Frugalista Fourth of July Ice Cream Buffet

Grab everything you've got in red, white and blue, and use it to set your buffet and 4th of July table. Nothing has to match-anything you have in patriotic colors will go together. You can mix patterns all you want...it will look great together. Once you start pulling your stuff, you will be amazed how much you can use.

I promised to put together a budget 4th of July Ice Cream Buffet so here it is....boy did I pick a hot day for this! It was 114 degrees today so I really showed some love today for my peeps. So did Maddy....she helped mommy. We got all of the Italian Ice, Red, White and Blue Pops, and Chocolate ice cream from Dollar Tree....yes $ Tree! The vanilla ice cream~ we already had.

Picked up the blue plastic buckets from Dollar Tree. Have used the red and white polka dot fabric covered boxes on a few projects... remember here and here??

Put the Red, White, and Blue pops in star cups I already owned (from $ Tree). Simple tags to display flavors. Just wrapped the cones with red scrapbook paper. Used already owned cake plate with ribbon stuck with double sided tape. The ice cream is in the large red bucket. I love this bucket. I got it at Big Lots last year for $12. I have used it for so many things. I love to buy solid red party accessories because I use it for Valentine's Day, Christmas, Memorial, Back to School and 4th of July. Of course, being a retired Marine Officer...it's great because red and gold are Marine Corps colors!!

If you don't like the ice cream brand showing, you can always cover it up with scrapbook paper. I already had the star cups and red plastic spoons...used this vice bowls for the ice cream. It works.....so use it...no need to always use an item the way it was intended...shake things up. You can find these boxes at many stores...they hold lollipops. This particular one is from Walmart. I bought a few lollipops and kept them in the box and took to the register. I always ask if it's okay to keep the box....in my case...the answer has always been yes. You can use these boxes by just adding ribbon around to cover the $1 or cover completely with fabric, wrapping or scrapbook paper. These add great height to your serving pieces on your buffet tables. In this tablescape we aren't using the box so open the box and pull out the Styrofoam inside to use. Styrofoam can be expensive...why not free? I use a very specialized tool for cutting the Styrofoam...a steak knife. Boy, I'm classy! Just cut and glue the patriotic garland around foam. No worries about covering the top...it will be covered with the ramekins holding the toppings. However, if you wanted to cover the top~ I would either use scrapbook paper, sprinkle some confetti or matching small candies on top.

For the topping labels I used drink stirrers that I found at Dollar Tree ~ 8 in a package.

Got the ramekin sauce cups ~ 3 for a dollar at $ Tree. They are really a great size for putting your toppings in. Just used permanent black marker and hand wrote items and stuck in Styrofoam.Since I celebrate the 4th every year in some way...I always purchase patriotic napkins, plates and items when I see them go on sale after Memorial Day and the July 4th. I just put them away. I end up getting these napkins last year for 20 cents a package. I used things I already had. I bought the ramekins, ice cream, Italian Ice, drink stirrers and the 2 blue buckets. So total cost for this ice cream buffet was $13.52. Hope this gave you some muses. Please share your creations!

Red and Blue Velvet Cake and Dollar Tree gone cold

My all time favorite cake is red velvet. While in the grocery store line today, I saw a Red ad Blue Velvet cake on the cover of Woman's World Magazine. I thought how unique and cool looking is that for a dessert for the 4th of July. So I knew that some amazing person in blogland would have done this already .... sure enough found this beauty from Liz at Cake or Death.

Red and Blue Velvet Cake

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1-1/2 cups buttermilk, room temperature
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons red food coloring (or more, depending on your brand)
• 2 tablespoons blue food coloring (or more, depending on your brand)
• 1 teaspoon white distilled vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

One thing I have learned ... you may not have time to make a cake from scratch but always MAKE time to make your frosting!! It tastes soooooooo much better than the can! Plus it really isn't that hard.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1 pound cream cheese, softened
• 2 sticks butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar

For the cake:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray two 9" cake pans and line them with parchment.In a medium mixing bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. In a large mixing bowl gently beat together the oil, buttermilk, eggs, vinegar, and vanilla. Add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth and thoroughly combined, scraping down the sides several times. Divide the batter in half and gently fold the red food coloring into half, and the blue into the other half. Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for about 20 to 22 minutes, turning the pans once, half way through. Test the cakes with a toothpick for doneness. Remove from oven and cool completely before frosting.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. Add the sugar and on low speed, beat until incorporated. Increase the speed to high and mix until light and smooth.

The fondant stars are actually marshmallow fondant that Liz made and the recipe is here.

I went into my usual favorite Dollar Tree today and things were moved around...I was like...what is going on?? To my surprise, they have added a Dairy & Frozen food section. WHAT??? What frozen and dairy food could be a dollar???? ...it must be all no name brands, right??? I was shocked at the stuff that was in the coolers!! Maybe where you live ... you already had this??? I spotted these red, white and blue pops and they reminded me of my childhood Fourth of July holidays. My mom always bought these and watermelon...every 4th of July. Eight for a dollar---good deal!

Then I spotted Italian ice and Icee brand so you know what I'm thinking???? It was a sign for me to do a budget ice cream Fourth of July buffet and share it with my peeps...just in case you wanted to add a little something extra to your 4th festivities!! (on a budget of course)

I will post the budget 4th of July Ice Cream buffet tomorrow.

Vintage Carnival Party

This is the second vintage party featured in a week and I am in LOVE with this Vintage Carnival theme party for a little 1 year old cutie!! Sarah from For The Love is the wonderfully talented and creator of this soiree and mommy to the birthday boy!! Sarah is a girl after my own heart!! She uses dollar bins, thrift stores and repurposes items for party decor.....sounds just like ME!!!

This entire party only cost Sarah a little over $100! Circle banners were made with string, paper and a glue gun, and the pennants are made from newspaper. A little green, and a little different. Genius!!

She made over 2 dozen pinwheels from boyish and coordinating papers. Sarah also used an already damaged Dr. Seuss book for some of them and finished each off with a vintage button. All her containers were found in thrift stores for $1 or less and reused cans.

Frames were another thrift store find with printed phrases.

She bought a roll of blank tickets for around $2 and used them throughout her decor! For the cupcake toppers she just glued a printed E onto the back of a ticket!

The cupcake tray was made for under $5 with plates and candle holders from the thrift store.

Favor bags were topped with scrapbook favors and more of the damaged Dr. Seuss books.

Those who really know me KNOW I so do this....Sarah saw these boxes at the dollar store holding some caramel corn and knew that they would be perfect to hold the popcorn containers for her son's party. So she asked the manager for them.

How ADORABLE is this Ferris wheel built from vintage Tinker Toys??? Sarah was given them at a yard sale. I need to go shopping with you my thrifting sista!!

Don't you LOVE this banner made using pages from letter books, and vintage/whimsical circus images??

I really love, love, love this party and all of the wonderful and personal details done by this super duper talented mommy!! Check out her blog here for many more party details!!

Bonkers for Burlap Banners

As you know banners are everywhere! I am really loving these burlap banners. This would be a really easy DIY project with some stencils and ink. Burlap is such an inexpensive material. It has a rustic quality but I think these banners look chic.

Cute and easy project for birthday banner.

{image credits: funkyshique}

Vintage Circus Party

I am loving this fresh color combo of fuchsia and yellow! Also LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the ruffles on the tablecloth!! This beautiful dessert display for a vintage circus theme birthday party was sent to me from Kristina of Modern Frills.

Loving this simplistic cake with the polka dot fondant and little flag bunting! Too cute! Kristina said that she will be sharing the details of the bunting on her blog very soon.

More bunting on cookie dish.

Look at those cookies with the theme colors!

The favor was pink cotton candy flavored popcorn. One of my favorite things to eat and give away as favors as well is gourmet popcorn. If you live in the Phoenix area ~ I get mine from Pappa Maize....love them and I love their popcorn!! Tell them that Maddycakes sent you!

Check out more details at Modern Frills Blog.

Thanks Kristina for sharing this with us....simply beautiful with great details. I'm sure your beautiful daughter Ava is still talking about it! Many blessings to you and to the continued success of your Etsy business!!

Library Card Invites

I think this library card invitation is too cute! Found this over at You Are My Fave for a book themed baby shower. Would also be perfect for a book club night. To make you can purchase library cards and pockets (or make yourself), use card stock, pages from old children's books, a date stamp and a good old fashioned typewriter. If you don't have one...I'm sure you can find one at the library. (I think)

1,000 Followers Contest

For my birthday, I am having a Breakfast at Tiffany's theme this year. S0 you've been wondering what to get me, right???? Losing many hours of sleep...I know. Well, how about real Tiffany jewelry??? NO, what I really want is 1,000 followers by my birthday, August 14th!!

And I'll give you the Tiffany jewelry! Yes, you heard right when I reach 1,000 followers one lucky winner will win the above. I just love the Tiffany Keys Heart Key Charm so that will be my birthday gift to you ~ Tiffany blue velvet pouches and Tiffany blue bags and all!!

To enter this FAB contest for TIFFANY JEWELRY:

1. Become a follower. (worth 1 entry)

2. Already a follower than let me know in comments plus ~ I am currently working on updating my business website and this blog. I am so interested in what you would like to see more of or less of (don't worry you won't hurt my feelings- I have thick skin- 21 years in Marines, remember??). So tell me your thoughts on what you would like to see more or less of, things you would like to add or delete. (worth 1 entry for already being a follower and an additional entry if you leave a comment regarding MM)- so a possible of 2 entries!

3. Tell your friends about MM and if they become followers have them put your name in comment for suggesting the site to them. Your friends will be entered into contest and you will be entered twice! It's a win/win!!

Your friend who becomes follower (worth 1 entry-for them)

Your friend puts your name in the comment for referral (worth 2 entries-for you)

4. Post a link of this contest (on your blog, Twitter, Facebook, etc) and leave a separate comment with the URL. If you post in multiple locations please leave a separate comment for each URL. (1 entry per link)

The goal is to reach 1,000 by my birthday but will extend until end of August. The sooner MM reachs 1,000 the sooner someone will be gifted the Tiffany!!

Contest will end on midnight, August 31st... so help me reach 1,000. Thanks my peeps!

When Life hands you Lemons- Have a Party!

My gal pals over at Haute Apple Pie sent me over this sweet not sour (I know corny) lemonade themed bridal shower. Lemonade is always something that I connect with summer. Remember the baby shower here that I used lemonheads and lemons as well?? Each table centerpiece used a clear glass vessel, including a pitcher, cake plate, bucket and bowl. Lemons, purchased in bulk from CostCo, were placed in each centerpiece alongside small bunches of Sweet William flowers, from a local farmer’s market, in clear glass cruets.

Sometimes it is just great to keep things simple. Case in point ~each place setting held a simple lemon with a stick pin flag name tag.

I love this idea to give each guest a mason jar of ingredients along with a recipe to make lemonade cookies. A fresh batch of the lemonade cookies was placed on a small lemon plate for tasting before taking the jars home. For more 411 on this cute lemon inspired shower go here. Thanks so much HAP for sending this my way. Many blessings! Got home late tonight due to us going to "The Greatest Show on Earth". We were only a couple of rows up from the floor so of course Madison couldn't understand why she couldn't go out on the floor with the "people"...as she kept saying. When I asked Madison what was her favorite thing at the circus....her response.....the big poop from the elephants! Gosh, should have saved some money and went to the zoo! LOL

Alice in Wonderland Tea Party

I love seeing various versions of the Alice in Wonderland theme parties that I have seen around the blogosphere. My girl Rileigh from Blue Satin Sashes did not disappoint with her interpretation of this theme. Rileigh not only gives fab parties but has the most beautiful photography. I need some serious photography lessons. I think it is so precious when you use kid height tables for kids parties. Rileigh decoupaged the clock with scrapbook paper. The bottles used to hold pickled veggies (don't you own at least one~ I know I do~ what are you really supposed to do with those...eat it or just for display????) They dumped out the veggies and filled with colored water.

The 3 moms who put together this tea party used various items from their own dishes. That is a great way to save on money...ask your friends and neighbors to use various things. Why buy or rent when you can just borrow?

The girls little tea sets came from IKEA.

We haven't seen the new Disney Alice in Wonderland. Maddy is too young and would be afraid. She got scared when I was reading the book so looking forward to seeing it one day. Thanks Rileigh for sharing this party with us. Just WONDERful. Too see more go to her blog here.