Everyday Celebrating

DIY/FREEBIE - Valentine pillow downloadable template

Super cute, right?
Ez at Creature Comforts has designed and provided for FREE and downloadable iron-on template and instructions on how to create these fabulous pillows for your sweetie.

Visit her site for all the details!

Seating planning made easy - online!

As someone who doesn't draw the nicest circles and can never draw a room proportionally or constantly run out of room before tables... the Toptableplanner is perfect!

Toptableplanner is a web-based program used for doing just that - planning your tabletops.
It has several prominent features including:

• Different sizes and types of table - round or rectangular.
• Print tableplans, place cards and escort cards.
• Edit your table plan wherever you're online.
• Save different versions to see what works best.
• Easily import guest names from Word or Excel files.

If you have access to the internet, you have access to your layouts.  Going to meet with your wedding planner or reception venue and want to show them what you had in mind?  Just pull up to their computer or bring your laptop with wifi and log in!  It's interactive and your planner or venues will love you for it!

I suggest taking the interactive tour!

Use toptableplanner for corporate functions, fundraising events, banquets, bar mitzvahs, etc.  Not just for weddings!

$20 for a 6 month sub to the site.  Well worth it in helping to fight the headaches of seating charts!

Sweet treats with sweet sayings!

From Red Envelope:

Dish up some love on ceramic plates decorated with sweet colors and savory messages. Just right for afternoon tea or romantic desserts, the set includes four differently colored plates, each with its own special message.

• set of four plates includes "sweet heart" in blue, "hug me" in orange, "luv bug" in green and "be mine" in pink

And get this.... they arrive in a heart shaped pink box!

$24.95

Cool Jewels!

 

You know how sometimes it's the smallest silly thing that makes you smile?
These do that for me.

These are "cool jewels" ice cube trays.  How about handing someone a drink filled
with jewels of ice! 

Silly, but they sure beat your regular old ice maker shapes!

$6.95 at one of my fave stores, CB2.

Say goodbye to boring baby showers!

How many times have you sat through a boring baby shower?
Especially the ones where it's a mix of several areas of the Mom's life?  A bunch of strangers in a room desperately trying to make small talk... all the while just waiting for the gifts to be opened so there's a distraction.

Introducing the conversation starter... icebreaker of baby showers.
This Box of Baby Questions is filled with entertaining and amusing questions such as....

 - What famous person would you want as your childbirth partner in birthing class?

 - Who of the parents' friends will be the worst influence on this child?

 Get the idea?  Fun questions that spark laughter and warm up the crowd.

52 glossy questions!  Makes a perfect hostess gift for that woman you know that always throws the showers!  Or a great favor!

Certainly worth the $19.95 price tag!

Turn wine glasses into lamps!

Yet another "why didn't I think of that?" product!

Made of parchment, these "gorgeous helens" feature cute and whimsical designs that are printed in faint white.  All you need to do is take them out of the package, roll them up, drop a tealight into a wine glass and add a lampshade!  That's it.  

There are many places to purchase (google them!) or you can make them yourself.

Topiary Ball

There are so many ideas that are suggested for the holidays, but work beautifully for Valentine's Day.
And even so many things still found on the clearance racks for dirt cheap that can be transformed into for fun decorations for Valentine's Day. 

Here's a beautiful, easy decoration to make which was in Woman's Day magazine as a holiday item.

Materials:
1-inch foam paintbrush

red acrylic paint

3-inch Styrofoam ball

hot-glue gun

red pistachios

egg cup or short candlestick holder

Directions:
1. Paint ball red; let dry.

2. Place a dot of glue on closed end of pistachio; press onto ball.

3. Continue gluing pistachios onto ball, placing them in rings and using smaller nuts to fill spaces.

4. Display ball on egg cup or candlestick.

Fill in the Blankie

It seems that I am surrounded by beautiful pregnant women or those that are throwing them showers.
So I thought I'd throw out a fabulous idea for a shower gift.

Fill in the Blankie produces a beautiful blanket which you can have customized. 

These blankets come in an array of beautiful colors and can be customized with embroidery on all 4 sides of the blanket, on the satin edging... up to 200 characters!

You can include anything.  Birth date, name, favorite sayings, scripture, etc. They have a whole section on suggestions for text.

We received one from my good friend, NakedJen, when my son was born.  It featured his name (shown below) and 3 other fabulous sayings.   This was truly an heirloom gift and it's something that my son will have to pass on to his children.  I urge you to check out their site and look at all the different blankets, color combinations and personalization!

"I'd like to thank ......."

..... the Academy!"   LOL

I've received two blog awards this week! 

The "LUV award" came from Jamee over at Setting the Mood. 
Jamee's blog is one of the first I click on my reader and she does theme parties like you've never seen! 
Her details are magnificent! 

The second award came from Chris at Celebrations at Home.
Chris always posts these amazing finds that leave me thinking "why didn't I think of that?"  Like this... vase with JELLO!!!!!   Hello.  EASY!  Why didn't I think of that?

So thank you to these ladies for honoring me!  Now it's time for me to give back!
Here are the rules:

Honorees please follow these instructions and share the LUV!

1. Put the logo on your blog or post. (You can highlight the photo and text of this post and copy/paste wherever you need to...start your highlight from the bottom up to get the photo)
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

Here are my 10:

1.  Returning the love to Setting the Mood

2.  Returning the love to Celebrations at Home

3.  Colorblind Productions

4.  No Fuss Fabulous

5.  Tangarang

6.  Amy Atlas

7.  Create My Event

8.  Head of the Table

9.  Little Birdie Secrets

10.  Made by Girl

Small gift - large encouragement!

First of all, a large WELCOME to those visiting from My Insanity to check out my airplane party... and maybe sticking around to browse.  Welcome!  To the rest of my readers, I ask that you take the time to visit My Insanity and vote for your favorite party! 

Moving on.
I heart this frame. 

Intrepid:
adj.   Resolutely courageous; fearless

Celebrate women.  Know of a woman battling cancer or a divorce or a loss or any kind of struggle at this moment?    Order this frame on clearance at Target and give them an extra boost of encouragement!

They'll love you for it!