Everyday Celebrating

Medical graduate = syringe jello shots!

My friend Kristen just graduated from nursing school!
Not only is nursing school crazy hard to begin with, but try tackling it with 3 children and a husband to take care of as well.  She rocked it like it was no big deal!

In celebration, along with other libations, were jello shots presented in (appropriately enough) - syringes!

Just take your fave flavor of jello (red is fabulous for resembling blood) and substitute vodka for water in the recipe. It will set up just as normal jello!

But beware... you'll barely taste the alcohol... so pace yourself!

Everyday tip:  These would also be cute (sans alcohol) for a child's party.  Have a child interested in being a doctor when he grows up?  Medical birthday party!  Or Halloween... dress up as a vampire and pass these out!

Real Simple Decorative ideas

I'm loving these ideas from the Real Simple website.

Using a dry erase board as a placemat.  Write in each guest's name instead of using a place card.

Another placemat idea:  Print out sheets of paper with words and their meanings that relate to the celebration.

Love these wrapping ideas!

Wrap a gift in a large calendar. Circle the date of their special occasion (birthday, anniversary, etc.)

Use a jump rope for a child's gift.

Puzzle shaped food cutter

How about giving your child a sandwich that can be pieced together?

My friend Michelle, at Sweet Mady Paper and Gifts has these adorable lunch punch sets for sale.

It's taller than cookie cutters and was designed to go through two pieces of bread easily while keeping the bread fluffy! Captures the most amount of bread while taking off the crust. It's kid friendly and super easy and just MAY get your child to eat something new on his sandwich!

Everyday tip:
How cute would these be for a lego party?  Or, a bridal shower with the theme of "She's found the missing piece"?  Makes a great unique gift for moms!

Show your love!

Beautiful screen printed cotton candy print by Jennifer Ramos at Made By Girl.
$15 on sale (frame not included.)

A great Mother's Day gift especially for maybe a Mom to Be that is having a girl and planning a pink nursery. 

Get one here.

BTW... don't forget your pregnant friends on Mother's Day!
They are already mothers and they appreciate the sentiment during such an emotional time!

Other ideas:  a pink wedding shower celebrating love!  Or put it in your file for next year's Valentine's Day.

50 free prints!

Now's the time to stock up on prints!
Get 50 free 4 X 6 prints at Shutterfly by using the code:

FREEPRINTS

(shipping and handling and taxes are not included)

Don't forget!  Mother's Day is approaching on May 10!
Hurray!  Offer ends April 27.

Gather up for Cinco de Mayo!

While historically, Cinco de Mayo has no real historical significance in Mexico itself, Americans sure love to add it to the list of celebrated occasions - a "holiday" celebrating Mexican heritage and pride.

OR all these products put together would make a fun shower, summertime birthday, or patio party!

Here's a few items to get the creative juices flowing from fabulous etsy sellers:

Corona bottle glasses! 
Made from real recycled Corona beer bottles, these are individually flame cut and polished.
$10 for a set of two.

Everyday tip:  These would make a great gift.  Think about someone with a new house or apartment with a balcony.  Pair a couple of these in a cute small cooler with a 6 pack of Coronas, a few limes, some great colorful kitchen towels, etc.  Great summertime gift!

Your drinks need something beautiful to sit upon!
Take one white tablecloth - preferably a light linen or a gauzy muslin would be a great texture...
then add these cocktail napkins for a pop of color.

These are handmade organic linen cocktail napkins that were batiked and dyed by hand.
They are washable and will hold up to many uses. 
$24 for a set of 4.

Everyday tip: I especially see future uses for the pink napkins.  I love how the design almost looks like a chandelier.  You could do a fabulous shower or bachelorette party with these, using a pink/white color scheme and bringing in chandelier and crystal elements.

This seller also has some incredible tablecloths and runners.

Decorations? 
Mexican cut paper banners

Buy a pack of 3 for $28 and criss cross them over your table. 

Fun with food?

I love these paper festooned food picks.

10 picks for $4 and they fit in with the color scheme we have going beautifully!

Dessert?
How about chocolate covered jalapenos!?

These are green jalapenos fresh from the market, covered in your choice of chocolate or vanilla.
I love that they come with the stem in tact.  Makes for a nice presentation!
Half pound box is $12.

or Fiesta cookies!

Shortbread cookies beautifully decorated for the occasion.
1 dozen for $29.99.
GREAT favors to wrap up for guests to take home.
They are FIVE inches wide! 

For those that have everything...

Coach soap, anyone? 
Even has the classic C imprinted ON the soap.

For those that have everything... and still want MORE.
Makes a great hostess gift, stocking stuffer, etc.

Or perfect for your admin!

Happy Administrative Professionals Day!

Soap here on the Coach website.

Strawberries 'n Cream!

This month's issue of InStyle magazine featured these little beauties!
With strawberries starting to make their debut, it's perfect timing.

Simply take a paring knife and slice a bit off the tip.  Then core the strawberry.
Use a pastry bag to fill each strawberry with cream!  Prettier touches can be made with pastry bag tips like the star.

Garnish the top with sprinkles!

These really add color to the table.  They'd look great in individual white egg cups.

Portable salad bar... or just bar... your choice ;)

I ran across this portable salad bar in the LTD Commodoties catalog and loved it!  Lots of possibilities.
It's a great size: 4.5 feet by 2 feet.  Great size for a picnic table.

Just blow it up, fill it up with ice and there ya go.  Instant salad bar or regular bar.
Sure beats serving drinks out of ugly coolers, tubs or bins.

You could really dress this up with fabric.  Lay a large piece of fabric on the table (under the bar).  Blow it up.  Bring the sides of the fabric up and maybe twist as you go.  Bring the ends up over the side and lay them inside the bar.  Weight it down with the ice.  An easy way to color coordinate your bar to your decor and hide the plastic.

And it doesn't have to be used as a bar.  You use it to be the base of a large floral centerpiece or be the drip tray for an ice sculpture.  Also, great for tailgates!

Only $18.95 and it comes with a cover!  Makes a great gift too!  Stock up for summer!

Head to Target - now!

The big 15 packs of Peeps are 75% off at Target! $0.37 a pack!
Even the red ones!  Know what that means?  Stock up and plan on making a Peeps Christmas wreath!
Who cares if they are stale by then?  You actually NEED them to be harder for the wreath anyway, right?

And all Easter is 75% off as well.
Stock up on egg dying kits for next year.  Or use egg dying kits ALL year.  You can dye eggs anytime, add your child's name to the eggs to celebrate an "egg-ceptional" accomplishment!  Good grades, home run, etc.

Along with Easter, some stores have some of the Dollar Spot at 75% off too.
All the items with Blue dots are 75% off!
Here's what I got for $6.
60 sheets of tissue paper (martha stewart poms anyone?)
Several cards, some cute luggage tags which would also work for scrapbooking.
Not pictured, I got a plastic rolling pin for my son to use with play doh. 

Go!  Stock up!