New Year - New Goals

Sometimes I wonder if other women are like me? set goals and accomplish some but days, weeks, months and a year goes by and what happened. Can not belive it has been since last March that I posted. I could make excuses, like my computer went on the fritz or the weather was hot and sunny and I had to be outside or I just was lazy. My goal this year is to post more often which definitely should not be too hard but I really want to develop a schedule - I think an extra large post it note will help.

I'm researching a few new children's theme parties, one I'm working on now is a Tye Dye party, sounds a bit messy but FUN.  Tea Parties are still my favorite, from the dresses and hats to the mismatched china.

JANUARY SPECIAL - BOOK A SILVER PACKAGE AND RECEIVE A TEA PARTY FREE

$100 savings

 

Blog Giveaways - sooooo many but I never win

I'm trying again. I never win but you can't win if you don't play. Check it out there are so many presents I'm sure you'll fins one you like. I'm entering Giveaway Celebration (#3): Banner/Buttons for Websites/Blogs.

 http://www.sarahsdeals.net/search/label/Giveaway

Party Favor Find

Slogged thru the rain storm to do a bit of shopping. Stopped at Joannes for some Car Party supplies and stumbled across a great slumber or monster theme party favor. On clearance for $1.97 per pillow & .50 for each extra. Smooshies, a make your own kooky, cuddly creature, a very cool party favor for under $5 each.

My son(I know he needs a haircut) with his new Monster Buddy

Buddy box with extra parts

PINK POODLE PARTY

Hosting a Pink Poodle party tomorrow. I LOVE Pink! With no daughters, this is the only way I get my girly groove on:)

Girls will stuff their own poodle, theirs to keep & cherish, and design a t-shirt for their new friend and a beaded collar. Would love to have some bling bling collars but we're using pony beads. I'll host the adoption station where the girls will weigh, measure, name & promise to love their new precious poodle.

Now it's time to trot on over to the Poodle Cafe for some delicious scooby snacks & pink lemonade. With their bellys full and their thirst quenched they're ready to curl up and snooze the afternoon away. But not a chance, it's time for the Poodle Puppy Show.

Take your party over the top with Doggie songs - I love the cd I created for this theme, some songs we prance around to are

• I want to be a puppy dog
• Bingo
• How much is that doggy in the window
• Doggie salsa (great beat)
• Hound Dog (gotta love Elvis!)
• Walkin the dog
• Who let the dogs out
• Puppy love (I'm showin my age but I don't care - I love love love Donny Osmond)

Here's some photos to enjoy

Some photos from past Poodle Parties

Cake by http://www.cakesbysuzy.com/

Making a star wish for the birthday girl.

St Patrick's Day

Happy St Paddy's Day - 1 day late

I know most bloggers post days even weeks before a Holiday but I am just not that organized, maybe next time.

I vote that St Patrick's Day be moved to a friday or saturday, always. The day isn't that fun when it falls on a week day. To start the day we had Irish Soda bread, toasted with irish butter. Usually irish soda bread is so dry and I'm not a huge fan but this bread(from Acme) was wonderful, just like a good raisin bread. The butter at $3.99 was well worth the price(fromSuperfresh), not sure what makes it different from american butter but it sure tastes delish.

Went to the Green Parrot pub in the afternoon for a Harp and to listen to an irish band. The band was due to start at 2 but for some reason began at 3, didn't matter as they were very disappointing. Will need to find a different pub next year.

St Paddy's Day is no fun to celebrate by yourself so I invited friends over for dinner. Started the corned beef & cabbage in the am, slow cooker cooking is the best. Whipped up some green jello for the kids and bought(I'm not a baker) a few slices of cake for the adults. Made Colcannon for the first time and it was delish!! I highly recommend this recipe and I will be making it again http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Dianes-Colcannon/Detail.aspx.

Made myself an apple martini, just had to have a green drink.

Also picked up some Blarney Castle cheese, very mellow flavor, would have been good with some apple slices.

My table was a bit boring so I added a green boa, not pictured. The hat & coins are from the dollar store, napkins from the grocery store. I will be on the look out for green plates & glasses this year:) We had the kids do a shamrock scavenger hunt through the house and a hunt for more green coins.

ERIN
GO
BRAUGH!

SPY PARTY - SON'S BIRTHDAY

I have been blessed with only one child, my son Parker. He is the best kid, I am so so so lucky. He turned 9  last week and this weekend we celebrated with a SPY Party. We kept the party small to 5 friends as we needed everyone to fit into one van. We had activities at home and then piled into the van for a spy hunt through our town. I only did 3 stops thru the town, not knowing how it would go and if the boys would enjoy it. I should have done more! they loved running into a store to find the next clue, it was awesome.

The invitation(which I don't have a photo of) was in very very small font and sent in a padded envelope with a magnifying glass. I ordered gable boxes from http://www.garnish.com/ and added stickers with their spy name. I originally wanted to order each child a black duffel bag but could not find them for a decent price. I lucked out and found black sweatshirts for $3 each at walmart and ironed on their spy name. Inside the box were binoculars, a flashlight, small notepad, kookie pen, a black knit cap, spy sunglasses, a black&white lanyard and funny glasses. We made spy badges and fingerprinted the boys, these they attached to the lanyards. Activities were

• Target shooting, with nerf gun. Husband drew target right on the glass back door.
• Bubble wrap game, have to walk/crawl very slowly and not pop bubbles. They loved this game!
• Bomb detonation - pop black balloons by sitting on them, first clue was inside one of balloons
• Clue hunt. Clues rhymed and led them to a location for the next clue. Inside the house were the first 2 and then onto 7-11 for slurpees, pet smart and acme for doritoes.

Back home for chicken fingers, fries, cake & enormous ice-cream sundaes. In addition to the sweatshirts, the box with stuff, I also had a candy bar, colors were yellow & black & white.

My son loved his party and after 3 hours I was ready for a glass of wine(a couple of glasses:)

Tried to upload photos 2x, but keeps freezing my computer, argh! trying again.

                                                                                      Cake from Confection Perfection in Richboro.

blog give-away

Blogs are a wonderful inspiration for me but..... I get lost in Blogland and before I know it day is night. Any who, http://www.livecreatingyourself.com/2010/02/pottery-barn-quilt-giveaway.html#comment-form.
Click on the link and enter to win an amazing spring quilt from PB.

Hot Wheels - Race Car Theme Party

Hot Wheels Party was a success - sorry no photos(still need camera). Here are some great activities for your little racer.

• I'm not a fan of painting at kids parties since I go into a client's home but if you are hosting your own party, you can buy wooden cars and have the children paint them.
• Make license name plate necklaces with lanyard lacing or ribbon, cut foam plates and letter stickers adding some car stickers around their names.
• Pin driver on the race car - poster of a race car & little boy cutouts
• Pit Stop Race - toolbox with play tools, cones and a streamer at the finish line, play relay style
• Red light Green light

Traffic light - 3 circles cut out of foam, green, yellow & red. Have kids pretend to be a car and zoom around when you hold up the green is go, yellow is slow down & red is stop.

• Station of hot wheels & track set-up
• For outside parties or if there is ample space - make box cars out of cardboard boxes, paint and decorate & cut holes so kids can step in and hold while they run a race track set-up in the yard.

Stick with a white, black & yellow theme & zoom zoom for some party FUN!

Cupcakes Take The Cake: Cookbook contest! Win Pink Princess Cupcakes by Barbara Beery

Cupcakes Take The Cake: Cookbook contest! Win Pink Princess Cupcakes by Barbara Beery
Beery's Princess Cupcake book looks amazing! Her blog http://barbarabeerykidscooking.wordpress.com/ has wonderful cute cooking recipes for kids. Pink Hot Chocolate & Hot Chocolate Cupcakes - perfect for the snowy days we've been having.

Check out this Give-Away

One of my new fave websites http://www.dailydecorator.com/.  Check out their beautiful give-away, enter today.

Days weeks months....

Where does the time go? I have a project list so long I can not even look at it anymore. Parties slowed down for a while but are now picking up, Thank You!

HOLIDAY PARTY - we did a girls PJ nite, BEST idea ever. Each woman loved wearing their most comfy clothes. I made Merry Berry Martinis and an antipasta platter, yum. We played Holiday Trivia, Grinch Exchange and an Ornament Exchange. One wonderful woman gave each of us a ball ornament with everyone's last name and the year, I see a new tradition of making the ornaments at the party. We already have a hostess for next year, can't wait.

VALENTINE'S DAY PARTY - instead of going out to dinner, we're having a Fondue Party at one couple's house. We're doing cheese, bread cubes, veggies, apples, steak, chicken, shrimp and chocolate strawberries, delicious. Each couple is to bring their wedding album/photos as we all are newer friends and did not know each other when we all married. I have planned a fun renewal ceremony for each couple. I'll play the minister using funny snippets of information and I have a fake big gem ring for each woman and a veil and bouquet, thinking of ideas for the drop drop. We'll play a famous couples trivia, valentine pictionary and the newlywed game(need new questions as we just played for NY eve). Looking for a few more games. Created an ipod mix with great hits such as

• Stop in the Name of Love(gotta love Diana Ross)
•  Love Shack(B-52s)
• Pour Some Sugar on Me(Def Leppard)
• You Can Leave Your Hat On(Joe Cocker) - I so LUV this song
• How Sweet it is to be Loved by You(Marvin Gaye) 
• Crazy Thing Called Love(Michael Buble) 
• I Got You Babe(Ahh Sonny & Cher)
• Love Will Keep Us Together(Captain & Tennille)
• I Do I Do I Do(ABBA) 
• You Give Me Fever(The Cramps) 
• Baby Be Mine( Michael Jackson)
• Going to the Chapel(Little Anthony)
• Always & Forever(Earth, Wind & Fire)
• You Light Up My Life(Debbie Boone)
• Unforgettable(Nat King Cole)
• Wonderful Tonight(Eric Clapton)
• I'll Be There(Jackson 5)
• and more

Children's Themes I'm working on and hopefully I will have photos(need new camera)

• Girl's Tea Party - doing the white, pink & silver with mismatched china
• Diva Party - doing the red, black and white look. Found a new frame for the table last week. Adding Chocolate Fountain.
• Hot Wheels Party - researching ideas
• Spy Party - for my son's 9th birthday. Planning black t-shirts, black caps, spy id lanyards, spy training activities and a spy hunt through the town. Should be FUN. Making invitations today - mini invites and a magnifying glass in a classified envelope, I think they will like it.

Goal to be better at posting!

Computers - Ah the joy & disappointment

I love my laptop, the best purchase ever. Portable, lightweight, and holds all my fave sites and info. But in 3 years it has had to be fixed 3x. My poor baby is in the shop again, the geek squad shop(3 weeks-ahhh) and I am lost without it. I write here from an old computer, the keyboard is a loud annoying monster and all of my fave sites and info are a million miles away. I should have backed up my info on a thingy(not sure what it's called) but I never did. I have been wandering, stranded, slowly finding my way back. Advice - back up your info and have a spare computer on-hand at all times.

Plans go ADD

Even the best of plans go ADD! I'm sure many of us do this but maybe there is advice out there that could help. I make many plans for projects from this to that and then something better comes along and I'm onto the new project before I even begin the old.

Halloween is soon to be here, my project list has grown ten-fold but the thrift shops and my fave blogs provide me with other temptations. Like the black lampshade that needs just a bit of embellishment. Or all of the transformation entrys and DIY entries. Which got me thinking, dangerous you know.

I especially loved the post on http://southernhospitalityblog.com/my-house/ about her office nook,  so what did I do? You know it, I just had to have an office nook too. So the work began yesterday.

From the beginning;
When I began working from home I worked from my husband's office upstairs. Shared desk, storage, computer, etc. Well that was a disaster! So, I moved to our dining room. No more dining just shelves of supplies and a couple of desks. Well when the holidays arrived it was a nightmare to move everything so we could have a nice family celebration. Moving everything back was ridiculous so my husband converted 3/4 of the garage to my new space, perfect for storage but not a desk. So my desk is the dining room table with a printer in the kitchen and files/papers/books/mags in random places. This is fine however sometimes I just want/need to shut the door, get me?

So yesterday I removed storage boxes of holiday decor from an upstairs smalllllll room, now stored in under the stairs closet(boy I have wayyyy tooo much stuff) and I removed plywood shelving, my arms hurt. I only broke on hammer. Next will be drywall patching, husband needs to help, and carpet removal. My hope is to be finished by next week, I can dream. Still thinking of a paint color, should I copy the green from Southern Hospitality?

On a good note I did manage to bring all the halloween decor downstairs.

Getting Lost in Blog World

I've become totally engrossed in blogworld, spending much too much time blog to blog to blog. I'm not complaining as I love all of the sites I have been lucky to find, as if they were lost. Who knew there was a gazillion fabulous crafters out there. I'm trying to stay focused on Halloween,  finding this task harder than you can imagine. But my halloween party decor will not appear itself. Fabulous halloween sites for inspiraton http://spookytimejingles.blogspot.com/ and http://www.ehagart.blogspot.com/, both sites list amazing artists who love Halloween. Wishing I could attend the Halloween and Vine in CA.

This past weekend, the Yardley Friends annual flea market, provided many items to my delight; blue cat statue, metal hanging cross, candle holder, star & moon earrings. Spray painting all the items black except for the earrings. Key for great bargains, wait till 2pm and hit the meeting hall for 1/2 price items.

Getting ready for the Hulmeville Flea Market on Saturday, my house looks like a tornado hit it. Not selling any halloween craft items, though thinking maybe something to plan next year. Selling some costumes and chachie stuff.

Thrift Shop = Halloween Happiness

Found wonderful things at the thrift shops today, so happy!

• Ceramic pumpkins - muted orange color, very nice buy $4
• Light up pumpkin - stretchy material, will add nice lighting - most important for halloween parties - the lighting!
• Black lace pieces - not sure what they are meant for but I'll be using them! $.50 each
• Small scarecrown - half stuffed/part ceramic, cute but scary funny looking love it on my new black shelf - $1
• Old fashioned wedding hat with lace - will be dying black for my gypsy costume $1.50
• Kids bowling set - painting white for ghost bowling $2, the price of gauze is too high to wrap each pin for mummy bowling

If you know of any good thrift shops in the Bucks County area please drop me a line.

Survivor Party - Success & Halloween Planning Begins

Our Survivor Theme Party was a huge success! The best activity according to the youngsters was the worm dig challenge(real worms-yuck). Though we had a constant drizzle of rain it did not hold us from doing some activities outside - it is survivor - right.  Did not complete all of the planned activities.
 The invitations were computer designed utilizing the survivor emblem. We altered it and added my son's name and party details. Everybody who was invited said yes and more kids wanted to come that heard about the party.
The kids were divided into 2 tribes and competed in various challenges. Each tribe member received a bandana and water bottle. The first activity was to design a team banner with their tribe name. Next was to find supplies to make a fire and boil rice, hidden outside on the playground were sticks, rocks, pots, gallons of water and bags of rice. They had to build a fake fire and put on their pot with rice. We played for bragging rights. Next we had a water relay with small cups with a hole, where they had to race to fill a bigger container. Due to our own rain delay we moved inside for a How well do you know Survivor Parker(my son). Each team received questions and a booklet to complete. Outside again for the worm dig challenge, real worms were key. First time I was ever in a bait shop and I just bought the least expensive worms(honestly who knew there were varieties). Next we did a tricycle race to a clue stand. Each tribe member had to remember something and put a puzzle piece where it belonged. Onto cake and snacks, we had lots of gummy worms. For the final event and double as a favor, we played the auction game. On Survivor they play for food, we changed it to be wrapped gifts. Each child was given play money to use. At the end all tribe members were very happy. Two hours went be very quickly but I would do it again and plan another 1/2 hour or hour.

Next up Halloween Party - many many ideas flowing thru my crazy brain - I am definitely addicted to this strange holiday. I have started searching the local thrift shops for the perfect additions at the right price but much to my shock and udder disbelief - some stores do not even have their displays started. I have stopped by one shop at least 3x and nothing halloween though I will be using some black spray paint on a couple of items to turn them to the dark side:) For those in the Bucks County area, here are the shops I frequent;

• Association for the Blind in Newtown - does not have halloween decor yet (and they will be expanding soon, thank goodness because there were way too many bulls in the china shop today)
• St Mary Thrift Shop in Langhorne - has a very small display near the register. Has more christmas decor available than halloween, so did not make me a happy shopper but I managed to pick up a few items and prices were excellent.
• Goodwill in Penndel - has a small display on tables in housewares, not much but prices here are cheap.
• Salvation Army in Fairless Hills - does not have halloween decor yet and not much of anything to convert.

On my shopping list black frames, owls, spider webs, scary mask, bell jars & tiny mini halloween items.

New Season of Survivor airs this Thursday 9/17 - Yeah!

Some of our Survivor Party photos

Surviving the economy with a Survivor Party

The downward economy has hit the party biz:( Biz has slowed a bit so I should have had more time to blog, I just plain forget and really don't know what to say.
When do parents put a kaboosh on kids parties? should it be when they hit double digits? is a family party enough? my son has no siblings and very few extended family, so a kids party provides the FUN group feeling of speciality. Is it ok to wait a few months and host a b-day party late? I've debated this in my head and I know friends who feel it is a definite NO-NO. But I leaned towards a go-ahead and do it as we only live once and who knows what will happen next.

We're hosting a Survivor theme party and we waited 3 months for good weather as it must be held outside otherwise it just wouldn't be Survivor.

• Invitations will be ??? not sure yet, thinking of rolled up in a bottle or a buff with info attached.
• Two tribes - colored buffs for each - will be pre-selected as son wants BF on his tribe, thinking how to best divide tribes
• Time - debating on late afternoon or early evening. Like to use torch lamps but it does not get dark now till 7ish
• Props will be island luau like but with more of an animal safari look - thinking how to create a fake fire or maybe use firepit but worried for safety with 16 kids, tent or two tents, tribal council sign, tribe flags
• Food - hoping to just do snacks & cake - not sure yet how to theme it up and a candy bar, I love them, and maybe the chocolate fountain.
• Activities will be the best! so excited for all these cool games; scavenger hunt, holey water, survivor knows best, snake challenge, obstacle course, target challenge, mystery food challenge, square challenge. I want to have tree mail but not sure and a team merge - we're still thinking on it. Planning time wise is the most difficult, games could be real short or longer than anticipated.
• Party favors - even as a party planner I am not a huge fan of favors, I do not understand why they exist??? to me being invited should be enough but everyone expects them, arghhhh! I'm thinking canvas sling back bags, as they can be used during the party and useful at home.

Your comments and suggestions are most welcome, must pick a date now.

Alice in Wonderland Tea

I'm currently working on an Alice Tea Party for a first birthday party. Pink and greens will be the scheme with mismatch china, flowers, bunnies and of course Alice. I'm lucking out since Easter clearance will start tomorrow and I plan on finding many white rabbit supplies. We'll start with a Mad Hatter decoration station with a variety of hats to choose from, I think even the boys will enjoy this. Games, a tea party and dancing with Alice to finish up the party. I'll be happy when the party is over and then move on to another new theme - Fear Factor (yikes).

Love & Life & God

In the last week I have been touched by the story of prayer. I have begun to pray at all different times of the day - to thank God for what is and pray for what I believe should be. I came to this point after reading a book "Left to tell" by Immaculée Ilibagiza about the Rwandan holocaust, where were we and why did we not help? The question of why reverberates over and over. I do not know but I do believe God listened to her prayers and saved her. I have been blessed in my life and will thank God each day for the love of my family,friends,husband and son. There are too many days that we take for granted and in an instant all can be lost. For today take that moment to thank God for the love in your life and pray for love to touch those who need it most.

MY OWN TIME

Is the time we spend alone, really ours? I'm not sure I've ever been alone, maybe a few years between college and married life but even then I had a room-mate. I have come to believe that women need to be alone to become the independent force they can be. I spent a couple of hours at the movies the other day, alone. I had never gone to the movies by myself, I never had the gumption. What would people think? well I need alone time and movies make me happy so I went in between school hours. I LOVED every moment. "In the land of women" proved to be a true delight. Just the right amount of escape for my life at the moment.

My life at the moment is filled with husband,son, clients, staff. I feel I never get an alone moment. Take it from me - It is perfectly OK to take an afternoon and enjoy your life - your alone time doing what you want. Take that time and enjoy!