Birthdays – Poole Party of 5

Figs in the PNW

Published on September 12, 2013September 12, 2013 by poolepartyof51 Comment

So it was brought to my attention this summer that figs can grow (and even ripen) in Seattle! I had no idea. Ciscoe Morris is a gardening expert in the Seattle area and he tells us that one can grow figs in the PNW! (click here for the seattletimes.com article) If this bit of news excites you as much as it excites me then check out Raintree Nursery to learn more about the different types of figs that will do well in your climate. I loved a quote from their site that reads, “If you are among the many people who associate a fig tree with only a hot dry climate, you are in for a delicious surprise. Fig trees thrive in the Pacific Northwest and much of the nation.” A delicious surprise, indeed…

If you have been paying attention, you might know that I have a thing for figs. I might even be developing a reputation… (fig jam, panini sandwiches, and I haven’t even told you about the fig painting that hangs in my dining room! Yeesh.) So, after learning about the above, I thought, “What a perfect thing to ask for for my birthday this year!” Well, wouldn’t you know it, two fig trees were already riding around in my husbands backseat. I believe his immediate thought upon receiving my fabulous brainstorm, via text, was something along the lines of, “Seriously, woman!?!?” ESP or just on the same page… we’ll never know.

So… my birthday present this year was a couple of fig trees that someday, just might grow into big trees and maybe, just maybe… will produce figs!! The giving and planting of a few trees is just about the best birthday present a girl could get in my book.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Summer Pool Party Birthday

Published on July 21, 2013July 21, 2013 by poolepartyof53 Comments

What says “summer has arrived” better than a pool party? We celebrated Sam’s 6th by diving into his birthday festivities. As long as one has enough parents on hand to watch the swimmers, a pool party can be about as easy a party to throw as there is. The kids couldn’t have been happier splashing around! Just add water and let the fun begin!!

We kept the food super simple by serving sandwiches and watermelon. I felt inspired to create a “water noodle garland” that I saw here. And the cupcakes topped the Pool Party theme off with aqua blue icing and gummy bears floating around in their own mini-inner tubes (gummy lifesavers)! I couldn’t resist adding a few sharks to the cupcakes, just to keep things exciting!

Happy Swimming!

Frog Legs Birthday

Published on May 15, 2013May 26, 2013 by poolepartyof52 Comments

We are having glorious weather in the Pacific Northwest and you can thank me because all it took was planning Duncan’s 4th birthday party inside to encourage those rays of sun to shine, shine, shine… Like bringing an umbrella on a walk, so too, does planning an indoor birthday party encourage the fickle Seattle sun to appear! (Click here for last year’s party: Rain Rain Go Away)

Frog Legs is a hidden gem! It is a kids culinary school, located in the Mount Baker neighborhood of Seattle, and is run by the beautiful and talented Mrs. Frog Legs, Laura Vida. She is a picture of calm, as children bustle into her home to spend a few hours learning the particulars of measuring, stirring, and most of all having fun! Every time I see Laura in action, I am impressed by her positive demeanor and her amazing memory for all the children’s names. My kiddos have attended fabulous week-long summer day camps at Frog Legs in the past, which made it a natural choice for Duncan’s 4th birthday party location. (Well, and the fact that we could be inside if it was pouring down rain.)

Mrs. Frog Legs made it a very special day for Duncan. Very Berry Smoothies, Create Your Own Pizzas, and Confetti Cupcakes were on the menu for the day. The kids had a blast cooking, listening to some fun stories, as well as playing outside in the lovely yard. I do enjoy planning a party, so I had to let go of that a bit by having our party at Frog Legs, but Laura’s attention to detail and decoration made me feel that I was in my own home, only better – since no clean up was required! And I mean really, look at those cupcakes… pretty much every kid’s dream!! Marshmallows, and gummies, and chocolate chips – OH MY!!

Mrs. Frog Legs wrapped up the event with Duncan giving each of his birthday friends a recipe book of the day’s treats, a wooden spoon, and a homemade frosted cookie. What fun!

Every so often, I believe it is the perfect choice to make things easier on ourselves, versus harder and more complicated. This was one of those choices for me. Duncan had a lovely day and so did I. I was so relaxed, I think we might have even gotten a photo of our whole family!! Something I definitely would have forgotten if I had been hosting this party!!

Thank you, Frog Legs, for making Duncan’s birthday feel super special!

If you live in the Seattle area and are looking for a fun activity for your children this summer, check out the Frog Leg camps – your kids will love it! And, as Mrs. Frog Legs says, “Hoppy Cooking!”

Hello, Cupcake

Published on January 3, 2013April 4, 2013 by poolepartyof54 Comments

“Winter White and One” was the theme of the party. It was important to me that Tatum’s first birthday party feel intimate and differentiated from the Christmas celebrations we had been involved in days before. I envisioned wiping away the holiday from one room and replacing the red and green with clean, white everything. I liked the idea of white cupcakes on white cake plates – white, white, white… but also wanted to find some unfussy design element that would help commemorate this milestone for my little girl.

There is a company I learned about called Ticings that makes “tattoos” for cupcakes. I was very intrigued by these when I came across them in a magazine. If their product was not cool enough, Ticings currently has an artist doing custom silhouette art for them. Perfect! Despite my late planning and holiday business, Ticings was able to accommodate all my requests and the customer service was a dream. I sent in a photo of Tatum and days later received custom cupcake tattoos with my baby girl’s silhouette. I also asked for the artwork to keep as a momento of the day.

Since I had already spent some money on the tattoos, I figured that I better bake the cupcakes versus purchase designer ones. I am a mediocre baker at best with a very old oven, so I was a little intimidated, but figured it would all work out. (At this point, it might have benefitted me to read the directions on the Ticings packaging, as my cupcakes were not as flat as they recommended which made application more difficult.) A few years ago I was given a cookbook called, “Hello, Cupcake! : Irresistably playful creations anyone can make”. Most of the cupcakes in this cookbook are fun to look at, but not something I would attempt in real life. My favorite thing about this cookbook is in the back there are some tips and tricks and recipes for semi-homemade cupcakes and frostings. The authors allow that homemade is usually best, but in a pinch there are ways to improve flavor and texture from store bought mixes, etc… Their “Perfect Cake-Mix Cupcakes” have worked really well for me:

Perfect Cake-Mix Cupcakes from Hello, Cupcake!

1 box (18.25 ounces) cake mix (French vanilla, devil’s food, or yellow)

(Note from PP5: I like Trader Joe’s brand)

1 cup buttermilk (in place of the water called for on the box)

Vegetable oil (the amount on the box)

4 large eggs (in place of the number called for on the box)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners.

Follow the box instructions, putting all the ingredients in a large bowl and using the buttermilk in place of the water specified (the box will call for more water than the amount of buttermilk that you are using), using the amount of vegetable oil that is called for, and adding the eggs. Beat with an electric mixer until moistened, about 30 seconds. Increase the speed to high and beat until thick, 2 minutes longer.

Spoon half of the batter into a ziplock bag. Snip a 1/4 inch corner from the bag and fill the paper liners 2/3 full. Repeat with the remaining batter. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean 15-20 minutes. Remove the cupcakes from the baking pans, place on a wire rack, and allow to cool completely.

Next, I used one of the cookbook’s frostings and was very happy with the result.

Almost-Homemade Vanilla Buttercream

Makes 3 1/2 cups

1 container (16 ounces) Marshmallow Fluff

3 sticks (3/4 pound) unsalted butter, softened and cut into 1-inch pieces

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar, plus additional sugar if necessary

Spoon Marshmallow Fluff into a large bowl. (Marshmellow Fluff twice in one month?!?!?) Beat with an electric mixer on low. Gradually add the butter pieces, well after each addition, until smooth. Add the vanilla extract and the 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar. Scrape the bowl well to incorporate. Add more confectioners’ sugar, if necessary, to adjust the texture.

As we were frosting these cupcakes, my sister and I were unsure about how messy the frosting looked. My mom had a helpful tip that I will pass on to you. After frosting your cupcakes, run your knife under hot water and wipe over frosted cupcake for an ultra-smooth look. (note: The cupcakes were definitely a group effort – thanks, ladies! The moral support was the best part of all.)

I will admit that the Ticings cupcake tattoos were a little more difficult to apply than I had hoped. We used their gold sprinkles to cover mistakes around the edges. In the end, I love the modern look of the silhouette on the cupcake. I was and am really happy with the result!

The family enjoyed a beautiful morning. Cupcakes were a hit and the birthday girl couldn’t have been happier. Tatum is sporting a Poole Party Designs original and sitting in her custom chair from Auntie. It is safe to say she enjoyed her day! Success!

Make It Personal

Published on November 1, 2012April 4, 2013 by poolepartyof56 Comments

When my second son was born, my favorite presents were those that differentiated his arrival from his older brother’s. Having been through it once, we already had all the equipment, clothes, and “stuff” we needed and the correct gender to boot. I loved receiving things that were personalized for him. Whether it was a name or a letter, I found this gesture of individual recognition to be so very thoughtful. I have kept that sentiment in mind to this day. Often, when I give a gift to a family that already has one child, I try to personalize it. It is nice to recognize those older sibs as well!

The “letter” and “number” shirts have arrived! Simple cut. Clean lines. Gotta have ’em.

American Apparel 3/4 sleeve, personalized, raglan tees. Now available for the big kids! Poly-Cotton construction. Durable rib neckband. Available in sizes 2-8. The perfect gift for big brother or sister. Great for birthday parties and sibling photos. An ideal tool for teaching letter and number recognition! Start your engines and get ready to be a monogram trendsetter at school! Head over to Poole Party Designs to start shopping the new collection!

The Point.

Published on August 30, 2012March 12, 2013 by poolepartyof56 Comments

For me, the point of this blog is to share inspiration among us through everyday life. If by reading something I write, someone feels inspired to try something new, or think about something in a different way, then there is a point to all this writing and documenting. My 35th birthday was this week and I feel so satisfied because I inspired. My mother read the post about my grandmother and her secrets … and felt inspired.

Not only has she challenged me to a “taste off” between my pickle recipes and her version of my grandmother’s pickle recipe. (More on that sometime soon…) I can’t wait!!

But, she also made a birthday cake for me in the tradition of my grandmother! What a wonderful surprise. My grandmother had two cakes that she would bake and she kept the process a secret: “the checkerboard” and “the rainbow”. So this year I received a checkerboard cake for my birthday from my mom, a woman who does not love to cook. I love that she felt inspired to figure out the mystery of “the checkerboard” and that I was the recipient of this fun! Thanks, Mom! You’re a wonderful mother and an inspiration to me too.

How cool is that? There is a surprise checkerboard pattern inside. I believe you can do either two or three colors. I can just imagine purple and pink from a childhood birthday party decades ago. In addition to this surprise cake, there was also a package for me to unwrap. It was the secret… a special pan from Wilton that makes all this magic possible: Checkerboard Cake Pan. Who knew? There are different brands, of course, that make this special pan, Wilton just happens to be the one I was gifted.

I see many a checkerboard cake in my future (and my past)… Happy Baking!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Arrgh!

Published on July 16, 2012April 4, 2013 by poolepartyof5Leave a comment

Poole Pirate Picnic success this weekend! We celebrated Sam’s 5^th birthday this weekend by treasure seeking with a bunch of little scallywags! Despite being under the weather over the past few weeks, we pulled off a pirate picnic like we were a bunch of true buccaneers! From hand drawn treasure maps to hand sewn burlap treasure bags to crafty Solo cup and aluminum foil hooks, we outfitted ourselves for mutiny! Our kiddos became pirates over the course of a scavenger hunt that led them all over Luther Burbank Park, using their treasure-map reading skills to discover jewels (ring pops), booty (pirate booty snacks), weaponry (glow-in-the-dark swords), and pirate costume (hats, eye patches, and hooks). All ages got into this pirate extravaganza – the eye patches were especially popular (thanks, Target!). The last treasure of the evening was a beautiful firework show, sponsored by the city of Mercer Island as part of their yearly Summer Celebration. What a fantastic evening! Yo ho ho, me hearties… Until next time!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Rain, Rain Go Away

Published on May 22, 2012April 4, 2013 by poolepartyof52 Comments

It rained, and rained, and then it rained some more…

Thankfully I am married to an ingenious man who built tarp city in our backyard. Note to self for future parties, May is not a reliable month in Seattle for backyard barbecues (oh well, chalk it up to optimism)!
I think we did provide a first to our good-natured party-goers – I’m sure no one had participated in pinata thrashing in the pouring rain before Sunday (still fun)!
The party was a success in that the birthday boy was thrilled to have his friends over. Cupcakes were consumed. The food was a hit, as we served Copper River salmon, hand delivered by B from Cordova, Alaska! What a treat.

Thanks for being good sports, friends!

Party Time

Published on May 20, 2012April 4, 2013 by poolepartyof53 Comments

The day has arrived! Today is my son’s 3rd birthday party. Weeks of planning, preparation, and agonizing over internet photos have come to an end and I am excited to celebrate with our friends and family.

In my last post I did not mention my hopes for this blog. Over the past five years I have been figuring out my roles as mother, wife, etc…, but had placed the role of “creative force” on the back burner ~ this was true with the exception of “the birthday party.” I found that “the birthday party” was a palatable enterprise because it was a contained event, did not need to be duplicated, and still supported the above mentioned role of “mother.” Now that I am beginning to feel inspired to be creative in other areas of my life, I will remember “the birthday party” as something that reminded me that (as tired as I am sometimes) the creative spark is still inside, waiting for its time to shine!

I grew up in a house that truly celebrated birthdays. It was a day to feel honored and special. My mother would set the scene with some fabulous theme and my grandmother would bake the cake. Her beautiful creations live on in my memory from checkerboard and rainbow interiors to a three-foot bright green crocodile that supported my Crocodile Dundee themed party. As I frost my son’s cake today, I am thinking of the women who raised me to appreciate hard work and beautiful things.

Now, if only the rain would stop…

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this:

Thanks for being good sports, friends!

Share this:

Like this:

Share this:

Like this: