Irish Dancer Birthday!!!

  This past weekend my youngest, Lauren, turned 9 yrs old. Since she started Irish dancing Lauren has been begging me to let her have an Irish dancing themed birthday party. This is something more easily said than done. One does not simply "have" an Irish Dancer themed party because you can't just swing by Party City and pick it all up. So after letting ideas swirl in my head and spending countless hours on Pinterest I decided we could make it happen. Using my skills as a Scrapbooker, Photographer, and designer I was able to create a Irish dance themed party that was Lauren's dream. We rented out the Irish dance studio and put together all the details.

 Now most people assumed the party would be decked out all in green in honor of Ireland. However I had to explain this was NOT a Saint Patrick's day Party ( we have those and yes everything is green) but in fact this was a Irish "Dancer" themed party. My daughter LOVES the color pink and so the party colors were light pink, dark pink, & black!

From our favorite bakery Skiff's (skiffscakes.com) we ordered custom sugar cookies (made to look like Ghillies and Tiaras) along with the stunning double decker ombre pink cake. Inside was delicious velvety Bavarian creme layered between yummy pink cake...heaven! The Tiaras are made to replicate the one on worn with Laurens dress. The base of roses I custom made and I will post a tutorial later on how it is done.

Using my collection of Pink milk glass I set up tiers for the food and treats. Then I let Lauren come up with Irish dance themed names for all the food. We had Ghillies Gum, Rince Raisins, PB&Jiggy sandwiches, and Treble Delights. To wash it all down there was Jig Juice ( Strawberry Sunkist) and Reel Water.

For the party table, my Mom ( who can sew, since I cannot) made a ruffled table cloth and we made tissue paper pom poms to hang from the ceiling. Using my digital skills I created a bottle template as well as ones for all the different foods. The girls danced, did crafts, and played games. In the end other than the rain outside it was a beautiful event. Over the next few days I will post the tutorials as well as options to order custom party designs for your little Irish dancer. 

We even hired a photo booth for the girls play in during the party. This was the biggest hit of the day and now my daughter never wants to have a party with out one. Thanks to "Lights Camera Party" (Lightscamerapartyevents.com) for the wonderful job they did!!!!

Choco Flan Cake

Ingredients

12-cup capacity Bundt pan ( coat with Pam)

1/2 cup Cajeta ( mexican caramel sauce)

For the cake:

1 box Chocolate Cake mix. Made according to box instructions.

For the flan

1 (12-ounce) can evaporated milK

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

3 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions

Put an oven rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F.

Coat a Bundt pan with a little butter, then coat the bottom with 1/4 cup cajeta and put it in a large roasting pan filled with 1-2 inches of water. (The roasting pan will serve as a water bath during baking.)

For cake: make according to box directions and set aside.

For the flan: Wisk or blend to combine both milks, cream cheese, eggs and vanilla. Blend on high for 30 seconds set aside.

Now we layer the cake inside the bundt. Pour cake batter into the prepared Bundt pan and spreading evenly. Slowly pour the flan mixture over the cake batter. Cover with foil and add about 1-inch of hot water to the roasting pan.

Carefully slide the pan into the oven, and bake 1 hour or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. When cake is done, remove from the water bath and cool completely then chill 1 hour.

Invert a large, rimmed serving platter over the Bundt pan, grasp tightly and flip over. Remove the pan and scrape any remaining cajeta from the pan onto the cake and serve!

Cook's Notes: The batters may appear to mix when you pour them into the pan, but they completely separate while baking, with the flan ending up on the bottom when it's inverted.

Flan is baked in a water bath to retain its delicacy.

Cajeta is a thick and creamy spread or paste made with caramelized sugar and milk. It is used as a desert on its own or as a topping. Also known as "dolce de leche," it is sold in many supermarkets, Latin specialty markets or online. It can be substituted with a thick caramel sauce.

Little Old Blue Eyes!

Here are a few from a recent family session. This little boy has blue eyes with squeezable cheeks that will melt your heart in a second. Enjoy!

Waiting for Chase

Here are a few from a recent maternity session.

My Pretty Little Liars

Here is a few of my daughters and niece together. I tried to embody a feel from a "Pretty little liars" show poster I had seen. Its had this sort of "dark beauty" quality that drew you in and that what I wanted to convay.

Sweet Angel Baby

Here are a few peek at a recent newborn session. The first two portraits have the new tint shades I have been using. These pink tinted images are a shade called "Sweet Angel" which was so fitting of this adorable little girl. I hope her parents love these as much as I do. Enjoy!

Girls in white Dress

Here is more from the new tinted shades lines, These shades are called "Pandora" and "Swoon". I just love with how dramatic it looks and how it warms up a photo of a white dress that usually gets washed out.

Sweets for the Sweet

Here is a preview of new color tints I'm using. they are really great for girls becuase of the bright colors they wear. Here are a few shots I have been playing with.

Tiny Angel

Here are a few of a recent newborn session with a tiny little angel. Her daddy was brave enough to let us do some shirtless portraits holding her. However seeing as he is a firefighter I doubt this was something that would frighten him. I love the contrast of a tiny fragile baby being held by strong masculine arms. Enjoy!

Tommy Turns One

Here is a little guy that I did newborn portraits of and I'm now doing his first year...time flies! This little guy was so great in front of the camera, he smiled, giggled and flirted the entire time. Not to mention he had stayed up past his bedtime and was still so well behaved.