Ahhhhh...

I hope that you enjoyed your Christmas, I know I did.  I have to say, though, today was so nice knowing there was nothing that "had" to get accompished.  Just relaxing and enjoying my family was perfect.  The kids are finally coming off of their overload and playing with all their new goodies.

What was the biggest hit (gift wise) with your kiddos this Chirstmas?  With mine: a pink guitar, Tag reader and baby Cinderella.

With the new year quickly approaching I am looking forward to sharing new and exciting parties and ideas with you. And, would love to hear from you and share you parties, ideas and photos too!

Happy New Year!

Cookie Decorating Party

Searching for some creative ideas to do with your kiddos?

How about a Cookie Decorating Party?

I saw this idea on Parents.com and thought it had some really great tips and how to's that I would share with you.  Looks like fun!

Cookie Decorating Party on Parents.com

Tips:

Make it a holiday tradition that your little darlings look forward to each holiday season

Prep & prepare the night before

Make work stations to prevent fighting

Have non-sweets snacks available (you don't want any tummy aches!)

Have a special sweet treat, and my kids favorite...Hot Chocolate with whip cream and for an extra special kick, crush up a candy cane to sprinkle on top

Prepare a to-go goody plate for your helpers and top it off with  ribbon & recipe card



Super Cute Snowladies!!

Icing Designs has posted this absolutley adorable (and simple) DIY chocolate covered marshmallow snowladies & snowmen.

They are so cute I couldn't help but share!!
Icing Designs

Lil' Willie birth announcement

Tonal Type Blue Baby Announcements

Make a statement with Shutterfly birth announcement cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Beachy Bright Baby Shower

Beachy & Bright Baby Shower

All I wanted for this baby shower was an afternoon of relaxation, peace and happiness
and that is exactly what I got!
Favors used as table decor; pales filled with sand and candles
sea shells and pom poms

Keeping with a theme of simplicity;
delicious food, refreshing drinks and beautiful flowers and surroundings!

The very best part...
dessert!
On the menu;
Pineapple Cheesecake in a graham cracker crust and garnished with strawberries
Lemon, Chocolate & Pineapple Cupcakes decorated as water and beach

2 Great Parties are Coming!

So my blogging has fallen behind the past couple of weeks, between 2 little ones and a baby coming any day I am exhausted!  I do however have a beach inspired yellow baby shower to share with you from a few weeks back that I have been working on.  And, my lollipop birthday party for my daughters 2nd birthday is this Saturday and I can't wait to  get the photos and share with you as well.
Stay tuned...

Owl of a Time

Hoot Owl Birthday Party

Kara at Kara's Party Ideas posted this as her Winning Feature and I just had to feature it too!

This is such a fun and original theme I couldn't not share it with you!

Such attention to detail and not to mention that not only is it super cute but these photo are giving me a sweet tooth.

For more details and photos of this Hoot of a Good Time check out Kara's blog;

http://karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/2010/09/real-party-hoot-owl-birthday.html

Birthday Girl Giveaway!

Birthday Girl & Party Box Designs have teamed up for a great giveaway!
Click the link below and sign up for your chance to win the e-invitations giveaway.

http://www.birthdaygirlblog.com/2010/09/e-invitations-giveaway-from-party-box.html

A Very Monkey Halloween

My baby girls 1st halloween costume...a monkey!
This was such an adorable costume and she still sloves the stuffed monkey that goes with it!

Discovering...

Well, I am learning in going back through my previous parties that I am not good at taking photos of the decor and party planning process.  All my photos are the party, guests and gifts.  I promise that on all "new" party posts I will be much more detail and diligent in my photos. 
Hope you still enjoy these older parties on a much smaller posting scale.
Enjoy!!

Sweet Baby Girl Baby Shower

A Sweet Baby Girl Shower


This shower was so sweet and simple letting the gifts and balloons be the majority of the decor and, oh that cake!

Argggg! It's a Pirate Cake

One more cake I wanted to add on here.


Once again, my friend made this cake for my husbands birthday a few years back and it just turned out so fun!

The TomKat Studio: {New to The Shop} Happy Halloween Collection!

The TomKat Studio: {New to The Shop} Happy Halloween Collection!

The Tom Kat Studio has just released their new Halloween Collection and it is so GREAT! This enitre collection makes you want to think up a reason to use everything!

Visit Kim's Etsy.com shop to recieve 50% off through September 15th!

Topsy Turvy Cake

This is such a fun cake that my friend Nicole made for my birthday one year.
I just loved it!

Vote for our Awesome Octopus Cake!

This gorgeous octopus cake that I featured in my Under the Sea / Ocean Theme birthday party for my daughter is now entered into a contest and we need you to vote!

Go to:

http://www.wetv.com/amazing-wedding-cakes-contest/rating.php/1802?senttofriend=yes

and give your vote for our cake!

Butterfly Baby Shower

My first Baby Shower!
My Mom, Aunt, Cousins & Family Friend through this shower for me and they did an amazing job.


My theme with my first baby girl was butterflies & dragonflies and they incorporated that theme into everything.  So sweet, simple and perfect!

Monkey's 1st Birthday

 A very "Girly" Monkey 1st Birthday!

For my little monkeys 1st birthday it was a must for a monkey themed party.  The challange?  Everything monkey I found was boy, not girl.  So I was on a creative hunt.

Grammy was on the birthday girls cake and might I add it was perfect!

My friend Jessica made the monkey face cake.  Both cakes were just perfect and exactly what I wanted.

Sisters sharing the yummy's!

I found these monkey masks at Oriental Trading Co.. I decided to have the masks instead of party hats and they were a huge hit with the kids.

We had our party outdoors on the lawn which worked out perfectly for the kids to run and play while the Moms & Dads visited.

I found all of my crafting supplies at Michaels for the banner.

For party favors:

I decorated pots and filled them with a planted bulb

Animal Crakers

Goody bags filled with various monkey themed toys and bubbles

Having the party outside I figured simple was best and everything turned out perfectly!

Lollipop / Sweet Shop Birthday, Sneak Peak

Here is a little sneak peak at the Lollipop / Sweet Shop Party that I am working on.


Thank you Tom Kat Studio for the DIY on the lollipop invitation, I am so happy with them and can't wait to send them out to our guests.

I will be posting are entire party soon!

Halloween is coming & FAST!

I have been so distracted with birthday parties and baby showers I just realized how quickly Halloween is approaching.  I will be focusing this coming week on Halloween ideas for you!
Looking for somehting specific?  Have ideas of your own?  Please share, I would love to here from you!

Give and Get is Here!

Have you gotten your 30% off coupon yet? I did and can't wait to use it!

Give and Get is Here!: "Enjoy 30% off from August 26-29 at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy and we'll donate 5% of what you spend to a non-profit."

Get your coupon, make your purchase, come back and let me know how much you saved.

Happy Shopping!

Jungle / Safari Baby Shower

I helped put together this Jungle / Safari themed baby shower for a good friend of mine and it turned out so relaxing and sweet!  We kept the decorations very simple and were able to keep things very mellow and enjoyable for our "new" Mama and her guests.
Our color scheme was light green and turquoise with coordinating flowers and ballons.
For any baby shower I love using baby clothes on a clothes line for cute and useful decorations.  Mama gets to keep the clothes for babies arrival!
To go along with our jungle theme I made chocolate covered bananas for favors with Jungle Babies Party Favor Tags from Ciao Bambino on etsy.com
http://www.etsy.com/listing/51452320/jungle-babies-custom-party-favor-tags?ga_search_query=jungle&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5303590
love them, thank you Ciao Bambino!
And, another baby shower must have, the watermelon fruit basket stroller, so so cute!
We had the cake made to match the invitation and it turned out super adorable as well.

Fabulous Fun Finds, Kate Landers Giveaway

A must enter giveaway over at FabulousFunFinds.com for a Kate Landers Events Giveaway

http://www.fabulousfunfinds.com/2010/08/kate-landers-events-llc-giveaway.html

Enter for your chance to win a Classic Custom Party Package , $150 value!

Apple Themed Free Printable Download at Dimple Prints

As I have mentioned before I love Dimple Prints and today she is offering a Free Download for apple themed / back to school items on her blog;

http://dimpleprints.blogspot.com/2010/05/free-dowload-teacher-appreciation-week.html

Check it out and let me know how you plan to utilize this free download. For back to school? A party?

Under the Sea, continued...

I can't believe I forgot to add the adorable invitation for our Under the Sea / Ocean theme birthday party. 

I searched high and low and as soon as I saw this my search ended, this was the one! Thank you Dimple Prints, I love all of your items!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/52818355/under-the-sea-iicustom-you-print-digital?ga_search_query=sea&ga_search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_6539370

Fun Fabulous Finds, All About Tot's Giveaway

Check out fabulous giveaway today over at Fabulous Fun Finds with All About Tot's

http://www.fabulousfunfinds.com/2010/08/all-about-tots-giveaway.html#comment-form

Both of these sites are awesome!  Check both sites out then come back and share your comments on what you liked.  Good Luck!

Under the Sea Birthday

Maisie's 3rd Birthday Party
Under the Sea / Ocean Theme Party



My daughter absolutely loves anything ocean, fish, sharks, octopus...
so naturally when her 3rd birthday rolled around there was no questions that the theme had to be ocean / under the sea with a girly twist.
The details:
We had a photo booth set up that everyone got in on the action with, Don't get eatin by the shark!!!
Sea horse pinanta (we can not have a birthday without a pinata!)
Our food choice was Octopus dogs, they turned out so cute
My Mom & I made an assortment of cupcakes with ocean blue frosting & ocean toppers
Favors consisted of chocolate chip cookies (the birthday girls favorite)
with darling Under the Sea party favor tags from Ciao Bambino at etsy.com
and DIY necklaces with mermaids & fish from Michaels
and, of course, the gorgeous "Octopus Princess" cake that my good friend Nicole made, it was perfect!

25 Facebook Fans

I am getting up and running with both feet on the ground.  My 1st goal is 25 Facebook Fans by Friday and just for an extra kick let's add to that with 25 blog followers by next Monday.  Can we do it?  I think so!

Give and Get, 30% coupon

This came to my in-box today and I wanted to share with you...Don't miss out on 30% off at Gap, Banana Republic & Old Navy in-store & online and donating to charity at the same time!!

Give and Get is Here!: "Enjoy 30% off from August 26-29 at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy and we'll donate 5% of what you spend to a non-profit."

My New Blog

Well, as you can see I am new to blogging.  However, I am not new to planning and throughing parties. Every chance I get to plan a party or event I jump at the opportunity.  I love planning birthday parties and events for my kids, husband, family & friends and have been told for years to expand this into a business. For me each event is a learning opportunity to expand my creativity and to improve my party planning skills.

As we all say, I never "had" the time to pursue my passion, I just got caught up in my daily grind.  I have been a Realtor for the past 8 years and in that time my husband and I have been growing are family with our 3rd (and final) baby on the way.  With being on bed rest for most of this pregnancy and 3 kids 3 and under, I have been forced to reevalutate my priorities and what makes me truely "happy". Well, planning parties of course!

So here goes!  My goal is to share with you my party creations, great things I find and love and the fabulous ideas of amazing finds through other web-sites, blogs and searches.

I would love for you to share your parties, ideas & suggestions with me as I am always wanting to learn, grow and make this blog one you can't wait to read with each new posting. And, don't forget to to follow my blog, become a Facebook fan and suggest to your friends so you can keep up as I grow my inspirations!

Thank you for your love,
Jessica

Ladybug Cake

This ladybug cake was for my baby girls 1st birthday, thank you Schott's Bakery!
It was amazing and tasted just as good as it looks.


For my youngest daughters 1st birthday, we decided last minute to have an out of town party for all my family that could not make it.  So what better than to travel 3 hours for a party in the park!  We had lot's of family, pizza, a pinata and this gorgeous cake!