Happy 2012!

Countdown to another new year...

http://www.celebrations.com/article/tick-tock-clock-theme-new-years-eve-party-ideas

Happy New Year!

Pear Tree Greetings has fabulous custom designed cards and invitations--at great prices.  Check it out at http://www.peartreegreetings.com/

Neighborhood Brunch
Warm cinnamon rolls, coffee, and great neighbors.  We're blessed.

http://www.celebrations.com/article/festive-christmas-brunch-ideas

Love the custom letters that Kelli made for me.  Check it out:  http://www.dwellinginteriors.com/

Fall...Where Are You?

I'm creating a Fall Tablescape for celebrations.com   It was 80 degrees today.  I'm confused!

Love the mini-parfait glasses from Pier One!  They come with tiny little spoons too. I layered my parfaits with Mom's pumpkin cream recipe. 

Thanksgiving Party coming soon to celebrations.com

Aloha!

The Hawaiian luau that I planned for celebrations.com is published.  It's a luau with a modern twist, and the food is fresh and healthy! Love my hubby for doing the grilling for me.   :)

http://www.celebrations.com/content/hawaiian-luau-theme-with-a-modern-look



Summertime, Watermelon, and a Family Picnic

My "watermelon party" for celebrations.com is now published...

http://www.celebrations.com/article/watermelon-theme-party-ideas-for-summer

What's in my Cupboards?

http://www.celebrations.com/content/top-ten-party-staples

4th of July Brunch

The 4th of July brunch is published...

http://www.celebrations.com/article/fourth-of-july-brunch-ideas

Tailgate Party

My Tailgate Party ideas are published at celebrations.com.  I chose the Oakland A's colors because my family would want that. We've had some fun Tailgate Celebrations in that Oakland parking lot over the years.

Some fun ideas and recipes for my Pressed Sandwiches and Orzo Salad are here:
http://www.celebrations.com/article/tailgate-theme-birthday-party

You could probably adapt this Tailgate Party for a Giants game...It might not be as much fun, but you could try!  :)

I also made these sandwiches for a "finger food" party and cut them in about 2 inch squares. Weighting them and pressing them helps them stay together so well.

Enjoy!

Tailgate Party

Tailgate Party Coming Soon...

Coming Soon...

My assignment was to create a birthday party using a single color scheme.   What fun!  The Orange Party is finished, submitted, and will be published soon on celebrations.com.  I'll let you know when!  :)

Sneak Peek

This is just a sneak peek of the next assignment that I'm working on...

Making Cards for Mother's Day

Check out http://www.celebrations.com/article/handmade-mothers-day-cards-from-the-kids for my Mother's Day cards assignment.  There are three cards that were super fun to make and could be used for any occasion.  I had two very special helpers on this one!

This is the "Pinky Wreath" Card.

And this is the little pinky finger that was used to make that cute card!

A bouquet of daisies...just for you.

  Snippin' daisies...

And how's this for a cute purse?

 Designed by Miss Brennah herself!

The diningroom looked like a craft-disaster!  We had ribbon, glue, paper, paint, and itty bitty scraps of paper all over the place.  And who cares?  We had a super-fun afternoon together! 

A Purse Full of Chocolate

We made little party favor purses last night at the Ladies Night at church. They're just big enough for one Hershey's Nugget. 

I've been asked for the dimensions. Here you go...
1.  Cut a strip of paper 5 7/8 by 1 3/4 inches. Score the paper on the long side at 1 3/4, 2 3/4, 4 1/2 and 4 3/4 inches.
For the flap, cut paper 1 3/4 by 1 3/8 inches.  Score at 1 1/8.
Round the corners.

2.  Glue the flap and circle on and poke a hole through.

3.  Turn to the inside and add ribbon handle and candy.

4.  Poke a hole through all layers.

5.  Secure with a decorative brad.

Here's the side view:

First Assignment for Celebrations.com

http://www.celebrations.com/article/easy-graduation-party-recipes

Best Celebration Ever...The Pink and Blue Party

My daughter Kelli had the best party idea ever! My son Danny and his wife Sarah are expecting their third baby in March. We could've waited for a phone call following the ultrasound to hear if it's a boy or girl, but we made this into a celebration! Here's how it went down...

First...the party invitations:

Following Sarah and Dan's ultrasound appointment, the Doctor placed the results in a tightly sealed envelope. No one but the doctor knew the gender of the baby. Kelli drove to Fresno to pick up the results in that tightly sealed envelope. The envelope was delivered to our friend, Elisa, who was now the 2nd person to know the gender of our new baby until THE PARTY... Reveling in her top secret information, Elisa baked cupcakes, inserted either a pink or blue gumball in the center after they were baked and then frosted them. The gender of our new baby was buried in the center of a dozen cupcakes!

PARTY TIME: 

Menu--Ham and Egg Strata, cinnamon rolls from Jantz bakery, fresh fruit, bagels, coffee and juice.  (Cupcakes for dessert!)

Games--Party goers were divided into teams as determined by their guess of the baby's gender and their pink or blue attire.  Grown-ups played 25 question pink and blue trivia games.  Here's a sample:

Pink things...Scissors with serrated blades are called_________________. 

Blue things:  The artist associated with the "blue period" is _______________.

Competition between the pink and blue children's teams got very stiff during the baby washcloth toss.  Pink and blue baby washcloths rolled and tied with pink and blue ribbon had to be tossed into a basket.  The team with the most washcloths landing in the basket were the winners.
The competition between teams and the loud cheering and screaming (we have 5 little girls with incredible screams), really helped build the anticipation for the big moment.



Danny, Sarah, Abby and Kinsley

 



The PINK Team

 




The BLUE Team

Are you ready?  Few words are needed to describe the following events:

What a grand way to celebrate the addition of a baby BOY to our family.  We are blessed!

Thanks to Sarah for waiting a whole week to find out the results.  We know that was hard for you!

Thanks to Danny, Sarah, Abby and Kinsley for sharing this special moment with all of us.

Thanks to Kelli for such a great idea, for the invitations, and the special wooden letters from your Dwelling shop.  http://www.dwellinginteriors.com/