Real Parties: A Walk on the Wild Side

This wild baby shower was hosted by my friend, Paige (see her Cupcakes & Cocktails party!) for a close friend. I love the color combination she chose...leaf green, orange & white mixed with different animal prints.

Hayley Hardastle designed the invitation and other great paper products.

Guests signed their names on this keepsake paper as they walked into Paige's home. A similar sheet was used to record gifts as the mom-to-be opened presents.

The "beverage bar" which included 3 drinks with creative names.

Guests dined on chicken satays, mozzarella penne pasta salad, spinach artichoke dip, hummus & fruit salad.

Are these petit fours not the cutest?!

Paige got crafty and created the "BABY" sign that hung on the mantle.

The colors of the candy in this candy station really pop! This is a great example of how a small and simple candy table can still make a nice impact.

To see more pictures of this perfectly executed party, visit Paige's blog, HERE.

A few party details you might be interested in...

* Invitations & paper products were designed by Hayley Hardcastle.

* The plush giraffe is by Melissa and Doug via Amazon.

* The flowers and catering came from Central Market in Southlake.

* The Cakery in Southlake made the adorable monogrammed petit fours.

* The animal print ribbon and cardstock to make the "BABY" sign was purchased at Hobby Lobby.

Party Box Design

I was so glad when Jessica from Party Box Design got in touch with me! Browsing through her products, I can see how talented she is and that she has an eye for design. I think great boy parties are hard to come by, so I was so excited to find her take on the construction theme. I'm a sucker for houndstooth!

You may have already seen the next few pictures floating around the blogosphere. They are from a cupcake inspired baby shower that Jessica helped plan for a grandmother-to-be (love that idea!).

Be sure to check out Jessica's website and blog for more party inspiration and to learn more about her products and event planning services!

Real Parties: A Fancy Nancy Party

This GREAT Fancy Nancy party was sent to me and I knew I had to share it with you! Kristi went all out for her twin daughter's 6th birthday celebration. The party guests played dress up, made posh puppies, played games and had Fancy Nancy read to them with a twist.

The yummy parfait table (ice cream sundaes!) included rainbow sprinkles, chocolate chips, Oreos, cherries, marshmallows & pink M&M's.

You can see more party pictures HERE.

A few party details you might be interested in:

* The cupcake wrappers, hot pink frame and pink Eiffel Towers all came from Hobby Lobby.

* Rose Petals Bakery made the cupcakes and edible butterfly toppers.

* Chicago based, Unique Balloon Decorating, created the large "6".

* Kristi made all of the tags, labels, straws and tablecloths!

Recipes: Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake

A friend gave me a recipe to a chocolate chip bundt cake that is DIVINE. It is super moist and what's even better is that is so easy to make!

{image via Food Network}

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix (no pudding added)

1 small box of vanilla instant pudding

1 small box of chocolate instant pudding

1 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup oil

4 eggs

semi sweet chocolate chips - I added about 8 oz

Directions:

* preheat oven to 350

* grease and flour bundt pan

* combine cake and pudding mixes in a bowl

* add oil and water and mix with a beater

* add eggs and mix

* stir in chocolate chips

* pour into bundt pan and bake for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on your oven

ENJOY!

Late Night Party Snack

{image via Keely Thorne Events}

There are NO WORDS to describe how excited I would be to find this waiting for me at the door as I left a late night wedding!! We have all seen sweets, such as cookies or a candy station, set up for guests to indulge in as they make their exit, but how great would it be to find a hamburger or chicken fingers with fries waiting for you!!

This would not only work after a wedding reception, but would be a nice touch after any late celebration!

Easter/Spring Tablescapes & Parties Contest!

Michelle from Maddycakes Muse is hosting an EGGcelent (I could not resist!) spring parties and tablescapes contest!! I know we are all ready for spring and this is the perfect event to help us get in the mood.

All 3 prizes are GENEROUS. The first place winner will receive a $100 gift certificate to Etsy!!! I am so excited to be on the judges panel and be in the company of five very talented and creative ladies...Amy from Stem, Monique from Enchanted Expectations, Susan from Between Naps on the Porch, Kara from Karas Party Ideas & of course, Michelle from Maddycakes Muse.

Hop on over (I just can't stop!) to Maddycakes Muse to learn more about the fabulous prizes and how to enter. Don't delay...the contest ends on Sunday, February 28th.

{image via Country Living}

Custom Inspiration Board: 70th Birthday Party Inspiration Created by Birthday Girl

Birthday Girl is a daily read of mine and I have always loved seeing the inspiration boards that Becca creates. So, I was thrilled to learn that she now offers custom inspiration boards! I knew I had to order one. Here is the board Becca designed for my Dad's upcoming SURPRISE party. If you know him....shhh!!!

I am so pleased with the outcome! Be sure to read below for the party ideas that she came up with. We chose a color scheme of olive green and sienna and this is her take.

Photo Credits

Row 1: table setting via elisabeth anne designs; bar via ariella chezar; antipasto; candy jars via rebecca thuss

Row 2: place card holders via the green bride; cake table via the cupcake company

Row 3: dessert buffet via amy atlas; olive wreath via the dirty shirt ; menu via style me pretty; olive oil via stonehouse

Row 4: wine table number via snippet & ink; centerpiece via style me pretty; chair garlands; mini olive trees via sur la table

Party Ideas

Colors: Olive green & sienna

Setting: Evening surprise party. Seated Italian dinner for 130.

Decorations: Incorporate olive branches and greenery into centerpieces of green, white, yellow lush flowers. Consider adding lemons to centerpieces or line in clear glass vases as they compliment nicely with olive green. Use wine bottles with labels as table numbers and insert seating cards into corks. I agree that a blackboard style menu would be perfect for this setting too.

Dessert: Set apart the cake table by using the cake as a centerpiece and have a few other desserts surrounding it. Drape the table with olive branch garland or add height by adding a few olive bushes or Meyer lemon trees at the back of the table.

Favors: Small bottles of olive oil, wine for each couple or create a take home dessert buffet in greens, browns and whites.

Other: Hang small copies of b/w family pictures from the branches of an olive wreath or olive tree, either at the cake table or in a separate area. Instead of a guestbook, have a glass wine carafe at the gift area with a sign instructing guests to drop notes and well wishes.

Here are two other great boards Becca designed...a classic carnival birthday and a fairy garden party for Kim at The Tomkat Studio.

Real Parties: A Christening & Adoption Celebration

I have a very special party to share with you. I know you will LOVE the gorgeous, girly details which will hopefully serve as inspiration. This particular event was held to celebrate the Christening and adoption finalization of a sweet baby girl whose parents went through a long journey to get her here.

Angel wings were found throughout the party since that is what they call their daughter.

As an adopted child myself, my friend's story and this party touches my heart. What a blessed little girl to be brought into this world and put into the hands of two loving and deserving parents! I feel the same way about my parents.

On the invitation, was a poem which read...

Today I kissed an angel. I knew it from the start.

The first time my angel smiled at me, I gave away my heart.

Today I kissed an angel, this angel child of mine.

Though not of my creation, my child by God's design.

Today I kissed an angel, my heart is dancing wild.

A family, by a miracle, blessed by this angel child.

~ author unknown ~

A few event details you might be interested in...

The photography was done by my immensely talented friend, Leslie, of Goodlight Photography.

* The party was held at The Manor House at The Houstonian Hotel.

* Events in Bloom created the gorgeous flowers and decor.

* The cake came from Who Made the Cake.

The proud mommy, Christine, coordinated our wedding and for whom I worked for. She also planned these amazing parties, here and here, for her little girl over the past few years. They just welcomed home their second baby girl!

Real Parties: Pancakes & Pearls

The Pancakes & Pearls birthday party pictures are here! As usual, my friend, Julianna, put together an adorable party for her daughter!

On the menu were heart shaped pancakes, mini fruit parfaits, fruit kabobs and mini muffins.

Pearl Punch! Too cute!

The little girls enjoyed manis and pedis!

Besides being pampered, the girls decorated flip flops and frames, strung necklaces and had a style show! It was a busy morning!

Favors were monogrammed spa towels.

This was such a unique theme for a girls birthday party, but it can easily be turned into a Valentine's party. It's not too late to plan!

A few party details you might be interested in...

* Invitations, napkins, food cards and melamine plate came from Hayley Hardcastle.

* The tiered cakes was from Tart in Dallas

* Simply Pretend was her source for the pink nets, spa chairs, kid tables and chairs.

* La Madeleine made the mini parfaits and the muffins were from JD's Chippery (my absolute favorite cookie place in Dallas!).

* The heart pillows on the mani/pedi chairs came from Target.

* The cute spa towels were ordered from Cotton Fruit and were monogrammed in Dallas.