Real Parties: Housewarming Brunch

My boyfriend and I moved into our house almost a year and a half ago and before we moved I was planning in my head the housewarming party we would host at our first home.... I imagined what the invites would look like, who we would invite, what kind of food and drinks we would serve and what kinds of things we would do for fun.  Sadly, we moved in right in the beginning of wedding season, and almost every single weekend was consumed by bridal showers, bachelorette parties, weddings or something pre-planned with family or friends... and my housewarming party never happened.

Now, why am I tell you all of this about a housewarming party that I never planned?  Well because I'm pretty envious of how fabulous this Housewarming Brunch, featured on Hostess With the Mostess, turned out.  My housewarming party would have been nothing like this - we're not morning people at all... and we love to party it up at night - but the concept of this party is amazing!  I love everything about it - from the food choices to the color scheme {which is very fitting for the theme}.













Seriously, how cute is this theme!  The various brunch stations were super creative - a waffle station, a cereal bar, an egg and toast station and a mimosa bar.  I also love the "donut be a stranger" favors.  Head over to the post on Hostess With the Mostess to read more about the planning of this party and more photos.

Real Party: Surfs Up Summer!

I'm a big fan of unique parties {I'm pretty sure I've used that line as an opener for a blog before... but it's just so true}, which is exactly why I simply adore this uber cute Surf's Up! Summer Party designed by Holly of Paisley Petal Events.  The bright colors, the unique theme, the desserts and all the little details make this party so very swoon-worthy!

Holly designed this party with her 8-year old son in mind.  Living in Utah, they don't have any beaches near them, so Holly was determined to bring the beach to her son and his friends to celebrate the end of the school year.  With the help of her husband, she used four pieces of 8-foot plywood to create the surfboards that served as the background for the dessert table {this is my favorite part of the whole party}.  To continue with the beachy theme, she used a simple white table cloth with blue netting laid on top - too cute!  And the desserts - oh my! - they were too cute!  I'm definitely loving the cupcakes with the fondant surfboards and others with the fondant shark fins, as well as the cookies shaped like sharks and surfboards.

So, now I'll stop my rambling about how awesome this party is and let you see for yourself...

The invite that kind of started it all by Chachke Designs

seriously - how cool are these?!  They'd be awesome to reuse in a bedroom, too!!

How awesome are these cupcakes with the fondant surfboards by Spinklebelle Cakes

More cute cupcakes with fondant toppers by Sprinklebelle Cakes

OMG - how creative are these Nutter Butter flip flop cookies?!?! In love!

Interested in seeing more from this adorable party?  Then make sure you head over to Paisley Petal Events web site and check them out... stick around and check out how incredibly talented she is with the rest of the parties she's designed - she definitely has talent!

Real Party: A Thing for Bling Bridal Shower

I always love a unique theme for parties, which is why I loved this "A Thing for Bling" bridal shower that I spotted over on Catch My Party designed by Natasha at Fete Fanatic.  This theme would be perfect for any bride-to-be who loves anything and everything sparkly.  The various props and desserts used for this party were perfect to match with the theme - I just loved the ring pops, pop rocks, fake diamond rings, etc.  The color scheme was great, too - bright fuchsia pink, black and white.











I really love the little details that pulled this party together, Natasha did a fabulous job!  One of my favorite details - the candyabra (the candelabra made of rock candy!)... so fun!  Head over to the Catch My Party party page to check out  more photos from this blingin' bridal shower!

Real Party: Heels to Wheels Baby Shower

I just love a unique themed party, it's just so refreshing, so when I came across this baby shower on Catch My Party, I bookmarked it for future reference, and to share with you, my readers!  I think I was so drawn to this party because I consider myself to be a city girl - I've always grown up near Minneapolis (though always living in a suburb), and I can't really ever see myself being able to move to the country (trust me, my parents live out in the boonies in Mississippi, and I know FOR SURE that's not the lifestyle for me... at least not at this point in time of my life).  However, with that said, I'd like to think of myself as a little bit country (you know, because I like country music, cowboy boots, horseback riding, barbecues, etc.)  Oh, and no worries, I'm not too offended if you real country folk are rolling your eyes at that last sentence! :)

Anyway, enough of my rambling and on to the reason for this post - the baby shower!  The theme for the shower was "Black Heels to Tractor Wheels" because the mom to be was a city girl turned country girl.  An extra cool concept the hostesses added for this party was asking their guests to dress according to what they felt they were - a city girl or a country girl.  The decor included hay bales covered in quilts, cutouts of cowboy boots and black heels and a real pair of cowboy boots used as vases for some country-like flowers.  The hostess separated the food up into "city food" and "country food", as well as "city drinks" and "country drinks" - such a fun way to continue the theme into the food and drinks!

Some country girl seating!

simple decor - flowers in tin cans

City girl appetizers

country girl desserts

some caramel corn served in an old wood box - too cute!

country girl drinks

what country party would be complete with out mason jar drinking glasses?

one of my favorite details from the whole party!

This shower theme is great for hostesses on a budget, as most of the decor for this shower were items most country girls have laying around!  Head over to Catch My Party to view more photos from this cute shower!

Do you have some friends who were raised city girls but turned country?  How about country girls turned city girls - would the party have the same effect if the situations were switched around?  

Real Party: Nursing School Graduation

Although graduation season is coming to a close, I've noticed that a lot of my friends who are in nursing school still have their boards coming up, so I thought I would share this awesome dessert table created for a Nursing student's graduation party.  Marie of Sweets Indeed created the coolest table for a nursing graduate's party - including items such as blood, urine samples, band-aids, happy pills and a cake that included a stethoscope made out of fondant - the best part is that everything is edible!












Do you have a family member or friend who recently graduated nursing school?  Or maybe just a nurse who's always there for you that deserves a dessert spread like this?  What other fun dessert ideas could you add to this table?

Head over to the Sweets Indeed blog to see all the other dessert tables they've designed - it's certainly impressive {and will make you crave some sweet treats!}.