Our house has been warmed

We finally put away hid enough of our junk to have our housewarming party.  

All along, the husband and I wanted to have a casual get together so everyone could hang out, watch football and eat some good food.  

Combining our housewarming with a day of college football seemed to be perfect.  

Instead of going nutso with decorations and stuff, 

I used Piggy Bank Parties Lot-O-Dots free collection.  

It worked perfectly!  

Using a rainbow of colors made sure to include everyone's favorite team 

(even though I bleed garnet and gold) 

& it helped create a fun color scheme.

Here's the banner I used from Piggy Bank Parties.  

I printed 2 - one for inside and this one for outside.  

The little palms by the pool were the perfect distance!

(I only took a few pictures - but trust me, we had lots of food) -

Food was going to be my main focus.  

Wings, dips, sweets....

I'm pretty proud of the sun-dried tortellini pasta 

(it's a family favorite and this was my first time making it).

 

"Team Color" Rice Krispy treats are super easy 

(especially if you buy them already made).  

I covered them in candy melt and let the kids dip them in sprinkles.  

Football Whoopie Pies were a hit!  

I used this recipe and it was delicious!  

This was the first time I've ever made them & I know it won't be the last!

(notice my place cards??  Another freebie from the Lot-O-Dots collection glued to a bamboo skewer and poked through the bottom of a paper cup)

Polka dot cups (from Target), krazy straws (from $ Tree) and 2 cans covered in football scrapbook paper helped keep things fun.

We also had football shaped Oreos, chocolate chip cookies, buckeyes 

(chocolate covered peanut butter candy), fruit and lots of chips!!

And for the kids, we had a cooler full of drinks.  

Plus we had tons of popsicles for them.

For the BIG kids, we had LOTS of beer!

Our favors were football shaped crayons for the kids 

& coasters for the adults.  

Everyone really seemed to like both!

There was swimming, playing with bubbles, hitting baseballs, throwing footballs and chasing. Everyone was worn out!  

I know after hosting ~50 people for 5 hours or so, I was BEAT!

Time to start planning our Halloween Rave :)

Fab Finds Friday

Hey y'all!!  I'm in full Pirates & Polka Dots panic.  Tomorrow is the party and it feels like I have a bagillion things to do.  BUT...I did find some pretty fab things I want to share today.

#1 Fancy Fox Designs

Holly (who I happen to know) makes some of the most beautiful jewelry.  

I love the Mother's bracelets 

and the Children's bracelets 

  and the Sports Themed ones

 

You may have guessed - I LOVE all of it!!  

Check out Fancy Fox Designs and I know you will fall in love too!

#2

Shindig Parties to Go 

Amanda designs some of the cutest printables around.  

Her latest creation is this adorable Summer Time collection. 

(this is just a teeny peek)

Click here to get the whole set!

 

It's so colorful and fun & FREE!

There are so many options with this set, I may need to have another party just to use this set!

#3

Hostess with the Mostess

ok..so this site may not be new to you BUT this New Summer BBQ Theme  is just plain FAB! 

When I first saw the post, I immediately decided my 4th of July theme.  

 

Red, White and Q 

(get it..Bar B Que?)

The pictures are great, the ideas/tips are brilliant and the freebie printables are perfect!

If you haven't seen the Summer BBQ Theme yet, you must check it out!!

I hope you all have a great weekend! 

I'll be up to my eye patch in Pirates & Polka Dots tomorrow.  

ARRRGGGGHHH! 

non-traditional stockings

Remember the 'school spirit' bucket I made a while back?  

My mom had hers displayed and drummed up some business for me :)  

I had a request to make 'stockings'.  

The idea is to use the buckets in place of stockings.  

Let me say..I love traditional stockings (the bigger the better) 

but I also tend to lean towards more 'unique' ways to do things.

I was given an interest of each of the guys.  It was up to me to do the rest.  

Here is what I came up with.  

I started with black buckets from $ Tree.  

I chose black because I figured they were more 'guy-like'. 

 Got out my Cricut and cut some vinyl.  

For the 'fisher' I chose a simple saying, added a lure and snowflake ornament.

For the 'reader'..the same idea.  I added a book light.

For the FSU fan...(my fave)

The idea of this is simple (which I love)...find a bucket and personalize it!  

These were so much fun to make!!  I hope the guys love them!!

tomorrow..a few cute cute ideas for last minute gifts

(none are mine..but I'm totally borrowing them)


linking up:

 

Me Me Me Monday

I'm not usually one to talk about myself (much)...but I was honored to be one of The Purple Pug's 'crush of the day' last week.  

It was 'Animal Week'...like Shark Week but much cooler.  

Kristy has taken on the challenge of featuring 1 'crush' a day for 365 days!  

Yeah people..that's a whole year.  And a WHOLE lotta crushes.  

It's such a great idea.  A super way to be introduced to tons of fabulous new people & a fun way to find out a little more about fabulous people you already follow.  

So, I now consider myself 'crushed and glittered' Pug Style.

Another great surprise this past week was a sweet package 

from Lelan at Hello, Good Gravy.  

Super sweet personalized note cards.  

I love me some stationery!!

If you're looking for holiday gifts - head over to Good Gravy & stock up.  

Free shipping on every order (exp 12/31)

You will not be disappointed!

this isn't really about me...but FSU whooped up on UF this weekend!!  

Go NOLES! 

}--------->

And since it's Cyber Monday - I plan to do some shopping for ME today.  

Sure, I'll end up with stuff for the kids ...

but that donut pan will be MINE, ALL MINE!

Happy Cyber Shopping!

easy favor Friday...

Last weekend, we had a last minute family gathering at our house.  

We were ordering pizza...no biggie.

I'm a huge fan of favors/goodies/take-aways - even if it's a super casual get-together.  

I have LOTS of m&m's (don't ask...but I know a guy) so I decided those would be my favors.  I also picked up some really cute paper doilies from $ Tree 36/$1 

(I have a few projects in mind for them) so I used a few of those.  

I also used some orange ribbon I already had.  

I recently found these Fall themed printables from Crafty Workin Mommy.  

Not only did Terri create cupcake toppers, she also created bag toppers AND labels.  

Oh..and they are all free :) - Thanks Terri!

Here's a close up of my basically free favor - pretty cute, I must say. 

And yes, that's football field scrapbook paper as my runner.

It was Sunday/football afternoon.

Here's my 'centerpiece' - my goodwill 3 tiered server

 and yes..those are football shaped Oreos :)

I got to thinking...these would make great favors any time.  Especially if you're tailgating or just having people over to watch a game (or all, if you're the husband). 

I found the Fall themed M&M's today. 

A handful + a snack size ziploc baggie + raffia/ribbon = super easy (portable) treat.

We Got Spirit Yes We Do...We Got Spirit How 'Bout You

College football starts tonight...at least for my husband.  

He grew up in Columbus, OH so he is a big Buckeyes fan.  

I grew up in Florida and graduated from Florida State University
(so college football starts on Saturday, for me).

Given my latest obsession with jars 

(while I'm waiting until my etching creme arrives), I decided to paint a few.  

Add some glitter stickers.  

Now I've got myself some cute 'college' containers.  

You can fill them with candy, nuts, cupcake-in-a-jar..whatever.  

Tie a ribbon around the top and 

they make great gifts for the college football fan in your life :)

 here's what I used.  

I cut a 3" punch using contact paper.  I used it as my stencil.

Once the paint dried...I added some glittery stickers.   

{And YES, that's an official FSU helmet in the background}

 Go Noles }------->

Here's the OHIO one.  

Followed the same steps.  

Since this is for the husband...I filled it with one of his fave candy.

What I love about this project is that it's cute, simple and inexpensive.

 

freezer paper stencils..I finally tried it (& I like it)

I've seen freezer paper stencils all over the place.  

They looked so cute (and so simple).  

I longed to try one (ok..not longed like I long for 6 straight hours of sleep) 

but I really wanted to try it.  

I was over at I Am Momma - Hear Me Roar reading about her little one's first day of  pre-school (too cute) & going through the same thing with the lizard.  

In Cheri's post..she had a link to her video tutorial on freezer paper stenciling.  

LOVED IT!  

So while the lizard was in school..the ladybug and I hit up JoAnn's.  

Got some Tulip paint and a few shirts.

(she picked hot pink for herself and gray for the lizard)

Knowing how I have little no patience..

I didn't want to mess up the ladybug's pretty pink shirt.  

I practiced on one of her white tees. 

I used vinyl letters (I already had) as my guide.  

Stuck them on the freezer paper and used an exacto knife to cut around them.

I ironed the freezer paper onto the shirt (shiny side down).  Once all the edges were 'stuck' to the shirt..I started painting.  I used a foam brush to sponge on the paint. 

*make sure to put a cloth/cardboard/towel inside the shirt to prevent the paint from getting on the other side.

Once the paint sets (for me, I waited ~2 mins....no patience), remove the stencil.

The ladybug has a cute new FSU shirt..just in time for football season!

More t-shirts to come...:)


 

 

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