There's a fabulous Pinterest Party going on tonight in celebration of 

Kelly Lyden's brand-new book Stylish Kids' Parties…

This one hour Pinterest Party starts at 8p.m. CST RIGHT HERE on Pinterest.  Join me and some of my favorite party stylists/bloggers as we fill up THIS PINTEREST BOARD with lots of fun ideas for kids' parties related to food, diys, centerpieces, party decor and my favorite…desserts!!

Here's how YOU can get involved too:

Head over to your Pinterest account and create a New Board titled "Stylish Kids' Parties" and start pinning ideas you love using the hashtag #stylishkidsparties in the description. You can then repin the ideas from OUR PINTEREST BOARD onto your new board. Some of YOUR pins will be chosen to be added to the pinterest board! How fun!

I hope to see you later tonight - and be sure to tell your friends!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

If you missed my Instagram feed yesterday…

I actually got all of Ella's party pictures prepped for posting

AND the thank you cards are finished!! Wahoo!!

BEHiND the SCENES | Amazing Cake + Crafting + Surprises

Hello friends.
I was without internet all weekend due to some construction in our neighborhood *frown*
So I was busy all day yesterday trying to catch up on orders, etc.

Still playing catch-up today...
and wanted to share with you a few things that have been going on behind the scenes...

GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE

It was J's birthday weekend...

so along with a wonderful dinner with friends Friday night...

I also made him his requested "Birthday Dinner" on Sunday with family - Lasagna

and his requested "Birthday Dessert"...German Chocolate Cake.

I'm not a huge fan of German Chocolate cake...

However, it's not MY birthday, so it doesn't really matter.

With this being one of J's favorite cakes...

I knew it had to impress.

I did a quick search online for "The Best German Chocolate Cake"...

and stumbled upon David Lebovitz's recipe spotted on Annie's Eats.

Wow.

It is amazing.

I cannot begin to tell you how fabulously delicious this cake turned out to be.

In. LOVE with the chocolate ganache-like frosting. That was my favorite part. YUM!!

Because the cake wasn't ready until after dinner Sunday night...

I didn't photograph the cake in it's entirety.

I don't like taking photos at night...indoors...using harsh light.

After everyone devoured it...

I barely had a nice wedge to photograph the next day.

So be sure to check out Annie's Eats beautiful full image of her cake.

Caution: Baking this cake is not for the faint-of-heart. Be sure to read the "minor issues" portion of 

Annie's post to avoid some pitfalls - especially in regards to the frosting. I decided to make the frosting first

so it could be chilling the entire time I was making/cooling the cake. It was perfect by the time I was ready to frost.

However, it warms quickly so I was racing against the clock to get it completely frosted before it started drooping.

Keep refrigerated.

SURPRISE BIRTHDAY GIFT FOR J

Oversized print I had made of his favorite Grandmother, standing with J's grandfather.

This is gigantic and has great impact! I LOVE it! We'll be framing it out and adding more of these!!

MASON JAR LID RINGS

You won't believe what I've been doing with these!! 

WOODEN BLOCKS AND WOOD PIECES

A couple of fun crafting projects I've been working and re-working...

ANTIQUE SILVER COASTERS

Part of another fun project I'll be revealing soon...

I hope I've caught your interest!

There's even MORE fun to share with you:

Tonight's Holiday Pinterest Party Theme: Cookie Exchange Party Ideas

Click on the link above for details as well as to see the ADORABLE snowman cookies I want to recreate!!

AND...

A fun Holiday Surprise you won't want to miss tomorrow!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I should really invest in a mounted flash...
I mean I can't continue to schedule events based on lighting conditions...
just so I can get great photos...
can I?

SHARE | Favorite Christmas Party Ideas for Kids

Looking for creative things to do for a Classroom Holiday Party?

Or just looking to be inspired for the upcoming holidays?

Here are my favorite pins from the Pinterest Party I invited you to attend last night.

It was an hour of pure inspiration focused on "Christmas Party Ideas for Kids"!

Christmas Pancakes with Chocolate Peppermint Syrup 

for hosting a Santa's Breakfast Party

source: Raspberri Cupcakes

Adorable Clothespin Advent Calendar 

Use this idea for displaying party favors...and as a Christmas Card Holder too!

source: Designspiration

Cupcake Liner Christmas Trees

source: Tatertots and Jello

Milk Men

source: Bakerella

Adorable DIY Felt Ribbon Candy

source: Snap!

Reindeer Noses Party Favors

source: Bloom Designs Online

Snowman Macarons on Red Velvet Christmas Snow Cake

source: Raspberri Cupcakes

Candy Cane Float

source: Spicy Ice Cream

Adorable Gingerbread Man Packaging

source: a•muse studio

Candy Cane Clothespins

source: The Shabby Creek Shop

Peppermint Cake Pops

source: Jenny Cookies

DIY Candy Cane Cupcake Toppers

heat candy canes just enough to "shape" them as toppers

source: Icing Designs Online

Thanks to everyone who participated with us!

I was so inspired by all of the ideas that were shared.

I hope you were too.

And congratulations to the FiVE winners who received $50 Gift Cards from Pottery Barn Kids!!

A very special thanks to Pottery Barn Kids for sponsoring the Pin Party last night!!

If you missed out...

You can still see the entire "Christmas Party Ideas for Kids" Board 

there's a Pinterest Party happening every Tuesday night...

through December 18th.

A different topic every week!

Here are the links to all of  the Holiday Entertaining Pinterest Parties that have taken place so far:

Thanksgiving Entertaining Ideas

Merry Metallics Holiday Entertaining

Christmas Party Ideas for Kids

KEEPiNG iT REAL

As if I didn't already have an entire list of cute things I want to make for the holidays...

my list just got even longer after the Pinterest Party last night.

Maybe I should number the projects and do a raffle type drawing to determine which ones should get done? Ha!

iNViTE | Christmas Party Ideas for Kids Pinterest Party

I'll be participating again as a Guest Host...
in the 3rd round of Holiday Entertaining Pinterest Parties TONiGHT! (11.27)
and YOU are invited!!

With Pottery Barn Kids giving away FiVE $50 Gift Cards tonight...
you won't want to miss being there!

Tonight's theme?

Christmas Party Ideas for Kids

Here's the scoop on how to participate:

Where: Pinterest - follow this Christmas Party Ideas for Kids Pinterest Board

When: 9:00 p.m. EST/6p.m. PST

Tonight's Inspiration:  Christmas Party Ideas for Kids

Why? Be inspired for the upcoming Holidays through the pins we'll be sharing

            and be one of 5 winners to receive a $50 Pottery Barn Kids Gift Card.

What do I do? Just log on to Pinterest at the designated time. (9:00 p.m. EST/6p.m. PST)

                           "Follow" the Christmas Party Ideas for Kids

How do I win one of the $50 Pottery Barn Kids Gift Cards? 

To be entered into the contest, leave a comment on any of the images/ideas we share tonight

and using the hashtag: #holidayentertaining

NOTE: You will not be pinning ideas to the board. 

You'll merely be sitting back...

in your comfy pajamas and slippers if you like...

sipping your hot cocoa...

and refreshing your screen to watch the ongoing inspiration that will be pinned to the board...

by the participating co-hosts, (such as myself) and the other fabulous ladies mentioned above.

All you need to do is BE iNSPiRED!

Re-pin the pins you love from the Christmas Party Ideas for Kids Pinterest Board...

and be sure to leave comments on any of our pins to be entered to win one of the Pottery Barn Kids gift cards!

That's it!

                                    

Here's a sneak peek at one of the images I'll be pinning tonight...

North Pole Cupcakes via Jenny Cookies

I hope to see you at the party tonight!!

iNViTE | Merry Metallics Pinterest Party

There's a party happening tonight!!

Kim from The TomKat Studio and Kelly from The Party Dress

are hosting a Pinterest Party, sponsored by Minted.com and YOU are invited!!

I'll be participating as a co-host, along with some other fabulous gals (see list above)

for ONE hour of pure holiday inspiration!

I hope you'll join us!!

Where: Pinterest - follow this Merry Metallics Holiday Entertaining Board

When: 9:00 p.m. EST/6p.m. PST

Tonight's Inspiration:  Merry Metallics Holiday Decor and Party Ideas Inspiration

Why? Be inspired for the upcoming Holidays through the pins we'll be sharing

            and WiN a $100 Gift Card to Minted.com

What do I do? Just log on to Pinterest at the designated time.

                           "Follow" the Merry Metallics Holiday Entertaining Board

How do I win the $100 Minted Gift Card? To be entered into the drawing, comment on and repin any of 

                                                                              the images/ideas we share tonight using the hashtag: #holidayentertaining

                                    

Here's a sneak peek at one of the images I'll be pinning tonight...

DIY Metallic Holiday Garland

There will be so many more pretty things to be inspired by!

I hope to see you there!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

This really is a fun way to spend an hour - just us girls.

We had a pin party last week dedicated to Thanksgiving Entertaining Ideas...

I totally felt like I was sitting there with my girlfriends - inspiring each other.

I've been finding so much inspiration in preparation for this party tonight.

I'm so excited to share my finds with you.

I wish we could all REALLY sit with one another...

sipping hot cocoa and eating cupcakes together! (with metallic sprinkles on top - of course). *wink*