Hanukkah party (flashback)

Tonight is our Hanukkah party and I'm in full prep mode!  

Don't forget my FranklinCovey weekly planner giveaway.  

Enter HERE!

Here's a look at our Hanukkah party last year!

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I wanted to share some of our Hanukkah party before next week...

Here are some highlights: 

all of the printables are from Frog Prince Paperie (love them)

 

 yes..dreidels (part tres)

chocolate chip cookies and blue candy canes = yummy menorah

jelly filled donut bites

ravioli, fried cheese and more donuts

Star of David made by the lizard (popsicle sticks and crayons)

the glass bottle (Starbucks coffee drink) filled with blue colored rice

all the kid's crafts.  

Noodle art/jewelry, coloring pages & crayons.  

White lunch sacks to make luminaries are there too.

We had a fun night. 

Ate way too many donuts :)

Next week, more holiday goodies..

I hope you all have a great weekend!!

Let's Go Red Sox

If you follow on Facebook, 

you know the lizard has his 'end of season' baseball party this weekend.
  

We hosted the party at our house -


mainly to get a bounce house
allow the parents to drink.

I have to say, I'm not used to having a party
where I'm not controlling everything

(yes, I know I have issues).

All the moms divided up the food/drink duty
so I was only left with a little to do.  

The fabulous talent behind Lauren McKinsey hooked me up with some adorable printables.

You know I had to do something

A fun banner for the outside.

I used a few of the pieces to make stakes for our sidewalk.

The big chalkboard came in handy too!

I prettied up some water bottles and candy.

These adorable tags were perfect for treats for each of the kids. 

Big League Chew and a glow in the dark cap.

One of the talented mamas made these yummy cupcakes

with cute socks on top.

Of course, I had to dress up my 3 tiered stand!

The kids bounced their faces off...

then it was trophy time.

So cute seeing each of them get their trophy along with a medal.

Here's the whole silly gang.

*the weather was so nice, we were able to open our sliders ALL the way* 

It's been a great season!!

Have a great Monday!

I'll announce the winner of the luggage giveaway tomorrow.

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 :)

simple heart garland

There was a glimpse of my heart garland in yesterday's post. 

Here are ALL the supplies:

punch, paper, fishing line & needle 

and instructions: 

punch hearts and thread line

Not the greatest picture..

but I think the garland turned out really cute 

(plus it was SUPER cheap)

Tomorrow, I will share my "Natural" Valentine Decorations.  

Here's a hint - it involves spray paint!

Day 4 of my BiRThdAy WeEK GivEaWay ExTRaVaGanZa

In case you missed them, 

here are the links to Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday giveaways!  

Today's Party Peep is a FAVE of mine (has been for a long time).  

It's Kristy aka THE Purple Pug!

The Purple Pug is my go-to for party inspiration. 

Kristy is uber-talented, beyond creative and a glittering GODDESS !

Here are just a few Purple Pug Party Pretties :)

Glitter Stickers??  

OMGlitter - these are FAB!

Monster Jam Dirtfest

Come on..glittered tires??

 Initial Letter Favor & Gift Tag

love.Love.LOVE (and not just because it's my initial)

A Very Special & Colorful Christmas

I could not love this table more!

East Coast New Year's Tablescape

A fab collaboration (that I was lucky enough to be part of) styled by The Pug.  

Perfection!

So what's in it for you??

How about 8 favor tags??

I really wish I could enter my own giveaway!

Here are your 2 ways to score your glittered goodies:

(you can leave 2 separate comments)

1.  Check out The Purple Pug Shop.

Come back and tell me what you love MOST!

2.  Check out The Purple Pug blog

Come back and tell you're a follower.

*make sure to leave your email when you comment*

You will have until January 30th (my birthday) at midnite est. to enter!!

our holiday mantle

inspired by Ellie G at less cake (more frosting) & this post - 

I created these treasures.

I used 2 - 4" stryofoam balls from $ Tree plus 2 bead strands 

(I can't tell you the exact length..but 15ft sounds about right).  

I also used several glue sticks :)

I started at the top and worked in sections until the entire ball was covered. 

I snipped off the extra beads.  

Grabbed some of our silver candle holders & this is what I have

I had an old frame - so I cut a piece of scrap paper to fit & added some snowflake ornaments (20/$1 at Dollar Tree). 

Using a few of my glass containers (you know I love them), 

I filled them with blue and silver ornaments (from years ago)

 

and inexpensive bows (leftover from our wreath)

if you look closely, you'll see some candy too :)

Here is the completed mantle...

simple blue ribbon and clothespins make a cute card holder/display.

the 2 blue/silver cone trees are from Target (dirt cheap after Christmas several years ago)

Happy Friday everyone!

Next week - last minute decorations and gifts (on the cheap, of course)

a peek at some back to school bash goodies

Here are some of the goodies I've been working on for my party (tomorrow).  

There is still lots to do (apple cars and ants on a log aren't makin' themselves) but I wanted to share what I've done.

 cup o' smarts 

place cards for the snacks & stuff

poms waiting to be 'pommed'

letters on sticks (for a letter hunt)

the banner (which is now tied together)

'crayon' pretzels

Have a fabulous Friday (and weekend)!!

I hope to have lots of great pictures to share on Monday!

*Big thanks to all that entered my very first giveaway!  

I'll announce the winner Monday!

head over to The Girl Creative to meet some new friends

Avelyn's 'lil firecracker' 1st birthday

A while back I posted about making a banner 

for my cousin's daughter's 1st birthday.  

The party was this past weekend...and it was a success! 

here are a few of the goodies I helped with

 the banner, napkin rings & favor tags

Here's the birthday girl enjoying & sharing her cake (which was YUMMY)

I know Julia worked hard to make this party fun...she did a great job 

(along with help from her 2 very talented sisters).  

What made this party great for me was 

watching the lizard & ladybug play 

with their cousin, 'Abbblyn' (as Samantha calls her). 

Family...there's nothing better!