Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Holidays. Show all posts
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Easter-Inspired Pastels Wedding Mood Board
I was in the store recently and I felt inspired by all of the
beautiful Easter pastel colors to create this wedding inspiration board. Enjoy!
Monday, March 18, 2013
Inexpensive Flower Pot Centerpieces
As fun as throwing parties and entertaining cab be, it can also get expensive. I’m always intrigued by the use relatively inexpensive and ordinary objects to create interesting party décor. Here are some pretty creative uses I found for using flower pots as centerpieces.
For a Thanksgiving centerpiece, these pots were spray painted black and decorated with card stock and felt.
For a Thanksgiving centerpiece, these pots were spray painted black and decorated with card stock and felt.
An urn and large dry branches were used to create this
amazing Halloween centerpiece, although a flower pot could have been easily
substituted.
Flower pots filled with moss were also used to create the
bases for these pretty Easter jellybean topiaries.
Hurricane candles surrounded by greenery inside mini
flower pots helped bring together this beautifully rustic Christmas centerpiece.
Here they stuck flags and white lollipop sticks with
Patriotic cutouts in a metal tub to create this festive 4th of July piece.
A chocolate bouquet was made using chocolate melts and heart
and flower shaped molds.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
St. Patrick's Day Party Ideas
Even though I'm not Irish per se, I'll use any excuse to throw a party. Check out my party inspiration items for a Sláinte filled St. Patrick's Day Celebration.
There is nothing a little green food coloring can't fix.
There is nothing a little green food coloring can't fix.
What a fun and healthy lunch! That hat is a PB&J Sandwich
created by tinting apple jelly with a drop of green food coloring and applying
it to the outside of the sandwich with the peanut butter inside.
This lucky spinach quiche was made by molding disposable aluminum pans to look like 4 leaf clovers.
Learn how to make this Shamrock Juice with
simple ingredients such as pineapple juice, sparkling
lemonade, sparkling white grape juice lime popsicles, & green apples.
Make your own pot of gold with just a few supplies. The
Easter grass is so seasonal this time of year!
Finger Paint is Great!
Check out this amazing St. Patrick’s Day Party Table
Even if you're not Irish everyone could use an excuse to smooch :)
Finally, send them off with wishes for a charmed life.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Tips for a Romantic Homemade Valentine’s Dinner
Hey fellas, this one is for you. I realize that not all of
you make Valentine’s Day a big to-do; and that’s o.k. Sometimes a small
romantic gesture can go a long way. Having said this, I know a lot of you will
try preparing a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner for your boo’s—which is great.
I also happen to know that while often your hearts are in the right place,
there are 2 major common pitfalls that many men face when attempting romantic
Valentine’s Day feats: 1) lack of preparation and 2) overlooking important
details. Cover these two bases and you should be able to achieve the
spectacular reaction you had in mind. The Here are some tips to help:
Preparation
While procrastination gets even the best of us, when
preparing a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner try to start planning at least 1
week ahead.
1.
At least five days ahead make your menu
selections and research recipes if you need to. There are many great websites
food recipes. Don’t get hung up on the “special Valentine’s Day” recipes that
you find out there. Be smart and know your limitations—if you’re a great cook
than go for it! But if sounds too advanced for you kitchen skill-set than opt
for something simpler or think about her favorite foods. A little
experimentation is good, but this is not the time to completely wing it.
2.
Read your recipe from start to finish before you
begin and familiarize yourself with it. Are there cooking methods or
ingredients that you’re not familiar with? If so do a little research, find out
what they are. Most recipes tell you how long they take to prepare, if it’s
your first time add about 20-30 minutes for a more realistic estimate of how
long it will take you to finish. Is there prep work involved? Do you have to
let something marinate for a period of time? Is there a lot of chopping or
other type of ingredient preparation involved? These are all things you should
at least have an idea about before you get started.
3.
Remember cleaning up is part of the process.
What’s the point of wowing her with an amazing meal if she’ll be stuck cleaning
up your mess afterwards. Leave time for cleanup both before and after the meal
(very important).
Details
While the food is
obviously important, don’t overlook the importance of ambiance and presentation.
These two things can go a long way in turning an otherwise o.k. dinner into an
amazing and romantic “experience”. Heck even if you cheat a little and buy the
food instead of making it yourself you can really sell it if you ace this part.
1.
Ambiance. French; spelled [am-bee-uh ns], noun,
the mood, character, quality, tone, atmosphere, etc. You will need to create
this by building upon many details, so take some time and think about this.
Pick a theme, a color or even an idea. You need something to give your work
direction.
2.
Next comes the setting. Where will you be dining
(on the kitchen table, picnic in front of the fireplace, al fresco, etc…)?
3.
Décor. So much to choose from in this category.
Plates, flatware, glasses, napkins, table cover, centerpieces, flowers,
lighting, so on and so forth.
This may seem like a daunting task but it’s the details that
say I love you and trust me, she WILL notice the extra effort. Here are some
ideas to get you started:
A table runner can make a large table feel more intimate.
Simply learning to fold a napkin in an elegant way and
placing a single rose on each place setting is a wonderful touch.
What a creative use of a scrabble game, and the two of you
can play romantic word scrabble afterwards!
Lighting
plays such an important part in setting the mood and nothing says romance like
candle light!
An amazing centerpiece is sometimes really all you need to
steal the show
These are all easy things you can do that don’t cost much
and many of these items you can find around the house. This Valentine’s Day
take some time to add that extra special touch to your romantic homemade meal.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Kid's Valentine's Party Inspiration-Owl Theme
I’m semi-obsessed with an Owl
theme for a kids Valentine’s Day party. Partly because you can play around with
cute phrases like “Owl always love you”, “Guess Whooo loves you?”, and “You’re
a Hoot”; and partly because they’re so darn cute!
These owl cookies were made using a heart-shaped cookie cutter and look amazing!
These very cute owl cupcakes use oreos and m&ms to make the eyes and nose. Yum!
I love the expressions on the faces of these digital clipart owls; and they come with matching Valentine's bunting.
These printable Owl V-Day cards have a beautiful hand crafted look.
If you love the owl theme as much as I do, you might opt to create a beautiful dessert table around it like this one
What a cute way to give away Valentine's treats; could also double as a Valentine's Day card.
Dress up your cupcakes with these wide-eyed owl toppers...awww!
Whooo loves chocolate? We Owl love chocolate!
These adorable flapped owl favor bags are great for taking treats home.
Cute craft idea for an owl-themed party
Valentine's Day was made for loving; be kind to your owl pinata by ordering a pull-string pinata instead.
I'm amazed at the level of detail on these owl cake pops, right down to the red bow.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
New Year's Eve Party Inspiration
Check out my inspiration boards for NYE party themes.
Silver, Shimmer and Shine
From Top Left: Sparkle Table Cover, Silver Shimmer Top Hat, Mirror Garland Lights, Silver Vase Vignette, Treat Poppers, New Years Noise Maker, Happy New Year Headpieces, Mini Disco Balls, Candied Silver Almonds, Happy New Year Party Hat, Silver Carryout Favor Boxes, Silver Mask, Cupcake Topper Flags, Ornament Mantel Decor, Hanging Snowflakes and Ornaments, White and Silver Hanging Balls.
Black and White Elegance
From Top Left: Black Candelabras, Black Balloons, Black Feather Wreath, White Feather Centerpiece, Happy New Year Napkins, Hats and Headbands, Tassel Garland, Black and White Dessert Bar.
Countdown to Midnight
From Left to Right: Rosette Clocks, Midnight Blue Clock Cookie, Clock Cupcake Toppers, Party Hat Place Setting, Gold Place Setting, Colorful Clock, Large Clock on Table, Large Dessert Table Clock Background, Clocks on a Mantel, Cookie Platter, Chair Applique, Clock Ornaments, Large Pocket watch Gold Table Setting, Wall Clocks, Silver Ornaments and Clock, Mask Napkin Holder and Clock Place Setting, Leaning Clock & Drink Bar, Black & Gold Clock Cake, Cupcake Toppers, Silver & Blue Clock Place Setting, Vintage Clocks on Mantel, Treat Bags, Clock Chains, Tin Clocks.
A safe and happy new year to all!
Silver, Shimmer and Shine
Black and White Elegance
Countdown to Midnight
A safe and happy new year to all!
Friday, December 28, 2012
Tips for A Family Friendly New Year’s Eve Party
New Year’s Eve isn’t traditionally the most family-centric
holiday. But if you are tasked with hosting a family-friendly NYE party this year, here are some tips to help you cater to folks of all ages.
First, always
check with your neighbors about any noise and parking issues that might arise. Second, make sure you
have plenty of food, drinks and entertainment for everyone.
Finger food and
appetizers work really well for NYE parties since they usually start after
dinner time and go on late into the night. Make sure you have some non-alcoholic
beverages and coffee available for those that need it. Sparkling apple cider is
a great option to serve so kids and others that don’t drink alcohol can feel included.
Remember that as a host(ess) you are not only responsible for your guests’ safety
during the party, but after they leave your party as well. Never let an
intoxicated person drive home and always have the number of a local cab
company handy, a designated driver on standby, and a place where someone can crash for the night.
Family-friendly party themes include:
Round the Campfire—if the weather is nice set up some outdoor
tents, make smores, hot cocoa, play outdoor games, burn sparklers or set off
fireworks.
Family game night—set up different “game stations”
throughout the house…casino games for the adults, board games for the kids and
team games like charades.
For the kids:
Arts and crafts—do you
have old magazines laying around? You can have children make a collage by
cutting out some of the things they have enjoyed over the past year. Check out
this article for more ideas on kid-friendly NYE crafts.
Moon Bounce—if the weather is nice consider renting a moon
bounce. Kids can have hours of fun on these things and expend a lot of
excitable energy (hint, hint).
Pajama Party—babies, young children, and some older adults won't make it to midnight. Have a
quiet comfortable place for them to wind down. You can also have kids bring
their pajamas, blankets, pillows and stuffed animals and create a sleepover theme.
Kids always need to
be supervised. Having a
teenager or older child oversee the childrens' activities can make him or her feel more
involved. Make sure an adult pops
in from time to check up on everybody.
For Teens:
If you have a bunch
of teens at your party consider hosting a black light dance party with plenty
of music, glow sticks, and snacks. Make sure your teen and other partygoers
understand the household rules that will need to be abided by and check up on
them from time to time.
Karaoke can also work
well for this age group.
An arcade/gamer party
would be another popular option for teen-friendly activities.
Don’t forget to gussie up the house with NYE-themed decorations and provide blowers, hats, and other fun party favors to get everyone in a festive mood.
Stay tuned for my
next post about NYE party theme ideas…
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