Party Ideas

Nov 9, 2012

Planning a Palooza

Last year, as we gathered round our Thanksgiving table, we began making plans for the “Jeanapalooza 90th Birthday Party Extravaganza.” This year, Thanksgiving at our house again will usher in the three day celebration. My incredible Mother-in-Love deserves a “palooza”. At ninety she is computer savvy, drives, teaches knitting and meets her friends for wine time. And the party? Two days after Thanksgiving… our house…for forty. I always begin party planning with decorations in mind because I find it the… [Read More]

Filed Under: Decorations, Party Favors Tagged With: party, party decorations, party favors, party ideas, party planning

Jun 10, 2012

4th of July Cake Pops

This has been quite a busy collegiate cake pop month. I’ve just finished another order for USC Cake Pops and while I was decorating for the Spirit of Troy, my mind wandered to the 4th of July with patriotic fervor. I made these cake pops very simple – fondant stars sprinkled with Disco Dust and luster dust brushed over the dipped pop. I cannot get enough of using paper straws for the sticks. I love, love, love this look! I… [Read More]

Filed Under: Cupcakes & Party Cakes, Party Favors, Summer & 4th of July Cookies Tagged With: 4th of july treats, cake pops, july 4th, partriotic treats

May 30, 2012

Collegiate (USC) Cake Pops … Traveler Rides Again!

Yesterday I was too pooped to (cake) pop because… … last Wednesday, I received an email asking if I could make 80 USC cake pops for a surprise 50th wedding anniversary this past weekend. The couple met while both attending USC where he was a Beta, and she, a Theta. Being a hopeless romantic and an alum myself, I said, “Fight On!”, which in USC-speak meant, “Yes”! I experimented with different cake batter recipes before totally delving in. I wanted… [Read More]

Filed Under: Party Favors Tagged With: cake, cake pops, party, party favors, usc, wedding favors

May 11, 2012

Baby Elephant Cookies For A Baby Shower

You are cordially invited… …to take a peek inside… … party preparations with pachyderms. The inspiration. Creating a cookie pattern. A few precious baby pachyderms. An entire herd of sweetness. Getting dressed for the party. To make the tags, I used a 3” punch on card stock scrapbook paper topped with 2” printable edge-to-edge sticker labels. I also made a sticker to use to seal the tissue paper inside the gift box. Ready for the party. The packed baby pachyderms… [Read More]

Filed Under: Birthday Cookies, Decorated Cookies, DIY Crafts & Decorations, DIY Treats, Fun Ideas, Party Favors Tagged With: baby shower, baby shower cookies, baby shower gift, baby shower gift for daddy, cookie decorating, cookies, Decorated Cookies, decorated elephant cookies

May 8, 2012

Gift Basket Ideas For A Silent Auction

I’m headed to a silent auction this weekend for my son’s fraternity. They’re hosting “Parent’s Weekend” (translation – fundraiser, where the parents bring the funds). It will be very nice. There’s a BBQ at “the house” on Friday (I saw photos of the house. Assorted bed sheets adorn the windows. I am choosing to avert my eyes and focus on the love). The boys have also organized winery tours via a chartered bus for Saturday followed by dinner at a… [Read More]

Filed Under: Fun Ideas, Miscellany Tagged With: 4th of july, 4th of july gift baskets, gift basket, gift basket ideas, gift baskets, silent auction baskets, silent auction ideas

May 3, 2012

Baby Shower Gift For The Dad-To-Be

Dads-to-be need to feel special too. All tucked in as snug as a bug in a rug. Uh-oh… Time for binky and bottle. “Burp!” Ahhh. Just for fun for the wine connoisseur dad-to-be. This gift for the dad-to-be will accompany baby shower cookie favors tied with the baby blue polka dot ribbon and a mini cupcake tree, which I’ll post next week. The tag and pennant were very easy to make. I printed out what I wanted to say and… [Read More]

Filed Under: Decorations, DIY Crafts & Decorations, Fun Ideas Tagged With: baby shower, baby shower decorations, baby shower gift, baby shower gift for the daddy, dad-to-be gift idea

Feb 24, 2012

Decorated Nautical Cookies!

The fleet is in! Are they nautical wedding cookies? Nautical Save-the-Date cookies? Nautical birthday cookies or nautical baby announcement cookies? Let’s set sail … … and send up the flags. Let’s signal L.O.V.E. … and Happy Birthday to my love bug, G.E.J., who turns 21 this weekend. Save-the-Date for a nautical wedding or to announce the very special arrival of a new member of the crew. The Scrabble possibilities are endless when you know the nautical alphabet or you can… [Read More]

Filed Under: Birthday Cookies, DIY Treats, Party Favors, Summer & 4th of July Cookies Tagged With: birthday, Birthday Cookies, cookies, cookies with fondant, Decorative Cookies, fondant, nautical cookies, sail boat cookies, save-the-date cookies

Feb 14, 2012

Happy Valentine’s Day and Give-Away Reminder

Five Valentine’s Day projects complete and one more to go! This is what I’ve been working on since Sunday – nearly 100 heart cookie pops for a trade show that is being held today. I rushed all the cookies outside to take a photo before I left and then packed up my car. I loved the heart light dangling over my monogram on my L.L. Bean tote so I took another photo. Can you tell I’m sleep deprived? Who takes… [Read More]

Filed Under: Party Favors, Valentine's Day Cookies Tagged With: baking, party favors, valentine's day, valentine's day cookies

Feb 13, 2012

Seattle (Macaron) Space Needle Cupcake Topper

This past weekend my family had two occasions to celebrate so I decided the requested chocolate cake would incorporate both upcoming events – a Valentine’s Day birthday of my brother and the departure of my nephew, his wife, and baby-to-be who leave this week to make Seattle their new home. When I thought of Seattle, it was obvious to me what I had to make – the space needle! I made a batch of lemon macarons without color tinting… [Read More]

Filed Under: Birthday Cookies, Cupcakes & Party Cakes, Decorated Cookies, Fun Ideas, Specialty Treats Tagged With: birthday, birthday party, cake, celebrations, chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate icing, coffee, cupcakes, decorating ideas, Dessert, dessert decorations, family, valentine's day

Feb 8, 2012

‘Tushie Cookies’ for Valentine’s Day!

Amy from Ohio had a great idea. She asked me if I would make her my Tushie Cookies for her boyfriend for Valentine’s Day. How could I resist such a sweet and fun request? Amy had a couple more requests – pink, red and… … Tiffany blue with Ben’s name in a black tattoo! Tushie Cookies aren’t just for bridal showers anymore! You’ll find more ‘Tushie’ Cookies at these links: ‘Tushie’ Cookies I – Bridal Shower ‘Tushie’ Cookies III –… [Read More]