Marcelo's Airplane Fiesta!!!

Thats right!  My baby boy turned one a couple weeks ago (june 28th).  I can hardly believe it!  Boy how you have changed in a year!

When I was thinking of his party I wanted it to be something fun (obvs) but relevant.  As soon as I mentioned this to Ernesto, he said it had to be Aviones.  Duh!  Not sure why I didn't think of that.  He is our air traffic controller, warning us whenever a plane is in the vicinity. 

Just like this:  (the first part is the airplane the last part is an araña -ie: spider)

I found this cute invitation on Etsy (of course!) from a shop called Invitation Station and had it within 24 hours.  The file was printable, but since I am a last minute kind of girl, my guests got an emailed invite.

I know...an emailed invite?  It's so nice to receive real mail these days, but...oh well.  

Just like Mateo's first birthday party,  we held Marcelo's at my parents house, so let me just thank Grandma & Grandpa (aka: mom & pop) for hosting and all their help pulling it together.  

And because everyone at the party was family, there was no need for "stress to impress."   

With that being said, I did have 4 little kids that were looking for a good time, and 11 adults who wanted some good food!  I didn't really mind staying up extra late the night before.  It was actually quite fun. 

My mom was right there with me.  She made the "feliz cumpleaños" bunting while I made the one with Marcelo's 11 monthly photos.  

  They looked so cute draped across the windows.  Marcelo looked so cute draped across the windows.

Although I was in charge of baking the cake, decorating the cake was papi's job.  He is proving to be quite the cake decorator!  

I made my moms chocolate zucchini recipe with Martha Stewarts cream cheese frosting.  You can't go wrong with recipes from either lady!

I printed out the Marcelo word collage and glued it onto some foam board.  I just love that picture of him.

So many ideas are pinned for "airplane birthday" so I stole borrowed a few.  While I was browsing, I came across Nick & Amber's blog Wills Casa.  Nick is a graphic designer and shared some printables they had made for their adorable daughter's party... for free!  Thanks so much guys!

The baggage claim sign, water bottle labels, inflight snacks, name labels etc were all from their site. 

Snacks were easy.  Pretzels, mix nuts (no peanuts in business class!) and the infamous Biscoff cookies.  I also asked my dad to make the jalapeño popcorn, which is always a hit!

While thrifting that week, I found a vintage suitcase for .50 cents!!  A perfect prop, right?   I used it to hold the little party gift bags for the little ones. 

By the way the little "suitcase" gift boxes (inside the big suitcase) are actually cereal boxes that my mom cut out and painted to look like little suitcases.  So.  Cute!

Another prop was this vintage atlas that my parents have had forever.  I used little red dots to show where marcelo traveled the first year.  He boarded a total of 13 flights!

Speaking of props, Bill & Barbie (and kids!)  came prepared for a flight.  

Airline uniforms and everything.  Luke was the "obvious tourist." I love their creativity... It was so fun when they walked through the door!  (they came in stereo-typical Mexican garb for Mateo's party-ha!)

I had bought some giant "roaster marshmallows" for camping, but forgot to take them.  I googled "marshmallow airplane pops" and there were a million.  My mom had dark chocolate, licorice and green m&m's in her cabinet so we ran with it.  They turned out so cute.  Darn tasty too.

The table came together nicely and everyone thought it was so cute.  Mission accomplished!

CAKE TIME!! 

Marcelo looks a little confused, but that is what big brothers are for...to help blow out your candles!!

He was not confused about the eating part.  Birthday boy loved his chocolate zucchini cake and proceeded to make a mess.  

After cake we opened a few presents! 

Marcelo had several helpers to open his presents.  This is pretty much sums it up.  

And what was inside that there box was a very popular item. 

Yep....and it blows bubbles.  Genius!  The birthday boy was able to push it for a little bit, but a certain big brother thought that the maquina was his and continued to claim ownership.

Moving right along.  Are you still with me?

Well, of course there was a piñata!!  My mom actually told me months ago that she had found one at a yard sale.

A fish though?  What does a fish have to do with airplanes?  Well...what if we took a flight down to Mexico and ate fish tacos?   Siiiiiiii, now we're talkin'!

My family is crazy for Ernesto's fish tacos.  He wanted to change it up a bit though.  He grilled the fish [instead of frying it,] used napa cabbage instead of regular and made this killer Vera Cruz salsa from Bobby Flay.  Que.  Rica! Everyone approved!  (we ate before the cake by the way)

  All of the kids took a crack at the piñata, starting with the birthday boy.

The kids went around a few times, but this sucker was xtra hard!  Just look how hard it's being hit and... nothing!
Ultimately, the piñata had to be cracked by an adult so the kids could finish him off and run for the candy.  Which they did.

My dad bought this awesome pool and so the kids did some swimming too.

The kids liked their little party boxes which were filled with some little airplanes, play-doh, a magnifying glass and coloring book/crayons.  

 The kids weren't totally into this, but I made them step into this cute airplane costume I picked up at a yard sale for $2.  (which will be someones halloween outfit later this year)

Come on!  It was an airplane party.  They will thank me later for these adorable pictures. 

Birthday Week in Ohio!

A few days ago we returned to Atlanta after spending a week and a half with my family up in Ohio and it was the best time! June is a big birthday month in my family.  My sister Jenny, her husband Scott, brother Brrrian, Aunt Margie, two cousins, and of course, my little Marcelo had his first birthday last Saturday!

I have never had a trip feel so much like Summer.  My kids aren't even in school yet, but this is how I imagine they will like to spend their breaks.  Camping (ok, glamping), swimming, bike rides, ice cream, cookouts, cousins,  popcicles, running outside, homemade cookies, and sleepovers!  It was great!


I think the story will best be told with a million pictures, so grab a cup of coffee and sit back.

 My moms strawberries (and black raspberries too!) were ripe and she was coming in with a bowl every other day.

Mateo loved helping grandma pick them and got excited every time he saw a ripe one...which was a lot!

Besides strawberries, the flowers were amazing in my mom's garden.  She really is the queen of gardening.

Sitting outside on their back porch or patio feels like you are at the botanical gardens. A plethora of colorful flowers in full bloom,  running water, and birds flying from tree to tree.
 It couldn't be more relaxing....

...that is...until two little kids come running by. ha!

The week started of with a bang at Scott's surprise 50th birthday party.  He was totally surprised! Everyone showed up on a Sunday at their camper (where they are glamping every weekend)  pavilion. and they just happened to drive by at 4pm.  Scott was a deer in headlights, totally blindsided and then it finally clicked! Surprise! 

My lovely aunt Margie joined the party, which just happened to be on her birthday.  

 She is a little bit older than the sign implies, although you can't really tell. I hope I have the Wellman genes when it comes to aging. (Arnold genes wouldn't be too bad either actually!)

 Jenny and Scott bought this camper just last year, selling their smaller one and opting for a  permanently placed one on Long Lake, just 25 minutes from their house.  I call it "the vacation home."  It could be moved, but for now it is set up like this...

The little community is great.  It's a whole village of campers, and its "residents" get around on golf carts.

The Espinoza's stayed over one night, and it was so fun!  I think it just pushed me even closer to wanting an RV.  Scott has a little fishing boat and took us on a little tour.

Such a peaceful little lake.  Lots of grass for the kids to run, complete with playground and sparkling pool.  A perfect hangout for adults and kids alike.

Blowing bubbles with Pop. 

There are some good biking trails in Ohio.  One being the towpath along the Erie Canal. It runs south of my parents house and north, all the way up to Cleveland.  We rode 2 different days on 2 different stretches.  Its a great, green ride!  The boys love the trailer too!  (And no biting this time!) 

One day we rode 10 miles just to get ice cream. 

I remember my whole family getting into the car on Sunday's and driving into the little town of Canal Fulton for Oser's ice cream.  True story:  My sister worked there about 30 years ago!

My bother and sister live in a small town called Wooster (40 min from my parents), and the downtown is so cute.  The annual "Taste of Wooster" was going on one night we were there so after we all went to check it out.  It was pretty small, but there was music and beer from the local brewery, so we had a good time.  Aunt Barbie is the best hostess.  Before going downtown she whipped up some homemade [whole wheat] pizzas.  The kids had personal sizes and added their own toppings! 

I scored many many things thrifting in Ohio, per my usual.  This necklace is one of them.  

Does it look familiar?  I showed you one almost exactly like it that I thrifted last month, but this one is bigger and better:)  A couple of my other favorite buys:  a vintage abstract oil painting, and a brand new Oh Joy for Target ice bucket.   (Goodwill in Ohio has brand new stuff donated from Target)  The bucket is actually a little more coral than hot pink as pictured.

My uncle Bill lives on a farm and raises 2-4 cows each year.  He and his family live on this meat for the next year.  My dad usually get in on this too and buys a half a cow. These cows are happy and free and grass/corn fed.

I have had burgers and steaks from his cows, and there is a delicious difference to store bought.  We've made  Tongue tacos too and they are the bomb.  I don't know why I didn't think of this earlier, but I put in a request for the cow hides.  My uncle said sure, they would just need to go to a tannery.  As long as that process isn't more than buying a hide from Ikea ($200-$250),  I could have these to hides in my home in the future.  Wait a minute....just as I was typing that, I didn't like how that felt.  Maybe I shouldn't have gotten up close and personal with these cows.

Mateo and Marcelo were impressed by them, to say the least.  Mooooooo

We are still working on potty training and so Mateo is naked.....a lot.  He does a really good job this way, and so we have bought him his first set of chonis (ie: underwear).  This was taken before that purchase.  Obviously.

Now that you have a smile on your face, I will wrap up this post.  Marcelo's party pics up next!  Plus the pick-ups from Craigslist revealed.  Stay tuned! 

Recent Craigslist Finds!

Well, we are still in Ohio and it just feels like Summer!  There has been a lot of time in the water, bike riding, playing with cousins, cookouts, and relaxing on the porch.  I have a lot to share with you on the bloggy blog from the past week and a half.  Im especially excited to share Marcelo's one year birthday party we threw last Saturday.  It was an airplane theme and turned out so cute (if I do say so myself)!

It figures that while I have been in Ohio, there were several things posted to ATLANTA Craigslist.  Ugh!  Luckily, I was able to call the people and both said they would hold the item until I am back in town to pick up!

I have been looking for a unique headboard that I can have upolstered in a rich velvet...and here she is!

 I negotiated a better price, but even at $300, I think this is a good deal for headboard AND footboard AND rails!  Yeah - no bedskirt!  I am pretty psyched about how awesome this is going to look in a navy velvet or maybe even emerald green!  And remember the  chandelier I scored in Tampa earlier this year?  oh yes!  It's going to be nice under that beauty!

Ok. Moving on. Another thing I have been looking for is something small-ish that can go into our office/guest room and sleep two people.  I have found things that I like, but most needed to be reupholstered.  Remember the campaign furniture that I bought?  The desk and two tall shelves line one wall, so I need something that sits in the corner one the opposite wall, near the window.  Something that looks cool and offers seating when guests aren't in town.

FOUND IT!!

 It is a twin size and the bottom pulls out for another twin bed.  LOVE IT!  It doesn't need any work, and I can't wait to throw my alpaca fur right over the seat!  Add some feather pillows and you have a comfy place to sit/lounge/work/sleep.

Hopefully neither of these deals fall through before I can get home and pick them up! I feel really inspired to get things done!  If I could just stay home long enough to do it!  We will be home for the whole month of July (minus these first few days) and first item on my to-do list is to paint my bedroom.  I already purchased the paint!  Farrow and Ball's Hague Blue (recommendation from my favorite girl Emily Henderson)

Finally the upstairs will be getting the attention it deserves!  The only room finished on the second floor is Mateo/Marcelo's room.

One last thing folks.  Last night I was showing my mom something I saw on CL and these brass chairs came up under my brass furniture search.


I am wanting these so bad!  Are they not awesome?!  I posted on FB and plead with my friends that SOMEONE in ATLANTA please go get these.  Such a deal at $180 for all four.  These are unique, brass and look comfy as hell!  If only I had the space.  I would hoard these so fast.  I love them more than my current dining chairs, which means I love them A LOT!  Besides wanting them for my house, these are money makers!  I would not make the same mistake as with my other Milo chairs.  Ugh!  It hurts to think about it.
Anyhoo.  What do you guys think about my new headboard and daybed??
Any recent craigslist scores or thrifting finds you are happy about?  Please share, I would love to hear about them.