Decades Inspired Birthday Party

Last weekend, I helped host a party to celebrate two 30th Birthdays, a 60th Birthday and a 60+ Birthday. It was fun celebration with a mix of black and white sophistication and fun retro activities and decorations.

The velum overlay of the invitation introduced the theme: 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and today!

Party was held outside on my parents deck - we set small round and square tables with white linens, black and white overlays and centerpieces.

Each table had a centerpiece which was a glass jar with candle and iconic toys from the 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s. There were green army men, trolls, play doh, silly putty, Smurfs and Mr Potato Head.

As an introductory activity, we played a Flashback Scavenger Hunt. Each guest received a card with a list of retro toy related activities - guests mingled and interacted with decorations and reminisced!

The Flashback Challenge card:

Retro toy decorations and stations for the challenges:

Decorations also included paper pendants featuring photographs of the four birthday guests and of iconic TV shows, movies, toys and pop culture icons from the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s.

Appetizers were also inspired from the past 6 decades - deviled eggs, sausage rolls, cheese straws, shrimp cocktail, pea soup and chicken salsa.

After a delicious dinner of steak tenderloin, mashed potatos, salad, bread and more, we all enjoyed Birthday Cake!

Before guests departed, they filled their own bag of favorite retro candy from our special candy bar.

Dr Seuss Baby Shower

I helped a friend plan a baby shower for her sister with a Dr. Seuss theme! Because the sex of the baby is unknown, the bright primary colors and fun theme was perfect. The party was a casual brunch with onesie decorating, refreshments and gifts. We can't wait to meet the new addition to the family!

 The brunch table with Diaper Cake centerpiece

 Tables set for brunch with Book Centerpieces

 The Onesie making table and some finished results!

 The favors - tubes of Swedish Fish!

Royal Wedding Viewing Tea Party

We celebrated the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate with a simple viewing Tea Party! We gathered Friday afternoon to watch the recorded wedding, sip tea, enjoy traditional tea treats and visit with good friends. Thank you to my aunt for Union Jack items from England!

Chinese New Year Dinner

We celebrated the Year of the Rabbit with some close friends! Favorite Chinese dishes and friends will hopefully lead to a year of good fortune. Table was pretty simple with chopsticks, money envelopes and felt fortune cookie placecards.

Holiday Party for a good cause!

Today I hosted a holiday party for good friends! It was a wonderful few hours of good company, good food and most importantly - a project for a good cause. We enjoyed a brunch table of goodies and then made blankets and assembled bags for the nonprofit Project Night Night, http://projectnightnight.org/. Project Night Night helps children in homeless shelters by providing them with a blanket, stuffed animal and story book. Guests brought books and stuffed animals - I prepped fleece for blankets and then we tied them during the party. We assembled the bags and taged them for girl or boy and appropriate age. It was alot of fun to visit and do something to help others.

 Hot beverage cups with homemade felt cozies:

 Personalised cereal spoons for each guest:

 

The finished bags!

Advent Calendar

My parents have made my sister and I an advent calendar every December since we were very little. Each year's is different and unique and definitely one of my favorite traditions of the holiday. This year, I wanted to make Advent Calendars for four of the little people in my life. I sewed felt stocking with fun designs for each day, strung the stockings on ribbon and them filled the stocking with fun, little gifts! Two went to three children in England and one to a little girl much closer to me. Enjoy!

Holiday Cookie Buffet

Belated photos from a Holiday OPen House I co-hosted with my family before the holidays. We have a buffet of so many delicious cookies! Color scheme was gold and white with a little sparkle thrown in for good measure. It was all as delicious as it looks!