{HOLIDAY} 4th of July dessert ideas

Oh good, you like dessert too! Here are 2 ideas of your 4th menu...

Grilled pound cake topped with fresh berries and chocolate drizzled on top:

Rice crispie treats on a stick dipped in chocolate.

Do you have any 4th of July dessert ideas? I always love to try something new.

{HOLIDAY} It's a grand old flag!

At our family reunion in '09 we took 'photo booth' pictures in front of the flag. I love a photo booth at a party, it's a great chance to capture everyone in attendance. Just look at these cute faces...

{HOLIDAY} 4th of July Family Reunion style

A couple years ago my whole family got up to Seattle for a family reunion. It was so perfect to be all together in the house we grew up in and spending time in a city we really love. The reunion was over the 4th of July so we enjoyed a backyard bbq and watched some illegal firework shows from the back porch. Thanks neighbors:)
Feeding over 20 people can be challenging, though my mom makes it look like a breeze.

The Menu:

Steak

Bruschetta

Fruit and Veggie trays

Chips and Salsa
Bottled Drinks

My favorite part was dessert of course! Homemade star sugar cookies and homemade ice cream, and topped with fresh berries.
What is your favorite part of the 4th of July?

{PARTY} Don't Go! Going Away Party

A year ago I moved from UT to CA. It was so sad to leave good friends and familiar surroundings but exciting to experience something new. My friend Jane was moving to Northern CA around the same time. Our friends threw us a combined Don't Go! Going away party. They had paper airplanes and cloud cookies which I thought was perfect for such a party.

There were a few things I really loved about this party.

- the backyard and outdoor lighting feel.

- big black and white posters of our faces greeting guests.

- paper airplanes where friends left us notes.

- cloud sugar cookies.

- buckets with drinks for guests to grab as they please.

- s'mores and a fire pit.

{PARTY} Get in the Backyard

Sunset Magazine is one of my faves. I saw this backyard party and noticed a few things I really love.

- simple table settings/decor.

- great color combo

- versatile chairs. indoor chairs working well outdoor.

- fresh centerpiece

- blankets for guests when it gets cold.


what do you love about a backyard party?

{PARTY} Lobsters, Crabs, and Shrimp Oh My!

I saw this image in a Pottery Barn catalog. What a fun Summer party huh?! Do you like sea food? I do! I just had an Oyster for the first time recently. Yum.

I've never been a huge fan of labeling the food at a party, but I think these labels are really cool. And guess what? You can print the labels here! Invite your neighbors over for sea food!

{PARTY} Friday Night Inspiration Board

Sometimes it just takes a new dress or a pretty plate to inspire a party. Invite a few friends over and make them dinner. Try a new recipe too.

plate

dress

chair

Birthday time

Today, I'm celebrating my birthday! A Happy Birthday to my twin Jane too. Wish we could be together today.

{SHOWER} Fiesta

My friends put together a lovely bridal shower, Fiesta style. Mexican food is such a crowd pleaser. This shower confirmed to me how a great party/shower does not have to be extravagant or expensive to be a good time. Good food, friends, and some pretty deco. Bam! Great party.

+Latte bowls for toppings

+Stripped fabric for table runners

+ Beverage Jar for lemon water

+ Cafe Rio style Salad. Recipe here

{BIRTHDAY} 35 candles

For my sister's 35th birthday I brought over a Chocolate Coconut cake. I found the recipe at The Little Red House (great source for recipes! and pretty photography). Sometimes you just need a pretty (and tasty) dessert to make a party.

Hello! and Welcome

An old song by Jimmy Durante ends with a phrase I love:

Make someone happy,
Make just one someone happy,
And you will be happy, too.

Throwing parties and planning special events are some of the ways I have found to make people happy--and I am happy doing it. I love the creativity of event planning, it is amazing to me that the ideas seem endless. Thinking of every detail, thinking about it again, and then making it a reality that brings people together is a passion for me.

This blog will be my way of sharing my passion with you. Perhaps you, too, have found (or will find) joy in making people happy by throwing the perfect party.

I'd love to hear what you think about special events and parties. What delights you? What makes you want to attend an event? Attending is the crucial element between the planning and the happiness!