{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!

{Recipes} Pumpkin Bread

{image via Flickr}

You will forever love me for this recipe! Seriously, this pumpkin bread is phenomenal and people will be asking you for the recipe. The recipe comes from a college friend whose family has baked the bread for years. Ever since I got my hands on the recipe, I have made it many times during the fall and winter holidays. I just made two loaves tonight to freeze and then serve on Thanksgiving morning!

Ingredients:

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

4 eggs

1 can Libby's pumpkin

2 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

* Preheat oven to 350 degrees

* In a large bowl, mix the sugar and oil together

* Add the eggs and mix until yellow

* Add the canned pumpkin and mix

* In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon

* Then, add the bowl of dry ingredients to the egg/pumpkin mixture and mix.

* Add tsp of vanilla and stir again.

For Muffins:

Spray muffin tins or use liners and fill about 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Makes around 30 muffins.

For Bread:

Spray two loaf pans and divide batter evenly between the two pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 55 minutes.

A Gorgeous Thanksgiving Table & Giveaway

Amanda Parker of Shindig Parties styled the most gorgeous Thanksgiving table! What I love most about the table is how warm and welcoming it is. It is full of beautiful details, but it doesn't feel too fancy and untouchable. Below you will see a handful of pictures from the lovely table, but be sure to visit Amanda's blog to see many photos of the well styled dessert table.

ALSO...Amanda is offering P is for Party readers a chance to win the printables seen throughout the Thanksgiving tablescape as well as the personalization of up to 24 placecards or buffet cards!! Please read below on how to enter.

The ribbon chandelier makes such a big statement, but is easy to put together...no sewing involved! The ribbon is a garland and all you need to do is find the fabric of your choice and cut and tie!

The corn husk table runner is so inventive and can easily be made as well. Visit Amanda's blog for the step-by-step instructions.

I love the wine bottle labels which Amanda will customize for you with your family initial.

As is the tablescape, the dessert table is equally gorgeous! Be sure to visit Amanda's blog for lots of close up pictures of the beautiful desserts.

On to the Giveaway!

Thanksgiving is just over a week away and the Shindig Parties TO GO Thanksgiving printable collection would be perfect at your table. Here is how to enter...

* Are you a fan of Shindig Parties TO GO on Facebook? Amanda would love for you to join her. Let us know if you are already a fan or if you just became one. Earn an extra entry by doing any of the following. Please be sure to leave a separate comment for each of your comments. The contest ends this Thursday and all entries need to be in by 5:00 PM CST. Good luck!

* Are you an official follower of P is for Party?? If you are, please let me know. If not, I would be so happy if you became a follower!

* I would love for you to join me on Facebook as well! Please let me know if you already "like" P is for Party or if you just joined the party.

Good luck everyone!

A Pumpkin Orange Thanksgiving Table

I absolutely adore this time of year and I am so excited that Thanksgiving is right around the corner! Pumpkin orange has always been a favorite color of mine. In fact, I originally had pumpkin orange pillows made for our living room sofa and the head chairs at our dining room table are monogrammed in the color as well. So, naturally, I am drawn to tables that feature this beautiful color!

If you love the color too, build your Thanksgiving table around this seasonal shade and create a gorgeous setting by mixing it with a neutral wheat tone. Start with a simple jute placemat and layer solid dishes on top (or use your China if it happens to posses the orange!). I love the idea of painting a single initial on hand-size pumpkins to serve as a place card. The addition of wheat sprigs give each place setting an additional special touch. Then, gather roses in various shades of orange and place them in vases of different sizes to alternate heights. Finish the table by setting miniature tiger stripe pumpkins between the vases.

Have fun with the menu and offer your guests delicious pumpkin inspired dishes such as pumpkin soup and these adorable mini pumpkin cakes drizzled with maple icing. Wilton sells a baking pan to ease the process. A nice favor for your friends and family would be to offer them each one of the table vases. This would be a much appreciated gift and will help you clear the table as well!

image credits:

pumpkin place card {bhg}; monogrammed napkins, green beans, mini pumpkin cakes (southern living); pumpkin soup, vases on table, orange rose arrangement {st. louis entertains}; wheat invitation {fine stationery}

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

This year, we decided to send out Thanksgiving cards instead of Christmas cards. We have lots of celebrations coming up in December and January, so I did not want to overload our friends and family with mail!

Please excuse my TERRIBLE scanning job!! I am so happy with how the cards turned out...although you can't tell here. I love the mustard yellow and grey color combination. It feels like fall and gives me warm fuzzies. =)

I'm not sure if I will be able to write a post (besides the giveaway winner) until after the holiday, so please let me wish everyone a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!!

Remember to enter the giveaway! The contest ends tomorrow night!

Photography and card designed by Candid Chic Photography

Thanksgiving Centerpiece

This centerpiece is stunning and would be perfect at your Thanksgiving table!

I have always loved this picture from Martha Stewart. You can find the instructions at here.

Please let me apologize AGAIN for the lack of posts lately. We have had so much going on and my oldest has been sick with a nasty cold. I'll post a few things this week, but I will be back with LOTS of great real parties after the holidays!

DON'T FORGET TO ENTER MY GIVEAWAY!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Real Parties: A Fall Birthday Celebration

Here are pictures from Henry's second birthday party put on by his mom and my close friend, Julianna. She always throws great parties that are perfectly coordinated!

Party Details...especially for the for the Dallas crowd:

Gorgeous fall cake and cake balls - Tart Pastry Boutique

Caramel apples - Daffy Apple

Whoopie Pies - Corner Bakery

Popcorn balls - Candy Corn's in Snyder Plaza

Paper goodies & invitation - HH Design House

Tables, chairs & tablecloths - Ducky Bob's

Copper accessories - Target

Happy Fall Y'all!

My favorite time of year is here! I absolutely love fall and Christmastime. The season of Christmas took on a whole new meaning last year when we welcomed our second baby boy into the world. I cannot believe he will be one so soon! But before December comes along, celebrate the wonderful month of November. Here is a pumpkin invitation my friend Hayley designed this year.

This invitation was designed for my good friend Julianna who threw a fall celebration for her son's second birthday. I love the use of celadon and copper brown instead of pumpkin orange like you would typically expect. This invitation would also be gorgeous for a Thanksgiving dinner or perhaps a party at a pumpkin patch!

Soon I will have pictures to share from this birthday party! So please stay tuned!

Fall Centerpiece

I love this fall centerpiece. What I love even more is how easy it is to recreate. All you need is an iron lantern, silk fall leaves and miniature pumpkins which you can pick up at the grocery store. And there you have it!

image via The Knot