Along with many others...

I will be participating in the "Bloggers Day of Silence" on Friday in support of the disaster relief efforts being organized for the people in Japan.

This has been organized by two wonderful ladies, Lydia of Ever Ours and Lucy of Utterly Engaged.

My blogging friend Chris from Postcards and Pretties summed up everything in her blog post earlier today.

Instead of repeating the information, I encourage you to GO TO HER BLOG for more details on how you can help.

Hugs to you all...

And my sincerest thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan.

Ella's Classic Red Ball Birthday

For those of you who may have missed the big news...

since I didn't officially post it here on my blog yet...

I'm excited to share with you that I am now a blog contributor for one of my very favorite entertaining/party sites on the web: 

Hostess with the Mostess®! 

*pinch me please*!!

I'm honored to be working alongside two other fabulous blog contributors:

Courtney from Pizzazzerie and Jessica from Modern Moments Designs.

My first official post was featured on Thursday.

I was so thrilled to finally be able to share the details from Ella's Classic Red Ball Birthday as my first official post for HWTM.

And....

within that post...

I was also able to share some photos of the party product I've been working on having patented.

Exciting stuff!!!

So that means the day has finally arrived here on the blog...

the day to finally be able to share all of the details from Ella's party I hosted back in November...

and the day for the "big reveal".

So here we go...

With my daughter Ella turning two, there were several different themes I could've chosen based on her interests.

I finally decided on the one recurring theme that continually excited her and happened to be the most simple: "play Balls".

With the knowledge the theme wasn't "unique" in the sense that there have been "Ball-themed" parties done before...

I was up for the challenge to make it my "own" and customize it for my own tastes.

I decided on a "Classic Red Ball" party focusing strictly on a red and white color palette.

I wanted it to be fun and feminine and I kept the invitation design clean and simple.

The dessert table is always my favorite part of any event.

It allows me to tie in the theme of the party through table decor and my favorite part of ANY gathering: 

the desserts.

I incorporated the red classic balls onto the table, used a white back drop flanked by red polka dot fabric and added splashes of red and white polka dots where I could.

Dessert table items included:

mini red velvet cupcakes topped with a red gumball...

displayed on clear acrylic personalized Pastry Pedestals™

(that's my new little creation I'm having patented)

mini cupcakes displayed on cake plates

giant jawbreakers set on the table (as decor only)

red cake balls from Michele at Crazy for Design

designer oreos from Sweeties by Kim

custom coordinating lollipops provided by Vintage Confections

custom designed sugar cookies lovingly baked by the Cookie Jar

dried cranberries and sunflower seeds (Ella's favorite snack)

cranberry jello

served in mini plastic shot glasses

peppermint marshmallows from Vintage Confections

red chocolate covered sunflower seeds

peppermint sticks

licorice sticks

The drink station included

Shirley Temple Sodas for the older crowd

and Fruit Punch flavored Juicy Juice for Ella and her peers

Although it's not pictured, there was also a mini meatBALL sub station in order to offer something savory to guests.

(a huge thanks to my Mom for making the meatballs).

Age-appropriate activities included:

"Ball" print-out coloring pages with RED crayons

RED playdough

Paddle Ball with RED balloons and homemade paddles 

(over-sized popsicle sticks attached to paper plates)

Bean bag toss game with RED polka dot bean bags

the custom wood cut out was designed by a neighbor and the bean bags were sewn by my mother.

RED badminton rackets for the older children

Assorted RED Playground Balls in the back yard

(these doubled as favors too)

Other favorite party details:

Mini spoons - perfect size for the birthday girl and other small guests

(Polka dot box provided by Party Starters)

Red balloon-filled ceiling over the dessert table

RED polka dot drinking straws

(from the Sugar Diva)

ROUND RED hat boxes used on the dessert table.

I filled paper pastry cups with white table sugar to display the jawbreakers.

Guests were sent home with

custom lollipops

along with RED balloons from the party decor, 

their choice of any RED playground BALL and any of their favorite leftover sweets.

Here's the birthday girl enjoying her day...decked out in a headband from

Tadpole and Lily

Wearing a tutu from Tiny Belles Boutique.

One of my fave pics of the day...

It may have been her 2nd birthday

but this was her FIRST cake pop. *wink*

The coordinating thank you cards sent out after the party were the perfect way to tie everything together...

And of course wallet size photos of the birthday girl from the actual birthday party 

were included in the thank you cards

I had a BALL  putting this together for Ella.

It really turned out to be the perfect theme for her and we had a wonderful time celebrating with family and friends.

A HUGE thank you to the vendors/businesses who contributed their time and talents to help make everything extra special...

Invitation, Party Printables, Thank You Cards • Pen N' Paperflowers

Pastry Pedestals (Pen N' Paperflowers) available for purchase in April 2011

Red & White Polka Dot Boxes • Party Starters

Red & White Cake "BALL" Pops • Crazy for Design 

Custom Sugar Cookies • The Cookie Jar 

Chocolate Covered Designer Oreos • Sweeties by Kim 

Mini Tasting Spoons • D&G Occasions 

Mini Red Velvet Cupcakes • Cupcake Delights

Custom Lollipops • Vintage Confections 

Peppermint Marshmallows • Vintage Confections 

Red & White Polka Dot Straws • the Sugar Diva 

Oversized Jaw Breakers • Cracker Barrel 

Round Red Hat Boxes • Ikea

Polka Dot Fabric used in Backdrop • Ikea 

White Panel Back Drop • Lowes  

Flower Headband • Tadpole & Lily

Red Tutu • Tiny Belles Boutique

Happy Monday everyone!

I hope you enjoyed your weekend.

KEEPING IT REAL

It's about time I posted this party...right!?

And I'll have more details posted on the Pastry Pedestals for you soon!!

Still working on finalizing packaging!

My heart goes out to those effected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

inspiration | the martha rules

I receive a lot of emails...
from a lot of amazing women.
It seems like a lot of the women reaching out to me are "stuck" in career fields they long to be free from.
Most of them seem to have bridled creative passion and are seeking direction on how to unleash their dreams.

Because I don't have all the answers - not even close...
Because I'm no expert and I'm constantly learning through trial and error myself...

I thought I'd share a book I recently began reading...
(in fact, it's the inspiration behind the quote I posted last week)

The Martha Rules

It's a book my friend Kim from the TomKat Studio recommended.
It's an amazing book - filled with great insight from a woman whom I've always admired and respected...Martha Stewart.
Cute story: When my youngest daughter Clara was somewhere around the age of 4, she would ask to be able to watch the Martha Stewart Show with me. And just like her mom, she'd sit there fully engaged...hanging on every word Martha spoke and every neat little idea or craft she would share. I've even got issues of the Martha Stewart "Kids" magazines that are no longer being published. You could say I've had a slight obsession with the woman who shares my passion for domestic arts). *wink*

Anyway...
back to the book...

I LOVE so many things about it and have become lost in the pages.

How about this excerpt?

"Don't confuse enthusiasm for passion"

I really think there will be so many of you who will benefit from reading this too...
it may be just the thing some of you have been looking for. (and need)

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I ordered this book twice.
I waited for two months and it never showed up but it was reported as having been delivered?
I finally ordered it again last month and have been trying to find time to read it.
So far, a couple of doctor's appointments and some down time at Clara's band competition last weekend gave me enough "nibbles" to keep me craving for more time to read.

Oh...
The pitcher of flowers?
The pitcher is a handmade piece of pottery I bought this past weekend from the Sugar Mill Pancake House - it's what they bring to the tables for customers to use to pour the pancake batter on the griddles.
The flowers & branches were picked/trimmed yesterday by Ella and I - there's been such an abundance of pretty things blooming around the house. I feel so fortunate! I LOVE them!