Summer Fiesta by the Pond

Every summer my book club has a get together, just to get together!  No book discussion, just socializing, good food and wine!  One of the ladies has a home out in the country and volunteers to have it held at her place.  My mom and I are doing the food and the planning.  This year's theme is "Summer Fiesta by the Pond"

The Menu

Chips, Guacamole, and Salsa

Three Bean and Corn Salsa

Grilled Stuffed Jalapenos

Beef Fajitas

Chicken Fajitas

Fresh Flour Tortillas

Frijoles a la Charrao

Rice

Carmel Apple Empanadas

Dulce de Leche Almond Cupcakes

Polvorones (Mexican Wedding Cookies)

Sangria Tea

I love the elegance of this table set up, and this is pretty much the vibe I tyring to achieve with out little get together. 

Let's see how it comes out.  I already have bowls and platters similar to some of the ones in this picture. There is a Hispanic flea market and farmers market close by we are going to over the weekend to look for a authentic pinata, serape (to use as a table covering), sombrero and other decorations. 

Also as a "party favor" for the ladies I am doing big beautiful flower pins for their hair.  We asked everyone to come dressed in "Fiesta Attire"

Pretty Princess Party

This beautiful smile made all my hard work worth it.  She had a BLAST at her party and was sooooo happy!  And all of the little Princess' had so much fun also.

Each little girl was crowned with her tiara and given her princess sash as they arrived.  We had a few Knights in attendance as well (unfortunately they did not make it into any of the photos, they were too busy in the moon jump all day).  Each princess was made a custom name bracelet.



The Palace Party Planners laid out a beautiful feast fit for a princes.  The menu included Turkey Sandwiches cut out in crown shapes, Fresh Fruit, Dragon Tails (Chicken Strips) and Chips.

I love how the centerpeice came out.  This is what happens when you buy a "tub-o-rhinestones" and have free time on your hand while watching the basketball playoffs.

I recycled the flowers from the centerpeices I used at my best friends baby shower a few years ago.

I did not get a chance to take a full picture of the draping that I did not the tent, but it definately brought everything together.  Here you can see a glimsp of it.



Each little guest received a Princess Swag Bag with bubbles, fruit snaks, party blowers, Princess coloring book and crayons.  The bubbles were a HUGE hit with the kids.  Thankfully I had extras because there were a few that either used up all of their bubble or accidently spilled them.  I'm glad I did the full size version not the party size version of them.

The Princess backdrop came from Party City and made a great backdrop for the photos.

Everyone, all the way down to the littlest pricess had a lot of fun!

Princess SWAG Bags

I found these cute bags at Party City. The bag on the left with the pattern is for the girls...and the solid color (purpleishbule) bag on the right is for the the boys.




Each bag will have bubbles (6/$0.99 at the 99c store), colors (3/$1.00 at Dollar Tree), a mini coloring book, and Fruit snacks. Girls bags will have princess themed stuff and for the boys I'm doing a knight or pirate theme (have not gotten this stuff yet because I am still waiting on a final count of number of boys from Grandmother and my sister.


Last year around Christmas I found these tiaras and rings at Dollar Tree. There were 6 to a package of the tiaras, they were plain with not rhinestones. The rings had a pink or a lavender heart shaped stone in it. I purchased a big "tub-o-rhinestones" from Hobby lobby and binged them both out.

The first photos shows the rings before I added the "extra" to them.

So now I have sets of pink, purple, red, yellow and green Princess Tiaras and Royal Jewels for our visiting princesses. I also blinged out their wands (also found at Dollar Tree)

Each girl will also receive a sash that says "Princess" and a princess skirt. I found this super easy and inexpensive tutorial at http://www.momaroo.com/ for the skirts. I'm going to make a few alterations to the instructions, I want longer skirts and not as full.

Pink and Lavender Bling Princess Party

I'm planning my niece's 6th birthday party.  It's a princess theme party, I'm doing a twist on the Disney Princess theme.  I was so excited when Disney finally came out with an African American Princess. 




Photo: http://www.disneyconsumerproducts.com/

 But the thing is, Princess Tiana is not on all of the Disney Princess stuff, so I came up with my own twist of it.  The color scheme is Pink and Lavender... pretty much based off of these plates:

There are six different princess...Tiana, Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, and Ariel (a different one on each plate).  Since this is a party for "little people", I figured the dessert size plates were large enough to use for the food (7") and I am going with pink and lavendar napkins.

We are decorating a 10 x20 tent with pink fabric, tule, ribbon and balloons...this one of my inspriration photo's I found online:

Inspiration photo for the food and cake table:

Still working out the menu...most likely finger foods.  I ran across these great blogs that were a HUGE inpriration for the food!

For All Things Creative - I love the cute names for the food and the namecards she did.

Cupcakes Wishes & Birthday Dreams - This dessert buffet is a 5 year olds dream!

Backdrop for the photo's with the Princess

Purchased from http://www.partycity.com/

It was only $6, but it's made of plastic and in two parts.  So I'm brainstorming on how/where to put it up since this is an outside party.

I have to find the blog I got the idea to do this "blinged out number" for the main centerpeice.  Since I have that "bucket-o-rhinstone" I had to find another project to use them on and this was just perfect. 

I took a 8" MDF Curly Q Number - 6 that I purchased from Hobby Lobby

Painted it with a metallic purple acrylic paint and then hot glued various shades and sizes of pink rhinestones to it.  This project roughfly took one evening to do (while watching the basketball game on TV).  This is how it turned out.

I'm recycling silk flowers from some baby shower centerpeices that I did a few years ago to make the centerpeice.
 

Another White Dress

So as I mentioned before, I not a huge fan of white...unless it's a t-shirt or something I can throw in the washing machine.  I just always seem to get SOMETHING on me, I'm a magnet for dirt when I wear white.

Well, I'm strolling through Ross...side note:  I hate Ross, their stores just always seem to be un-organized and cluttered.  But for some reason I still pop in every now and then.  And will usually find a GREAT deal I just can pass up.

Anyway, I go in the other day and ran across the CUTE dress that fit me FABulously!  What color is it but WHITE!  But I just had to have it.  It's going to be the perfect dress to wear for our family photos next week.  I'm pairing them with a pair of black strappy sandals I have in my closet.

Easter Suit

Remember when you were little and how excited you would get when your mom would take you shopping for your Easter outfit?
Well, as an adult...not so much.  I guess its because I am not so big on clothe shopping (for myself). 

Anyway, I need a white suit for Easter.  Did I mention, the only time I wear white is if it is washable...i.e. t-shirt, tank top etc.  Last week I was looking for a new black suit and saw a white suit that...*surprise* I actually liked and thought was cute!  So once I found out we had to wear white on Easter...I "hopped" back over to the mall and luckily found it in my size.

Now I have to find shoes to wear with it....I don't have any white dress shoes.

2010 Susan G. Komen Houston Race for the Cure

Every year to kick off my birthday celebration weekend, I participate in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure®. Every 68 seconds, somewhere in the world , a woman dies from breast cancer, the most prevalent cancer among women today.

The Komen Race for the Cure® raises money to fund education, screening and treatment programs in our community and supports nation cutting-edge research in hopes of finding the cures.
For all the wives, mothers, daughters, sisters and friends, please consider making a gift today. Together we are saving lives!Please support my fundraising efforts for this cause by making a donation to the Komen Race for the Cure® at http://rfch.convio.net/goto/zeva2010. Donations are being accepted through November 15, 2010.

This year I had the pleasure of waking with one of my tenants. They are an oil and gas company, which is why we are wearing the PINK hardhats. As usual this event was a lot of fun to participate. Words cannot begin to explain the excitement and inspiration on walk day as you see all the participants, both survivors and supporters. Here are a few pictures form the Houston Komen Race for the Cure®.

This event is very near and dear to me as I have many family and friends who have been effected by breast cancer. Know your risk by learning about your family health history and talking to your health care provider about your own personal risks. Remember, by making healthy lifestyle choices, you may reduce your risk of breast cancer.

Real Men Wear Pink

While watching the game on Sunday, I got so EXCITED to see the football players with pink gloves, shoes, wristbands etc!! Then I noticed it was not only the players, but it was the coaches, referees and the cheerleaders with pink on as well.

Since October is breast cancer awareness month, come to find out the NFL (Players, Coaches, Referees, and Cheerleaders) are wearing PNIK to support the fight against breast cancer and to raise awareness of this important campaign! The football field of all games played in the month of October will have the NFL logo with a pink ribbon stencil, there are even special game balls and pink coins!!!!

Afterwards, all apparel worn at games by players and coaches, the special game balls and pink coins will be auctioned off at special auction (www.NFL.com/auction). The proceeds from this auction will benefit the American Cancer Society and as well as other team charities. Fan’s can even join in by purchasing special Pink NFL gear. I’ve ordered my NFL Pink jersey, can’t wait till it comes in so I can sport it on game day! I guess I’m going to be watching a little more football than usual this season.

Check out http://www.nfl.com/pink to read more about the NFL’s campaign.