A Tablescape for the Birthday Star

Good Morning and thanks for stopping by! I thought it was time to do another tablescape since it's been a while. Our youngest son turned 15 over the weekend so it was a great time to pull out some dishes. Fall and Halloween are his favorite time of year. So my challenge was to combine his love of music with a bit of Halloween using things that I already had. Not easy but here is what I came up with.

I think it has a elegant tone tying in red, black and silver stars. After all 15 year olds are way too cool for a kiddie birthday table. As I am reminded. We had a great time and I made Stromboli, salad and his favorite Peanut Butter Chocolate cake.

I will be in trouble for posting the birthday boy but I couldn't resist! I wish that I had added black place mats, they would have grounded the place settings more. Next time I will set up the night before because the candle light would have served this table better. Always learning!


I thought I would add this quick and easy cake recipe also for all you other peanut butter and chocolate lovers.

Peanut Butter Cake with Chocolate Peanut Icing

1 yellow cake mix (from scratch just doesn't hold up)
1/3 to 1/2 cup of creamy peanut butter (depending on your taste)
2 pound bag of powdered sugar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 stick or 1/2 cup of room temp butter
1/4 cup of milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup of crushed peanuts or nut topping (I just crushed my own with a Ziploc and a rolling pin)

First mix your cake batter to the mix instructions. Add the peanut butter and mix well. I used 1/3 cup this time but you can add up to 1/2,  any more and it doesn't work well. Pour into  two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans, I used 9. Bake at mixes time and temps. I did 350 for 25 mins. Cool layers on baking rack.

While cakes are cooling. Place butter in large mixing bowl with 1 teaspoon of vanilla. Give it a little mix. Slowly start adding powdered sugar, mixing well. Once you have half of the sugar mixed in add the cocoa. Now you can judge if you want to add some of the milk. Finish by adding remaining sugar, adding more milk till you get your desired consistency. This makes quite a bit of icing.

After cakes are cooled, place one layer on cake plate and ice just the top. Place the second layer on icing its top as well. Dipping your cake knife in warm water will help with smooth spreading. Now you can rotate cake as you ice the sides. Lastly take your crushed peanuts and press them into your sides of the cake.

I handed the bowl of extra icing to the kids and let them fight it out! It was worth the ten minutes of "When is dinner going to be ready" being silenced. Use your own discretion on sugar overload!


Thank you so much for stopping by. I am linking up with Susan for Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

The Birthday Girl and the Luau

Welcome friends and family! Glad you stopped by! Today is a special day, Shay the baby of the family is turning 12! We celebrated last night with a low key Luau style dinner.

This is where the Birthday Girl will be seated. In pink of course. Her friend Sally the flamingo is sitting in for her.

Even the hula girls were invited. They don't eat much or take up any space.

It's so hard to believe she is 12!

For her dinner she chose Pan seared Parmasean Talapia with Oven Roasted Potatoes and Parmesean Grilled Asparagus.

More Hula-ing going on! Hula-ing? I guess its a word?

The Birthday Girl blowing out her candles....Saying goodbye to 11! (BOOO HOOO!) Slow down child, you only were in diapers yesterday it seems!

I  am linking up with Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for TT. Make sure you stop by and see as many of the tablescapes as you can. They work so hard. The talent and photography blows me away every week! Have a wonderful weekend. School is starting Monday, We will be having our first Freshman in a while and the Birthday Girl will be in 6th.....SIGH!

Belated Birthday For MOM

Happy Thursday all. It is that time again, Tablescape Thursday is upon us again. Please join Susan at the wonderful Between Naps on the Porch. Make sure to visit as many of the beautiful tablescapes as possible. There is some amazing talent out there!



My mom had a birthday recently and due to the weather it had to be canceled.This Sunday we will be finally having dinner for her. She has chosen Chicken Penne Pasta, salad and garlic bread. I am going to surprise her with sour cream cup cakes with raspberry filling and white chocolate icing.





Hang in there with me while I do one more green and white tablescape. I have had this vintage tablecloth and napkins for awhile and I thought they would be perfect for a Mom table. Of course you will not be shocked to find out I got it from EBay.










It only came with three napkins and I needed 6 so mixing and matching was the only option. At the ends of the table I used my old faithful dark sage napkins from efavormart.







This is my husbands grandmothers silver plate in the Moss Rose pattern. This is so beautiful, I am sure our young daughter will love using this on her table also. But I have asked her to stay 11 forever, so hopefully she will comply!




Here is a close up of the tablecloth, in some places it is stamped to look like it was embroidered. There are no markings or tags so I have no idea of its orgins.














I had six of these water goblets but I chipped one so i decided to mix in the clear Libby's to the end settings. I see mixing with higher end stemware so I hope I'm not breaking any rules with the everyday stuff!










There is is, a table simple and sweet. Perfect for Mom!




Have a wonderful Thursday, thank you so much for stopping by. I just love visitors. I am off to school for a lunch date with the kids. Dang, they grow up so fast!