Interestingly enough, the most popular Pinterest content that is from my blog comes from my post on the Super Mario Bros. themed baby shower my mom and I threw for my sister-in-law -- and the related gifts for my nephew.  I was contacted recently about where I got the invites, and decided I should post some more helpful links if you'd like to create your own. Here's a look at the invitation design:


I went through several iterations of Mario-themed designs before I landed on this one. Somehow I found a website with a bunch of screen images from Super Mario Bros. 3 -- I cannot recall the site now. I had to edit the image to remove the original starting text so I could add my own, and a few other tweaks to format it properly for the invite.

I also did a search for related fonts to try to get something close to what is used in the game, but that I could write my own text with. The font I ended up using for the title is called Super Mario 256, and you can download it here. For the second line, I used a font aptly called Super Mario Bros. 3, which you can get here. If you've never downloaded new fonts before, it's super simple. Save the file wherever you like, then right-click the file and select "Install". It's done in a second and the font will now show up in your font list in any application on your computer.

For the Start Menu / Details text I used the System font that was already installed, and which I believe comes standard with a Windows machine. I just used a black stroke/outline on the text to create the right look. This is also the font I used for the RSVP and registration text.

Now, to get you started creating your own awesome baby shower invites, I'll include below a blank jpeg image file which you can save and use any image editing program to simply add your own text -- I highly recommend using the fonts outlined above or something similar for maximum effect. Right-click the image below to save to your computer and get started!


If you happen to have Photoshop, I'll make it even easier for you. Click here to download the editable Photoshop file. Simply replace my invite text with your own.

The image file is 6" wide by 4" tall - so it's an easy standard size to either print off at home on a photo printer or have sent to whatever store of your preference to have them printed off for you. Add your text. Save. Print. Send out your new awesome invites and have fun at the party!

Here it is: the latest creation from my apron obsession. A harvesting apron! Somehow in my quest for cute apron ideas I stumbled upon this post with an old pattern from the 1940s for a gathering "basket" apron -- you know, what every woman needs for easy, hands-free gathering of berries or kindling.

I may have enjoyed being a 40s housewife. While gathering kindling is normally limited to camping excursions and berry picking doesn't happen near as oft as I'd like, this seemed like the perfect solution for harvesting in my small vegetable garden.

It's a good day when my bounty extends beyond what I can easily carry in my hands, but when the tomatoes and green beans are coming in strong at the same time, it does happen. Or in the spring when the leafy greens all come on at once. I frequently gather up the bottom of my shirt to carry in a large harvest. Last year I got smart and started bringing a basket out with me.

I'm not really sure how this happened, though I imagine Pinterest is at least partly to blame, but somewhere along the way I have become obsessed with aprons. I don't normally wear an apron when I'm in the kitchen. I got one as a wedding gift, and it was the only one I had. I wore it when I remembered, which wasn't nearly often enough. More often than not, I'd jump right into the kitchen after work without changing my clothes or halfway through a weekend day, and I'd end up with flour, water and who knows what all over my shirt. I had seen some cutesy aprons and made a mental note that that might be cool to have. Then, I started picking up sewing again. Basic sewing -- I don't really know what I'm doing and I'm still terribly impatient and not good with patterns -- but sewing nonetheless. It also just so happens that a friend introduced me to this awesome book on how to make homemade bread -- and it's AMAZING -- so I've been baking quite frequently. All these things combined, and I suddenly decided that I NEEDED to make myself a cute, fun, flirty apron. Of course, immediately following that, it dawned on me that my mom's birthday was coming up and she's big into baking cookies (which are the best cookies in the world, in case you were wondering) -- so, she definitely NEEDED a cute, fun apron as a birthday present!

My brother and his wife are due to have their first baby at the end of March. They are expecting a baby boy, who will be our first nephew on my side of the family. I can't wait to meet him. My brother decided on an awesome theme for the baby's nursery: Super Mario Bros. 3 (which, we both agree was the best video game ever made).  We used to wake up early on Saturday mornings just to play (and beat) the game. So, to go along with the nursery theme, I decided that the baby shower my mom and I threw should also have some Super Mario Bros. flair.  It started with the invitations...

A Couple Edible Treats



I did make a couple of edible treats so far this year.  I had to bring a dessert to a Christmas party last week, and realized the night before that I didn't yet have anything planned to make!  I opted for some quick and easy Christmas cupcakes.  I used a basic vanilla cake recipe, and added a bunch of red food coloring for some added festive-ness!  I made a cream cheese frosting, then I just smashed up some candy canes to sprinkle on top.  Yum!


I made something else tonight that I have not tried yet.  I actually stole the idea from Pinterest -- it's a pine cone shaped cheese ball!  I used my basic cheese ball recipe, then just stuck in whole almonds on the outside to resemble a pine cone.  I cut a little branch off our Christmas tree for full effect!  

Basic Cheese Ball Recipe:

- 8oz cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- spices to taste: paprika, red pepper, garlic, salt and parsley

Just mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl until well combined.  Dump it all out onto a piece of cellophane and shape it within that (keeps your hands clean!).  Instead of a round ball, make an oblong shape that skinnier at one end than the other.  Stick in your almonds starting from the back and work your way to the tip of the pine cone.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve!

Some Edible Gifts

I did also make a few small edible gifts for people.  At least, partly edible.  A couple of my friends helped me come up with most of this idea.  They found these really pretty little votive candle holders -- they are kind of a crackled glass and I purchased gold, red and clear ones.  Instead of a candle inside, I packed them each with biscotti, cocoa mix and candy canes.  I tied a ribbon around the candy canes and added a little branch of berries for extra festivity.  I ended up having to tape the candy canes to the hot cocoa packets to keep everything standing upright.  And I just attached glittery gift tags to each one.



 I had some leftover cocoa and candy canes and decided that those would make a good gift for my Sunday School girls!  I just taped the candy cane to the hot cocoa packet then tied a ribbon around it.  I ended up just printing off some bible verses and taping those to the back.




The Card Tree


I think this idea needs some work, but I saw it online and thought it would be fun!  I am always trying to figure out what to do with my Christmas cards.  My mom used to always tape them to one of our doors -- I tried that last year, but I couldn't get them to stick!  So, I decided to try the Card Tree this year.  I gathered some sticks from the back yard to make my "tree" and put them in a pitcher/vase with a bunch of glass stones to keep everything in place.  I think I may need to add something else to the branches -- a few berries or maybe a few small ornaments.  I also thought about spraying the branches with glitter spray for more of icy/wintery effect.  But, alas, I haven't gotten that far yet.  So, it's a work in progress!

It’s hard to believe that it’s already that time of year again – time for the beauty of the autumn leaves, the crisp air, cider mills, and of course: pumpkins.  I had some of my own pumpkins grow in my garden this year.  Unfortunately, they came July thru September – a little early for my fall decorating!  But never fear, ever since I discovered this pumpkin patch down the road from us, I’ve decided that I will be getting pumpkins and gourds from there every year!  Their selection is so vast that I always seem to find there a new type of squash that I never knew existed!

This year, I ended up with a lot of the same types as last year, because I really liked what I got.  I also decided to do some pumpkin painting with a friend again this year – it’s fun, the pumpkins always turn out cute and they last a lot longer than if you carve them.  Mind you, I do have a couple of larger pumpkins set aside as my carving pumpkins, but that will have to take place closer to Halloween.  Here's what I've ended up with so far:

We recently inherited some new bedroom furniture from my in-laws.  I’m actually pretty excited about it because it’s one of those convertible sets where the “bed” can become either a crib or a full-sized bed.  So, when we need the use of a crib, we have one already.  And, in the meantime, we finally have a double bed for our guests.  We previously only had our two twin beds in the upstairs guest room.  The room housing this new furniture is on its own in the lower level of our house, and has a separate bathroom right around the corner so guests don’t have to share ours.