Pink Ribbon Dessert Table

As some of you may know, I'm running a 5K the end of September to benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (my grandmother was diagnosed in January with Multiple Myeloma).  As soon as I found out I wanted to do something to show my support - initially I wanted to put on a benefit for her, but soon realized that was something I should wait to do until she was in remission. Then I came across the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundations Race for Research and decided that was the perfect fit for the time being.

I'm happy to state that my grandmother is in partial remission and doing great!  The doctor gave her the go-ahead to spend the winter in Arizona - which is great since Arizona is so much nicer than Minnesota to live in during the chilly winter months.  With that said, I've thought about hosting a benefit, or a "YAY! You're in remission party" for her when she returns.  I'd like to a host silent auction or raffle with all proceeds going to benefit the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (Multiple Myeloma is a form of bone cancer that is treatable, but not curable.).  I'd love for this event to turn into a yearly event, gradually growing each year - Minnesota doesn't have an event like this for this type of cancer, and I think an event like that would really expose what Multiple Myeloma is to the state, and even surrounding states.

OK, so with all that said, I came across this pink ribbon dessert table on the Hostess with the Mostess blog quite a while back and thought how awesome it would be to have something like this at the potential event I want to host for Multiple Myeloma, although the color associated with that type of cancer is Maroon... but we can mix and match!



















I just love the simplicity of this table... but it looks so great.  I also love that it's all easy DIY projects to obtain this look - lots of ribbon, paper, embellishments, and easy but pretty dessert selections!  For more information on the DIY projects and to learn how this fabulous dessert table was put together, head over to the Hostess blog here.

What fun and easy DIY tips do you have for a dessert table?  Any fabulous but relatively easy recipes?  I love dessert buffets, I think they add an extra special element to every event!

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Real Party: Black, White and Purple Baby Shower

I saw this Black, White and Purple baby shower on Half Baked - The Cake Blog and just fell in love!  The shower was thrown for Carrie, the genius behind the Half Baked blog.

One of the main elements I loved most was how gender-friendly it was - meaning both the ladies and the men could join in the baby shower fun!  My second favorite element was that it wasn't too over the top cutesy baby!

Let's start with the invitation - it's just too stinkin' cute. The hosts purchased the invites from Tiny Prints (they have some cute invites on their web site - you should check out their site, too!) I love that it included both a pregnant female silhouette alongside a daddy-to-be silhouette... nothing like welcoming the guys to join in the festivities on the invitations!  The couples friends incorporated those silhouettes throughout the entire party, including the favors and other printables.





Like I mentioned above, I loved that this wasn't too over the top baby-related.  You'll see the only game they played was "Guess that baby food".  (I'm super picky, so I don't know how much I'd like that game!)  Also, the favors that were given to each guest were custom hand soaps with the baby's due date printed on them.

Don't you just love the diapers inside the hurricane vase?  A simpler (and cheaper) pick over the diaper cake?!  I think they're on to something here!

If you're interested in reading more about this gorgeous baby shower, head over to the Half Baked blog.  While you're there, check out her other fabulous parties... she doesn't disappoint!

Real Party: Peacock-themed Sip 'n' See

I saw this Peacock themed Sip 'n' See on Pizzazzerie and just had to share it!   It's designed by Beth Beattie of Beth Beattie Branding, PR and Events, and is so adorable.  As some of you may or may not know, my sister is pregnant with her first child - so the first grandchild of our family - and we might need to throw her a Sip 'n' See shower rather than a baby shower.  Why's that you ask?  Well a few years back my parents moved to Mississippi, and well, we'd really like it if my mom could make it!! :)  My sister's due date is also on New Year's Eve - making it a tough time of year to host a baby shower because of the holidays.

Anyway... on to this adorable Peacock Sip 'N' See!








Don't you just love the "Peacocktails"? So stinkin' cute and creative!  I love that this party is elegant looking - and how the color just pops!  I also love that the use of Peacock feathers wasn't too over-the-top.

If you're interested in reading more about this Sip N See party, head over to Pizzazzerie's blog.

Another Adorable Puppy PAWTY!

I came across this adorable puppy b'ruff'day party on Attention 2 Detail blog - it's just too dang cute!  I loved how the party incorporated items for both 4-legged and 2-legged friends alike!  There were two separate dessert bars - one for the pooches and one for their two-legged owners.

Attention 2 Detail has split up the party into three separate posts, the first post was the pooches dessert set up and the second was for the owner's set up - the third is yet to be released! :)

I'll start with the pooches set up as it looks amazing and I can't get over all the cute details!



Here's the table set up of the pooches dessert bar - how cute is that!  I have always loved brown and pink together... still do!


The had some of the greatest names for the food - and those food tags are just too cute! (made by Chickabug)




I just LOVED how she used dog food as a filler before adding the "canine cones" on top.  So creative!


These dipped rawhide and Milkbones are just too much!  Remind you of some dipped Oreos and marshmallows?!?!


If I didn't know better, I would have thought I could eat those Paw-reos!






Adorable pup-cakes!


Another closer view of the dessert table and its treats!


Oh, Pupcorn - you're killin' me!  Just too cute!


I loved this idea for doggie bags!


... and on to the edible for humans dessert buffet ...




How delicious do those dipped cherries look?!


Dipped graham crackers wrapped in pretty packaging... yes please!




I love the ribbon around the chocolate flavored licorice! Always keeping with the pink and brown theme!


Ashley used dog dishes to place the lollipops in... love it!


drink station


i LOVE these straw labels!


Another view of the human dessert buffet!



I think I've reached my quota of saying the word cute within this post.  I'm sorry if you needed to gag a little bit, but I honestly can't get over how ADORABLE (see, no "cute" here!) this puppy birthday party was - all the details were so well put together!

Head over to Ashley's blog, Attention 2 Detail, to read more about this party and to see other great ideas!

Bachelorette Party fun!

I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I was helping plan a good friend's bachelorette party.  (I also mentioned that I would have the photos up after the party, which was two weeks ago... sorry I'm a little behind these days!)

So here's some of the details - we decided on a color scheme of black and red because the bachelorette wanted black cocktail attire and well red just seems a bit more sophisticated than your traditional pink that most people do for bach parties.  I designed the invites and we bought coordinating red envelopes to send them out in. Since none of us are rolling in money we wanted to keep it simple, but still glamorous (especially because we were also hosting most of the party in a hotel room in a different city, things needed to be transported easily).

For the decor we kept it simple - some red carnations and white roses.  I had bought some red vases from Michael's right after Valentines day that we used to hold some candy, "pecker" straws and the Oreo pops I made.  I also made some cupcakes for the event and made two different cupcake toppers, one with the silhouette I used on the invite and the other's saying "Jen's Last Fling".  I put an invite in a black frame since I wasn't sure the bride-to-be had seen it yet (she currently lives in Oregon and had her wedding in Minnesota).

Here's the set up we had in the hotel room - like I said, we didn't have much room to work with, but I think it looked great for what we DID have to work with!  I also found those cute little red pails in the Target dollar section!

Here are the Oreo pops I made! I've never had them before, nor had I ever made them.  They're super tasty and super easy to make!!

The favor tags I made.  We bought a bunch of different types of candy and threw them in some cellophane bags.  I bought some super cute ribbon that coordinated with our theme, but forgot to grab a scissors, and we were under a major time crunch, so the silver twist ties that came with the bags came in mighty handy!

Here's a pic of the invite I designed in the black frame.  I loved the silhouette and wanted to keep that as a theme throughout all the printables.

I made these thank you notes for the bride-to-be to send out to her guests from the bachelorette party.  I bought the red envelopes to match with the red and black theme.  Notice the silhouette again! (please pardon the terrible lighting the next few pictures... I need to figure out product lighting! :))

The thank you notes packaged and ready to go!

Here are the cupcake toppers I created saying "Jen's last fling" and with the silhouette.

We actually never got around to using these at the party, but wanted everyone to fill out a card giving advice for the bride-to-be.  It's a cute idea!

Here's all of us girls decked out and ready for our night on the town for Jen's last fling!!


I just love planning parties... and I love making coordinating printables - it's so fun to see a party come together!

What I'm loving right now: Yellow, Grey and Black color schemes

Another table design from the Design 2 Decor blog.  I just had to show off this table they put together their company open house.  I'm loving ANYTHING that combines yellow with grey/silver and/or black and white.  So eye-catching and beautiful!




I think what I'm loving most about this table how eye-catching the cylinder-shaped lamps are above the eye-catching forsythia and tulips! So beautiful!  This is definitely a table set-up that anyone could copy!

Gossip Girl table

Don't you just love cruising the Internet and finding a web site you've never discovered before?  That's what happened to me tonight - I stumbled across the Design 2 Decor blog.  Design 2 Decor is an event design and management firm based out of Ontario, Canada.  The 'Gossip Girl' table they designed below was created for the Canadian Special Events and Meeting Expo's "Theme Decor Challenge"... where they won first place!

Look at how attentive they were to the details - from the hanging bulbs, to the diamond-shaped plates, diamond napkin rings, PINK galore and so much more!  Honestly, what girl would not love to have a table designed like this for her party?  I sure would... :)







For more inspiration on event design - and some serious eye-candy - head over to the Design 2 Decor blog here.

Stunning Surprise Double Birthday Party

Have you seen this stunning surprise party a mother threw for her 29- and 30-year-old daughters' birthday?  Charm Event Design did an AMAZING job with the transformation of the girls' parents backyard into a party hot spot.  Everything from the color scheme - fuchsia, purple and black - to the decor screamed uptown sexy chic.

Check out this amazing party below.  If you haven't checked out Charm Event Design's blog before, be sure to head over there - they've got some great events and ideas to share!







Seriously, how gorgeous is that table scape!  And don't you just LOVE how the girls' monogram and crown symbol are throughout the entire party (ahem... custom wine labels! LOVE!)  If any wants to throw me a surprise party for my 30th birthday (or my 25th... which is next year. Scary!) - here's some inspiration for you! ;)

For more details on this party, check out Charm Event Design here.