Hostess with the Mostess®

Winnie the Pooh was one of my FAVORITE characters growing up, so I was thrilled when Disney Baby asked me to come up with some creative ideas for hosting a Winnie the Pooh BABY SHOWER! What a sweet-as-honey theme for celebrating with mom-to-be, right? ;)

THE INSPIRATION

Since Winnie has been around for quite a while, (Did you know he was inspired by a REAL bear from the early 1900’s?!), his look has changed a bit through the years. The current day Winnie sports a bright red t-shirt and modern look, while “Classic Pooh” has softer colors and a more vintage vibe. I really love the look of the both styles, as well as the woodsy feel of the famous “100 Acre Wood”, so my goal was to design a baby shower that encompassed all of these different elements in some way.

You’ll find lots of fun DIY ideas below, from painted-bath-toys-turned-table-figurines to “HUNNY Pot” parfaits with sugar bees and a playful Winnie the Pooh Diaper Cake. I also incorporated some sweet Winnie the Pooh toys & nursery items from DisneyBaby.com into the decor, which is one of my favorite ways to play up any theme at a baby shower because the items double as thoughtful gifts for mom when the party is over!

There’s a lot to take in here, so I’m breaking this post into “party sections” to help keep it organized for you. And speaking of sections, don’t miss the very last one with links to download all the FREE PRINTABLES from this theme. Enjoy! P.S. The free printables are available in a pink/yellow colorway now too!

WHAT YOU’LL FIND IN THIS POST:

1.Overall Look & Feel (Images 1-7)
2. Tablescape
3. Dessert Table
4. Accent Decor & Diaper Cake
5. Party Favors
6. Free Printables!

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I’m so excited to share this new project with you! I was recently asked to come up with a creative homemade gift idea for Ball’s 25 Days of Making & Giving campaign.

The pretty color of their Purple Heritage Collection Jars instantly make me think of the Sugar Plum Fairy from the Nutcracker Ballet, so I ran with that idea and designed this sparkly Sugar Plum Fairy Treat Jar. You can fill it with any sort of fun treat – from a favorite homemade recipe to colorful store-bought treats, like the purple, lavender and silver chocolates shown here.

And because my head always goes into party mode when I’m designing for some reason *wink* – I also created a smaller & simpler version of this project that would be perfect for party favors at a ballerina birthday! Read on for details on both projects + the free printables below.

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You may remember Misha Perritt of A Lovely Design from this Glittery Minnie Mouse Party, we featured not too long ago. Well, she’s back with some serious woodland style for her daughter’s Enchanted Four-est Tea Party Birthday, and we couldn’t be more delighted!

This charming party is bursting with shimmering golden acorns, bright floral printed details, plus soft moss and green velvet to add some lushness. Top it all off with adorable mini lace crowns and toadstool “thrones” and these little guests become Queens of the forest for a day! :)

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Hanging Fir branches + pink & green floral arrangements and fabric buntings
• Natural wooden pedestal centerpiece flanked by gold & moss topiaries & golden animal topped jars
• Birch bark painted cake + golden pearl topped cupcakes, chocolate berries & flower shaped tea sandwiches
• Bright & beautiful custom-made paper decor & invitation + custom printed animal pillows

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Sweet, soft colors and a subtle coastal theme make for one classy affair! Zoom Theory beautifully captured this Romantic & Neutral Beach House Wedding that has fantastic inspiration for the budget, DIY and elegant style bride! With fancied up paper decorations, a custom matching wedding cake, dreamy florals from Petals and Hedges and a gorgeous venue on the beach, I think I’m in LOVE! ;)

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Neutral floral centerpieces in rustic wood vases, silver mercury glass votives & simple framed table numbers
• Wine cork displayed place cards and jarred sugar scrub favors with jute bows
• Soft gray “Eat, Drink & Be Married” cocktail napkins + Custom “Evan and Blake” wedding cake
• Blush pink bridesmaid dresses, white bridal flower crown, and sweet pink peony and lambs ear bouquets

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Animals have always been one of my favorite types of party inspirations, but having kids has definitely given me a LOT more excuses to use them!

So… for my very first collaboration with Balloon Time, and given the fact that it’s December right now, I thought it would be fun to dream up some wintery balloon fun for all the pint-sized party animals out there. ;) And judging from the look on both of my daughters’ faces when they walked in and saw me working on this project, I’d say this one is kid-approved!

These DIY Penguin & Polar Bear Balloons would be such a fun accent for any winter themed birthday party or playdate, and the added bonus is that they’re super easy too! The animal faces are made from printables, so there’s no need for fancy art skills to recreate them – just cut, tape, and done! Read on for full details below…

YOU’LL NEED:

• Printable Polar Bear & Penguin Templates
• Black & White Balloons
• Balloon Time Helium Tank
• Double-stick tape
• Scissors
• Baker’s Twine (or other string/ribbon of choice)

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Muggles and magic and much more… it’s what you’ll find in this Modern & Magical Harry Potter Birthday Party crafted by Juliet and Lucinda of The COOP. A visit from Hedwig, Hogwarts inspired cupcakes and favor bags with a Harry silhouette are some of the brilliant wizardry that Bebe Jacobs captured from the day.

There are so many fun silhouette DIY aspects to the decor – golden snitches, Harry’s glasses, lightning bolts, etc. – which I LOVE (No Amortentia potion here! Ha!). When recreating a classic story, silhouettes are a great way to create recognition while reimagining it with your own creative flair, and Juliet and Lucinda did a *CHARMing* job! 

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Custom Blue Cupcake toppers: lightning bolt, book of spells, Gryffindor scarf & sorting hat!
• Smoking cauldrons and piles of spell books + dark hydrangeas and blood red coxcomb florals
• Creative(!) DIY golden snitch straw embellishments made with gold glitter and white feathers
• Harry Potter glasses and candied black marshmallows with gold lightning bolt toppers

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There’s nothing more exciting than planning a baby shower for a family member, especially when it’s for your own sister! Jamie Forsythe of Sweet Jelly Parties designed a Dreamcatcher Inspired “Be Brave Little One” Baby Shower to celebrate Baby Graysen’s Native American family history and the theme of her nursery.

A creative dreamcatcher mobile from Hippie by Viki and custom tee pee – later added to the nursery! – are just a couple of the many *dreamy* details that pulled together this party in the park, planned from 8 states away!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Playful painted terra cotta pot filled succulents, arrow props & a dream catcher mobile
• Beautiful tee pee (handmade by grandma!) with tambourines, drums & rain sticks for the kids to play music
• Bead wrapped mason jars + chevron straws and feather charms
• Ombre pink tribal cake, pink watercolor “Dream Big” sign and “Baby Graysen” custom napkins
• Tee pee trail mix and “Treats For The Tribe” printed baggies
• Dreamcatcher, tee pee, patterned onesie and “Be Brave” cookies from Sweets by Gigi

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Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone (can you believe it?!), it’s time to start the Christmas countdown! Krista O’Byrne of Hoopla Events is definitely getting us in the holiday spirit today with her 7 Steps To Throwing A Favorite Things Holiday Party. Take a peek at her tips and ideas for a fun, festive, and plaid-bedecked get together that will make you fall *deerly* in love with the most wonderful time of the year! ;)

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

– White frosted cake with greenery accents, wood slice stand and a yarn figurine reindeer topper
– Plaid Christmas tree shaped cookies, antler cupcake toppers & holiday red macaron cookies
– “Hello, Deer” stationary + modern antler design invitation with matching gift labels
– Red and black plaid custom pillows & signature cranberry margaritas rimmed in gold sugar

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If you’re looking for a cute – and totally doable – way to whip up a little extra holiday magic for your loved ones, I’ve got just the thing! Inspired by the adorable penguin & polar bear Coca-Cola commercials from a while back, I thought it would be fun to make a playful “snowy” cake for the holidays and top it with penguins and polar bears that were getting along swimmingly. We’re talking holiday magic, after all!

One of the best things about this cake, though, is how EASY it is to make. I used a Coca-Cola cake recipe that only requires 5 ingredients, then covered it in “snowy peaks” of store-bought vanilla frosting. This is one of my favorite ways to frost a buttercream cake, and you don’t have to be a dessert pro – AT ALL – to make it look good. Plus, it requires you to be extra generous with the frosting, which is always a bonus in my book!

BAKE + CRAFT + PARTY
Read on for full details on… 1) the cake recipe, 2) the frosting technique, 3) the cake topper, and 4) a coordinating “snowy fun” tablescape design, should you want to extend this look beyond the cake plate. Oh ya… there are free printables too!

P.S. I’ve been working on creative content for Coca-Cola quite a bit this year, but this is the first time I’ve tried out their mini cans. They made such a fun addition to the matching party table! Why is everything so cute when it’s mini sized? ;)

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Fair warning: you’re going to want to grab some fluffy blankets & get toasty warm with a mug of luxuriously rich hot cocoa before scrolling through these gorgeous images. Tara Berger of One Stylish Party styled this Dreamy Mint & Metallic Hot Cocoa Stand Party for a very lucky group of kids. Set up in a Christmas tree farm (is there a more perfect place?!), Tara also supplied an entire BED for the kids to get cozy, jump around on and just be kids! What a lovely way to ring in the holiday season with some serious joy ;).

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

– Watercolored ‘Falala’ mugs & coordinating ‘magic of Christmas’ typographic sign
– Blush rose studded magnolia leaf garland + gold ‘Merry & Bright’ banner on the bed
– Clever DIY store-bought donut hole tree & frosted tree cookies + silver snowflake decorated Christmas trees
– Hot cocoa toppings bar with homemade vanilla marshmallows, coconut & white chocolate

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Merry Christmas and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! While the holidays are upon us, so are Abigail and Amelia’s birthdays (ages 3 and 1), along with a special visit from Santa and the goodies from Mrs. Claus’ kitchen. Those Santa belly cake pops and peppermint cookies look delicious and *oh what fun* does that ornament activity look like! See all the *ho-ho-holiday* cheer below in this special Peppermint & Plaid Christmas Themed Birthday Party from Abigail of Paper & Cake!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• “Ho ho ho” party banner with personalized Christmas stockings at each end + snowy dessert table backdrop
• Santa belt cake pops with Christmas light party flags + Santa face candy kabobs from Sweets Indeed
• Wrapped “gift” risers, mini Christmas tree centerpieces and hanging white tissue pom “snowflakes”
• Green plaid photo booth backdrop with winter pillows + snowman, Santa & seasonal treat props

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To celebrate the changing of the weather & the upcoming holidays, Be Inspired sent in this gorgeous Autumn Wedding Inspiration to share with us, which was dreamed up and produced by New Leaf Weddings & Events!

Nestled in the stunning landscape of the Virginia Piedmont are numerous beautiful, private, and historic estates that lend themselves perfectly to inspirational and romantic photo shoots. Inspired by the jaw-dropping art and unique architecture of the location, this styled shoot at Foxlease Farm was designed to capture a romantic love story and the elegance of a Virginia fall. Working with a predominantly gold and cream color palette, each vendor contributed pieces that accented the space and emphasized the warm and unique beauty of the location.

From the enchanting couple pictures, to the sprawling landscape and old world table design, these images serve as fantastic inspiration for those looking to design a their own romantic, gold & white wedding…

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Here we go with Part 2 of our Rainbow Safari 1st Birthday Party – The Dessert Table! Bright colors, cute animals, and sweet homemade treats… can’t go wrong with that combo, right?! ;) My favorite part of this table is actually the backdrop though, and you can find the full tutorial for this Rainbow Safari Wall Tree over on the Fisher-Price website. But before you go, scroll down for lots of colorful inspiration for your own safari party sweets + free printables!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Zebra Cake Flower Pops on oversize rainbow straws with paper leaves
• Hippo Lagoon Parfaits: cute store-bought cookie hippos “swimming” in blue-tinted pudding!
• Printable Rainbow Safari HOORAY banner (Download it here.)
• Colorful Animal Cracker Cupcakes + Rainbow Trail Mix served in polka dot cups
• Fisher-Price Rock-a-Stack toys and kitchen canisters used as makeshift “risers”

(Download all 3 of the 4×6 signs from this party right here. You can also find downloads for all of the other paper details shown here sprinkled throughout the captions in the Party Gallery over on the Fisher-Price website.) (more…)

Hi, guys! I’m so excited to FINALLY share a fun & super COLORFUL little party with you that I designed earlier this year. This Rainbow Safari First Birthday was created for Fisher-Price, and you can find my free printables + 7 different DIY tutorials on various elements from the party over on the their website.

MODERN SAFARI
I am a HUGE fan of cute animals and just loved working that element into the theme. However, I definitely struggled a bit at first with how to merge the “safari” portion of the theme – which is most commonly very rustic and earth toned – with the vibrant and modern look of the Fisher-Price toys. I’m really happy with how it came together in the end, though, and I hope you enjoy it too! A few of my favorite details from everything EXCEPT the dessert table are below… I’ll be sharing that table in a separate post, which is coming up next!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• “Elephant head” drink dispenser inspired by the Elephant Clicker Pal Toy
• “Jungle Juice” and “Safari Sips” kid drinks + birch straws with little paper leaves
• Homemade smash cake (pictured above) with giraffe toy + DIY Palm Tree topper
• Kid chairs embellished with printable animal ears (Lion, Giraffe, Zebra) inspired by the toys
• Rainbow jungle vines made from colorful tissue fringe garlands + paper leaves
• Rainbow Blocks Palm Tree Centerpiece made from toy stacking blocks + paper leaves

A simple “jungle vine” made from twine + folded paper leaves was all the high chair needed! My DIY printable party hat (which you can also download for free) is pictured above as well. :)

I use Ikea Tolsby frames a lot for party signage, and since they come in both red and white I just swapped the pieces to create “color blocked” versions for some of the 4×6 signs.

Here’s a peek at the Elephant Drink Dispenser… I was thrilled to find this blue acrylic dispenser at Party City, then added som paper ears, eyes, and a trunk! Check out the full DIY tutorial here. (more…)

Pancakes are a pretty big deal in our house, and sometimes I’m afraid to mess with the flavor too much because my girls usually just like the good ol’ fashioned buttermilk version, just as they are; they even prefer plain pancakes to the chocolate chip version! (I definitely didn’t see that one coming.) So imagine my surprise when they actually LOVED these Pumpkin Apple Spice Pancakes!

These are super easy to make using a muffin mix as the base – the Pumpkin Spice Supreme Muffin Mix by Krusteaz. (more…)

Baking on your birthday!? It’s what you do when you’re Julie of Blue Cupcake and your (own!) birthday party needs a cake and tasty macaron bar! Her Sparkly, Silver & Fabulous 40th Birthday Soirée was designed by Lucinda Gould of The COOP with simple, elegant and of course glittery details. Bebe Jacobs captured all the shimmer and shine that is actually timely inspiration for a glam holiday or New Years party…. I know, I can’t believe that holidays are around the corner already either!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Silver glitter dipped candle votives, mini potted succulents and cups with disco ball swizzle sticks
• Three tier cake with a sparkly silver base, matching “40” topper & a simple succulent detail
• “40 & Fabulous” letter balloons, silver sequin linens and silver party streamers
• Macaron bar with pistachio, hazelnut and more delicious flavors displayed in white milk glass dishes
• Sophisticated white floral arrangements with succulent accents in festive silver vases

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TGIF! It’s already 5 o’clock somewhere, right? So on that note, let’s talk COCKTAILS. ;) If you’re looking for a festive cocktail idea for Thanksgiving – or any fall celebration, really – here’s a fun Pumpkin Spice Mojito recipe that was sent in by Minibar. (If you’re not yet familiar with Minibar, they are a wine, beer, & spirits delivery company that’s available in major metropolitan areas across the country. Learn more about them here.)

Okay… let’s take a look at what you’ll need to *shake up* this fun drink:

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Many of the art party ideas that come our way are rainbow colored and for younger kids, so I’m super happy to share an Orange & Gold Museum Inspired Art Gallery Party that is more of an “art with history, sophistication, and beauty” take for bigger kids with a true growing passion!

Bobbi Hammonds of JoElle Elise Design LLC designed the party for Arwyn’s 10th birthday with creative art gallery display ideas, artist mannequin inspired activities and an amazing cake by Piece of Cake Bakery modeled after the work of Monet & Van Gogh. The whole party is literally “a work of art” so grab your sketchbooks and take notes on all the *ARTistic* details!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Paintings displayed in ornate gold frames with labels featuring each artist’s name
• Gold mason jars storing colored pencils & orange stripe straws with paintbrush decorated party flags
• Individual easels, painter palettes, colorful aprons and canvases for each budding artist
• Master’s molding clay in individual gold tubs + gold sprayed mannequins for dressing and drawing
• Amazing cake featuring Claude Monet’s Fields of Poppy and Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers

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Ashleigh Goodwin of Ashleigh Nicole Events styled a party so DINO-MITE you’ll want to sink your teeth into it! To celebrate both of her sons’ birthdays, mom expertly created this Dinosaur Excavation Birthday Party with tons of natural elements like grass, burlap and wood; plus some adorable, toy-inspired DIYs!

Everything started with an awesome ‘crack-the-egg’ invitation (Easter eggs that Ashleigh painted) and ended with the cutest little ‘Adopt a Dinosaur’ party favor activity. Keep scrolling to see all of the roarin’ details…

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• DIY dinosaur terrarium centerpieces + round moss place mats, burlap runners & dino shaped sandwiches
• Toy dinosaurs strung into a banner, glued on trail mix jars & turned into dessert trays
• Simple, dinosaur topped birthday cake + dinosaur bone cookies, key lime cheesecakes & donut stacks
• Custom ‘about’ signs for both birthday boys, matching birthday shirts & a live reptiles show

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Get a head start on holiday decorating – and celebrating! – with this super festive inspiration from Maureen of Party a la Mo. In her crafty Holiday Prep Party, she shares stylish decorating ideas like a “Merry and Bright” canvas studded with tiny white twinkle lights, balloon-dipped drinkware (one of my own favorites!), and DIY folded paper Christmas trees.

Best of all, this is a party that’s fun AND productive… I mean, what better way to start crossing things off your seasonal to-do list (holiday cards, gift wrapping, advent calendars, ornament decorating and more!) than with a few close friends and some yummy winter treats, right?!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

– “Happy Holidays” envelope cookies, hot chocolate bar with sprinkle rimmed cups & gold glitter donuts
– “Make Spirits Bright” custom canvas tote bag chair back and party favor!
– Warm holiday florals with gold painted succulents + fun red and green circle garlands
– Confetti cookie place cards and matching plate decorations, gold chargers & burlap linens
– “Merry & Bright” decorated mantel, gift wrapping station, letter writing table & food display
– Pom pom ornament craft, advent calendar activity and “Letters From Santa”

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Captain Barnacles and crew have a fun party for you! From underwater inspired centerpieces to fancied-up favor bags, Juliet Boydston and Lucinda Lent of The COOP transformed their party space into a spectacular and bright OCTONAUTS Birthday Party that was beautifully captured by Bebe Jacobs. Their playful take on this cute kids show is filled with lots of bubbly fun and bright ideas, so *Sound the Octo-alert* because I’m diving right in!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Awesome Octonauts submarine birthday cake by Cake Divas
• Character water bottle wraps featuring Professor Inkling Octopus, Tweak, and more
• Sparkly “HAPPY BIRTHDAY” letters, character explorers in vase “aquariums” & simple hydrangea florals
• Glittery blue placemats, green polka dot napkins & felt Octonauts face masks from MyWonderlandBoutique
  
• Touch tank activity, glitter paint tattoos, party bubbles & a shark mouth photo booth!
• Adorable fondant cupcake toppers of Peso Penguin, Kwazii Kitten, and Captain Barnacles

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Move over Mickey, there’s a new star in town! From the printables to the birthday dress, Misha Perritt of A Lovely Design single-handedly created this fun & glittery Minnie Mouse Birthday Party for her darling daughter, Talula. To add some glitz and glam into this classic theme, Misha included a generous helping of glitter & a dash of leopard print throughout the playful paper details. I’m especially loving the big, bow-topped Minnie backdrop though… there’s nothing mini about that showstopper! ;)

P.S. To find even more Minnie Mouse inspiration, check out these equally fabulous parties here, here & here.

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Gold glitter ‘3’ with Minnie ears & bow + glittered styrofoam ball Minnie centerpiece with pink roses
• Leopard print accented printables & bottle wraps + rhinestone adorned cupcake toppers
• Pink chocolate & sugar dipped rice krispies + bow topped pink Minnie cookies
• Amazing handmade dress & matching bow topped headband for the birthday girl
• Hanging tissue paper poms, gold glitter table skirt + silk flowers & a ‘Talula’ topper on the cake

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With Halloween behind us, and Christmas on the horizon (not to mention at eye level in every store you’ll set foot in from now ’til 2016), I sometimes feel like Thanksgiving gets a tad…overlooked. I mean, it’s hard for a holiday to stand out when it’s sandwiched right between piles of candy and piles of gifts, right? Well… time to change that. :)

There’s so much to love about Thanksgiving already, most of which has to do with those 3 little words… the dinner menu. And since most of our must-have Turkey Day dishes are based on family traditions and personal preference, I thought it would be fun to share some tips for making your Thanksgiving decor LOOK as good as your own awesome menu tastes.

This festive Green & Gold Thanksgiving Theme features a fresh & inviting color palette, simple DIY decor ideas, and a hint of modern-glam. Whoever said Christmas and New Years should get ALL the sparkle?!

And since I’ve partnered with 14 Hands Winery to bring you these tips – AND lots of  free printables! – look out for special ways to deck out those wine glasses too + a tasty Autumn Apple Sangria flavored with cinnamon and apple cider that’s absolutely perfect for Thanksgiving. Here we go!

I love using different types of elements in shades of one color to create a unique display – like the green succulents, pumpkins, and fresh florals pictured above.

The sequin “table runner” is actually just a half yard of sequin fabric that I purchased at a fabric store and folded in half. (The other half yard is being utilized on the drink station.) I’ve used this same yard of fabric time & time again for so many different types of parties… cheers to party decor that can be re-used!

Small details are another great way to personalize a design AND make different elements coordinate well together. I used one small sheet of decorative stickers to embellish terracotta pots and mini pumpkins for this centerpiece. Stickers were also used to dress up the wine glasses, which I’ll further explain below… (more…)

I love a good sangria at any time of year, but when it comes to fall celebrations like Thanksgiving or fall bridal showers, it’s the perfect excuse to use up some of those fresh-picked orchard apples… even if you just picked them up at the grocery store. ;)

This tasty Autumn Apple Sangria recipe calls for both chopped apples and apple cider. There are so many wonderful apple varieties to choose from right now, so feel free to use your personal favorite. This infographic gives a great overview of all the different apple types! I usually lean towards sweeter apples like Fuji, Gala, or Honeycrisp myself.

For the apple cider, this is a great time of year to find fresh-pressed or straight-from-the-farm varieties at the grocery store, but you can also just look for apple juice labeled “unfiltered”, which should be readily available year round.

Scroll down for the recipe details… Cheers!

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Tis’ the season for Christmas parties covered in red Santa spirit and snowy winter shimmer! And this year for her annual gingerbread house decorating party, Erin Walker of Undercover Hostess designed a Jolly North Pole Inspired Kids Holiday Party that is so merry & cute I wish I could pinch its cheeks! Think sparkly blue snowflake cookies, happy reindeer popcorn cups, and mini stocking chair backs for a start…

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

– Dancing Santa straws + milk bottles embellished with jingle ball charms
– “Be Merry” Banner, decorated Christmas tree, life-size nutcrackers and fluffy white “snow” rug
– Creative “Reindeer Food” popcorn cups, donut hole “snowballs” & polka dot candy cup “house trimmings”
– Sparkly silver sequin tablecloth + cute red chairs (with mini stocking chair back decorations!)
– Mrs. Claus’ “North Pole Cupcakes” with a gingerbread cookie and red stripe straw toppers

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I’m so excited to partner with Coca-Cola again this month and bring you guys these DIY Coke Bottle Turkeys! This is a fun craft project for Thanksgiving that can be done on your own OR with family & friends… and I’m pretty sure that they’ll add an extra dose of HAPPY to your Thanksgiving either way. ;)

This project does not require any fancy skills – just simple painting, cutting, and gluing.

You’ll find the step-by-step instructions below, as well as a closer view of the free printables, which include the turkey elements (feathers, heads, mini banners) + a set of matching Thanksgiving tent cards.

I also painted some mini pumpkins and gourds at the same time as the Coke bottles, and grouped them with a turkey for a fun & unexpected centerpiece design! I know these colors are a little outside the box for Thanksgiving, but I’ve honestly never been a huge fan of the traditional Turkey Day palettes myself, and thought it would be fun to POP the color a bit!

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Fall is F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S and Brenda Byers of GreatStitch sure knows how to celebrate the season of crisp air, yummy warm cider and fresh apples galore – after all she grew up in an orchard! Her Fabulous Fall Apple Party & Truck Tailgate is a great idea for a birthday party, afternoon at the orchard or a fancied-up family get together. Look out for the comfy custom truck bed pillows, darling apple shaped cookies from The Last Course Bakery and more *freshly picked* ideas all covered in red!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

– Custom truck bed pillows, adorable apple girls outfit & quilted leaf pattern blanket “tablecloth”
– Awesome apple basket inspired cake with fondant apples from All Things Cake Shop
– Dried apple chip dipped candied apples and marshmallow melted apple cider in mini mason jars
– Cute printable apple pattern water bottle wraps from Anders Ruff + wooden basket stand with fresh apples

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As a follow-up to last month’s Game Day Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits featuring a recipe from Petco, I’m excited to bring you another homemade treat idea for your pup! This one was inspired by one of my own favorite game day snacks… the beloved bread pretzel. ❤️

You know how a trip to the movie theater just isn’t the same without popcorn or candy? Well, for me a trip to the stadium just isn’t the same without a warm & doughy bread pretzel. So, I thought it would be fun to create a “one for you and one for me” sort of project featuring pretzel snacks for pets AND pet parents that can be enjoyed on game day… or any day, really!

Let’s start with the pet parents…

Since neither my husband or I had ever made our own bread pretzels before, we decided to go with a mix from a box to make things a little easier. You still have to let the dough rise, form the pretzels, dip them in a boiling water/baking soda mixture, then bake them – so the process is a bit involved, but it’s still doable in about an hour and worth the extra effort, IMHO at least. ;) Here’s how ours turned out:

To make it extra festive for a game day party, I dressed up this pretzel platter with some printable paper details, which you can download for free below. Here’s a closer look at the talk bubbles: (more…)

For the *pineapple of her eye*, Lottie Fowler of Grit + Gold, designed a Tropical “Party Like A Pineapple” Bash with gold glitter glam and pretty pink flamingo accents. I’m in love with Lottie’s {seemingly!} effortlessly chic “tropical dream” dessert table + lush and trendy kids table… that could totally pass for us adults too! ;) So grab your pineapple sunnies and *sip-up* up all the sweet photos from Charla Storey!

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Backyard croquet and hotdogs + tropical kids table with lei chair backs and gold stripe plates
• Classic Monstera leaves, playful pineapple cups and a delightful gold glitter “cheers” banner
• Gold flamingo cupcake toppers + pastel pink cake with a mini pineapple and festive “YAY!” letters
• Pink flamingos, cute palm trees and pretty pineapple sugar cookies from J Rae’s
• Pastel and “FUN” letter gold mylar balloons & hula skirt decorated dessert table

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Sometimes it’s the simple things in life that are the sweetest. For her daughter Lucy’s first birthday, Lisa Taylor Rosenfeld of A Lovely Mess wanted something sweet and intimate to reflect a wonderfully sweet first year — and so this Simply Stylish Picnic First Birthday Party was born! I love that she incorporated pieces from her wedding, like that awesome vintage white table and all of the beautiful lace. Such a good reminder that while fancy venues & menus certainly have their place, sometimes it’s best to just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ones you love.

PARTY HIGHLIGHTS to look out for:

• Gorgeous handmade quilts & hanging lace throws on a clothesline at a lovely park venue
• Floral tin boxes for the green & yellow wildflower arrangements + low wooden table
• DIY mason jar iced coffees + tea sandwiches, mini donuts, flower cookies & fruit skewers
• Adorable felt flower headband & matching floral print dress for the birthday girl

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