P is for Party

Super Hero Party...TOMORROW!

2012-01-13T22:37:00.001-06:00

I can't believe that my oldest just turned FIVE! Tomorrow we are celebrating with a Super Hero party and he couldn't be more excited!

{Invitation design by WH Hostess}

2011-12-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas...a few days late! Thanks to my friend Kelly of WH Hostess for creating our Christmas card this year!

I have been THE.WORST.BLOGGER lately! I can't apologize enough! So much has been going on lately, but I won't bore you with the details. All good things though! I promise to be back in full swing soon. I can't wait to catch up with everyone!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Lots of Love ~ Christi

Holiday Giveaway With WH Hostess!

2011-11-17T13:26:00.009-06:00

Last week I had the pleasure of hosting Kelly Lyden of The Party Dress and WH Hostess in my home to help kick of the holiday season with her BEAUTIFUL stationery and products! We had a fabulous turnout and I was blown away by all of the cute things she had to offer! Not only does she design pretty stationery and holiday cards, she also offers lots of gifts such as custom trays, coasters, notepads and more. Lucky for you, we have teamed up for a giveaway and the winner will receive a $50 credit to her shop!

{Read below for the details...}

WH Hostess Giveaway Details

The winner will receive a $50 credit to the shop

Everyone is a winner because Kelly is offering a 10% discount {code WHHOLIDAY11} for all orders placed by Wednesday, November 23rd.

* Visit WH Hostess to see the fabulous holiday stationery products. Leave a comment here to let us know which is your favorite.

* Earn an extra entry by 'liking' The Party Dress on Facebook. Be sure to let me know that you did this by leaving a SECOND comment below.

* If you want to help spread the word about the giveaway, that will earn you ANOTHER entry!

Seriously ladies, the holiday collection has so much to offer! My wish list is a mile long!

Hurry and enter!

The giveaway ends Sunday, November 20th at 11:59 p.m. CST. Winner will be announced on Monday.

Good luck!

{Real Parties} An Apple Harvest Birthday Party

2011-11-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

Fall is almost over, but I just had to share this DARLING apple harvest party with you! Katie Nguyen Wells of Petite Social styled the most adorable birthday party for a recent client. The party was held in a beautiful open field and near a large oak tree. Katie used nature as the backdrop to the styled tables.

The children's table was so quaint. The color scheme used, kraft and red, is an all time favorite of mine! Katie incorporated burlap as well which I LOVE.

{I think I might have a slight addiction to burlap!}

The kraft paper lunch boxes held a delicious, fuss-free lunch of wrapped sandwiches, chips and fresh fruit served in mason jars.

Each little party guest took him a goody bag filled with items from a scavenger hunt and apple harvest themed cookies by JP Creatibles.

What a pretty and simple homemade cake!

And the mason jar arrangements added the perfect amount of charm and frill to the party!

Don't you just love the homemade feel of this party! Be sure to visit Petite Social's website for more party inspiration!

Vendors:

Petite Social - event styling + photography

JP Creatibles - custom cookies

Sweet LuLu - milk glasses + straws + twine

PaperMart - kraft lunch boxes

The Homespun Hostess - burlap bags (which held the cookies)

{Fall} Personalize Your Pumpkins With Nailheads

2011-11-14T06:00:00.000-06:00

It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just around the corner and that fall is coming to an end. If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner at your home this year, here is a simple and modern way to dress up your doorstep (or anywhere else in the house that needs last minute fall decor).

Step 1:

Gather your supplies: pumpkin, railheads, a pencil and decorative ribbon.

Step 2:

Think about your design before you draw it on the pumpkin.

Step 3:

Draw your pattern onto the pumpkin (you could use a stencil too).

Step 4:

Once your design is drawn on the pumpkin, start inserting the railheads one by one.

(line them up so they are touching on both sides)

Step 5:

Finish up your design or letter and there you go! You have a modern update to a traditional pumpkin!

Tip:

You can use railheads on any type of gourd - not just a pumpkin!

Images by Ellenzilla Photography

A big thank you to Kelly Lyden of The Party Dress for featuring my DIY tutorial in the latest issue of her magazine!

{DIY} Halloween Wreaths

2011-10-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

{via Craftily Ever After}

Halloween is almost here! If you are lacking in the holiday's decor around your house, start here, with a DIY wreath. Each of these examples is easy to assemble and won't take all day. Plus, you can save the wreath and reuse each year!

{via Cardina Gardner}

{via The Long Thread}

{via Just Sew Sassy}

{via Martha Stewart}

{via Pretty Ditty}

Links to Tutorials:

Lace Wreath

Bat Wreath

Black Ribbon Wreath

Burlap Rosette Wreath

Candy Wreath

Boo Banner Wreath

{Recipes} Quick Turkey Chili, Bacon Cornbread & Pumpkin Pie Popcorn

2011-10-19T06:00:00.000-05:00

The weather is beautiful in Houston right now and today we are enjoying our first cold snip! To 'celebrate' the change in weather, tonight I plan to make Turkey Chili (the recipe is so easy & yummy!), Bacon Cornbread (a splurge, for sure!) and I just might try out this mouth watering Pumpkin Pie Popcorn I found on Pinterest.

Click the titles to find the recipes

Quick Turkey Chili

{image via Real Simple}

Recipe note: I like to leave out the chipotle chile in adobo, only because I do not like spicy food.

Bacon Cornbread

{image via Simply Delicious}

Pumpkin Pie Popcorn

{image via Family Bites}

Happy Fall Y'all!

{Giveaway} Fabulous Melamine Plate - You Are My Sunshine

2011-10-18T06:00:00.002-05:00

Did you see the You Are My Sunshine party on the blog yesterday?! The party was so bright & cheerful and was sure to lift anyone's spirits! Joanne from Oh Goodie Designs is giving away an adorable yellow + orange melamine plate to one lucky reader! The plates reads, "You Are My Sunshine. My Only Sunshine". It's the perfect addition to any sunny party! I LOVE melamine plates and have ordered custom plates for my boys on several occasions. They use them daily!

Want to Win?! Here's How to Enter:

Contest will end on Sunday, October 22nd at 11:59 p.m. CST. Winner will be announced on Monday, October 23rd.

{1} Leave a comment below letting us know your favorite part of the You Are My Sunshine party. There are so many fabulous decor elements! Please be sure to include your e-mil address!

{2} Become a fan of Oh Goodie Designs on Facebook and let Joanne know P is for Party sent you! Be sure to leave a comment here for your 2nd entry and let us know you are a new Oh Goodie Designs fan.

{3} Are you an official follower of the blog, P is for Party?! I would LOVE for you to join the fun! Remember to leave a comment here!

** The winner is comment #2, Preppy Mama! Congrats! **

THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED

{Real Parties} You Are My Sunshine!

2011-10-17T06:00:00.000-05:00

Get ready for a serious dose of cuteness with this bright and cheerful first birthday party based on the song, You are My Sunshine! Joanne Wuneburger from Oh Goodie Designs did a FABULOUS job styling this beyond cute party! Joanne worked closely with her client, Paige Kelly, who just so happens to be a friend of mine. Paige, along with her sister and mother, are party savvy and ALWAYS produce the most stylish parties {see here, here, here and here}!

Paige and her mom, Cindy created this fun tutu wreath along with some of the poms at the party.

The cakes were AMAZING. Piper's personal cake was adorable and I can't get over the tiered cake with lyrics from, You are My Sunshine.

The mantle area was oh so pretty. I just love the custom canvas and the adorable cupcake liner garland!

Lots of sweets were present at the party! Dessert included cake, cupcakes, cookies, assorted candy, fondant topped brownies, sunshine cake pops and gourmet popcorn.

A custom vinyl decal was created for a wall of windows in the home. What a unique decor element!

Joanne made the party hats as well as the bubble tin favors!

Guests also took home cupcakes in a jar. Pure CUTENESS!

Happy first birthday, Piper!

Sources:

Oh Goodie Design - event styling + decor + favors

Lane Portraits - photography

The Purple Pug - cake bunting + glassine bags

Cookie Craft - cookies

Edible Details - fondant cupcake toppers

Two Sugar Babies - fondant brownie toppers

Bon Bon - sunshine cake pops + jar cakes

Mikah Beverly - painted canvas + cupcake liner garland

Sweet Prints - invitations + graphics

Hip Hip Hurah - pinwheels

Shop Sweet Lulu - cupcake liners + balloons + popcorn cones + food bags + paper party goods

The Cakery - cake + cupcakes

Todd Tolar design - flowers

Ten 23 Design - vinyl decal

Modern Frills - birthday girl tank top

Miss Thing Boutique - Pettiskirt

Stay Tuned for a Giveaway with Oh Goodie Designs!

{Fall} Decorating With Corn

2011-10-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Indian Corn Garland

{via BHG}

Fall has only just begun, so you have plenty of time to spruce up your home with a little fall decor. This Indian Corn Garland is an easy DIY project that would look perfect on a mantle, draped across a buffet or dessert table or even hung over your front door.

Directions {From BHG}

* Cut rope two feet longer than the area in which you intend to hang the garland.

* Then twist screw-eye hooks (with openings about the same size as the rope diameter) into the tops of mini ears of corn, one per ear.

* Bend corn husks into loops and hot-glue the pointed ends together.

* Thread the husks and ears onto the rope and hang.

Candy Corn Garland

{via Woman's Day}

Here is a different kind of corn garland; a garland using candy corn! This would be a fun project to include the kids on. And I'm sure everyone wouldn't mind eating a few while working!

Directions {From Woman's Day}

* Thread monofilament fishing line (found at hardware stores) onto a needle and poke it through the candies, avoiding areas where the colors meet - corn breaks easily at these points.

* Hang using cloth tape.

Houston Blogger Meetup with Kelly Lyden!

2011-10-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

Houston friends and bloggers! Kelly Lyden of The Party Dress and WH Hostess is coming to Houston in November! I am organizing a Blogger Night Out on either Monday, November 7th or Wednesday, November 9th. We would love to meet you! Everyone is welcome...bloggers AND blog readers!

If you are interested in joining us for dinner, please feel free to leave a comment here along with your e-mail address. I'll be in touch soon with a time and location.

Looking forward to meeting so many of you!

** UPDATE: We are going to meet up on Wednesday, November 9th! **

{Fall} What I Plan to Bake This Fall

2011-10-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

October is here and it finally feels like fall! October signals the beginning of the holiday season which is my absolute favorite time of year. It's no secret that I love all things sweet. Here is my "baking to do" list for the next few months...

Pumpkin Parfaits

{via Gourmet}

Autumn Brittle

{via Adventures in Cooking}

Apple Bundt with Brown Butter Vanilla Bean Glaze

{via A Farm Girl's Dabbles}

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Spice Bars

{via Recipe Girl}

Pumpkin Pound Cake

{via Sing For Your Supper}

Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Bread

{via Sunny side Up in San Diego}

Pumpkin Butter Thumbprints

{via Nook & Pantry}

Mini Pumpkin Pies

{via Make and Takes}

Pumpkin Spice Pancakes

{via Dashing Dish}

Pumpkin Pie French Toast

{via Closet Cooking}

Candy Corn Rice Krispy Treats

{via Baked Perfection}

Candy Corn Bark

{via My Baking Addiction}

Hungry yet?!

** All recipes were found via Pinterest **

{Real Parties} Out of This World

2011-10-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

This party is Out of This World...full of aliens, spaceships and cheery colors! Creative mommy, Melody, did not leave out any details. You will love the games and creative food she offered to the guests!

UFO Toss

Comet Craft Corner

Moon dough, rockets on paper straws to launch, bubbles & space themed coloring pages

Crafter Crunch

Look at the drinks and how they coordinate with the party...love that! Melody served a blue-green drink for the adults and green juice and liquid hydrogen (water with oranges and lime) for the kids.

The treat and food area was just as cute as the drink station!

How creative are the Saturn's Rings?!

This party is just so bright and fun and perfect for the little boys in your life! Be sure to check out Meldoy's full recap of this creative party!

{Recipes} Pumpkin Pound Cake

2011-09-26T13:41:00.004-05:00

{via Sing For Your Supper}

Fall is officially here {although it does not feel like it in sweltering Houston} and I have been itching to make all sorts of yummy fall goodness! My mouth has been watering at all of the delicious recipes floating around Pinterest. Over the weekend, I baked this Pumpkin Pound Cake from Sing For Your Supper blog and I thought it was delicious! It was dense and moist and not too sweet. Better yet, it was a cinch to make!

{via Sing For Your Supper}

Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pound Cake

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup canola oil
3 eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 package instant vanilla pudding mix
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting

In a large bowl, combine sugar and oil until blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, cloves and pudding mix; add to egg mixture alternately with pumpkin, beating well after each addition.

Transfer to a greased bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-6o minutes (depending on your oven) or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a wire rack. Remove from pan and cool completely. Dust with confectioners’ sugar. Serves 12-16.

{Trends} Natural Backdrops for Dessert Tables

2011-09-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

{The Party Dress}

Dessert tables are still extremely popular which I am so happy about! I mean, who does not like to see an entire table full of desserts when they walk into a party?! Fabric covered backdrops are still a fabulous way to incorporate your party colors and theme, but I have noticed a new "backdrop" popping up and it is so pretty and inviting...using nature as the backdrop!

Look at all of these gorgeous dessert tables and you will see how pretty nature can serve as your backdrop!

{Celebrate at Home}

{Party in Style by Elle}

{Little Sooti}

{Sweet & Saucy}

{La Belle Parties}

{Elizabeth Ann Designs}

{Ruby Ju}

{Party On via Amy Atlas}

{Love and Lavender}

Personalize Your Party with Monogrammed Sweets

2011-09-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

{image via Bump Smitten. Party by Tara Guerard}

There is so much to love about a monogram! It's one of my favorite ways to add a personal touch to any party. Placing the guest of honor's initials on the dessert is a fun and pretty way to personalize your party. Here is a collection of some of my favorite monogrammed desserts. Enjoy the prettiness!

{image via Martha Stewart Weddings}

{image via Sweet Ambs on Etsy}

{image Gumdrop Cookie Shop}

{image via Things That Sparkle}

{image via Dayna Smith}

{image via Little Birdie Secrets}

{Real Parties} A Perfectly Pink Princess Party

2011-09-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

My good friend, Nesi (see the Monkey See, Monkey Do party she planned last year), recently planned an adorable pink princess party for her daughter Madeleine who was turning 3. The party was full of sweet and girly details! A few of my favorite vendors, Kelly of WH Hostess, Cakes by Gina and the floral department at Whole Foods (Woodway) helped make the party extra special.

{Photography by My Girl Photography}

Kelly designed the cutest centerpiece sticks along with other pretty paper goods...

I love how Nesi "sprinkled" crowns and jewels along the table. It was an inexpensive way to make a nice statement!

Desserts tables are still the rage, so Nesi put together a pretty table with lots of delicious treats. I love the 3 foot balloons as the backdrop which were inspired by the dessert table queen, Amy Atlas.

The cake was GORGEOUS as you can see! As usual, Cakes by Gina did an excellent job!

The party was actually a joint birthday party with Madeleine's cousin, so they of course shared the cake.

Kelly's centerpiece sticks made the table pop and Sue B Sweets made the delicious and beautiful cookies.

And what would a princess party be without a visit from a "real" princess?! Sleeping Beauty made an appearance and the girls loved every moment with her!

The sweet birthday girl!

Thank you, Nesi, for sharing Madeleine's party with us!

Sources:

Photography - My Girl Photography

Paper goods - WH Hostess

Cake- Cakes by Gina

Flowers - Whole Foods Woodway {ask for Gail!}

Cookies - Sue B Sweets

White vases - Ikea

{DIY} Invitation Wooden Number Keepsake

2011-09-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today I have an easy and fabulous tutorial to share with you! Amanda of My Mommie's Favorite Finds loved her sons' birthday invitation so much and didn't want them to end up at the bottom of a memory box. So, she created this adorable keepsake! As told by Amanda...

Invitation Wooden Number Keepsake

Materials needed: invitation, wooden numbers (or letters), scissors, paint brush and Mod Podge

Step One:

Place the wooden number (or letter) face down. Then, center the invitation.

Step Two:

Turn the materials upside down and trace on the back of the invite.

Step Three:

Cut and apply a layer of Mod Podge on the number.

Step Four:

Place the cut invitation down to match what you traced. Patch with leftover invitation pieces to fill missing spots on the numbers.

Step Five:

Once the number is covered, add another coat of Mod Podge. Let it dry and it's ready!

Here is a picture of the CUTE invitation! I can see why Amanda wanted to save it!

Here is a sneak peek of some of her party goods. The party is next weekend and I can't wait to see her creative touches!

Sources

Invitations - AbGaynor

Project materials - Hobby Lobby

{Friday Finds} Candy Apples & Weekly Round Up

2011-09-02T06:00:00.001-05:00

{image via With This Ring}

I am dreaming of fall weather and planning fall get togethers in my head. I love entertaining in the fall and the upcoming holiday season! When I stumbled upon this Candy Apple Bar on Pinterest, I just knew I had to share with with you! How fun would it be to set up a station where guests can make a candy or caramel apple and top the apples with an assortment of yummy toppings?! Granted though, this would probably be a total mess. Sounds like fun though!

Wow...I have still not adjusted to the new schedule of PreK! Nick has adjusted, but poor momma over here is not used to early mornings, no naps for Nick (which mean no afternoon computer time for me) and being so tired at night, I crawl into bed much earlier than I have ever in my life. BUT, I am loving this new school adventure, meeting new friends and most importantly, seeing Nicklaus love his new school!

Weekly Round Up

Kelly Lyden from The Party Dress and WH Hostess had two Amy Atlas moments this week! I am smitten with her cheery sunflower table she created for her mom's 60th birthday celebration!

This clothespin decoupage tutorial on Cake popped up at the right time for me! This is a small project I have been planning to do for an upcoming party and now I have the perfect DIY instructions to follow.

Did you see the adorable Luau party by Anna and Blue Paperie?! You don't want to miss this one! Candy Skewers are becoming increasingly more popular and Stefanie provided a simple tutorial on how to make them at home.

I have always wanted to 'host' a baby shower by mail. This recipe shower (all done through the mail) on Toast and Laurel is chic and fun and is a fab idea if you and your friends and family live in many different cities!

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

{Real Parties} A Pink & Turquoise Mermaid Pool Bash

2011-08-29T06:00:00.002-05:00

You know it's going to be an AMAZING party when my friend, Christine, is the hostess. Then, combine her creativity with ladies such as Leslie Gaworecki of Goodlight Photography and Kelly Lyden of WH Hostess along with party goods from Shop Sweet Lulu and Celebration TODAY...the Superchick Way...it's going to be one adorable party!

Little Sadie turned 4 in style at one perfectly coordinated turquoise + hot pink mermaid pool bash!

The kids tables were precious. Christine covered the tables in turquoise linens and draped hot pink cabana striped towels crosswise. The centerpieces were prefect + kid friendly. White galvanized buckets were filled with sand and topped with a small bucket, shovel and pinwheel.

Genevieve of Celebration TODAY made hot pink and turquoise party hats for all of the kiddos. Each little party guests found their own hat at their place setting.

3 ft. polka dotted balloons from Shop Sweet Lulu were great statement pieces!

Sadie LOVES mermaids and often tells her mommy, "When I grow up, I want to be a mermaid." How cute is that?! Christine took that quote and used it throughout the party. Here are the adorable words on water bottles (labels made by WH Hostess) and they also appeared on the stunning cake.

Sweet Sadie with a "mermaid" who just so happens to be the best children's entertainer in Houston!

The gorgeous cake was made by Who Made the Cake and it was divine!

Kelly Lyden of The Party Dress and WH Hostess always creates the most fun designs and she did a great job with the graphics for Sadie's party!

What's a kids party without (fantastic) face painting...

...and balloon twisting! Here is my sweet husband who ended up holding endless balloon art that my kids kept gathering.

Nick had an absolute BLAST!

There was also a fish themed bounce house and inside the kids found an endless amount of pink and white beach balls. Such a great idea! All who wanted, got to take home a beach ball AND a bubble tin favor made by WH Hostess.

Such a great favor and one that is actually used!

Christine and her family...

And one happy birthday girl!

Vendors & Sources

Party styling - Christine Hoffer {Belle of the Ball}

Photography - Goodlight Photography

Invitation + paper goods - WH Hostess

Custom party hats - Celebration TODAY...The Superchick Way

Face painting + balloon twisitng - Curly and Daisy

Balloons + straws + blue and white paper bags - Shop Sweet Lulu

Cake - Who Made the Cake

Towels - Target

{Friday Finds} A Week of Firsts & Weekly Round Up

2011-08-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

I have been absent on the blog this week and I apologize! It's been an exciting week around here! My oldest started Pre-K which means he will go to school every day. This has been an adjustment for all of us, but so exciting at the same time. My baby is growing up too fast. Here he is on his first day. He was VERY excited. Another first is that both boys started at a NEW school and we could not be more thrilled!

{PS - a few minutes before we left and before this picture was taken, Nick tripped and cut the top of his eye pretty bad. Story of our lives!}

Here is sweet Conrad with his big brother about to head to school as well.

Weekly Roundup

Oh how I love Burlap! Always have and always will. I used it at our rehearsal dinner almost 7 years ago and I find a way to sneak it into 1 or 2 of my parties each year! I got a little excited when I saw the Burlap Trend post on HGTV which was written by sweet Kim of The TomKat Studio.

Kori Clark from Paper & Pigtails might be one of the sweets and most genuine bloggers around! Did you see the pink flower party she hosted for her daughter, Charlotte?! You do not want to miss this one!

Chris from Celebrations at Home debuted the how to on the pom pom piñata Kori created for the above party. I have to try this one day!

The Wonderlandia event, hosted by Jenn of HWTm, sounded amazing! Did you see the different tables that were created for the event?! You can see them here, here, here , here & here! AMAZING vendors designed the tables!

How to Set a Formal Dinner Table

2011-08-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday everyone!

Summer is only just now coming to an end, but the holidays and all of the festivities that it brings, will be here before you know it. Often times, Thanksgiving and Christmas and maybe a dinner party in between call for a formal table. Here are a few diagrams to refer to when setting your table.

{image via Martha Stewart}

How to Set a Formal Table

{image via Martha Stewart}

Setting a proper table can feel daunting. But etiquette consultant, Pamela Hillings, said it best..."Once you realize table setting is based on logic, things become less intimidating". Follow this simple rule: set the silverware on the table in the order that it will be used, from the outside in.

The fork used for the first course will be placed the farthest to the left and the knife for the first course will be the farthest to the right. Place any spoons that will be used before dessert to the right of the knives. Dessert utensils should always be placed horizontally above the dinner plate.

All stemware to be used dinner dinner should be preset. The date glass sits to the right of the plate while, just above the knife. Wineglasses should be set to the right of the water glass.

The Dessert Course

Dessert is enjoyed by all on special occasions, more so than a soup course these days. Here is what a proper dessert setting should look like.

{image via Martha Stewart}

All stemware, besides the water glass, should be removed. The dessert spoon and fork remain from the initial setting. Dessert is presented on a small plate accompanied by a coffee or teacup and a teaspoon.

Happy entertaining! Do you have any fall dinner parties up your sleeve?!

{Real Parties} Super Peter!

2011-08-16T08:35:00.000-05:00

It seems that most boys, 3 and older, start recognizing superheroes and want to dress up and be just like one! My oldest, Nicklaus, turns 5 in January and he started asking for a Super Hero party a few months ago. I love seeing all of the different versions creative mommies and talented event planners are turning out these days!

Junita of Kinderplays designed this modern "Super Peter" dessert table for a client and did an amazing job with all of the details. My favorite part is the hanging balloon backdrop and the Super Peter poster!

Sources

Event Styling - Junita of Kinderplays

Photography - Lille Bitte

Paper printables - Babalisme

Cupcakes + Cakepops + Cookies - Sugar High

Cake - Cakes, Etc.

S'mores Loving

2011-08-10T15:47:00.000-05:00

Today is National S'mores Day! Where do they come up with these days? But hey, I'm not complaining! S'mores make it on my top 5 desserts and just might be my #1 favorite! Here is a compilation of favor ideas, sprawling dessert tables and delicious recipes all including S'mores. What could be better?!

FAVORS

{via nicole Macaluso}

An elegant presentation of take home s'mores. The calligraphy is beautiful and really dresses it up!

{via Oh Happy Day}

I sure would be happy if someone hand me a s'mores kit on my way out of a party!

{via Oh Happy Day}

{via Twig and Thistle}

Great modern way of packaging all of the fixings for the yummy treat! This way, you can make more than one. Yes, please!

{vía Once Wed}

Adorable packaging!

DESSERT TABLES

{via Postcards and Pretties}

This table is so simple, but looks so chic and perfect for a small gathering at home. Easy for anyone to create!

{via Cookie Creatives}

This table is filled with options from strawberry to lime marshmallows and dark and white chocolate...

{via Cookie Creatives}

{via Posh Pixels Design Studio}

A cute and rustic table with a Western feel. Perfect for a party at a farm or ranch!

RECIPES

S'mores Cupcakes

{via Homemade by Holman}

S'mores Cupcakes

{via Bakerella}

S'mores Rice Krispy Treats

{via Glorious Treats}

S'mores Pops by Glorious Treats

{via Glorious Treats}

S'mores Cookies by Glorious Treats

{via Glorious Treats}

S'mores Bars

{via Love in the Oven}

Run, don't walk to the grocery store and grab these ingredients to make yourself a s'mores treat! I just love this dessert. And not only because it tastes so good, but for the casual and down home feel it gives. Another plus! S'mores are inexpensive and everyone loves them!

Happy National S'mores Day! Until next year...

{Real Parties} A Homemade Baptism Celebration

2011-08-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

This sweet Baptism celebration is full of homemade details that can easily be recreated! {Look for the how-to on the adorable wreath at the end of the post!} Another plus is that the party hostess, Allison, did not have to spend a lot of money!

The pennant banner was made by using different ribbons. Bunting like this is so cute and in my opinion, gives any party a heartfelt vibe.

A sign in page at the door was set out for guests to leave wishes for baby Isaiah.

The Baptism took place on Mother's Day weekend. To honor the other mother's present, Allison made simple arrangements and placed a card on top which contained words sent to her by their children describing their mom. What a sweet idea!

Cookie favors for each guests were found at each place setting...

Ginger Lemonade was the specialty drink on hand. Fizzy lemonade with a twist!

{Tutorial} Ribbon Wreath

As told by Allison

I decided to make two front door wreaths to greet guests as they arrived. They were a cinch to make, taking about 10 minutes per wreath. I simply re-used two foam wreath forms and stripped them completely clean. Then after a quick trip to the craft store, where I picked out ribbon and scrapbook paper to match my color scheme, it was time to create!

I secured the yellow ribbon in place with a pin, and simply wrapped the entire form, securing the final piece with a hot glue gun. From there I traced the outer edge of the wreath onto my striped paper, and after cutting the circle out, attached it with small dots of fabric glue (using double-sided paper works best for this step, so the wreath is attractive from both sides if you have a glass door like I do). I chose green polka dot paper for the center of the wreath, cutting it into a small circle and folding accordion style, then attaching with a dot of hot glue. And last but not least, I thought it would be special to add the guest of honor's name...so using individual stamped letters (I highly recommend having a set, it's a lifesaver for party details), I stamped a white gift tag and taped it to the center. Easy as pie. The best part? Since I can remove the name easily, the wreaths can be personalized for any event, or even Easter.

{Friday Finds} S'mores Day & Weekly Round Up

2011-08-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

{via Glorious Treats}

I.HEART.S'MORES. I always have and always will. I was thrilled to learn that National S'mores day is next Wednesday, August 11th! I have a big s'mores post to share with you on Tuesday, so be on the look out for yumminess and eye candy! To help tide you over, visit Glorious Treats for the above mouth watering recipe!

Weekly Round Up

Did you see the insanely creative "dessert" table designed by One Charming Party on Amy Atlas?! All of the "treats" are school supplies!

I'm in the beginning stages of planning a Sesame Street party and trying to figure out a way to make it pretty, modern and non commercialized. I was so excited to see this gorgeous Sesame Street party on Bump Smitten!

HWTM Wonderlandia is tomorrow night and I wish I was there! It would be great to meet so many of my favorite party girls and get out of the Texas heat! Good luck to Jenn and what I am sure will be an amazing party!

Did you see that Birthday Girl has reorganized her site and is now called Cake?! I love Becca's style and I am really looking forward to seeing her new posts!

{Real Parties} A Bright & Cheerful 40th Birthday Celebration!

2011-08-03T15:34:00.000-05:00

Who says you can plan your own birthday party?! That's what custom invitation designer, Margot Madison, thought when she started thinking about her upcoming 40th birthday. Margot wanted to plan a party to celebrate her friends and family who went through all of her ups and downs throughout the years. It was more of a celebration for them which I think is so sweet!

I am such a fan of the bright and cheerful color palette Margot chose! Crisp white with bright pops of red, hot pink and orange gave the party a jubilant vibe. Margot loved the fact that she got to design all of the paper goods however SHE wanted to! This is rare for a stationery designer!

The welcome packets were clever. Each pack contained a hand written note, custom name tags and a party game raffle inside.

The flowers were GORGEOUS and designed by Joni of Sprouts Floral Design!

The photo booth backdrop really caught my eye! What a great idea to cover a space with poms! It gave the pictures the perfect amount of texture and pop of color.

Happy 40th birthday Margot! Thank you for sharing your party with us!

{Real Parties} Abracadabra, A Magical Dessert Table

2011-08-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

This incredibly creative dessert table comes all the way from Spain from Dulce Sombremesa. It's hard to believe this was their FIRST dessert table to design! Clara and Susana, the duo who make up the team, are too cute! They said they decided "to pretend play Amy Atlas" and create a table for a close friend and relative who happens to be a professional magician. On a whim, Clara and Susana decided to enter the table in the Sweet Table European Contest 2010 and WON the Spanish contest and made it to the European finals!

Dolce Sombremesa created everything from scratch: designing, baking and crafts! The guests of honor is Susana's youngest brother and Clara's boyfriend. They looked back through some of Rafa's first magic tricks for inspiration and in their words, "the table tells the story of the classic elements that give life to a magic show". The treats on the table included chocolate muffin top hats and chocolate magic wands, chocolate playing cards, cookie rabbits, a magic kit with magic stars, aniseed magic dust, popcorn to eat during the show and a hiding place made out of sweet bread for the rabbit that is trying to hide so that the magician won't find it.

I think it's safe to say we are thrilled to have Dolce Sombremesa in the event planning world!!

{Friday Finds} M&Ms Cake & Weekly Round Up

2011-07-29T08:18:00.004-05:00

{photo via Martha Stewart Weddings}

I am really liking the up and coming trend of candy cakes, especially a cake decked out in M&MS! The decorating options are endless and it looks good in every color scheme imaginable! I have a few ideas myself and I would love the opportunity to try them out. My only question though is...would people actually enjoy eating a cake with an entire candy layer (taste and texture)? I LOVE cake and my favorite part is the icing. I'm not sure if I would like the crunch addition??

Weekly Round Up

Breakfast and brunch is my favorite meal, so I was smitten with this Eggs Benedict Bar shown on Celebrations at Home.

I was blown away by the styling of this Bb is for Baby Shower on Bump Smitten.

This strawberry inspired bridal shower is just gorgeous. LOVE the pops of turquoise!

Are you familiar with washi tape?! I really want to place an order and get creative!

In case you missed seeing the pictures of a recent client party, here is write up.

{Real Parties} April Showers Bring May Flowers

2011-07-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Here is an adorable first birthday party styled by my friend, Allison, with the theme, April Showers Bring May Flowers! The guest of honor was born in May, so what a perfect theme!

The cake table was the main focal point of the room and what guests saw as they walked into the party space. Allison wanted the table to stand out and the pink umbrellas sure did the trick!

Allison spray painted the rain boot vases yellow to match the color scheme.

Each child found at their seat, a white lunch pack adorned with a coordinating sticker. Inside was a flower shaped sandwich, carrots and chips. "Rain Water" was the drink of choice at the party!

How amazing is this party hat?! Miss Ruby Sue created this beautiful hat which Allison provided fabric for.

Adults dined on a summer salad bar. To tie in the pink fabric from the umbrellas on the cake table, Allison wrapped wood boxes with the same fabric.

What a fitting favor for this party...flower seeds!

The birthday girl in her adorable hat!

Allison has always been creative! She recently started her own blog showcasing everything from party ideas to interior design. You can visit At Home with Alli here. Stay tuned for pictures of her beautiful wedding!

{Real Parties} A Princess Party Full of Pink & Gold

2011-07-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of working with a former client {the boutique firm I used to work for planned her nuptials} on her daughter's first birthday party. Katherine came to me with a vision of pink and gold and anything and everything fit for a princess! We worked together for several months to create a dream come true for Katherine and her sweet daughter Ava...

{photography by Aiylynne Abarado Photography}

Wedding Flowers by Lisa did a beautiful job creating the gorgeous centerpieces and "A" welcome wreath as well as the stunning high chair backdrop which you will see soon! A pink carpet was brought in to create a royal feel!

Katherine was expecting a large crowd, so in addition to a candy table, we also need a large cake with other sweets to choose from. Katherine worked closely with The Sweet Boutique Bakery to create the royal cake. The bakery also created the amazing cake pops and crown sugar cookies.

Throughout the party space, princess wands were found on tables, the high chair backdrop and even on the favors.

My jaw literally dropped when I saw the high chair area completed! The ribbon colors were perfect and the addition of the wands really made it pop. The backdrop was AMAZING and Ava's high chair was adorned with a garden rose garland.

Pink tulle poms from Heart to Heart were hung from 3 different chandeliers at the country club.

We did something a little different on the candy table. Instead of labeling the jars with tags, we topped each glass jar with a large bow custom made at Michael's. The candy selection was displayed on a 8x10 pink sign created by Kelly of WH Hostess who also created the invitation and other party signage.

Balloons were everywhere at this party! Karl of Balloon Masters always does a phenomenal job of creating balloon art.

Bright Star Productions produced a hot pink wall decal that read, "Ava", which was placed on the large window that greeted guests as they walked into the room.

Signs created by WH Hostess were present at all of the stations {son cones, cotton candy, face painting and balloon twisting}.

Guests enjoyed train rides during the party. To dress up the trackless train, I hung a pennant banner designed by WH Hostess across the middle car.

Little guests left the party with bubbles found in tin cans by WH Hostess and tied with a star bubble wand found at Hobby Lobby.

Princess Ava sitting on the pink carpet and getting love from her mommy!

Sources & Vendors

Event styling - Christi Bennett of P is for Party

Photography - Ailynne Abarado Photography

Flowers + Decor - Wedding Flowers by Lisa

Venue - Royal Oaks Country Club

Invitations + signage + favors - WH Hostess

Cake + cookies + cake pops - The Sweet Boutique

Balloon decor - Balloon Masters

Window decal - Bright Star Productions

Candy table bows + gold frames - Michael's

Pink tulle poms - Heart to Heart

Pink Carpet - Party Props

{Upcoming Parties} Sip n' See

2011-07-22T16:02:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow I am hosting, along with my mom and best friend, a Sip n' See for one of my closest friends. For those who are unfamiliar with this type of shower, it is a party typically given for a second or third time mom and her new baby a month or so after the baby is born. It is a wonderful way to celebrate the new baby and mommy without any pressure for gifts. It's just a lovely excuse for friends and family to get together!

Kelly Lyden of WH Hostess and The Party Dress designed a beautiful invitation for me! The party colors are cornflower blue, white and touches of burlap. I just love the cornflower blue...a fun twist on the typical baby blue. I am also looking forward to working with several new vendors across the web...Nicole of Dough a Deer and Andrea of Cakewalk Desserts!

I look forward to sharing the party details and pictures with you soon!

{Real Parties} Dinner Club Fiesta!

2011-07-21T16:25:00.006-05:00

I recently started a dinner club with some of my closest friends in the neighborhood, so I decided to kick off the group with a Mexican Fiesta at Casa Bennett (my house)! I'm hesitant to even share these pictures since I am NOT blessed in the photography department + I snapped these so fast as one guest was literally ringing the doorbell! But oh well! Here is a peek into a very fun night had by all at our first dinner club.......

I threw the decor together at the last minute by visiting two stores and using what I already had. Pier One, which I hardly ever remember to visit, was a GEM for this party!

{Sources} New

Green placemats + cobalt drink glasses + cobalt rimmed glasses + colorful ikat acrylic tray + chip baskets - Pier One Imports

Tin vases + paper flowers + serape linen - Casa Ramirez {in the Heights in Houston}

{Sources} Had on Hand

Pink monogrammed napkins - World Market

Pink votives - Crate & Barrel

Pink straws - High Fashion Home

Monogrammed acrylic pitcher - personal gift purchased at Out of the Box in Houston

{Real Parties} An Enchanted Tinker Bell Party

2011-07-20T06:00:00.001-05:00

If you follow Kiki's List, you already know that when Krista throws a party, she does an incredible job creating a magical party space incorporating her fresh and modern style. {I wrote about her Yo Gabba Gabba party last year}. The recent Tinker Bell party she hosted for her daughter's birthday was incredible! She took a classic theme and gave it a modern twist. I love every detail!

{Photography by Little Moon Photography}

The dessert table is GORGEOUS! I just love all of the bright colors. the backdrop fabric is by Heather Bailey and the beautiful cake is by Tastefully Treated.

Krista created the dessert table labels herself using MS Word and the glitter ribbon is from Michael's.

Krista also worked with another fabulous vendor, Sweet Nothings, who helped her create the dessert table.

Krista has mad flower arranging skills which you can see in this party. Even though she stayed up until 3:00 a.m. creating the arrangements, she said it was all worth it in the end. I completely agree...just beautiful!

I have been dying to make a "runner" just like this by cutting out circles from paper. It looks fantastic!

The party guests participated in a game of Pixie Tag. Can we say 'precious'?!

The colorful goody bags looks so good hung up on the fence! The bags were filled with goodies fit for fairies and little Peter Pan's.

Another activity at the party was Fairy Freeze Dance!

Looks like the birthday girl was pleased with her party!!

You won't want to miss more details of this enchanted party on Kiki's List. Be sure to stay a while and browse through her creative blog!

Vendors

Party styling - Krista Salmon of Kiki's List

Photography - Little Moon Photography

Dessert Table - Sweet Nothings

Cake - Tastefully Treated

Backdrop Fabric - Heather Bailey

Flowers + Styling - Wegmans, Krista Salmon

Pixie Dust - Kit Kraft

Paper goods - Krista Salmon

Wreath + Woodchips + Moss rocks - Save on Crafts

Goody bags - Michael's

Peter Pan hats - Goods Place

Fairy wings + wands + swords +tutus - Designed2BSweet

Heading to the Beach!

2011-07-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

We are heading to the beach for a week and I cannot wait! We are not going anywhere glamorous, just a nice beach in Texas. We thought about taking the boys somewhere tropical or going to Seaside in Florida, but we just wanted to keep it simple and go somewhere where we could drive and be there in a few hours. I'm excited though because the house looks great! I'm loving the kitchen and dining room area...

I cannot apolgize enough for neglecting P is for Party lately. I have been swamped with so many things. I could list them all, but I don't want to bore anyone. Plus, I am still battling some health issues (severe headaches which I blogged about here) and that has really put a crimp in my daily lifestyle. But I'm about to start some new things that will hopefully help me along. Thank you for sticking with me and I PROMISE to get back to this blog, my passion, ver soon!

Have a wonderful week!

{Real Parties} A Darling Vintage Inspired Baby Shower

2011-06-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

My friend, Lili, of Swanky Chic Fete, recently helped style the most darling vintage baby shower for a friend. Lili and Nina, the party hostess, did not leave one detail out. The pictures show that they shower was heartfelt and that the ladies spent a lot of time to make the party special for their friend. Sit back and enjoy the beautiful photos of the event...

The party hosts used many items from Nina's house for the decor. Nina's home has a French Country feel which lent beautifully to the theme. I am smitten with the drink station!

The adorable paper mache flowers were found at Hobby Lobby and used throughout the space; several were hung on the front door and a few more were hung above the kitchen island.

The wire baby carriage was a Home Goods find a few years back!

I absolutely love the use of this weathered piece of furniture that served as a holder for the Argentinian sandwiches.

The favors were soaps hung on branches that anchored the food display. I love how they picked an unusual spot to display the favors instead of by the door when for people to grab as they left!

The menu sounded delicious and they were definitely not short on sweets! Mini eclairs, creme puffs, cupcakes, cookies, french macarons, cake pops and chocolate fondue with strawberries, marshmallows and rice crispy treats on sticks.

This was SUCH an elegant and perfectly executed baby shower by Lili and her friend, Nina!

SOURCES

Styling + Photography - Lili of Swanky Chic Fete

Invitation - Tiny Prints

Cookies - Michael's Cookie Jar

Cake Pops + Macarons - The Sweet Boutique

Mini Cupcakes - Celebrity Cupcakes

Eclairs + Creme Puffs - Costco

Soap Favors + Paper Mache Flowers + Galvanized Tiered Holder - Hobby Lobby

Topiary Cardholders - Michael's

{Real Parties} July Fourth Gathering

2011-06-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

Time has really flown by this year! I can't believe we will be celebrating another holiday this weekend. July 4th is less than a week away, but you still have time to organize a fun get together with friends. Here is stylish, yet simple way to spruce up your party space!

Laura of Live Smile Celebrate created a quaint setting and what I love most about the party is that she pulled items from around her home to be used for decor. I love repurposing items from home!

Laura purchased the Stars & Stripes collection by Shindig Parties for only $9!! This is a printable file, so you still have plenty of time. Target was her next go to source where she picked up lanterns and a few other decorative items.

The red table from IKEA was perfect for this party. The printables by Shindig really made the table pop!

The food table eld a lot of yummy items including pulled pork, corn on the cob, cucumber salad, mac n' cheese on mini spoons, pasta salad, parfaits, cupcakes and more!

I always try to send guests home with a favor, even if the event is small. At this party, Laura sent guests home with gumballs in a pint size dispenser. Adorable!

I can't wait to see the parties you al create this weekend and on Monday! Happy July Fourth!

Sources

Styling and photography - Laura of Live Smile Celebrate

Printables - Shindig Parties

Paper Daisies - Polka Dot Market

{Party Tip} Invest in a Handful of White Vases

2011-06-22T06:00:00.000-05:00

We all know the standard glass vases that typically accompany arrangements ordered from your local florist? Nothing is wrong with them, of course, but my new favorite thing to do is bring in my own vases so the flowers look more custom. The next time you are out shopping or feel like perusing online stores, invest in a set of white vases. They don't have to be expensive. I have two sets and they are so inexpensive!

The first set I own are the KARDEMUMMA vases from IKEA. The line offers several great sizes and they are all under $10!

My second favorite set are the square white ceramic vases from Crate & Barrel. These give floral arrangements a modern touch and look grand along a dining room table.

I hope your summer is off to a great start! Can't wait to hear all about your summer parties!

{Real Parties} Legally Blonde

2011-06-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

How much fun is this perfectly pink party thrown to celebrate the theatrical production of Legally Blonde?! Any excuse for a party right...I tend to live by that motto. Ashley of Him and Her, Plus Four and her Mom hosted a get together with friends before they left for the musical.

Ashley's mom had the movie posters framed in pink flowers and then attached them to pink glitter polka dot ribbon so they could hang as wreaths.

Beautiful, yet simple flower arrangements. Any florist can make these for you or you can make them yourself by buying roses and hydrangea and floral foam!

The hostesses had napkins made with their favorite quotes from the movie. SO FUN!

Lots of pink party inspiration here! Thank you Ashely for sharing this creative adult celebration with us!

{Real Parties} A Day in the Country

2011-06-14T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hello friends! I am still alive and well in case you were wondering! It's mind boggling to me how busy I have been with client parties and end of the year activities with my boys. I promise to be back blogging in full force VERY soon.

This past weekend, my family hosted a Day in the Country party at our farm in Bellville, Texas. We had such a wonderful time hanging out with new country friends and friends who traveled to the event from Houston. Of course I had to add special touches here and there and Kelly from The Party Dress and WH Hostess was there to help. Kelly designed the cutest sunflower invitation with a fresh twist!

Simple tables adorned with white tablecloths and sunflower arrangements with accents of green were placed on top of custom fabric by Spoonflower (via WH Hostess) that was made to match the invitation design!

For dessert, we served various pies. This fit perfectly with our theme! I asked Kelly to design pie flags to place in each pie to let guests know which was which. The pie buffet included pecan pie from Goode Co. BBQ, Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie and Buttermilk from Royer's and Apple Pie from the Houston Racquet Club. The table was definitely a crowd pleaser!

Whole Foods (Woodway location) in Houston created gorgeous centerpieces for the tables!

As our friends departed, we handed out custom sunflower cookies made by Michael's Cookie Jar complete with a favor tag designed by Kelly that said, "Thanks for Spending the Day at Bellwood Farm".

I hope you enjoyed these pictures from our casual get together in the country! Hopefully these pictures will inspire you to host an outdoor summer party and take a flower, in this case, a sunflower, and give it a fresh twist.

Sources

Invitations & coordinating paper goods - WH Hostess

Flowers - Whole Foods, Woodway location. Ask for Gail!

White vases - Ikea

Cookies - Michael's Cookie Jar

Tablecloths - Aztec Houston

{Tutorials} Ruffle Fondant Flowers

2011-06-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

I first discovered Call Me Cupcake from Kelly of The Party Dress and have been smitten ever since. I am in awe of the sites photography and the blogs gorgeous styling and display of sweets.

Believe it or not, thees ruffle fondant flowers do not seem too hard to make. I am always looking for ways to dress up a store bought cake and this would be a perfect feminine touch! Here are the simple DIY instructions from Call Me Cupcake.

Step One:

Knead and color the fondant

Step Two:

Roll out with a rolling pin.

Step Three:

Use a round cutter of any size.

Step Four:

Frill the edges using the back of a brush. Gently roll it back and forth to create the frill effect.

Step Five:

Scrunch the piece of fondant together from the middle to form a flower.

See, not too difficult?! I can't wait to give these a try someday soon!

{Party Inspiration} A Chic Red, White & Blue Fete

2011-05-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend with family and friends!

Although this red, white and blue weekend has come to an end, another patriotic holiday is right around the corner. Here is some GORGEOUS party inspiration from Style Me Pretty complete with a Float & Milkshake bar!

I hope you were inspired by this beautiful setting. I think my favorite style element might be the wine bottle wrapped in blue and white twine! Visit Style Me Pretty to see more photos from this breathtaking photo shoot.

{DIY) Bee Hive Pinata

2011-05-19T19:48:00.002-05:00

This DIY bee hive pinata from Country Living will be all the buzz at your next summer get together! For those who love crafting, this is the perfect inexpensive project that will make a buzz worthy statement!

{DIY} Pie in a Jar

2011-05-17T09:36:00.001-05:00

{image via Paiges of Style}

Lately, I have had an obsession with pies in a jar! I haven't made them yet, but I plan to and just placed an order for these tiny mason jars. The recipes seems easy, just maybe a little time consuming. But so worth it in the end! Take a look at the following DIY Pie in a Jar recipes from some fabulous blogs...

Our Best Bites provides a full tutorial complete with step by step instructions, pictures and a scrumptious basic recipe for any fruit filling.

Green Wedding Shoes shares beautiful photography and a styling idea for the cute pies. They also provide step by step instructions and an easier recipe using store bought pie filling.

Paiges of Style is a favorite blog of mine and I always enjoy her tutorials! Paige shows how easy it is to make pies in a jar and I love the way she packaged the favor!

I'm really looking forward to trying these little goodies out!

A Day in the Life...Chris Nease of Celebrations at Home!

2011-05-16T06:00:00.003-05:00

I am so excited to be featuring Chris Nease of Celebrations at Home today! Chris was one of my first blogging friends and we still continue to e-mail back and forth about this and that. She is such a sweetheart and an inspiration to me! I'm sure you wonder, like I do, how she balances it all!

A Day in the Life of Chris Nease of Celebrations at Home...

I’m very flattered that Christi asked me to share a day in the life with you, however my first response to her was, “but I’m so boring!” Not that my job is boring, in fact quite the opposite. But to look at it hour by hour on any given day can be deceiving since every day is literally something different. I decided to take a “compilation” approach to give you a better idea of what my job entails.

First of all I’d like to explain that I began my blog (way back when) as a supporting role to my party styling business. Since then it has grown so much that I’ve shifted my main focus onto the site while I still do a limited number of client parties. My real passion is growing Celebrations At Home into a go-to site for inspiration for stylish entertaining!

7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.

My mornings begin with coffee and The Today Show, and getting my 2 young kids ready and off to school - typical mom stuff.

9:00 a.m. - Noon

The mornings fly by as I’m on the computer checking emails, reviewing submissions, working on blog posts, and networking on Twitter and Facebook.

A lot of my time in the morning is devoted to email correspondence. Currently I‘m working on my new site design with my designer and can‘t wait for the relaunch!

In addition to emails, I'm reviewing contracts, writing articles for freelance jobs, brainstorming ideas for upcoming photo shoots, talking with a client about her party, and conversing with vendors that I‘m working with. Now that I’m a leader at the Savvy Living community on Blog Frog, I spend a fair amount of time checking in with the forum and spreading the word about the conversations we’re having there.

In between all of this, I’m prop shopping online & researching ideas for projects.

By the time 11:00 or 12:00 rolls around I’m hungry. I don’t really eat breakfast (unless you consider creamer in my coffee, breakfast) so I’m usually hungry for a lean cuisine.

12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Afternoons are good for me to run errands, do some prop shopping or craft supply shopping, editing photos, and writing. If I have something to craft for a design project, this is when I’ll do it. This week I’ve been consumed with a client’s bar mitzvah that is this Saturday. I’ve been painting, gluing, making banners & bunting, cupcakes in a jar, and more!

At 4:00 it’s time to get the kids from the bus stop and take a short break. By now there’s a whole new batch of emails to sift through and respond to and maybe another blog post to edit. This is no 9-5 job that’s for sure - there are things to do all day every day and I love it! Somehow I manage to sneak in dinner and time with the family before going to bed.

Aside from some of the basic every day activities listed above, there are also things like photo shoots, occasional meetings, doing regular site maintenance, and creating a tutorial, recipe, or editorial party design for my site. Some days I may be out all day shopping for a project, and some days I may not even get dressed since I work at home. But I’m so thankful and fortunate to be able to do this with a supportive husband and encouraging readers!

Thank you Chris for giving us a peek into your day!

{Real Parties} A Singing Party to Celebrate a First Birthday

2011-05-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

My good friend, Kristen White of Frills Consulting, styled an adorable Sing-a-Long Party for a little boy who recently turned one. Kristen was inspired by my son's sing-a-long party last year and Kovidh's mommy thought it was fitting for the birthday boy since he loves his music class and their last name is "Singh"!

Stacy Gray Music was hired to entertain the children in songs. She brought small handmade instruments made of white mailing tubes which were filled with dry beans and rice. For the first half of the party, the children decorated their instruments and then they gathered around and sand with Stacy using their new instruments.

Kristen is extremely talented and crafty and made the invitation, paper goods and party hat!

The menu was prepared by Pink Avocado and was perfect for both adults and kids. The group feasted on tomato bisque shooters with grilled cheese squares, french fries with parmesan truffle oil, spinach and feta spanokopita, veggie cups, chicken fingers, mini ham and cheese sandwiches and mini mac n' cheese balls. They chose to serve cake balls instead of the traditional cake to give guests a variety of flavor options. I love that idea!

The music note cookies were the perfect favor as well as the personalized chalkboards that Kristen created!

The birthday boy, Kovidh, looking as happy as ever!

Thank you Kristen for sharing this perfectly planned party with us!

Sources

Photography - Cat Hornberger of Peacock Photography

Children's Entertainment - Stacy Gray Music

Catering - Pink Avocado

Invitations, party hats & paper goods - Frills

Chalk Mats - Kathryn Saeger

Smash Cake - Hill Country Cakes

Cake Balls - Austin Cake Ball

How to Cut & Create an Arrangement Using Hydrangeas

2011-05-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

{image via Nancy Lui Chin}

I think it is safe to say that hydrangeas are a favorite of many. This beautiful flower can often be found year round from a florist, but they typically bloom from late spring to summer...so right now! And I bet that many of you mommies will receive some of these beauties this weekend for Mother's Day!

In the current issue of Southern Living magazine, there is a small article on how to cut and create a stunning arrangement at home. Here is the step-by-step guide as told by Southern Living...

Choose

Look for flowers that have fully opened and feel slightly papery to the touch. They will last longer when cut. Use one bloom color or mix varying shades.

Clip

This pertains to the lucky ons who have hydrangea bushes at home! But if you buy the flowers from a florist, the same technique applies.

Snip stems early in the morning. Cut at an angle, above a leaf bud. Place your stems in a bucket of cool water immediately after cutting.

Condition

Heat a pot of water until almost boiling; remove from heat and wait five minutes. Dip stem emds in hot water for 30 seconds before arranging in cool water.

Create

Show off your display with a rounded container to echo the shape of the blooms. Use moist floral foam to keep the stems in place if needed.

Four Sweet and Unique Party Themes for Your Little Ones

2011-05-03T06:00:00.001-05:00

I just love all of the parties that are popping up that are based on a favorite saying or song. Here are four of my favorites lately...

Cute as a Button

Lili of Swanky::Chic::Fete recently showed the most adorable Cute as a Button birthday party in a gray and pink color scheme. We all know I am a fan of gray, so I was smitten with this party from the beginning. This is a perfect theme for a first birthday or baby shower! Joy of Cobblestone Rue did a wonderful job with this sweet party.

Sweet as Pie

This is another favorite theme of mine and the versatile theme can be used for little boys or girls as well as a baby shower. Courtney of Pizzazerie delighted us all when she recently debuted this precious first birthday on her site.

You are My Sunshine

Who doesn't love the old song, "You are My Sunshine"?! I have sung this sweet song to my boys ever since they arrived. Using a song as your theme is a unique idea and this is one of the best songs for a child's birthday. This chic party was shown on Hostess with the Mostess and was styled by Aimee of Lulu Pink Parties.

Let's Have a Ball

Do you remember the Let's Have a Ball party in the Martha Stewart Kids Magazine years ago?? I have saved several copies of that treasured magazine and I have always loved the sports party the Martha Stewart team dreamed up.

Recently, two amazing party stylists have used similar themes and transformed party spaces into amazing settings which were shown on Hostess with the Mostess. Amy Nichols of Amy Nichols Special Events designed a colorful Bouncy Ball party for a friend's son and Jessica Kirkland of Pen n' Paper Flowers styled the most creative Classic Red Ball party for her daughter.

I have just shown you a snippet of these adorable parties. Be sure to click on each party link to see the full details!

Where I Have Been....

2011-04-30T13:08:00.002-05:00

Hello friends!

I just can't apologize enough for my absence this week and previous weeks. I have debated on whether or not I should share a little about what has been going on lately. I certainly do not want to sound like I am complaining or whining and I want this to be a happy place; and most importantly, a place for parties and fun! But I also do not want people to wonder why I have not posted often and even worse, lost my passion for this blog. That is not the case at all!

First of all, there is nothing life threatening going on, thank heavens. I just have been battling some health issues lately, mainly terrible headaches. I have suffered from mild to severe headaches for about 10 years. I seem to always find a way to control them, but this year, I have been to the ER 3 times for treatment and I realized that I can't keep going on this way and that I need to get to the bottom of the problem. I visited with a neurologist this week and we have a few things scheduled for the upcoming weeks. I will have a MRI on Tuesday. I am definitely anxious about that, but I am not worried because no one thinks this is a severe issue...just an issue we need to figure out.

So, my sincere apologies for not blogging much these last few weeks. I really miss you and diving into party posts! I just have had several appointments that have taken a toll on my daily life (emotionally, physically and a lot of time and effort). On top of that, my rambunctious boys are 4 and 2 and that right there does not lend time to much else.

My sweet husband realized that I needed some complete me time. He took the boys AND new puppy to our farm for the ENTIRE weekend. People...I have not had a weekend ALONE in years! Of course, we as a couple have left the boys, but it has always been on a trip where we are going, going, going. Or I have been on girls' weekends with full schedules. But this weekend I am alone and have zero obligations. I can't tell you how excited I am (although I woke up with another splitting headache; finally under control now). I have been on the couch ALL morning watching reality TV (thank you Bethenny ever After for lots of laughs!) and countless royal wedding documentaries off of Apple TV (I can't shake the royal wedding fever). Although I miss the boys (all 3) tremendously, I am loving and appreciating my weekend of no obligations. Even sitting here writing this post, at this time of the day, in peace, is unusual. I'm off to get a deep tissue massage in a bit and can't wait. The feeling of not having to rush home afterwards to the kids is a relaxing feeling. And tonight, I think I'm going to go to dinner and a movie with a friend and just chill. I'll be waking up whenever I want tomorrow as well. Then, I'm off to the West U Home Tour and can't wait. Ahhh...I'm just going to enjoy these hours and I know I will be a better mom when everyone comes home tomorrow.

Thank you all for your loyalty and patience. I am truly blessed to be in touch with so many of you and I can't wait to feel normal (my normal) again! I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

XOXO,

Christi

{Party Tips} Seating Chart

2011-04-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

I know that most of us are not planning weddings, but that does not mean you will never have the need to put together a seating chart. Even when we are having 2 or 3 couples over for dinner, I still stress about who is going to sit where and I'm often changing my mind up until the last minute.

While reading one of the Martha Stewart Weddings magazine recently, I came across this example of how to organize a seating chart using these Muji sticker sheets. I really like the idea of using detachable strips on paper instead of constantly erasing with a pencil or continuously starting fresh on new paper!

{Trends} Succulents

2011-04-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

{image via 100 Layer Cake}

I have always loved the look of succulents, but even more so now after seeing them used in numerous gorgeous ways. Have you noticed them popping up everywhere these days? They seem to be very popular in wedding decor at the moment, but you could easily use the trendy bulb for your parties at home. Set on on a napkin at each place setting or even nicely wrap one in a small pot. This can serve as a place card and favor. Many beautiful examples here...

{image via 100 Layer Cake}

{image via Style Me Pretty}

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{image via Project Wedding}

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* I misplaced my notes with a few of the above sources. Please let me know if you know where they are from so that I can properly credit *

{Real Parties} A Gingham Inspired Easter Party

2011-04-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

This Gingham Easter table created by Christine of Pure Joy Events is full of cuteness and DIY details! If you are hosting a get together this weekend, you still have time to incorporate a few of these adorable details. The gingham theme was carried throughout the party with subtle Japanese touches here and there.

Christine used her daughter's gingham shower curtain from Pottery Barn as the dessert table backdrop! How wonderful that she did not have to spend money on fabric for a backdrop!

The topiaries are beautiful! Between each topiary was a handmade cherry blossom centerpiece. Christine shares the how to here.

The banner was another pretty element of the table. Printable cards from Monkey Moo Moo were edged with gingham Japanese washi tape, sprinkled with glitter, then strung together with pink ribbon.

How cute are these lollipop flowers with tissue petals and paper leaves?! Christine promised to share a tutorial soon!

Peepshi (Peeps sushi) was one of the treats on the dessert table. CUTENESS!

A friend of Christine's made the beautiful cake and the cherry blossom pinwheels were made by Decorate This!

Of course the little guests participated in an Easter egg hunt. While the eggs were being hidden, the kids decorated their eggs and baskets with little gems, washi tape and stickers. See how to make the washi tape eggs here.

An egg toss with another activity which is fun for many ages!

Thank you Christine for sharing this cheerful Easter party with us!

Sources

Photography: Rebecca Watkins and Pure Joy Events

Printables: Monkey Moo Moo

Sugar Cookies: Sugar Cookie Creations

Macarons: Pastry Xpo

Cake bites: Kerry Dangerfield

Pinwheels: Decorate This!

A Few Party Ideas for Me

2011-04-18T06:00:00.003-05:00

My birthday will be here before I know it, so I need to figure out a little fun way to to celebrate! I'm still on the fence on whether it is ok to plan your own party (more worried what others think than me), but my favorite thing in the world is to plan parties, so my birthday is really just another excuse!

{image via Martha Stewart}

A few of my favorite things are cookies (all kinds!), fresh flowers and a night out with my best girlfriends. So, I have a few themes in mind...

Cookies & Cocktails

I have a sweet tooth like no other, so an evening centered around all types of cookies would be perfect! This is an easy party that could be hosted at home. I'd either like to create a cookie table with lots of varieties or build a tiered cookie stand with several selections which would serve as the cake. Throw in a few of my favorite drinks and gorgeous centerpieces and I would be one happy birthday girl!

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{image via Rebecca Thuss}

Champagne & Cookies

This would be just like the Cookies & Cocktails party at home, but with the addition of a champagne bar!

{image via Todd Events}

{Image via The Party Dress}

Flower Arranging Party

with good friends, fun sips and yummy goodies

This is a theme I have been itching to do ever since I saw this party idea on Modern Eve. I'd love to set up a flower stand like you would see in a flower market and let the girls select their favorites. Then, someone would be on hand to teach us how to arrange simple, yet beautiful, arrangements for our homes. The girls would take home the arrangements they created as their favor. This theme could work at any time during the day...breakfast, brunch, dinner or just appetizers and drinks! It's always the theme I am leaning towards because I could incorporate all of my favorite things I listed above.

{image via Modern Eve}

{image via The Party Dress}

Now I just need to settle on a color scheme! I have so many favorites right now! What colors are you crushing on currently??

PB&J Sticks

2011-04-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

How is it that everything is cuter when it's miniature?! I love this simple kid friendly snack idea from Sweet Paul...PB&J Sticks! This bite size treat not only looks adorable and party worthy, but is simple and inexpensive to make. If you are worried about peanut allergies, try replacing the peanut butter with cream cheese instead!

{Designer Crush} Munger Interiors

2011-04-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

P is for Party is a place for all things party related, but I know so many of us that have a love for entertaining, have a love for interior design as well. So, I wanted to take a moment and introduce you to one of the finest interior design firms out there, Munger Interiors. Lucky for me, the firm is based in Houston AND the founder, Elizabeth Munger, is a dear friend of mine.

Each project that Elizabeth and her sister and partner Amy work on is phenomenal, but I was blown away by the following Bay House project and I know you will be too!

I could look at this room for hours. The Kelly Wearstler "Bengal Bazaar" pillows in pink are perfect for the beach and I ADORE the striped chairs! I am drooling over the coffee table as well. This table is to the trade, but you can find a similar version at Restoration Hardware.

Elizabeth accessorized this room to perfection!

What a perfectly modern, yet quaint bay house kitchen. I cannot tell you how much I love the acrylic bar stools! I am a big fan of stained concrete countertops too!

The table is gorgeous and I really like how Elizabeth mixed Koobo chairs with smaller wooden chairs. And I love the print on the chair cushions!

Now on to the bunkroom! This is my favorite style....upholstered headboards with matching bedskirts and pillows paired with crisp white linens. I'm a huge fan of seagrass too (I have it in many areas of my home)! And I loooove the white lacquered nightstand!

How cute are the bunk beds?!

Clearly this was a small room to work with, but oh how cute are the three beds instead of just two?! I love the simplicity of the fabrics, yet the pink provides the perfect amount of color.

The master bedroom is beautiful in shades of white and blue. The skirted nightstands with glass top are just what I have been wanting for our guest room!

I could gush about each room in this house all day long! This is the master bathroom...

How gorgeous is the deck?! I believe some of the graphic turquoise fabric is from Trina Turk's new line which you can find at Layla Grace.

Not only do Elizabeth and Amy design beautiful rooms, they all know how to accessorize and pay close attention to detail...something we party girls appreciate!

The custom fabric lamp shade is dainty and looks so good on the mirrored bedside table.

This turquoise box was purchased to hide remotes in the living room.

I am slightly obsessed with monograms and monogram all of our towels. I really like how they chose a more of a tone on tone embossed look for the bathroom hand towels.

Drinks and limes ready to go!

The home owners have 4 children, so Elizabeth and Amy designated a spot for beach towels and painted beach buckets for each child.

Another gorgeous fabric choice for a white chair!

My style is always changing, but I typically lean towards the transitional, but I still feel like my roots are traditional. For those of you who love traditional decor with classic fabrics, you will really enjoy the following rooms by Munger Interiors.

{Party Tip} Invest in Sturdy Containers

2011-04-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

{Some of the party tips I write about might sound like I am stating the obvious. But you never know who might not have thought of it or who needs a little nudge in the right direction. So many times I read simple ideas and think "ah-hah! I can't believe I never thought of that before!"}

I consider myself an organized person and clutter control freak, but with kids, I have definitely had to learn to let some of that go. I don't know about you, but the week or two before a party, my dining room becomes the control center and everything gets stacked on the table and the surrounding areas. This drives me crazy, because it is one of the first rooms you see when you walk into our house. The unorganized piles of party goods were driving me crazy and a few months ago, I vented on Facebook. A reader wrote back and said she likes to store everything in categorized bins. Umm, of course...why in the world had I not thought of that before?!

So, last week, while I was prepping for the cutest Little Blue Car party, I went to The Container Store and stocked up on 5 of these heavy duty storage containers in various sizes. I could not be more happy with my purchases! I was able to sort through everything in my dining room and place it in a coordinating bin. This felt sooo good! PLUS, everything was packed away and I wasn't panicking that my two young and very active boys were grabbing things off the dining room table!

I bought one, 33 gallon clear storage tote , 3, 22.75 gallon clear storage totes and one other size that I do not see listed online. On a side note, The Container Store is currently having a storage sale and these large totes are included!

Here is a quick picture I took of some of the totes packed and ready to go. I can't tell you how much easier this made my life on the morning of the party! I packed all of the transportable desserts in one bin, the containers for the dessert table in another and so on.

Thank you dear reader for turning on a light bulb in my head!

Please Vote for P is for Party

2011-04-05T21:45:00.004-05:00

I was so excited when I received an e-mail last week letting me know that P is for Party had been nominated to the Top 25 Party Plannin' Blogs list on Circle of Mom's! I am truly honored and was quite surprised! My personality is kind of funny...I can be competitive, but then again, I avoid confrontation at all costs and never like to hurt peoples feelings. With that said, asking for votes feels kind of funny, but another part of me would absolutely LOVE to make it in the top 25 or even in the top 10!

If you enjoy reading P is for Party, your vote of support would mean so much to me. You can vote ONCE a DAY up until April 11th. You can vote HERE.

A sincere thank you!

{Real Parties} A Bowling Party!

2011-04-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

My friend, Lili of Swanky Chic Fete, did a fantastic job of styling this bowling party! Lucky for her (and us Houstonians!), 300 is a chic bowling alley that lends a trendy palette to begin with. But for those who are not blessed with a stylish bowling alley, Lili shows you how you can make this theme one to remember!

Kelly of WH Hostess and The Party Dress created the perfect paper goods for the party! She designed the centerpiece sticks, favor bag toppers, trophy labels and trophy cup stickers which all stemmed from her Rugby Collection. I am a lover of paper goods because they create a cohesive feel at any event.

The cake is ADORABLE and I love how Lilli used polka dot cupcake liners (perfect for this theme!) to dress up simple cupcakes!

The polka dot balloons from Blooming Babies Market was another perfect addition!

Centerpiece sticks are the perfect solution to centerpieces for children's parties. Here Lili placed the sticks in white ceramic pots from Ikea and filled them with crinkle paper.

Inexpensive flowers like these gerber daisies and carnations add the perfect punch and when placed in modern containers such as these, look like they are worth so much more.

Here is another simple way to add a inexpensive, yet custom touch to your party...cup stickers! Kelly's circle labels were placed on plain white cups to dress them up. And who doesn't love paper straws?!

Red gumballs were the take home favors! Such a cute idea since they resemble bowling balls!

If you do not know Swanky Chic Fete, head over to Lili's blog right now! She styles great parties, pays close attention to detail and I love all of her creative posts!

Sources:

Photography - Loven, the birthday girl's Dad!

Bowling alley - 300 Houston

Centerpiece sticks, favor bag toppers, trophy labels and stickers - WH Hostess

Polka dot ballons - Blooming Babies Market {Etsy}

Striped straws - Pebbles in My Pocket {Etsy}

Cupcake toppers and dotted cups - Little Monster Hugs {Etsy}

Gumballs in dotted bags - Polka Dot Market

Red dotted scrap book paper - Michael's

Mini trophies - Oriental Trading

Mini vases and white pots - Ikea