I am totally obsessed with hot air balloons. There, I said it. I think it started with the line “I’m a hot air balloon” etc. from “Happy” by Pharrell Williams (yeah, I know, it’s a cliché, but I do love that song). After that I bought this incredible dress titled “haute air balloons” from ModCloth (the people who name the items at ModCloth have the best job in the world!). I would be wearing that dress right now if I hadn’t gained a few pounds over the summer (I will start loosing them next week! I will, I will!). I even crocheted several hot air balloons, but they seem to have magically disappeared (floated away into space maybe?), so the post and pattern for those will have to wait a bit.

So, you may remember that I got a cross stitch phone cover for my birthday half a million years ago? I couldn’t decide what to embroider on it, so I waited and waited and waited and then bam! I realized that a hot air balloon would be perfect. I told you I’m obsessed.

Last week* was my 32nd birthday. I really wanted to do something nice, with decorations and party favors and a theme! Oh boy, did I want a theme. I really wanted something that would mean something to me personally.

I decided to go with a “Girl Power” theme, with some of my favorite strong female figures, like: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Powerpuff Girls, Elle Woods (from Legally Blonde) and also Alicia Keys, Beyoncé and maybe a few others.

Unfortunately, I’ve been having quite a busy month, and didn’t have enough time to get everything ready. So instead, I was left with some very pink and girly decorations and party favors, but I don’t think the guests minded too much.

Menu

• Vegetable sticks with tehina(sesame paste).
• A basic vegetable salad with cucumbers & tomatos with some radish for added interest (and taste) and a lemon-olive oil dressing.
• Tomato & mozzarella salad with a basil-olive oil dressing.
• Grilled peppers (yellow & red).
• “Surprise” salad: green leaves, pairs and sugar coated pecan with a honey-mustard dressing. This salad was an absolute hit – everyone loved it (don’t tell them it’s the easiest salad to make).
• Some (store bought) whole wheat bread and home made garlic bread.
• Vanilla sponge cake with chocolate frosting (yum!)