candy-licious decor

No better accessory than candy to decorate your home for Halloween, right? 

Bring our your inner Martha for these easy DIY candy projects. Stock your pantry with canning jars, black licorice, candy corn, gum drops, gummy worms and jelly beans, and don’t forget a hot glue gun…

Candy Corn Wreath
For the step-by-step tutorial, visit Woman’s Day.

Candy Corn in Bottles
Visit the SUPER mom’s site for more how-to details.

 Haunted Mansion {made of candy}
Gather the kiddos and their friends for this activity. Buy black licorice and any other spook-tacular candy you can find, buy foam core or thin wood slices and cut to a 8×10 size and a lot of glue and/or frosting. Let your imagination fly and use candy to design and decorate a haunted mansion.

Candy Topiary
The Crafty Sisters provide all the fun details and insider tips here.

{images via Woman’s Day, Random Thoughts of a Supermom, Martha Stewart and Crafty Sisters}

back to school

I remember the rush of trying to read my summer reading list in one week {before the first day of school}, the anxiety of seeing my crush on the first day, the stress of picking out the perfect outfit, posing for my mom’s annual first day of school photo shoot in the front yard and the sadness that endless summer days were over.

I am still so thankful my school days are over. I still have nightmares I can’t find my locker or I show up naked to school!

But, maybe had I been invited {or hosted} a Back to School party, I would’ve been more excited to go back to school. I want to throw one just for the heck of it these ideas are so cute!

Amy Atlas, School Days
Who knew school supplies could look so delicious? Only Amy Atlas.



Back to School Party, Bird’s Party

Read more about the details such as the milk bottles, apple cake pops, party favor lunch boxes, black-board backdrop and edible school supplies here.


{images via Amy Atlas and Bird’s Party}

bugalicious fun

My sweet babies turned 1-year-old and 3-years-old last week. This year’s party theme…bugs. Caterpillars, ants and worms, and ladybugs for our little lady.

I think it’s just the cute decor possibilities that lured me into throwing a bug party because I am the type to scream and panic when I see bugs, and the thought of anything crawling on me gives me the creeps. But, it was a really fun party for the kids. We did it on a budget this year, so although I would’ve liked to do a lot more, the credit card will thank me at the end of this month. 🙂

We served brunch – egg casserole, blueberry coffee cake, fruit skewers, a delicious french toast casserole and a yogurt bar along with a milk and juice {and champagne for mimosa’s for the adults} bar.

  

We served Potted Chocolate Mint Pudding with gummy worms in 1/2 pint mason jars and “bug candy” for dessert.

I found a frame with wire in the middle, and used it as a prop for photos on the yogurt bar. Jameson, ages 1, 2 and 3 were on display, and for Gabriella, months 1 through 12. I used numbered labels made by Jenna at Fleur de Lis, and used a hot glue gun to adhere them to clothes pins.

I tried the crepe paper weave, and it was super easy and cheap – 2 rolls of crepe paper for 97 cents each. Steal!

Caterpillars, made of balloons, made appearances throughout the inside and outside of the house.

Fleur de Lis designed all the paper products for the party including the adorable invite, water bottle labels, tags and toppers.

 

 We bought bug catchers from Michaels for each toddler and found bug-catching tools to place inside. Before everyone arrived, we hid candy and big fake bugs {from Walmart} in the backyard, so once we were ready, the kids were off on a bug hunting adventure.

Once they caught all the fake bugs, we released 2,000 live lady bugs {bought from O’Toole’s Garden Center} they caught in their catchers too.

Exciting news about all the cute paper products for this party – you can customize and purchase for your little ones at Fleur de Lis in Denver. If you don’t live in Denver, you can order through our etsy store here. All the stationery for this party is available for purchase. yay!

{images via Tutto Bella}

sip and see

Sip & See.

Definition: A meet and greet to introduce your new baby to the world.

My personal thoughts on a Sip & See party…genious! I love baby showers, but as beautiful as a preggo mama is at her shower, people love to hold a baby and say ‘ooh and ahh.’  

It’s like show and tell, with the best gift of ALL…a sweet bambino.

I’m all about giving the new mom {and second, third or fourth-time moms} space to adjust to life as a new mom – let’s face it, her life has been turned upside down and all around…in a good way. Not to mention the hormones that will have her crying for no apparent reason. 🙂 I admit, I am one of those women who prefer to be left alone after having a baby – so I would need at least three months before I could do a Sip & See – but others are different and enjoy being around people after giving birth {and God bless you for that}. So, whatever time is right for you, make the time {or have a friend or mother, or mother-in-law make the time} to host a Sip & See.

I love this party at The Party Dress because its adorable, and, of course, has some fun cocktails for people to Sip while they See.

Tori Spelling threw a Sip & See shower for her friends, the famous “guncles,” with the adorable theme, Simple Simone after the baby girl’s name, Simone. Courtney as Pizzazzerie helped designed the logo.

I saved the best for last because I am IN LOVE with this MILKaholic Sip & See by Carrie Sellman of Half Baked {found at Hostess with the Mostess}. You HAVE to see more details of this party…the details are amazing!

The idea of making a diaper thoughts station is brilliant. Love it…also a great idea for a baby shower {with the baby still in mama’s belly}.

{images via The Party Dress, Child Mode, and Hostess with the Mostess}

popsicle treat for those hot summer nights…and days

It’s hot around here and after a long {and fun} day at the pool and park, nothing sounds better to the kids {and me} than a popsicle. Refreshing.

I’m going for the “one for you, one for me,” motto on this one. Below are yummy recipes for the kiddos and for sophisticated adults!

Berry Coconut, recipe via The TomKat Studio

Ingredients
1 cup strawberries
1 cup blueberries
1 can light coconut milk
1 cups water
1 cup apple juice
1/2 cup honey
5 ounce Dixie cups
20-30 Popsicle sticks

How To
Add strawberries, blueberries, coconut milk, water, apple juice and honey in a blender. Carefully pour mixture into your 5 ounce Dixie cups, filling 2/3 of the way.
Place in the freezer for 30 minutes (set your timer), insert your wooden sticks, and continue to freeze until the popsicles are completely frozen, about 6 hours.
When you’re ready to devour, cut and tear the Dixie cups off of the popsicle.

Honeydew Lime Popsicle, The TomKat Studio

For the complete recipe, {created by one of our faves, Lisa, With Style and Grace visit here.}

Strawberry Shortcake Popsicle, recipe via Bakers Royale

Ingredients
1 ½ cup puree of strawberries 
½ cup crushed vanilla Oreos
2 cups vanilla yogurt

How To
Puree strawberries
Place Oreos in a food processor and pulse until cookies become fine crumbs {or place Oreos in a Ziploc and use a rolling-pin to crush cookies}.
Add crushed Oreos to the yogurt and mix until combined. 
Layer the yogurt portion first and let freeze for 30 minutes before adding the strawberry layer.
Let the second layer freeze for 30 minutes, and then add the last yogurt layer.

For more notes and tips on this recipe, visit Bakers Royale.

Root Beer Float on a Stick, recipe via Smile Monster

Ingredients
1 12oz. root beer or 1 1/2 cups
1/3 cup whole milk
1 Tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

How To
Pour into your cups or molds about 1/3 of the way and freeze for about an hour.
For the cream layer mix together: 1/3 cup whole milk, 1 Tablespoon sweetened condensed milk and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Pour the creamy mixture in even amounts into your molds and freeze another hour. Then top off with remaining root beer mixture.
Freeze again but don’t forget to insert your sticks once that top layer has gotten firm.

For more notes and tips on this recipe, visit Smile Monsters.

Watermelon Mojito Pops, Sugar and Charm

Find the delicious Watermelon Mojito recipe, visit here.

Strawberry Peach Vodka Collins, Endless Simmer 

For the Strawberry Peach Collins recipe, visit here.

{images via Design Sponge, The TomKat Studio, Bakers Royale, Smile Monsters, Sugar and Charm and Endless Simmer}