My Favorite Magazine

If you're of the crafty, creative persuasion, like me, you're going to love Mollie Makes magazine! I recently discovered this new magazine, which hails from the UK, at my local bookstore. I quickly fell in love with Mollie Makes!

While it's a bit more expensive than  your typical magazine, you get what you pay for. There are hardly any ads, and the ones you do see are pretty and interesting. {Look, I like Country Living as much as the next crafty blogger, but Mollie Makes blows CL out of the water.}

The issue I picked up today even had a little bonus--some ribbon to use in my crafts! 

This magazine is more like a book, it's chock full of Pinterest worthy pictures, craft tutorials, how-to's, and inspiration. 

{Follow me on Pinterest here, or email me to request an invite to join!}

Every page is a delight to look at. There is no way I could leave this one on the newstand. I have to bring Mollie Makes home with me.

Vintage pretties take center stage in Mollie Makes--are you sold yet? I can keep going...

I am SO making this crocheted granny square blanket! The current issue of Mollie Makes includes the pattern. 

As if it couldn't get any better, Mollie Makes even has some vintage Pyrex in it! Do you spot the Pyrex in the photo above???

And in Issue 4 {above} I spotted some Pyrex as well. Do you see it?

You know how much I love vintage Pyrex. 

Some embroidery patterns & directions are included, too.

It's like a 50 page magazine of crafty heaven.

Issue 4 included a tutorial on how to make felt treats, aren't these adorable?

100% of this magazine is Pinterest worthy. 

I pretty much sit and read each issue with my jaw dropped open the entire time. 

Although now I have more on my to-make list than ever. 

Like these darling coin purses:

I strongly urge you to check out your local bookstore for this amazing magazine! I'm in love with it, I know you will be, too. Honestly, lately I've been fed up with these popular magazines {Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, etc} that are 75% ads and 25% ideas I've already seen. 

Mollie Makes is a fresh, truly inspiring magazine that I will continue to purchase, for sure! And for the record, they have no idea I'm posting this--my praise of Mollie Makes is genuine, not solicited :)

Check out Mollie Makes website here.

Like Mollie Makes on Facebook here. 

Follow Mollie Makes on Twitter here.

Cheers! 

A Little Red Riding Hood Birthday Party!

This weekend my daughter, Violet, turned 1! Since we call her "Little Red" {because of her surprisingly red hair} I decided to throw her a Little Red Riding Hood birthday party!


This was probably my favorite of all the parties I've thrown, I had so much fun putting it together. I hope you enjoy these pictures!


The Invites:

The Welcome:

Masks from Mahalo's Etsy shop. One of the best Etsy sellers I've done business with :)

Each little guest got a woodland creature mask. 

There were foxes, deer, skunks, wolves, owls, bunnies, bears, and  raccoons!

The Setup:

Little Red Riding Hood also means Woodland theme, in my book. 

The Food:

I decorated the tablescape with tree stumps, moss, and toadstools. 

Complete with lots of woodland themed treats!

Two tier chocolate & vanilla cake with marshmallow fondant, homemade buttercream, and coconut moss. I made the cake myself two nights before the party, and am happy to report that it turned out even better than I imagined it would! Usually, the opposite happens...

Nuts, of course! In Pyrex, no less. {The popular Friendship pattern was perfect for our party theme!}

IKEA lanterns turned into hanging toadstool terrariums. 

Little squirrel nut bowls, found at thrift stores!

Caramel apples with chocolate squirrels :) Squirrel mold can be found here. 

PB&Js just for good measure. What can I say? With all the kids we had this was the easy way out...

Drinks table.

Lingonberry juice from IKEA was perfect for our theme.

Toadstool sugar cookies, made by the lovely & oh-so-talented Kellee. 

Truffle fries! Made with real truffle oil, so yummy. 

The Favors:

For adults, on the left. For kids, on the right. 

Handmade crayon rolls with fabric from this great Etsy shop, Francisbel!

Each small guest got a bag full of candy and handmade crayon roll with Little Red fabric.

Each adult guest received a chocolate bar :)

"My what big teeth you have!"  ... "All the better to eat chocolate with!"

Each crayon roll served in a cute little basket from Etsy shop, Pink Lemonade Party!

Violet's Room The Photo Booth:

My dad painted the backdrop in a week, because he's awesome like that. 

Guests could pose as the characters from the fairy tale itself, against a woodland backdrop.

Photo props, Little Red style! There was a Little Red cape, a wolf mask {from this lovely Etsy shop}, and a granny cap with afghan and glasses. 

Also, I got this idea from another blog, little Red Riding Hood quotes to pose with.

Eisley's Room The Craft Room:

In my older daughter's bedroom we set up a craft table. 

Kids got to decorate their own little birdhouses. 

These adorable mini bird houses can currently be found at both Michael's & Joann's. 

The Birthday Girl:

Of course, I had to make "Little Red" a cape, too!

Is anyone coming???

The Guests Arrive:

Two of Jan's adorable woodland creatures. 

Me & my birthday girl!

Jan, who took many of these amazing photos & Kellee, who made the amazing toadsool cookies.

Jan's little Anna, isn't she precious?

Priscilla & Elizabeth. 

Testing out the photo booth. 

My sister, Vesuvius, & I. 

My sister, me, and mom. 

Eisley with her cousins, Ayla & Indy. 

Vesuvius with her Little Bird. 

Cake Time:

And finally, The Presents:

This was one of my favorite parties to host, ever. 

A Happy Birthday to my Violet, my Little Red. 

A year ago, Little Red, God gave us you.

Happy Birthday Violet!

_____________________________________


Special thanks to Kellee for trading me beautiful cookies for Pyrex :)
And also Jan who took many of these amazing photos, I'm totally jealous of your photog skills.
My dad for painting the amazing photo booth backdrop in a week, it was perfect!!
My sister, Bea, who made me teary just now with this beautiful blog post of her own. 
And to everyone who came to celebrate with us! Violet is so blessed to have such amazing family & friends.