HAPPY 4TH!

Have a wonderful weekend.

image from boston.com

A GIRL CAN DREAM

Some fun looks from Kate Spade:

Plaza Esti Skirt with Bow

Color Cafe Stripe Ring

Mulberry Street Noel Opus

Papillon Lany Short

Junebug Frog Pendant

Caprice Sandal

EXTRA SPECIAL

This past weekend was filled with celebration for my family. My niece and nephew graduated from High School and we went all out for a great party (more to come on that later this week or early next). But while we had the extended family together, we also wanted to recognize a milestone birthday that my mother has coming up this week. Simply having a cake and singing Happy Birthday did not seem grand enough to mark the occasion; we needed something more to make the moment extra special. Here's what we did. 

I made up buttons as pictured above using this lovely photograph of my mother on her wedding day (searched high and low to no avail for her graduation picture - how perfect would that have been?) and hid the buttons away. Just before we were to present the cake, we called all family and friends together and gave them a button to wear. When my mother was called into the room, she was greeted with everyone wearing the buttons and was presented with one for her to wear as we all sang Happy Birthday. This small and simple gesture of wearing the buttons really made that moment extra special and marked the occasion of her birthday in a very memorable way. Just another example of how it's the little things, those extra little details, that make all the difference.

Oh and by the way, you'll be hearing lots more about buttons and badges. It's my new obsession. Stay tuned!

I WANT TO BE IN THIS WEDDING

{via Green Wedding Shoes}

LOVE the dresses and then I would have a reason to buy these shoes:

THANK YOU!

This week has been very exciting here at Pumpkin Petunia! While busy preparing for a big family celebration this weekend (which is exciting in and of itself), two of my favorite daily reads featured my July 4th Bike Parade!

Ohdeedoh, part of the Apartment Therapy network, is featuring the parade as part of their great outdoors series. (so exciting!)

And Sara Hicks Malone, former art director for none other than Martha Stewart Baby and Kids Magazines, featured the parade on her beautiful blog Party Perfect. Sara has also previously featured the Wii Bowling Party. Thanks Sara!

I am thrilled to be recognized by two sites that I truly admire. And if you haven't visited Ohdeedoh or Party Perfect yet, what are you waiting for? Click over there!

SUMMER! (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Summer starts today for my crew (at exactly t-minus a couple of hours!). Sadly, mother nature did not get that memo as I'm wearing a sweatshirt right now and am about to put on some socks. So I whipped up this banner to help set the mood. I'm hoping the sun peeks out to get a better look at my festive creation. At the very least, it will greet the kids as they arrive home and put them in a summer mood despite the gloomy weather. 

Want to help spread the summer love? Download your copy of my Summer Beach Ball Banner below. (Just click on More and select Save or Print.)

If you would like a birthday version of the Beach Ball Banner, email me and I will create one for download, as well.

Beach Ball Banner

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Travel literature florida

Enjoy!

P.S. Scribd is not allowing me to link to this in my usual way so if you have problems downloading, please let me know!

COLOR PALETTE PARTY INSPIRATION

Peanut and I have been thinking a lot about the celebration of her third birthday this August. A lot. She has dug in her heels and decided upon a Pretty Dress Party and no mention of bubbles and swimsuits and the fact that the party will be by a pool will sway her. So a Pretty Dress Party it is! But this leaves the color palette wide open ("I love all colors, Mama.") and to be honest, while thinking about the Pretty Dress Party, I've lacked a bit of inspiration - until now. One look at this summer color palette from crewcuts was all I needed. Isn't it lovely?