While we were away in Phoenix for Spring Break, Lo and I would spend hours trolling Pinterest boards after the kids and hubsters had gone to bed! Lo came across a pin for Birthday Cake Popcorn and since we were there for Dylan’s 12th birthday, I thought I’d try to make it for her birthday celebration there. This recipe comes from a blog called The Endless Meal (click here for the recipe link).

Birthday Cake Popcorn

From The Endless Meal

Ingredients

• 6 cups popped popcorn
• ½ bag of marshmallows
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 2-4 tablespoons milk (I used almond milk but regular milk would work too)
• ¾ cup vanilla cake mix
• Optional: sprinkles

Instructions

1. Place popped popcorn in a large bowl and remove any un-popped kernels.
2. Place marshmallows in a medium sized saucepan over medium low heat. Stir frequently until marshmallows have melted. Add cake mix and stir till well combined. Stir in vanilla then stir in milk 1 tablespoon at a time until are a pouring (but not runny) consistency.
3. Pour melted marshmallows over popcorn and stir to combine.
4. Top with sprinkles.

Makes 6 cups (Just go ahead and double it!! This stuff disappears!)

1. Mix marshmallow mixture with popped popcorn.
2. Once mixed well, add sprinkles.
3. Stir up quickly and form into popcorn balls.

Notes

To make into popcorn balls: wet hands lightly and scoop up a small amount of popcorn. Gently form into the shape of a ball. Re-wet hands between each popcorn ball to prevent the popcorn from sticking to your hands.

Here’s a sweet tip:  Spray your hands with cooking spray to form balls and place in parchment baking cups or colorful muffin liners.

The house we were renting in Phoenix wasn’t very well equipped, so I had to improvise a bit! I opted to omit the vanilla as it seemed a bit of a waste to buy it for just that. We didn’t have an air popper, so we bought Orville Redenbacher Natural Simple Salted 50% Less Fat microwave popcorn and used that.  It worked in a pinch (sweet and salty does work together!) Berkeley made it this past weekend with air popped popcorn and vanilla and made it into popcorn balls.  She used flat sprinkles…they work much better than the sugary type or small sprinkles that tend to almost melt.  You can buy the flat confetti sprinkles through Amazon.com (click here) or locally at Scoop n Save (click here).  They were cute and delish!  This recipe is definitely best made into balls….in Phoenix I didn’t and it was a bit tough to break pieces of the popcorn off and was a bit messy (but still got devoured!).

Photo courtesy of The Endless Meal

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For awhile now, Pam and i have been talking about our dream of taking our blog one step further. We feel so grateful to be able to write about the things we love that hopefully inspire you or ideas you feel you can relate with! That’s the hope at least! But, we also want to use this platform to connect with you all…and to help bring something of value to your lives, beyond what deal we just scored, or a recipe we think might just make your next dinner party a hit. These things are all wonderful (well, we think so!) but today’s Booster Brunch was created soley for the purpose of encouraging and lifting up women in our lives– moms, friends, wives.

Sometimes, we get so involved in “life” that we kinda miss out on the “living in the moment” thing. Today was meant to put “busy” on pause… to eat a yummy brunch…to visit without being rushed.

 

 

We had the pleasure of having Jenn Walter join us and share her journey about finding calm in the storm.  She gets the whole chaotic schedule thing, let me tell you!! Her husband, Ryan Walter, played in the NHL for 15 years..you hockey fans would remember him for playing with the Washington Capitals, Montreal Canadians and Vancouver Canucks (GO CANUCKS!!!! ). She is also the mom to 5 kids and 2 grandkids. SHE KNOWS BUSY! It was such a treat to hear her and know that we are in this thing together, as well as to learn some specific ways that she has been able to keep her faith and her relationships with her husband and kids flourishing. Thanks so much, Jenn, for being here with us!

 

They say a good gathering starts with good people! I whole heartedly agree…but i also think good food doesn’t hurt. We were thrilled to feature some of our favourite sweets:

 

 

Kitchening & Co ~ by Carly Wintschel partnered with us to not only allow us to enjoy her ah-mazing macarons (no, really…. can you say Salted Caramel party in my mouth??) at today’s brunch, but also as a little take home for our guests! Thank you, Carly!  They were exquisite. Simple as that.

 

 

 

 

And, if you haven’t tried It’s To Die For Banana Bread, well then, you’ve just plain been missing out! Erin Ireland of It’s to Die For seriously makes the best chocolate macadamia banana bread. Pam and i literally ate a loaf driving home from Vancouver with nothing more than our hands..it wasn’t a pretty sight, but wow, it tasted so good! Her newest addition, Lemon Loaf, is so much more than what you’re thinking. I can’t decide if its the crunchy texture or the coconut flakes on top that made it so good, but really…it’s to die for!

 

 

And ever since i bought my kid’s some mango ginger scones at Brambles Bistro…and then proceeded to eat them before they got a chance (oops!), i knew we needed to serve them at our brunch. This time i didn’t have to feel guilty cuz there was enough to go around!

We also added our some of our own dishes, like Pam’s homemade labne yogurt, fruit compote and nutty granola… more on our dishes in an upcoming post!

 

Pam and I get a kick out of planning events and this was no exception.When Minted came on board, we were thrilled!  We opted to choose from one of their vintage-y party decor selections…and had fun departing from our more usual streamlined aesthetic. Yup, my silver got polished…finally!!! Thank you to Minted for prettying up our party!

Here are some of the treats they sent us:

Our customized Booster Brunch Banner…isn’t it cute?

 Scalloped Stickers to make our macaron-filled take home boxes oh so pretty!

 

Plastic straws just don’t have the same curb appeal as these numbers, do they??

 

 

 

 

Pam also got all creative on me and put together these mini succulent pieces for our guests to take home and enjoy. Either that or word on the street is that she has her hubby to thank for it?? hmmmmm…. Whoever put them together, i am loving mine!

 

 

What a lovely treat for us to be able to host a group of beautiful women inside and out…and to be able to brunch together. Already planning for our next one….

 

 

 

 

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One of the best seasonal candies out there can also be used on your Easter table: Speckled Malt Balls!

For about $3 at Walmart, they’re all yours! Pair them with variegated raffia (i got mine years ago, but it’s readily available at Michael’s, Walmart and many dollar stores) and you have yourself a cute little Easter nest to perch atop everyone’s dinner plate. You can’t beat the price for adding huge bunny lovin impact. Ok..that sounded a bit cheesy!

Easy and cute, yes?

 

 

Grab a handful of the raffia and shape it into a freeform nest. There’s no “perfect” in this (or i wouldn’t be doing it!). Each nest can be individual.

 

It’s that easy…

 

 

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I’ve been trolling Pinterest a lot for Easter inspiration (you can check out my Pinterest Easter board here).   Pastels and the usual Easter colors don’t work well in my black, cream and gray dining room, so I was looking for something more natural….maybe even French rustic.  Here’s what I came up with using a lot of the things that I already had at home!

 

I used neutral colors, black stemware, mercury glass and hits of green with the succulents and hyacinths.

 

My girls and I decorated styrofoam eggs that we bought at the dollar store with newspaper, glitter, tissue paper, feathers, pearl stickers and metallic Sharpies!

 

 

I had purchased these silver mint julep cups a few years at Hudson Madison.  I think they are quite simple, yet elegant, with hyacinths in them (the blooms will be white).  I purchased 12 of these stainless charger plates a few years ago….I can’t count how many times I’ve used them…such a great investment!

 

 

I also wanted to incorporate succulents…they are so popular right now!  I love the organic feel that they add to the table and they are supposed to be easy to maintain…we’ll find out!  We…ok, actually, Jason transplanted them into square vases that I had (I don’t have a green thumb!).  He put rock on the bottom, dirt, and then I added white sand on the top.  And the great thing is that once Easter is over, I will use them in my family room or bedroom!

 

 

In keep with the color scheme, I added shot glasses and votive holders filled with white and cream candies…Scotch mints, yogurt covered raisins, malted eggs and Hershey’s Cookies ‘n’ Creme drops.

 

 

I created this natural Easter look mostly with stuff that I already had…I tried to think creativity how to re-purpose things and use them in a different way!

Wishing you a very Happy Easter from the sisters!

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Pinterest is a real problem…everytime i escape to pin-heaven i come away all crafty-like. It often ends up in big messes and less than stellar results. I think i’m almost due for a pintervention!

But this time was different. I stumbled upon these easter eggs that were right up my alley. Ombre? Oh ya! Totally suits a modern and streamlined aesthetic. I knew i had to try them. And i’m gonna gamble and say they were a success! Sisters, if i can do this? So can you! Thank you to Sugar and Charm for bringing ombre to one of my most favorite holidays!!

 

 

 

You need 2 easy supplies for this DIY: Eggs and Food Coloring.

You might ask when i last colored Easter Eggs? I’m embarassed to say i couldn’t even tell you when… when my kids were small i was one of those moms who let me kids paint….only at preschool!!! Even Playdough required deep breathing…but that’s another post for another day…

Begin by hardboiling your eggs and then give them a chance to completely dry and cool.

While they eggs were boiling, i prepared 8 different cups filled with equal amounts of water but different amounts of food coloring. Beginning with small amounts and gradually increasing in intensity. ***here’s where i’m going to suggest you might make your life easier and just have a couple of containers and submerge the eggs in them for differing amounts of time. Obviously, the longer the “dunk”, the deeper the color.

 

Dry the eggs off on a cooling rack…another great tip i found online!

 I love how simply you can display these eggs. Soft, subtle and modern all at once…

 

 

 

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