Three Simple and Free Place Card Ideas for Thanksgiving

I rounded up some items from around the house and outside to come up with three simple and free place card holders for the up and coming holidays.

The first is one of my favorites. They can be used for wine tastings, dinner parties or Thanksgiving dinner. Easy as saving a few corks for the bottles.

Cute little pine cones. Give a nice earthy feel to the table.

Nothing says fall like apples! I gathered a few colorful leaves and wrote the names on them in

gold pen. 

40th Birthday Toilet Cake

September is our busy month for birthdays. We have seven in our family. My dear husband Keith's birthday was last week (Sept. 9th). He turned 40 (total old man)! Anyway, the kids and I threw him a surprise party. It stayed a surprise till that morning, when sweet Sophia thought that because daddy opened his gift, it was okay to talk about what time everyone was coming over. I just looked at him and he gave me a big grin. "Surprise!" You're getting a surprise party.

It was a great time and he loved his cake! Which he had no clue I was making. Yes, total gross factor, but so my husbands humor. All the kids could not stop talking about the potty cake.  I on the other hand, am waiting for Sophia's pre-k teachers to pull me a side due to her telling everyone about her daddy's crap you're old cake.

My birthday is next. September 24th.  The big "30!" I'm not freaking too much....yet. :)

Hello Kitty Birthday Centerpieces

Sophia is turning 5! Her birthday is coming up this Saturday. I have been busy with lots of planning and preparation for her special day. She has had her theme picked out for the last year, Hello Kitty.

Every trip to Target consists of having to walk by the bakery, were she proceeds to tell me each time "Mommy that's the cake I want!" Then we head to the sticker section and then to the makeup, were they have a whole section of just Hello Kitty stuff. She could spend hours just combing over Target for Hello Kitty stuff. I have no clue were she gets it? :)

Her party will be at our local gymnastics center. After the kids run and tumble for an hour they come back to the party area, which is really a blank room with tables and chairs. So it's needs of some real warming up.

Here are the centerpieces that I created for each table. I was dead set on not spending any more money (my husband thanks me for that). So I challenged myself to use items and supplies that I already on hand.

I knew I wanted to make something with Hello Kitty's face. So I did a search for coloring pages and found this one. I printed off eight (one for each side of the centerpiece). I then colored the bows and nose in the colors used on the invitations.

I sprayed each face with spray glue and then dusted them with clear rainbow glitter. After they dried I cut out each one. I used scrapbook paper folded in half and glued together for. This made for a nice stiff  background. Then I just spray glued each face onto the paper.

For the base of the centerpiece, I used a party cup turned upside down with a slit cut in the middle.

Done! Cost: NOTHING!

Maxon's 2!! Little Guppy Party

The party has come and gone. Reminds me of Christmas, all that planning and it's over in a flash. It was a fun time with bright colors and guppy fun all around.

Kids table. I found these great vintage fish plates on ebay. The kids loved eating off them and the got to take them home.

I decided to go for cupcakes this year. The cake is vanilla white chocolate and I made just a simple blue butter cream frosting.  They tasted as good as they looked.

These great fish straws added a little more fun to the theme for the kids. The got to take these home as well.

Remember these great finds at Goodwill? What belongs in fish bowls?

Swedish Fish of course.

I can't forget the inspiration for the party, Goldfish crackers!

Here is the birthday boy working on his fish project with all the kids.

The fish project were a huge hit! I bought them from here.
This was the quietest time of the party. ;)

Make a wish and blow!

Mmmm.....

Happy 2nd birthday Maxon!

 Mommy, daddy and big sister Sophia love you.

Little Guppy Birthday Party Planning

It's birthday planning time. I love birthday's! My little man Maxon is going to be turning two. Makes me sad. My baby is now going to be a real toddler.

The theme this year is "Little Guppy." A big  part of my insiration has come from Goldfish Colors crackers

I just finished the bunting/banner this week. I'm in love with it! I do not have a Cricut or a Silhouette machine so all of the cutting of the shapes and letter was by me.

More detailed shot.

After dropping Sophia off at preschool, Max and I went thrifting yesterday. I found these great fish bowls for $2.99 each. I think they will make fun serving bowls for food at the party.

That's just part of what I've got started!

What do you think?

New Favorite Thing

 Have you heard of Meri Meri? They are a company that makes beautiful stationary and partyware.  I discovered Meri Meri at the "Sophia's" birthday party. My friend Sarah made the yummiest cupcakes  that were topped with these beautiful little fairies. It was love at first sight for me!

I have to admit I was totally jealous that Sarah discovered these and I did not! My Sophia would LOVE these little toppers for her Birthday cupcakes. Good thing there are lots of other fun cupcake toppers to choose from!!!

Here are just a few to inspire you. Go check them out http://www.merimeri.com/

Maxon's Little Buckaroo 1st Birthday

Picture of the birthday boy and I.

My son Maxon's 1st Birthday went off without a hitch. I went with the Cowboy theme (so fun). My creative juices were so over flowing with ideas for the party. The first thing I made was the bandanna bunting. It was a super simple no sew project. I made two of them and hung one on the stairs and the other draped across the window's on the opposite wall.

I made the table runner as well. I bought the banner and matching cake plates from a new website I found called bigdotofhappiness.com They have some cute stuff that you can't find in the stores!

The cake I made all by myself. I'm very proud with how it turned out. The little cowboy boots I found the week of the party for $1 at a thrift store. Now if that was not meant to be.

 

I wish I could take credit for the outfit but, that was one of my many great finds on Ebay.

All of the kids received hats and bandannas in their favorite colors as a keepsake.

Here is Maxon's big sister Sophia sporting hers.

The adults (Grandma's) had fun with them too!

Happy 1st Birthday to my Lil Hubba Bubba!