Cupcakes and Water Art at University Village

University Village, an outdoor shopping mall in Seattle's University District, used to be an outdated, dreary place. Over the past 15 years, it's been totally reinvented into a destination shopping experience, with high-end retailers, chic coffee shops and restaurants, gorgeous flower baskets, pots, greenery, sculptures, and water features. It's a place where people young and old want to spend time shopping, meeting friends, dining, and relaxing.

Yesterday it was my go-to place for birthday party supplies for my youngest including cupcakes from Trophy Cupcake. I love, love, love the Coconut Snowball cupcake--little piece of heaven! We brought home several to share and sample after dinner that night at Blue C Sushi (her favorite restaurant). Normally I bake her favorite cupcakes for her birthday party (and still will), but it seemed like a fun surprise to try some of the fabulous ones at Trophy such as Red Velvet, Hummingbird, Triple Chocolate, Chocolate Graham Cracker, Tiger Tail, and of course Snowball. She was delighted, and we all enjoyed sampling them.

On the way to the cupcake store, we walked by the sweetest water sculpture/fountain which was comprised of 6 bronze frogs spouting water at different intervals and then all together. It is so sweet to see and especially to watch the delight and squeals of little children as they notice one, then another, and another frog spout water from its mouth to the other frogs. Wish I had one in my back yard!

Recycled Plastic Water Bottles Make Amazing Anthropologie Flower Display

They've done it again! The creative geniuses behind the window and store displays at Anthropologie have come up with an outstanding and gorgeous store decor--Recycled plastic water bottles. It looks like they put drops of paint in plastic water bottles and shook or spun them to coat them with an array of bright colors, cut them in half and made flower petals out both halves, and hung them by the hundreds from the ceiling of their store. The combined effect is truly lovely--a hanging garden! It's a must-see. Plus, there are many great finds at their annual summer sale!

Another blog I just found that has the prettiest pictures and ideas is called a creative mint. I just love putting flowers--whatever's blooming--from my back yard into little cups or jars or a glassybaby to make a sweet centerpiece for my tables inside or on my patio.
 Icelandic Poppies and a Birthday
Isn't this just so sweet?!?


The colors are so bright and cheery.

Flowers from my garden in a Glassybaby--always pretty!

Mint Julep Recipe

I found this downloadable Mint Julep recipe from Amy Ormond. They'd be fun to make for a cocktail party or when friends stop by for a visit. I think I'll try these tonight on the patio when I get home with some fresh mint from my garden that I often use in flower arrangements--and of course it smells so good!