Diann's 70th Adventure!

A dear friend of mine, Diann Brown, turned 70 this year and she asked for my help in putting together an afternoon celebration that captured aging as beautiful and wonderful! She kept emphasizing the importance of having a "zest for life" and the idea of aging being an adventure, not an end point. And boy, does she live her life as such! Actually, we even had to squeeze her party in between exciting trips, one to Mexico for snorkeling and one to visit family. We decided on the theme of adventure with hints of Disney/Pixar's "Up!" to reflect her view on life as an adventure!

Decor & Details:

Though Diann's home already feels like an adventure, with pictures of her trips and trinkets from friends and family from all over the world, I brought a few more items from home that I thought would add to the theme: an old train-car chair, a globe, a suitcase, a typewriter, and a few "Up!" items, and of course 70+ brightly colored balloons!

There were several little life quotes that I loved for Diann,
and had to include them here and there too.

The mantle is one of my favorites to decorate at home,
and it was here at Diann's house too!

Food:

While Diann had started brainstorming some ideas for the foods she wanted at the party, I helped organize and brought the ideas to life. We thought a popcorn bar would be great for her "zest for life", as well as an Italian soda bar, which were both a big hit!

Diann LOVED the Italian soda bar, and enjoyed creating different drinks throughout the party!

Her sweet friends also brought dishes to contribute to 

her delicious fruit & veggie trays, as well as her cheese tray, that showcased 

fancy cheeses...one was even invented by her own father!

And a delicious cake was the centerpiece of the table!

Activities & Favors:

I made a few boards with quotes I thought Diann would like, for people to sign the back as a sort of guest book. The first one was printed on the "adventure" page and the second was printed on the "live" page. 

We set up the guest book next to the party favors: homemade caramel corn!

Diann also wanted to share a book of her own adventures, as well as a book of her heroes, who've taught her what having a "zest for life" is all about. We were then encouraged to write on the notecards one "adventure" or "bucket list" item we hoped to accomplish in the coming year. I loved this part of her party that included guest to be part of the adventure!

And more fun from the party...

The bags for the popcorn were decorated by these guys and a few little girls too!

Diann had pictures from her life's adventures playing for her guests to enjoy

...It was perfect!

The day was made for Diann...

gorgeously sunny weather, warm enough for the littlest guests to play outside!

So much deliciousness shared by all the guests!

I love this...everyone was singing "Happy Birthday"!

Diann with some of her special guests!

It was a beautiful day to celebrate a beautiful lady and friend!

For the LOVE of (Homemade) Marshmallows...

Hot chocolate topped with marshmallows...my favorite winter dessert! ANNND if you've never tried homemade marshmallows, believe me, you are missing out on one of the great wonders of the dessert world. I don't care where you get them but you need to find some NOW and try them. They will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. 

Or just change your expectations of marshmallows. But my love for this sweet treat combination, of course, has a story. The hot chocolate mix was a gift throughout my childhood from dear friends who are like family, Dick & Cheryl Hunt. They were/are parental figures in my life, and their generosity, even in their own times of need, has always amazed me and inspired me to do the same. Drinking this hot chocolate conjures up many good memories. You can tell it was made with love. The mixes I have imagined and created are each variations on this original recipe!

And then homemade marshmallows came into my world. My first taste of these were two years ago, when I was pregnant with Ellie, and Chris decided to treat me to hot chocolate and marshmallows from Williams Sonoma! Oh my goodness...I loved it so much, I wanted to savor it by keeping the leftovers for the following year. That didn't work out too well, because when I went to taste some last year, I discovered they had expired. NOOOOO! Other than Williams Sonoma at Christmastime, I had no idea where to find homemade marshmallows, and told myself I had to learn how to make them. 

With a little baby Ellie last year, I didn't quite have the energy, but finally got my game face on this year to give these guys a try....and THEY WERE LIFE CHANGING! Did I say that already? I made them and the hot chocolate mix as Christmas gifts this year, but just regular vanilla. The wheels really started turning though, after I visited a local food truck, Katiebug's, who sells the best hot chocolate I have ever had in my life, with your choice of organic marshmallow. I ventured out one night after Christmas with my family to find their truck, and was elated to try their salted butterscotch hot chocolate and marshmallow, as well as a snicker doodle marshmallow. I was in HEAVEN...They were better than I imagined they would be! They had so many other flavors and combinations to choose from too, and though I've only been there once, I can't wait to become a regular customer.  

Though mine might not be as gorgeous and adventurous, I knew I had to try to make some version of them myself. And that's how this homemade marshmallow fiend turned into a homemade marshmallow maker. 

Here's Eloise's Sweet Shop's flavors 

($1 per single serving baggie/$10 for 12 baggies):

Vanilla

Peppermint

Snickerdoodle

S'mores

Salted Caramel

Mocha

Chocolate Covered Cherry

I hope you love these guys as much as I do!