6-8 legs per spider (3-4 for each side). Let cool and harden for 30 minutes.

5. Make Mint Mousse (recipe below) and add to second decorating bag. Clip an inch off end of bag.

6. Pipe mousse 3/4 of the way into cups. Add the eyes.

7. Pipe mousse to top of cups.

8. Add the legs and enjoy!

Mint Mousse
2 cups heavy whipping cream
1 1/4 cups white chocolate chips
1/3 cup confectioner sugar
1/2 tsp peppermint extract
green food coloring

In sauce pan, on low heat, combine 1/2 cup cream and all chips. Stirring continually until smooth.

Add extract and food coloring. Mix until color is even.

Remove from heat. Cool completely. 15-30 minutes

Mix together rest of cream, sugar, and food coloring.

Beat until mixture forms stiff peaks.

Fold two mixtures together.

Chill 30 minutes.

Pipe into cups.



@ Pasadena, California

Are you getting ready for a little EEK-O-Ween?! 🎃 If so, be sure to grab our free printables in the link! 🎉 There are soooo many fun ways to decorate for Halloween. Are you into super spooky or just playfully haunted? 👻

Weird fact... I took a graduate class in the study of horror films in college, but now I can't watch them. They freak me out too much! So, these days there's only a bit of playful haunting at our house! How about at yours?



@ Pasadena, California

Can find the right vase to add a little sparkle to your table? ✨ No problem! Here's a simple way to make the perfect piece for your tablescape. Everything can be easily purchased at any local craft store, like , and I picked up the vases from . Cheap and easy! ✨🎉✨

Simple Gilded Vase

1. Supplies
- Book of Gold or Copper Leaf Sheets
- Gilding Adhesive
- Paint Brush (for painting design)
- Vase (I got mine at the Dollar Store)
- Stiff Paint Brush or Steel Wool (for scraping off excess leaf)

2. Pour a bit of the adhesive in a container. (I reused a pie tin)

3. Paint your design on the vase with the adhesive. I first painted and foiled the bottom of my vase and then painted and foiled the leaf design on one vase and the random brush strokes on the other.

4. Let adhesive dry until clear. This will take about 20-60 minutes. It will be clear, but still tacky.

5. Add foil to the areas with adhesive. This can be as a sheet or as small pieces.

6. Smooth foil, by rubbing with your finger so that you can see the design in the adhesive come through the foil. Let sit for 30 minutes.

7. Scrape the excess foil away to reveal your design. You can use a stiff brush, steel wool, or your fingernail. (I was lazy and just used my fingernail.)

8. Admire your beautiful creation! YAY! You did it!



@ Pasadena, California

Who's looking for a way to enjoy all the fabulousness of Fall in a glass? 🙋‍♀️🍁🥃 If so, this Pumpkin Spice Mule is the ticket! 🎉 Kick back and enjoy. You worked hard this week and completely deserve a little you time. Will you be able to carve out a bit of time for yourself this weekend? Or to do something that truly makes you happy? I hope so. I'm sending tons of happy weekend vibes your way! 🌈🤗

Pumpkin Spice Mule
2 oz vodka
2 oz pumpkin spice syrup
4 oz ginger beer
pumpkin pie spice, anise flower and cinnamon stick for garnish

Combine vodka and syrup in shaker with ice. Shake 10 seconds. Pour over ice. Top with ginger beer and garnish. Enjoy!

What's your favorite Fall color palette? 🍂🍁 Right now I'm loving the warmth copper brings when placed against neutral whites and cool greens. But, I think as we move deeper into Autumn I will long to be surrounded by all the cozier colors of the season. What's your go to color scheme this time of year?

Who loves the smell of rosemary, thyme, and roasting veggies? 💕 ME! 🙋‍♀️ You too? If so, I have a great recipe for you! I'm moving into Fall but still on my salad kick... as it's been in the high 90's here. Ugh! This Roasted Acorn Squash and Baby Kale Salad is sweet, savory and sooo delish AND makes your house smell AMAZING! It's great as an entree or a side dish, and oh so easy! 🥗🎉

Roasted Acorn Squash and Baby Kale Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing

1 large acorn queen squash, cut into 1/2" wedges
1 small red onion, cut into 1/2" wedges
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp fresh thyme
1 tbsp fresh rosemary
1 tbsp honey
salt and pepper
6 cups baby kale
4 oz chevre goat cheese
1/3 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup pomegranate seeds

Honey Dijon Dressing
4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix together oil, thyme, and rosemary. Coat squash and onions with the mixture. Spray two large, sided baking sheets with non-stick spray. Arrange squash and onions on sheets. Pour remaining mixture over them. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Bake for 20 minutes.

While veggies are baking, mix together dressing ingredients.

Cool veggies for 10 minutes. Add to kale. Sprinkle cheese, almond and pomegranate seeds. Add dressing.

Hello September! 🍁☀️🍁 Do you decorate for Fall or just hit the big holidays? In SoCal we don't always get to enjoy the lovely chill of Fall, until it's almost Winter. *sigh* But, I can definitely help it feel like Fall around my house. Right now, I'm still keeping one foot in the bright, sparkly light of summer, while looking directly into the cozy, warm glow of Fall!