Use colorful sprinkles to decorate vases to make charming party decor.  By creating a double glass vase with an interior cylinder, you can fill the outside with fun decorations for any occasion.  Here I used rainbow sprinkles for my daughter's Sprinkles birthday party.

At age three, Niamh doesn't have a lot of friends her own age; it's more about family friends coming together to celebrate.  Friends, siblings, parent--an entire range of ages from the very young to the grandparents.  That can make planning activities that entertain all particularly difficult.  

Desserts with sprinkles are always fun, but are especially perfect for a sprinkles themed birthday party!

My three year old daughter came up with the best birthday party theme ever: a sprinkles birthday party. Colorful, sweet, whimsical, original: this sprinkles party had everything you could want from a birthday party theme.

Now, don't think I'm knocking regular old s'mores.  That staple of campfires everywhere is absolutely delicious, and imbued with nostalgia and sweet memories of summers past.  

But truly amazing homemade s'mores made with homemade graham crackers and homemade marshmallows and high quality chocolate--holy cow, they're something else entirely!

The foundation of the homemade s'more is the graham cracker.  

This is the best recipe for homemade blueberry muffins around! perfect for a picnic, or breakfast, or dinner, or any time inbetween.

Tutorial for DIY "branded" wooden utensils for a western BBQ using stamps.

Throwing a western themed party?  Make these edible gold nuggets out of rock candy!  This easy DIY golden nugget candy is the perfect addition to a dessert table or would make a fabulous favor.

I've spent most of my life in mostly lush, green places (at least in summertime), and the Sonoran desert still feels a little alien to me, even after living in the Phoenix area for 12 years.  But it certainly does have its own exceptional beauty.

The muted colors, the rugged landscape, the expansive views.  It's good to work on a project that celebrates the natural beauty of this area.

On Friday I posted Part One of the Gold Rush BBQ party.  As promised, here's part two!  

All the food on the dessert table was inspired by classic Americana:  apple pie; blueberry muffins; snickerdoodle blondies; sugar cookies in cactus and cowboy boot shapes; golden nuggets (rock candy); and s'mores made with homemade graham crackers, marshmallows, and high quality chocolate.