Video: Disneyland Paris

We took Ariana for her 4th Birthday (in November) to Disneyland Paris. It was magic. 

Pure Magic. 

I made a little video. I don't video a lot, it's one of those things I want to start doing more so this video is not as magical as our time there but it is what it is. Enjoy!

Disneyland Birthday from Catherine Murton on Vimeo.

28th Birthday, 28 Random Things

Today I'm posting 28 random facts about myself to celebrate my 28th birthday which was a few days ago.

I celebrated my 28th Birthday on August 5th. It was the first time in the past 3 years I have been able to celebrate with my husband and it was nice. We went to a fun local crepe restaurant for lunch and then went swimming in the afternoon. For dinner we got dressed up and went out to Bonefish Grill. I got some lovely presents from my family and it was a nice day with all of them.

My favorite gift was the beautiful diamond earrings from my husband!

Here is a list of 28 random things you might not know about me.

1. I don't tan, I freckle. 
2. I have a thing for frogs, I always look for them. I love to hold them.
3. I used to be obsessed with TY Beanie Babies and collected about 50 of them.
4. My favorite magazine to read is Food Network Magazine and I almost always read it cover to cover.
5. I only get my hair cut about every 6 months or so instead of the 8 weeks I used to get it cut.
6. I have a certificate in dog grooming. I don't miss it.
7. I used to work in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. I do miss it...
8. I love boiled peanuts and sweet tea.
9. One of my absolute favorite books is Tuck Everlasting. Read it when I was in maybe 7th grade and fell in love.
10. Target is my Disneyland.
11. I use a french press for my coffee at home.
12. My favorite thing to treat myself is a facial and I've only had 2.
13. I love key lime pie ice cream.
14. I shared my first kiss with a boy when I was 14.
15. I once decided to become vegetarian right before Thanksgiving and didn't make turkey.
16. It's a pet peeve of mine when people text on the phone when you are talking to them or have limited time with them.
17. I hate it when commercials make me want to buy a product I know I don't need.
18. I think Escargot is actually delicious despite the fact that I used to have pet snails.
19. Paris is my favorite city. It's magic
20. I miss having dogs but sometimes I miss having cats more.
21. I hate going bra shopping and going to the dentist about the same.
22. I love sending and receiving Christmas/Holiday cards.
23. I don't see how people drink Mountain Dew, it's like neon green?!
24. I got married when I was 19, and I'm still married to the same wonderful guy!
25. Twirling my hair is still my bad habit. Especially when I'm nervous or anxious.
26. I'm a planner and like to make lists, especially to-do lists.
27. I love exploring old castles and imagining what life was life for the people who used to live in them.
28. Sometimes I still feel 19 around my husband. I think that's a good thing.

Birthday in a Box! {DIY}

The 'birthday in a box' idea came to me when I was trying to think of something creative to send to my sister for her birthday in June. I have no idea if it's been done before or not. I love surprising my friends and family with creative things for their birthday's/holidays. The year of my sister's 21st birthday I mailed her 21 booze/party/21 related cards in the mail for her to open one each day, the 21 days leading up to her birthday. That was fun! This year since we're trying to save money (21 cards was expensive) I decided to do mail her something fun. 

I'm going to be honest here. I was relying on the postal services between Germany and the United States and I wasn't sure how balloons would react to be mailed/flown overseas. Luckily all but 2 made it, those two deflated.

STEP 1: Gather your supplies. A big box, balloons, money, glitter, tissue paper, confetti, funnel and packing materials. I made confetti by hole punching colorful paper and used gold glitter.

STEP 2: Fold your money into tiny squares and put them inside your balloons. This may take some patience. 

STEP 3: Using a funnel, put the glitter and confetti into the balloons. Blow your balloons up and tie them off. Remember they'll take up a lot of space in your box, experiment with sizes.

 STEP 4: Tape a pin into a card with a clever message. The glitter will go everywhere so warn them not to do it inside unless you want them to have to clean up a mess. (I added glitter inside my card too)

See results of pin vs balloon below.

 (My husband helped me test it out in the backyard to see how the glitter would fly.)

STEP 5: Fill your box with balloons, colorful tissue paper (and bubble wrap if you'd like, I did) and mail it off. Or drop it off at your friends doorstep, either way they're sure to be delightfully surprised!

Viola! There you have it! I fun birthday in a box!

Happy Birthday Hubby!

Dear Muffin,

Today is your 28th birthday. I know you pretend not to like that I make a big deal about birthdays but secretly I think you enjoy it. (I know I rocked last years with the Amazing Race Style Hunt around Florence Italy) This year I only have one surprise present for you since your big presents (paintball gun, accessories and a vacation) were chosen by you in advance. I know I usually fret and say things like "I hope you like your present", but this year I know you will! It's something you've been asking for, for a while now. I have an awesome dinner planned for you (3 things from my pinterest food board, and 1 family favorite). It's going to be good. Your cake will be awesome too! A 3 layer, 3 different frosting Boss Cake! Then, in a few days we'll be celebrating again in Cyprus! Happy Birthday Babe! You make me the luckiest girl in the whole world! I hope you have a wonderful 29th year of life!

All my love,
Cupcake

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Ariana's Birthday Interview and Party

Sunday, Ariana turned 3 years old. 

It was a really emotional week for me, having a 2 year old has been so much fun and it was bittersweet to see her becoming a big girl and celebrating her birthday without her Daddy here was hard on us.

My Aunt is here visiting and our friends Andrew and Viky came to visit us for the weekend. We kept the party small and low key and it was pretty perfect that way!

She was treated like a little princess all day and wore a pretty butterfly crown practically from breakfast until dinner!

She helped me decorate her blue Ariel cake that she requested. And she loved having Happy Birthday sung to her and blowing out her candles.

People from all over the world sent her cards and gifts in the mail and she loved every one of them. She got to Skype with Grammy, Aunt Sarah and Daddy!

Happy Birthday our little love girl!

The night before her birthday I interviewed her. Here's how it went down.

Mommy: Do you know what tomorrow is?

Ariana: Yes.

Mommy: What is it?

Ariana: MY BIRTHDAY!!!

Mommy: Yes, your Birthday! Do you know how old you are going to be?

Ariana: 3 years old!

Mommy: What is your favorite food?

Ariana: mmm....chicken

Mommy: Oh yea, you do love chicken. What is your favorite color?

Ariana: Red.

Mommy: You told me it was green.

Ariana: No, it's red.

Mommy: Ok, that's fine. What is your favorite toy?

Ariana: Hole Bunny (a bunny with a hole in his paw)

Mommy: Aww you love Hole Bunny!

Ariana: Yes I do (giving him a big squeeze)

Mommy: And what is your favorite thing to do?

Ariana: Play, wiggle, laugh.

Mommy: Yep, ok my little 2 year old, let's hop in bed.

Ariana: Ok my little....wait, how many are you?

Mommy: Just call me Mommy.

My Birthday

I spent my 27th birthday with my family. Well, most of my family. My sister and mother had to work, Ariana had preschool that morning, and Richard was already back in Germany for pre-deployment preparation. Deployments have to ruin everything. 

Basically I spent the morning, running to preschool, back home because I had forgotten her book-bag, back to preschool, to the post office to mail my friend a package, back to preschool and back home again. After lunch I tried to get Ariana to nap (without success) and finally gave up and decided to spend the afternoon in the pool. 

A family friend was visiting but she left to pick my mom up from work since I'd had her car and since it was Friday and she was suppose to get off work at 3. At 3:15 I was soaking up some sunshine in the pool with Ariana. We swam for an hour or so, then came inside to take showers and get ready for dinner out. 

Once everyone was ready to go, we enjoyed a nice dinner at Bonefish Grill. I myself enjoyed TWO black-cherry-agave-mojitos and reveled in the fact that it was my special night and I wasn't driving!

Dinner over, it was bath and bedtime for Ariana. Of course even though she could have had Grammy or Aunt Sarah or even Nancy, nope she wanted me.  Then it was cupcake time. We opened to cupcakes only to find they had been attacked by ants. Boo! Because everyone had worked early that morning they all ended up going to bed fairly early and I stayed up and watched Romeo and Juliet on DVD alone.

Birthday's aren't as much fun when you're a grown up. A 27 year old grown up to be exact.

I think the highlight of my day was the fact that Ariana sang the Happy Birthday song to me no less than 27 times. I loved it! That girl already gets that birthdays are a big deal!

But all the end of the day, I did get a new rocking outfit, new nail polish, a gift card and some fun accessories from everyone. And of course you saw what my husband got me, even though that was almost 2 weeks late!

Birthdays. Everyone has one.

Today is my BIRTHDAY!!

In case you didn't know, today is my birthday! 

I plan to strictly follow the rules of this poster today! :-)

Happy Birthday to ME!

::image source::

Make a wish baby!

Close your eyes and make a wish!

Today is my sweet husbands birthday!
I hope all your wishes come true babe.
xoxoxoxo

One of my fun photography obsessions this Spring was blowing dandelions all over our yard.

I'm sure my neighbors really appreciated that.

Oh well.

To the love of my life, I'm hoping you  have asuper-duper-excellent-most-awesome-est birthday of all birthdays!

Happy Birthday Muffin!

Love forever,

Cupcake

Ariana's 2nd Birthday Party!

Ariana turned 2! 

We threw a cute My Little Pony party for her. 

She absolutely loved it!

(And so did I haha!)

**Scroll down to bottom for "What's in my bag?" game!!**

We had a great party, met a lot of great new friends, and had A LOT of fun!

Here are some of the snapshots of the day. 

With help from my friend Maggie (who mailed me the little ponies for on top). I made Ariana a cute pony cake!

 I seriously loved her little cupcake party dress!

One of her sets of balloons! There is nothing like lots of  balloons at a party!

Party food and heart shaped plates.

 Goody bags and blow-outs for the kids!

 Decorations

 Blowing out her #2 candle!

 Frosting faced happy little girl!

 Ariana's audience while opening her presents LOL!

 We gave her a pram for her babies!

 All the little girls loved it! Haidyn, Emma and Ariana. SO CUTE!!!

 Her party loot. NOT including the gifts from our parents, family, friends etc from back in the states. She opened all those fun things on her actual birthday.

It was such a fun party. 

I'm glad there was such a great turnout since we are still very new here and still meeting people. 

Thanks for making Ariana's 2nd birthday special!

xo's

Cat

P.S. Let's play a little game called ...

"What's in my (goody) bag!"

hehe!!!

(Clockwise from top)

-MLP glitter stickers

-gummy candy

-lollipop

-crayons

-more stickers

-MLP notepad

-MLP bubble necklace

I LOVE BIRTHDAY PARTIES!!!!!

Birthday Shenanigans!!

 I love birthdays!!! 

Movies, presents, owls, fondue, cupcakes, loveliness!! 

I finally got around to putting my birthday pics on my computer AND blogging them! 

Fun, fun day!!

I wore my cupcake shoes!

Went to see Inception (AMAZING!!!!!)

My sister Sarah painted cupcakes  and polka dots on my nails! Isn't she talented!?! (I got to keep the new colors as a present! Love them!)

Getting ready to go out for dinner.

At the Melting Pot! I love this restaurant!

Aunt Lavon and Nancy.

We fondued!!

Sandi and Fariborz

My lovely new earrings!

Trying on my new earrings! (note I'm already wearing my new camera ring and bracelet!)

Wowzers, I LOVE my new owl wallet!!

And new purse to match!

Cupcake presents!

Custom cupcakes from Rum Runners to match my nails!!!! How AWESOME!!

Making a wish!

Then, that weekend, my bestie Maggie came to visit and we spent the day downtown to celebrate our birthdays (3 days apart)!! Walking around, looking at art galleries, drinking beer, eating amazing pizza, shopping the craft fair, and dashing in the fountain to cool off!

All in all, a super fun birthday!

I'm STILL waiting on my present from my hubby. He ordered it from Indonesia and there has been some shipping difficulties. They should be straightened out and I should be getting it soon. I can't wait to find out what it is!!

xo's

Cat

♥♥♥