Surprises!

I LOVE surprises! 

And there are lots of surprises going on here at our cottage!

I am currently planning my husband's SURPRISE 40th Birthday Party for this Saturday!

{I'll be sure to take lots of photos to share!}

On the menu:

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white bean soup with rosemary and olive oil

vegetarian taco chili

chicken noodle soup

assorted breads, biscuits and muffins

spring water with limes/ spring water with rosewater

yellow cupcakes with chocolate frosting {my husband's favorite}

brownies with cookie dough topping

a hot chocolate bar with all the fixings

*

My wonderful mother-in-law emailed me a bunch of old photos of my husband which will play a part in the table centerpieces. 

Here's one of my favorites:

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I'm also currently renovating my Larkspur & Linen shop . . . because planning a party just isn't enough to do! {giggle}

Actually, when I first opened the shop, I wanted it to have a French feel, but after creating some items that have been swimming around in my mind, I've been pulled in more of a 'cottage chic' direction.

Here are a few tiny snippets of photos for my new shop items:

I needed a re-usable cake for photographing a new line of wedding cake toppers, so ended up making this one from round papier mache boxes, paint, and plaster. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but was actually surprised by how beautiful it looks! . . . good enough to eat! 

Planning to reopen this shop as a strictly-wedding-shop in mid-February.

Hooray for surprises! They make life so interesting!

Have a LOVELY, LOVELY week!

Sweetly, Kate