Cottage Celebration

Today is my mom's 70th birthday. On June 5, she had open heart surgery to remove a benign tumor that caused her to have a stroke last February. She is still in the hospital but improving.

 In May, the doctors moved up her surgery from July for fear that her ovarian cancer could come back, so my sister and I had only 10 days to pull off a surprise birthday party for her. We held the party in my backyard and the theme was red, white and blue cottage. My mom's favorite holiday is Independence Day thus her favorite colors! I bought 6 vintage tablecloths on ebay and rented red checked tablecloths for the tables. Some of you might recognize this chandelier from the Father/Daughter Masquerade Ball I hosted for my daughter's elementary school back in April. I gave it a fresh coat of white spray paint and added some fabric rosettes and lace.

 I bought frames from the Dollar Tree and wrapped them in ripped fabric and then hot glued chicken wire to the backs. My mom LOVES chickens because it reminds her of summers spent on her grandparents farm in Kansas. I filled the frames with some old pictures of my sister and I and Mom and Dad at my Dad's high school prom.

 I put tacks on the backs of the frames and they hung easily on the shutters.

 This is where we seved tri tip, garlic mashed potatoes, garden salad, quinoa and breadsticks for the guests.

 For the dessert table, I incorporated Mom's favorite flowers-Sweet Peas. I created unique candle holders by gluing Dollar Tree candlesticks or milkglass bud vases to the bottom of Mason jars and adding some ribbon and lace.

 I LOVE this Nantucket giant mason jar drink server from Sur la Table.

 Mom loves pies, so I made mini cherry and apple pies as well as homemade vanilla ice cream and chocolate cake and cupcakes.

 The mini corrugated cups, wooden forks and demitasse spoons are from Garnish.

 Mom loved her celebration and she was completely surprised. My daughter and I went to vist her in the hospital and brought her some lovely pink peonies and my sister made lemon cupcakes to share with the hospital staff.