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!

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

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

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

{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

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

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!

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!