Everyday Celebrating

Table Tutus

Sweets floating on a sea of tulle!

Table tutus here at SweetsIndeed. 

 

Still time to: create your child's school valentines

photo credit:  Chica Schmica

Cute and easy Valentine's Day treats perfect for school!

Staple a sucker between two cardstock hearts.  Decorate one side with a cute face!   

 

SmileBooks discount for EC readers... ALL YEAR!

While I'm spending time at the Blissdom conference this weekend, I wanted to leave you with a wonderful discount from my sponsor, SmileBooks.

 

The great folks at SmileBooks were one of my sponsors for the BlogHer conference last July and are sponsoring me for Blissdom as well. They printed some amazing booklets for both conferences that feature party ideas from this blog.  The quality is phenomenal!

Have you wanted to make a nice coffee table style book?  Maybe featuring a vacation or holiday, maybe a birthday party or special anniversary, etc?   Smilebooks produces the highest quality of glossy, beautiful photo books.  

It is so easy to create a book, just upload your photos!  You can create your own layouts or have them designed for you.   

SmileBooks is offering a 30% discount to readers of Everyday Celebrating in celebration of the Blissdom conference, blogs and those that read them.  Just use coupon code CELEBRATE30 during checkout to receive the discount.  

There are so many occasions to celebrate with a book... Mother's Day, Graduation, Celebrate a high school band season or sport, etc.  These make a fabulous gift!  And... this code is good for all of 2010. With an expiration date of 12/31/2010, you can get discounted books for every occasion... all year!

Marshmallow hearts!

Fernanda, of the blog Pera Chapita, shared with me these easy and cute ways to use marshmallows this Valentine's Day.

 

Simply take a marshmallow, roll it flat and cut out a mini heart with a cookie or aspic cutter.

What you have in the end... marshmallow confetti!

She suggests laying several on a bed of red sugar or sprinkles or sliding one onto the end of a skewer and serving with hot chocolate.  Cute!

   

Everyday Events: Minnie Mouse Birthday!

I've said time and time again that I love hearing from readers!  I love hearing that they've taken even a small bit of inspiration from this blog and ran with it in creating their own spectacular occasion.  

Shay emailed to share her daughter's first birthday party - a Minnie Mouse theme.  This couldn't have come at a more perfect time as I have two friends who are looking for Minnie inspiration for their own toddler parties.  

Here are just a few of the beautiful details!

First, an adorable cake, complete with ears!

 

plus an all pink smash cake

 

Table decorations complete with baby pictures of the birthday girl

 

Glass bowls filled with pink roses and bead filler, embellished with the minnie ears!

 

Simple and cute tables.  Remember, wrapping paper makes great runners!

 

Bath salts as favors for the adults adorned with houndstooth fabric

  
  Cookies for the children

Continuing the Minnie theme 

 

Drinks in individual carafes - lemon water, punch and apple juice

 
How cute was the birthday girl??

Thanks to Shay for sharing some of the adorable details of a very special day.  I encourage others to submit their parties to share.  Inspire others! 

Hip aprons from The Hip Hostess

Is your honey stumped for ideas for a great Valentine's Day gift?  Looking for a unique gift for a great friend, mom or someone that you just wish to thank?

Enter the adorable aprons from The Hip Hostess. 

The mother/daughter creators of The Hip Hostess recently sent me that beautiful black and white demi apron you see above.  It's called Black a la Mode.  While I'm not normally an apron wearer, and heck, I'm not really a cook either, these aprons are cute enough to inspire you to do both!  

First, they are packaged beautifully!  I'll confess that I had photos of the packaging to share but then somehow lost them during a major flash card clean out.  Anyway, let me just share that the apron I received was packaged in a beautiful matching damask paper.  I'm big on packaging, especially when it's being sent as a gift and this packaging adds to the excitement and quality of the gift.

The apron itself is so cute, you almost wish it were a skirt.  LOL  Two things I loved about the apron.  One - it's light.  It's not a heavy duck cotton like some aprons and it's not stiff.  It's light and comfortable and moves with you.  Two - it fits a plus size gal.  It's generous in size and has extra long ties.  And it doesn't just FIT, it's flattering. Perfect!

The demi apron has 2 pockets and a cute ric rac bottom.  It can be worn on the waist, or, because it's generous in size, can be worn on the hips.

And guess what else they offer?  How cute are these?  Children's aprons!  You and your daughter can match!

 

Add The Hip Hostess to your wish list.  It's still time to drop a hint for Valentine's Day or... Mother's Day!

Disclosure: I was given one demi apron in return for conducting this review.  My reviews and recommendations are always products I believe in.

Mini Milk Carton Valentines

Ran across this super cute Mini Milk Carton Valentine Kit on etsy.

Includes everything needed to recreate this create Valentine's Day gift.

 

More easy Valentine's Day treat packaging

The crew at Martha Stewart's Craft Department shared this idea.  

Create treat bag toppers by taking a photo of your child blowing kisses.  

Photoshop on hearts or use mini heart stickers and create a message on the back such as

 "Kisses!  Love, Daniel" 

For schools that are a candy free zone, try filling with stickers or cute pencil erasers, etc.

 

Candy frame decor

photo credit: Better Homes and Gardens 

I love this simple way to add color, dimension and theme to your decor.  Buy an inexpensive square frame at The Dollar Tree or Goodwill.  Glue a cardboard circle onto the front of the frame then glue conversation hearts head to head all the way around the circle.
 

Donut tree!

Taste of Home magazine gives a great tutorial of how to make a donut tree. These are great for brunches or a child's pajama party.  A great idea that's going around right now are morning birthday party for smaller children who typically nap during the traditional birthday party hours. 

Want to make a stand like this?   Glue a heavier champagne glass or a candlestick to a glass plate.  Make sure to use a strong CLEAR glue. :)