Under The Sea Baby Shower

This past Saturday, I hosted a baby shower for my good friend Nikki. She is expecting a boy in April, and since her nursery is an aquatic theme, the other hostesses and I had a lot of fun coming up with cute decor and food for her Under-the-Sea baby shower!

First, I decorated the living room coffee table with netting (last used here) and my 2012 New Year's decor, with some new white daisies.

On the fireplace mantle, I used my vintage lettering, some ocean colored ribbon, and two crab trap floats ($2.29 each from here). What I found ironic was that the floats ended up looking more like baby rattles than actual sea-themed decor.

The dining room was magically transformed with the jellyfish chandelier. The how-to coming later this week!

I used a few more floats, netting, and pops of color from things I already had around the house, like the teal candlesticks. The plates and napkins were found on clearance at iParty, and the cute basket and cutlery is from the dollar store. I simply tied the napkins around a set of silverware and tied with a coordinating ribbon.

I made the same punch as I did for another baby shower, except this time, I froze the fruit ahead of time to keep it extra cold. It was served with Barefoot Bubbly, and some crazy straws I picked up months ago at Pier 1 on clearance for $1.50/pack of 6. They certainly made the Ocean Punch more fun, especially for the preggo mama and me, who couldn't enjoy the bubbly!

Since the shower was being held from 1PM to 4PM, we decided to keep the food light, as some people may have had an early lunch. In keeping with the theme, we made small tuna salad and chicken salad sandwiches, and put them on Pepperidge Farm's Goldfish bread!

 I also made a warm crab dip (recipe later this week) and added low fat Ritz crackers and Wheat Thins.

As if the Goldfish bread wasn't enough, we had to have actual Goldfish!

And for the sweet tooth, I had mini fish bowls (from the dollar store) filled with Swedish Fish and Gummy Worms. 

As recently found on Pinterest, I decided to stuff sugar ice cream cones with fresh fruit. Next time I would use the larger waffle cones, but I thought these held a good amount of fruit -blueberries and grapes filled the bottom, and we topped with strawberries, peaches, pineapple, and raspberries.

And then there is Wally the Whale. He is a cake I made with Funfetti cake mix and cream cheese icing, topped with raspberry blue straws.  He was so cute and so fun to make, I kind of didn't want to cut him up! But he was delicious, and served as the perfect centerpiece too!

As if there was not enough sugar in the cake, we sent guests home with little fish baggies filled with kettle corn drizzled with chocolate. 

So there is our baby under-the-sea themed shower! I was pretty happy with how things turned out, and would definitely use the decor and theme again. Check back later this week and next for all the details on how to make the jellyfish chandelier, Wally the Whale cake, and warm crab dip!

Monkey-ing around

I am helping host a baby shower in two weeks and I am excited about the colors and decor. Here is a little inspiration for the party:

Invitations via FineStationary, Flags via Etsy.

Since the baby is a boy, and the parents are going with a Monkey theme in the nursery, we decided to keep the colors brown, yellow and green. Since the invites are out in the mail, I can show you what I made (of course, personal information has been removed, it looks a little more awkward than it really is):

 

There are some similar invitation styles online, but I created this one from scratch, since we were under a time constraint using my trusty Microsoft Publisher. I know there are better programs out there for invitations, but it is so easy to use and they always turn out well. I can't wait to show you the rest we have planned for the shower!

They Say Old Fashioned Post Is Dead...

But I love receiving party invitations in the mail! This practice is only getting better and more creative, as it should!

Invitations act as the first impression for any party. It gives guests all information about the party details, as well as the theme and environment, so it is important to make sure your party preview is what you want it to be. I usually search the internet to find a few invitations for inspiration to make my own on Microsoft Publisher, but for those who are less creative or savvy, there are some wonderful sites that provide perfectly cute invitations. Here are some of my current favorites (click on the photos for links to invitation websites):

Etsy is also a great site for handmade letterpress and custom printed invitations with any theme by many local and national artists. I got my wedding invitations through Etsy! I also love the online e-mail invitations from Cocodot and eVite, that are decorative and you can make quickly to get the word out to guests for a last minute get together!  Sometimes an Inbox is just as good as a Mailbox, but don't rely on e-mails for serious parties.... spend the money and/or the time on real invites. Your guests will be more excited and eager to come to your next event!

Sip & See Shower

As you know from this post and this post, last night I hosted a Sip and See Shower for my friend Kim. We had it at the beautiful Columbia Restaurant at the St. Petersburg Pier, and the evening views of the water and downtown were breathtaking. When I arrived, I had a little issue with the valets parking my car, but the sight of dolphins in the bay calmed my nerves and made me appreciate the beautiful afternoon.

The restaurant had a few small tables set up for us to sit at, as well as room to mingle. While we could have simply used the white linens provided, I decided to go with the fabric I ordered and cut at home. One of the other hosts took my turquoise vases and had floral arrangements done by a local florist. Using bright spring colors, the flowers of tulips, gerbera daisies, and lilies really popped above the blue suzani fabric.

Here is the mom-to-be Kim (in pink) and some friends:

We had a menu of heavy appetizers - chicken croquetas, crab cakes, and The Columbia's famous Cuban sandwiches and red sangria. My Aunt Karen, another host, ordered the cutest cookies as favors:

Each bag had two Onesie cookies in them, one in pink that read "Its a girl", and one in green that read "its a boy", since Kim is having twins and one of each! They turned out so cute, and were the perfect dessert for our guests to take home. They were delicious too... I ate mine as a reward for my hard work later in the evening!

Hostesses Barbie & Karen (second from left, middle) and guests

Since the shower did not include the opening of gifts or games, we did a little activity of decorating onesies for the babies! I made one before the shower to give guests an example. I had a set of directions and a suggestion list of funny phrases to help guests who may be creatively challenged.

We all had a great time just mingling, eating, and decorating, and I think it was a successful and stress-free shower for all! Check back later today for the How-To on onesie decorating too!

Pi Beta Phi Luncheon

Growing up in a mixed household (Daddy is a Gator, Mom is a Seminole), it was a difficult decision to pick a college. One weekend my senior year of high school, we visited both schools so that I could "pick one". No pressure, right? Being the good daughter that I am, I made the playing field fair for all parties... I chose Daddy's school (Go Gators!), and my mother's sorority (Pi Beta Phi).

Years after college, I am still involved through the local Alumni club, along with my mother, grandmother, and aunt who are all Pi Phis too! This year, I became a little more active in our club's activities, even hosting the Pink Party.

Coming up in April is our sorority's Founders Day, and I am helping plan and decorate a luncheon to celebrate with other two other local Pi Phi Alumni clubs. Our theme is Celebrating the Magic of Sisterhood, so we are using the MAGIC theme for our decor. Here are the invitations I created:

For decor, we are going to use glittery top hats filled with flowers similar to this:

But we are going to add magic wands with star garland coming out of the flowers for a little more pizazz! Check back soon for more details about this project!

Sip & See Shower & Inspiration

I am planning a "Sip and See" shower for a good friend of mine with a twist. Most "Sip and See" showers are planned for after the baby arrives, so that Mommy can drink, and everyone can "See"  the newborn. However, in this case, the mom-to-be has two other more formal showers, so she wanted something fun, but she is pregnant with twins, so there will be no time after the birth to put together a viewing party.  So here's what we are calling it:

Sip and See The Mother To Be

Really original, I know. So this is more of an anti-shower, cocktail party, completely void of any games, opening presents, and measuring mommy's tummy. Seriously. How am I getting away with not opening presents? Well, included in the invites is this poem:

As Kim is soon to be blessed with twins,

She doesn't really need clothes or bibs with stripes.
She’d prefer to stock up on everyday things,

Like diaper cream, shampoo, Pampers, and wipes.
If to give a different gift is your intention,

In modesty we would like to mention
A donation that will be life-saving for the twins one day

 Even a little will go a long way!

Kim has decided to register for donations toward preserving her babies umbilical cord blood, in the event that they may need it after their birth, so her registry web site will be at the bottom of the poem for guests. A really practical gift that can have so much impact later. For more information, please check out this website.


Since the event is going to be held at the Columbia Restaurant, so I wanted kind of a Spanish/Moroccan color theme. Here is the invitation I created:

I will be updating with more information about the food, specialty drinks, activities, and centerpieces soon!

GO GATORS!

 

Last night we hosted a University of Florida (our alma mater) vs. Alabama party for one of the biggest football games of the year. While the game did not have the outcome we were hoping for, the party was a great time had by all. The food we served was typical game day food, and the decorations were from our Gator collection, having been fans since we were young. I made the two sided invitations on Microsoft Publisher, using some free clip art found on the web:

Years ago, my dad, also a big Gator fan, was given this plaster 5 foot alligator as a gift. He passed him on to us a few years ago. Normally, we keep him on our porch, but he made a great centerpiece on our dining room table. I like how he is a bit intimidating! I used some orange fabric I got at Joann's for $1.50/yard and then used some blue place mats from HomeGoods ($5/pack 4) as the runner. The orange utensil and plate caddy was found on clearance at Dollar General for $1.50. All of the Gator plates and platters were gifts that have been given to me over the years, but you can find them online and in stores at Bealls and Gator Haven. They really make a table setting more festive and into the college spirit!

As part of the tailgate food fare, we served classic 7-layer dip and Buffalo Chicken Dip with Tostitos Scoops.

We also served hamburgers and hot dogs right off the grill, and they seemed to get the cheer of approval from Mr. 2 Bits. The foam Gator heads we bought at the dollar store last year - they are actually hats but looked like Gators lurking out of the Florida swamp on our tables. And the football condiment bowls and spreading knives came as sets from Dollar General for $2 each. It was also the first time I have tried the new Oscar Mayer Angus Hotdogs (because they were on sale and I had a coupon), and I have to say they were delicious!

For dessert, I made some Pumpkin Bread muffins with cream cheese frosting. Every year, I seriously buy stock in Williams-Sonoma's quick breads. They are the easiest things to make, and even give as presents or housewarming gifts. I made some Gator toothpicks (tutorial to come) to help decorate!

And lastly, there were a few goodies for our guests to take with them. I really wanted some Orange and Blue candies to have on the table too, but it is difficult to find Blue candies this time of year. I went to our local Cracker Barrel, because they always have a great selection of fun candies and in an array of colors. As I walked in, there before me was an entire table of Florida Gator apparel and treats!

These pre-wrapped mints, which I labeled "Gator Mints for Gator Breath", were $4 for a pack of 100, and the football was made of crispy chocolate for $3. And in case our guests needed a little extra Gator spirit, we had University of Florida Silly Bandz for them to show their true team colors. Hopefully this party will bring us some luck for the rest of the season... Go Gators!!!

Breast Cancer Awareness Month - The PINK Party

As you may know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and PINK is the universal color for awareness of this terrible disease. Two week ago, I hosted a ladies "PINK Party" rally brunch for our local sorority alumnae team to participate in this weekend's Race For The Cure Breast Cancer Awareness Walk/Run. We raised money for the team, and had a delicious brunch, with all PINK inspired food. Check it out!

Bagels with PINK cream cheese and Lox (Salmon)

PINK Penne Pasta (Made with Vodka Sauce) with Grilled Chicken and Shrimp

PINK Watermelon Salad (recipe found here)

A PINK Dessert Table, featuring:


PINK Cream Cheese Candies, that my mother made (recipe to follow), and Homemade PINK swirl cupcakes.

And who could forget the drinks?! We had PINK Lemonade and PINK Flamingos (vodka, triple sec, grenadine, and orange juice) to celebrate!

To decorate, I used simple pink and black felt table runners that I had made previously for a wedding shower. Since most of the food was pink, I decided to let it stand out by using my clear vintage glassware. White plates would have the same effect. I tied nameplates on each food item to let people know what they were eating, using simple ric rack in PINK and cutting out black paper circles. Just hole punch the top and use a gold or silver pen to write on the black. Top the table with some pink roses and you are set. A quick and easy party idea for any occasion!

And because it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I encourage you to visit the Susan G. Komen Foundation website here for events in your area, ways to donate, get involved, or even just how to give yourself an at home breast exam. Take a few minutes to educate yourself and get involved, to save someone's life, if not that of your own. Here's to PINK!

TOY STORY Party

As huge PIXAR fans, my husband and I wanted to host a "TOY STORY 1 & 2" movie night for our friends and their kids, before "TOY STORY 3" came out in theaters. Using a photo of and "Etch-a-sketch" online, and a free downloadable "Etch-a-sketch" font, I created the invites:

I thought it would be easy to find Toy Story toys at garage sales and on eBay that I could use to decorate with, but with the new movie coming out soon, the toys online were in high demand. I managed to find a few for under $5:

Buzz and Woody are having out on the food table, and you will notice I used my silver letters again to show the party's theme. Because we invited our friends and their children, we wanted the food to be kid friendly (and honestly, who doesn't love pizza bites and corndogs?!). Here's Rex hanging out with the pizza bites:



And Bullseye hanging out with the corndogs:

I kept bright colors with the plates and napkins and serve ware, and added some Dollar Store Slinkys and army men to scatter around the house. Here you'll find the amazing 7-layer Mexican dip and chips.... a huge hit!!!

And Peanut butter, M&Ms, and chocolate chip cookies. I used some clip art in both spaceships and sheriff's badges to make food labels.

And what movie night is not complete without popcorn! Buttered popcorn and kettle corn were served in mini bags, which I found on clearance after Christmas, and just kept in the closet for a special occasion. Kids (and adults) don't like to share popcorn, so everyone got their own bag!

Kids got a goody bag to take home. The bags were left over from another party and tied with some leftover ribbon. I used the same clip art to use name tags, and the bags were filled with "Toy Story" stickers, "Toy Story" gummi snacks, silver sheriffs badges, and Slinky's. I used a vintage Slinky to decorate the bowl.

We watched both movies back to back on the lawn, and I think everyone had a great time. We're all ready to see "Toy Story 3".