Very Merry Events

The Importance of Hospitality from a Biblical Perspective

2009-03-11T06:46:00.001-04:00

Nancy Wilson, on her blog Femina, reminds us why hopitality is so important. Though hospitality was listed as a "spiritual gift" in a study in which I recently participated, I'm think we are ALL called to practice hospitality in some way as Christians.

Nancy seems to agree, and here is why, in her words:

I believe, first of all, that hospitality is good for us because it is hands-on, real-life, experiential Christianity. When you are a host or hostess, you are assuming a role of servant. You are waiting on people, and it is a load of work. Just in case you have forgotten how much work it is, consider this: First you plan a menu and clean the house. You set the table, shop for the groceries, do the cooking, pour the wine, serve the meal, look after everyone before, during, and after the meal, and then you clean up all the mess. And meanwhile, as you are doing all the above things, you are making conversation and getting to know your guests better. So what’s the big deal with that, I ask?

I think that the answer is that hospitality requires self-sacrifice, and we all need lots of practice with that. Self-sacrifice does not come naturally to us. It must be a work of grace or it will result in a spectacular belly flop. If it did not require so much, we would not be tempted to grumble about it. So God wants us doing it a lot so that we will get good at living for others and quit fussing about the work and the mess involved. In other words, hospitality is a means God can use to make us more like Him and less like us.

You can read the rest here.

Curious George Birthday Party

2009-03-10T16:31:00.003-04:00

As proof that this blog is only mostly dead, I'm going to attempt to resurrect Very Merry Events by posting here whenever I feel like it, whenever I have time, and as often as I like. I cannot promise any regularity, but I can promise some great ideas and inspirations!

Our oldest son turned 2 years old over the weekend, and here are some highlights from his Curious George-themed birthday party.

Though I did hire out the activities portion to a nearby kids' gymnastics center, I managed to home-make a variety of things to go along with the theme. The party place provided plenty of fun activities led by someone other than me, brightly-colored paper goods, juice for the kids, and, of course, plenty of space for our guests (our apartment is woefully inadequate for more than 4 people and the Clubhouse at our apartment is no fun for 2-year olds).

Here's what I contributed to the brouhaha:

I made the invitations to look like a Curious George book cover:
(If this is an actual Curious George title, I couldn't find it, so I made it up. I drew the letters, scanned them in, and added the image from one of the books we own.)

I shamelessly stole the easel image below from a card on this wonderful Curious George resource site, but I will have you know I added a disclaimer on the back of each invitation.

I also put together some party favors, which included a Curious George book (of course!), play-doh and bubbles, which are all three of Jacob's favorite things. I printed out more of the "book covers" to decorate the bags, and included a thank-you message.

And, finally, I made and decorated my very first cookie cake (thanks for the recipe, JL, it was yummy!). Jacob isn't really a fan of regular birthday cake, but he seems to tolerate icing and LOVES chocolate chip cookies, so it seemed like a perfect fit.

Though I love the original George, I think the PBS version is cuter, so I used a mask from this PBS Curious George website as a rough template and freehanded the cookie dough into the shape of his face before baking it.

I did not plan very well, so I did a lot of improvisation with the decorating portion of the cake. The eyes are white chocolate bark, which I had on hand from an ill-fated attempt at making holiday cookies. I used J's shape sorter to make them into ovals, but ended up carving them down to size anyway.

Some other things I learned about making cookie cakes:
1. A large round pizza pan works great for baking the cookie. (Thank you, Angelika, for giving this to me as a wedding present. It has been useful in so many ways!) I probably could've used the pizza stone, too, but I'm not sure how that would've turned out.

2. Watch your oven and don't leave the cookie unattended. We took the cookie out about 5 minutes early, but it still wasn't early enough. It didn't have that soft, chewy texture I like so much. And don't forget that they will continue baking if you leave them on the pan to cool.

3. Decorator's icing might have worked well for this, but seeing as I didn't have any cream of tartar or egg white powder, I went with some other recipes I found on the "pretty internets," as Mary says. I used a version of buttercream icing for the brown, which tasted great. I think I should've used buttercream for everything. Mmmmm.

4.For the outlines and detail work, I used a version of a shiny cookie decorating icing using corn syrup and made it chocolatey and dark by adding cocoa powder. It was the right color and consistency, but I think I should've used a bigger tip so the outlines would show up better. But, it was my first time decorating a cookie, and I didn't have many choices of tips to work with, so I think it turned out okay. Except for the non-existent nose!

5. Chocolate-chip cookie cake portions left undecorated make George look like he has smallpox.

6. If you are making a cookie cake for a large crowd, you might want to consider making one this size and then making another, plain cookie cake in a different pan. We served about twenty folks (5 toddlers included) and only had one tiny piece left at the end. Of course, we probably should've cut smaller slices... :)

(Illustrations by H.A. Rey © Houghton Mifflin. Company Curious George and related characters, created by Margret and H. A. Rey, are copyrighted and trademarked by Houghton Mifflin Company and used under license. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing LLLP. All rights reserved.)

Cake idea and all pictures © Allison Redd. Please do not use these images without permission and give credit where it is due. I try to do the same!

Reassessing Priorities

2008-10-31T13:02:00.004-04:00

During October I have been pondering what to do with this blog.

I want to continue posting here, but as you can see I've not lived up to my end of the bargain since we moved. I actually have a plethora of links to party ideas bookmarked on delicious (especially from the fall/Halloween season), but I can never get around to posting them. And I always see cool stuff on other blogs and think "That's a great idea! I need to add it to my blog!" But then I feel as though this blog would be nothing but a collection of other people's ideas. (Although, is that really such a bad thing? There are so many creative bloggers and contributors out there, and I always give credit where it is due!) As for original stuff, we've thrown a variety of events the last few months; however, I either don't have good pictures (the parties went so well I had no time to get out the camera!) or they were total flops and only one or two people showed up. So, I'm reevaluating.

Surprisingly, I got a new comment today and it made me think that perhaps there is still a section of people who might benefit from my posting. I know I appreciate being able to search one site for all the good party/entertaining ideas I've seen. Anyone else? Anyone? Bueller?

I think I can commit to posting 3 times a week for starters. I'd like to go through the end of the year, at least, but then I have another son due at the beginning of February, so unless I find some time to stock up on at least a month's worth of prepared posts, you won't see me much around here after that.

If you like this blog and think I should keep it up, or have suggestions for me, please let me know in the comments below. Thanks!

Celebrate Sleeping through the Night

2008-07-17T16:59:00.000-04:00

Although we've been having a little trouble with teething, mostly our son sleeps blissfully through the night now that he is 16 months old. However, I know all too well the long nights of getting up in the wee hours and nursing a baby or comforting a fussy little one.

A while back I was directed to this post about throwing a party when your little one finally sleeps through the night! (Courtesy of Amy's Notebook.)

The pictures are adorable, and I love how she utilizes the "table made into a bed" idea that we've seen before here.

This blog is about rejoicing in the everyday, and even the tiniest accomplishments should be celebrated, I think. Perhaps we'll have a "potty training" party in the next year!

And I definitely should've had a "feet-themed" party when J learned to walk. Well, I'll have to save that idea for the next one: we'll read The Foot Book and eat feet-shaped sandwiches and perhaps enjoy a footprint or flip-flop cake.

And do you remember the excitement the first time your little one rolled over? Get the older siblings excited, too, by eating fruit roll-ups and rolled sandwiches and reading Beatrix Potter's The Roly-Poly Pudding. (Please, someone stop me. I could go on forever at this rate!)

Have you celebrated any baby and toddler milestones with a party? Do you need an idea on how to celebrate an upcoming event? Please, share your stories and questions below!

Green Party

2008-07-16T08:34:00.000-04:00

(Not the political one.)

How to Throw a Green Party at Epicuious.com

I've been meaning to post this one for a while. Seems "the green life" is all the rage, even for parties. This one offers a range of ideas, from sophisticated to casual, and as well as being environmentally friendly, their suggestions are also almost always FRUGAL. It's the best of both worlds!

Check out the link above for a multitude of ideas and tips. These are great for the newbie party-planner as well, since they offer many general event-related suggestions along with their eco-friendly tips.

Beijing 2008

2008-07-15T21:08:00.000-04:00

In honor of the upcoming Olympics, I've seen a few Chinese-inspired party ideas floating around the web.

First up is from AT's Ohdeedoh, which highlighted a recent Chinese-Themed Birthday Party for kids.

For the adults, Kenmore has created a site with step-by-step instructions and tips for throwing a Chinese-themed BBQ! (HT to the Motherload, I think.) There are great kitchen tips, a plethora of yummy-sounding recipes, creative invitation ideas (some you can do yourself!), ideas on how to incorporate the kids, and --my favorite-- what to do with the leftovers! Brilliant! This site just begs you to throw a party!

We're going to be out of town on August 8th, but if we were here, I think this would be fantastic way to celebrate the Opening Ceremonies! If you can, set up a screen (or just tack a sheet to the wall or fence) and broadcast the opening ceremonies during your party! What a great way to bring the neighborhood together.

Do you have ideas on how to celebrate the Olympics? Please share them here!

Fruit Chews...on a Cake!

2008-06-26T10:43:00.004-04:00

I'm back! We're (mostly) moved in to our new place. And I just had to blog this crazy, wonderful, delicious idea for decorating a cake with fruit chew flowers from the Angry Chicken blog ...that's right, Amy Karol decorated her daughter's birthday cake with Starbursts! I think it looks lovely and probably smelled fantastic!

Be sure to check out Amy's blog for more ingenious crafty ideas and hilarious tips on what NOT to do when making Starburst flowers...

Where's the party posts?

2008-06-20T09:50:00.004-04:00

I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, but we are moving this weekend, and that is taking up pretty much all of my time over the next week or so.

Once we get settled into our new apartment (where we'll begin volunteering as a CARES Team again!), I'll be updating this blog much more regularly, I hope.

Be on the lookout in July for lots of ideas and pictures. I've got a backlog of things I've been needing to post, so hopefully I'll have a bit more time to work on them in the coming weeks.

Happy Summer Solstice today!

Cupcakes Make Any Day a Party!

2008-06-17T11:07:00.005-04:00

Natalie "Alabama" Chanin posted a wonderful recipe for cupcakes with buttercream icing, purportedly adapted from an original recipe from the Magnolia Bakery! Yum!

The kids said after our cupcake extravaganza was over, “This is just like a party.” To which I replied, “This is a party.”

Recently, I helped a friend make her first from-scratch cake, but was unable to stay to help her ice it. Chanin linked to this slideshow from Country Living magazine which shows step-by-step instructions on how to ice a cake with buttercream frosting. The photos--especially the one depicting a "crumb layer"--would've been most helpful to me. Hopefully, they will be of assistance to you, though! It includes "Tips and Tools of the Trade," which has inspired me to buy an offset spatula as soon as possible. The slideshow is also making my hungry!

(I have to give a plug here for Alabama Chanin and their support of truly local handmade goods, since I'm from Alabama myself and fully support such endeavors.)

Build a Party from a Cardboard Box

2008-06-09T15:35:00.005-04:00

Have you always wanted to throw a fantastical party for your kid's birthday but felt like you couldn't afford expensive decorations? Do you need some inspiration for your next themed bash? Did you just buy a new washer/dryer or refridgerator and want a fun way to recycle those large boxes?

Well, try this photo gallery of cardboard box creations at Mr. McGroovys!

From castles to pirate ships and almost anything else you can imagine, parents have created some magical fortresses, hideaways, houses, cars, and characters.

I stumbled upon this site today, and though I've never personally tried using Mr. McGroovy's cardboard box rivets, I've been reading some rave reviews. Even without mkaing a purchase, you can find a wealth of information on the website.

McGroovy's provides tips on how to find free boxes and offers free instructions for some popular constructions, including a castle, a train, and even a spaceship. There are even tips on how to make the paint look realistic. What a great resource for parents, teachers, and anyone who needs to make large-scale decorations on a budget!

Really, why do we buy them expensive toys? All they need is a cardboard box!

"Little Mommy" Birthday Party

2008-05-28T17:20:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago I was looking around Flickr and found this twist on the classic Barbie-in-a-dress cake. Instead of a princess, make it a "Mommy" party for her four-year-old daughter, Emma! How cute is that? I contacted the photographer, and Laura agreed to share some of her ideas here. She writes: "This was such a fun party, I hope someone else can be inspired by it." I hope so, too! Thanks again, Laura!

For the invitations, she made miniature purses from scrapbook paper and slipped the invitations inside. They invited all the girls to bring their favorite
baby doll with them to the party. The even brought all the doll furniture into the living room and "set up a little nursery so the mommies would have somewhere to take care of their babies during the party." Awwww.

For the cake, she used the Wilton pan, but with only one box of cake mix, saying she "felt the shorter skirt really gave her a retro mommy look." I think her attention to detail is gorgeous! She covered the plate with about two inches of fondant decorations. I love the addition of the baby wrapped in a fondant blanket! Creative babywearing mamas could make a pouch or ring sling to hold the baby.

Emma's Mommy birthday cake
Originally uploaded by scottandlaurahilton

The party lasted about three hours, and there were 3 adults presents to help with the festivities. The afternoon was full of pampering and mommy time. I wish I had a party like this for me! Laura explains:

Once all the girls arrived we started with manicures. I had a friend of mine there so we could both be working on nails at the same time. And the girls who were waiting just continued to play with their dolls. I let each girl pick a nail polish to put in their purse and take home. Then they each got to pick a lip gloss that we helped them put on and then those went in the purse, too.

The party included the obligatory cake and ice cream time, and then the afternoon ended with a neat surprise scrapbooking activityy!

I had my husband take pictures of the girls the whole first part of the party (We took photo ops: each girl getting her nails done, each girl with their baby, all the girls with their rings, each girl giving the birthday girl a
present, and eating cake.) I then had him quickly upload and print about 6
wallet sized pictures for each girl. After cake and ice cream the girls gathered around the a table and did a little scrapbooking. We did the gluing while the girls stuck on stickers and colored with crayon.

Emma and her friends
Originally uploaded by scottandlaurahilton

It sounds like a fun, frugal time! Laura's resourcefulness included many homemade items. She got almost all of the manicure supplies from the Dollar Spot at Target, and she made the purses from some extra fabric she had on hand. She made mini scrapbooks by cutting down card stock and scrapbook paper and binding them with ribbon. Sitckers and other craft supplies were from the Dollar Store. She made the purses herself by sewing 6X8 fabric bags with ribbon handles.

The Birthday Girl
Originally uploaded by scottandlaurahilton

Happy Birthday, Little Mommy! It sounds like you had a great party!

Don't Tell the Cows

2008-05-27T15:48:00.007-04:00

Perhaps you had a cookout on Memorial Day and grilled hamburgers? If so, you were unwittingly celebrating National Hamburger Month, which makes perfect sense considering that many people fire up their grills for the first time in May.

If you missed out on some burgers over the weekend, don't worry, though, because tomorrow there's another good excuse to celebrate grilled meat on a bun. According to some internet sources May 28th is "officially" National Hambuger Day! (Unlike other, less reliable reports which claim a day in December. Who wants a homemade burger in the middle of winter?)

Of course, if you don't have access to a grill to celebrate or you are a vegetarian or you just had too many burgers over the weekend...you can always make this hamburger cake!

I made this cheeseburger cake for my husband's birthday about 4 years ago, because at the time we were really into Homestarrunner, particularly this toon.

If you would like to know how to make this "Big Mac" cake, you can find the instructions at Woman's Day. This was my first attempt at a frosted cake so please don't judge me too harshly!

I remember that my Homestar Jr. Cake looked much better than it tasted, and that's not saying much. It could've been my cake recipe, though, so feel free to try it out yourself.

Just make sure you have plenty of ice cream handy in case of, um, any culinary disasters. Ice cream covers a multitude of ills and makes even the driest cake or cookies palatable. Trust me.

Happy Hamburger Day, everyone!

Beloved Birthday Cakes

2008-05-22T15:47:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago, Apartment Therapy asked about readers' favorite birthday cakes, either made or received. There are some great responses in the comments if you need some ideas for a cake!

I would highly recommend reading the original inspiration, an entertaining NY Times article titled "The Birthday Cake as a Milepost." An excerpt:

There is an irresistible charm to these flight-of-fancy cakes, and fueling children’s imaginative rides in the early years is part of a parent’s job. But I think the real reason we bake far-fetched cakes is because we hear in our children’s birthday-cake requests, whether spoken or not, this: "You can do it. You’re Mom."

My husband's paternal grandmother has always been the family cake-baker. I think she took some Wilton classes and helped out a professional cake decorator once, but however she honed her skills, the entire family still talks about "Bobbie's cakes." She even has entire photo albums (not one, mind you, but many) of her creations! I think the first cake she made was for her oldest son, when he was very young, but it soon spiraled out from there to include other family members, and she even made birthday cakes for her friends' children as they were growing up. The ABC cake featured on this post was one of her famed caramel concoctions.

One of the most-fondly remembered cakes is a computer cake she made for my husband when he was 9 or 10. It was modeled on an Apple IIE, complete with caramel squares for the keyboard letters! I don't have a picture of that, but I did find this old snapshot of the carousel cake at his 2nd birthday many, many years ago.

If you have a favorite birthday cake you have made or received or made, please share with us in the comments!

Ladybug Picnic Party

2008-05-21T10:02:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, my son received this adorable handmade invitation in the mail to his friend Miss Scarlett's first birthday party:

Miss Scarlett's mom has chosen a picnic theme, complete with ladybugs and a red checkered blanket motif. She wants to make the cake herself, and I thought I would throw out some ideas here on the blog.

At one point, she mentioned making a cake in the shape of the number 1 covered in red checkered pattern, similar to the invitation above. Here's a Checkerboard Cake which suggests making the squares using pieces of fruit leather! Brilliant!

I suggested adding ants crawling across the cake, but she says ladybugs and flowers are cuter. She's right! (I suppose I'm already accustomed to planning for a boy!)

Here are some more cake ideas I found around the web:

A very cute Ladybug Cake, which you make using Junior Mints!

A Gumdrop Garden Cake, which has a similar theme

Finally, in the "Why not?!" category, a Hotdog and Fries Cake!

For decorations:
Checkered tablecloths, of course! She's having the party at a local park, during lunchtime, so anything that is easily transportable and easy to take down is essential. I'd suggest a few blankets for the smaller children to sit on and eat their food.

Nature, of course, is the best decoration of all, but it would be easy to make some paper ladybugs using red and black cardstock to put up around the picnic area. You could hang them from trees or a pavilion, if available. Streamers are also easy to carry, but be mindful of the weather. Wet streamers are never fun to clean up!

Here are some other, similar themed parties:

Huggable-Bug Party with ideas for bug crafts and goody bags.

Garden Party, which includes flower-related activities and snacks.

Do you have any ideas to share with my friend for her Ladybug Picnic Party? Be sure to leave a comment below!

Active Birthday Parties

2008-05-20T11:32:00.000-04:00

In the same Top 10 List as yesterday's post, Parents magazine tells us that more parents are incorporating physical activities into birthday parties.

I don't know about you, but growing up, my parties were ALWAYS active. I specifically remember roller-skating parties, swimming parties, bowling parties, running around playing games in my friends' backyards, and slumber parties spent rockin' out to "Footloose." (We choreographed our own dance moves.)

Do you specifically make a point to plan physical activities into your kids' parties? If so, what do you do?

Showers for Younger Siblings?

2008-05-19T23:10:00.004-04:00

According to Parents magazine, baby showers for younger siblings are on the rise. If you had a baby shower for your second, third, fourth, or beyond, how did you celebrate? Was your party more about welcoming the new little one or pampering the mom?

Perhaps you haven't had multiple showers, but you've attended one. What did you like about it?

Most importantly, do you think this trend is a good idea? Why or why not?

Please leave your thoughts in the comments below! Also, be sure to vote in the poll on the sidebar to the left. I'm enjoying these new Blogger features!

P.S. I'm back from a week away from the computer. If I had known, I would've had a post up every week day while I was away, now that Blogger has the option of scheduling posts in advance. Look for at least one post every weekday from now on. :)

More Baby Shower Ideas

2008-05-12T08:44:00.003-04:00

I hope all the moms had a wonderful Mother's Day yesterday! I certainly did!

Just wanted to point you to Blissfully Domestic for a final round-up of baby shower ideas from readers. I love the winning "bead necklace" activity for the new mom, from megret:

Everyone brought a bead (or two or three) that represents/reminds us either of the mommy-to-be (something reflecting her personality) OR, if you are a mom yourself, a bead(s) that represent a part of motherhood or bit of heartfelt advice. I chose a pink glass heart to remind my friend to love her little son (and TELL him she loved him) daily. Another person gave her a white bead symbolizing her pure and giving heart. It was quite touching; there wasn't a dry eye.

The beads were strung onto a ribbon and made into a necklace that she could wear during labor.

The thoughtfulness behind the necklace reminds me of one of the best gifts I got from a friend at a baby shower: a set of Scripture verses on little cards attached on a binder ring. I flipped through them before our son was born, and the truths brought me comfort. I didn't refer to them as much during labor as I thought I would (being completely exhausted and all), but they were especially touching during my recovery.

My friend Rachel typed them all up herself, printed the verses out on colored card stock, punched a hole in each corner, and put them together, but you could request in advance that your shower guests each bring a meaningful verse or quote concerning motherhood, labor, nursing, etc. You could collect them by e-mail beforehand or have them write them down at the shower. Afterwards, you could fashion them into a flipbook for the expectant mom.

I keep them in my son's room and they still make me smile whenever I read them. Here's to gifts that bring encouragement long after the party is over!

Frugal Friday: Found Table Runner

2008-05-09T11:00:00.000-04:00

When you're throwing a party, sometimes the easiest way to save money on decorations is to repurpose something you already own.

Here, instead of buying a paper tablecloth that will be used once and thrown away, I used a multi-colored blanket as a table runner. We folded it in thirds and placed it over a fancy white tablecloth we already had. Search your closet for scarves, wraps, or other items that can be used to adorn your table. You might be surprised at what you discover that will inspire you!

(Thanks, Jennifer, for the beautiful blanket! Despite its inclusion here, I mostly plan to enjoy it as its meant to be used--as a summer throw. Don't worry, I'm taking good care of it! No Brazilian blankets were harmed during the celebratin' at this party. )

Scooby-Dooby-Doo Double Birthday Parties for Two

2008-05-07T14:29:00.004-04:00

Scooby-Dooby-Doo, Where Are You?
We got some work to do now.
Scooby-Dooby-Doo, Where Are You?
We need some help from you now.

My longtime friend Jamie Lyn sent these photos of her recent Scooby-Doo themed double birthday party to me a few weeks ago. Her two children, a boy and a girl, celebrate their birthdays close together in April, and she always has a separate party for friends and family, so this year she hosted TWO parties for TWO kids within a few days. Way to go! She's graciously allowed me to share her advice here. Hopefully, some of you with children close in age and birthday will be able to benefit from her creativity!

On this amazing Scooby-Doo cookie cake for her son:

Scooby was a free coloring sheet that I found online, then blew up on my scanner. I used that to make a template out of wax paper, then cut out the cookie with a knife before I baked it. I decorated it using my coloring sheet as a guide, but there was some element of freehand to it.

On the small daisy cakes, pictured above, for her daughter (I love how the flowers keep the groovy Scooby Doo theme, yet make it girly!):

The daisies are obviously just seven mini cupcakes arranged together. This size was ideal for the 2-4 set, who get a little crazy on even the smallest amounts of sugar! You could use the same idea for other, more "sophisticated" events, though...petit fours or cheesecake bites would be cute for a shower or tea party.

On the table decorations and being frugal:

I did spend more this year on "themed" goods than I have in the past, but considering we served 42 people over the two parties (and the second included a meal), it was still very reasonable. I only bought a few "high-impact" items in the pricier themed versions (tablecloth, invitations, one small package of cups for the kids, one package of napkins), then interspersed them with less expensive solid colored goods (plates, cups for everyone else, more napkins). That crazy centerpiece thing was there only because I found it on clearance at the party store for less than $2; I would NOT have paid the $12 that it cost normally. I also skipped Party City's Scooby Doo themed goodie bag items, except for one thing that I found on super clearance. That kind of stuff is just so much cheaper elsewhere, and half the stuff doesn't survive the trip home anyway.

We already had the special Scooby Doo plate and cup that Will used. I've discovered that if you're doing a theme because your child is into something, you usually have a lot of that stuff around your house.

It's true! Before you go all-out for a kid's themed birthday, think of all the character toys, plates, cups and other items that you might already own.

As an added bonus, JL dispenses some all-around good advice on cake toppers:

A friend of mine taught me that you can be creative and frugal even if you don't make your own cake. A couple of years ago her little boy was into tractors, but the bakery was going to charge her an extra $5 just to add a couple of cheap, plastic tractors (that looked like they came from the quarter machine) to the farm cake she'd ordered. She told them to skip it, and instead added a couple of small tractors they'd planned to give their son as gifts once they got the cake home. The cake was very cute, and her little boy was super excited to actually get real toys to play with, rather than those cheap things with plastic sticks on the bottom. You could do the same thing with cars, Polly Pockets, Little People, etc.

This just popped into my brain: how fun and simple would it be to spell out "Happy Birthday" using Legos on an elementary-aged kid's sheet cake!? (Of course, you'd have to wash them or any toy before AND after using them on a cake, but that could be easily done by putting them in one of those baby-stuff baskets or a mesh bag in the dishwasher.) I might even enjoy something like that on my birthday cake, to make me feel like a kid again! I think I still have a box of Legos in my parents' house I might just have to go recover. :) And I know a grown-up friend who would probably love a Transformer on his June birthday cake.

If you have a good idea, please share with us! You can e-mail me or leave a comment on any post. Thanks, all! And thanks Jamie Lyn for sharing your inspired birthday ideas! More birthday ideas coming soon!

Flower Pot Desserts

2008-05-06T17:54:00.004-04:00

The Pioneer Woman Cooks is a fantastic resource for party food. True to her reputation for fantastic dishes explained in detail with photographic how-to's, she has a new recipe perfect for spring parties: the flower pot dessert.

If you are hosting a tea, a shower, an end-of-school fete, or just a get-together that calls for something sweet, these might be just the ticket! She even has "boy" and "girl" versions (though I do like Gummy worms, myself.) I think you'll have just as much fun making these as you will eating them!

Baby Showers Galore!

2008-05-05T22:00:00.002-04:00

Blissfully Domestic is throwing a virtual baby shower for one of their own, coincidentally also named Allison (but it's definitely not me, because she's having her 5th baby!). In honor of this occasion, they are having a week-long celebration of babies and pregnancy. Click on over for all the baby-related hooplah!

All you party-planners, be sure to add your two cents to the post asking for the best tips on hosting a baby shower! You could win a free book!

One commentor, Rachel, of Seeking Delightful Pleasures, shared ideas for an adorable Rubber Ducky Baby Shower! I especially love the rubber duckies floating in the blue and white punch!

I'll try to update this post this week with links to all relevant Blissfully Domestic baby shower party-planning info:

How to Make a Baby Block cake and Daisy cupcakes.

Shower Ideas for Subsequent Children

Round-Up of Baby Shower Ideas

Baby Buggy Shower Invites

2008-05-05T21:02:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite crafty bloggers, Anna Maria Horner, just posted some beautiful photos from a recent baby shower she hosted.

baby.buggy.invite
Originally uploaded by annamariahorner

Her design for the buggy is very familiar...I found some make-your-own card kits on sale at World Market last year that had a similar design, except they used paper and scrapbook bits instead of fabric and buttons. Still, it's a lovely idea for invitations! So cute! (I used mine for thank-you's.)

She also has some beautiful photographs of flowers in glasses, for an in-the-womb motif, which are quite lovely. Make sure to check out her full post!

Q&A: Kiddie Pool Birthday Party

2008-05-02T14:27:00.004-04:00

Summer birthdays, rejoice! That time is almost upon us. What kid wouldn't love a water-themed birthday party? This little girl certainly looks like she enjoyed her time in the pool! (Photo courtesy of the hiltons on flickr.) I, too, had a summer birthday and I think I had a water related party almost every year when I was a kid, so this latest Q&A is right up my alley!

Candace from Mommy Matters, a fellow Georgia blogger, asks:

My daughter will be turning 3 in August and we are thinking of a cookout with the kiddie pools set up. Do you have any great advice on how to keep the $$$ to a minimum? We have a friend that does incredible cakes too so if you have any fun ideas for a water themed cake I would love to hear those too!

Candace, you have come to the right place. Cookouts are my specialty. :) And happy upcoming birthday to your little girl!

My first piece of advice is this: remember, especially when trying to stick to a budget, that it throwing a party is really all about having fun, and "if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." (Of course, this applies to the birthday girl, too.) So, delegate some tasks (to husbands, family members, friends) and remember to enjoy yourself and your daughter's occasion! Whether or not the party looks fabulous, you want to make sure you and your daughter are having a good time! Now, on with the ideas...

For a cookout in honor of a 3-year old, my menu might include:
Mini-burgers
Goldfish crackers and/or chips
veggie crudites
deviled eggs
fruit pieces or fruit leather
various dips (spinach, hummus, yogurt/cream cheese)
birthday cake
ice cream
lots of water and juice
beverages for the adults

Favor idea: Sippy cups or straw cups! Use a paint pen to put a name on each kid's cup (dots at the corners make it festive). The best part is...they can use it at the party and no one will get their cups mixed up!

Here are some tips to keep food costs low:

Plan ahead! Figure out how many folks are coming and make a list of exactly what you will need and how much. Comparison shop if needed.

Buy in bulk from a warehouse store, especially ground meat, chips, sodas, etc.

Don't be afraid of off-brand ice cream in the plastic tubs. Transfer it into a pretty ice bucket, store in freexer, and no one will ever know. You can always have toppings at the ready to mask the not-so-natural vanilla flavor. Besides, you're eating it with cake. Who cares about ice cream when you have CAKE!

Make your own patties (they usually taste better than the frozen kind anyway). You can do this in advance and freeze your own! And you can make turkey burgers, which are cheaper AND healthier than ground beef.

Make your own dinner rolls using your favorite bread or bread machine dough recipe.

Make your own fruit leather. There's a great recipe for this in Super Baby Food, too.

Cost-effective water-related activity ideas:

Connect a hose to a water sprinkler and let the kids play.

Hand out bubbles from the Dollar Store. Even the adults will have fun with this. (Also a favor idea.)

Put bath toys/sand toys in the kiddie pool.

Fill up unexpected containers with water for fun play, like an inflatable raft, large buckets, etc.

Play games with beach balls, such as a pint-size version of kickball or catch.

If you have older kids attending, water balloons and/or water guns from the Dollar Store might be appropriate. Have your own version of the "egg on a spoon" relay with water balloons!

Hula hoops are always a hit for any age!

Wondertime has some great age-appropriate backyard water games and wading pool games!
If these aren't enough, search around your favorite parenting site for more water game ideas!

Kiddie pools are a fantastic item for party inspiration!

Honestly, I had no idea there were so many options. Obviously, you already have some you are planning to use, but really, I may have to get one for our patio this summer. Some of these are too cute (and affordable) to pass up!

In fact, Parents magazine has an entire article about a Kiddie-Pool Party, with some great ideas, though most of them appeal to the 4 and up age range. They do include some great recipes, including shell-shaped pasta salad and deviled egg boats.

You can even fill up one kiddie pool with ice for drinks. Children especially will love fishing theirs out on a hot summer day! We used a big blue plastic tub for years at large cookouts, but I've seen other folks use planters, baskets, and other decorative containers lined with a clear plastic bag to keep drinks cold, although there is a risk with that route of leakage and the dangers of plastic bags around kids. How cute would one of those kiddie pools with the island in the middle be filled with ice and drinks?

Martha, too, has a Sprinkler Party, though most of her suggestings involve crafty-type towel favors and gift wrap. She does link to a fantastic fish-themed menu for kids, complete with a Sand Bucket Angel Food Cake.

Some of my other favorite ideas for water-themed cakes include:
Water Park Cake
Snorkeler Cake
Flip Flop Cake
Blue Jell-O cake with Gummi creatures
Tropical Pool Cake

Candace, I hope this has offered you some inspiration! If you remember, please send me pictures of your party so we can see the final result!

To everyone, I love answering your questions, so please keep them coming! And if you have party pictures of your own, please send them along! Thanks!

Retro Housewife Party

2008-04-29T21:37:00.001-04:00

I don't even know how to play bunco, but this looks like a fun night!

Amy at The Motherload recently threw a Retro Housewife Bunco Party, complete with Sloppy Joes, mandatory apron-wearing, rice krispy treats, and game-fun galore!

She also shared some helpful tips:

Don't be afraid to use prepared foods you just pop in the oven (i.e. tater tots) alongside your main couse. Fast, easy and fun!

Cake stands can help keep bread fresh and add height to your presentation.

Fill up one side of your sink with ice and use it instead of a cooler to hold drinks. (Now why didn't I ever think of that?!) It definitely beats dumping out the water from a cooler...and you could even repurpose the melted ice to wash dishes!

When entertaining in a small space, you have to be creative. Get rid of all clutter and unnecessary items, even if it is just for the night!

We've hosted game nights before, but this is taking it to a whole other level. The key here is not leaving anyone out: if the guest didn't have an apron, she provided one! I also love the idea of a regular game night with a different theme each month! It reminds me of those murder-mystery dinners--you can really go all out on a theme quite cheaply if everyone pitches in!

New Header Coming Soon

2008-04-28T17:42:00.002-04:00

Yay! I won a new header for this blog!

Karen from Simply Amusing Designs is sure to come up with some much-needed festive decor for my little corner of blogville, so come back soon to see the result!