sunshine and pinwheels birthday

  
We celebrated our youngest daughter's first birthday with a lot of love, sunshine . . . and whimsy pinwheels.  
  

  
I had so much fun dreaming up the details of her party! When I think of Lauren Jane ~ who I call Sunshine ~ I think of sunshine, rays of light, happiness & joy.  And so grew the ideas for the details for her special day. 
  
Bright & vibrant, as well as butter-cream soft yellows . . . with hints of lavender here and there . . . set the tone. 

Lots of spring flowers . . . vibrant ranunculus and daffodils!

~ the most asked about flower at the party ~

It's hard not to smile when you see pinwheels!

~ diy pinwheels! ~

The tables were covered in white linens, butter-cream yellow table covers, and hand-made burlap runners stitched with ribbon. Hand-made milk glass jars held bunches of fresh Italian flat-leaf parsley, daffodils, and whimsy pinwheels. 

A welcoming invitation . . . 
goblets garnished with fresh strawberries, Parisian glass bottles filled with orange & grape juice, and scalloped bowls held petite powder donuts and hand-dipped marshmallows.

Although this beautiful china is very old . . . and although I've had it for many years ~ I've waited for just the right occasion to use them. And Lauren Jane's 1st birthday was that special occasion! Nestled in my favorite basket, along with linen napkins and silver ~ our brunch-ware waited patiently for our guests to plate their food.

Our brunch menu . . . 

Potato Basil Frittata

with red, orange & yellow peppers

~

Potato Basil Frittata

with sweet and spicy Italian sausage

~

Cream Scones

with lemon curd & blackberry jam

~

Greek Vanilla Yogurt

with Vanilla Almond granola

~

Fresh Berries

drizzled with honey 

~ ~

. . . and for the little ones . . . 

Golden Grahams 

with ice cold milk

A few old-fashioned desserts . . . 

I served home-made desserts that were old-fashioned, but with a twist . . .

lemon whoopie pies

with lemon mascarpone filling

& sprinkled with powder sugar

~

lemon shortbread cookies 

rolled in yellow sanding sugar

& placed in white-eyelet cups

~

blackberry crumble bars

~

hand-dipped marshmallows

with white non-perils

Lauren Jane's 1st birthday wouldn't be complete without cupcakes ~ and a birthday cake ~  made by Auntie Alex!
  
She made a beautiful cupcake mural featuring a flower garden, butterflies, and a birthday banner.  The lemon cupcakes were lightly frosted with Swiss meringue butter-cream, and then a fondant disc was smoothed over the top. Alex layered and hand-cut fondant to create the lovely picture . . . 

And finally . . . 
           Lauren Jane's birthday cake!

Alex made an adorable sun, complete with rays of sunshine and a cute face! It, too, was a lemon cake ~ but with Rose Water Swiss meringue butter-cream filling and frosting. The face was made out of chocolate!

. . . and she loved every bite!

Amidst the food & dessert, little ones enjoyed bubbles, water guns, flying windmills & sidewalk chalk!

It was a wonderful afternoon

 filled with family, laughter, smiles, happiness . . . 

and the sweet love of our youngest daughter, Lauren Jane.

Happy 1st Birthday, sunshine! 

I love you,

mommy