It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Time to start thinking about all the yummy things that will be gracing your Thanksgiving table. Cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, roast turkey, green bean casserole…what are the highlights of your Thanksgiving menu? Are you hosting this holiday season or will you just be taking one of your … Read more
Halloween in Orange County is hot. October is the warmest time of the year and that lends itself to great trick-or-treating, outdoor Halloween celebrations, and over the top outdoor Halloween decorations. Backyard Halloween parties are commonplace in these parts with the warm weather. For years we’ve had parties with scavenger hunts, monster mash cake-walks, Halloween … Read more
The 4th of July is almost here and that means it’s time to plan the perfect 4th of July menu! Whether you are attending family gatherings or a neighborhood block party good food is always the best part of any Independence Day party! I decided to put together all of my best fourth of July … Read more
I was watching the NCAA National Championship football game the other night and it hit me that we are almost to Super Bowl time! It’s kind of wild for me to think about because last year we had a fun family over last minute to watch the big game, and that was the last time … Read more
It’s almost time to celebrate the New Year! Woohoo! I don’t know about you guys, but our New Year’s parties always involve the kiddos. It’s fun and crazy, and I can’t think of any other way I’d rather usher in a new year than with all the people I love the most. This year I … Read more
Guys, can I just tell you how much fun I am having working with Oriental Trading these days? When they emailed a few months ago and said hey…it’s Friday the 13th in September….let’s get our skeletons out of the closet and party, I couldn’t help but jump on board. They are introducing a bunch of … Read more
If you know me, you know I never turn down a chance to party…especially if there are tacos involved! I love the colorful vibe of a fiesta…everything goes! Heading into summer there is no better way to celebrate all season long than with taco night, cold drinks and colorful decor! I whipped up a little … Read more
My kids anticipate the holidays almost as much for the new kids movies that are coming out as the food and presents! Over the summer I took my kids to the movies. During the previews, they had the cutest digital short from Pixar. It was about a slightly funny looking, but adorable snowman. A few … Read more
It’s no secret that I love any excuse to party…we’re even known to have what has affectionately become known as “fake parties” here in our house just so I can have an excuse to set up something cute. HA! When Ashley mentioned getting a few girls from school together I immediately thought “PARTY!” but coming … Read more
It’s always fun to get a few friends together and celebrate the holidays, and in our house we love to do that with movie nights. Putting something together that is cute doesn’t take a ton of effort, and for the kids, getting to invite some friends over for treats and a movie makes them feel … Read more
When you think of Halloween colors, black and orange are usually the first to come to mind, but Halloween party ideas don’t always have to revolve around those colors. Having a girly-girl has definitely taught me that non-traditional colors and Halloween party ideas make for equally fun and pretty parties. I put together these colorful … Read more
Halloween is just around the corner and if you are anything like me, you are looking for fun traditional Halloween activity and games ideas to keep the kiddos entertained. While it has been a few years, I used to throw a big Halloween carnival for our neighborhood every Halloween, so I built up a pretty … Read more
Halloween is one of my absolute favorite holidays. Every few years I throw a Halloween party for 50 of my closest friends. A chance to come up with a fun theme, create party food and decorations to work with that theme, and dress up? That is right up my alley. I usually start my party … Read more
One of my favorite things about summer is getting the chance to put up the patriotic decor, and leave it up all summer long. Kicking things off with Memorial Day in May and rounding out the summer with Labor Day at the end, is a perfect excuse to change up the decor and let it … Read more
I love Valentine’s Day for all the cheesy, cutesy ways to show those you love just how much they mean to you. I also love any excuse to party and celebrate with my girlfriends…so, when Kelly from A Green Spring Home asked if I’d like to be a part of the Valentine’s Day at Home … Read more
I am so excited to be teaming up with 11 of my favorite blogging friends to share fun Valentine party themes for kids! Sweet Summer, from She Leaves A Little Sparkle invited us to create a cute and fun Valentine party themes to share. And, it is easier than you might think! If you’re joining me … Read more
New Year’s Eve is just around the corner and it is time to party hard! I always see so many fun party supplies that have a Pop Clink Fizz theme, I decided to do a party based on that…but with a bit of a twist this year. We have a family New Year’s Eve party, … Read more
Where has this month gone? I feel like I was just styling this wreath workshop and now it was already three weeks ago! When December 1st rolled around I knew this month was going to go SO fast, but man! Time really does fly sometimes. Marianne is such a talent, I was thrilled when she … Read more
The Christmas season is SUCH a fun and busy time of year. Something about decking the halls makes us want to gather our friends and family and celebrate with good food, Christmas party games, Christmas cookies and hot cocoa. I always like to get a chance to gather my girlfriends together and do something fun, … Read more
Christmas time calls for the Elf movie to be on a continuous loop in our house. It is just too funny and really brings the holiday spirit. We like to kick off the holidays with an Elf movie night party. (and we may or may not kick off the Christmas movie watching in October…eek!) I … Read more
I can’t believe it’s already November! Before we know it 2017 will be here and fall will be a distant memory. Spice up your calendar this season and host a fall party with these 5 tips for easy fall entertaining. (affiliate links are provided for your convenience) Take the party outside: When you move the … Read more
Halloween is just around the corner and next to Christmas, the Halloween decoration take up the second most space in the garage at our house. We LOVE this spooky fun holiday, and a party at our house is practically a must every year. One of my favorite parts of throwing a Halloween party is picking … Read more
It’s time to start planning all of your upcoming patriotic parties. Memorial Day , Flag Day, 4th of July, Labor Day, and this year we even get an extra patriotic party with Election night in November! If you’re shopping for the best 4th of July deals and sales, find them all here. Red, white and … Read more
February has flown by. I can’t believe that we were just celebrating Valentine’s Day and red and pink were filling up my Instagram and blog feeds, and now it’s already time to switch to green for St. Patrick’s Day! Here is a simple but totally cute and delicious treat you can make this month to … Read more
I was browsing through old pictures the other day and couldn’t believe that I haven’t shared this party here yet! It is being featured in Mingle Magazine this month, and was SUCH a fun one to do. You already know I love all things Valentine’s day…the cheesier the better, and this party is no exception. … Read more
Looking for the perfect, easy Valentine’s Day breakfast that will only take a few minutes to make and will make the kiddos squeal with delight? Well, look no further! These red valentine heart pancakes with a powdered sugar heart are the perfect treat and SO easy! Simply make your favorite pancake recipe. When you are … Read more
Are you all ready for New Year’s Eve? I always feel like I don’t want to do anything major every year, until about 24 hours before hand and then I start feeling like I’m missing out on something so I quickly throw something together. 😉 Last year we went from not planning on doing anything … Read more
Halloween is almost here!! My second most favorite time of the year! (hey, I’m a poet and I didn’t even know it!…sorry…I couldn’t resist!) 😉 I always have so much fun creating new projects each year to share with you all. Actually, sometimes it’s a bit nerve wracking to be honest. I REALLY want to bring … Read more
I’m back this week with a simple idea to dress up your Easter dessert table! It’s a completely edible treat, including wafer paper grass from World Market! Simply make your favorite frosted cupcakes (or grab some from your local bakery) and surround them with edible grass. Top with your favorite foil-wrapped holiday chocolate. Imagine how … Read more
From St. Patrick’s Day treats to Easter treats… it’s a quick turn around between holidays, so let’s get you ready to dazzle, create and amaze this spring! We’re talking easter bunny cookies, two ways. You could say level 1 difficulty and level 2; we’re going to focus on level 1 today, but here’s a quick … Read more
Remember last week we made a gloriously tall rainbow cake for St. Patrick’s Day? Well why not kill two rainbows with one stone? If you’re going to all the trouble of coloring your cake batter six ways, let’s use that leftover goodness to make a whole new treat! It’s simple as can be. Fill cupcake … Read more
I’m just an Irish girl at heart, and with St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to celebrate by making the magically delicious rainbow cake. Turn up the volume on your celebration this year! Add simple chocolate coin candy detail for that extra festive sparkle! Next, it’s time to play with food coloring. … Read more
Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe NYE. We had a little shindig around here after a last minute trip to Party City yesterday, I couldn’t resist. We’ve all been sick this Christmas break, so it felt good to do something fun! Here’s a little glimpse of our Black and … Read more
It’s hard to believe the year is already drawing to a close. I feel like I was just celebrating it’s arrival! Here are some free printable New Year’s Eve Midnight Kisses tags that you can use this year or any year to come. They are so cute and make the perfect New Year’s Eve party favor! … Read more
I’m always on the hunt for new and fun cake ideas, and I’m obsessed with anything that resembles confetti, glitter or sprinkles, so this cake is pretty much perfection in my eyes. This simple confetti cake trick will leave a lasting impression on your guests, and it makes the perfect centerpiece for any dessert table! … Read more
I have been seeing some SUPER cute hot chocolate bars lately. Have you noticed them all over pinterest? They are just darling and very stylized…like a party in themselves! While you all know how much I love a party, and I love tons of details, I also love simplicity and EASY!! I have guests coming … Read more
Who says sparkling cider is just for drinking and toasting? Why not for dessert too? This sparkling cider pound cake recipe with cider glaze is the perfect recipe for your New Year’s Eve celebrations. The pound cake is moist and delicious and the glaze…well, let’s just say be sure to make extra because you will … Read more
Peppermint bark is one of the reasons I get up in the morning during the gloomy days of winter! Creamy white and milk chocolate topped with crisp and cool peppermint is a dreamy, delicious way to spread holiday cheer! This Peppermint Bark recipe is so simple to make, you don’t even need those tricky little … Read more
Christmas is the season of celebrations and I’m always looking for a good excuse to get together and Christmas girl’s night party to celebrate with friends. If you’re looking for some Christmas girls night ideas, here’s one for you…grab some pretty wrapping paper, great appetizers and some fun girlfriends, and turn what can otherwise feel like a … Read more
In case you haven’t noticed, I love these little bottles. They are SO cute, the perfect size for drinks, super sturdy plastic (so you can wash and re-use if you want, but also don’t feel guilty throwing them away if you don’t want to wash them) that makes them great for kid’s party drinks…and my … Read more
If you’ve been following the blog for awhile now, you’ve probably noticed that I LOVE pretty things and I love to entertain…but I also love to find the easiest ways to make things pretty so that I’m not a huge stress case before and during the event. I want to enjoy it too, you know! … Read more
What are you having for dinner tonight? Every Halloween I do a traditional dinner for the kids and it’s become a favorite that they look forward to each year. I know that Halloween is a super hectic day, so this is purposely easy to put together. As a matter of fact, it can all be store … Read more
When Shana of Society Sweets contacted me early in September with an idea to style a shoot to feature some of her amazing Halloween desserts, I was so excited! I typically throw a big Halloween party of some sort…either a big carnival for my neighborhood, or an adult Halloween bash…but this year I didn’t have … Read more
Have you ever made homemade caramel apples, only to have the delicious caramel slide off the apple? There are different ways to make sure that doesn’t happen, but I’ve got a secret for you that will make your life so much easier! Sandpaper. Yes, I said sandpaper. Simply run the sandpaper over the entire surface … Read more
As Halloween quickly approaches there’s just one question you need to ask yourself. Who doesn’t love a friendly little ghost? These little darlings are easy to make, delicious on their own, and also double as the perfect topper for a cake or cupcakes. These little cuties are spooky, sweet and delicious! Enjoy! To see … Read more
Here’s a quick and easy way to spookify your Halloween meal. Spider Ice Cubes! It’s SO simple, you can’t help but make them. All you need…an ice cube tray, water and some plastic spiders. 🙂 Fill the ice cube tray, add spiders and freeze. Serve in your favorite beverage…I liked the idea of 7up or … Read more
You don’t have to be an experienced baker to add a little style to your fall desserts! All it takes are a few extra ingredients from the store, and you’re in business! I’ve made a pumpkin spice cake with maple frosting, but a boxed cake and frosting would work beautifully here as well. After completely … Read more
I don’t now about you, but I still love good old fashioned snail mail. I’m sure it has something to do with my love of paper. Whatever the reason, I still get a little excited each day when I hear the familiar sound of the mail truck, as the anticipation of what might be waiting … Read more
Ashley from Sugar and Soirees is showing us how to put together a cute and budget friendly Mother’s Day table today. Celebrating the everyday is a must and it doesn’t have to break the bank! Today I’m thrilled to share with you a budget friendly (and still crazy beautiful) DIY Mother’s Day Table setting. I love … Read more
Growing up St. Patrick’s Day was NOT a big holiday in our house. It was more or less a day that we just made sure that we wore something green so we didn’t get pinched. Well, fast forward to today and things have changed a little in our house. 😉 Now St. Patrick’s Day is … Read more
I love valentine’s day. All the cute, corny cards and stuff that the kids make are just too fun! I put together a little valentine party shoot with some fun things I gathered from the @target last year. Most of these things are from the dollar spot, and the melamine heart plates were over in … Read more
Only one more day until my top secret cold and frosty shoot. 🙂 I’ve been working on a few treats around here and wanted to share. Here’s a super easy, inexpensive (and pretty cute I think) treat that you can make in minutes and is sure to be a big hit! 🙂 What you’ll need: … Read more
It is finally starting to cool down around here. Today is the first day that it has been overcast, a little drizzly and less than 75 degrees. I’m loving it!! 🙂 It’s the perfect weather for my upcoming shoot, celebrating all things cold. 🙂 To get in the spirit, I created this easy, cute … Read more
These DIY Turkey cookies are always a hit for Thanksgiving. My kids love to get a couple of friends together and make them. They turn out so cute too. Each one has it’s own personality. 🙂 Here’s what you’ll need: mini reeses peanut butter cups oreos…double stuff are the best whoppers candy corn (5 or … Read more
I LOVE Halloween. This year I’ve been a little bit of a slacker so far as far as decorating goes, but last year…I had some fun! 🙂 I threw a little shin-dig (more about that later 😉 ) and I wanted to do something really special…a show stopping feature. I decided on a Haunted Hospital theme … Read more
You can’t have a great party without sweets, right? When I first surveyed the property at The Homestead at Bridle Creek looking for the perfect locations for each set-up, I found this pumpkin patch and KNEW I had to use it for the dessert shots. The pops of orange were too perfect against the black … Read more
So many of the great Halloween items that Pottery Barn has out this year are skeleton related. When I thought of putting together a dinner party, the theme of “bon appetit” with a little twist to “Bone Appetit” to make it spookier, just seemed too perfect. Adding in some of the awesome bug themed products they … Read more
On a recent trip to South Coast Plaza, I couldn’t help but linger at the windows of Pottery Barn with their beautiful displays, showing off the gorgeous offerings from their towering two story shop. I LOVE to walk in and browse for design and decorating ideas, and feel like, even if just for a moment, that I am living … Read more
I LOVE Easter!!! I think it’s the fact that it really signifies spring is here and summer is on the horizon. The fun bright colors, the pretty frilly dresses…LOVE it! 🙂 I styled a little Easter party earlier this month for an upcoming Easter Egg Hunt party. Here’s a peek… I am absolutely in love … Read more