Butterfly Blush- Color Changing Sushies

Hello everyone! Sorry I've been so absent. I hope you are all doing well! My youngest recently had a birthday party and I wanted to serve something fun to go along with the roll your own spring roll bar we had. I thought about having a bubble tea/boba tea bar but I wasn't sure which flavors to offer and such. Looking in my tea cabinet I saw my jar of Butterfly pea flowers. I make tea with them and cook with them quite a bit. I though they would be fun to use.

2016 Let Them Eat Cake- Cookies and Cream Oreo Drizzle Cake

Oreo drizzle cake with cookies and cream chocolate, Oreo cookies, a chocolate macaron, and a chocolate "10".

A couple of weeks ago I shared a Lemon Raspberry cake that was for my oldest's birthday. This week I'm sharing this Oreo cake which my middle girl requested. She actually asked for Oreo, and I went with it. This is my first drizzle cake. It came out pretty good considering I didn't get the chocolate the correct consistency before I put it on the cake.

2016 Let Them Eat Cake- Cherry Vanilla Bean Cupcakes

These cute little cupcakes are some of my favorite. The vanilla and cherry are so good together, and well, these are just cute. Pixie requested cherry cake for her birthday, so I came up with these. The pipettes were too long, but I guess that just meant more cherry juice. I have found shorter ones but these were fun.

2016 Let Them Eat Cake- Lemon Raspberry Ombre Layer Cake

Lemon Raspberry Ombre cake

I haven't shared too many birthday cakes in the past. I guess maybe I have but it just feels like it's been a while SO today I'm sharing my twelve year old child's cake! TWELVE y'all! Can you believe it? I simply can't. It's crazy. Seems like it was just yesterday she was a wee little peanut at just five little pounds. Sigh. On to cake...

Big Hero Six Birthday Party Food

I can't believe there's a number nine candle on that top cupcake. What on earth? I just keeps going faster and faster and people keep getting older and growing. These kids. I'm so blessed that they are healthy, happy, and growing. But come on now. Where are all my babies: Sigh.

American Girl Ice Cream Social- Birthday Party

I tell you. The girls strung the signs so that H that's so far away from the "appy" is kinda bugging me. Yes, I'm a firstborn. Sigh, not that it matters. I'm so glad the girls helped and had fun.

I know that today is technically Take It Tuesday, but I haven't packed but one lunch. School is starting though, like next week. I'll pack some then. Today I want to share Diva's American Girl Ice Cream Social birthday party. We love our parties here on Give Peas A Chance. She was allowed to invite just a handful of girls to join us for an afternoon of crafts, carousel rides, glitter tattoos, and ice cream social madness. I kid, it wasn't madness it was really fun! I can't believe I have a NINE year old though. I'm old. Happy Birthday sweet girl!! We're so blessed to have you in our lives.
This post is going to be picture heavy, so get ready for it.

Let's start with food. Really though, there wasn't food. Just ... sweets.

 I forgot the platter I was going to put her "cake" on... and the candles. Will I ever remember the candles? So Diva, just like Piglet, did the "pretend to blow out the candles" thing. Oh well. Anyway. The cake was three cupcakes, and a sugar cone that  I tacked down to the lid of ... I don't know what that lid is from? Anyway. I tacked down the sugar cone, and cupcakes with frosting. Put the cupcakes and cone on top of the frosting. Then I grabbed a jar of sprinkles and dumped it in there. (This party was not here at home, or I would have found a platter, I was improvising.)

 So we had vanilla ice cream. Just vanilla to keep it simple. 

Toppings and such 

Fruity Pebbles
Mini Chocolate Chips

Sprinkles of all sorts
Mini Oreos

Teddy Grahams
Cherries

Strawberries
Red Hots
Mini Biscotti
Magic Shell
Whipped cream

Sugar cones
Mike and Ikes
Marshmallows (both the Mike and Ikes and Marshmallows were for the favor bags too, I didn't want to take any sweets home with me)
I also avoided gummies, caramel, nuts, and stuff like that because of Diva's braces and allergies.

My birthday and a "thank you" giveaway!

July is a busy month here, three of our five family members have birthdays. With mine smack dab in the middle of two of those birthdays! I'm also having a quick eye surgery, so I'd love if you all kept me in your prayers. Because of that I have some posts scheduled but I may not be very active here, or on Facebook and such. I didn't want to go off and celebrate a Dr Seuss birthday and an American Girl Ice Cream Social without including you in some sort of celebration. I'm not having a party... hmm does Starbucks have party rooms? They should. I can't wait to share all the party fun I'm frantically putting together for the girls though!
I'm so thankful you all, for some crazy reason, found Give Peas A Chance. I'm glad you're here, I'm blessed to say that I have gotten to know some of you and can call you friends. To celebrate my birthday I wanted to  have a giveaway!! So I'm offering up 2 prizes. Enter below, there's even a mobile friendly link. Share with a friend! Each prize pack will contain TWO awesome blossom CUPPOW lids. This isn't a sponsored post, just a thank you from me. Those Cuppow peeps are pretty awesome though, so you can check out their Facebook and let them know I sent you. If you don't know what Cuppow is here is the review I did in 2012.

So in a nutshell
July is a busy month filled with blessings
I'm having  minor eye surgery and would love your prayers that it goes well- I'm nervous!
There's a THANK YOU giveaway for 4 Cuppow lids below. Enter and 2 lucky readers will win a pack of two- my choice of style/size/color.

Did you know that you can find Give Peas A Chance on
Facebook
Pinterest
Twitter (@peasblog)
Google+
Klout
Instagram- where I'm documenting my Summer Bucket List (blog post to follow, someday)

If you are in the US, have a US address, and are 18 years of age or older, enter below to win. Read the rules HERE, first.
**Please note that I have had to pick new winners often because not all of the requirements have been met for giveaways. If you want the extra entries for liking a Facebook page, following on twitter, blogging, signing up for a newsletter make sure you do follow/sign up/blog etc. These are not required for entry, but if you want extra entries please follow the prompts.

Disclaimer:  This is a fun giveaway that I want to do for  readers of Give Peas A Chance. I will ship to US addresses only, once prize packages leave my hands and go to the post office I am not responsible for  loss.  All pictures are from the companies site, unless noted.

More giveaways on GPAC found HERE.

MOBILE FRIENDLY LINK http://bit.ly/Ux8ZIv

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Slider Cupcakes

Having a cookout this summer? Birthday party? Want to make a fun dessert? This weeks ManIc MoNdAy features Slider Cupcakes. I first made these in 2009 for Piglet's birthday. They are very easy, you can see the original post HERE on Give Peas A Chance.
Vanilla cake buns sprinkled with sesame seeds

Brownie hamburger patties

Coconut flakes tinted green for lettuce

Red and yellow icing for mustard and ketchup.

More burger toppings

Use tootsie rolls, in two colors and stretch it out to make bacon

Use yellow or orange Starbursts and stretch them out to make cheese slices

Use yellow fruit leather to make cheese slices

Serve this with

Toasted strips of pound cake as fries

Use strawberry jelly for ketchup

Sparkly Citrus Lavender Hand Scrub

During Diva's Birthday Brunch we made three things the girls could take home. This Citrus Lavender Hand Scrub was one of the items. It's so easy to make, and I let the girls help. You can make this with any essential oils you would like. I also had cosmetic glitter on hand for the girls to put in. We only used olive oil, the next time I make this I'll use part coconut oil. I think it's a little lighter than olive oil.
Sugar scrub can be so expensive, this would make a lovely present. Package it in a pretty jar, with a lovely note. I used plastic tubs for the kids, but for an adult a pretty glass jar would be nice.

Find more Spa Party posts HERE, and enter to win party goods from CupKate's Event Design by following the giveaway link on the left hand side of this blog.

CupKate's Event Designs- GIVEAWAY

These darling candy cups are from CupKate's!

For the past two weeks, I've been SLOWLY putting up Spa Birthday Brunch photos and posts. You can see them here. I have other posts to come, but this last post that featured food had many items from CupKate's Event Designs. Kate was amazing to work with. She answered my questions via email quickly. She helped me with sizing of items (Appetizer Spoons) for deviled eggs. She was honest when something wasn't in stock- I've ordered items for a party before and have been assured they would reach me in time only to sit around the afternoon of cutting out cupcake toppers. Kate let me know when the item (Push Pop containers) would be in and that they would ship right away. I decided to wait on them. Kate had my box with other items packed and ready. When the Push Pops came in, she shipped my box right away. All items were delivered in time for Diva's brunch. Items were packed carefully, they were clean, and the presentation showed they were packed with care.

Kate's professionalism and fast service sets her apart. I couldn't be happier with the service I got, and how my items were packaged when they arrived. Here is a little more about CupKate's Even Design straight from her!

I’m Kate, wife and mother to two of the cutest kids, ever. {Okay, so maybe I’m biased.} Creating memories by celebrating special occasions quickly became an obsession of mine once my children were born. Seeing them delight in the details of a well thought out party is one of the best feelings! While planning my Daughter’s 2nd birthday, my older sister mailed me a Push Pop container and the idea to use them as party favors. I loved them, sourced them and posted a few pictures of my Cupcake Push Pop creation on my blog and on my Facebook page. The interest in the containers caught on fast and in March of 2011 I opened an Etsy shop to sell the containers. At the time, I was the only retailer selling Push Pop containers by the piece and in small quantities. My name appeared on several high traffic blogs {Including the Cooking Channel’s blog!}. The success of Push Pops led to a full Party Shop, www.cupkateseventdesign.com, with many of my favorite party finds listed for sale. Today, I fill orders, run back and forth to preschool and constantly keep my eye out for the next big thing.

Spa Birthday Brunch- Food.

Another Spa Birthday Brunch post, you can see more of these HERE. This post will be all about the food. I kept the food simple, and took shortcuts where I could. I didn't make my own yogurt (but you can find methods I've used by searching "yogurt" in my search bar), I also used frozen pancakes, and whipped cream in a can- which my kids just LOVED. Go figure.

CupKate's Event Designs is where I got the cupcake cups, the little spoons for the Deviled Eggs, Push Pop containers, Stay tuned for an awesome giveaway from her this weekend!

Spa Birthday Brunch- Daisy Stationary/Paper Goods

We didn't have Diva's birthday party this summer. I had promised her a party since she hasn't had one in 4? years. So I let her invite 8 friends over for a birthday brunch. I'm going to do party details in a series of posts. This post is all about stationary and paper product that I used and made.
Kori of Paper and Pigtails designed the Daisy party stationary for me, everything but the invitation- I used leftover stationary from Pixie's birth announcements for those. Kori was so helpful, for one I gave her short notice. Then I had issues with editing and Adobe reader, Kori kept in contact with me through email. Several times a night, trouble shooting and sending me more files. Her prices were good too. You must check out her blog and shop. She's got some free printable on the blog also! Thanks SO much Kori!

Mommy Parties- Hearts For Hearts Dolls

See these beautiful dolls? They aren't just toys, they have a story. They have a purpose. Hearts For Hearts dolls are made by Playmates Toys company. These doll are not new to us, I bought the girls Tipi last year. She's the Lao doll pictured below. Well made, and just beautiful features. True ethnic looking features. Different and unique. The size of these dolls is perfect. Not too big at 14 inches. Tipi came with clothing a Lao girl would wear, a little story book, and accessories.

Each of these dolls represents a read girl, from a real place. Each girl has ideas to help make the world a better place for her family, community, and world. They want to change the world, and with the purchase of a Hearts For Hearts Doll a portion of the proceeds goes to their partner World Vision.We were chosen to help get the word out about these dolls, thanks to Hearts For Hearts and Mommy Parties.

Piglet's Kai-Lan Party

Diva helped me set up.

Piglet is turning SIX. Oh goodness, it seems crazy. She's going to be a first grader next year. Time sure does fly. We had her party early, since she doesn't officially turn 6 until July. We were at Party City and Kai-Lan party goods were 2 for $1. She decided she wanted a Kai-Lan party, I didn't say no. Really, 2 for a $1? Awesome.
 I'm crazy, but we had her party in the middle of a move. So we had a partially empty house, which was awesome, but goodness. It was nuts. I decided not to make cupcakes, we just went out and bought them. To top it off, the night before I was making cupcake toppers and favor box decorations, because the seller I ordered from on Etsy never shipped. (Ugh, I even convo'd her before to make sure she could have items shipped to me on time.) Still, it was so much fun.

We had a water play party. The kids spent most of their time outside, all 20+ of them! We had a water bead table, bubble station, they played on the play set, had water guns, and a Pinata. I had wanted to bring out frozen water balloons with food coloring in them for races. Good thing I didn't bring them out! They stain. Can't wait to make them when it snows for decoration though!

So thankful that my friend Angel Murphy Photography was here to grab my camera and take pictures. So while they say Give Peas A Chance on them, she took most of them. I tried to post only pictures that didn't have so many children's faces in them. They are SOOC, with her using my Nikon for the first time, she's a Cannon girl!

Chrysanthemum cake

Happy Birthday Diva! Yes, it was last month, but I'm finally posting.

I made this whole wheat carrot cake for her. Recipe for the cake and frosting HERE. One day I'd love to try this cake with walnuts, but Diva is allergic so I never make it that way. Maybe I'll make cupcakes and put some walnuts in part of the batter. Anyway. I have most of my kitchen items in storage, in the basement in tubs. I don't have room for it here. The thing is I don't like hunting through boxes. So no cake tips and piping bags. I used a zip top bag to do this. I also added a little bit of pink food coloring to the bag, like this HERE. 

Birthday month...

It's birthday month for over half of our household so I thought I'd share some cakes that the birthday girls have had. I found some that I haven't posted yet from a long time ago. Diva's first birthday cake is pictured first.  She was so funny she would only eat with a fork. I worked really hard with her on not playing with food and using utensils so she knew not to play with her food or use her hands if there was a utensil.  Until I took the fork away, she looked at me like, "what now?". I took her little finger and dabbed some icing on it and had her lick it.  She looked at me like and did ...

This. It was so fun, after a while though...

She wanted her fork back.

Diva's second birthday I had Piglet at the beginning of the month.  So I made her, Diva, this caterpillar cupcake-cake. She loved it. (I blurred out the lettering).

Piglet's first birthday was the Mad Hatter Tea Party, with Diva. I also have it here on Catch My Party. 

It's my blog and I'll cry if I want to

This year we're not having birthday parties for the girls. If you know me, you know this is heartbreaking. We didn't have them last year either. When I say heartbreaking I mean heartbreaking for me, not so much the kids. I love parties, I love putting them together and hosting them. Cooking, baking, all the little details. Anyway. This year, like most every year the girls get to pick where they want to eat. Piglet, who just turned 5, wanted Dim Sum and somehow that morning it changed to McDonald's. Sigh. Yuck. She also wanted a chocolate cake but we talked more and she said strawberry so, I made the Neapolitan cake posted HERE, for her.  (And since I don't have a picture for this post, I'll post the same picture... because it's my blog and I can do that. And I'll re post other birthday cakes too.) 

Diva's birthday is at the end of this month. She wants Pho. I was like awesome I want to go eat Pho too. I can't wait to go out.  But mommy, I want your Pho. So DH chimes in, "OK, if mommy makes Pho here you can still pick a place to go out for dessert". I'm sending mental waves, vibes, whatever for Cheesecake factory... Red Velvet Cake Cheesecake, you know you want it. Chanting it in my head. I even mention it, her eyes light up and she gives me a high five over the table. Then she says, "I want carrot cake. Mom's carrot cake." Yes, the carrot cake. The one we bake on special occasions, that we all love. It's even good enough for Jesus' birthday. 

See, it's pretty too.. and on the inside?

Whole wheat carrot cake with vanilla bean frosting.

This is our go to cake,  unless someone asks for something like a "rainbow cake with a unicorn on top" Then we get into this kind of nonsense. I know, there's no unicorn. I had no time for that after the frosting fiasco. You can read about that HERE.

Of course there was the mermaid with no arms... she too, was whole wheat carrot cake.

The cakes from the MaD HAttEr TeA PartY you can see them- HERE.  Made with love, though lopsided.

I can't forget the time we bought a cake, and got this- cake wreck. It says

"Name, spelled so very wrong

under that

Ma-tou     !"

I did ask for them to put "under that", but I spelled her name right, and not sure why the exclamation point is so far away.

So... because she's my beloved little girl I'll make the Pho, and I'll make the cake. Just for the record MY birthday is this weekend, and nobody will be asking ME where I want to go. If it WERE MY party, I'd cry. But, there are no parties. I'll cry anyway. Because it's my blog and because I'm moving up a whole age bracket. I'd probably ask for the same carrot cake, that is if someone else were to make it. Any takers? If not I'm headed to Cheesecake factory - if I can talk everyone into it.

PS- send sushi...
like this, except not on a child's plate, that has a princess crown on it. On a plate I don't have to wash. Thank you.

What cake would YOU choose on your birthday?

Neapolitan cake

Neapolitan cake for Piglet's 5th birthday. Strawberry, Vanilla and chocolate. I'm pleased with the way it turned out!

 

I made these cupcakes with the rest of the batters.

GPAC Birthday Scones

I made these scones for MIL's (I call her mom, but anyway) birthday tea. It was so fun! (Scroll down for more pictures.) Sister in law and I made/set out

Chicken salad sandwiches

Cucumber Ranch sandwiches with sprouts- also posted here, from DD's birthday tea

Deviled Eggs- I just made them with mayonnaise, salt, pepper, mustard powder and paprika

Kale Chips

Cherry Orange Scones- recipe follow, with Lemon curd

Easy Peasy Stuffed Peppers

Kiwi and tangerines

Bleu cheese, prosciutto slices, Everything crackers

Olives and pickles

We bought some Palimers, cheese cake with blueberry crumble topping, German chocolate cake, rum balls, chocolate chip cookies, eclairs and these amazing buttery shortbread with raspberry preserves.

We sipped an amazing Chocolate Mint tea- YUM.

More scone recipes
Vanilla bean Scones

Birthday Scones

Simple Scones

Scheduled to be blogged-
Orange Caramel Scones
Cinnamon Chip Scones

Whole Wheat Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Vanilla Bean goodness

Happy Birthday Jesus. This was the birthday cake we had for Jesus this year at Christmas time. It's our favorite cake around here. The original is a King Arthur recipe. I've change it up a bit each time, but rarely remember what and how much of what I've changed, but the method is easy and original recipe is solid.

If you're looking to make this cake into a Cheesecake Cake try my
Carrot Cake Cheesecake Cake with Candied Carrot Curls

Whole Wheat Carrot Cake

Recipe from King Arthur’s Whole Grain Baking cookbook.

3 8-inch round layers, two 9-inch round layers, 16 servings or one 9x13 pan (24 servings) 

Oven 350 

Baking time 

30-35 min for 8 inch layers 

35-40 min 9 inch layers 

45-50 min for sheet cake – which I find works best for us and it’s easy 

4 large eggs 

1 ½ c vegetable oil 

2 teaspoons good vanilla extract 

1 ½ cups granulated sugar (I use way less and a little bit more brown sugar)

½ cup packed light or dark brown sugar 

2 cups whole wheat flour 

2 teaspoons baking soda 

1 ½ teaspoons baking powder 

1 ½ teaspoons salt 

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg - I use freshly grated

2 ½ cups finely grated carrots 

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 

1 cup shredded or flaked coconut sweetened or not 

18 oz-ish can crushed pineapple drained well

(I add other spices, omit a few things- like the coconut, and nuts due to a nut allergy, sometimes I add some flax seed.) 

Grease and flour cake pans. I also line the bottom of my pans with parchment, if I am making layers. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat eggs with an electric mixer and drizzle oil in while it is running. 

Add vanilla then sprinkle in the sugars. Beat well. You will have a thick foamy mixture. 

Whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices together in a separate bowl. 

Add dry ingredients to the wet ones  and mix to make a smooth batter. 

Add carrots and nuts, then the coconut and pineapple. 

Pour into prepared pan(s).

Bake until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Because it’s whole wheat it won’t “spring” when you

press down so it’s not a good idea to test doness that way. 

Cool completely. 

Give Peas A Chance Cream Cheese Frosting

1 pound box of powdered sugar

1 stick of butter

1 (8 ounce) block of cream cheese, softened

1 Vanilla beans/seeds from one split pod or 1 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1-2 tablespoons milk, if needed

Beat the butter and cream cheese with a mixer until light and fluffy. 

Beat in vanilla.

Add one cup of powdered sugar at a time and beat well.

Keep adding sugar until the frosting is at the consistency you like.

Note about powdered sugar- it does NOT make the frosting thicker, it will make the frosting THINNER. If your frosting is too thick but the sweetness is where you like it add some milk. If your frosting is too thin you may need to beat in more cream cheese.