09-30-11

Birthday love: bunting DIY

Hi Everyone! It’s La again from the blog Little Messy La. Firstly, I’d like to say a huge Happy Birthday to Lyndall. Thank you so much for all the opportunities you have given me and for being the sweetest blogger.

For my guest post, I am sharing a simple birthday DIY! Using scraps, mini pegs and some string.

Paper Birthday Bunting!

Collect some scraps of paper. I don’t know about you, but I build up a scrap drawer that I am always aiming to use up when I get a chance. I feel this is the perfect opportunity! So, take your scraps, making sure they are big enough to fufill a 10 x 10cm square (10cm is roughly 4 inches). I like to try and make my colour scheme compliment each other, if possible!

Measure 5cm (half) of the square and put a little pencil mark.

Cut from the corner to the pencil mark on both sides. I like to use my paper trimmer to ensure that it is a perfect triangle.

Attach triangles to your string using your pegs.

Display, sing happy birthday and enjoy! It’s as easy as that and is super fun to do. Adding a handmade touch to a birthday is my favourite thing to do, it lets that birthday girl/boy know that you truly love them!

09-21-11

Birthday love: fancy cakes!

Hi Royal Milk Tea readers!

I’m Kelly from Elegantly Academic. I was so excited when Lyndall asked me to do a guest post for her with a birthday theme. Whilst my own blog is predominately style based, I decided I would do a post about something else (apart from clothes) that is near and dear to my heart. Thus, after careful consideration I decided to do a post about … cake!

Third Birthday: I look a little grumpy & I am not sure why. How could I be grumpy when I have cake infront of me?

Whilst writing a post about cake might seem a little self-indulgent, bear with me. Overall, I consider cake to be pretty awesome (apologies in advance for gluten intolerent people who can’t eat cake, which includes my mum). But at birthday time cake is a little more special … well, for me anyway.

Eighth Birthday: Flouro clothing & Roger Rabbit … yep, those were the 1980s!

You see, growing up my family weren’t exactly ‘well off’. On several occassions my parents went without Christmas gifts for each other just so my brothers & I could have something to open Christmas morning. Thus, birthday presents weren’t as extravagant as they seem to be today, but we never felt like we went without as children.

Mum made this cake for my dad’s birthday, which happen to be right before we moved to Australia from England.

One thing we always looked forward to on our birthday’s was our birthday cake. My mum is a bit of a baking whizz & would always make the most creative cakes. In fact, the photos you see in this post underestimate my mum’s awesome baking abilities, which probably has something to do with the lack of time I gave her to send these photos to me so I could do this post (thanks mum!).

Making scones: then …

As a child I was lucky to have the opportunity to help my mum bake. This came in handy later in life, when being a poor student meant giving baked goods as Christmas presents (apologies to my extended family who had to endure some of my less than successful ‘experiements’).

…and now.

Today, I still like to bake … especially on birthdays and at Christmas. I also like to eat cake.

Thanks so much for reading my guest post & hopefully you enjoyed it. I would love for you to come say hello over at my blog, Elegantly Academic.

09-19-11

Birthday Love: Sarah’s wishlist

Happy Birthday Lyndall!

Hello everyone! My name is Sarah and I blog about life, adventures and art over at A Lost Feather. Lyndall asked me to share some of my birthday wish list with you all. I am not a September baby, (I can pretend!) but September may just be my favorite month anyway! Here in New York it’s time for colorful leaves, brisk air, cozy sweaters and warm boots.. where’s bad?

If my birthday was in September…

Floral Harvest Top: Modcloth
Gryffindor Scarf: Universal Studios Store
Time Turner Necklace: WB Shop
Unicorn in Captivity Pillow: MET Online Store
Fox Ring: Odette on Etsy
Deborah Lippmann Nail Polish: Cat Bird
Frye Boots: Zappos
Leather Journal: Barnes and Noble

I’m going through a bit of a Harry Potter phase right now so I’ve been dreaming about the “time turner necklace” and the Gryffindor house scarf.

The “Unicorn in Captivity” pillow can be found at the MET museum online shop.. I’ve always loved that painting and strangely enough it reminds me of college as well. I bought myself a print of the paining while I was back at school. I was so excited about it and I showed my roommate right away. She misheard what I’d said and thought I was telling her I was going to “put you in a corner in captivity” instead of “I got a print of the ‘Unicorn in Captivity.”
Good times.

Ok, I’m ready for my birthday to get here, but unfortunately I have to wait 6 more months! Actually, Lyndall’s birthday on the 26th is my half birthday! Maybe we should start celebrating half birthdays! Whose with me?

I hope you have a wonderful birthday month, Lyndall! And take care of yourself that little one in your belly! ♥

09-16-11

Birthday love: Danielle’s wishlist

Hi Royal Milk Tea Readers! I’m Danielle, and I am honored to be a guest here today. Lyndall is such a sweet lady, and a big inspiration to me. I can’t wait to meet her little one :)

Being that my birthday is also in the month of September [Happy birthday, Lyndall], I put together a little wishlist for you guys.

photos: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7

I’d love to have everything on this list, but that’d be forking over a lot of money. I’m thinking it can be my rollover birthday list! Maybe one day I’ll have them all :) Thanks again Lyndall for having me, and don’t forget to head over to my blog and say hello!

09-13-11

Birthday love: Surprise parties!

Hi Royal Milk Tea readers! I’m Lo of Little Somethings by Little Lo Hood! Lyndall has been just the sweetest blog friend. When she asked me to guest post I was honored, excited and so happy. I told her I wanted to give budget worthy tips on how to throw a birthday bash. But little did she know, I decided to throw her a surprise birthday. Like a virtual across the world surprise birthday. And you are all invited, now shout “SURPRISE!”

I’m not sure what it is but I think I have some sort of gene that compels me to throw surprise birthdays for special people. In college I threw one for a roommate and this past March I threw one for my boyfriend. It is so much fun!

Having a celebration in your home does not need to be expensive and in no way is your friend going to disown you because you threw them a bash that cost you little to nothing. Here are some fun tips for throwing a party on a budget:

? Tell guests to dress up! Sometimes it’s fun to get all dressed up for a celebration.

? Make confetti: Cut up small squares of colorful cardstock…
PS: it’s fun to take photos of your feet when the confetti has fallen. duh.

? Use items you already have. Utilize items from all over the house.

? Create little displays that make the scene super cute. I used:

• My colorful place mats
• Hand-painted mushroom vase with handmade flowers: I painted a used milk jug blue with mushrooms all over. Then I made little flowers and glued them to the end of old paint brushes.
• Vintage mugs
• A cute tray
• A couple cameras
• A birdhouse that I painted
• A colorful striped picnic container to house craft items

? Make decorations like the banners from materials you already own. (I used pink leather that I cut into circles then used embroidery thread of different colors and lengths)

I don’t know about you but any good party has a number of crafts. I know that Lyndall is a crafting soul and I thought she may like a party centered around crafting and creating. Here are a few craft suggestions:

• Chevron Tote
• Ascot Bow
• Wall Art
• Netted Stone Necklace

You can ask guests to bring their own fabric or totes or designate certain people to bring certain supplies. You are throwing the party and others should be willing to help make it wonderful! If you’re a crafter you probably already have a lot of the supplies needed anyway.

At this party there will be the following sweets:

• Mini Banoffee Pies
• Strawberry Bubble Tea
• Raw Strawberry Pie

This will be where most of your budget goes but if you keep it to a few items with similar ingredients or already have the ingredients it shouldn’t be too bad at all.

I even made Lyndall some tassel earrings from the leather I used for the banners. I hope she likes them!

A few more tips:

• Use a little board to let guests know the menu and what you will be doing. It’s just an added put-together touch.
• If you have a polaroid camera take lots of pictures throughout the party. Maybe even set up a cute backdrop for photos. But now you have lots of photos that you may just stick in some drawer. Instead string your instax photos together to make a nice banner to hang in your room so that you will always remember the fun you had with your friends.

Happy Birthday Lyndall! I hope you’ve enjoyed your surprise!