Celebrate TODAY!

There are days that get long....and days that are hard. There are days where sometimes you just need a pick me up.

So today I am encouraging you to CELEBRATE TODAY! Celebrate where you are at! Celebrate with people that make you feel special! Go out to dinner, make your favorite dessert, wear your favorite outfit, just CELEBRATE!

I know what I am going to make to celebrate today..... Cake balls:
(courtesy of bakerella.com)

Red Velvet Cake Balls
1 box red velvet cake mix (cook as directed on box for 13 X 9 cake)
1 can cream cheese frosting (16 oz.)
1 package chocolate bark (regular or white chocolate)
wax paper

1. After cake is cooked and cooled completely, crumble into large bowl.
2. Mix thoroughly with 1 can cream cheese frosting. (It may be easier to use fingers to mix together, but be warned it will get messy.)
3. Roll mixture into quarter size balls and lay on cookie sheet. (Should make 45-50. You can get even more if you use a mini ice cream scooper, but I like to hand roll them.)
4. Chill for several hours. (You can speed this up by putting in the freezer.)
5. Melt chocolate in microwave per directions on package.
6. Roll balls in chocolate and lay on wax paper until firm. (Use a spoon to dip and roll in chocolate and then tap off extra.)

 

You can also make little cake pops too:

CELEBRATE TODAY!!

Here comes Peter Cottontail....

I know I mentioned this near Valentine's Day, but I love holiday's! I love holiday marketing, holiday candy, drinks...you name it when applied to a holiday and I have it or want it! Marketer's LOVE me!

As I have mentioned in the past few posts, my birthday is in March. Luckily, I love pastel colors! Getting a bag of Hershey kisses and Cadbury eggs in the PINK and GREENS and BLUES of the spring make me happy. I think everything tastes better when it is in color for the season. Things just taste fresher!

Coming right around the corner is EASTER! I am a subscriber to many e-newsletters, and one of my favorite's is Hershey's Kitchen. As a child I did NOT like coconut! (My grandma bought me a coconut bunny cake for my birthday one year and it did not go over well...I ate the sugar face!) But here is my new favorite EASTER recipe from Hershey's Kitchen:

Coconut Marshmallow Nests

Ingredients:

• 1/2 teaspoon water
• 3 to 4 drops green or other food color
• 1-1/4 cups MOUNDS Sweetened Coconut Flakes
• 2/3 cup miniature marshmallows
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon butter
• HERSHEY'S Candy-Coated Milk Chocolate Eggs

Directions:

1. Combine water and food color in small bowl or small jar with cover or re-sealable plastic bag. Add coconut; toss with fork or shake closed jar or plastic bag until coconut is evenly coated.

2. Microwave marshmallows and butter in medium microwave-safe bowl 30 seconds at HIGH (100%); stir. If necessary, microwave an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, until mixture is melted and smooth when stirred. Stir in tinted coconut.

3. Line tray or cookie sheet with wax paper. Drop coconut mixture in 12 equal mounds onto prepared tray. Shape coconut mounds with moistened fingers into small nest shapes. Cool completely. Allow to air dry until slightly hardened. Fill with milk chocolate eggs. 12 candies.

These are SO CUTE! So make them with kids, let them help form them and put the eggs inside! A great way to work together as a family!

Academy Awards - the oscars

When I was turning 17 I had a fabulous idea. Why not have my birthday party surrounding one of my favorite events - The Academy Awards! This party was so special and I had so much fun planning it!

I invited a bunch of friends and told them to dress in their favorite formal dress/attire. All the girls wore pretty Homecoming and Prom dresses and the boys all wore button down shirts with or without ties. As people came to my house, my dad and I had aligned the front walkway with RED Christmas lights! (It is a good thing my dad loved Christmas lights so we had the right thing!) I had my brother video taping people as they arrived at the party and then were interviewed by my friend, Tara, on the "Red carpet." Great, right? People were basically asked what their favorite thing was about me, and then we decided what celebrity they looked the most like!

Now, you can't have an Award show party without voting for "Best Actress" or "Most likely to be Prom Queen/King" etc! Everyone received a ballot, and with everyone in attendance we voted for each other. (No one was allowed to win 2 prizes). After tallying the votes, we had our own award show. I had spray painted plastic Easter bunnies from the dollar store in Gold to give out as prizes. Each person was given a die-cut star with the category and their name on the award as well, as the presentation envelope!

After our own Awards show, some people changed back into their normal clothes to get comfy to watch the Academy Awards. We had cake and appetizers, of course, to celebrate!

This Sunday marks the 82nd annual Academy Awards. I will be watching in the comfort of my own home probably in my pajamas this year! Here is the OSCARS OFFICIAL SITE!

Here are some great ideas for having a FABULOUS party! Also - check out the Food Network magazine as there are always fabulous ideas there! I think Bobby Flay is featured this year!
About Entertaining: Oscars
Top Party Ideas: Academy Awards
Academy Awards Party ideas

From Bakerella.com Fun with Films

HAVE FUN! And make sure you share if you do something fun for the Academy Awards!

Think Spring....

Who has Spring Fever??? Fun ideas from Family Fun and Disney! ENJOY!

Spring Parties for Kids

BIRTHDAY MONTH

March 24th is my birthday, and I am a big birthday celebration person! This post has less to do about planning a birthday party then all of the sweet deals you can get by becoming a member at different places to get free birthday things. Here is a list, it is not exhaustive by any means, of places that will send you a free birthday gift!

•  Red Robin - Free burger the week of your birthday
• Dairy Queen - Blizzard fan club - by one get one blizzard
• Cold Stone - Free "Like it" the week of your birthday
• DSW - $5 the month of your birthday
• Victoria's Secret - $10 off the month of your birthday
• Papa Murphy's - Free bucket of cookie dough with purchase of a pizza
• Caribou Coffee - Free drink any size on your birthday!
• Betty Crocker - Free Birthday party magazine
• Noodles & Company - Free noodle dish on your birthday
• Famous Daves - Free Dessert usually with coupon!

As I think of more I will list more! But sign up for some of these deals. They are WELL worth it!

Having a party with a Consultant?

Last night I attended a Tastefully Simple party. As I was thinking of a blog for today, my coworker suggested talking about hosting a party such as the one I went to last night!

I always go to parties, such as the Tastefully Simple one, saying that I am not going to buy anything. Low and behold. I walk out with at least 1-2 things purchased, and this time, with a party I am going to host (tentatively set for April 10). Since the consultant's already bring everything or send ahead what they need, what do you need to do to make a good hostess? And how do you get the best deals out of the evening?

To be a good hostess to your guests and the consultant:
1) Ask the consultant in advance what they may need. Would they rather work at a table or sit in a living room? How much room do they want to set up?
2) Make sure your house is clean! This is key to making it a nice environment for the consultant and yourself to work in!
3) Have beverages, and if needed, treats available to the guest and to the consultant.
4) Make sure you are ready for the consultant when they arrive in advance to set up.
5) Offer to help set up - although they probably have a method to set up, it is always nice to offer!
6) Do not push products or booking a party on your friends/family that attend! They can decide on their own and will ask for your opinion if needed!

How do you get the best deals out of the evening?
1) Listen to the consultant and ask what kinds of promotions they are running. If there are none at that time, ask if she knows of anything upcoming.
2) See if there is ways to buy a "bundle" instead of single products. Usually there is a discount wrapped up in there.
3) If someone books a party (for Tastefully Simple) you get 1/2 off of any item! Make sure you GO BIG on this, as most likely this is not going to happen to you again within the same company!
4) Know what the hostess gifts are - wait until everyone orders to pick out what you want.

And the number 1 thing to do for both of these is to HAVE FUN! It is a night with your girlfriends and a fun way to learn about new products. If you go to a Tastefully Simple party BRING YOUR APPETITE! There is lots to sample!

Here are 4 companies that I have been to parties with before:

Tastefully Simple
Mary Kay
Tupperware
Pampered Chef

Take a look, and maybe you will want to host one of your own someday! I know there are many more companies are out there, so if you have any good ideas, list them in the comments section!

Helpful websites

To get inspiration for your party, looking at websites and magazines is always helpful.

One of my favorite party designers is David Tutera. He is featured in "My Fair Wedding" on WEtv. He is an amazing designer...just look at these styles:

Here are some websites along with a description about them for you to check out:

David Tutera Party Planning book  - GREAT party planning book!  A lot of great pictures and ideas for inspiration!
David Tutera  - Here is David's website. He has a flower company and has tons of great ideas and recipes found here.
Martha Stewart - So many crafts, so many different inspirations no matter the party or occasion! For my wedding I made Martha's leaf wreaths for the end of the pews.
Family Circle -    If you are looking for ideas for a children's party especially - this is a great place to look!
 Oprah - Oprah hires some pretty outstanding party planners! Love her ideas and all the people she brings in to make her ideas even BRIGHTER!
Food Network - Holiday's and parties! - Tons of GREAT recipes and ideas from the chef's who know how to cook best!

Here is a great start - now get party planning!