Party Pinwheels and more

Yesterday, September 17, was my precious little brother's 14th birthday!! It's amazing to me that one of the first kids I ever took care of is now 14 years of age... *sigh* but that is not the point of this post. I was talking to my mom about her preparations for his "family birthday dinner" ( a huge tradition in our house) and realized I am very much a girl after my mother's own heart. Every birthday and holiday was a great celebration in the Majors household. Every holiday included my mom making any where from 3-10 wreaths to hang in and around the house and every birthday brought half of Party City into our living room. Well turns out when you grow up in a house like that you become an event planner. At least in my case...

Bringing us to the point of this post: I thought I would share some easy (yet somewhat time consuming) DIY birthday decorations that I made for my husband's birthday back in April, which you can read about here.

 

I first made some festive birthday pinwheels like ones I had spotted on pinterest, and strung them up across our dining nook.

 

  

1. To make the pinwheels I used a mini stapler and sheets of 5 x 7 paper I got from Michaels to scrapbook. This was a better use.

 2. I folded 2 sheets of the same pattern accordian style.

 3. Then, I put one on top of the other with the fronts facing the same way and stapled in the middle. 



4. Finally, all I had to do to finish these up was fan them back out and staple the two sides where they met. Anndd Voila!

 

 I hung mine with closepins on yarn because I ran out of time to thread them together. It worked out for me!

 

I also made a super easy Happy Birthday penant banner (as seen above) from some free printables found here. Just pick your patterns, fill in the letter, print, cut, and presto! Birthday Banner.

 

One of Joe's birthday happies was what will most likely be used as a tailgaiting bucket and some local craft beer from around Charlottesville to fill it up.  I birthdayed up the tub using recycled wedding supplies.

 

 

I just downloaded a neat font from DaFont, printed, cut out with a Martha Stewart Circle cutter and pasted onto some scalloped card stock that I affixed to the tub with ribbon.  Easy, cheap project.. especially when everything comes from your craft closet.

 

Hope you get some party crafting inspiration!

 

 

Love,

DD

 

 

 



25 and some the wiser

Well boys and girls, I have reached my quarter of a century year of life. It has been quite a journey getting here, but I am reveling in being 25. I'd like to think I've made some decent accomplishments in my lifetime thus far, and perhaps am even a little bit wiser than I was a year ago.

A few of the lessons I've learned:

Family is by far the most reliable and loving thing I've got going in

my life, and I am so very thankful. Never take them for granted.

Having a husband is the very best. Love him.

Stress really does give you wrinkles. It's not worth it -- which is why I'm still

working on being a worry-free kind of gal.

Keeping your own house is not easy.  I thought I was a clean freak until I had my

own home.. now I've decided it's OKAY if people come over and

I only vacuumed two days ago.

J Crew Factory is one of the best resources a wardrobe could ask for.

Second on that list is probably Target.

It is okay if your first few jobs aren't perfect, or even ideal. I don't think anyone lands

a dream job in their 20's these days.. and if you do CONGRATULATIONS! You are

 ahead of the curb. I am thankful to be where I am now, but I can't wait to see where else

 my career journey will take me. Just make sure to take advantage of every resource to

learn and continue learning and growing it whatever you are doing now.

 It can only make you more desirable later!

Finally, making new friends is a MUST if you are 800 miles away from the old

ones. Staying in touch with friends is certainly worth it, but they aren't going to be

the ones to hang out with you when your hubby's out of town or you need some game-night

therapy. Whether it's through church, community programs like the Junior League

or you know, law school classmates of your husband... find a way to meet people.

 Unless you are in your hometown, chances are you are surrounded by

 tons of other 20somethings looking to make friends as well.

 

Sooo while I wasn't pondering my deep-seeded 25-year-old-wisdom, I was celebrating this new year of life with new friends! My precious husband went above and beyond his normal planning capabilities to surprise me with a great day of friends, wine tastings, limo riding, fabulous fruit and chocolate cake from my fav bakery, and a bike (in a very appropriate champagne with pink and leather details)!

 




 

 



Have a wonderful rest of your week. It's almost Friday!

Love,
DD



Hubby Birthday!

Happy Birthday to THIS Guy!

If you are on the Virginia Is for Lovers blogging train, then you know this guy deserves a very special day all his own. Unfortunately, since Law School finals have arrived, we decided that this year we would pretend that April 29 was actually yesterday.... of course that did not stop me from bringing over the birthday wishes and celebrations to his TRUE Jour de Naissance, because, personally, I think this hubby deserves two days of celebration anyway!

My incredible husband sadly spent the better part of his pseudo birthday and his real birthday studying for those darn finals, but I tried to make his few hours of freedom extra special with some festive handmade frills and a cake I knew he wouldn't be able to pass on.

Birthday Corner at the Davis'

TL: Birthday Banner printed from Anders Ruff, TR: Beverage Bucket for tailgates
BL: Bucket adorned with Dianna original cutouts BR: Paper ornaments on twine (tutorial from the Handmade Home)

When I was trying to decide what kind of cake to make my hubby for his special day, I knew whatever the flavors, it needed to be "manly." And what says manly bakery delight more than a cake imitating the flavors of an Irish Car Bomb?  That's right. Each major part of the cake featured one of the ingredients found in an Irish Car Bomb, you know, the over the top beverage composed of three different irish alcohols.  An Irish stout went into the chocolate cake, Irish Liqueur such as Bailey's Irish Cream went into this fabulous swiss meringue buttercream, and irish whiskey flavored the chocolate ganache.  

(The full recipe to be posted in my recipe box soon!)

So Happy Birthday to you, Love.  You're the best thing that's ever happened to me, and I love celebrating your birth!!

XOXO,

DD

April 24, 1990.. TWINS!

Folks, this week I have a very important topic to discuss.

BIRTHDAYS!!

Today, 22 years ago, my sweet parents gave me not one, but TWO little siblings, and for this I am very grateful.  These guys are the best and today is their Birthday!

As you can see this picture is a little dated, but other than my sister becoming more beautiful, my brother more handsome, and myself not so blonde... not much has changed!

Well, maybe a little more has changed.  Jennifer Catherine Majors Cranford grew up, got married, and is working on becoming a nurse. Also, she's even more INCREDIBLE than she was 4 years ago!  Jenn has one of the most giving, loving hearts of anyone I have ever known and her big sister seriously looks up to her.  She's also just pretty cool.  She owns a hammock, rocks an acoustic guitar, and if she were ever stranded in the wild, the only thing that would need be afraid are the ducks she would hunt and eat for dinner. Oh, and she'd stay incredibly beautiful doing it.

And then there is Joshua Wallace Majors.  A tall, lean, handsome boy that we've had to all but lock away to keep the girls from throwing themselves at him.  But, really, who can blame them? He has become a mean drummer, aspiring pianist, and has a tremendously beautiful voice.  Basically, he's a musical machine.  OH, and did I mention he too is a fierce hunter? I guess too much blame can't be put on the girls... he's just a little too amazing.  He does like to tease his sister maybe a BIT too much, but I guess his general awesomeness makes up for his little-brotherness.  :)

I am so proud of these two!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TWINS!!
  
P.S. Another very important birthday post is soon too follow.. can you guess who it will be for?


XOXO,
DD