Party Inspiration: Red, Blue, Cream and Copper

It's less than a month until the big summer holiday - Fourth of July - and if you're anything like me, you take the extra time to hang with family and friends and celebrate our country's independence, which means you have to make sure you celebrate in style - just like this styled photo shoot from The Sweetest Occasion.  The designers of this photo shoot were inspired by the poem "Brown Penny" by William Butler Yeats, where it's contemplated whether the speaker is old enough for love, leading to the idea of a young love {a kids table} and old love {an adult table}.














While this photo shoot was originally designed for a wedding, I think borrowing some of these ideas for your own Fourth of July or Memorial Day parties would look great - and your guests would be super impressed!  To view more photos and read more about this styled shoot, head over to The Sweetest Occasion.

Desserts In Shot Glasses

As many of you all may have noticed, shot glass desserts are super popular right now!  And why wouldn't they be - you're guests are able to sample many different flavors of dessert in cute little glasses!  I think these little desserts provide extra lip-smacking goodness on a dessert table, too!

Click the links below each photo to get the recipe for that dessert!

Cheesecake shooters

Cookies and Cream shooters

Key Lime Pie shooters

Caramel Macchiato Cheesecake shooters

Chocolate Trifle shooters

Raspberry Tiramisu shooters

Strawberry Shortcake shooters

Double Chocolate Mousse shooters

What recipes have you tried and loved for your own dessert buffet?

Real Party: Pink Party for a Cure

I love a good party... anyone whose read my blog would know that.  But I love parties even more when they're for a good cause, like today's feature.  I came across this party on Catch My Party and knew I had to share it.  Catch My Party is one of my must-read party sites for inspiration because so may talented and creative ladies post their parties there!

As some followers may know, my grandma was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma last winter and it's my dream to be able to host an awesome fundraising party like this in her honor in the future (I actually wanted to do it this year, but life just got in the way - I hate when that happens!).  I adore fundraising events like these because it allows the opportunity for those people (including those who are diagnosed with the disease or illness) who aren't able to participate in another event other than a run/walk that many organizations tend to put on to support a disease .  Plus - who doesn't love a good get together with great friends, great food and desserts and of course drinks and socializing!?

So - on to the details of this party.  The hostesses, Jennifer and her friend Jenn, threw together this Pink Party as a way to raise funds to support their team in the breast cancer 3-day walk.  They had items from local businesses donated for raffle baskets as well as a silent auction.  Each guest was asked to donate money as part of their entry to the party - it was $10 per adult and $5 per child, which included 2 raffle tickets for adults and 1 for each child... additional raffle tickets were available for purchase at $5 a piece or 5 tickets for $20.  Their guest list for this party was approximately 30 people and they were able to raise more than $10,000 to support their team (although, I'm not sure that was all for this fundraiser).

Check out the party's awesome set up in the photos below:

Sign explaining entry cost

The duos story as to why they were joining in the 3-day Walk to Cure Breast Cancer

Some of the raffle baskets

A close up of some of the baskets

Some simple decor

The favor table

Cookie raffle basket (how cute are those cookies... seriously!)

Ribbon cookies for favors

pink candle favors

Pink chocolate cookie lolli's (those look awesome!)

Part of the dessert table set up

more desserts

I LOVE the idea of having a pink chocolate fountain - how fun is that... and such a great focal point!

Drink station.  I just loved the encouraging signs posted throughout the party

Live auction item (I'd love one of those mixers in pink... I especially wouldn't mind buying it know the money is going to a good cause!)

I hope you enjoyed taking a peek at this awesome fundraiser party for breast cancer!  It's such great inspiration for future fundraisers I'd like to host.  It's also a very welcoming site seeing parties for a cause.  To view some more photos, head over to Catch My Party!

Real Party: Rustic Baptism

I'm still poking around the 'net to try and find some more inspiration for my niece's {and soon to be Goddaughter} Baptism that's taking place in April.  Let me tell you - there is not a lot out there for photos of Real Baptisms... whon, whon!  But - thanks to that lovely little party site, Catch My Party, I was able to find some cute Baptism inspiration there {although, not much for a baby girl, which I found quite surprising}.

Today's real party comes from Meghan McCann of MegMac Designs.  She designed and planned her nephew's {and Godson) baptism with a very adorable rustic theme.  The Baptism was held in the fall, so all of the yummy homemade treats and food fit the season.  The menu included a DIY chili bar with homemade mini biscuit bowls, pumpkin-flavored whoopie pies, s'mores pops, spice cake balls, a harvest salad and much, much more.  The decor was simple, but adorable, with all of the printables made by Meghan.  Scroll down to view the great photos of this adorable rustic Baptism!

The adorable Guest of Honor - Grady

I love this simple, but adorable, centerpiece idea

Favors for each guest to take home - Apple Cinnamon Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Buttercream {homemade... and YUM!}. Each tag read "All of God's grace in one SWEET little face".  A-DOR-ABLE!

I love this wishing tree!

I love this idea of a photo clothesline - such a great way for guests to see how much the baby has grown!

Adult-only Autumn punch

mason jars to match the rustic theme, with matching blue paper straws

the DIY chili bar with the homemade mini biscuits

Harvest salad

Sweet baked brie with homemade strawberry jam

pumpkin whoopie pies with custom party circles designed by Meghan

yummy s'mores pops!

Spice cake balls

Homemade coffee macarons with chocolate Nutella ganche

Seriously, is this Baptism one of the most adorable Baptism's?  I love the rustic theme in the fall time... and how Meghan matched the food to the season.  She must love that little guy a ton - everything was homemade and created by her - including all of the delicious food!  

If you would like to read more about the Baptism, and see more photos, head over to her blog here.

Hopefully I have some updates soon on my niece's Baptism that I'm planning - it's two months away from today!  That's not much time to plan! Oye vey - better bog down one of these nights! :)