Under the Sea Party Ideas

March 5
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I don’t know about you but I’m REALLY ready for spring and summer entertaining!  I tend to jump the gun a bit when it comes to seasonal decorating…but I just can’t help myself!  Easter preparations are getting me excited for spring…but I’m also already dreaming of lazy summertime days on the patio with family and friends!  So today I’m jumping ahead a bit and sharing some whimsical & unexpected ideas for some under the sea inspired fun.  A sunny yellow color palette, sea inspired nibbles, and classic cocktails just might have you believing that summer is just around the corner! I’ve partnered with several wonderful vendors and am so excited to share with you these ideas that are as easy as they are cheerful!  So let the sun shine on your next party…

with an under the sea party celebration!

Mermaid Party Giveaway Fun!

March 1
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A mermaid party certainly is a popular theme in the girl crowd these days!  But having boys has left me out of this fun, party trend…or any girly decorating for that matter!  I’ve mentioned before that I jump on the chance to design some feminine fun for my gal pals any time I get a chance…so when I had this opportunity to not only design a party decoration fit for a mermaid but also support and celebrate my friend, I was in!  Today I’d like to invite you to get to know my talented friend and also learn how you can enter a fun giveaway to help kick off the release of her first, new party line!  If you don’t know Lynnette from Craft My Occasion I really encourage you to check her out!  She’s an amazing designer, stylist, baker…the list goes on!  As a mom and woman of color she was finding it difficult to find party products that represented her daughter…so after plenty of hard work and dedication she came up with her own line of mermaid party products to fit that need!  I’m so extremely proud and in awe of her to run with this important project…and I know we will see MUCH more from her in the future!  So to celebrate her line of party supplies that highlight diversity, Lynnette is hosting a giveaway!  Seven party planners, makers and designers have come together to offer a Mermaid Party Package…and I’m thrilled to take part!  Check out all the goodies and be sure to pop over to my Instagram feed to see how to enter!

do you want to be a mermaid?

Holiday Waffle Bar

February 26
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A waffle bar is always a fun idea for a breakfast or brunch celebration…but it can also be a sweet surprise on any ordinary day!  What I love best about this kind of morning treat is that you most likely have everything you need right in your freezer, fridge or pantry!  If you have kids you probably have frozen waffles or pancakes on hand…and if you don’t, you can easily add them to your grocery list!  We always have waffles in the freezer, they’re great for picky breakfast eaters but equally wonderful for after school snacks!  You can do so many delicious things with a waffle…make them sweet, make them savory, keep them healthy, or even indulge on some cheat-worthy additions for an over-the-top sugar fix!  And since they don’t have to be just for breakfast, they’re the perfect choice for a holiday treat! Today I’d love to share how easy it can be to create a waffle bar with a simple Easter theme! Serve it in the morning, afternoon, or even for dinner…and let the waffle make your family smile!

hop on up to the waffle bar!

St. Patrick’s Day Made Simple!

February 20
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St. Patrick’s Day is one of my family’s favorite holidays…in part, because we actually have some Irish roots!  When my boys were little it would have been a travesty to not celebrate as they were convinced that they were full-blooded Irishmen!  We made Leprechaun traps, filled shoes with coins, even had to clean up the mess those pesky little Irish guys (that we never did catch) would leave behind…all such fun memories!  But now that the boys are older those sweet activities have come to an end…but not the celebrating!  I still leave coins in the shoes (replaced with dollar bills) AND make our traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner…and anyone with teenage boys will understand that serving up loads of meat is equally exciting to them as the fun & games were when they were little!  Because it has been such a tradition to celebrate in some manner throughout the years, i still try to offer up a special holiday breakfast or whimsical snacks for my my family…but ALSO try to keep it simple!  So today I’m so excited to have partnered with Grand Rapids Popcorn Company to bring you some really “poppin” sweet St. Patrick’s Day fun!  Check out these delicious and EASY ideas…

serve up some luck ‘o the Irish for St. Patrick’s Day!

Easy Chinese New Year Fun!

February 15
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The Chinese New Year holiday is one that my family loves to celebrate!  But like I mentioned on Monday…this week has been so jam-packed with holidays it about makes my head spin!  But I couldn’t let this last holiday of the week go by unnoticed…especially since the celebratory food is one of our favorites!  There’s really nothing easier than ordering out and there’s never any shame in doing so!  If it means you have more time to decorate, relax, or just spend extra quality moments with your family and friends, letting someone else do the cooking once in a while is A-Okay with me! (besides, the cleanup is often easier too!)  So since tomorrow marks the celebration of the Chinese New Year, I’m making it simple by serving up our favorite carry-out meal with the simplest decorations…but no less festive!  Check out the super easy ideas and ring in 2018…

Chinese New Year style!

Festive & Easy Valentine Food Inspiration

February 12
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I love to see inspiration for festive Valentine food!  Adding holiday touches is such a simple and sweet way to turn a snack, a treat table, or even a meal into something extra special!  So now that the “happy hearts” celebrations are just days away, I thought I’d share some fun finds and effortless ideas to create festive snacks for your favorite Valentines!  With this week so packed with holidays, the easier the better…in my opinion!  And easy never needs to mean less…at the end of the day it’s the thought that counts so make it simple but present it with love!  Get ready with these easy ideas…

love is in the air…and on the table!

King Cake…a Quick & Easy Substitute!

February 8
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Preparing a Mardi Gras King Cake can be such a fun and tasty holiday tradition!  Cutting into that gooey cinnamon cake to see who finds the baby is a tradition that my family has really enjoyed over the years…but making this traditional dessert can be a bit of an undertaking!  Like any made-from-scratch bread, baking a King Cake requires kneading and rising…all worth the time invested but sometimes a good substitution needs to happen!  Valentine’s Day, Mardi Gras, and Chinese New Year all occur within days of one another, and I don’t know about you but one celebration a week is about all I can handle!  But when you have family traditions to uphold, a quick fix is in order!  So today I’m going to share a REALLY easy way to make a mini King Cake…still festive, tasty, AND you can literally make it in minutes!  I’ll also share a simple DIY decoration that even the kiddos could make!  Don’t let the fact that Mardi Gras is right around the corner scare you away from celebrating…

whip up a mini King Cake…or several!

Nutella Krispie Treats

February 5
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Krispie Treats are a fan favorite among kid party-goers…and I think it’s fair to say they’re a favorite with the adulting type too!  There’s something so delicious about such a simple treat, and isn’t it wonderful that they’re so easy to whip up with ingredients most of us already have in the pantry!  Krispie Treats are honestly one of my favorite go-to snacks for any occasion and it’s so easy to have a little festive fun cutting them into holiday shapes or tinting them with color!  Today I’ve done both of those things with my Valentine Krispies…but I went a little further with an effortless twist that makes them even more amazing!  Check out this easy treat that’s so yummy that your family might gobble them up before you’re even done making them!

love Krispie Treats even more…with Nutella!

Valentine Gift Ideas!

January 29
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If you’re looking for some fun inspiration for Valentine gift ideas…I’ve teamed up with BellaGrey Designs to bring you some trendy festivity!  I’m so thrilled to share with you some of my favorite things…Valentines and cacti!  If you haven’t noticed, succulent and cactus themes are really hot right now, which makes me extremely happy since I seem to be a little obsessed with them at the moment!  So I was over the moon when my good friend and gifted designer came up with these sweet Valentines for me to share with you!  Valentine’s Day is coming up fast, so I’d like to offer up some holiday inspiration AND the link for you to grab these darling printables so you can spread the love!

“let’s stick together”…

and have fun with Valentine gift ideas!

A Galentine Celebration!

January 25
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Valentine’s Day is a wonderful opportunity to show some heartfelt appreciation for those we love…and a Galentine Celebration is the perfect way to include our gal pals in on the fun!  This holiday isn’t just about candlelight dinners with true loves, or whimsical parties for the kiddos…friends are equally as important in our lives and I strongly believe in taking advantage of ANY opportunity to celebrate with them!  So today I’ve partnered with some creative & talented gals to bring you holiday inspiration including favor ideas, easy DIY truffles, and even some free printables for you!  So let’s get ready for some festivity with a…

“you’re the bomb” galentine celebration!