Do you remember any of your high school graduation gifts?

 This time of year has me thinking about all the families who have someone graduating from high school, college, or graduate school. I do not have anyone graduating this year, but was thinking back to my own high school graduation (in 1979, yikes talk about time going too quickly!).  Times have changed as have graduate needs especially with all the technology (our kids really can't imagine that no one even had PC's in our college years, and the computer we used for computer programing class was so large it was housed in its own building!) I know that my family and friends were very generous and gave me thoughtful and useful gifts to mark my graduation, but only one gift that I received do I still have and use today. 

The sewing box that I received for high school graduation, and didn't think was a very exciting gift at the time, but now really appreciate that it has endured as the one I still remember and use!

This sewing box with just the basic assortment of thread, needles, and a few items used for hemming or repairs was given to me by a neighbor and is still in use 33 years later! Probably because my sewing skills never progressed beyond basic repairs, this did the job.

Next I text-ed my three children, all high school graduates, about what was their favorite high school grad gift:

My text: "Hey, I'm working on my blog post, what was your favorite or most useful high school grad gift?

My 23 year old son replied: "Mom, you have a blog?" 
 Then (granted he is an engineer):    "A tool kit, very useful"

My 21 year old son, always a man of few words replied: "cooler"

I actually talked with my 19 year old daughter who said: The several sets of monogram towels she received are her most used gifts!

Let me know if you remember any of your high school graduation gifts!

In closing I have to mention our line of graduation announcements. Times have changed and rather than just the standard graduation announcement available through the school there are lots of options for announcements. Some include photos and space to let your family and friends know where you will be headed next.

Check out the Little Lamb Design Graduation Announcements, and have a great day!

Stella

Baby Showers and Baby Bites

30% off ALL Little Lamb Design Baby Shower invitations. Now through April 2nd!

I am so excited that we are currently offering a sale on our Baby Shower invitations, and it makes me think of all things cute and fun! Which leads me to share my absolute favorite little cakes in Birmingham.  We have some pretty great bakeries and cup cake shops in Birmingham, Alabama and my daughter and I are big fans of cup cakes so we have sampled them all! But I have to share my absolute favorite is a treat called Baby Bites by Pastry Art Bake Shoppe. 

Pastry Art has fantastic wedding and specialty cakes, but they are famous for their 1" Baby Bites. I don't know how they do it, but something about their little cakes are so moist and flavorful, and topped off with just the right amount of icing (not like the 2" of icing that some bakeries add to their cup cakes). I don't know their secret, but would venture to guess that it is the use of the freshest highest quality ingredients, all combined via some sort of mystery recipe into 2 blissful bites.

Sweet Nest Invitation shown with chocolate, marble and red velvet Baby Bites!

Of course it was a great excuse for me to head over to Pastry Art and get a few Baby Bites to shoot for these photos! But they are so delectable that just one (or two!) are enough to satisfy.  Something this small can't be bad, right? You don't have to wait for your next Baby Shower; I have given them as a pick me up for friends, and served for dessert for all sorts of get-togethers.

This Forest Invitation is one my favorites, and even better with strawberry and vanilla Baby Bites!

I hope you have some small treat that makes your day today! Stella

Popcorn!

Little Lamb Design Popcorn and Movie invitation has been popular for all ages, as well as corporate events.

With all the talk of the Oscars last week I have had popcorn and movies on my mind. I haven't psyched myself up yet to see The Artist, even though everyone that sees it gives it a fantastic review. When I want to really relax and go to the movies I seem to be more drawn to a good action movie I can get lost in, like Safe House with Denzel Washington.  I give it a two thumbs up! I guess my movie taste is more like enjoying Bruce Springsteen over Opera!

Which brings me to the popcorn! I have been trying to eat healthier lately, and so was checking out some options with popcorn.  Below is a recipe I found for "Popcorn Trail Mix" on the GoodLifeeates website. So I decided to give it a whirl.  I whipped it up last night and snapped this photo before we all (4 of us) sampled it!

1 envelope Orville Redenbacher Natural Simply Salted 50% Less Fat, popped
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
2/3 cup raw, unsalted almonds
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup diced dried apricots

Pop the corn, toss with the cinnamon, then combine with the other ingredients.

My conclusion is this is definitely a healthy snack that satisfies you when you want something crunchy that wont weigh you down!  It was however a little lacking in flavor. The nuts and dried fruit were delicious but the popcorn just doesn't pack a punch without a little butter and salt! 

I think I will have to on occasion stick with just a little movie popcorn. We have the bucket that you buy once a year and refill for just a few dollars! We never have them fill it all the way up, but just get a little in there as it is even cheaper than a small, AND has the added benefit of really EMBARRASSING our children when we tote the bucket to the theater! 

I hope you get to enjoy the movie of your choice soon! Stella

Were our parents more glamorous?

Wedding photo of my parents leaving their 1950 ceremony.

I ran across some old photos the other day, and am struck by how my parents and their friends look so glamorous.  I'm not sure if it is the timeless quality of black and white or if they genuinely dressed nicer, but they seem so much more charismatic than the photos I have of myself and my friends at the same age. Even their photos from trips to the beach in their bathing suits (which my mother would have thanked me for not putting on the Internet!) seem charming and classy.

My parents on their honeymoon at Pat O'Briens in New Orleans.
I have a similar  photo of my husband and I at about the same age, but we don't look elegant! 

And one last photo I have to share.  Below is a photo of President Calvin Coolidge. The year is around 1924 and he is greeting Walter Johnson the Hall of Fame Washington Senator's baseball pitcher. Even sporting events back in the day seemed classy.  Ties for the men, dresses for women, hats for both, and note no one has disposable drink or food containers in hand. 

President Coolidge known to be a man of very few words is all decked out for a
baseball game where he greets Walter Johnson.

I can't resist mentioning if you have some old photos either classy and elegant or just dated and funny pull them out and use them on your next invitation.  Below are some Little Lamb Design invitations that have some fun with old photos.

IV137 is available in lots of different versions and can be a great use with that dated photo!

Little Lamb Design IV142 is perfect for an anniversary party.

Have a great day, Stella