london: part 1

ok folks, kevin helped me out a bit and now we've got some pictures! we're having a really nice time and are enjoying the adjustment to a new lifestyle. the weather has been nice and cool, with just a sprinkle here and there. it's been a welcomed change from the houston heat. there's a lot more to say but no time, so onto pictures!

leaving houston, headed to the airport with a lot of stuff:

our wonderful flat! it is in chelsea on the corner of hollywood and fawcett.

we are in the apartment right above the blue italian restaurant.

(the one with the open windows)

our weeks of research and planning have paid off, because it is so lovely and fits us perfectly. i love the style of it and the way it is decorated. the doors to the rooms are so pretty, even the bathroom deserves a picture!


(pardon ivy's "european" dress, the buttons would not stay buttoned!!)


our bedroom with an outdoor balcony:


ivy loves to crawl out there from our room and walk around and wave to people passing by.




the darling/tiny kitchen (with a not so tiny stroller):



ivy's room is not pictured because she was sleeping while these photos were being taken. i'll try to post more soon.

a trip to hummingbird bakery! yumm


that's all i can manage for now. hope to post again soon.

love to all,
chaiss

computer issues

dear whomever,

i'm happy to report we arrived safe and sound in london on sunday and will be here until we head to st. andrews on the 14th! ivy has adjusted faster than i even hoped for. we are having the best time and taking pictures, too. the only problem is the converter for my computer doesn't work and i have no idea how to work my husband's mac. did you know i hate macs? well i do. hopefully i'll figure it out (or better yet, get my own charger) and i'll be back in business soon.

thanks for all the prayers and support!

ivy is doing so well and says hi to all :)

much love,

chaiss

ivy's first birthday: menu, cake and favors

the menu:

cheddar scones with pork tenderloin

summer salad

{greens with red onions, oranges, strawberries, cayenne pecans, bleu cheese and balsamic vinaigrette}
vegetable and pasta salad

{artichoke hearts, asparagus, carrots, red peppers and pasta with garlic dressing}

yeast rolls

{with strawberry butter}

food by elizabeth swift.

the cake:

i baked a buttermilk poppyseed cake for ivy on the afternoon of her birthday. i take back what i said about the party hats - this was my favorite thing i did. it was important to me to make it myself, and although it wasn't as beautiful as a professional would've come up with, it was special to me, and i loved preparing my daughter's first sweet! i used the same cream cheese frosting i made for the coconut cupcakes, only i had gen make it pale pink. i dusted on a powdered sugar bird {used from the bird template card stock}, stuck in one tall white candle and there it was! ivy's first birthday cake :) it was served with blue bell strawberry ice cream.

more desserts:

coconut cupcakes, frosted brownies, popcorn, grandma's roll out hearts, mini chocolate pecan tarts (for kevin's bday), and bird cookies.

etc:

happy birthday ivy!

i love you from the bottom of my heart.

ivy's first birthday: invites, hats & birds

finally! the details of ivy's party are put to paper (or post). it was the most fun party and i am sad it's come and gone. but oh so thankful for the healthy, beautiful, sweetest baby of whom it was all about! and i get to be with her everyday, so how sad can i really be?

we decided to have a little bird themed party for ivy's first birthday.

once that idea was chosen, it was a lot of fun taking off with it. i think this was my first party to host and plan, and i enjoyed it so (with the help of my wondrous mom).

the invitations:

i worked with hayley hardcastle out of galveston, and she did a perfect job. i enjoyed the process of helping to create it, and love the way they turned out. thanks hayley!
{stamps i made at http://www.zazzle.com/}

the party hats:
remember how we've been at the ranch a lot lately? well, i turned the big ole dining table at the lodge into my personal craft workspace. i've always wanted an "office" and i probably liked it a little too much. (i was pretty territorial of it, took "lunch breaks" and answered my cell as if i were answering important business calls. i basically dreamed like i was in a cubicle. it was a blast.) so anyway, i really, really loved making these hats. it was probably my favorite thing i did for the party, and they were simple to do. it was time-consuming, but thankfully ivy takes really long naps. and seeing everyone wear one made it worth it.




the craft:
mom insisted we have some type of game or craft for guests to do. at first the idea seemed cheesy - egg toss? pin the feather on the bird? - but then we came up with a simple idea to have guests decorate a bird for ivy to keep and remember her first birthday by. a little note from everyone in the shape of a bird- sweet! we gathered supplies at michaels: colored pencils, ribbon, tiny buttons, scissors, multi-colored feathers, glue sticks etc. i printed out a bird template from the computer and cut out 40 birds from different colors of card stock. we spread it all out and deemed it the craft station. i was amazed by what people came up with! they turned out so pretty. we had everyone hang theirs up on the branches of our tree. it looked kinda magical.




{part 2 to follow.}