Party Decor

A few friends have asked lately for help with party decor ideas- so I thought I'd share a few quick tips to whip up some party/shower/birthday decorations:

1. I almost always use a roll of wrapping paper as a table runner. Such a cheap simple way to add color to any event.

2. Use pictures on cork/magnet boards, hanging clips, in frames, giant clothespins, etc. Quotes and invitations are other items to display.

3. I love to use memorabilia, especially for my kids parties: their baby shoes, books from our collections that match the color scheme, lego creations, fake flowers Dylan delivered the day Ellie was born, etc.

4. Use food and favors on platters and cake plates to decorate.

5. Around my kids birthdays, I like to make the mantle (or other little spots in our home), more about them. It may have their pictures or favorite toys or the cards they have received in the mail.

6. Lose sleep over tiny details that you may only notice :) Sure makes life fun!

Happy Birthday to you!

I can't believe my nephew Neal is one! I took a few pics at the party and these were some favorites. What a handsome boy!

Cake and such

(from my personal archives winter 2008) 

Ellie is officially a drawer emptying, reverence disturbing, treat demanding, shoe removing, dare-deviling, ponytail sporting, gut laughing, whole milk chugging, big brother following, finger pointing, head nodding, crumb finding, ever moving, heart melting, darling one year old.
(To celebrate the occasion, we had grandma and Mazey baby over for lunch and a family party- with dinner, presents and cake, of course. The cake and suckers resulted in Ellie having a lovely rash and constipation. Every party has a pooper...)







this easy peesey banner was made by sewing two circles on top of each other and then folding apart once sewn. I attached them to a piece of ribbon to have tails at either end to tie up when decorating.

Cream Cheese Vanilla Cupcakes

2 egg whites
8 oz soft cream cheese
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 classic white cake mix (For this recipe I prefer the blue box-Pillsbury)
1 cup water
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix cream cheese, oil and egg whites until flluffy. Add everything else. The batter is thick! Add desired color. For best results use the Wilton Gel (can be found even at Walmart... I only used food coloring and they turned out great. Also, it was fun to mix two colors aka two separate bowls) Bake 350. For the mini cupcakes 10 minutes, full size 18 minutes.

(recipe from my friend Heather... who got it from her sister... who got it from her grandma's uncle's mother great Aunt Ruth)

Buttercream frosting

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 butter (I used butter only)
1 tsp. vanilla
3/4 bag powdered sugar
2 tbs milk

1. cream shortening, butter and vanilla (i use just butter, make sure it's softened)

2. add sugar one cup at a time, make sure it's blended after each addition

3. add milk (one T. at a time, add more or less depending on desired consistancy)

(this recipe came from the same friend above and I smooshed it together with my other friend's recipe, Hilary- yum).


This is the perfect birthday cupcake. My hubby (who's not a big fan of cake), LOVED these. I loved them, the party boys loved them, my neighbor loved them and you will love them.

Detective Party

My little man is seven. How in the heck did that happen? Well. It happened. And it was fun.
and now... the part-ay (aka a bazillion pictures)!









Mission Plan:

1. scavenger hunt to hunt to find present from mom and dad- a basketball hoop! We have been SO excited to give this to him and since we purchased he has wanted to turn every garbage, basket and hole in to a place he can shoot some hoops... so we knew he would love it.

note to self: never hide a clue in a cupcake. Long story short- paper wrapped in foiled is a choking hazard... thankfully no agents we're harmed long term.



2. Marshmallow guns and battle




3. Pelted by marshmallows



4. Birthday boy's fave: Hawaiian Pizza and Root Beer.

5. Play knock out until dark with the new hoop

6. Cupcakes and wishes



7. Open Presents and love every minute





8. Ransom notes (confession: I was the only one who sat and completed- I had a great time)




9. Watch Pink Panther and sleep in the living room

10. Play more bball and Dylan's next fave: crepes, strawberries, orange sauce and cool whip ("rad" whip at our house) until the cousins went home.





Dylan said it was the best birthday yet (but he does say that every year :)