Goodbye Summer!

So Labor Day is upon us~are you having one last summer party? I'm having a BBQ over the long weekend and getting some "muses" from this pool party. I LOVE the use of the pink chairs and long wood board for the food table!!!! Love, Love, LOVE!!!

Also loving using sand buckets in the party colors to elevate food!

Such details and beautiful styling...like the flip flops under the lemonade.

The S on the cakepops ~the birthday girls initial!

I love details ...great job Rogeria of Sweet Memories Parties Design.

Transformation Tuesday- 25 Free Party Printables

How does party printables relate to Transformation Tuesday? Well, printables totally transform any soiree and Jan from Poppytalk has put together 25 FREE...yes FREE downloadable party printables from pretty invites, favors to adorable bunting. Definitely bookmark this one for future use. Check them out here.

Next Tuesday I'll be back with a handmade project. Posted Maddy's first day of school pic on FB yesterday...sniff, sniff....We have our Burger Bash this Saturday so will get to work on all of the party details this week. I will post preview projects over on Facebook.

Candy Apple Creation Station

I love Fall! It is by far my favorite season. Living in Phoenix for the past 4 years, there aren't leaves changing into gorgeous colors and the wonderful Fall smells that I was used to on the East Coast. However, the weather is beautiful and I decorate with all types of Autumnal colors. One thing I think of when I think of Fall or Halloween is carmel apples. I think a great twist to this is to have a candy apple creation station. Decorate your buffet with sticked apples, warm carmel, melted milk and white chocolate and any type of crushed candy you can think of.

Have your guests make their own treat to eat and take home. This would also be a great favor for a fall wedding~don't you think?

BBQ Cutlery Bags

Remember my "muse" for my BBQ Cutlery bags? I finally made it to Dollar Tree today and picked up my brown paper bags. I'm no graphic designer but I can use Picnik! So I made my bag label and printed on the paper bags. Cut the top of bag down with wavy-edge scissors.

Inside I put a red and white checked napkin (also found at Dollar Tree today), cutlery, and Wet Ones. I am happy how they turned out.

While at Dollar Tree, I also picked up some shaving cream and Madison and I mixed in food coloring so she could paint in the tub tonight. This was another thing that I can cross off my summer to do list! She absolutely loved this!!

Pizza Party

I have done several client parties where the kiddos make their own pizzas. However, I never thought of using brown craft paper to label items plus would make easy cleanup!

Also really cool idea to have combination suggestions!

(New Series) Transformation Tuesday~School Desk

As you know I have a passion for parties and entertaining but I also have a passion for making old things new or to find a new purpose for things. I used to blog Dollar Days where I would take dollar store items and transform them into things you could use for parties. However, with running my business, being a mom & wife, I didn't always get a chance to make something from dollar stores. I realize though that I'm always transforming something whether it be a thrift store find, dollar store item or something I already own into something new. So every Tuesday, I will share my transformations with you.

I wanted to get Madison a school desk so she can have a designated place to practice her writing. I ran across this old desk at Goodwill. The top was pretty beat up with scratches, paint and marker spots. However, no deep scratches and it was the perfect height and size. To my surprise when I got to the register to pay, it was 50% off so I got this baby for $3.50!

I spray painted the whole think pink. Then I painted the top with chalkboard paint that I already had on hand. I used my Cricut to cut out Madison in pink vinyl.

As you can see Madison loves it. (Look at that beautiful M that she did)

I need to add some storage and something on the wall behind her desk. So I'm sure you will see this again. I hope you like this new series!

Candy Cupcake Toppers

Create these cute candy cupcake toppers using small styrofoam balls and crepe paper! Tutorial by Cake Journal.

Portable Utensils

For my upcoming and end of summer BBQ, I really want to have a utensil packet. I love the all in one place settings by Donna Hay. Guests will not have to get up for items forgotten with this!

I love this bag! Unfortunately, the ETSY seller who makes them is on vacation until after Labor Day...just my luck! Oh well, you know me~ I will be hitting Dollar Tree today to get some paper bags and make some DIY magic! Will post results in Facebook first.

Fall Front Porch Ideas

I am working on so many house projects preparing for all of the upcoming holiday entertaining. You know how time flies and really don't want to be tackling house projects while holiday decorating and cooking. I am gathering ideas for my front porch for Fall & Halloween and hit the jackpot when I saw 3 front door ideas from Midwest Living. I love this farm stand approach~I can't get over the rake with apples stuck in next to front door. Shut the front door~too cute! (if you can't see click on image to make larger)

This nature inspired front porch is beautiful. I really like the square wreath.

However, my favorite element is using old keys in pumpkins to spell FALL. It's in the details!

However, I almost fell out the bed....that is usually where I blog.....when I saw this spooky styled one! Is it too early to have Halloween decor up for my Labor Day BBQ?? No, really..is it too early?? I LOVE the color combo black and white, ask any of my friends and family. I always wear the color combo as well. I need a color intervention in my wardrobe! So this combo with the traditional Halloween orange is right up my alley. I'm obsessed with that door. It is a decal from Dali Decals. I looked it up...$75 my peeps. Only problem is I have a double front door??

Amazing what a little paint can do. They also drilled holes into pumpkin. Great concept but I think I would just paint to keep the pumpkin longer. Loving this Boo ladder. I saw a old ladder in Goodwill and didn't get it...what's the chances I'll find another one? Urgh, the search is on!

Back To School Printables

Back to School time! Yes, Madison's school officially started August 8th but I'm sending her back after Labor Day. Since she is still in preschool I didn't think she would miss too much...I won't have that luxury next year when she is a kindergartner. (I get a lump in my throat just thinking about that!) Anyhoo, I love all the cute back to school pics around blogland. Here are some of my favs! I was going to make my own preschool sign for Madison to hold for pics on her first day then I found~ I love these FREE POSTERS printables over at I Heart Nap Time.

I am so printing this poster for Madison's first day school pics!!

Also loving this free printable by the lovely Amy from Living Locurto. Whenever I ask Madison how was her day at school she always just says good. Maybe by using these school notes, I can get more information!

Ice Cream & Donuts

This bride totally should be my friend! I love donuts and ice cream! I love the donuts instead of traditional cake. I have thought many times about doing this for a party....I really need to!

My favorite thing is using soap dispensors to hold liquid toppings for ice cream buffet! Love, Love, Love!!!

Sorry for the small pics today ~to see them larger and check out other photos from this wedding go here. My new blog will have only 2 columns instead of 3 so I can have larger photos.

10 Things You Don't Know About Me

On my birthday eve, I'm reflecting on my life and where I would like to go from here. I normally don't post personal things about myself since this is an entertaining and party blog but feel like sharing today. I must confess, I like reading US Weekly and the celebrity Top 25 things you don't know. Since I'm not a celebrity I'll only do 10 so not to bore and lose every reader!

1. I am adopted.
2. Back when I was growing up there weren't a lot of mixed race children like there are today. Where I lived, I was the only one so received many stares and ridicule.
3. Both my parents are deceased and it aches my heart daily that my daughter will never know them.
4. My father was a pastor and I grew up strict Pentecostal. My biggest thing I didn't like was that I wasn't allowed to wear pants! I wore long skirts every day! Now, it's hard to get me in a dress but my daughter doesn't want to wear anything but dresses!
5. I was due to have my daughter near my 40th birthday but she came 6 weeks early and my hubby missed the birth. She is still feisty and unpredictable- and the sweetest blessing from God!
6. I didn't have a wedding. My hubby and I eloped and had our ceremony at a gorgeous B&B in Savannah, Georgia. It was perfect!
7. I am a singer and have been in tons of musical productions. My favorite songs to sing are Ava Maria and gospels.
8. I love to sing karaoke - favorite karaoke song to sing- I'll always Love You by Whitney Houston
9. I'm addicted to watching Hoarders!
10. I am very proud to be a part of the "party" blogs. Many people I'm around don't "get" the blog world or why I put so much work into a party so I'm honored and blessed to have gained so many friends who do through blogging! I am passionate about creating and celebrating everything. We are on this earth such a short time so I want to create lasting, cherished memories for my daughter and loved ones.

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving comments - I do read everything and appreciate you.
I have been getting so many emails regarding how to start an event planning business, I am currently redesigning my blog and I will be adding a section with lessons I've learned on starting your business.

Outdoor Entertaining

I am having a BBQ over the Labor Day weekend. The bad thing about being a party planner is you can never just have a BBQ. My husband says keep it simple...but if I just put out some burgers ~ my peeps would be like, what?? I can never just have a simple anything. However, I really have been wanting to do a Burger Bash. I am trying to think of an unique way of serving all of the fixings. I came across this outdoor buffet! It was love at first sight! I am an extremely organized person so this display is right up my alley. The fresh herbs in pots are something I hadn't thought about but LOVE!! Now, how can I recreate but have it on ice so everything doesn't melt in the 100 degree weather here in Phoenix!?

DIY Hamburger Party Invites

Can you believe that it is end of summer, REALLY! So I'm planning my end of summer Burger Bash with a "Dive-In" movie. As you know, I really like unique invitations so while doing a Internet search for some muses; I came across these really cool DIY hamburger invitations to include a PDF! Winning!

Bloom Party

What a grand entrance to a party! I LOVE this so much!!! Check out those seriously HIGH chairs!! Look at the adorable pic of birthday girl and the bloom pic. The flower arbor blew me away.Note to self~ I must use LARGE balloons at next birthday party. This stylish party was done by Kelle of Enjoying the Small Things for her daughter Nella's first birthday.Loving the food buffet. Great DIY touches ~ cute labeling and the table banner and bucket banners are too adorable!

It takes a more time but aren't those flags on the goodies worth it?

Hanging personalized bloom tags.

Everything is so perfectly color coordinated.

Even stylish lemonade...you know I love Mason jars.

I've seen a lot of these mailboxes around Valentine's day.

Hair Blooms as favors....too cute. On her blog she also had a western party for her older daughter ... isn't it always the case you find parties and ideas that are your party theme after your party is over?

Card Table Playhouses

EEEEKKKKK!! I love these card table play houses! Another reason why I need to know how to sew!! You can download the pattern here for only $5! How much do you think I can pay someone to do this for me???

Got one for the boys as well....gotta love this service garage.

Wish I would have discovered this jail house in time for Madison's Western Toy Story party! Too cute!

Surf's Up Party

Don't live near a beach? No problem just have a surfing theme party. Great idea for a end of summer party as well. I love the colors and surfboards of this surf's up party by Paisley Petal Events.

Her hubby made the surfboards from plywood...I wish my hubby would help me in party prep like this!! (he doesn't read my blog so I'm safe to say that)

I told you that push pops would become the rage, remember? I'm loving the jello shots with a shark gummy in them. BTW, I get a lot of emails asking me where to get the push pop containers. Many local restaurant suppliers carry them or you can check sources online. I don't have a good answer so if anyone has a great supplier please leave comments below. Thanks!

Loving the Dollar Tree shot cups filled with M&Ms!

I love Nutter Butter cookies and to make flip flops out of them....just perfect! I'm at my beach condo this week so totally have all things beach on my mind! I am currently working on a new blog design and will be asking your opinions for change over the next few weeks so please give me feedback ~ it will be greatly appreciated!