DIY For Halloween

So if you haven't gathered this from any of my previous postings, fall is my favorite season. I love everything about it. Well, usually! Except for when it snows in Minnesota during October... Anyway, one of my favorite things to do is to put out my fall & Halloween decorations. I think it's more enjoyable than getting ready for Christmas because you get to up the cozy-factor at home without all of the hassel/cleaning up to do afterwards! This year, I tested out a quick and easy Halloween DIY project that turned out pretty cute. At least I think so! The finished product is re-usable and inexpensive. Here's the 411 in case you'd like to try it out for yourself:

Required materials:

Medium-sized styrofoam balls: $3.99/each

Tempra paint (black): $3.79

Wood/foam painting tool: $1.29

Small fuzzy/decorative balls: $0.99

Peach-O's: $2.78 for 2 bags

Glue: I had it on hand, but you could purchase a low-temp glue gun for $11 at Wal-Mart.

Instructions:

1. Start out by painting the styrofoam ball completely black using the Tempra paint and foam tool. Wait for it to completely dry.

2. Glue the Peach O's onto the styrofoam using a hot glue gun or E6000. Use any pattern or arrangement you'd like.

3. Glue on the black 'fuzzies' scarttered throughout the open spaces. Wait for it to completely dry.

4. Place the ball on top of a vase or narrow bowl to display. I set mine on top of clear glasses filled with candy corn for extra color.

Suggestions:

1. You could easily personalize this project and use different kinds of candy. For Halloween, another option would be to use Reeces Pieces or the new Electric M & Ms. Tip: If you're working with chocolate, keep in mind that the hot glue may cause it to melt. I'd suggest using a different glue if you choose to go this route.

2. Depending on what you choose to decorate them with, this craft could be used for any season/occasion.

3. Save it with your other seasonal decorations! This project is something that could be pulled out and displayed year after year.

I encourage you to try this one out because it doesn't get any easier than this! Not counting the glue, it costs only $8.41 to make each! A little cheaper than buying decorations from Target, don't you think? Plus, there's something to be said for the satisfaction that comes from making things yourself. I have one displayed on each end of my fireplace and I love 'em!

Birthday Bash on 10.10

Hey guys! Here are some photos and details from a recent birthday party by EDLV. All photos were taken by Megan of Megan Sherwin Photography.

Her [brand new!] official website is http://www.meganmsherwinphotography.com.

She enjoys photographing just about anything including weddings, parties, senior pictures, couples, and kids. Check her out!

These 12 rambunctious ten year-olds were able to burn off a lot of energy in this ginormous 'jumpy.'

Party favors consisted of Silly Putty and a Puppy Chow-Lollipop-M & M goodie bag (How's that for sugared up?!)

Since it was pretty chilly on Saturday afternoon I planned a few SHORT indoor activities to keep the guests occupied. And I mean short! These were 10 year-old boys I was dealing with! :) After lunch the boys participated in a trivia game about the birthday boy. There were a lot of laughs with this one! The quiz pictured above provides a perfect example: one boy guessed that Zach's favorite movie was Tinkerbell. Hhmmm.... close! ;) The 2nd activity involved guessing how many pieces of candy were in each jar. Whoever had the closest guess won the candy which included Mike & Ikes, M & M's, Candy Corn and Sour Worms.

I also setup a caramel apple station where they could add whatever toppings their little hearts desired. (Oops! There's that sugar again...) FYI: If you are attempting to make home-made caramel as I did, leave yourself extra time for the caramel to chill and thicken after cooking. Another helpful tip: Place the pan of caramel in a big bowl of ice to speed up the thickening process. Let's just say that I certainly lived and learned with this one.

After all of these activites the boys went outside to play a very animated and energetic game of flag-football in the yard. Overall I think the kids had a blast, which is what makes any event a success. Happy 10th birthday Zach!

Puppy Party

I wanted to share a few photos from a puppy-themed birthday party my aunt recently attended (the darling 4-year old birthday girl adores puppies!). As you'll see in the photos, the hostess found a way to incorporate the puppy theme into almost every aspect of the occasion, including the decor, treats, and even the serving ware.

The party included a puppy piñata, puppy-paw birthday hats, biscuit shaped cookies, an adorable puppy-themed birthday cake, and of course, a big bowl of the delicious sweet treat, puppy chow. The hostess even had the clever idea to present all of these goodies in multi-colored puppy bowls! How creative and fun for the kids!

All of the goodies featured in these photos were made by Mary Jo Anderson, an expert baker here in the Twin Cities. Please contact me if you'd like her contact info. You can see more samples of her work featured in my 'Pretty In Pink Party' blog from August 28th. She's truly talented!

Happy 4th birthday Quinn! Awesome ideas Leah!

Will You Be My Bridesmaid?

The selection of your wedding party comprises a very personal and significant part of the wedding planning process. Your wedding party should consist of family and friends who are closest to you... the people you know you can always depend on.

Being a member of a wedding party is truly an honor, but it also comes with some responsibility and requires a bit of sacrifice (attending all of those fittings, tastings, showers, & dinners, buying that dreaded bridesmaids dress, addressing shower & wedding invites, planning and possibly hosting the bachelor/bachelorette parties, writing the perfect congratulatory toast... need I say more?!). For these reasons, I believe it's essential that the bride & groom put extra thought and effort into asking those special ones to be a member of their wedding party.

Someone on Twitter recently asked me for ways to ask their bridesmaids... Overall, I believe the golden rule here is to make these women feel valued and appreciated (and if you've read any of my blogs before, you know I'd encourage you to do it in a one-of-a-kind & unique way). Here's how I asked my bridesmaids:

I custom made each card with card-stock and art supplies that you could find almost anywhere. First, I found pictures of bridesmaid dresses consistent with my wedding color scheme and carefully cut them out. Next, I found close-up photos of each bridesmaid, cropped and resized them, and carefully pasted them on top of the dress (to look as realistic as possible). I did the same thing with a picture of a wedding dress and a close-up of my face, and then pasted both cut-outs side-by-side on each card. I stenciled "Will You..." on the front, and "... be my bridesmaid?" on the inside.

I wrote a personalized note in each one that described their importance to me and how much it would mean to have them standing at the altar next October. Not only did the cards turn out pretty cute, but more importantly, they gave me an opportunity to tell these ladies just how special they are to me.

If you're not the super-sentimental type (like I am!), think of a more humorous way to ask them to be a part of your wedding party. It doesn't need to be sappy, it just needs to be thoughtful. For more ideas on how to ask a family member or friend to be a bridesmaid, check out http://weddings.about.com/od/theweddingparty/a/askbridesmaids.htm. Regardless of how you do it, make sure you tell them how much you appreciate them!

Sunday Brunch For Wendy

This past Sunday, I attended a wedding shower in celebration of Wendy, a delightful recent addition to our family. The event was perfectly hosted by Carrie, who incorporated little touches and pleasant surprises to make this shower a memorable one. Here's a peek at a few photos:

Carrie served a perfect brunch menu consisting of a sausage & mushroom quiche, breakfast potatoes, fruit salad, pumpkin mini-muffins, and blueberry scones.

The bride [in blue] enjoying a delicious Peach Bellini,

the perfect substitute for the classic Memosa.

Each guest received a darling little gift bag filled with

rich dark chocolates on their way out the door.

Whether you're planning a small dinner party or a grand celebration, pay great attention to the details! Being creative and adding those little touches will make your event much more unique and memorable.

Back-To-School

Summer is over (sigh) and the kids are back in school. It's time to bring out your fall sweaters, autumn wreaths, and [my favorite!] pumpkin spice candles. Is it obvious how much I enjoy this time of year? One thing I love is how back-to-school-time encourages everyone to get organized and ready for the coming months.

In spirit of that, I'd like to share a link from Real Simple that could come in handy for lots of families (and even if you don't have children, it wouldn't hurt to use some of these ideas for yourself). Although this link doesn't relate to events & social occasions directly, it does discuss organizing, planning ahead, and becoming more efficient (and what's more central than that to event planning?!?).

Real Simple's Back-To-School Organizer

Hope this link helps you get all of your ducks (and pumpkins!) in a row...

Labor Day Bash Ideas

Just thought I'd share some party ideas to help you end your summer in style! The following are ways to elevate the usual backyard BBQ to a memorable celebration:

1. It's all about the lighting. Hang twinkle lights or yard lanterns to create a more intimate environment. You could also line walkways with home-made luminarias (How? Fill paper bags with sand and secure a small votive candle in the center. Sounds easy enough, right?).

2. Setup classic outdoor games for the kids. No, you don't need to go buy pricey bocce ball or croquette sets. Instead, make a home-made tic-tac-toe board by making grids with rope and using common items for the X's and O's. The kids will love this!

3. De-bug your outdoor area. Provide guests with bug spray and scatter citronella candles to fight off those pesty mosquitos.

4. Offer guests a few 'clever comforts.' Set out buckets with dollar-store sunglasses, bottles of sunscreen, and hats to combat the sun (idea courtesy of Katie Brown).

5. Setup a cocktail stand with summer drinks or a refreshing punch. Want to be even more creative? Turn a watermelon into a cocktail keg. Here's how:

- Cut the lid from the top & scoop out the fruit.

- Drill a small hole near the bottom and use a knife to widen the hole until it's slightly smaller than a keg shank.

- Attach the shank and prepare a batch of refreshing watermelon sours by doing the following:

- Puree 4 cups of watermelon chunks & strain.

- Stir in 4 ounces of Alize Red Passion, 8 oz. of gin, & 2 cups of sour mix. Chill mixture and pour into melon shell.

- Add sparkling rose before serving and garnish with lime.

[Makes 10 to 12 drinks.]

6. What would a summer bash be without some chips & quac? Here's Rachel Ray's 'Holy Guacamole' recipe... it's nummy!

2 to 3 avocados

1 juiced lemon

1 large clove of minced garlic

1 to 2 small plum tomatos

1/2 of a small onion

1 tsp. of coarse salt

1 finely chopped jalopeno (optional)

Mix & mash these ingredients and serve with your favorite tortilla chips.

7. Lastly, sit back and soak up one of the last days of summer!