Birthday Magic | 25th Birthday Picnic

Hello Friends!

So it has been a hot minute since we have posted anything thanks to all the summer festivities that have been going on. The most recent summer festivity, my 25th birthday!! As you may remember last year I celebrated with a Lobster Bake. This year I wanted a more laid back picnic themed family dinner, and here is the result!

PICNIC VIBE

I 100% knew that I wanted to eat on the ground, but also knew I didn't want my food in my lap. We remedied this situation by boosting a large wooden pallet up with 4 concrete blocks. Since pallets have big gaps between the wood, we set another thin flat surface on top so our drinks, etc. wouldn't fall through. To cover it up we used sheets that were floral, pastel, and light. I didn't want any heavy colors weighing down the party atmosphere, so white based sheets were a must.

If a birthday picnic was a recipe, a tree would be the secret ingredient. I know this might seem silly, but a tree is integral to creating shade, hanging things on, and just all around looking cute in the background.

EXTRA PADDING NEVER HURTS

For seating we used outdoor cushions, but normal pillows would have worked fine too. We used these ones because we have outdoor furniture they go on and were easily accessible. I also added a couple throw pillows, simply for décor purposes.

BIRTHDAY ATTIRE

For my birthday outfit I wore a long dress from Rue 21 to match the vibe of the dinner. I also made a floral crown with fresh flowers (p.s. Kroger's fresh flowers are sooooo much nicer than Walmart's fresh flowers). I used green wire, green floral tape, and pink and gold ribbon from Pat Catan's to make the floral crown. I premade it and kept it in the fridge until it was time to wear it. The crown surprised me and stayed looking fresh for TWO DAYS afterwards!! How crazy was that!?

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART

For dinner I wanted my favorite food: shrimp, asparagus, pasta, and sweet potatoes (fun fact: sweet potatoes are my favorite food... like EVER!!). I also wanted pink lemonade because I feel like its cousin, yellow lemonade, gets used a lot more and I feel sorry for pink lemonade. Yes, I understand that it's irrational for me to feel sorry for something that's inanimate, but tell my feelings that.

Okay, so cake. I wanted TONS of candles. Little candles, big candles, sparklers. The photo above where Rem and I are making O's with our mouths is the moment when a sparkler caught fire literally took our breath away. It was simply stunning!

LIGHTING 

The star of the show was definitely the lighting. When the sun finally sank past the horizon, the fairy lights had their moment to create magic. Literally, it was magical. I bought 4 battery operated paper lanterns to hang from the tree. They created a soft ambient lighting that complimented the Thomas Edison fairy lights. I bought 2 strands of the Thomas Edison fairy lights from Kroger (ON SALE for $10 each #BargainShopper). We also had torches in buckets of gravel to string everything together. The torches were filled with bug repellent and were a must to keep the bugs away.

FINALE

To finish off the night, we set up the outdoor theater and watch A Royal Night Out on the side of the house. All in all the picnic dinner theater night was a huge success! I loved every minute of it and cannot wait to recreate another similar summer night!

Any questions? Comment them below!

Tilly

Autumnal Picnic | Easy How To

Hello friends,

With the arrival of crisp, cool air, comes the arrival of the leaves changing colors. I love to be outside this time of year to take in all of the beautiful colors. One way I enjoy fall weather is through putting together, and delighting in, an outdoor picnic. Picnics are pretty easy to put together, therefore I thought I would let you know what I include in mine.

The first thing one should do when picnicking, is to find the perfect spot! Since it is fall, it is always good to pick a spot with plenty views of the changing of leaves.

The first item I obtain is a basket. This one is a Longaberger basket, but you may use any type of container to place your things in. I next grab a blanket to sit on. I love using plaid or flannel blankets as they truly embody the fall atmosphere. The next, and perhaps the most important item, is something to drink. Here I have water and Pumpkin Spice Black Tea to steep. However, any other tea, coffee, hot chocolate, etc. would work just fine! Going along with something to drink, is something to drink with. I simply grabbed an autumnal mug and placed in the basket. After deciding which drink will keep me warm, I decide on snacks. Because I have such a sweet tooth, I opted for a bag of dark chocolate with pomegranate flavor. I also threw in some apples to complement the fall season. Finally, I grabbed a book to read! For this day, I took along The 5th Wave (so far its good).

The last step in enjoying a picnic, is to relax and relish in the fall foliage! I hope this inspires you to go outdoors and do the same! Since the leaves change and fall so fast, one should take advantage of the beautiful colors while they can.

As always, thank you for stopping by,

Tilly

Breakfast with a View | Beachside Tea

Hello Everyone,

After being so busy this summer, my family and I were able to catch a last minute get away to my favorite place, the beach.  With only one day to plan and pack everything, I was unable to prepare for having tea on our trip.  So, once we were there, and the rush was over, I found it quite unacceptable to live a week without tea time.  My first priority became finding an antique store and talking my husband into taking me there to find tea items. There is something special about the look and feel of being in an antique store scouting for that special treasure that will surely bring many future cherished memories.  I found the perfect store a half hour away in Conway, SC, and the moment I stepped into the store, I knew I would find something perfect! I was able to find the sweetest white teapot with small blue and gold design, I grabbed it up immediately and set off for a teacup to accompany it.  It took some searching, but there it was, the prettiest pink and white tea cup ever.  I was set and ready to check out, get back to the beach, and have teatime.

The view from our condo was amazing and setting up these new and special tea dishes was the icing on the cake.  Every morning I would get up and indulge in this wonderful atmosphere.  I was even able to take it all the way to the beach one morning.  I was a little timid thinking I would get some strange looks but none came.  People simply walked by and minded their own business while I arranged my tea setting.  There was nothing like combining my two most favorite sounds in the world; the crashing of waves against the beach and the sound my teacup makes when I set it on its saucer.  I hope this inspires you the next time you travel to add a little tea time to your adventure.

 

 

 

 

God Bless,

Trina Belle

Raven Rock Tea | Cliffside Tea

Hello Friends,

A couple of weeks ago some friends took me on a local hike. I took advantage of this opportunity to have tea while taking in the view at the top. We visited Raven Rock State Nature Preserve, a long and winding path of land that leads to a rock jutting out of a hillside, creating a breathtaking overlook. Raven Rock sets 500 feet above the Ohio River and provides ample views of the Portsmouth area, and roughly 14 miles of the Ohio River. Not only does Raven Rock provide such a beautiful and peaceful atmosphere, but also includes a rich history. Raven Rock is known for hosting visits from Tecumseh, a great Shawnee Chief, and Daniel Boone. In fact, Daniel Boone was held captive by the Indians and in an effort to get away, jumped off Raven Rock and into a tree. He was then able to shimmy down the tree and flee back to his hometown in Kentucky. Raven Rock was used extensively by various Indian warriors watching the river for American boats. The was an ideal lookout because it allowed the then Shawnee and Cherokee Indian warriors plenty of time to prepare for ambush. Raven Rock was also known as a sacred spot, and is where some of the Indians worshiped. The origin of the rock’s name is unknown, however there are multiple legends to compensate for the lack of factual history. The most obvious is that the rock is named for its resemblance to a raven, while others claim it is named from a prominent Cherokee chief that died in battle in the area, The Raven of Toqua. There is also myth of a lost tomb that resides in the recesses of the hill. The tomb is said to house a great leader of the Ancient Ones. Avalanches and rock slides have prevented anyone stumbling across the grave.

The hike itself is tedious ascent, and the effort it took to get to the top, I believe, made the tea taste better! I premade Peach Tea and placed it in a thermos for easy transport. I also brought along a couple tea cups, candle, and blanket. It felt marvelous to sip tea with friends and take in the historical view.

More information on the history and location of Raven Rock is found here.

Special thanks to Philip Ferguson for being my pack mule. Another special thanks to both Philip and Hannah Ferguson for inviting me to hike with them!

Thank you for stopping by,

Tilly

Poolside Tea | Labor Day

Hello Everyone,

So here it is, Labor Day, the first Monday of September.  Wow where has summer gone?  The unofficial last weekend of summer has crept in on us.  It's the time of year where everyone tries to pack in parades, swimming, cookouts, and every summer activity that they can before the changing of leaves and cool weather hits us.  But what's Labor Day about?  It's not only about the time of year when everyone puts up all their white accessories and marches back to the sounds of school bells and whistles, but it has a much deeper value. In the late 19th century,  the normal work week looked like 12 hours a day, 7 days a week; even for young children.  Labor unions were formed and rallied to fight for workers' rights.  Since then this Unique American holiday has stood for the safety and the working right of every American worker across this great nation.  So, in your extra day off this year, please remember all of those who have sacrificed for your right to work a  safe 40 hour work week.

 

What other way to celebrate this wonderful holiday than having tea by the pool as a last summer hurrah.  Any cup of tea offers a wonderful way to stop and relax  on your extended weekend off.  We simply made up some tuna salad and placed them on some miniature croissants, which made a wonderful tea sandwich.  Next, we gathered up some delightful pastries and placed them around our super cute tea pot.  Once we got everything set up outside by the pool, it was an incredibly inviting and fun time of combining swimming and tea. I hope this inspires you to do the same!

 

 

 

God Bless,

Trina Belle

Birthday Lobster Bake

Hello friends,

This year for my birthday I decided I wanted to have a New England Style Lobster Bake. I was inspired by Kiel James Patrick's instagram. He is one of my favorite jewelry designers and travels up and down the New England coast taking gorgeous nautical photos. We strayed from the typical New England beach bonfire and had a backyard cookout.

We steamed potatoes, corn, crab legs, and lobster in a clean stainless steel trashcan. To accomplish this, we heated large rocks up in the trashcan for about 20 minutes (we filled up the bottom 10 inches of the trashcan). Then added water to just the top of the rocks and let it heat up for 20 minutes. We then added potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil and let them steam for 30 minutes. Afterwards, we added corn still in its shucks for 20 minutes. Finally, the lobster and crab legs were added for 25 minutes. Then it was time to feast!

The menu also included grilled chicken and hotdogs for children. In addition we had hot butter to dip the seafood in, Red Lobster biscuits, cupcakes, and brownies topped with ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, and cherries. For drinks there was lemonade, tea, water, and pop.

One of my all time favorite games to play is croquet. Ever since I was a kid I have enjoyed the game. To me, it is a fun leisurely game that everyone can play and does not require a lot of explanation. So after the feast, we had croquet set up to play.



All in all, the food was amazing and the party was a success! If you are interested in steaming crab legs and lobster yourself, I suggest watching this YouTube video (we modeled our lobster bake off of this tutorial). It was super easy to cook and everyone loved the food!

Until next time,

Tilly