Tie-dye cupcakes... why not?

My 5-year-old decided he wanted a glow party for his birthday...  so we quickly became the house of all things fluorescent, colorful, and/or neon.  In our attempt to stay vibrant, I discovered DIY tie-dye cupcakes, described below:

1. Make a batch of white cake batter (I used Aldi brand cake mix- do what works for you)
2. Separate into 6 bowls and add food color drops as follows
1. Red: 12-15 drops red food coloring
2. Orange: 5 drops yellow + 2 drops red
3. Yellow: 7-10 drops yellow
4. Green: 7-10 drops green OR 9 drops yellow + 2 drops blue
5. Blue: 12-15 drops blue
6. Purple: 7 drops red + 2 blue
3. Line cupcake pans with tins and drop batter in by spoonfuls...  I did red first, then orange, etc.  Have fun with this- it is not a science, it's an art form! 
4. Bake according to recipe directions
5. Frost with fun colors
6. Warn guests with dye allergies ;)

My best friend's wedding...

Today is an incredible day because my long time best friend is getting married...  And certainly when a best friend gets married, it's important to give something a little more personal than money.  So, I remembered a long ago shower gift I saw and called up my good friend Google to help me out with this one, wishing the newlyweds a lifetime of happiness together, as symbolized by candles.

To our favorite couple, wishing you love forever!
An explanation of our gift....
A basket of candles that come in a pair,
Of all different colors for you two to share.
The white ones burn first, they are wrapped in white lace,
To celebrate your fist married night in your place.
The burgundy pair is the color of wine,
Burn these when friends come over to dine.
The blue pair will burn for eight winter nights,
To celebrate your first married Festival of Lights.
There are candles to burn Christmas Eve before bed,
While waiting for Santa- that's why they are red.
The black candles are for your first married fight,
Use them to burn while you make up all night!
Two pink candles will pave the way
And add romance to your first married Valentine's Day.
Now when your first year of marriage is through,
The ivory pair will light up for you two.
Eventually we hope that maybe, just maybe,
The pink and the blue will honor your baby.
And just when you thought you could put these away,
Light the lavender pair for your fifth anniversary day.
Now just one pair left, the big twenty-five,
The anniversary pair that keeps love alive.
So congrats bride and groom, on the start of forever
May the two of you always be happy together.