Puppy Adoption Birthday Party

   This past November, my daughter turned 5 years old! 5 years old! I can hardly believe that I have a five year old (insert ugly crying face here)!
   She has been asking for a puppy lately, and she wanted one for her birthday. Now while we love animals in our house, especially puppies, we have allergies, so the next best thing was to throw her a puppy party! So I came up with a Puppy Adoption Party!
   It turned out to be a very fun day and all her friends had a blast, and they loved the idea of taking home a cute little stuffed puppy of their very own. Hopefully she forgets all about a real puppy, at least for a while.
   First thing I did to plan this party was search for the adorable puppies for Charlotte and her friends to adopt. I found the cutest ones from the My Life Doll collection from www.walmart.ca/search/my%20life. They were the perfect size and there were so many options to please all her friends.
   To display the puppies, I used this crate I already had at home and just added this cute fleece dog blanket that I found at the dollar store. I found this wood sign at the dollar store too, and just added some sticker letters that spelled out "Adorable Puppies". Couldn't be any easier!
 

   I found some gable boxes with paw prints on them from  www.creativebag.com and cut out openings in them to make them look like dog houses. Once each puppy was adopted, they could put them in their own doghouse. In each box, was a dog leash and dog bowl, as well as a certificate for them to name their new puppy!

 
   The food was going to be kept very simple. We had the party at an indoor play place and only had a two hour allotment, so I couldn't go too crazy with an elaborate menu.
   We served pizza, hot dogs, snacks, cupcakes and, of course, the birthday cake. I had a simple candy bar set up as well. Serving hot dogs was a given, but I thought I'd kick it up a notch by having a little menu sign made up with ways to dress up your hot dogs.

    The sign also matched the birthday invitation and some of the other signs we had set up around the party.
   The candy bar included chocolates in the shape of dog bones and paw prints, made by me, and I found these adorable Scottish Terrier gummies in pink and black (which also happened to be the colour scheme for the party).

   I served the treats in these plastic containers found in the pet section of the dollar store, and had tented food labels made up. All the snacks were served in black and white dog bowls found in the pet section too!
   Along with the birthday cake, we had mini cupcakes in chocolate and vanilla topped with the cutest puppy cupcake picks!

   
   The birthday cake was from the grocery store, and consisted of two cakes stacked on top of each other and left with just plain white icing. I wanted it simple because I had this amazing cake topper that I wanted to use and it turned out even better than I thought! And believe it or not, the cake tasted amazing! This is going to be how we do birthday cakes from now on!

   The adorable topper was from Eden and Company, and it was sparkly and pretty and perfect.

  All in all, the party was a great success and the most important part was that my daughter had the best time with her friends and family.

PRINTABLES: www.loveitsoirees.com  www.howsweet.ca  www.etsy.com

STATIONARY: {invitations, thank you sign and tags, menu card} One Creative Bee

PHOTOGRAPHY: Jessica Groomes Photography

CUPCAKE TOPPERS: www.amazon.ca



 

HALLOWEEN PARTY CHEESE BALL

           

    Halloween is fast approaching, and you are probably still narrowing down what your kid's costumes are going to be, how much candy you are going to need and how many houses are you going to hit up this year!

   The last thing on your mind is throwing a Halloween party, but it doesn't have to be elaborate, or fancy! And even if you have decided against a party, you still need to make this cheese ball! It looks so cute and tastes even better! So instead of binging on candy and chocolate while waiting for the doorbell to ring, you can dig into this delicious cheese ball; whether in your pajamas or in full costume!

   The recipe I used is from the Food Network and you can find it here: www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/pumpkin-cheese-ball-recipe-2108927. It is really easy to put together, and the flavours meld really well together, making it a winner for your next Halloween party or for your Halloween night in! I served it with blue corn tortilla chips, but you can easily use crackers. I just think the blue chips give it more of a Halloween touch!

 **(I will include the recipe at the bottom of the page as well!)**

   Even though we are not having a Halloween party this year, it is really fun to decorate and now that my daughter is not afraid of my Halloween decor anymore, (lol), I can start to have a little fun!

   I brought out all my creepy and dark decor and set up an area in our dining room to create a Halloween buffet and to display this adorable pumpkin cheese ball! We have a vintage dresser in our dining room that holds all the odds and ends for whatever we need to throw a party or entertain at home! It was the perfect perch for decorating!

   I used a lace Halloween table runner that I found at the dollar store, for the base. I added some cute black and white pumpkins (also found at the dollar store), filling in spaces with some grey cobweb-looking cloth, candles, tarot cards, rubber spiders and rats, cute Halloween napkins and a little cauldron sign that I made!

   That sign was probably the easiest diy ever! I found the cauldron sign and the "eat, drink and be scary" sign at www.michaels.com, and just glued the words onto the cauldron! Easy and spooky-cute!

   So there you have it! An easy yet scrumptious appetizer for your next Halloween party! Oh, who am I kidding? A cheese ball is good all the time; any day of the week, month, year or season!

   As promised here is the recipe:

   **With a hand mixer or stand mixer, blend 16 ounces of softened cream cheese with 1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese ( I used a nacho blend), 3 Tablespoons minced onion, 2 Tablespoons jarred salsa (mild or medium), 2 teaspoons ground cumin and 1 teaspoon minced jalapeno. 

  
 Scoop the mixture onto plastic wrap and use the wrap to form a 5 inch pumpkin-shaped ball. Chill at least 2 hours or if you are in a hurry, you can put it in the freezer for 15 to 20 minutes.

   Next, take about 2 cups of nacho flavoured tortilla chips and add them to a resealable bag. Close and seal the bag, making sure to let out any air, and then with a rolling pin, crush the chips to a fine consistency.

      You should be left with about 2-3 cups of crumbs, although you probably won't use them all!

   To serve, unwrap the cheese ball and roll it in the crushed nacho chip mixture, all the while pressing the crumbs in and forming a ball shape with your hands. Last thing, is to add a bell pepper stem to the middle of the cheese ball to resemble a pumpkin stem!

    How adorable is that?

    I really hope you give it a try and let me know how it turned out in the comments!
   
   Until next time! ~A



 PRODUCT INFORMATION:

*mini black and white pumpkins and black silk flowers from www.dollartree.com
*lace runner, grey cobweb cloth, tarot cards, rubber spiders/rats, napkins, glass bottle (with flowers),    paper pin wheel decoration from www.dollarama.com
*silver mummy candle holder from www.homesense.ca 
*black craft pumpkin and cauldron sign from  www.michaels.com 


 

 

Summer Picnic

    Summer days are upon us, so why not celebrate it with a picnic in the backyard. Your summer picnic can be held anywhere, really, such as the park, on your balcony, or by the beach. Wherever you choose to have it, keep it simple and the menu light.

   Picnics are an easy way to entertain in the summer months. Casual fare and menu items means you can linger with your guests until the wee hours. You can make it even easier on yourself by making it a pot luck picnic!

   For me, a good picnic always starts with a good blanket. Here I used a tablecloth I had on hand instead, and threw some outdoor pillows from my patio table for a little added comfort. Large Turkish beach towels layered out look pretty and are comfortable too! Look at www.hm.com for some beautiful and affordable options.

   Next, think about what you want to serve at your picnic. Like I said above, keep it simple, and depending on the weather, you don't want to serve anything that can spoil quickly. Think about bringing a mini cooler with ice on hand to keep food fresher.

   SOME PICNIC FOOD IDEAS:   

        -bread, crackers, pretzels, vegetable chips
        -store bought salads such as, couscous, bean or pasta
        -cheeses and deli meats or salamis (kept fresh and cold in the cooler)
        -jarred vegetables/pickles such as, artichokes, mushrooms, olive tapenade, etc.
        -store bought dips
        -grapes, strawberries, melon (cut up or portioned out preferably)
        -cherry or grape tomatoes, carrot, celery and pepper sticks (easier to eat)
**pack your food in reusable and lockable containers for easy transporting. Your food is more likely to stay fresh in containers too! Check out www.walmart.ca and the Pioneer Woman collection for very pretty designs and affordable styles.
**don't forget about the drinks: wine, beer, coolers, lemonade or sparkling water are popular options

   A way to save on bringing too many things with you, is to serve the food right out of the containers they came in. The easiest meal you can serve is one you can pull out of the pantry or grocery shelf. Bring a small metal tray or even a cake pan, and corral all your jars of dips, tapenades or marinated veggies on it! It makes a beautiful presentation too!
   Look at your local dollar store for trays or inexpensive bake pans to use.

   You can always serve your meal right out of the containers you packed them in too, or you can  bring along some packable plates and bowls with you. Keep in mind you don't want to transport too many items, or too many heavy items,  but sometimes you can find picnic baskets that come with dishes, cutlery and cups too. Search thrift stores for some very inexpensive options. Enamel camping dishes will work too. 

   Here I used whatever I could find at home from my thrift store collection. I used wood bowls, plates and spoons, because not only are they cute, but they are light enough to not weigh my picnic basket down! I also used cloth napkins, but paper ones are just fine.

   Think about using acrylic glassware too to make transporting all your picnic goods easier. There are so many pretty options out there too, that they can almost pass for real glass!

      (these ones pictured above are glass from www.pier1.com and came with the wicker koozie, which I used to hold bamboo skewers for the picnic food)

   I have found some really cute and inexpensive picnic baskets at thrift stores too, which are such a cute and old fashioned way of bringing your picnic goodies with you. Of course you can always use reusable grocery store bags/bins, or whatever you have on hand at home too.

   So as you can see, a picnic doesn't have to be complicated. With a little planning and help from friends sometimes, it can be an easy and relaxing way to entertain in the summer. So easy in fact, you may do it more than once!

   Until next time!
 
   ~A


PRODUCT INFORMATION:

-wood plates and bowls, picnic basket from www.valuevillage.com
-checkered napkins, round metal tray from www.winners.ca
-glasses from www.pier1.com
-bamboo skewers from www.dollartree.com
-palm leaf pillows from www.jysk.ca

 
 


 
       

Spring Brunch

   Easter is fast approaching and spring has finally sprung! Well in some places, it doesn't quite feel like spring, but it will get there! I am sharing a spring time brunch with you today that is easy to prepare and a great way to celebrate the spring season and Easter holiday at the same time.

   Invite a few friends for a casual and simple brunch and leave all the prep work to me, because I am sharing a few easy ideas to entertain friends on a budget and with time saving tips and tricks too!

   Whether you are inviting your guests last minute, or way in advance, these ideas will help you throw a great little party. I've kept it simple with only a few simple menu items and one signature drink. This way you have more time to spend enjoying the party and your guests, and also keeps you out of the kitchen.

   The menu is simple, with mini quiches (store-bought), heart shaped waffles with fixings, mini croissants, and crispy prosciutto. It's always nice to serve a meat along side an egg dish, but why not step it up a notch and ditch the bacon or sausage, and serve crispy prosciutto. Bake it at 375 degrees for 10-15 minutes until crispy and done! So good too!

   Heart shaped waffles are a cute and unexpected touch, and the only prep work it takes to make these, is bringing out your cookie cutters and opening up a package of store bought buttermilk waffles!

                                                                                                                                                              

   Serve some warm maple syrup, butter, jam and strawberries on the side so your guests can have their waffles any way they like it.

   Another sweet treat to add to your table is a some dark chocolate and mini meringues, just because a little chocolate never hurt anyone, right?

   If space allows, set up the drink station on another area, such as a coffee table or like I did here, a dresser that I use as extra storage. 

   Have some mugs for coffee or tea, as well as, cream and sugar. Include juice glasses for water, juice of course, or even a mocktail. You can always have a little champagne to add to your juice, because after all, it is a party! Here is an easy non alcoholic recipe for you to try:

       -pour some orange juice (about 1/2 cup) into an ice cube tray; freeze
       -in a glass add 8 ounces of sparkling water and two of the frozen juice cubes
       -add a splash of grenadine, a splash of vanilla simple syrup and a sprig of rosemary
**to make vanilla syrup, mix equal parts sugar and water in a small saucepan; add a sliced vanilla bean and heat it up until sugar is all dissolved. Make sure to cool syrup before adding to the drink**

   For the table decor, I went really simple. I found some really pretty wrapping paper at the dollar store and decided to use it as a table runner. It really dressed up the table and after the party, all you have to do is wrap it up and throw it in the recycling bin; easy clean up!

   I also added a few terracotta planters in the centre of the table; set out the plates, cutlery and napkins on one end of the table, and that was it! No heavy prep work and no stress!
   An easy and delicious spring brunch for you and your friends, and all prepared in only a couple of hours from start to finish! I'd say that is a reason to celebrate!

Until next time!
~A



PRODUCT INFORMATION:


-terracotta pots and green jade cake stand: www.michaels.com

-wrapping paper and clear glass mugs: www.dollartree.com  
-milk glass creamer, sugar bowl and dishes; ivory cutlery, butter knife: www.valuevillage.com
-mug rack: www.worldmarket.com
-Happy Easter tray and dish: www.homesense.ca
-glass cocktail mixing pitcher and copper spoon: www.chaptersindigo.ca

Family Game Night

     
   The fun and hoopla of the holidays are over, and most of us are feeling the winter blues! So what better way to get out of that funk by having Family Game Night!!! This could be a once a week thing, or why not invite some friends and their families over for one big party! It's a great excuse to throw a party and get together with good friends, and it can definitely be a fun way to get over that winter slump!

   To keep the party easy, serve a variety of appetizers! This gives you the freedom to hang out with your friends and enjoy the games! You can easily make most ahead of time too.  Have a variety of snacks placed around the room too, such as popcorn, nuts, chips with onion dip, and candy/chocolate.

   I like to serve fun retro-inspired recipes. My mom has this cookbook from the 70's (which I now have), that has some recipes that we have made in the past and they are always a hit. Two of my faves are Tuna Dip and Shrimp Toasts. I'll be sharing these recipes with you in this post, but here is a list of some other great recipes that your friends and the kiddos are sure to love!

         **ham and endive cups
         **chili cheese fries (serve in individual cups or bowl for easy eating) with toppings
                -green onions, crushed corn chips, shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa
             *use canned chili to save time*
         **cheese and crackers (serve them on a checkers board-so fun)
         **mini meatballs (any flavour combination you like)
         **tater tot skewers with spicy ketchup for the adults and regular ketchup for the kiddos (this is                   literally as easy as it sounds: thread cooked tater tots on skewers and serve)
        **a veggie tray with ranch or spinach dip

**the following recipes are taken from the book "Quick and Delicious Gourmet Cookbook" (1979)

             TUNA DIP

       1 8 ounce package of cream cheese, softened
       1/4 cup mayonnaise
       1 7 ounce can tuna fish
       1/4 teaspoon salt
       2 teaspoons grated onion
       4 to 6 drops Tabasco sauce
       1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

     *rinse and drain tuna; flake. Combine all ingredients. Chill several hours before serving. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.


            SHRIMP TOAST

       1 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened
       1/2 cup mayonnaise
       1/2 cup snipped green onion (green part only)
       1 Tablespoon lemon juice
       1 dash Tabasco sauce
       1 4 1/2 ounce can of shrimp

   *Rinse and drain shrimp. Combine all ingredients, mixing well. Spread on toast triangles and broil in oven on high or bake at 350 for about 5 to 10 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
   *This can also be served as a dip, just make sure it gets refrigerated for a few hours before serving*



   Set up an area, either in the kitchen, dining room, or living room, for a buffet style meal. It makes it easier for guests to get food as they wish, and leaves enough room at the games table for playing. Also, smaller plates are easier to hold or have beside you while you are playing.
  
   A cute idea for food labels is to use a deck of cards. You may have tons of decks lying around the house, but if you don't, you can find them at any dollar store. Either fold the cards over like a tent, or attach it to a place card holder or picture frame holder. Simple!

   It's also a good idea to set up a drinks station too, so you and your guests have access to the drinks all through the night, instead of having to go to the fridge every time someone wants something! Include some cocktail napkins, straws, enough glasses (plastic or paper are ideal), a bottle opener, and a tub or bucket of ice.

   Now, it's time to play! If you prefer, have the adults in one area of the house, and the kids in another, and near the end of the night, why not get the kids and adults together for a fun family game to end the festivities! However, if you wanted to all be together for game night, there are so many fun and easy games that everyone can play!

           -CANDYLAND                  -CHARADES
           -TWISTER                          -BINGO 
           -OPERATION                     -CHECKERS
           -CONNECT FOUR             -FUNNY BONES
           -MONOPOLY                     -SCRABBLE
           -CARD GAMES (GO FISH, OLD MAID, UNO, etc.)

   It could also be fun to make family game night a little bit of a competition! Divide families into teams and let the fun begin, with prizes being awarded at the end of the night!

   To add some fun decor to your game night area, think about decorating the tables with dominoes or dice, and create a garland out of decks of cards and hang them around the room. It's a fun and simple way to amp up the party.

   Another fun way to end the night is with a candy/dessert bar. Keep it simple with a few store bought desserts and a few jars of candy. Leave some small bags at the table too in case your guests want some sweet treats for the ride home!  Here are some ideas:

      -brownie bites                                                                -jelly beans
      -chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin cookies                   -mini gumballs
      -old school faves such as Twinkies, Joe Louis and Flakies   -licorice
      -cupcakes                                                                       -ju jubes/gummies
      -mini doughnuts                                                             -M & M's

   And don't forget to send your guests home with a fun take away gift! A small box/bag/container with a deck of cards and a game of dominoes is a great party favour! Your guests will remember Family Game Night every time they use them! Add a cute thank you tag such as the one above, and you are good to go!

   I hope you all throw your own Family Game Night party, and I hope it helps alleviate some of the winter blues; that is until spring comes along!
   Until next time! ~A



PRODUCT INFORMATION:

Printables: Family Game Night sign from www.littlehousestudio.com
                  Thank you favour tags from www.catchmyparty.com

-decks of cards, checkerboard, dominoes, block game, dice from www.dollartree.com
-vintage bingo game from www.valuevillage.com-metal pail for favours from www.ikea.com-metal candle holder from www.michaels.com     
-various jars holding various games are my own