More Pictures from the FABULOUS 6th Birthday Party

Pretty little Sunshine:)

I had such a great time making these party favor bags.   I created a CD for each family with songs about Sunshine.  For example a few of the songs were....Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers and It's a Sunshine Day...by the Brady Bunch!  There were nine songs total and Larkin loves listening to the CD with me.  We also made "Sunshine Cookie" mix which was Chocolate Chip Cookies with yellow M&M's then lastly  the yellow zig zag bag had Sour Lemon Balls in them....yum!

Because it is taking me so long to upload these birthday pictures and it's almost midnight...I am going to stop with these and try to get more uploaded tomorrow at some point.  So enjoy my little Larkin and her party favor pic's!

Larkin's 6th Sunshine Birthday Party!

Our little girl is 6!  We were told we wouldn't see this day so this day happens to be SO awesomely special that mere words can not describe it!! We threw a party on Sunday and had close friends and family.....it was the best! 

 So here is the adorable cake! For our adorable 6 year old Larkin.  Yes it's a big ole Sunshine Cake that I had made just for our little sunshine!!  Can I tell you that the flavors were outta this world starting with the bottom layer flavor of Sweet Potato with Marshmallow Butter cream.  The second layer was Lemon with Raspberry filling and my ALL TIME FAVORITE.....German Chocolate with Coconut Pecan filling!!  It was the most moist cake and absolutely the exact design that I asked for.  I bought the cake from a local cake shop...W.O.W. cakes...and WOW did they do a great job!  We actually went for a cake tasting on Tuesday so Tatum could decide on her wedding cake flavors. So FUN!  The best part is we get to eat their cakes again:)

This is the bow that I made for Lark that matched her outfit exactly. I took fabric from the Sunshine shirt that I made her and incorporated it into the bow.  She looked so pretty and there will be pictures to follow soon.  I hired a photographer to take pics of the party so I could enjoy myself and take care of Larkin.  Can't wait to see all the fun party decor and treats that made Larkin's day so special.

Wednesday January 11th was actually her real birthday and to celebrate that particular day Lark got to lick some chocolate ice cream which she truly enjoys.  She is such an angel and it makes me smile to know she really loves something that much and that it is such a small thing....chocolate ice cream...hmmm

LARKIE LU BOWS DRAWING FOR FREE ITEM!

Okay friends...Here is the skinny!  August is SMA Awareness Month and I/Larkie Lu Bows will be doing a drawing for a free item of your choice. Each Friday for the entire month of August one lucky winner will be drawn.  It's so super easy to enter and here's how ya do it!
1.  Go to www.larkielubows.com and choose an item...any item of your choice and comment under that item telling me why you like/LOVE it so much!
2.  Go to my Larkie Lu Bows Facebook page and on my page tell me the item you chose!
3.  If you haven't LIKED Larkie Lu Bows yet on Facebook then just LIKE me and you are then entered into the AWESOME drawing. 

Please tell your friends and have them tell their friends...etc...etc...and so forth! 

We can bring so much attention to SMA by things like this.  My drawing just might get into the hands of someone that just wants a bow but then they will see it's WAY more than just a FREE bow..  It's our kiddo's we are doing this for, to get the WORD out and be HEARD, to raise money for RESEARCH and to FIND A CURE FOR THIS HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE disease that has taken over our lives.

Mandy's 25th Birthday "Puppy" Party

I have had one birthday party after the next it seems like but I LOVE parties so I was totally up to this fun party for my daughter in law Mandy.  I saw this "puppy" theme party on a party blog so I decided to do my own version of the party.  I wanted to give a fun little treat bag that looked like dog food...oh yum, right?  I actually used Cocoa Puffs cereal and my creative friend Summer made the "Doggie Treat" bones for the bag closure, I put these on the dinner plates.

I really had fun setting the table.  My mom had this kraft color wrapping paper so I wrapped the table in that and taped it down.  I set the table with all my goodies and at the very end I stamped paw prints randomly on the table.  It was so much fun stamping and it added dimension to the table.  Skylar bought the flowers for his lovely wife and the table was PERFECT!  (Sugar Britches Company....Summer Crook.....made the place cards too)

Here I am.....very proud of Mandy's little goodie table.  I took small kraft color bags and I actually did paw print tags and tied them on with brown dog bone ribbon.  The bags were for filling with the candy and cookies on the table. 

The dog bowls were the reason for the pink and brown theme.  I found these darling bowls at Tuesday Morning and it took off from there.  I knew I was going to do the puppy theme so I had my eyes peeled for cute dog bowls.  I really like these and especially the colors.   I made sure I put some of Mandy's favorite candy in the bowls.  M&M's and Swedish Fish.....lucky for me those are some of my fave's too:)

This is the delicious doggie dessert table and Skylar helped decorate it with the balloons he bought for Mandy.

AND HERE SHE IS.....MANDY HENSON!  SUCH A BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER IN LAW!

Mandy and Skylar

ME, MANDY & GRAMMY (my mommy)

Larkin is all dressed up in her pink and brown dress wearing of course a Larkie Lu  rolled fabric flower band with hot pink puff 

Mandy had lots of gifts but I love this picture because she truly was THRILLED with the black sparklely TOMS that Sky had ordered for her.

Clayton and Tatum

Dinner.....the request was Greek Grilled Chicken Pitas so that's what I made.  Recipe follows.

GREEK GRILLED CHICKEN PITAS

5-6 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

salt and pepper

8 pita breads, I buy the pocket ones that are already cut in half

1 lemon, zested and juiced

3 T red wine vinegar

1/2 c olive oil

2 T fresh chopped oregano

3 cloves garlic, chopped

romaine lettuce, chopped

1/2 c kalamata olives, coarsely chopped

8 oz crumbled feta cheese

2 tomatoes, seeded and chopped

cucumber, seeded and chopped

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced and cute into bite sized pieces

              (I learned a new trick...soak the onion in ice cold water and they won't taste so strong...about 10 minuites)

1/2 c flat leaf parsley, chopped - optional ( I didn't use it the last time I made this)

Place chicken in shallow dish and season with salt and pepper.

Combine lemon zest, juice, vinegar in  a bowl and whisk in oil. Add oregano, garlic and whisk again to combine into a dressing.  (I actually at least double this if not triple the marinade) 

Pour 1/2 over the chicken and reserve the other half for the salad.

Turn the chicken to coat and let marinate for a couple of hours.  ( I use a huge ziploc freezer bag and marinate them that way)

Preheat oven to 275 degrees.  Wrap the pita in foil. Place in warm oven and heat until dinner is served.

Grill chicken until done.

Meanwhile, combine the remaining salad ingredients in a bowl. Pour remaining dressing over salad and toss well.  The salad should be very "lightly" dressed.  Season with salt and pepper.

Serve chicken in pita halves with salad and dill sauce (recipe follows)

DILL SAUCE

8 oz sour cream

1 t onion powder

1 t garlic powder

fresh dill to taste ( about 1/2 package)

1 t lemon juice

milk to desired consistency

I also buy hummus and Stacy's pita chips to complete the meal.

ENJOY!!!

Fourth of July Fun.... Starting on the THIRD!

Every year Colton looks forward to the 4th of July!  I think its playing with fire that floats his boat...lol 

He begs and begs us to buy fireworks as soon as he see's the tents being put up and before the fireworks are ever even in the tents.  Silly boy!

\

After about $70.00 in fireworks we were on our way home when Colton tells me that the place we just bought the fireworks wasn't the GOOD place.  Are you kidding me?  I can't even stand to BUY the fireworks because I feels like I'm burning dollar bills with a lighter. I just told him that the ones we just bought were in all the tents and everyone sold the same ones and he would have fun with the ones in the bag:) 

Colton starts popping his fireworks as soon as he can so we usually start our festivities a bit earlier than the fourth.

Here's Miss Lucy Lu in her adorable little tank that of course I purchased on Etsy.  She is sporting the same bow from last year but I so loved this one that I figured she could wear it one more time.

LOVE THAT LITTLE PROFILE!

Colton wanted to take a picture with the flag.  I was wondering if that was okay to be drapped over his shoulders and he said that it just couldn't touch the ground.  We were all good then because it didn't touch the ground!!

(p.s.  I'm really wanting him to get a haircut but he says NO! It's an experiment at this point....)

Love the fireworks in the background

Giving his mommy some love! 

Hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July!

Supporting SMA Research One Bow At A Time

Okay...I just wanted to let everyone know that I am passionate about Sophia's Cure!  This organization cares about children and adults with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy).  My daughter Larkin has SMA type 1...the most severe type of SMA.  She was given 2-4 years to live and she has made it to 5 years old.  She is a fighter but we can all make a difference to these kiddos by just donating for research.We are on the way to finding a cure but important research still needs to be funded.  There are several ways SCF is trying to raise money.  One is the contest on Facebook called Vivent Gives Back Project.  You can vote once a day from June 14th to August 27th. The winner is awarded $250,000 for their charity.  This is such an easy thing to do so why not vote?!  The other way is the 200 Commitments.  Hoping that 200 people would pledge to raise $5000 each we would raise a million dollars.  This is what Sophia's Cure had to say about the Commitment Challenge.

"We were recently contacted by someone who took notice of The 200 Commitments, inspired by the families working so hard to make a difference in this disease. It was your blogs and stories that have made a lasting impact. This person wanted to help change this disease. This donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, has donated…………. $400,000 to The Sophia’s Cure Foundation in recognition of your efforts. This money, in its entirety, will be donated to the Kaspar Labs for Gene Therapy. This $400,000 will be added to the $100,000 The Sophia’s Cure Foundation has in hand and has already pledged to commit, for a NEW $500,000 grant. This grant will be used to pay for Critical studies required by the Food and Drug Administration prior to a program moving into human clinical trials."

This is awesome news for SCF and the SMA community!  You can also just go to the the Sophia's Cure Foundation website and donate there. 

http://www.larkielubows.com/

This is the Sophia's Cure Bow that I designed especially for them.  50% of every one of these bows is donated to SCF.  The cost of one of these beauties is $14.00 so that means that $7.00 is donated each time someone selects this bow.  August is SMA awareness month and I'm planning a SPECIAL for that month.  More details closer to then....It's gonna be good I promise!

As of  today LARKIE LU BOWS has donated a little over $3000.00 to SMA charities. Now though I will only donate to the Sophia's Cure Foundation! I have been making bows for the last few years and this is a big deal to me!  I feel so good knowing that every little penny that I donate goes directly to research.  I am able to donate due to my wonderful customers and loyal followers.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support! 
http://www.sophiascure.org/donate

Custom Party Bow by LARKIE LU BOWS!!

Isn't this baby absolutely GORGEOUS?!!  Her sweet Aunt called me and ordered a custom bow for her 1st birthday party!  She wanted it BIG!! I love seeing kiddo's in my bows, it makes me happy!  I got a picture of the outfit on my cell phone and this is what I came up with.  It's that easy to order a CUSTOM bow.  You can also go to my website http://www.larkielubows.com/ and order from there or contact me that way....which ever way you choose it's fine with me.  I usually get orders done within a few business days.  I try not to work on the weekend so I can spend time with my hubby and little ones, other than that please give me a call and order away:)

CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!!!