Easter Bunny Brunch

 

Yesterday we hosted an Easter Bunny Brunch- turned "Breakfast for Dinner" (due to rainy weather on Saturday morning) for our sweet friends. I've wanted to host an Easter gathering at our home the last two years and decided to make it happen. I love planning events that we would love to attend....festive celebrations!! Fun was had by the kiddos and the adults alike! Here are a few details of our afternoon.

Where to begin? Let's be honest. It ALL starts with the food...

Brunch Menu

• Glazed Ham Biscuits
• with Homemade Honey Butter, or
• Garlic Chive Butter
• Hash-brown Casserole
• Scrambled Eggs
• Cinnamon Rolls
• Fresh Fruit
• Juices & Sweet Tea

Not too long ago I saw a biscuit bar recipe for Ham Biscuits with Garlic Chive Butter that looked absolutely AMAZING. So amazing that I screenshot it and saved it to my phone. I love trying new recipes so I tried my hand at making two whipped butters for the biscuits.

SHUT THE FRONT DOOR.

WHY HAVEN'T I TRIED WHIPPED BUTTERS BEFORE?!?!

Seriously, homemade honey butter or garlic chive butter on HOT biscuits fresh from the oven. STOP. This was hands down my favorite item I've ever served guests in the history of.... EVER! Everyone raved about them and went back for (dare I say) three biscuits?! Shhhh. Don't tell the trainers.

For the kids table I found the cutest bunny plates and napkins at TJ MAXX (my favorite spot for inexpensive paper goods) and built a festive table around them. I wanted it to be colorful to coordinate with the happy Easter eggs- so I pulled out a Spring scrapbook book I scored at Michael's after Christmas for $3 (for the entire book of 100 sheets) and used the pages as place-mats. After setting the table I decided to cut simple bunny ears from the same paper for cute little bunny headbands!! Totally on the cheap- and LOOK how cute!!!

We had an Easter Egg hunt and then the kids played baseball in the street and in the backyard. It was such a laid-back, fun gathering. Exactly what I'd hoped it would be!!

And my own two two chicks!? IN HEAVEN. 

Jonah asked me about 25 times throughout the day "when does my Easter party start?! and Sutton Claire kept sneaking over to the table to grab the chocolate. She's no dummy!!

It is my greatest JOY to create and host celebrations like this. They make the the happiest memories and are worth any time and effort I put into them.

I can't wait to celebrate Easter and our RISEN Savior this week with my little family.
Happy Easter!!

My Little Valentine’s

Valentine's Babes Brunch

This past Saturday morning we hosted several of Jonah and Sutton's friends for a cute little Valentine's themed breakfast/brunch. It was totally impromptu and a wonderful way to celebrate LOVE day. The kids had a blast- as did the adults! Honestly I think I've discovered the best time for playdates and parties- early in the morning when everyone is happy.

Jeremy asked me to make waffles (he gifted me a double-waffle maker for Mother's Day a few years ago) so we had a fun waffle bar as well as sprinkle donuts for the kiddos. I came up with a strawberry passion-fruit punch (frozen passion-fruit punch concentrate, sprite, and pineapple juice with frozen strawberries in it) and the kids loved it.

It was such a happy morning and ALLLLL the kids were ready for a long nap when it was time to go home! Happy Valentine's Day-

I found the cute bingo game on the Target Dollar aisle! The cute heart place-mats are also from that same spot. Striped place-mats are The Royal Standard (place-mat pad, and I use these for EVERY holiday that has red in it!!!! SO VERSATILE!). I had the rest of the items on hand and just threw it together and made it festive and fun!!

Thanksgiving 2016

My heart is so full this Thanksgiving season. I try to be thankful for all blessings in my life, all the time, but I get especially weepy around this time of year. Plus I'm pregnant. So weepy is a common thing these days. Nonetheless, I am so thankful for every big and little blessing in my life. Our family. Friends. Neighbors. Our house. Car. Jobs. Church. Just everything! I try to talk about it with Jonah so he understands what the real season is about. Thankfulness brings about a positive heart, I think. Thanking God for the things and people we have, allows us to really appreciate them.

I love this time of year so much! Here are a few photos from Jonah's Thanksgiving Feast at school, as well as our family Thanksgiving celebrations...

And, I'm officially 25 weeks!

Halloween Fun & Festivities

This year Jonah wanted to be Cat in the Hat for Halloween. So, naturally...

The Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 & Thing 2. It was inevitable!!

He had a class party at pre-school so I went over on my lunch break and celebrated with him. They had the cutest little Halloween parade, and then a party in their room.

Happy Halloween to everyone! We hope you have a SPOOKtacular holiday.

And, I'm officially 20 weeks!!

Halloween Happenings

It's officially October so I can post the Halloween shenanigans that are going on around here. It's been so fun (more than previous years) to decorate for Halloween because as I add little things here and there around the house Jonah freaks out. Loves it!!

His favorite parts are the spiderwebs on our light fixtures. He said, "Mom! My friends are gonna be sooooo scared at the spooky spiders!!" and was pleased as punch at our decor.

Mission accomplished. I don't decorate for anyone but my little fam-bam gang. And I love to do it for every single big (and little) holiday. So. Here's how House of Strickland is looking these days...

our front door decor- 

I made the wreath and garland last year and it was so simple! Followed a YouTube tutorial!

Spooky little spider hanging out on our entry way lantern 

The dining room

Small glitter pumpkins from Walmart! $1 each, y'all!!

This bench & little nook is in our entry. 

I always decorate the Celebration Tree for each holiday.

The fireplace mantle. Jonah is really proud of these spiders. 

(Garland, spiders & web from Walmart. Light up pumpkin from Hobby Lobby)

Breakfast Nook

Y'all. I have found soooo many cute things at Walmart this year. I know. Fall over dead. But the spider web, little spiders, mantle garland, & candy corn wreath in our breakfast area (how CUTE is it for just $19?!?!), as well as all the little glitter pumpkins ($1 each!!) came from none other than Walmart. Oh! And our cute little Boo Y'all front door mat. I had no idea how much they've stepped their decor game up, but seriously. Loving it. I spent $20 and it made a huge impact on our space.

I painted some regular gold chargers with black chalkboard paint I had sitting around and made the cutest little chalkboard chargers for the dining room. And my personal favorite part of the decor will always be the Halloween salt dough ornaments I made of Jonah's little hands and feet. Hands down my favorite treasure!

I love me some Halloween!! How are you celebrating this new Fall season?!