Madison's Market

If you follow me on Facebook then you know my daughter Madison wanted a grocery store in her playroom. She loves the one at the Phoenix Children's Museum so I decided to indulge. There is a major lack of room in the playroom. (It is a converted bedroom shared with my craft room too~ remember this?) It was 2 years ago so you know the space has gotten so much more crowded since then. The first thing I did was do some much needed purging! Then I switch out the IKEA cube that was in there with a shelf from the garage. 

I didn't want to spend any money just used what I had. I did spend money...more on that soon. 

I cleaned out my pantry....totally embarrassed at how many items in my pantry were expired! Bad mommy but Madison really scored for her market!

So I had the lemons and the felt vegetables but I knew I had a bag of plastic oranges too. Well, that was before my HUBBY cleaned the garage. They are mysteriously missing! So Madison and I went to Hobby Lobby for some fruit for second basket. We got the apples but then found these adorable eggs, cheese and some bread. So I did end up spending some money!

I wanted to just put Madison's Market in the frame but my daughter wanted her picture in it as well. She said so that everyone would know it was her market just in case they couldn't read. LOL Had a bunch of enlarged pictures from her birthday party so she choose her favorite. She has had the cash register since Christmas...I don't know why the Try Me sticker is still on there!

 If your kid loves "shopping" in grocery stores as much as mine, wouldn't it be a great party theme or play date? Well, my sweet friends of Paper & Cake has a grocery store printable birthday and play date that I MUST get now that I created this market today!! I just love this and my sweet friends from Paper & Cake! 

Frugalista 4th of July Ice Cream Buffet

I'm back in the U.S.A. and 4th of July is on my mind! Today I'm sharing a easy, no fuss, frugalista Ice Cream Buffet that I did a couple of years ago for $13.52~using stuff I had with Dollar Tree items and Ice Cream.
To see all of the details click HERE!

Fiesta Week~ Mexican Decor

I knew that I wanted to use colorful serapes for table runners but was unsure about my centerpieces until I found these simple yet gorgeous ones from Style Me Pretty. I have been seeing these colorful lanterns everywhere so shouldn't be hard to find. Then I can just reuse them on my back patio! I'm in total love!
Don't you just love the use of Mexican food cans and hot sauce bottles as vases??

I already showed you earlier in the week that I wanted to use papel picado (paper flags) as decor as well. It totally gives this space so much color and the WOW factor!

How creative is this food display? I just love thinking outside the box and being frugal of course! I think I have these in my backyard! I'm from AZ you know! LOL

Fiesta Week~Tequila Tasting

I'm not much of a drinker...in fact I may only have 2 or 3 drinks a year. However, how can I have a fiesta week and not talk about Tequila?

When I was much ...much younger I went to a tequila tasting in Tijuana. I don't remember recall much about it except someone wanting the worm. I know some of you remember that, right? Wine tasting parties are common but Tequila tasting parties haven't really been a popular theme. I think due to the misconception or lack of knowledge of finer brand tequilas.

Blanco ("white") or plata ("silver"): white spirit, un-aged and bottled or stored immediately after distillation, or aged less than two months in stainless steel or neutral oak barrels;

Joven ("young") or oro ("gold"): a mixture of blanco tequila and reposado tequila;

Reposado ("rested"): aged a minimum of two months, but less than a year in oak barrels of any size;

Añejo ("aged" or "vintage"): aged a minimum of one year, but less than three years in small oak barrels;

Extra Añejo ("extra aged" or "ultra aged"): aged a minimum of three years in oak barrels. This category was established in March 2006.

 So for your tequila tasting, you want 4 to 6 various types of tequila. Much more than that....nobody is going home!

Some people like it served cold, especially the blanco variety. But try it at room temperature if you want to appreciate the full bouquet and body. Afterwards, once you've appreciated its character, you can always put out a plate of lime slices and salt or drink a chaser of Sangrita, a popular non-alcoholic and spicy drink made of orange and tomato juices.

The traditional glass for tequila is called a caballito... a tall, narrow shot glass.

The new official way to drink tequila is the Riedel tequila glass which is similar to a wine glass.
More tequila knowledge than you ever thought you needed....so you look all smart at your party!
I would love to have a tequila tasting station at my Fiesta Forty-Five birthday party. It would be a great interactive station.

Our day in Mexico today was filled with beach, pool, scrapbooking and our favorite chicken quesadilla! Hope you had a wonderful day as well.

Fiesta Week~Salsa and Guacamole Bar

Fiesta Week continues with muses of a guacamole and salsa bar. I'm loving this display of sauces in molcajetes. Last year while on vacation in Puerta Vallerta, Madison and I took a class on making 7 different types of salsa. It was amazing and every recipe we used a molcajete to grind spices and chiles.


Instead of using tasting spoons ~how about edible ones?? LOVE This!! Tequila chicken on edible tortilla spoon with tequila mist. 

Today while shopping in the Malecon (in case you missed yesterday's post we are at our condo in Mexico this week) I saw these huge margarita glasses. Didn't think about using them for displaying various salsas...may have to go back later this week.
Muses for Salsa bar~
Pico de Gallo
Kiwi Pineapple Salsa
Queso Fundido
Roasted Corn & Black Bean Salsa
Guacamole
Whole Wheat and Corn Chips

How about Mexican Layered dip in a push up pop!! Don't you just love it?

Here is a glimpse of our day!

Did you see Maddycakes Muse Facebook today? What??? You are missing a chance to win prizes valued over $1500!! 

Fiesta Week~Papel Picado cupcake toppers

 I really love Papel Picado like pictured above. Papel picado is a traditional folk art from Mexico that involves cutting out intricate patterns on colorful tissue paper. It is so colorful and just screams FIESTA!! My theme for my birthday this year is Fiesta Forty-Five! Yes, I can't believe it myself that I'm turning 45! I met such a wonderful and sweet gal named Sara at SNAP conference in Utah. We taught a class a together. Sara from Confetti Sunshine made these seriously cute Papel Picado cupcake toppers.
 With a few things you can make your own. You will need~

• Colorful paper
• Lollipop sticks
•  Martha Stewart Diamond Rings Pattern Punch
• Scalloped and straight scissors
• glue stick

 Really cute, easy and inexpensive to make.

We are at our beach condo in Mexico all week. So this whole week I will be sharing MUSES for a Fiesta! Plus tomorrow I have something HUGE to share with you! Make sure you check back!!! Her is my baby girl being herself on the beach.

We all scream for Ice Cream!

 I am in love with these ice cream truck favor boxes by Paper Glitter! I did a small ice cream social for Madison's preschool class here but I want to do one at home. It is so hard to do an ice cream party here in Arizona due to our extreme summer heat but I'm determined to do one before summer is out!

You can add a menu or message on back.

 Also, you can personalize it with names on the front. So cool!!

Love all the cute colors which can coordinate with any party color scheme!

Sneak Peek of The Knot Networking Event

 As you all are all aware by now my company Maddycakes designed and styled The Bump lounge for The Knot/The Bump Networking event last week. I was on a very short time frame and had to get everything together in 6 days. I love to challenge myself and boy was I challenged! However, I loved how everything turned out. Here is a sneak peek of the event. These photos were by Emily Snitzer Photography which was the event's photographer. Of course, I had my photographer (Andrea Crawley Photography) there as well so can't wait to get all of her photos!

 Remember the baby bottle drinks I showed you? Well, here is how I used them. I placed fruit punch in them (actually colored water...LOL) just to show "muses" what you could do for a baby shower. Found those amazing matching candles at IKEA as well as the yellow vases...I'm such the lucky girl! Plus the candles were on sale.....SCORE!

 The orange trays the candles are sitting on are actually Dollar Store silver trays that I spray painted orange. Yes, I always use my crafty skills even when designing for large events!! I loved the furniture provided by Cort!

 Loving the printables by A Pretty Little Party~ such a joy to work with!

 I can't wait to show you the details of the popcorn bar!!!! Popcorn provided by Poppa Maize Gourmet popcorn. THE BEST POPCORN ever!!! SO many flavors.....THEY SHIP MY PEEPS!!!! You all need to have a movie night outside this summer with Poppa Maize popcorn!!

So many of these amazing accessories were provided by Pottery Barn Kids. I LOVE Pottery Barn Kids! PBK has such quality products! This is only a sneak peek ... will share so much more next week!!! But have to ask....do you like my Duck Brand Duct Tape backdrop artwork?

Baby Shower Drinks

Having a baby shower? Why not serve your guests drinks in baby bottles?? Wrap coordinating fabric with baby safety pins around bottle to make extra special and to match party of course! Add some matching straws with either cute flags or washabi tape and you will be a rock star! I made a bunch of these for display for The Bump Lounge tomorrow! If you follow me on Facebook then you know that Maddycakes was asked to style "The Bump" lounge for  The Knot/The Bump networking event. I only had a week to prepare ~ not a lot of time plus I have my Madison's birthday party this Saturday. So needless to say I have been super busy!!  I know I have not been posting a lot on the blog lately due to so much work from my company. Parties slow down in Phoenix in the summer due to the extreme heat so I'll be able to share more projects with you. Make sure you keep up with what is going on by liking my Facebook page and getting updates and "muses". Also, the new and improved Maddycakes Muse will be launching in August....stay tuned!