kandeland

worth every cent!

I didn't get many pictures because I was too busy trying to live in the moment, but let me tell you, we had the BEST time at the Big Time Rush concert! Out of 8,000 seats we were in the 8th row with a great view...

Here's Scarlet's head trying to grab peek at the boys getting on and off their bus before the show:

She was soooo freaking excited! Which made it so fun for me!

 
I got some video from when they first got on stage (which I can't seem to upload!) that I keep watching cause it makes me smile every time! So worth the ebay-inflated-pricetag!

 

(and the name drawn for the kit giveaway was Heidi Woodruff! thanks to all who came and put their name in the basket!)

hopefully they'll at least think I'm a "milf"....

So it's really scary when you think you are young and cool and then you realize you are the parent of a child old enough (not really!) to have boy-crazy crushes! Tomorrow night my "nearly-6-going-on-26-year-old" and I are going to see her FAVORITE boy band, Big Time Rush!

She's been obsessing about going to this concert for months (and she's extremely dramatic) and stupid, preoccupied me didn't get the tickets on time and it sold out! Which led to me having to buy scalped ticket for literally FOUR TIMES the selling price! But I remember that feeling when I was young, and there was no way I could have denied her this concert! (not to mention these guys are pretty nice lookin' and I've been partial to younger guys lately...wink*wink* to Sandy, Vivian, Tammy, Heather and Tabitha!)

I can't even wait to see her face when they come out on stage! I will definitely have the camera ready!

SO..I'm extending the little giveaway til Thursday. Be back then with a winner and some pics of the concert!

another reason to bake cupcakes!

When my sweet and thoughtful friend Tammy was here a week ago she brought me the coolest gift...

these awesome EDIBLE butterflies from Sugar Robot on etsy!

Aren't they so pretty and fun!?

Just one more reason to rationalize cupcake baking!

it's almost my 700th post....

So I thought I'd give away an extra one of the kits from the garden party I had last weekend!

When the girls were here I gave them each a little starter kit to create a small garden-inspired fold-out book of sorts.

It's really just about playing with paper and supplies you already have, and the look can go in many different directions!

It's about digging into your stash and creating something on these panels...

I made one with 4 small arched panels and one with 3 bigger, connected panels as you can see.

All of ours came out so differently, and I'd love to see what someone else might make, so leave a comment on this post and I will send one random winner the extra kit!

Inside is four arch chipboard panels, a 3-panel connected chipboard "book", vintage sheet music to cover the panels with, a glue stick, a nail file for sanding the paper off the edges, and a sheet of garden quotes. On the outside is the pretty Victorian girl image I got from Hope at Paper Relics in her "free downloads" section, 3 blue paper roses and some colorful seam binding!

So leave a comment if you'd like to make something with these things, and I will draw a name on Tuesday 8/9!

more of my garden love...

Oh how I love a warm evening watering these plants, listening to Billie Holiday on the outdoor speakers, and drinking red wine...

it's Friday...and life is good....

Garden Art Party: the art and the gardens!

So after much relaxing, talking and laughing it was time to make some art and see some gardens! Friday night Sandy taught us how to make resin rings.

These were so fun and so easy! I made mine with a leopard background and some rhinestones on the sides of my mini German Charlotte doll...

On Saturday night I pulled out these little kits for us to play with...

The book In This Garden: Explorations in Mixed-Media Visual Narrative was the inspiration for this class. I pulled out a bunch of paper, embellishments and supplies and we all created a garden-inspired little shrine.

The one I made as the demo piece was four paneled, two-sided in reds and golds:

But the one I made the night of the party I liked even more...

I loved using this Victorian girl (as I did throughout the party) from Hope at Paper Relics. She is such a sweet image...

The other side looks like this:

Everyone's art came out so differently..I didn't get photos but hope to see them on each girl's blog soon!

The Garden Walk was on a gorgeous (but too hot!) day and we strolled the city streets viewing front, back and side yard gardens.

This event is always so much fun because it allows you to be inspired by so many creative garden spaces that you never imagined were tucked into city yards.

I loved this Asian garden with the pretty tablescape and water feature...

This spot looked cozy...

One of my all time favorite gardens on the walk is this one...

So many lovely details..

Here we are browsing...

Another fun stop was at this woman's garden. She made snacks for everyone too!

Her yard was so small, so packed with whimsy and just fun!

Look at this sweet outdoor shower:

We thought her grandchildren must LOVE coming here to play!

There are little surprises around every corner...

And fairies everywhere...

Tammy...

Heather...

Sandy...

So many cool houses and yards to see all day...

We even spotted a friend of mine up on his teenie-tiny porch!...

So after relaxing and rejuvenating at some shops, a favorite lunch spot of mine, and a chocolate shop, we were able to head to the beach at night for a beach party...

There were lots of people, fun music, wine, and MUCH laughter!

Not to mention the BEST fireworks!

We had ourselves some serious fun!

So that is our weekend in a nutshell! There's nothing like like-minded, sweet, generous friends to spend a weekend of eating, creating, giving and laughing with! Thank you so much girls...you made my summer!!

Garden Art Party: the food and the gifts!

So, the girls all arrived to the house by noon and we started off with lunch! Just look at all these pretty wrapped gifts all over the place!

We sat outside and chatted for awhile and snacked on vegetables and salads..

The weather has been so hot so I made sure our food was not!

And this party was a perfect time to use some edible flowers!

For dessert I made some watermelon-coconut-mojito sorbets that were yummy..

After much talking and hanging out we exchanged goodie bags!

I made each girl a handmade journal...

and gave them each a jar of lavender for sachet-making...

Sandy gave everyone these goodies with this cute, personalized "butterfly girl" that we thought was so creative...

The needle-felted magnet is so sweet and of course I love the embellished notebooks she made! And not only did I receive these goodies, but Sandy also brought me some hostess gifts! This gorgeous Charlotte head planter:

and a necklace from Junk Garden!

Next up was the goodie bag from Tammy. She made us each a handmade cuff bracelet:

I just love it! And also little cake boxes filled with some trinkets...

Tammy then went on to completely SPOIL me with a bunch of hostess gifts! She even brought Scarlet a gift! Just look at this great stuff...

Benefit lipstick, a toile candle, awesome soap, a birdie candle, edible butterfly papers, great Japanese tapes...

Butterfly straws, great notecards...

and can you believe these GORGEOUS earrings!....

Next was Heather and her fabulous supply goodie bags...look at these vintage wallpapers...

And Heather brought with her gifts from thoughtful and sweet Barb who sent along a cute fabric hangable for each girl...

Isn't that the most kind gesture, knowing we were getting together! Thank you so much Barb!!

Heather brought Scarlet and my mom each gifts as well as went over-the-top for me! She brought me a vintage heart tin:

filled with incredible supplies...

as well as a too-generous gift certificate and this huge silver-haired Penny doll I adore!...

We each received a wonderful bear pinkeep from Vivian along with some sweet notecards...

She also brought some great food and super-yummy dessert to help me out!

Tabitha gave everyone a pretty box filled with fun embellishments and supplies..

And she brought me some extras for hosting too! More supplies....

including this sweet half doll...

Wasn't that all great stuff?!?! So much fun to share goodies, supplies and handmade pieces with your friends!

Next post: the art and the gardens!