Girl's Night Food and Drinks

Getting ready to plan my annual "girl's night" at my house.  I just love this one!  I get to see all of my besties at one time in a relaxing, fun environment! 
I am trying to get the menu figured out and here is what I've come up with so far:

• Mexican Shrimp (Sheree said she'd bring-- it is AWESOME!) Not sure if this is the correct recipe- she is bringing me that too- I will share =)
• Cheese Fondue I usually use white wine instead of Brandy 
• Scallops - YUM!
• Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

We will also have some desserts -not sure yet on that-
AND I will be making some winter/Christmastime cocktails!

• I will try to recreate the "Jack Frost" Martini at Bar Louie
• and some kind of coffee drinks...

SO fun!  I will post pics later! I just wanted to share some great recipes!  Hope you have a fun holiday season with friends and family!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Just finished up my holiday decorating.  Here are the results:

My mantle is done in mercury glass with red accents.  The photos are of my husband as a child with Santa, and one of my son with Santa.

This year we decided to place our tree down in the basement, aka hubby's man cave- and Josh got to set up his train this year too. Big Fun =)

 

Tried to use Deco Mesh this year- it's pretty easy to use, you just need matching pipe cleaners.  Just bunch it up at the top and attach to a branch.  Let it run down about a foot, bunch and attach again.  Continue down the tree.  Here is a how to video:

 

I think I need a little more practice and some wider Deco Mesh!

Halloween Tabletop centerpiece

Did a little Halloween crafting last night- Here are a couple of things that I did-

Repurpose what you have- I had a vase, some tiny pumpkins, and some Halloween sprigs.  Made this arrangement and then added a cute little owl and a pretty ribbon.

This skull I have had for years-- It lights up and everything!  It was getting pretty scuffed up and cracked- a little paint and TLC and viola! good as new-

Back To School is Cool!

I think of it as a celebration!  Let's have a party! Here are some great ideas for hosting a back-to-school party!
These ideas could also be used for teachers to use to welcome their kids this year!

These cupcakes deserve a A+ for creativity! Courtesy of Spoonful.com

 





For decorations use:

• a world map for a party table backdrop.
• chalk board, or black roll paper with white chalk writing "back to school" or "school is cool"
• big bowl of shiny red apples
• pencils with cute pencil top erasers in a vase for a cute centerpiece
• a world globe
• use alphabet cards or flash cards for a cute border
• make your own flash cards "Cc" and underneath "is for cookies" to identify items on the food table.

Flash Card Idea

Cute personalized back to school labels, invitations, and more at Tiny Prints.com

Free back-to-school printables from 24/7 Moms.

 

• Serve triangle cut peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
• juice boxes
• ants on a log
• Activities could include: multiplication games, flash cards, water balloon fight, scavenger hunt or a read a thon.
• Party favors and prizes could include: back to school supplies and fun erasers, stickers, snacks, etc.

Back to School party favors from Sheek Shindigs!



Halloween planning: Mantel Decor

Love to be inspired to decorate my mantel for Halloween in a new way each year... Also love to save money by reusing what I have, picking up things throughout the year on sale or at garage sales and decorating using nature.  Here are some cute ideas:

Find old shutters at an Estate Sale, cut branches and spray paint, tear up cheesecloth...

Use garland from Michaels or even Walmart, and pumpkins..simple and elegant.

Odds and Ends to your desired look...

Antiquey/Eclectic Halloween Mantel

Super-easy and neat Halloween Mantel- spray paint a branch black, add lights and crows from Michaels.

These Halloween mantel photos courtesy of digsdigs.com

 For more Halloween decorating tips, recipes, party ideas and more, go to It's A Party-ful Life!

Another great Summer Idea-Beach party!

Whether you actually host your beach party at the beach, or at home, you can host a fabulous beach party by following these tips:

Beach Party Invitations from Tiny Prints

• Serve hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon, etc. (easy stuff that you can prepare outdoors -so you don't miss any of the fun!). You can also serve potato or macaroni salads in kid's sand pails.>of course use only new pails, and sterilize completely.
  Fill big galvanized steel tubs full of ice and hide frozen 'Pop Ice' in the bottom to keep frozen for cooling off later, and put cans of tea, lemonade, and soda sticking in the ice on the top.
• You can also make your own sno cones.
• Decorate using beach towels as tablecovers
• For an inexpensive centerpiece--the bottom dish of a terra cotta flower pot, filled with sand and small pebbles and a votive candle (preferably a citronella candle (to keep the mosquitos away)...or just fresh flowers in a simple mason jar...
• Fill a wicker basket of extra sunglasses, sunscreen, aloe, and visors to make your guest more comfortable...
• Fill a plastic or metal sand pail for each guest with the following: beach ball, squirt gun, fun sunglasses, goldfish crackers, etc. These items can be found very reasonable at Century Novelty.

Cute idea for a kid's beach party!

• Decorate the yard with tiki torches, big pots of flowers, and lots of big beach balls in the pool. You can also add floating flowers in the pool.
• Set up pool volleyball, or other pool games for a group.Chick

-----and don't forget:
Practice safe pool fun-- make sure an adult is on 'lifeguard duty' at all times.

Fill sand pails with goodies and add a cute tag for great beach party favors!
Courtesy of Chickabug Blog

For more beach party ideas, visit www.itsapartyfullife.com/beach_party

Perfect Summertime Party Theme- Luau!

Transport your guests to a tropical island with a luau party!

• Have everyone dress in Hawaiian attire (floral print "hawaiian shirts, etc.). (make sure to note this on your invitation)
• Set up tiki torches (outdoors only)
• Decorate tables with brightly colored floral and solid tablecloths and use raffia table skirting.
• Use pineapples, coconuts, bananas and kiwi in a big wicker basket for centerpieces on your tables.
• Wrap plastic silverware in the napkin and secure with tropical flower.
   

Tropical Luau Tabletop from Social Couture -the blog

• Serve teriyaki chicken and pork kabobs, and tropical smoothies. (easy recipe: blend bananas, strawberries, plain yogurt, milk and ice... TIP: you can also use ice cream to make it sweeter. Garnish drinks with pineapple chunks, cherries, strawberries on little plastic swords and to finish, an umbrella straw .

• Serve fruit kabobs. Cut up bananas, starfruit, melon, mango, and kiwi. Add grapes and strawberries. Arrange on wooden skewers. You can either drizzle fruit with melted chocolate or make a fruit dip out of marshmallow cream and cream cheese. Display on brightly colored platter.

Adorable Luau Cookies -tutorial here

• Make these adorable cookies for your Luau party and either set out, or package for a cute party favor!





Swashbuckling Good Time-Pirate Party

• Decorate with fish netting, pirate flags, fake palm trees, old barrels, and other pirate relics... 
• Provide dress-up pirate gear, such as, black hats, du rags or black hankerchiefs, fake swords and shields, eye patches, black belts, and black boots.  Also provide black eyeliner for mustaches and beards...

Josh's Pirate Party for his 5th Birthday

• Serve chicken legs and ale (ginger-that is), and goldfish crackers
• host a treasure hunt- here is a great link
• Send out invitations in a bottle- get how-tos here
• These are super-cute and can be sent in the mail:

Cute Pirate Birthday Party Invitations

• Fill a celophane bag with a compass, eye patch, chocolate gold coins, and pirate stickers -customize it with a bag topper and staple closed.

Kristin Eldridge Photography

Brave Party Ideas

Here are some great Disney's Brave Party Ideas:

Disney's Brave Party Supplies

Use parchment paper and Old World font to create invitations on your computer. Fold and seal with a gold sticker.

Transform party area into the beautiful and rugged Highlands of Scotland with green crepe streamers, tissue paper, and moss.

Provide supplies and create a castle like those shown in the movie, use as a centerpiece and/or craft activity for the party.

Using posterboard, recreate Celtic Banners and hang on walls for decor. Google "celtic banners" for ideas and images.

Bear Claws Recipe

Serve Scottish food.

Serve Ginger Ale in goblets.

Use Celtic fabric for tablecovers.


Queen Elinor's Crown Craft

Play Celtic music in the background.

Hand out archery sets for a fun activity and let guests take them home as party favors. Set up targets. Here are instructions.



Littlest Pet Shop Party

This party idea was requested by my dear little friend, Jillian, age 9.  Here are some fun ideas for hosting a Littlest Pet Shop Party!

Littlest Pet Shop Party Supplies from Birthday Express

Decorate with purple, lime, and pink helium balloons, streamers, and tablecovers.

Serve fish food (gummy worms), kitty food (goldfish crackers), puppy food (pigs and blankets), and birdie food (sunflower seeds).

Do face painting. Look online for ideas for painting puppy or kitten faces on the kids.

Use free Littlest Pet Shop printables for invitations, decorations, or a coloring activity.

Littlest Pet Shop Birthday Cake
Photo courtesy of http://fullyalive-readytosmile.com/2009/09

Hand out wristbands, stickers, bubbles, and play dough, or a figurine.

Use Littlest Pet Shop figurines for easy cake decor.

Littlest Pet Shop Custom Cookies from:  http://www.sweetsugarbelle.com/blog/2010/10/littlest-pet-shop/  

Top Kid's Birthday Parties

1.)   The Amazing Spiderman party
2.)   Disney's Brave party
3.)   Pirate party
4.)   Campout party
5.)   Wild West party
6.)   Lego Party
7.)   Sweet Sixteen party
8.)   Barbie party

Easter Decor

LOVE these designs from Pier One for Easter!

Hope these inspire you as much as they did for me! Photos to come =)

Gathering inspiration for my mantel for Valentine's Day. Here are some beautiful ones :)


http://www.howdoesshe.com/be-mine-valentine-banner


http://casaresidence.com/valentine-days-decoration-and-kinck-knacks.jsp


http://atsecondstreet.blogspot.com/2011/01/vintage-valentines.html