Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Party for Zion

What a weekend we have had! It has been non-stop party time here at the Cass Casa! I can not believe that we are in the midst of 3rd birthday party festivities! It goes soooo fast raising kids. How is it possible that our precious, fun-lovin, crazy, loud, giggly, beautiful Zion Leilani is turning THREE!?! 

She is obsessed with Strawberry Shortcake right now! It is funny how fast kids can go through "favorites" with toys/cartoons/characters etc. For about two months, she has been loving watching this fabulous show. I secretly approve, considering it was a favorite of mine in the 1980's. So naturally, we had a Strawberry Shortcake party. It was her first friend party that she has had. We kept it small for numbers. She invited her lil friend/neighbor over, her cousin, 3 other friends. 5 was plenty! I can't get over the work/time that goes into these. But, I must admit, I love a good theme! It brings me so much JOY planning the details for my little Zi pie. So yesterday was the day for the p-a-r-t-y. I thought I could share with you the highlights from the celebrating. 

Andy made this image for us and we put it in a frame for the front door. Zion chose the colors for the strawberries. 

Zion chose her birthday outfit yesterday! It was all gap. She wore the dress for Christmas this year too! She is sooo cute! We got up early and did the prep for the party. She wanted to help me make strawberry shortcake too! 

We made my favorite recipe from America's Test Kitchen! It is amazing!!!! I used organic cane sugar and 1/2 w.w. flour though. SOOOOO good.

We made a punch for the kiddos: pink lemonade, strawberry lemonade, apple juice and frozen pineapple! so delish!

I got this amazing banner that says, "celebrate" a few years ago in Red Wing at a boutique. I love it. We bring it out for special events. I left my mantel decorated from V day.

ok- So I am obsessed with the new craze! Chalkboard Banners! I love them! Oh my word, I love that you can customize them for everything! My BFF, Jody gave them to me for a gift! She is going to sell the fabric in her shop on ETSY. You can order it like any fabric and cut it how ever you want. Andy and I cut it like flags. I used a hole puncher for the hemp to go through. So easy. I am excited to use it for many other things in the future. I think I am going to keep it up for awhile! 

We wrote:  "Zion is 3". I drew strawberries too!

We hung the banner over the dining room window! 

Isn't this table so amazing?! I love the colors! I could stare at it all day. If only toddlers appreciated it. ha. I got fabric from Jody for the scrap banners. I used two kinds of strawberry fabric, (this and this one), an old receiving blanket, and dish towel that was stained. I cute them into random strips and tied them on a green ribbon that I had. 

Some roses in a bud vase from Crate&Barrel on a vintage colander from my Grandma Cherie. The crystal cake stand is from my Aunt Jane. 

Zion filled the jars with pink marshmallows and strawberry licorice. 

I layered the buffet table with vintage doilies from my Grandma! I love all of them. I thought it was Anthropologie like to layer them. They have a lot of meaning to me. My grandma used to make these when she lived with her best friend when she graduated from high school. 

Zion and I found this tin at Goodwill for $2! holler. Napkin holder it is!

I used canning jars for the punch/cupcake liner lid/cute straws! I love the look. They are resting on a vintage tray. 

 The kids had a blast drinking out of them. So grown up....

 The party was from 11-2. Here is Z with her buddies. She was sooo excited for her party.

I hit up Target dollar section for the party favors. I filled them with Strawberry Shortcake stickers, suckers, strawberry gum, strawberry fruit strips, strawberry applesauce, crayons! 

We got the frames at Michaels for a buck! Andy filled them with a strawberry graphic to color. I love having craft time at parties with kiddos! 

Everyone arriving....

Beautiful Lila Grace! 

We started the party with the Strawberry craft. I had color crayons/pencils/markers out for options. The kids were so proud of their artwork! I got the chevron laminated fabric from the fabric shoppe as well. It is 2 1/2 yards! No sewing necessary! Perfect for spills/art work and meal time. Plus It is fun and festive.

Zakiyah and I! She is teething right  now, which means she is held a lot! 

Showing us their works of ART.

Crazy faces.

a jumping shot!

After craft time-- we moved on to lunch time. Toddler style. 

pigs in a blanket

sweet potato fries/ french cut fries

fresh fruit

black bean chips

punch

I picked up 30 plates and bowls from Valentines clearance last year at Target! They are perfect since Andy/Zion's birthdays are in Feb. I love using them instead of disposable ones. It just makes sense going with the heart theme for them.

Zion was so sweet and prayed for the meal! She thanked God for her "Strawberry Cort-cake party" and her friends......<><

All the kids loved playing with Zakiyah! She is loved by the little people. 

I love how toddlers get so excited for presents! It is hilarious how they practically sit on each other's laps for gift opening. Zion got some fun presents! Sticker doll house, memory game, dance pad, puzzle and Strawberry Shortcake decals for her room! 

After gift opening, we had Strawberry Shortcake! My sister, Chelsea stopped by to help! 

They loved the treats! 

Ironically, Zion has always been allergic to Strawberries. But yesterday, we tried it out and so far so good.....praying it has passed. So she had blueberries and pineapples on her dessert. She loved blowing out her "3" candle too!

The hus gave all the kids Strawberry Shortcake tattoos after cake. It was a hit! The cousins loved them! Love my Ryder:)

Showing us his sleeves! 

My friend Jody, just had this precious bundle! Levi Pratt.....Love him! He is one week old. I love newborns. 

 Zion with our neighbors! They are buddies. Such a blessing to have amazing neighbors. We are blessed!!!! 

Kiyah is 6 months old now! How is that possible? She was all festive for the party. Zion had me where a birthday dress too! So fun.

What I learned? 3 hours is plenty long for a toddler party! Plan ahead. Kids like structure at parties. Breathe in the day and enjoy! I love watching the joy it brought our very happy Zion! She felt so special having a little party with her pals. Happy Sunday ya'll.

H54F (High Five For Friday)

My life in pictures. the top 5....

Happy Friday Everyone! I hope you had a fabulous love week. It has been busy around our home getting ready for my daughter's third birthday celebration! Here are some hi-lights of the week......

I finally got my Hair colored! It was long overdue. I also started- LOCK LOVE WEDNESDAY- every Wednesday I am going to show you my hair from the week! I started this link up party for motivation to myself. I am going  to style my hair daily and show you tips along the way on styling! Come back and see the pictures this Wednesday! 

Our 6 month old is loving sitting in the high chair! She is so precious!

Our daughter, Zion opening a Strawberry Shortcake Valentines book....the expression says it all!

I made our favorite roll out cookies for Valentines......

Stay tuned on Monday for my Before and After of this cubby-by my Entry Way in my house. It was a hot mess. This is the glamorous shot of it before with Christmas lights and a random pottery piece. Nice. Check back Monday for the reveal. 

Happy Friday Y'all!

Our Master Bedroom

I thought it would be fun to show you our bedroom! I have always made a point to make our room a sanctuary. I think it is really important to have a place of rest that represents you. I love our room. I have not done much with it at this point. We are going to paint it at some point. I have toyed around with some colors/patterns for the walls. But I have not landed on a decision quite yet. So here it is....

Here are before-when we moved in....this was the room.

and After we moved in....

West Elm comforter. I adore this.

I scored this bed skirt at Anthropologie on clearance. I love the lightness of it..so cute.
Plus, it is just enough of pink for me, but not too feminine for my hus.

The headboard/footboard is Ashley Furniture. I change our bedding/pillows a lot throughout the year. It makes me happy. Right now the duvet is Target. The grey and white pillow cases are TJ Maxx. The striped pillows are Marshall Fields. The sea-foam pillow is Target. The lamps are Target-spray painted yellow. 

I got the frames from my Grandma, and spray painted them with a high gloss black. The fabric is from Jody at the Fabric Shoppe. It is Alexander Henry. Cheap and fun.

This is a frame above my dresser. It is a card by my favorite artist, Sabrina Ward Harrison. 

Faux Flowers from Pier One Imports.

West Elm curtains with white wood blinds.

The left door is our master bath. the middle door is our closet. I hope to paint the dresser a cream or soft yellow soon. I know a lot of people think it is a sin to paint antiques; but I have been wanting to do this for a long time now.....I am going to put the original brass handles back on it too. I inherited the dresser from my Grandma when I was 13. I love it! 

Anthro bowl and egg crate for jewelry!

Details of my dresser. 

A couple years back, I used the same fabric in my frames and covered my lamp shade from Pier One Imports. Much more Christy!

Chevron West Elm paper mache' side table for reading.

My little gallery wall of pictures of Andy and I.....heart!

The red canvas I painted and the flower is a photo stretched on a canvas from my friend Shel! Isn't it gorgeous! It is so happy! 

My amaze father made this hope chest for me when I graduated from High School. It means a lot to me! 

My dad made these night stands for us for our first wedding anniversary. The idea and concept was taken from a Pottery Barn one I wanted. I love them. Perfect for storage....

Some day we will paint. Otherwise, it is my happy place! 

LOCK LOVE LAUNCH

It's LOCK LOVE WEDNESDAY! I have been so excited to launch my weekly post on hair. I am starting LLW to not only motivate myself to get my butt in gear with styling my hair but to give you helpful tips and secrets to styling your hair. Like I mentioned before, I have been a hair stylist for a decade now. I love everything to do with the biz. I have been growing my hair out for a year now. I have slipped into a rut and needed inspiration! So every Wednesday, I will post a snapshot of my hair from the week. Feel free to link up with me and show your hair as well! It will be fun! 

Modern French Twist with a braid.

Half up Style. 

Silk Scarf/Casual updo.

Curled with 1/2" curling iron! (new chevron necklace from Forever21) love.

Curled with 1/2" curling iron! and flower is H&M.

Curled with flat iron. back combed. and used bobby pins to put up. Flower is Forever21.

How have you been styling your hair lately?  Link up below and Tell me about it! 
*tweet or instagram your Hair with  #Locklovewed

Process of building my Studio Phase 2

It is so fun to look back on our photos from the building process of the studio. I last posted on the the beginning of the construction here. It is definitely due time to show you more of the details that went into building my hair studio! It has been such a crazy blessing living out my dream over the past year and a half. I still pinch myself daily that has become the "norm" working from home! I last left with you with pictures of the cement being poured outside and the framing going up in the studio/bathroom etc. Here are some pictures after the transom window and door were installed. 

Here a shot of the wall where my product is now. The wall to the right of the fireplace is where my art work is hanging and where my clients process. The fireplace here was installed at a higher height originally, but we had to remove it and lower it eventually. I will share more on that in a later post. I am sooo happy that we went with a transom window here. It not only lets in a lot of light into the space, but I love being able to see my guests coming down the steps! 

The left wall here is a continuation of the gallery wall where my clients process. The right wall is my "station" wall. The hallway goes towards the barn door and bathroom.

I love how the door adds natural light as well. I like the simplicity of the structure. 

Here is the other side of the studio. The stairs are right off my kitchen/dining room upstairs. to the right of this picture is my storage room. The big room is our family room! The barn door separates the spaces from each other.

Family Room wall. 

Here is another angle of the station wall and hallway to the bathroom and family room.

I love my door!

Good ole' installation was the next step after the framing/window/door were put in. 

A couple pictures of our door and window from outside.

After this, we got to put the sheet rock up and continue moving along in the dreaming of making our studio a reality! I will post more later this week on the transformation. Are you working on any jobs or reno's right now? I can't imagine building a home from ground up! It would be so overwhelming.