San Diego

I just got back from San Diego on a wonderful week long training. I am in love with this place! I had a blast, but I'm happy to be at home with my family and the return to party planning.

Blog Love

Yeah! My All Women's Birthday Party was featured by Chris on her wonderful blog, Celebrations at Home. Thanks so much for sharing the blog love.

Orange and Grey

Since the women's group was such a success, we have decided to have it every other month at each ladies home. My friend has hired me to help her with the women's group for November. They all claim that I have set the standards too high.(go figure) Below I have put together an inspirations board. She wanted to use the color orange and I thought that grey with slight touches of red would pair up perfectly. I'm so excited to help her out.

Cupcake Flags:Michelle at Little Paper Dog ( You can download the cupcakes flags)

Dress: Ella Moss(no longer available)

Suit & Tie: Knot Wedding

Orange & Grey Room: Domino magazine(no longer in production)
Orange and grey pumps: Moschino

Orange Centerpiece: Brides.comWhite Chair With Orange and grey rug:Unknown

Flowers: Knot.com

All Women's Birthday Party

My 33rd Birthday/Women's Group Party turned out fantastic. I have shared all the festive pictures below. The ladies and I had a blast and it was a very relaxed and cheerful time, especially with all of the Wine and Sangria! I can't wait until the next group.

The table sign on a cute blue dress form that I found at Marshall's. I just added a big red bow to tie in the colors.

This is the dessert table. I had cones in the the color of the party, 3 cake stands in black(found at Homegoods), the marshmallow pops which turned out much better after a little ribbon was added. The table cloth was from efavormart.com. I love this place because there is no minimum and the shipping is 4.95. The colors always turn out great too. I also ordered a Turquoise table cloth as pictured later in this post.

All I can say here is Thank You Lisa from Personally You Parties. She posted a design idea from Martha Stewart for paper honeycombs. I would have never ever thought of using these because I thought they were so old school. Once I saw that post I knew I had to have it at my party. It turned out fantastic. Of course I looked everywhere on the Internet to find the combs in all the party colors with no success. Since this wasn't a huge party I didn't want to buy in bulk as Martha Stewart suggested. So I found a site that I was able to order without a minimum. Check here for Honeycombs. Pictured are the 12, 14 and 19 inch combs.

I was in love with my cake. I took inspiration from a cake found on the Real Simple Website. Of course I went to my favorite bakery, Cakes Plus in Laurel and they did a great job replicating the bottom layer of the cake. They added a "M" in fondant icing which gave it that personal touch.

Since it was three other Virgo's at the party. I got each of them a cupcake with a black and white candle and we sang happy birthday to them.

Well I wasn't going to put this picture up. But now the world can see how miserably I failed. Above are the infamous Red Velvet Cake balls. I just could not make it work. It was an all day adventure that turned out horrible. I'm not going into all the details, but it's much harder than I would have thought. If you want to see the correct way they should look and be made check out Bakerella site. Well enough on this back to happy times...

MMMM black and white cookies(of course store bought)...

...and mini brownies, always a crowd pleaser(store bought)

The completion of the paper cones turned out great. Once again I have to thank Chris from Celebration at Home for teaching my how to make them. I added ribbon and found these great embellishments from the dollar section of Micheal's. They just happen to have them in the colors of the party and great inspiration words for women. I love when I find items that are just so perfect!

I ordered the ceramic bottoms from Wholesale Flowers and Supplies as seen on Hostess with the Mostess. Check out her site on how to assemble using the ceramic vases. They worked great!

We did have other food at the party, but by the time that table was assembled, I had already had 2 glasses of wine, so I did not get the full pictures of that :-). Below is the beginning pictures of the 2nd food table to include my wrapped polka dot napkins that I just loved(Found at Target).

I made a big pitcher of Sangria that went along with all of the other bottles of wine that were brought by my guests. (Beverage Server purchased at Homegoods for 39.99!)Each lady had their own wine glass with an initial embellishment so they could keep track of them. Once again, I did not get pictures of those. (note to self, no wine before you take all of the pictures)

We had a great presentation from Heather (also a great friend) of Southern Living at Home and Tastefully Simple. I brought some great items that I can't wait to use at my next party.

To end the night I gave each women a Journal. Of course in the colors of the party(Found at Homegoods). I placed a big ribbon and each ladies initial to use as a bookmark(dollar section of Micheal's). They really appreciated this and was excited to start writing.

Marshmallow Treat Pops

They say imitation is the best form of flattery. Well I don't think they had this in mind when that phrase was coined. I saw the Marshmallow Treat Pops on the Hostess with the Mostess and immediately thought, finally, something I can actually make(in terms of food). Well mine did not turn out as I expected, hoped and dreamed. I made these for my birthday party/women's group this weekend. They will make an appearance because at least I gave it a try. Maybe one day I will be the cook that I dream about.

Not to worry, I'm not giving up. I next plan to make the Red Velvet Cake Balls from Bakerella. I'm calling in some reinforcements on this one since it acutally calls for a blender and an oven. Pray for me!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Another birthday! I love my birthday. I love birthday's period. Last year for my birthday, my husband gave me my dream craft table(pictured below). Last week, I finally decided that this is where I should do all of my crafts and stop using the kitchen table. I am once again in love with the table. I saw the one at Pottery Barn and thought this is way too much(however on sale right now!). When I found a similar table at Target, I was so excited! At the moment, the table top is filled with the items for the two parties that I am doing, but at least it's in good use.

Pottery Barn's Craft Table

Target's Craft Table

My Craft Table

Roller Skating Party Take 2

I have been working on the invitation for the rollerskating party that I'm planning for October. The mother loved the idea of the circus invitations that was created in April. So I took that concept and created the roller skate invitation(of course with the help of Microsoft word).

Here are some of my current finds. The cute little favor boxes to the left are from Micheal's dollar section. We are thinking about putting some sort of friendship bracelet for all of her friends. The purple and green vases were found at a local event party store, The Pleasure of Your Company(also has a sister store Hannah Elizabeth). I can't wait to complete a table scape with these. In the back you can see the continuation of my cone obsession. I found some great purple and green paper from Joann Fabrics.

Paper Cones

I love the thought of using paper cones at my next party. It seems that so many party planners are using them and I'm the last one on the bus. Chris from Celebrations at Home was gracious enough to send me pictures of a couple of her cones and directions on how to make them. Thanks Chris! I also found some additional inspiration pictures. Enjoy!

Animal Print Cones & 4th of July: Celebrations at Home

Blue and Green Pastel Cones: Martha Stewart

Neon Cones:Merry B Events(Check out this entire party-how cute)

Zebra Print Cones: Hostess with the Mostess

I was working on my own cones for my 33rd Birthday Party and I think I got it down now. I'm so excited I found the perfect 2 sided paper at Michael's to match the colors of the party(Red, Lime Green, Turquoise, Black and White.

Check it out!

I was featured on Creative Parties and Showers

OMG! I almost missed it. I am so honored that my Safari Birthday Party was featured on Creative Parties and Showers. Go check it out!

As my first year of Enchanted Expectations has come and gone, the first party that I created under the name was a spa party for a special 9 year old. The mother was so satisfied with the results that she has hired me again to celebrate her daughter's 10th birthday. This time we will have a skating party with the color scheme of purple and lime green. Below I have put together an inspiration board to keep me "rolling" ahead. In the coming weeks, I will be posting some of the items that I have found to make this party complete. Stay tuned....

Jones Soda: Green Apple and M.F. Grape

Cupakes: Sweet Pies Boutique Bakery

Napkins: Better Homes and Garden

Tutu: Tutu girl

Purple Skates: skates.com

Roller skate charm: Jewelleryshop.net

Cookies and Cake: Amycakes-cookies

"Little Black Dress" Dinner Party

I came across a facebook page of CREATIVE Confetti and Audrey Haynes. She had a "Little Black Dress" Party with a couple of her friends. You have to check out all of the details. I just love the dress table cards and the creative way she used a wine holder upside down to hold her perfectly matched cones. To see more of this party, check out the facebook site here.

"The Little Black Dress Party" amenities - hand fan, invite, place cards, cupcake wrappers, bottled water, rolled candy & mint books.

Each lady received a different design for their invitation.