It's zucchini season- recipe for Zucchini Chocolate Cake

7. 23.14- 

This blog post is a blast from the past but you know what they say it's an oldie but a goodie!  This recipe is sure a good one that is a timeless classic.  If you have a garden growing at your house with a zucchini plant or two in it you'll want to give this recipe a try. Enjoy! 

A sure sight of summer.  Zucchini from the garden lining the 

kitchen countertops. One of my favorite things about Summertime is fresh home grown ZuCChiNi from our garden. 

{& it usually keeps coming & coming all Summer long! We have already used one & given one away & look how many more there are still to use up} 

 There is just so many ways you can cut, slice, dice & grate Zucchini in the Summer before you start to get tired of it. But I have a couple of great recipes I love to make when the Zucchini start to come on in the garden that are fabulous & are a little bit different way to use zucchini.  

Zucchini Tacos & Chocolate Zucchini Cake.

{they are both delicious!} 

-freshly grated zucchini piled high & ready to dump into the batter- 

-All well mixed & ready to pour in the pan- 

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

2 Cups. Sugar 

1 tsp. Soda

1 tsp. Salt 

1/2 Cup Cocoa

2-1/2 Cups Flour 

1/4 tsp. Baking Powder 

Sift all together & then add:

3 Eggs 

3 tsp. Vanilla 

2 Cups Grated Zucchini

1 Cup Oil 

1/2 Cup Milk 

Bake for 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes in a pan that has been greased & floured. Cool completely. 

Frost with:  1/4 Cup Butter, 1 tsp. Vanilla, 3 oz. Cream Cheese, 2 Cups Powdered Sugar.  Mix well and spread over the cooled cake. 

 Ta-Da!  The finished product topped with a tasty cream cheese frosting & served on one of my favorite cake stands just waiting to be devoured. 

{ReMeMBeR- everything looks better served on a cake stand. 

one of Ms. Honeybee's motto's to live by} 

Since it has Zucchini in it- it's okay to eat 

1, 2 or 3 pieces, it's 1/2 vegetable right?! 

{well at least I will tell myself that- wink,wink}  

Give it a try- I think you'll like it. I even fooled one little non- veggie eater in my house with this cake.  

Enjoy!

{M}

Party & picture taking ideas using wooden numbers

7.18.14- 

  Sharing a few of my favorite things with you today.  H&H Wooden Numbers & a simple yet sophisticated party idea.  If you read my blog you know that I love to entertain & this past week I've done a lot of it.  You have to when you have a birthday that's SWEET for one of your girls. I wanted to share & show some simple ways you can incorporate these numbers into a birthday celebration & party. 

Her birthday has always been a special because she shares it with her Grandma Quigley.  This year they not only shared the date but the number 6 in both of their ages.  We had a big family dinner for them both complete with pound cake, whip cream & strawberries for their birthday cake. 

Idea #1 using H&H wooden numbers: 

I thought it would be fun to have them each hold up their ages they were turning while sharing the common number in the middle. So cute!  

This pic will be a fun memory to have.  They also got to share the number one a few years ago too.  What a fun tradition to have & to incorporate into any birthday celebration. 

When I asked my daughter a few months ago what she wanted to do for her sweet 16 she said she didn't want to have a party maybe just a few friends over.  Well.... of coarse the week before her big day that all changed & she wanted something special.  The plan was too just have some friends over to hang out, eat food & just be together.  After discussing with her, & giving her a few nudges in the right direction, the party planning evolved into a casual sophisticated 16 party. 

At first she said she wanted just hamburgers & hot dogs, when she said this I was SHOCKED!  If you follow me on Instagram you know what kind of foodie this girl is.  So she picked a more appropriate menu, made it all herself & served her friends. She was worried everyone else wouldn't like it but guess what.... they absolutely LOVED it! They were all asking for the recipes. 

The Menu

-frozen assorted berries in ice cubes & sprite

-grilled flatbread topped with rosemary honey & mozerella cheese 

-Spring salad with gorgonzola cheese, apples, craisans & vinaigrette 

- Lemon Mint Sorbet 

-Grilled glazed donuts 

Of coarse an hour before the party started I got the idea to turn this simple party into something a little bit more detailed.  {I always do this to myself at the last minute!} The backyard arbor was transformed into a karaoke lounge of sorts. So I recruited my girls & a few neighbor kids to help me haul out tables, chairs, lights, rugs, pillows & lots of accessories out underneath the arbor.  It was a lot of work but so worth it too.  Totally transformed the space & made it a great place to visit, laugh & sing! 

When evening fell it turned into a magical place.  The glow from the lights & lamps, set up in the corner, made it so charming & fun. Loved the whole vibe of the space, it really felt like a lounge a place to just chill, sit back relax & enjoy! 

Of coarse I had to accessorize using my vintage pop bottle collection.  Filled them full of flowers from the yard & placed them here & there for the party. So may uses for these bottles, I just adore them!  In fact I'm sharing the love with you all today on my Instagram. You can order this bundle for $22, includes shipping.  Go there for all the details & how to order. Hurry, limited quantities are available! 

Idea #2 using H&H wooden Numbers:

Another last minute idea {how my brain works I guess}  was putting out a number 1 & 6 for her guests to write on with a bunch of sharpies.  So cute!  This is a keepsake she will have for a long time & can use as a decoration in her room this whole year.  Sweet friends & sweet comments for this 16 year old.  What a treasure!  The front side of the numbers were painted & they just wrote on the backside.  

You can pre-order, your own set of numbers for upcoming birthdays & celebrations now 

{either pick up before or at The {Fall} Hive in Sept}  

 To order email me at honeybee58@gmail.com & tell me the numbers you would like & colors for each.  

$7.90 for one # & $16 for 2 #'s  if ordered before July 21st

After July 21st $8.90 for one & $18 for a set. 

You can also order a complete set of numbers 0-9 & all the information about that can be found in the post below.  

Hope this has given you some ideas for an upcoming event, party or celebration you are planning.  One of my favorite things to do is throw a party. 

{M} 

Party idea- a Back 2 School fashion show

7.13.14-  

Happy to be a part of the 45 days of Back to School ideas series.  I know it's still only the middle of July but it's never too soon to start thinking about Back to School especially those of you who start the end of July with year round {So sorry!} 

I wanted to share something that has turned into quite a fun tradition in our family a Back 2 School family fashion show & dinner.  It's a great way to get the whole family involved from kids to adults, if you are lucky enough to have some in your family that work at schools, are teachers or counselors.  You could also do a neighborhood fashion show with family friends, that would be fun. Whatever you choose to do I'm sure it will turn into an anticipated night for everyone involved.

Fashion Show prep: 

-Pick an evening & send out invites.  This really makes it something special if you send out an invite, right? 

-Have each participate bring 3 outfits to change into & also any props they would like to show off to {new notebooks, backpacks, accessories etc.} 

-Each person needs to select music they would like to walk down "the runway" to. This is totally optional but is also really worth it if you take the time to do it. {See next idea!} 

-Have a CD or ipod already made up with the music to play for the fashion show with the selected songs.  Trust me, you'll have some choreographed numbers come down the runway. {AWESOME!} 

-White Christmas tree lights, taped to the floor,  creates a quick & fancy runway

-Be sure to have your video camera ready to film the footage & take lots of pics. 

  

Before the dinner & fashion show begin the decor has to go up to set the stage.  I enjoy decorating for just about anything that goes on in our home & a dinner & fashion show are no exception. It really sends it over the top & creates a exciting atmosphere.  I used a bunch of my vintage school supplies to decorate the island & table for dinner.  If you don't have any or a lot of school themed decor pieces, don't worry I'll tell you later where to get some for yourself. 

-2 of my favorite H&H things I've ever made.  Frame Marquees & this charming good luck frame.  I use them for so many occasions-

Who says flower frogs are only for holding flowers upright in a vase, I say use them as a pencil holder too.  I grabbed all sorts of crayons, colored pencils, alphabet shapes & puzzle pieces to use for the decor.
I spy.... my home state do you see yours?  

-Love this vintage school book- Looking Ahead to another great school year for my girls! Can't wait to see what they learn & discover. - 

-The table top, all bright & cheerful- 

 Plastic school lunch trays I bought from Pottery Barn Kids years ago have been a good investment. We use them all the time. Perfect for those who don't like to have their food touching whether young or old.  We have enough, in a rainbow of colors,  to serve the whole crowd. 

 The night is not only a fashion show & dinner.  There is poetry & fun school picture books read. A fun way to introduce the school themed party. 

 The meal should be inspired by school lunch.  We went with Pasta, garlic 

french bread, orange jello & green salad & homemade brownies for dessert.  Perfect in the school lunch trays & these kids chowed it all down. YuM!

 A peek at our Fashion Show 2013:

Each participate brought 3 outfits to wear & walked the runway to music they selected & strutted their stuff!  Believe me, these kids know how to work a runway.  There was a cartwheel, back handspring, dribbling a soccer ball & dance moves like you've never seen. So much FuN to watch! *Be sure to instruct everyone to pose at the end of the runway for photo opportunities.  The paparazzi is there of coarse!

-Audrey 6th Grade- 

-Macey 10th Grade- 

-Bella Kindergarten- 

-Davis 4th Grade- 

-Layla, pre, pre-pre school & Miss Hall 9th Grade Math & 12th Grade Government- 

-Emily 6th Grade- 

This picture is of everyone hanging out backstage {aka. the master bedroom} watching Audrey take her turn down the runway & anxiously awaiting their next turn to go out.

At the end of our fashion show it always turns into a dance party!  Kids & adults involved, so much fun to participate in & watch!  The kids are really worn out at the end of the night.  

{Oh, the videos you'll have after of the lip syncing & dancing, will be priceless! One little girl even got a side ache from so much dancing} 

Such a great way to kick off an exciting new school year.  My girls look forward to doing this every year with their cousins, that live about an hour from us, such a fun way to celebrate a new year of learning. 

I hope this has inspired you to start planning your own Back 2 School fashion show as the school year will soon be here. {Crazy to say but it's true!}  If you're looking for school themed decor for a party or just to decorate your home here are two great ideas & resources for you.  

TaDa Home Decor 

On the spot & to your door, unique & charming handcrafted decor.  Check out their adorable School Inspired collection.  The garland, chunky pencil, vintage books so cute.  Order on their website, Tada-homedecor.com or click on the link below. 

ABC's & 123's September Collection 

H&H Number Sets 0-9 
Great to put up in playrooms or to use as photo props for birthday parties, holiday celebrations  & so much more. Will be available for pick up either before or at The {Fall} Hive September 18,19 & 20th in Mt. Green 

$79.00 + tax if ordered before July 21st

$89.00 +tax if ordered after July 21st

-Approx 12" tall & vary by width depending on the number. Colors shown in order: Blue, White, brown,turqoise, red, orange,cream,green,black & mustard-  

Choose either:  

Box of crayons color set {shown above} 

*colors & order of them may vary, slightly

Nice & neutral set {black, cream, white, grey & stained natural wood light & dark} 

Stained wood set {either light or dark stain}

All one color {choose from the color choices above}

Leave comment with Paypal to order number sets. Email questions or specific color combinations to honeybee58@gmail.com 

 Be sure to check out all the other amazing blog ideas in the 45 days of Back to School series.  Hope I've inspired you to throw your own Back 2 School fashion show & decorate your home when the school bells start to ring.  

Thanks for stopping by. 

{M}