This is the Greatest Show - Stella's 9th Birthday Party

Nothing like posting almost a month later, but better late than never!  We had such a fun time celebrating our biggest little love a few weeks ago!  She wanted a "Greatest Showman" birthday party and there were SO many fun ideas for a party so I was happy to oblige.  I found a really cool place, Aerial, in Charlotte that offered trapeze and silks but she wanted to actually watch the movie with her friends at our house.  So, what princess Stella wants, princess Stella gets!

Here are fun details from her party:

For pretty much every party I've thrown for my girls, I make a wreath.  Not every party, but almost!  I knew this one would be a fun one to make and it was oh so simple.  Wreath, fabric tied in a knot around the wreath, print a cute welcome sign and hot glue it - boom!  I saw these adorable carnival signs at Hobby Lobby and knew I wanted to use them at the entrance.

We had tons of yummy food that all the kids loved...pizza, fruit and veggies.  And then some yummy treats for the movie...orange peanuts, Twizzlers, animal crackers, and popcorn, of course!

We had to have some carnival games!  The kiddos loved these!

My father-in-law has recently started crafting with wood.  I knew I wanted photo backdrops for this party so I asked and he happily made them for one of his favorite granddaughters.  I painted them and while PT Barnum was a tad difficult to paint, the bearded lady was fun and easy.  I thought they turned out super cute and Stella loved them!

More carnival game fun!

What's a carnival party without face painting and balloon twisting?!  I hired Balloon Aces and they were great to work with.  The kids loved choosing their design and what balloons they wanted.

Next up, time for cupcakes!  Y'all, Publix did it again!  I showed our favorite bakery girl at Publix what cupcakes we wanted and not to my surprise she made it happen.  I printed a popcorn wrapper and it sat perfectly in it.  They were precious and such a hit!

Finally it was time for popcorn and the movie!  My hubs built this lemonade stand for Stella's 6th birthday party and we've used it SO many times.  It was the perfect addition for a ticket booth at this carnival party. 

Lastly, it was time to send our friends home with some cotton candy and thank them for celebrating with our girl.  Who doesn't love cotton candy right?!  I bought individual bags from the Dollar Tree and put them in cellophane bags.  Hobby Lobby also had these super cute gold elephants that were a perfect decor addition.

Originally, she wanted to wear a purple leotard like Zendaya's character in the movie.  I didn't want this to be a costume party, however, I compromised when I found this adorable purple dress on Amazon and it was picture perfect!  And it was less than $17!!

We had such a fun time celebrating our favorite 9 year old!  

DiEduardo Divas Favorite Pasta Salad

Hurricane Florence is underway and is heading our way.  So, I thought I'd prepare one of our favorite pasta salads to snack on in the event we lose power and/or are stuck in the house for any number of hours or days.

I'm not a fan of ranch and most pasta salads use ranch as their base.  I did tons of research about 10 years ago when I was asked to bring a pasta salad to a family Christmas lunch and found the BEST PASTA SALAD.  Everyone loved it and I was so excited!  My uncle asked if he could take home the leftovers.  Now it's become a staple that I bring to picnics, family gatherings, and make for the girls to take for lunch at school.

It's super simple and doesn't require a ton of ingredients which is awesome!  And children love it because there aren't a ton of ingredients they don't like and have to pick out.

INGREDIENTS:
1 (16 ounce) package of macaroni farfalle pasta (I substituted bow tie pasta)
1/2 cup mayonniase
1 cup cucumber - peeled, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 cup diced ham
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.

In a large bowl, combine the pasta, mayonnaise and mix well. 

Stir in cucumber, onion, ham and cheese.  Mix well.

Drizzle oil and vinegar over top and toss.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

So yummy!  Enjoy!

If the Shoe Fits

I love shoes!  Who doesn't, right?!  I've always been a huge lover of Payless Shoes too!  When I started purchasing my own shoes in college I didn't want to spend a ton of money when trends come and go so quickly and Payless offered affordable shoes.  AND, they have ALWAYS kept up with the latest styles and trends thru the years.

With summer coming to a close, you can bet I needed to stop by and check out all of the major deals and rack up on some fabulous shoes to rock for now and for fun winter festivities.

First up, these adorable Black Quilted Slip-Ons!  Y'all, they look just like the Steve Madden version for a fraction of the cost.  So stinking cute and the perfect shoe for a casual outfit with leggings or a great shoe to transition to fall.

Speaking of Steve Madden slip-ons...I purchased this adorable Lace-up Slip-on Sneaker last year in pink and got so many compliments on them.  They were so comfortable, I even wore them home from my brain surgery.  Yep, Steve Madden has a version as well for more than double the price.  My mom loved my Payless version so much I got her a pair as well for her birthday.  You can score this adorable shoe for $24 and there are several colors to choose from.

While I haven't worn this precious Pop of Pink Pair yet, they sure caught my eye the minute I walked down the aisle.  These beauties are on sale for $15.  Talk about a fun accessory for a girls night or date night!!  And they come in several colors!!  

I know there are only a few weeks of summer left and there are only a few select sizes in this cute Platform Wedge Sandal left but you might just luck up like I did at my local Payless store.  I scored these for $15 but they're now online for $10.  That's a steal!

Another favorite are these oh, so stylish Black Suede Chunky Heels I recently wore to a fashion show (and of course I had to strike a pose).  Ha!  No one would ever know these aren't Sam Edelman's that sell for over $100!!  I scored my awesome Payless version for less than $25 and my feet didn't hurt at the end of the night.  You're welcome!

As you can see, Payless offers the trendiest of styles and most affordable shoes!  Run, don't walk to grab the cutest slip-ons, heels, and booties (my next purchase will be these adorable Peep Toe Booties) from your local Payless or purchase them online at payless.com.  Happy Shopping, friends!

Awesome August Amazon Finds

You guys know I love a good Amazon deal and my most recent finds did not disappoint.  There's tons of sunshine, summertime and pool time left to be had in the south so there's plenty of time to wear all of these cute pieces.

First up is this super cute tie front dress.  I wanted something light-weight and airy to wear to the Keith Urban concert as I knew it would be super hot and this was the PERFECT dress!  I received SO many compliments at the concert and loved telling gals that I scored it from Amazon.  Why pay designer prices when you can look just as chic for a fraction of the price.  And this dress was $19.99!  Hello, that's a no brainer!

Next up, I wanted to have Kyle a cute swimsuit for our Turks and Caicos trip and I found these navy shrimp swim trunks for $21.  Y'all these look similar to Vineyard Vines swim trunks and are more than half off the price.  If you haven't noticed, I'm all about finding a deal!

Another fun Amazon purchase - this adorable red pom pom tassel trim swimsuit!  I received so many compliments on this cute swimmy and I love that the price is less than $30.  Yes, please!  It's super flattering and can hide your tummy and covers the bum just right.  It runs a tad small so go up a size.  I've said it before and I'll say it a million times again - READ. THE. REVIEWS!  Also, I make sure to purchase items that have "free returns" as an option in case the fit isn't right.  This suit tho was an awesome Amazon find!!

Recently I wore this adorable stripe print wrap dress to church and a day of family fun.  I received numerous compliments on it and that just makes ya feel good!  I think it would be flattering on all body types because it has a cinched waist and you can tie it as tight as you'd like.  The pom poms add a fun, flirty element to it too so I think it's perfect for day or night.

A cute find for the girls was this adorable horse dress.  We headed to the rodeo last weekend and I knew the divas would love having a dress with horses on it to wear to the event.  This specific brand has tons of other appliques that are precious for every event you can think of.  From rainbows to unicorns, birds to princesses, hearts to popsicles - you name it!  The quality is great and the price is even better at less than $15! 

I love finding great pieces on Amazon, especially with Prime, because you can have it shipped directly to your doorstep in just a matter of a couple of days.  Don't forget to always check for free returns in case an item doesn't fit.  Happy shopping, friends!

July Jetted on By

Holy moly, the summer is flying by!  I wasn't able to blog in July because we were SO busy!  It was certainly filled with so many fun adventures so I wanted to make sure I documented them all. This is a long post so get ready!

A favorite July 4 tradition is to join our friends for a local neighborhood parade.  Our friend is "Lady Liberty" so that makes it even more exciting!  The kids love it and the adults enjoy catching up and sharing Bloody Mary's.  Such a fun tradition that I look forward to each year.

Then, our summer vaca finally arrived!  We had been looking forward to it for a while but surprised the girls a week before.  Turks and Caicos was everything I ever dreamed of...delish foods, gorgeous views and lots of fun in the sun!  If you're looking for a tropical vacation with tons of family friendly activities, beach access and a gorgeous pool - look no further than The Palms Turks and Caicos.  I highly recommend it!!  Send me a message if you have any questions.  I can't say enough wonderful things about this vacation!

We swam...

...enjoyed the views...

...snorkeled (first time for the girls and they did awesome!! AND Stella jumped off the side of the boat!  WHAT?!  About gave this mama a heart attack, but she loved it and did it 3 more times!)...

...tried conch...

...fed iguanas goldfish...

...loved the crystal clear waters...

...enjoyed dinners on the beach...

...kayaked and paddle boarded...

...ate our weight in chips and salsa and guacamole...

...thanked our daddy numerous times for earning these amazing trips...

...ate WAY too much yummy food (and cotton candy!)...

...had fun in the sun...

...and enjoyed our trip together as a family!

What an amazing trip that we will cherish and remember forever!  

Next up, the hubs and I went to Atlanta for the Jason Aldean, Hootie and the Blowfish, Luke Combs, and Lauren Alaina concert.  Y'all, we had the best weekend!  Several friends recommend a place for dinner called Canoe and it was wonderful!  The views were beautiful and the food was amazing!

Not only did we eat some amazing food, but the concert was phenomenal at SunTrust Park!  This was our first time seeing Luke Combs in concert and he was incredible!  And of course, I loved seeing my boy Jason Aldean!

After we returned, my friend Erica and I decided to surprise our kiddos with a beach trip together.  They were SO excited!

We loaded up the car (packed the kiddos in like sardines!) and headed to Myrtle Beach!

They had their first slumber party together,

built sand castles, 

threw flying fish, 

and surf boarded...

...til we had to literally drag them out of the ocean.  So much fun in the sun with sweet friends!

I know my girls will remember this trip forever!  They had the best time!

Last but certainly not least, we had a weekend of concerts.  We surprised the kids with Kidz Bop tickets and they were SO excited!

Then, my mom and I went to see Keith Urban and Kelsea Ballerini!  I always say "Music moves my soul!" and I definitely get it from my mama.  I took her to see Keith Urban in Nashville for her 60th birthday and he was equally as good at this show.  For the record, he deserves entertainer of the year EVERY year!  Such an amazing entertainer!

And we wrapped up the weekend by seeing Beauty and the Beast with Mimi on Sunday!

Whew, y'all, I'm slap worn out!  We have certainly had one heck of a summer that is sure gonna be hard to top.  Tons of memories have been made and I hope and pray my girls know how much I love "doing" for them.  The days might be long but the years are short and I cherish every memory I get to make with my children.  I pray they love all of these memories as much as I do!