Pampers, Play Dates and Parties

Pink or Blue? Our Gender Reveal

2012-02-24T05:45:00.003-05:00

See that cupcake? After our ultrasound, T helped me bake Funfetti cupcakes with surprise inside. I let her put some food dye in a small amount of the batter and mix it in; then we dropped a dollop in the center. And the final result is....

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.

.

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Yep, we're having another little girl. Honestly, when we found out we were having a girl nearly 3 years ago, I was excited and the husband was in complete shock. This time, our roles were completely reversed. I practically had the nursery repainted in baby blue, but there it was...definite girl parts. Thankfully, I can't think of any better father for two girls than my husband.

So there you have it...our big news on the pregnancy front. I hope everyone has a great weekend...we've got to get T's big girl room ready to make room for her little sister!

How to Host a Reverse Baby Shower

2012-02-23T05:45:00.002-05:00

Imagine the mom-to-be (or even bride-to-be) lives far away from a large group of friends and family. Everyone wants to get together for her, but traveling for a shower just isn't feasible for either the guest of honor or the other guests. What do you do?

My mother-in-law was faced with this dilemma several years ago when the husband's cousin was pregnant with twins. Her solution? A 'reverse' baby shower. My MIL provided the wrapping paper and trimmings, and the guests brought all their unwrapped gifts.

A fun example of a gift wrapping station by Not Just a Mommy (Christmas Gift Wrapping Party)

Instead of "ooohing" and "aaaahing" as gifts are opened, we "oooohed" and "aaahed" as everyone showed what they purchased and we wrapped everything right there.

Create a fake cake using wrapping paper from the party to add a festive touch. (Image from The Sweetest Occasion)

As the host, my MIL also shipped a large box to the mom-to-be with all the wrapped gifts inside and notes from all the attendees.

Include a pretty note, and even continue the party games with the guest-of-honor by having her guess who wrapped each gift! (via Apres Fete)

This type of shower is often more casual than a typical shower because the guest-of-honor is not really present. But I found it to be quite a bit of fun, and very relaxed. More recent parties may have the mom-to-be attend via webchat or with a video from the guests. In any case, it's definitely an unusual idea worth trying someday!

Gender Neutral Showers & Gender Reveal Parties

2012-02-22T05:45:00.003-05:00

One of my co-workers is expecting his second-born not long after my due date. We've been debating the pros and cons of finding out the baby's gender before the delivery room. I prefer to have all the information I can as I am ridiculously impatient. He thinks the suspense is fun and that it's extra excitement to learn the gender in the delivery room. (Especially considering the drug-induced haze of my last delivery...I'm all about finding out the baby's gender!)

That said, I also love the suspense involved in keeping certain things gender neutral. The creativity involved in not using traditional pinks and blues always astounds me.

A perfect example of creativity in color is this aqua and blue themed shower from Project Party Perfect. There are plenty of pretty details, such as the gorgeous hydrangeas; combined with masculine elements as well!

Although not a gender-reveal party, the whole "Hello Kiddo" theme could be easily adapted as such. Yellow is updated from soft tones to bright patterns. (from Jessie Haack, as featured on HWTM)

When it comes to gender reveal parties, I've seen bumblebee and duck themes...both of which play up on the gender-neutral yellow tones. I am crazy about the white/grey/black used in this party, which lets the blue frosting inside the cake be the true star of the party. (from The Pretty Blog)

Has anyone ever been to a baby shower where the primary color was red? It's a total departure from tradition, and it's fantastic. This party, also designed by Jessie Haack, is completely over the top, and wonderful. (as featured on HWTM)

Girly Baby Shower Inspiration

2012-02-21T05:45:00.001-05:00

Something that occurred to me as I just sat down to write this post is that I actually haven't been to many baby showers for mothers of little girls. Aside from my own before T was born, I had only been to one for my sister and one for my sister-in-law. Yet, looking at how many baby shower photos are out there, you'd think that baby girls outnumber baby boys 2-to-1.

When I was pregnant with T, my sister hosted a gorgeous baby shower with flower pot and whirlypop centerpieces, and an ice cream bar that was brought in at the end of the luncheon. It felt like it was straight out of a fairy tale. When my SIL was pregnant, her friend hosted a book-themed couples baby shower that was cute in a totally different way. The entire event surrounded a giant dessert bar that used vintage baby books as risers, and lots of tasty treats! (why, oh why, didn't I take more pictures back then?!)

There's such a wide variety of creativity out there, I wasn't able to just focus on one color scheme or theme for this post, so just bear with all the cuteness that's about to follow!

For the super girly-girl, this Baby Wears Prada shower from Dooby Design Group (as featured on HWTM), is the ultimate. Little did I know three years ago that a theme like this would have been perfect for T, as she is all about the girly things in life (the husband even had her checking out bags in Coach the other day!).

You've seriously got to check out the other details of this adorable butterfly shower over at Annie's Eats. I love these parchment cones full of caramel corn...but the butterfly mobiles and cupcake toppers are also gorgeous!

There have been quite a few sewing themed parties lately, and this baby shower is as adorable as any other. (from Beautiful Ordinary Day, as featured on Celebrations at Home)

Baby Showers for Little Boys

2012-02-20T05:45:00.001-05:00

This week I officially enter the second half of my pregnancy...and that means that we learn whether we're having a little boy or another little girl! In that spirit, I'll be sharing baby shower inspiration all week long. Today's all about inspiration for hosting a boy-themed shower.

Years ago I hosted two boy-themed baby showers within a few months of each other. The first was a traditional shower with lots of white and blue; a clothesline full of onesies and a diaper cake. The second was a cowboy themed party, complete with full-sized Roy Rogers cutouts, local barbecue, and foam hats for all the attendees.

If I were to host a party today, I might use softer tones, like this Blue and Yellow party from Pizzazzerie. I particularly like the foam board backdrop that displays all the favor bags.

Continuing with the blue and yellow color scheme, this tablescape is soft and gorgeous; with plenty of fresh flowers and votive candles. (from Dooby Design Group)

One of my longtime favorites is this gorgeous shower from Morgan at Pepper Design Blog is filled with easy-to-replicate DIY projects.

If you're looking for a new and interesting theme for your baby shower, check out this "Stork Express" Shower from Loralee Lewis (as featured on HWTM). The combination of an airline theme with the iconic stork creates a modern-vintage aesthetic that can be adapted to almost any color scheme!

There's so much incredible inspiration for baby showers. Later this week, I'll be sharing shower inspiration for girls showers, gender neutral showers/gender reveals, and even tips on how to host a reverse baby shower!

{Featured Parties} Fairy Party for a 3 Year Old

2012-02-16T05:45:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day on Tuesday. I wish I could say that the husband and I did something romantic; but all we actually did was cuddle up on the sofa while I passed out and he watched "Alien". He was sweet enough to bring me some flowers, which is more than I really need these days.

I'm so excited today to share with you an adorable birthday party that any three year old girl would love. Designed by Lizette of Little Amara Design, it's full of sweet and colorful details perfect for little girls.

I love parties with handmade details, and this party is no exception. I love the variety of colors with the tissue poms and flowers on the wall.

Every great party starts with a fantastic invitation. This colorful invitation set the perfect tone for the big day.

Check out these flower meringues! I've been wanting to make them for a while, and love how special they look on a silver platter.

Ruffle cakes are always a pretty addition to a feminine party...and it looks great in violet!

Simple homemade fairy wands and fairy wings snagged at the right time from the Dollar Store make inexpensive and adorable favors.

Lizette even made her daughter the perfect little purple fairy dress!

Printables were also used throughout the party to bring everything together. These are a great example of personalized printables over top of mini candy bars.

Like what you see? Don't forget to head on over to Little Amara Design to check out more party pictures, including more goodies and party activities. You can also find more of Lizette's fantastic printable designs in her Etsy shop.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T05:45:00.003-05:00

Just because we tend to do things last minute around this house, doesn't mean they aren't special. We barely made the Valentine's Day gifting deadline; but we did it!

This weekend was spent with family celebrating my niece's third birthday. T absolutely loves spending time with her cousins; and this weekend was no different. It was filled with pool parties, movies, and making pancakes with colors and sprinkles.

When we got home Sunday evening, it was time to get back to life and time to get ready for Valentine's Day! While the little one and the Husband watched a movie, I made these tasty brownies; thankful that I had all the ingredients already on hand!

I still don't understand why daycare had to have the treats for Tuesday's parties by Monday morning...but nonetheless, a fantastic recipe and some fun sprinkles made sure that the kids would get a more-than-healthy dose of sugar today!

Last night, T and I worked together to make Rice Krispies Treats for her friends. Always simple to make, using a brownie/cake pan that has individually-sized heart shapes made quick work of these treats. T even chose which of her friends got each card and colored a little drawing on the back for each of them. While it's not what I would have done with more time; there's no doubt the kids will like them!

I'm devoting tonight to some quiet time with the husband, so there won't be a post tomorrow morning. Have a fantastic Valentine's Day with friends and/or family and I'll see you all on Thursday!

{Looking Back} February 2011

2012-02-13T05:45:00.012-05:00

After a last-minute out-of-town birthday party this weekend, I'm running super late on getting ready for Valentine's Day this year! I was up late last night getting brownies ready for the school party (why in the world did they have to be in on Monday morning?!) and tonight will be all about making the gifts for the kids. Looking for inspiration for they day? There's tons of inspiration to check out in last weeks roundups (printables and parties). Don't forget to check out my board on Pinterest; and here are a few projects I worked on last year to round things out!

I still love this inspiration board for all things Valentine's Day and chocolate...yum!

I took a look at some fun Etsy finds for the day dedicated to Love!

Looking for more printable ideas? Check out last year's Valentine's Day printables roundup.

Want more chocolate? Check out these homemade truffles...they're so easy and so much better than store bought!

Moving on from Valentine's Day, I also put together a "Vintage" Barnyard party for my niece's 2nd birthday; including what's one of my favorite inspiration boards to-date!

Ever thought of using donut holes as cake pops? Check out these tips and tricks on how I used them to make barnyard themed donut bites.

My creative juices must have been flowing...I really wanted to put together a vintage-themed balloon party...and may still yet get the chance to use this inspiration board for one!

{Roundup} Valentine's Day Inspiration!

2012-02-09T22:16:00.001-05:00

There's no lack of creativity out there, and the Valentine's Day displays from this year are a fantastic example! Check out all the whimsical, sweet and spectacular Valentine's Day parties from around the web this year!

TomKat Studio	Twinkle Twinkle Little Party via HWTM	A Blissful Nest
Curious Princess	Itsy Belle via Kara’s Party Ideas	Sunshine Party Studio via Celebrations at Home
Shindig Parties to Go	Creative Digi Vintage	The Party Press
Sparkling Events & Design via Amy Atlas	Petite Social via Celebrations at Home	Shindig Parties to Go via Kara’s Party Ideas
Carolyn Horton Events via Celebrations at Home	Anna and Blue Paperie	Wants and Wishes via Kara’s Party Ideas
Lily Chic Events via Amy Atlas	Party On Designs via Kara’s Party Ideas	Gwynn Wasson Designs via Amy Atlas
Frog Prince Paperie via Celebrations at Home	Party Like Paula

What are you doing to celebrate this day with family and friends?

{Roundup} Valentine's Day Printables!

2012-02-08T21:43:00.000-05:00

Well, I hope you've got your printer filled with ink, because there is no shortage of printables this Valentine's Day!

Me Making Do	Every Creative Endeavor	Alderberry Hill
While He Was Napping	While He Was Napping	The Letter 4
Craftomaniac	Skip to My Lou	Shindig Parties to Go
Oopsey Daisy	Sweet Rose Studio (additional prints available)	World Label
Paper & Pigtails via Catch My Party	Embellish	Little Sprout Creations via Pizzazzerie
Mirabelle Creations via Catch My Party (full party collection!)	Simple Crafter	The Jacobs Clan
Balancing Home	The Girl Creative	Home Confetti
Positively Splendid	Creations by Kara	Designs by CP
The Idea Room	Measured by the Heart	Creations by Sasha
I Do Invitations	Sweet C’s Designs	Mom on Time Out
Miss CutiePie	Craft Whatever	Over the Big Moon
Party Box Designs	Printable Decor	Belva June
TomKat Studio	Kd Buggie Boutique	Frog Prince Paperie
Free Pretty Things for You	Christina’s Adventures	One Artsy Mama
52 Mantels	Live Laugh Rowe	Binks and Bubble
Makoodle	Catch My Party	Shindig Parties to Go
Sprik Space	Sprik Space	Ma Nouvelle Mode
Leslie’s Life	Pamela Smerker Designs	Shindig Parties to Go
Creative Digi Vintage	While He Was Napping	The Party Press
PS. Make It Your Own

There you have it! Almost 60 Valentine's Day printables to add some love to your home, your gifts and your parties. Happy Printing!

Dinner at Home Can be Romantic

2012-02-07T05:45:00.001-05:00

The husband and I try to have dinner as a family just about every night. Even when he has to work late, T and I will pull up to the table and have as much conversation as a single adult and a 2 year old can:

Me: Did you have fun at school today?
T: Yeah
Me: What did you do that was fun? Don't play with your fork, sweetheart.
T: [Blank stare]
Me (referencing the end-of-day sheet): Did you talk about animals at school today?
T: Yeah!
Me: What kind of animals did you talk about? Don't play with your food.
T (stares blankly for a bit and then starts singing): I'm a little teapot, short and fat...
and on...and on...and on...

And even though the husband and I have never really made a big deal about Valentine's Day; I'm thinking that it might be good to put the little one to bed early and have a nice romantic dinner at home. While most years we might share a bottle of good Champagne, this year he'll probably get a beer and I'll get a bottle of Pellegrino. But that doesn't mean that it can't be romantic. Here are some fun ideas I came across when looking for a little inspiration:

I love the geeky sweetness of this table from Mec Design Studio. Another fun fact? It's all set up on top of an old steam trunk! Such a fun and intimate way to spend time together.

I've heard recommendations for indoor picnics dozens of times, but this is a great set-up that anyone can do. Okay, so the flower petals might be cliche, but isn't Valentine's Day cliche in and of itself? (via Romantic Room Designs)

I like the sleek look of this tent...especially with the chandelier hanging down in it and the vintage styled coffee table to eat off of. Modern and cozy all at once. (via Somethings Hiding in Here)

If I had the time to put together something this elaborate...well, I'd be too exhausted to eat! But I love all the colors and textures in this in-home tent! (From Justina Blakeney via Design Sponge)

Valentine's Sweet Treats

2012-02-06T05:45:00.003-05:00

I've been remiss in pulling together Valentine's day inspiration...but that's about to be changed over the next week. It's all starting today with some fantastic sweet treats I've found that would be perfect to share with any loved one.

I'm a sucker for fantastic detail, and these cookies from Sweet Sugar Belle are absolutely gorgeous! (Even better, check out her tutorial for getting such amazing detail)

Anyone who gets these red velvet crepes is sure to be very loved and very lucky. (From Duhlicious)

Another adorable cookie collection...this time with just as much detail, but a sweeter, home-grown feel. (from Its Overflowing)

I won't pretend to know the German from the original post from Ohhh...Mhhh! (nor will I pretend Google translate helped very much); but this sprinkle sandwich is just too cute to ignore! I can just imagine how little one's faces would light up to a lunch like this on Valentine's Day.

Speaking of kid-friendly treats, how about starting off the day with an individual pancake cake in chocolate and strawberry? (from Sugar Swings! Serve Some)

Are you serving up any sweets this Valentine's Day?

Happy Groundhog's Day!

2012-02-02T05:45:00.006-05:00

I must admit...I completely forgot about Groundhog day until a co-worker mentioned it to me yesterday morning...oops! Whether or not our little furry friend sees his shadow, check out these fun ways to celebrate this day.

If you haven't heard yet, push pops are all the rage. Pizzazzerie's own Courtney Dial is even releasing a book exclusively on the new trend. These adorable groundhog push pops are from Foodista, and are simply adorable!

Here's something that you could probably pull off pretty easily. I don't know any kid that would turn down such adorable pudding treats! Get the details over at Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons.

Looking for something to spruce up your Groundhog Day treats? Head on over to P.S. Make it Your Own for these free printables (and you know how much I love free printables)!

How are you celebrating Groundhog Day?

{Roundup} Super Bowl Inspiration

2012-02-01T05:45:00.001-05:00

If you hadn't already noticed, we're a football family (see our previous football gatherings here and here), so the Super Bowl is a mandatory event. Now it's time to take a look at the best football inspired soirees around the web this year!

Catch My Party		Wants and Wishes
HWTM		Catch My Party
Fresh Chick Designs via The Party Dress

{Roundup} Super Bowl Printables

2012-01-31T05:45:00.004-05:00

Right now I'm wondering a bit if there's any love left for the Super Bowl? I can't even begin to tell you how long my list has grown for my Valentine's Day printables roundup. Try as I did, I couldn't find many Super Bowl printables. Nonetheless, there are still printables available for Giants fans, Patriots fan, and just plain football fans!

AndersRuff		HWTM
Catch My Party		Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational
The Celebration Shoppe

Don't forget to come back tomorrow for a recap of lots of Super Bowl/Football party inspiration!

Game Day Chili Recipes

2012-01-30T05:45:00.005-05:00

Is anyone else shocked that the Superbowl is only a few days away? The Husband and I usually either go to some kind of party, or host a party of our own. This year we're keeping it simple with just the three of us, and finishing the game late due to T's ill-timed bedtime.

Well, the Husband has been having a hankering for chili lately; and it's been shot down by my hormones for nearly two months now. It seems like the morning sickness is finally starting to wane slowly, and so it may be time to make a pot 'o chili just in time for the big day!

Cincinnati Style Chili

recipe via FoodNetwork.com

I spent countless vacations visiting family in Cincinnati, and have a special affinity for the Chili. Most people like the three-way; spaghetti, chili and cheese. My favorite was always the Coney Dog: a hot dog on a soft bun with chili, piled high with finely grated sharp cheddar. I can't find the real stuff anywhere in Maryland, but this recipe from the Food Network seems to come pretty close. Here's a hint to make it a bit more authentic: Don't brown the meat before cooking. Just put the raw meat in the water and cook for several hours to get the smooth consistency.

Texas Chili

Image via Homesick Texan

Texans are particular about their meat; and chili is no different. I'd love to try this tomato and bean-free version from Homesick Texan. And the long list of chilies is sure to entice the Husband.

Frito Chili Pie

Image via Pioneer Woman

I'l admit to never even hearing of Frito Chili Pie before the other day, but I'm totally intrigued. If we were hosting a party, this would be a must-have. Seriously, how can you get any better than chili and corn chips right in the bag? (Recipe via Pioneer Woman)

Do you have any special plans for the big day?

Now Accepting Submissions!

2012-01-26T05:45:00.008-05:00

Have you noticed anything new lately? In conjunction with this year’s goals, I’ve been sprucing up the blog, bit by bit. Most of the pages have been updated to include my latest projects and recipes. Soon I'll be working on a new header and background!

In other developments, I’m thrilled to announce that I’m now accepting feature submissions! No exclusivity required - actually, I prefer that everything be posted on your blog first! Submissions are being accepted for the following:

- Featured Parties
- Featured Follower
- Printables Roundups
- Inspiration Roundups

For most of these, it’s as easy as emailing a link! Details can be found at the Get Featured page. I can’t wait to see all the fantastic parties and ideas that everyone comes up with and look forward to sharing everyone's talent!

Stunning Wedding Shower Displays

2012-01-25T05:45:00.001-05:00

I was struck by a comment yesterday that requested more wedding and baby shower inspiration. My focus has been so much on small home and child-based events, that I haven't delved much into wedding themed inspiration. That's not to mean that I don't spend time looking at wedding and wedding shower inspiration (I'm a closet follower of Ruffled and Magnolia Rouge) So today's originally scheduled post has been pre-empted to share some beautiful wedding shower inspiration from around the net:

I love the soft tones of this buffet and the fluffy poms floating above the table; especially that Grey/Tan accordion pom on the upper left. (found via Gabba Gabba Gorgeous)

This whole set-up just seems so magical with the dining table under a tent of colorful streamers (Original source unknown, via izzybeth82 on Pinterest)

This has already made its way around before, but I still love the whole idea of a donut shower, not to mention the awesome chalkboard backdrop! (via A Beautiful Mess)

This has to be one of my favorite shower displays seen recently. I am absolutely in love with the gold polka dot table cover...what a great way to add pizzazz to any party! (via Beau and Arrow Events)

Thanks, Blonde Duck for the recommendation and reminder! With all the baby stuff on my brain, you'll be sure to see some baby shower inspiration soon enough!

{A Year of Parties} Vote Now!

2012-01-24T05:45:00.002-05:00

I’ve been wanting to do this for so long! Now that I’ve finished the “Year of Parties”, I want to know what was your favorite? Don’t ask me to pick only one, I poured my heart and soul into all of them. Take a look at the recap and then vote for your favorite in the poll on the right sidebar!

Christmas Cookies & Milk (Part I)	Christmas Cookies & Milk (Part II)	December Birthday Tea
Pink & Grey Dinner Party	Barnyard Birthday Bash	Toy Story Birthday Party
Easter Bunny Buffet	Mother's Day Brunch	Birthday/Father's Day Crab Feast
July 4th Sweet Treats	2nd Birthday Picnics & Pinwheels	Chili, Beer & Football!
Halloween Harvest Bash	Christmas Eve Dinner Party

The poll will be open for one week. The next question I have, is what elements have you liked most, and what are you tired of seeing? Where do you think I should go from here?

{Recipes} Tangerine Tango Cupcakes

2012-01-23T05:45:00.002-05:00

The other week, I posted some party inspiration for Pantone's color of the year; Tangerine Tango. Aside from all the fun decorating ideas, I got the urge to create something sweet. And so the Tangerine Tango Cupcake was created!

When the Husband and I first met, he let it slip that candy orange slices were one of his favorite treats. I realized that it had been quite a while since I'd bought some of those sweets for him, so I knew that they had to be incorporated somehow. I only needed a few more simple ingredients.

I love the combination of soda and cake mix...it results in an incredibly moist, but light cake. The marshmallows melted into the batter, so you could barely tell that they were there, but I think they added a nice little touch. For these I used regular store bought ice cream, but might try to use my go-to Swiss Meringue buttercream or even a Marshmallow frosting in the future.

Cupcakes are always a hit with the toddler, and these were no exception. The husband was skeptical at first, but ended up asking me to make sure I saved him another cupcake before packing the rest up for the office the next day!

Icy Inspiration

2012-01-19T05:45:00.004-05:00

Hearing all this news about the major snowstorms in the Northwest has me hankering to get away from the up and down temps of the mid-Atlantic. For now, I'm just going to have to keep dreaming, as it looks like we're going to be stuck in temperatures in the 40s and 50s and lots of rain.

While I'm waiting for my blanket of snow, I thought I'd pull together some snowy inspiration and a cup of warm tea.

Love these Snowball cones (via Kristin Eldridge Photography)

Martha Stewart does it again with these doily snowflakes

LOVE this gorgeous photo from Eye Poetry Photography

Is there anything prettier than icy tree limbs? (via I am an Age Old Tree)

Hopefully everyone has a great weekend...I'll see you on Monday!

Goals for 2012

2012-01-18T05:45:00.007-05:00

I suppose since January’s almost half over I should get to thinking about some goals for 2012. Last year I set some foodie goals, but failed to meet all of them. Hopefully this year’s goals will all be attainable:

Blog Redesign

Anybody remember this?

For several months now I’ve been feeling the need to simplify and modernize the design of this blog. Let’s face it, I’m a DIY’er; and that includes blog design. With the help of free elements from Dotty Dot Dot Designs, I was able to DIY this blog design last February. This year, I’m bound and determined to do a complete DIY blog redesign and have it launched by the end of March! (Ouch...how’s that for a concrete goal?!)

Expand into other design

What will this room look like in a few months?

I’m still muddling through what I’ve learned over the last year, and where I stand on starting my own business. Hopefully I will have a wrap-up post on that sometime soon. In the meantime, with the new little one on its way, I will have a lot of redecorating to do. You can bet I’ll be posting about moving T from her “baby room” to her “big girl” room (what is now the guest bedroom); and the transformation of the nursery for a new baby. Even further, after seven months, I still haven’t finished the craft/storage room. Get ready for LOTS of home design posts in the next several months!.

Guest posting
Although I have accounts with Twitter and Facebook, I hardly use them. I really wish I could spend more time on those sites, but if I’m not working or taking care of the kid, I’m working on a post or reading other’s websites. This year, I want to start using each of them more. (Secretly, I’m hoping that maternity leave will provide more time for that!) Even further, I’ll be needing more guest posts and hope to do more guest posting for other bloggers as well (hint! hint!)

What goals have you set for 2012?

{Featured Follower} JackieFo

2012-01-17T05:45:00.017-05:00

I'm back with another segment in the Featured Follower series! Today I'm featuring Jackie from JackieFo. Jackie blogs about her escapades as a wedding and special events planner while also sharing fantastic recipes and fun inspiration. Definitely be sure that you head on over to check out her site!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Tell us a little about yourself
Okay... I always feel like this is a loaded question :) BUT, here goes:

I'm a non-pretentious, kind, sarcastic and quick-witted girl. I literally can't stand people that think they are better than you or me, and I really can't be around people who don't like to have fun. I'm not talking crazy, get arrested fun, I'm talking about not taking life so seriously. I'm Italian and it's awesome. Technically I was born in America (and so were my parents) but we like to pretend we are straight up Italians...our food is the best and you KNOW IT. My mind has a million things going on at once and I think it's why I fall asleep in an instant, my mind is like BE QUIET CRAZY LADY. Oh, and I did I forget to mention my husband? I met him when I was 19 and never looked back - he's my best friend and totally completes me - Jerry Mcguire style. (Did you get a sense of my mind's tendency to wander there?)

2. Where are you located? (e.g. East Coast, Midwest, Canada, Australia)

East Coast - Born in the Jers, college in Ohio, but spent my formative years in NC, which is where I currently reside. I'm an East Cost-ish melting pot :)

3. What inspired you to start blogging?

Interesting story (not really)... researching some party ideas a while back when I realized WOW there are a lot of cool ideas out there... It just seemed like a fun community. Plus I've always loved writing, and I think it's a fun way to share your creativity but also a little of yourself and your personality too.

Champagne Cupcakes to Ring in the New Year

4. Of all your posts, which is your favorite?

Oh man... this is tough. Not that I think they are all so fantastic, in fact, there are definitely some that have been a snooze-fest. I really look fondly on my niece's baptism party that I planned last year. Not because I think it was my greatest party, but because it meant so much. I love my niece so much and it has been so fun to watch her grow! Plus, it was during that event where I realized I didn't suck at arranging my own flowers, so that was cool :)

Love the cake from Brooke's Baptism!

Gorgeous flower arrangements for a very special Baptism

5. Describe your dream job

Hmm... Probably something like this: I would have the perfect entertaining house and I would do different tablescapes every night. People would come over for cocktails/wine and apps and I would never have to clean up. That sounds realistic, right.

Curious Pearce Birthday Party

6. What is your favorite party trend at the moment?

Chevron. Where did this magical pattern come from?

7. What is your go-to party item? (food, craft or whatever)

The Italian in me is always going to serve some type of Mozzarella/Caprese salad. Put it on skewers or just serve as a salad...it's the bomb.com. Spring for the good mozzarella in water, PUH-LEASE.

Throw a classic Italian Pasta Party!

8. Do you read? What's your hot read right now?
I do read. I like books and magazines...love magazines in fact. I also like the Sunday New York Times but it takes me until the next Sunday to finish it. I got really into the Lincoln Lawyer books, they are much better than the movie (as are most books.) Currently I'm reading a collection of short stories entitled "The Day I Ate Everything I Wanted." They are perfect because as I mentioned, I fall asleep in 5 seconds flat most nights.

9. Spread the love! What are your top five favorite blogs right now?
Always love: Eat, Drink Pretty, With Style & Grace, Oh Baby Shower Decor, Party Box Design, Pizzazerie, and Swanky::Chic::Fete. (I know that's 6!)

10. Is there anything else you want to add?
Thanks to Leslie for including me - you are one of the nicest people I have met in blogland! I love it here in blogland...I think i'll stay :)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks Jackie, for taking the time to fill this out! Your posts really remind me of talking to an old friend, so keep the inspiration, recipes and parties coming!

{Mama Monday} Who Named it Morning Sickness Anyway?

2012-01-16T05:50:00.001-05:00

Time to rant. According to my doctor, I’m nearly fifteen weeks pregnant. While I’m feeling better than I have in a month an a half, I’m still dealing with Morning All Day Sickness. Sure, I was a bit queasy when I was pregnant with T, but nothing like this.

Image via BabyZone.com

And what’s with the name “Morning” Sickness? It seems like the nausea just starts with breakfast and grows and grows until finally my stomach’s had enough in the evening. I’ve tried the preggie drops with minimal success. Ginger Ale was a major disaster. Saltines seem to be the only way to actually soothe my stomach, but I’ve been through two boxes in the last two weeks...all that salt just can’t be good.

Here’s a quick rundown for anyone (not) interested:

What I can’t eat:
- Anything with a pasta sauce (spaghetti, shells, pizza, you name it)
- Bell peppers (especially green)
- Flat water
- Soda
- Most juices
- Milk
-Yogurt
- Cheese
- Anything with soy sauce

What I can stomach:
- Pellegrino (to a limited amount)
- Saltines
- Plain pasta
- Plain chicken
- Waffles
- Wheat Thins

Bland, boring, blah. In reality, I keep trying a lot of new foods just to see if maybe I can handle something with actual flavor. Perhaps that’s my real problem....

To anyone who finished reading this...thank you for reading/listening. I'm just so tired of being nauseous all.the.time.

{Looking Back} January 2011

2012-01-11T05:45:00.001-05:00

Last new year brought in a lot of fun stuff! Let's take a look!

I shared the formal dinner party we attended while visiting my Mother in Denver. (Catered by Occasions by Sandy)

Interested in knowing how to make a 'Seamless' Ruffle Garland like this one? Get the tutorial here!

Image via Summer Tomato

What do Spanish Tortillas, Swiss Meringue Buttercream and Truffles have in common? They were all foodie goals that I hoped to accomplish in 2011!

Image via Chocolate Treasure

Sharing some Etsy love with lots of fun finds to brighten up your Super Bowl party!

Image via The Purple Pug

I shared this adorable Christmas Dinner from the glittery sweet Purple Pug.

The Husband and I celebrated his parent's birthdays with a 5-course sit-down dinner. Get the decor details and the menu!

Finally, I shared a quick tutorial on how to make these simple felt and tulle flowers!

I don't know how to top all of that, but there are certainly lots of projects coming up soon and I can't wait to share! See you tomorrow!

{Inspiration Board} Tangerine Tango

2012-01-10T05:45:00.019-05:00

Have you heard? Pantone’s selection for the 2012 color of the year is “Tangerine Tango”! Last year, the color choice was Honeysuckle; and I’m thrilled to see a vibrant shade follow up the soft tones of pink from last year.

I don’t use orange much in my decorating...except when I used it for the Husband’s birthday/Father’s Day party last June:

Here’s some more inspiration for a fun party inspired by Pantone’s Tangerine Tango:

Sources (Top left to Bottom Right):

Orange Flower - Caqaiken

Creamsicle Trifle - Savvima

Chinese Lanterns - Raceytay

Airplane Favors - Clemens Designs via Swanky::Chic::Fete

Orange Cupcake Toppers - Stemellina Supplies

Orange Flowers in Vases - Elizabeth Anne Designs

Orange Lantern - Fuzzy Lamps

Orange Striped Straws - The Party Fairy

Orange Haired Doll - Natrume

Seeing all this orange has me thinking about some sweet treats I could make....how are you using orange this year?

{Recipes} Baked Donuts

2012-01-09T05:45:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday, everyone! One of the more interesting and unexpected gifts I received this Christmas was a mini-donut maker from my sister-in-law. I've only had the chance to try it out once...but now I'm hooked. You can be sure that you'll be seeing lots of mini donuts in the future. (Yes, I know that the trend was so 2011...but who's going to turn down donuts?!) Here are a few recipes that I'm hoping to try out soon!

Red Velvet donuts would be adorable to send to school as Valentine's gifts for T's classmates (from Honey, What's Cooking?)

How about some Apple Cinnamon Sugar Donuts from Barbara Bakes? I love the idea of apple chunks in my itty bitty donuts!

I can appeal to The Husband with some Maple Bacon donuts, via Sharon Moore Recipes. Mmmm...salty sweet!

Though maybe not the best recipe for a donut maker, I prefer a light, fluffy yeast donut to a cake donut every day. This recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe has me just drooling!

What are your favorite types of donuts? Any ideas for a creative display?

Big News and Big Changes!

2012-01-05T05:45:00.005-05:00

First, I want to thank everyone who has stuck with me through the last several weeks. It felt awful doing so much re-posting in December (especially after I had so many fantastic projects planned!). To everyone I've connected with over the 17 months, you are awesome, and my life wouldn't be the same without you!

Unfortunately, after the Halloween party, I found my energy draining. It's easy to blame it on the two-year old, work and the Holidays. But really, there was more going on...much more. Actually, this is what was going on...

That's right...we're going to have another baby! Unfortunately, morning sickness has thrown me for serious loop with this pregnancy. We're talking all day sickness that often culminates in the evening. I'm only a few days away from my fourteenth week, and I just hope that by then it's pretty much over.

So now you know the secret I've been dying to share for nearly two months; and that this July is going to be a complete whirlwind! (Seriously, how am I going to plan and execute a 3rd birthday just a few short weeks after having a baby?!)

Our 2011 Holidays

2012-01-04T05:45:00.002-05:00

I know most people post these pictures sometime between Christmas and New Year's; but life doesn't always fit everyone else's timeline. So, here's a quick recap of our holidays:

Before dressing up our house with a tree or other decorations, we visited Hampden, MD's Miracle on 34th Street.

A mere two weeks before Christmas, we were able to get up the Christmas tree. It was fresh, crooked, too big for our living room and wonderful. The husband was able to find bubble lights during a trip to Michigan earlier in the month and I had him scoop up a couple strands.

Christmas day brought a lot of smiles and giggles for the little one, and a new camera lens for the Husband and I (yay!).

After Christmas, it was time to play, play, play! We took the little one down to visit my family in Richmond; where my parents, sister and her kids spoiled her like crazy. We even had our first trip to Chuck-E-Cheese, where she got to eat a popsicle the size of her torso!

It was a great way to finish up 2011. 2012 promises to be a fantastic year, full of changes and lots of fun!

{Real Parties} Christmas Eve Dinner Party

2012-01-03T05:45:00.004-05:00

I hope everyone had fantastic holidays! The last week and a half has been a complete whirlwind. In the last ten days, we've hosted a dinner party, had family come to visit, visited my family in Richmond, recovered my computer, reconfigured our entertainment system and played a ton with the little one. To say my energy is drained is an understatement.

It all started with our Christmas Eve dinner party. Right after Thanksgiving, I was all set to host a big family bash (as envisioned here), but apparently some of the other family members decided they didn't want to hang with the original plan. So instead, we invited over the in-laws and my husband's aunt and uncle for a sit-down dinner and just enjoyed the evening. It wasn't the big bash I had envisioned, but it was good nonetheless.

The table was set with tones of green and white, and touches of glitter. With the exception of the soup bowls and the table runner, the table was completely set with items on hand.

For sit down dinners, I like to keep centerpieces low and simple to avoid distracting from the conversation. The centerpiece for this table was made with clear glasses and a medium round vase that were filled with green potpourri and topped with a single poinsettia flower head each.

Originally these branches were going to be part of the buffet, but with all the changes, I took some inspiration from Lili over at Swanky::Chic::Fete and mounted them to the wall as holders for our Christmas cards. It worked perfectly, and several people have mentioned how much they like the idea...thanks Lili!

We served dinner at about 7:30, which ended up working out pretty well for the little one. My in-laws brought freshly baked rolls and pre-mixed Manhattans; and the husband's uncle brought a fantastic homemade apple pie.

Other menu items included locally raised prime-rib, roasted asparagus, brussel sprouts with garlic, shallots and pancetta, mashed potatoes, cauliflower soup, and a medley of roasted squash.

The buffet decorations were kept very simple, with a layered backdrop of burlap and lace, giant acorn ornaments, and white orchids.

It may not have been everything I envisioned, but it was a wonderful evening and a great way to finish off the last year. Now it's on to the next adventure!

{Recipes} Christmas Horns

2012-01-02T09:23:00.000-05:00

Now that things are working again, I'm still editing all the photos from the Holidays. Pics from the dinner party should be up tomorrow...but in the meantime, I'm sharing the full how-to for the Christmas Horns that was guest posted on CSI Project right before Christmas. Happy New Year and happy Monday to everyone!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hi there CSI Project readers! This is Leslie from Pampers, Play Dates & Parties! Last October, I shared with you the Painted Pumpkin Planter, and I'm very excited to be back again to share a fantastic Cookie Exchange recipe.

I remember looking forward to the neighborhood cookie exchange every year as a kid, and still make a lot of the recipes we collected from those parties way back when. One of the best cookies I remember from my childhood is my mother's Christmas Horns. (It turns out that this recipe originally came from my stepfather's mother, but they'll always be my mom's cookies to me!)

I've never seen another cookie recipe like this anywhere else, and it's pretty simple. The most difficult part is actually in rolling the cookies up...so I enlisted the help of my stepfather (master horn roller!) to help with the process.

Christmas Horns

Dough:
1 lb butter
1 carton cottage cheese (1 lb.)
3 ½ cups flour

Filling:

2 cups ground walnuts or pecans (I tried ready-made pecan pieces, but it didn't work...definitely grind up the nuts!)
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp vanilla extract

Method:

Using a stand mixer (don't attempt this by hand or with a hand mixer, the dough is too stiff), mix together the dough ingredients. Form dough into balls between 3/4 and 1 inch in diameter. Refrigerate overnight.

After the dough balls are well refrigerated, prepare a surface and rolling pin with plenty of flour. I recommend rolling out the dough on a floured silicon baking mat - it makes all the difference.

One at a time, roll the dough balls into an oval shape, pat flat, and roll very thinly into a crescent shape. Place about 1/2 to 1 tsp of filling into one side of the crescent.

Next, from the side with the filling, gently roll up the dough. Pinch the ends once or twice while rolling to help seal in the filling. When you reach the end of the dough, fold the ends over to create a little crescent.

Bake the cookies at 375 until golden brown. The original recipe calls for baking the cookies between 18 and 20 minutes, but they only take about 10-15 minutes. When cooled, dust with powdered sugar and enjoy!

Even the little one could barely give me time to take photos before swiping a cookie!

{Roundup} New Year's Printables & Inspiration!

2011-12-31T09:32:00.000-05:00

Many apologies for not being around over the last week. Right before Christmas, something happened with my computer and my profile was completely corrupt ...which meant that I had to remotely access any of my files. Add to that the fact that the computer was freezing up almost instantly; and I basically have had NO computer until about 12 hours ago! Luckily enough, the Husband is a whiz with rebuilding computers and has this old thing is acting all sparkly and new-yay!

Anyway, enough of that saga. It's time for some fun! There are mere hours left until 2012 begins, and though it may be late, I just have to post my roundup of free printables and inspiration! It won't be as comprehensive as recent roundups, because I only had a short time to gather the info. Hopefully this will help someone out! (You can also check out my 2011 roundup here!)

New Year's Eve Printables

My Insanity	Custom Printables	Elinee
Pink Zebra Lounge	Bugaboo Announcements via Celebrations at Home	Celebrations at Home
Pamela Smerker Designs

New Year's Eve Inspiration

Celebrations at Home	Sweet Scarlet Designs via Kara’s Party Ideas	HeyLook & Ruffled
Celebrations at Home & The Party Dress Magazine	Enchanted Events via HWTM	Double Fun Parties via Celebrations at Home
Couture Cakery via Kara’s Party Ideas	The Creative Orchard via Celebrations at Home	Kiss Me Kate via Anders Ruff

We'll be ringing in 2012 all snuggled up at home...which is exactly what we wanted this year. I can't wait to see you in the New Year...it's promising to be a great year!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-23T09:02:00.000-05:00

image via Centsational Girl

Can you believe Christmas is just two days away? I had hoped to get in a couple more good posts before the big day, but when I opened up my laptop on Wednesday night it was completely unusable! So while I wait for the husband to build it back up from nothing, I'm only able to spare a few moments here and there on his computer.

Remember the post I wrote about the grand plans for a double party on Christmas Eve? Well, that has completely changed. I don't have time to go into detail, but all will be explained later. I just wanted to take a few moments in between last minute preparations to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! Hopefully I'll be back up and running sometime next week with tons of pictures!

{Tutorials} Crayon Covered Gift Jar

2011-12-21T05:50:00.001-05:00

Lots of change happening in this house right now. For those who missed it, I'm re-posting my guest post from Darling Doodles last week. Have a great Wednesday, everyone...only four more days until Christmas! (insert panic attack here)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hello all Darling Doodles readers! I'm so excited to be here as part of Brie's 12 Days of Giftmas! For those who don't know me, my name is Leslie and I'm visiting from my blog Pampers, Play Dates & Parties. I love to celebrate every part of life, whether that means hosting a party with family and friends, trying out a new recipe, or just creating a fun craft to share.

And speaking of crafting, with as tight as everyone's budget is getting these days, I've had to get a little creative with our gift giving this year. A great way to be creative during the holiday season is by creating your own teacher or co-worker gifts. Homemade treats are a favorite for co-workers and teachers; but dollar store tins and mini gift bags don't have much use beyond the giving of the gift...how about using a mason jar instead? Check it out!

Gift jar labels courtesy of Over the Big Moon

There you have it! I'll be filling our teacher's jars with gift cards, cookies and candies. And after the treats are out of the jars, they will make great pen holders, votive candle holders or vases.

Thanks again to Brie for hosting my little craft today. All the giftmas ideas have been great so far, and I can't wait to see what everyone else has in store!

Guest Posting at CSI Project

2011-12-20T05:40:00.003-05:00

I'm guest posting again this week. This time I'm sharing a Christmas Cookie recipe that's been a hit since I was a little kid...

We called them Christmas Horns...and I've never seen this recipe anywhere else! Head on over to the CSI Project to check it out!

{Roundup} Christmas Inspiration 2011

2011-12-19T05:40:00.004-05:00

Obviously I've been a little behind in my roundup posts for Christmas this year. Partly that has to do with just how many there have been...and I also wanted to try out a new format. I've been finding such a large quantity of printables and inspirational photo shoots/parties, that it seemed time to get the links next to the pictures. If you're looking for more inspiration, you can check out my roundup of Christmas Inspiration from last December, too!

Shindig Parties to Go	Loralee Lewis	I Do Invitations by Michelle via Kara's Party Ideas
Invite Me via Amy Atlas	Bloom Designs via Pizzazzerie	TomKat Studio
Chickabug	It's Overflowing	Kojo Designs
A Blissful Nest via Celebrations at Home	Sweet Scarlet Designs via Kara's Party Ideas	The Party Dress
White Room Events via Amy Atlas	Frog Prince Paperie via HWTM	Pamela Smerker Designs
Flair Designery via Celebrations at Home	Passion for Parties	Home Made Parties via Save the Date for Cupcakes
A to Zebra Celebrations	Glitter Guide via Pizzazzerie	Hello My Sweet via Kara’s Party Ideas
Celebrations at Home	Tie That Binds via HWTM	Green Beansie Cards via Kara’s Party Ideas
Celebrations at Home	Anders Ruff via HWTM	Paper & Pigtails via HWTM
Hello My Sweet via HWTM	Modern Moments Design via The Party Dress	Anders Ruff Custom Design via Kara’s Party Ideas
Fujuko’s Flowers via Pizzazzerie	Mrs. A in the Cove via Sweet Tooth: Dessert Meets Design	TomKat Studio
Beth Beattie via The Party Dress	Hank + Hunt	Wednesday via Somewhere Splendid

Let me know if you like the new format, and have a great Monday!

Linky Parties!

{Roundup} Free Christmas Printables

2011-12-15T22:40:00.001-05:00

So this post was supposed to be up this morning...but as I sat down to put it all together, my computer decided it had enough for the night and stopped responding. Then I got to a point where I could barely keep my eyes open anymore! So, to shorten a long story, pulling everything together had to wait until after work and after the little one was in bed this evening. But no matter...here's the biggest free printables roundup yet! Between last year's roundup and this one, I'm sure you'll find something to help you with any last-minute planning for your Christmas bash!

Sources:
    1 - Ribbon Tree - Agape Love & Designs
    2 - Let it Snow - Balancing Home (matching banner also available)
    3 - Santa & Me - Blissful & Domestic
    4 - Sing Sing Sing - Bonjour!
    5 - Naughty or Nice - Party NV via Catch My Party
    6 -Red Subway Art - Balancing Home
    7 - “Merry” Banner - Chickabug via How Does She?
    8 - Believe Subway Art - Momma to Binks & Bubble
    9 - Multiple - Blooming Homestead
    10 - Christmas in Your Heart - It’s a Crafty Life
    11 - Religious Subway Art - Blissful and Domestic
    12 - From the Kitchen of Labels - Anders Ruff
    13 - Paper Gingerbread Houses - Chickabug
    14 - Cookie in a Jar Labels - The Larson Lingo
    15 - Joy, Hope, Peace, Believe - Creation Corner
    16 - Christmas Bucket List - Makoodle
    17 - Reindeer Subway Art - Junk in their Trunk (multiple designs available)
    18 - Making Spirits Bright - My Sister’s Suitcase
    19 - Penguin Holiday Set - Anything But Perfect

    20 - Gift Tags & Advent Labels - Clean Mamma
    21 - Red, Blue & White (Peppermint Twist) - HWTM
    22 - Mod Printables/Merry and Bright - HWTM
    23 - Holy Night - TaiDye Originals
    24 - Wood Type Holiday Kit - Celebrations at Home
    25 - Christmas Eye Chart - That’s What Che Said
    26 - Christmas Soap Tags - Darling Doodles
    27 - Dear Santa Letter - Mommy by Day...Crafter by Night
    28 - Believe Subway Art - Momma to Binks & Bubble (oops, a duplicate!)
    29 - Gift Jar Printables - Over the Big Moon
    30 - Believe in the Spirit - Over the Big Moon
    31 - Santa Letters - The Pink Ink Doodle
    32 - Gift Tags - Mommy by Day...Crafter by Night (multiple designs)
    33 - Blue & Red Subway Art - My Ocean of Notions
    34 - Christmas Tree Art - Oh Boy Oh Joy!
    35 - Customizable Christmas Cards - Over the Big Moon
    36 - Santa’s Survey - Over the Big Moon
    37 - Snowman Soup - Paper & Pigtails
    38 - Modern Party Set - Party Box Design
    39 - Multiple - Printable Decor
    40 - Christmas Map - Sassafras Salvation
    41 - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year - Tattered and Inked
    42 - Believe - Remodelaholic
    43 - Best Way to Spread - Simply Silhouettes
    44 - Faux Bois Placecards - Tatertots and Jello
    45 - Jesus Printables - The Scotts Crib
    46 - 25 Subway Art - Tip Junkie
    47 - Christmas Tree Candy Bar Wrappers/Gift Tags - Tip Junkie
    48 - Peace/Joy - Unfortunately Oh!
    49 - Watch.Hope.Anticipate - Taidye Original
    50 - Cookies for Santa - Tatertots and Jello
    51 - Family Christmas Word Art - Today’s Creative Blog
    52 - Gingerbread House Party Set - TomKat Studio via HGTV
    53 - Winter Subway Art - While He Was Napping

Christmas Treats to Wow Your Guests

2011-12-14T05:42:00.000-05:00

Now, y'all know I have a serious sweet tooth. (Just look at all the desserts in the Food & Recipes Index!) But sometimes, I'm just completely blown away not only by how delicious a recipe sounds, but by how gorgeous and creative it is. This Christmas season has proven no different. Check out these amazing desserts that will not only tickle your tastebuds, but are sure to be the stars of your buffet.

Of course I love the fact that this cake has an ornament on the inside...but if you look closely at the frosting, it's a ruffle cake that is decorated to look like Christmas trees on the outside. Definitely a stunner! (from I am baker)

Everybody knows the Gingerbread man. Why not put your piping abilities to the test with these gorgeous patterns? I could definitely see those monogram cookies at individual place settings...how pretty! (from The Party Dress Blog)

Who doesn't love a peppermint patty at Christmas time? No doubt the snowflakes and edible glitter make these pretty, but check out the surprise on the inside! (from Hanelia's Food & Photography)

Beth over at Hungry Happenings has been wowing me with her gorgeous treats for months now. Currently she's in the middle of 12 Days of Sweet Designs...and I'm loving all of them. I especially like these jolly little elves, featured on Day 6!

It's about that time again, the rest of the week will be dedicated to Christmas round ups...printables and parties!

Oh Christmas Tree...Oh Christmas Tree!

2011-12-13T05:46:00.000-05:00

So it seems that a weekend full of baking, crafting, watching kid-friendly Christmas movies and buying and trimming our first live tree has helped to work its magic. Though the house is still far from decorated, and bins are stacked high around our dining table; Christmas spirit is starting to enter our household.

It also helps that I've only got about 7 work days left in the calendar year...but who's counting?!

With the fragrance of a fresh tree and our rosemary co-mingling upstairs, I'm all about the trees right now. So I went surfing the web for some more innovative and creative Christmas trees:

Check out this amazing tree made entirely out of wooden shipping pallets (via Re-Nest)

I have got to try this DIY crystal tree from Amy Morby

This Christmas tree ornament mobile is simply stunning....now I just need to figure out where to put one of these in my house! (Get the tutorial from Not Martha)

I can only imagine how T's eyes would light up if she saw a tree completely covered with and surrounded by candy. This set up is totally unrealistic for a home, but oh so cute! (via Dying of Cute)

We don't actually theme our tree...mostly because we barely had enough ornaments to cover the thing, but it was definitely oh so fun to bring T home from daycare yesterday to a lit tree waiting to be seen. What Christmas Tree traditions does your family have?

Guest Posting at Darling Doodles

2011-12-12T11:29:00.000-05:00

Hi there everyone! Today I'm guest posting over at Darling Doodles for Brie's 12 Days of Gift-mas series.

Head on over to check out a new way to use mason jars for gifting this Christmas!

Getting in the Spirit

2011-12-08T05:50:00.008-05:00

As usual, we are seriously late getting things taken care of for the holidays this year. Frankly, it's amazing that we have Christmas lights in the front of our house (and that's only because our lights take no more than about 45 minutes to put up). I haven't bought a single Christmas gift. We have no tree or any other decorations up in the house. With only two weekends left before Christmas, I have got to get in gear!

Add to it that every Christmas craft I've tried to create so far has been an utter failure, and a few other personal reasons, are why you've seen so much recycling of old material this week. I'm just not yet ready to share everything that's going on...so please bear with me.

With all that in mind, I went looking on YouTube for some Christmas Cheer, and found the following video by Straight No Chaser:

I hope it makes you giggle as much as I did; and that your holiday preparations are going better than mine!

{Real Parties} A Christmas Tea Party

2011-12-07T05:50:00.003-05:00

I mentioned earlier this week that I actually helped put together two different parties last December...merely days apart! Yesterday I shared pictures of the Cookies & Milk party we had for the little ones last Christmas. The next party was actually a birthday tea celebrating the 60th birthday of one of my husband's aunts. I still love the way the party came together, since it made good use of Christmas colors, without being overtly seasonal.

The buffet; filled with macarons, tea sandwiches, tea breads, eclairs, fruit tartlets, alfajores (a latin american treat), and berries with mascarpone cream.

Mmmmmm....Macarons!

The dining table was set with fine china, fresh roses, and lots of pink and red!

The birthday cake was pretty in pink ruffles with pictures of the birthday girl from throughout her youth.

Instead of getting an expensive tea chest, use a fabric jewelry tray...this one was covered in leftover burlap that had been dyed red to match.

The guests each got to take home teacup favors filled with candied pecans.

To see even more pictures and details, check out the original post, here.

Sources:
Eclairs - The Cakery
Macarons - Patisserie Poupon
Alfajores - Mel Mellis:Sweet Treats
Tags, Labels & Place Cards - TomKat Studio

{Real Parties} Christmas Cookies & Milk

2011-12-06T05:50:00.003-05:00

I don't usually like to re-post, but it seems appropriate to share again the first party I put together to kick off the year of parties. The party was somewhat small, with just the parents and kids from T's daycare class. I still remember how much fun all the kids had together.

We served a variety of Christmas-themed cookies, including Christmas Tree Meringues, Maple Snickerdoodles, Sugar Cookie 'Ornaments', Pink Sparkle Dome Cookies, Gingerbread Men, Chocolate Chip Bars and Sugar Cookie Candy Canes.

The kids got to use reindeer sippy cups, and a variety of milks and egg nogs were available.

Real sugar cookies hung from a Christmas tree at the center of the buffet.

The office was completely redecorated to act as a playroom for the kids. We simply covered the desks and monitor with linens/Christmas tree skirts. The bookcases were covered with Christmas gift facades and a variety of Christmas decor was sprinkled throughout the space for fun.

Hot chocolate mix in recycled Starbucks bottles acted as favors.

I made several ornament wreaths and even found some last-minute snowgirls to add attitude!

These are actually only some of the pictures of the event. Unfortunately, I just don't have time to go into all of the details right now. If you want the full recap, you can check out the original posts here and here. Tomorrow I'll be pulling out pictures of the second party I pulled together last December, and one of my top five favorites!

{Looking Back} December 2010

2011-12-05T05:50:00.001-05:00

There are definitely some highlights to share from last December. Not only did I kick of the year of parties that month, but I even put together a second party less than two weeks later! I dedicated a whole week of posts for Etsy shopping, and even shared my first tutorial! Check it out!

Have some foodies in the family? Here I share a few of my favorite food and wine related gifts...yum!

Image via Anna Hailey from Etsy Week Christmas Decor

Image via Lazy Day Cottage from Etsy Week Vintage Inspired

Image via Love Lee Soaps from Etsy Week Christmas Shopping

Image via Dainty Delights from Etsy Week Christmas Cookies

For Etsy Week 2010, I shared some fantastic Christmas Decor, Vintage Inspired Items, Christmas Shopping List Items, and Christmas Cookies.

Image via The Purple Pug

I contributed a few noisemakers for the Children's Party Network East Coast/West Coast Party Challenge to support Project Night Night.

Image via Allrecipes.com

I shared a few of my favorite recipes for our annual cookie platter.

Image via Party Starters

I rounded up 15 different free Christmas printables.

Here I showed how I made a set of large sparkly letters that can double as Christmas Card holders or place card holders.

All the party people come out to play for Christmas...as evidenced by this massive roundup of over 40 inspirational party set-ups. Seriously, if you want inspiration for your Christmas party, you can find it here!

To finish off the year, I rounded up a bunch of New Year inspirational tablescapes and free printables.

Shabby Apple Winner!

2011-12-02T17:00:00.002-05:00

Thanks so much to all who entered the Shabby Apple Giveaway this last week.

Congratulations to Stevie M. from The Moore Babies! Please be sure to respond to my email within 48 hours so you can receive your necklace!

Christmas Card Conundrum

2011-12-01T05:50:00.001-05:00

So Thanksgiving is now a week passed, Advent is in full swing, and it is now officially December. As much as I might like, I can no longer put off Christmas.

The first item on my list is Christmas cards. I am notorious for getting cards out late, and am trying to improve upon my previous track records. Last year, we ordered some gorgeous cards from Shutterfly through a blog promotion.

This year, I was lucky enough to have a friend pass along a prize for a free sitting with Wonsaponatime Studios. Ian was great with the little one, and was very easy to work with. We tried to get some outdoor photos in addition to the studio shots, but it was just too cold and windy on that day.

After all the toying around I've done with printable design this year, I thought I'd try my hand at creating our own Christmas cards, and came up with these three top contenders:

This formal card was the first of the three. I do love the red feather background.

This green snowflake card is a much simpler alternative. (Bonus points to anyone who can identify the name of the Christmas song quoted...this is where my drama geek comes out!)

After those other two, I longed for something more modern and with simpler colors; so I threw together this card with a gray faux bois background.

I'd love to know what you think. Which card is your favorite? Any recommendations for changing them?

Linky Party Love:

{Recipes} Macaroni & Cheese

2011-11-30T06:00:00.003-05:00

While everyone is busy posting Christmas ideas and decor (which I haven't yet had the chance to do because we were out of town until Monday afternoon), I'm still mulling over Thanksgiving feasts. T's class had their own Thanksgiving feast, and I was responsible for bringing the macaroni and cheese.

Now, I could have gone with the good old boxed standby-who doesn't love Kraft Mac 'n Cheese? But when it's for a special occasion, I always feel a need to make something special. So I of course checked out my Pinterest boards and found this recipe from White on Rice. I remember seeing this recipe a while back, and being intrigued by the process. What makes it different? Instead of boiling the macaroni, it is slow cooked in your milk. Soaking up the water from the milk makes a flavorful and creamy pasta.

I opted to use a combination of italian blend cheeses in addition to sharp cheddar. The combination was okay, but I prefer a sharper flavor. For breadcrumbs, I toasted up some multigrain rolls and crumbled them on top which added a nice crunch.

In the end, I can tell you that the large pan I sent to the school came back completely clean - so apparently several people approved! I'm still on the lookout for a great homemade Macaroni & Cheese recipe, so feel free to make your suggestions in the comments section!

Linky Party Love:

{Featured Parties} Little Man Mustache Bash

2011-11-29T06:15:00.003-05:00

Happy Tuesday everyone! Hopefully your Thanksgivings were all filled with fun and lots of friends and family. Can you believe we're now officially in the Christmas/Advent season? T has already visited Santa, and we've already been driving around at night to check out some of the craziest Christmas lights in the neighborhood.

In any case, I stumbled upon this party last week and just had to share it. Those of you who follow me on Pinterest know I love a "Little Man" party...even though I have no little men of my own (yet). I even posted about the trend last June! Well, this party featured via Nothing But Country is a perfect little gem!

Usually mini buntings have been reserved as cake toppers. I love how it's draped over the cupcake display here!

Speaking of cupcakes, these toppers are just adorable! I love the green and blue color combo!

Aren't these mustaches so adorable on the straws! I love how they look placed right at the bend.

Little bowties around the cutlery...simply adorable!

Don't forget your mustache pop on the way out! Check out more adorableness over at the Nothing But Country!