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.

{in the studio} bubbles and moon dust

Time to unveil the invitations for the two baby showers I've been helping to organize over the past couple of months.

If you follow my facebook fan page than you got a peek at this invitation yesterday:

"She's going to POP" baby shower (Nov. 6th)

Although the concept of a "She's going to POP" baby shower isn't new...

focusing on "bubbles" gives this shower theme a whole new twist.

And I'm in love with the color scheme!

The jumbo 2" lollipops were custom designed by Heather over at Vintage Confections.

And they came out PERFECT!

Not only do the lollipop colors coordinate with the "POP" invitation...

At my request, Heather created soda POP flavors for them too!! (Vanilla Cola, Dr. Pepper, & Cream Soda)

LOVE them!!!

Speaking of "LOVE"....

"Love you to the Moon & Back" baby shower (Nov. 14th)

This theme was based completely on the phrase the couple exchange to each other on a daily basis.

And we HAD to incorporate plaid since it's a favorite pattern of the dad-to-be. (see this post)

Think star dust wishes and sweet baby kisses...

this shower is going to be darling!

Although the two showers have completely different vibes...

they've been equally fun to plan and prepare for.

As you can imagine, there has been a lot of "behind the scenes" going on over the last couple of months.

Not to mention Ella's birthday party that was supposed to be happening on November 13th.

I said "supposed to be" for a reason.

Ella's grandparents from Illinois want to be a part of her birthday AND Thanksgiving...

So we've had to move the party to Thanksgiving weekend.

UNfortunately...

• this is going to result in a lot of phone calls to all of the recipients who received invitations.

• I'm going to have to contact vendors to have them change the shipping dates of the items they are sending.

• one of Ella's friends isn't going to be able to come now. (and that stinks since she only has two...*wink*)

Fortunately...

• this move in her party date will relieve some of the pressure of having her birthday and a baby shower on the same weekend.

• will ultimately buy me some more time for preparations.

• and of course...allows Ella's grandparents, who love her to pieces, to be part of her birthday celebration!!

So, it's all good!

More preparation time is always better. *wink*

Both of the baby shower invitations above will be available in my shoppe.

If you are interested in either one before they are listed, just send me an email: pnpflowers@live.com

It's Wednesday everyone!

THREE WINNERS will be announced on Friday for the Compendium giveaway.

If you haven't already entered to win...tomorrow is the last day!

Enter THREE times to increase your chances of being one of THREE WINNERS!

Go HERE for details and to enter!!

KEEPING IT REAL

I had no idea the colors for the 2" lollipops from Vintage Confections were going to turn out SO amazing!

It was one of those things that you just take your chances on...

and you are SO happy you did!!