Hi, Thanks for stoping by and taking a look at our current job opening!
We are looking for someone to work part-time in our North Austin in-home studio (near The Domain). The position starts immediately, and will be 25 hours a week, with the option of adding additional hours that can be completed at home.
Our ideal candidate is:
Pay starts at $11.50/hour. Pay will increase to $13/hour after 6 months of quality work.
If you are interested, please send an email to us at contact@partyatyourdoor.com, and let us know why you think you're a great fit for the position!
]]>View these party themes and more at our website. And if you can’t find exactly what you’re looking for, then shoot us a message! All of our decorations are custom and we’d be happy to customize a party just for you.
-Ashley Willet
]]>When throwing a grad party, decorations can be tough. Your graduate isn't a kid anymore, but they aren't quite an adult either, so choosing decor that fits their age is tricky. We offer several banner choices that can be customized to match school colors and mascots (high school or college), and can include the name of the graduate, so the decor is tailored exactly to the guest of honor. Since teenagers don't think something actually happened unless they take a photo of it and share it on social media, we offer cute centerpieces that can easily double as photo props for guests. Of course, as parents, you're totally allowed to embarrass your kiddo just a little by displaying all of their school portraits from kinder to senior year with a cute grad hat photo banner.
For food at a graduation party, I say make whatever the graduate likes. Whether it's spaghetti & meatballs, or tacos, or mom's famous chili; it's nice to send them off with their favorite home cooked meal. They will probably be seeing a lot of dorm room ramen noodles and peanut butter sandwiches in the near future, so fill those bellies up with their faves! And don't forget dessert! We have the cutest customizable cupcake toppers and cake topper that will turn your sweet treats into a beautiful table centerpiece. Our grad confetti can be used as a table decoration, as a filler for cards, or as part of a graduation shadow box.
Congrats to the Class of 2020! May you have tons of adventure, learn something new every day, and get into an appropriate amount of trouble. The best is yet to come!
-Heather
]]>Tis the season for all things graduation. Whether it is preschool or PhD, we're here to help with all your custom decor needs. We of course have your custom graduation centerpieces, confetti, banner, cake topper, and cupcake toppers covered, but we wanted to round-up some of our favorite graduation invitations to help you with your party planning!
When it comes to birthdays, I love throwing a party full of custom decor, themed food and organized games, but I have some real mom anxiety about the influx of toys that will end up in my house, and the damage it is doing to our planet to create and dispose of these toys with such a short lifespan. We love our legos and magna tiles, and arts and crafts are great, but the amount of plastic toys we have acquired over the years makes my head spin.
For years we did "please no gifts" wording on our party invitations, which was great when they were little, but as the kids got older and we started attending a lot of other birthday parties where they saw the kids getting loads of gifts, they had some sadness over the no gifts rule at their own parties.
So in the last couple years we have let people bring gifts, and although we have gotten some amazing gifts (books, headlamps, stem kits, etc.), I am ready to take the leap into the no-gift birthdays for 2020 and here are some ideas I've come across.
Here's to wishing you a year of great celebrations and minimal clutter!
]]>To all the moms out there, today is your day too. You've done it. So take a moment, enjoy a cupcake and think about how much you rocked these past 18 years!
]]>What non-holiday traditions do you have in your house?
]]>Say goodbye to winter and hello to spring with all these party themes and more. For more ideas, feel free to visit our website.
]]>Before celebrating Valentine’s Day this year, consider throwing a Galentine’s Day party the day before. No matter how you choose to celebrate, as long as you’re with your favorite ladies, you’re doing it right.
-Ashley Willet
]]>We can't help with the weather, and planning around the general business of winter, but we can help by sharing 3 of our favorite winter birthday themes!
This Pop The Champagne She Is Changing Her Name is one of our all time best sellers. Classy and Fun!
The She Found Her Lobster banner is great for your Friends love friend. It can of course be paired with our other Friends themed decor to complete the look!
The customized <Name>'s Trading Her Tail For A Veil banner is for the beach bound party.
If your bride to be loves tacos as much as I do, then there is nothing better than this Taco Bout Love banner and adorable rose and cactus garland combo.
For a summer bachelorette party, a lemon theme is a refreshing theme and pairs perfectly with this She Found Her Main Squeeze banner.
This Last Meow Before The Vow banner is PURRRRRfect for your cat loving friend.
You can never go wrong with the classic Miss to Mrs banner, as it is the reason for the party after all!
The big day is all she's been thinking about for months on end, so why not put that date up big and bold at the celebration with this custom Wedding Date Banner.
Since there is always plenty of drinking at a bachelorette party, why not make that the theme! This A Drink or Two Before I Do banner is cute and on-point for the night's activities!
Once again, tacos, need I say more? They belong at every party, even at her <Name>'s Final Fiesta.
<Name>'s Final Flamingle is an adorable summer and beach theme for those ready to hit the bars and mingle one last time!
For the wine loving bachelorette in your life, this Pour The Wine His Last Name Is Mine banner is a great choice.
We love starting off the night with this Pop the Bubbly She is Getting a Hubby banner and a flute of bubbly for everyone to kick off the festivities!
<Name>'s Last Ride banner pairs perfectly with this confetti, and lots and lots of whisky!
Last Fling Before the Ring pretty much sums up the reason for the evening, and you can't go wrong with that!
Now that you have your banner and theme picked out, you're well on your way to planning a festive and fun bachelorette party. If you're needing to round on your decor with any cupcake toppers, custom drink toppers, confetti, etc. we've got your covered! Just poke around the shop, or email us with a special request!
]]>This year we have added two new banners to our line of new year's even decor, a Kiss Me At Midnight banner and also a Best Year Yet banner.
Other products we offer for your New Year's Eve Party Decor is a Cheers to a New Year banner, Tonight We Party banner, 3 piece centerpieces, 2020 confetti, and "cheers" straw toppers.
So no matter if you're decorating for yourself as you celebrate in your pajamas and tuck yourself in at 10 pm, or if you go all in for the New Year's Eve party with decor, drinks and friends galore, we have something for every decor need!
As always, if you need something you don't see, no problem, just send us a message and we'll create something custom just for you!
]]>Christmas Gift Wrap Game: Divide guests into teams and give each team an empty gift box, a roll of tape, scissors, and a roll of gift wrap. Using only one hand each, the team has to work together to wrap their "gift". The team that finishes first, wins.
Pin the Clothes on the Snowman: Just like pin the tail on the donkey, but with a holiday spin. Hang our felt snowman on the wall and give each guest an accessory. Blindfold them and let them take turns "pinning" their item on the snowman. Try our felt Christmas tree & ornaments for a slightly easier version for the kiddos. (All items are made from felt and naturally stick together, so no need for actual pins or tape)
"The Elf" Marshmallow Game: Shanti throws an epic Elf themed Christmas party and, of course, there are themed games. Remember the scene at the doctor's office when Buddy the Elf keeps eating the cotton balls? Swap the cotton balls for marshmallows and see which guest can fit the most marshmallows in their mouth. For an extra challenge, have your guests try to say, "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?" while they have a mouthful of mallows. Give the winner a prize; they deserve it!
Christmas Movie Bingo: Pick a classic holiday movie: Home Alone, Christmas Vacation, The Elf, A Christmas Story, (Die Hard?) and make bingo cards using quotes from the movie. Have a holiday movie party and let guests play bingo as they watch. Don't forget some good movie watching snacks!
Holiday Family Feud: As long as your family doesn't take competition too seriously (this would NOT include my family), this is such a fun way to interact with your party guests! Use a printable list of survey questions & answers to make your job as host super easy. Add a holiday cocktail like a Cranberry Old Fashioned to the game to make it even more interesting!
Need ideas for prizes for the winners of your fun Christmas Party games? Holiday scented candles, Christmas cookie cutters and a sugar cookie kit jar, or cozy Christmas socks will be loved by all your guests.
Merry Merry, friends!
-Heather
]]>Regardless of all these tips, the only way to guarantee a great holiday party, is to invite all your loved ones and appreciate what a wonderful time of year it is. A time to reflect and be grateful for everything you have. From all of us at Party At Your Door, Happy Holidays.
-Ashley Willet
]]>3 Days Before:
2 Days Before:
The Day Before:
Thanksgiving Day:
*The turkey can be resting, covered in foil, on the counter while the side dishes bake and you make the gravy. It will stay warm and will be juicier if you let it rest.
Since you will be totally calm, cool, and collected by prepping like a boss, you'll probably want to sit back with a cocktail while you marvel at the feast you created. Try a cool sparkling prosecco drink or a warm mulled wine. Need some holiday decor? Go boho with a feather garland, or show thanks with a colorful "Thankful" banner that will look beautiful over your holiday table.
Gobble gobble, friends!
-Heather
]]>Mummy Dogs
Just grab your favorite brand of hot dog or sausage (veggie varieties work perfectly, too) and a can of croissant dough. Cut the dough into strips (pretty much any length and width is fine, it should look rugged like a mummy anyway) Wrap the sausage or hot dog with strips of the dough making sure to leave some spaces where the meat shows through. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes.These are great at room temperature, so your kids can even eat them on the go.
Spooky Grilled Cheese
Try a mozzarella & pepperoni variety, or ham & swiss, or maybe cheddar with thinly sliced green apple. You can customize them to suit your family's tastes, and you can make a few or a bunch in about the same amount of time. Grill them on both sides in butter over medium low heat until golden brown and then cut them out in fun designs with Halloween cookie cutters. The scraps are chef's treat!
Meatball Eyes
Make a big batch of sauceless meatballs. You can even make them the night before and cook them right before you need them. When they come out of the oven, top each one with a sliced green olive with pimento to look like an eye, and jab a toothpick right down the middle. They are mess free, filling, and you don't even need plates or forks.Serve with garlic bread sticks to ward off the vampires!
Happy Trick or Treating, friends!
-Heather
]]>
BIRTHDAYS
Stress Balls: You can make them at home using balloons with a festive print. If you don't trust your DIY crafting skills, order some cute happy face stress balls that kids will love. Hey, kindergarten can be stressful, right?
Band Aids: Have you noticed how much kids love Band Aids? Even if they don't have a booboo, they still want to wear one, so grab some boxes with fun prints and hand them out. They are both fun and useful.
HALLOWEEN
Pencils: It may seem too simple, but kids love to get new decorated pencils. Grab some pencils with Halloween prints, and bundle a couple together with a spider ring for a perfect party treat.
Mandarin Orange Cups: Just because we can't bring candy doesn't mean we can't bring something that tastes sweet. Mandarin orange cups are the perfect color for Halloween, and you can turn them into cute Jack O'Lanterns by drawing faces on the lids with a black marker.
CHRISTMAS
Grinch Grapes: He's a mean one, Mr. Grinch, but he can also be turned into a healthy treat. Put some halved green grapes into a plastic baggy, tie up the top with a bright green pipe cleaner, use a black marker to draw on his crooked grin, and use yellow and red construction paper and glue on his squinty eyes
Snowman Juice Boxes: wrap juice boxes with white paper and decorate them to look like little snowmen. Add a cute green or red ribbon for an extra special touch.
VALENTINES DAY
Friendship Bracelets: If you have the time and the patience, you can make these yourself like we did in the 80's, or you can just order pre-made bracelets and thread them through the hole in the valentine card where the lollipop usually goes.
Heart Shaped Bubbles: Kids of all ages love bubbles. Grab a set with heart shaped wands and attach a cute note like, "I'm bubbling with excitement because you are my friend" or "My heart bursts with love"
No sugar? No worries. You can still thrill those sweet kiddos with lots of fun party treats without ever having to turn on your oven.
Party on, friends!
Heather
]]>
Baked Mac & Cheese with Chicken & Broccoli
The best thing about this dinner is that it's a complete meal in one dish. The second best thing is that the veggies are cleverly disguised under a blanket of pasta & cheese. Use rotisserie chicken for an even quicker version.
Tomato Soup & Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
It's nice to have a vegetarian option once in a while, and who doesn't love a grilled cheese sandwich? The best part about this recipe is that you just jazz up a couple of cans of store bought tomato soup, so you aren't standing over a hot pot all evening.
Get your kids involved with this recipe by letting them crush the cereal for the coating. Make a quick dipping sauce by mixing equal parts honey and your favorite mustard. Open a bag of pre-washed salad and dinner is served! (PS-the leftovers are great for lunch!)
I think we all want to broaden our kid's palettes and set them up for healthy eating, so a kid friendly salmon dish is a great start. The brown sugar in the glaze makes it more enticing for kids. Marinate it in the morning before you head out and it broils in under 10 minutes for a super quick dinner. Cook some boil-in-bag rice while the salmon gets browned & delicious, and heat a can of green beans. Done!
Angel Food Trifle
This is so easy, it's not even a recipe. Cut a store bought angel food cake (chocolate or vanilla) into cubes. Layer them in a trifle dish, or individual cups with your favorite yogurt or pudding, and whatever berries you have on hand. It's low fat, easy, and sneaks in some fresh fruit so you can feel good about feeding it to your kids. And hey, who says you can't have dessert on a weeknight?
Happy cooking!
-Heather
]]>Here are some ways to make a potluck fun and easy:
1. Give guests an idea of what you need
You don't want to end up with 5 desserts and no veggies (or maybe you do!) If you're hosting, make the entree and ask guests to provide the sides and dessert. Some easy crowd pleasing entrees include:
2. Go with what you know!
Hosting any type of dinner party, potluck or not, is not the time to try out a brand new recipe. Go with a time tested favorite that you know you can pull off. I once tried to make pasta with a porcini mushroom sauce and homemade rosemary bread and...it did not go well. Your friends won't go home saying, "I can't believe she made us tacos," they'll say, "Oh my gosh-it was so nice to eat tacos that somebody else made"
3. Potluck isn't just for dinner
My friends and I love to have potluck brunches. There's something so relaxing about hanging out mid-morning with delicious breakfast food, coffee and mimosas. Especially if you're used to eating breakfast on the run and not getting around to your coffee until it's already cold. Egg dishes can be made in advance and are often just as good room temperature as they are warm from the oven.
4. Make it the usual
As we get busy with work, kids, school, and life, we often don't get to see our friends as much as we'd like. Having regular potluck dinners or brunches is a great way to stay in touch without a lot of work or preparation. Take turns hosting and keep it casual so it's stress free.
Happy cooking!
-Heather
]]>SMOOTHIES
I love smoothies for so many reasons:
1) I can (and do) sneak all kinds of healthy things in like spinach, kale, and even cauliflower & broccoli and my kids never know.
2) They take no time to make. I have a designated "smoothie drawer" in my freezer so that I can just grab a combo of frozen fruits & veggies, chia seeds, bee pollen and throw it in the blender with ice, vegan protein powder*, and almond milk.
*We aren't vegan, or even vegetarian; we just love this product.
3) They are totally portable so I can pour it in a to-go cup with a straw, and out the door we go.
If you would like an endless list of delicious and healthy smoothie recipes, check out Weelicious.
MUFFINS
Muffins are a great portable food that can be made in advance and stored in the fridge for a quick grab & go option on busy mornings. However, a lot of muffin recipes are basically cupcakes minus the frosting, and sending a kiddo out the door with a belly full of fluff and sugar is not ideal. I try to find recipes that are sugar free and use alternatives to all purpose flour so that they are more filling. One of our current favorites are grain-free sugar-free Apple Muffins made with almond flour. Egg muffins are another great choice because they can still be made ahead, they are portable and delicious at room temperature, and they are filling enough to get your kiddo all the way to their lunch break.
GRANOLA
Whether it's crumbled over yogurt, or in bar form, granola is a great way to feed kids on the go because you can make a huge batch in advance and add lots of healthy and tasty ingredients. Quick to eat and portable, kids love it and so will you! Chewy Peanut Butter Granola Bars are sure to please. For a crumbled version that you can sprinkle over Greek yogurt, try a healthy coconut & almond version.
I hope these breakfast recipes will make your school mornings just a little bit easier and smoother, and send your sweet kids out the door with happy bellies!
Happy cooking!
-Heather
]]>
1. Turn balloons into animals without being a balloon artist!
If you gave me a month to practice, I probably couldn't make an animal out of twisting balloons together, but I can definitely wield a glue stick and that's all you need! We make dog faces to turn balloons into precious pups, or just glue some black dots (you'll need a large hole punch) on red balloons and fill your home with ladybugs like we did for my daughter's first birthday.
2. Fill 'em up!
I'm not just talking about hot air, fill them up with confetti! Grab a funnel, stretch the mouth of the balloon around it, and then fill it with fun confetti, and blow them up! Let guests pop them to explode pink or blue confetti around for a gender reveal (use black balloons to hide the color), use clear balloons filled with multi-colored confetti for a gorgeous pop of color!
3. Game On!
There's a reason balloons have been used at parties for decades; they're fun! There are lots of games you can play with balloons and keep guests, young and old, entertained at your next party:
Don't discount those balloons; they can look beautiful and add to the fun!
Party on friends,
Heather
]]>
To all the introverts out there ( I hear you; I'm one myself) I'm not talking about inviting friends over, cleaning and decorating the house, cooking and making cocktails for everyone. That is not fun or relaxing for anyone. I'm talking about taking a day, an evening, or even just a few hours to celebrate you by doing all the things you love without having to take care of anyone, or anything else.
Here are my favorite ideas for a "Party for One":
Movie Night
I've heard people say they think it's depressing to go to a movie alone, but it's one of my absolute favorite things to do. What could be bad about sitting in a place where people are required to be quiet, sitting back, ordering something decadent to eat, and watching a movie uninterrupted? Sign me up. Don't want to leave the house? Thank goodness for streaming and microwave popcorn!
At Home Spa
I'm nearly 40 and I've only been to a real spa once. It's not that I didn't enjoy it, but I just rarely have the time to spend hours there and the price can be scary. So, why not have a DIY spa night at home where you can wear whatever is comfortable, save a ton of money, and not worry about things like, "Do I have the driest gnarliest feet the pedicurist has ever seen?" There are tons of affordable face and foot masks, teeth whiteners, self tanners, and more online. Order them up on a Monday and have your spa kit ready to go by the weekend. Get the kids to bed, pour your favorite drink, and start the pampering.
Dinner Deluxe
For some people, cooking is a chore and they dread it. For those of you who feel that way, please do enjoy the modern day convenience of food delivery; you'll get no judgment from me. However, I LOVE to cook and find it to be very relaxing, especially when I am just cooking for myself. My go-to dish when I get the rare chance to eat alone is shrimp scampi over a way too big pile of pasta. It's ready in the time it takes to boil the noodles. I mound it up on a plate, curl up on the couch with a good show, and eat like nobody's watching (because they aren't!) Dessert? Duh. I pretty much always have homemade cookie dough in the freezer so that I can have a slice & bake moment whenever I want.
Sleep
You read that right. I love sleep and rarely, if ever, get a chance to go to bed early and wake up late. Whatever you need to do to make this happen, do it. Tell your partner to get up with the kids (and if he/she snores, relocate them to the guest room!), knock some things off your to-do list so your mind can relax, wash the sheets because there's literally nothing better than falling into freshly washed sheets. Then, ahhh...drift off to deep sleep. Some would say that doesn't sound like a party, but I'm dying for an invite!
Treat yo self, practice self care, and don't forget that you ARE the party! Put it on the calendar: Party for one.
Party on, friends!
Heather
]]>
Watermelon Cake
Yup, you can make a cake out of a watermelon. If you have a summer birthday, what could be better?! Hint: you will need a nice sharp knife to lob off the ends so it stands up straight, cut off the rind, and frost it with whipped cream and decorate with your favorite summer berries. Looks like a cake, but tastes like summer, and goes perfectly with this adorable watermelon party decor!
Donuts
Homer Simpson would approve of this cake swap. You don't have to have a breakfast time bash to serve donuts; they're great any time of day! Customize the glaze and sprinkles to match the decor of the party, or order specialty donuts from a bakery to spell out a fun message for the birthday boy or girl.
Krispie Treat Cake
The classic marshmallowy treat doesn't have to come in squares, you can use the same recipe and press the mixture into round cake pans. Stack them with layers of frosting, add sprinkles if that suits your fancy, and stick a candle on top! If you like a little more color and flavor, swap the original rice cereal for the fruity or chocolatey varieties.
Brownies
While I do know a few people that don't like cake, I have never met a person who didn't like brownies. They're ooey and gooey and whether you're a corner piece person, or a smooshy middle piece person, brownies are a crowd pleaser. And, the best part is that you can customize them with flavorful additions tailored to the taste of the birthday boy or girl; add marshmallows (my fave), caramel or peanut butter swirl, go nuts or not.
All you cake haters out there, I may not understand you, but I got your back when it comes to birthday time! Grab the candles and your favorite sweet treat and get the celebration going!
-Heather
]]>Here are some party favors that will be loved by kids and their parents alike:
I think we all remember sprouting a bean plant in elementary school and the excitement of coming into class and checking on it every day. Kids will love planting these in the flower bed, or in a pot and it gives them something to be proud of as it grows.
It seems inevitable that, at some point, all kids go from loving the bath, to hating it and the nightly battle begins. A great incentive for them to get clean is by adding a fun fizzy bath bomb to the tub. The organic variety is free from chemicals and made with all natural ingredients. Win-win.
The name says it all: "Sidewalk". That means you keep it outside and they use it outside, so no marks on the furniture! And, once it's gone; it's gone, so there's no waste and nothing to throw away!
I feel like there has to be a little something sweet in a favor bag, but it doesn't have to mean a box full of red dye number 5 & corn syrup, but kids just think they're yummy and still feel like they are having a treat.
Don't we all love things in mini form? It's just cuter and a little more special. These mini-activity books are perfect for little hands and are great to bring out in the car, on a rainy day, or when mama just needs a minute. Tape a mini-pencil on the cover for an extra special touch!
Party on, friends!
Heather
]]>Aperol Spritz: my friend, Ashly, introduced these to me and now I'm officially obsessed. Any drink that starts with prosecco is okay by me. Shanti and I are both crazy about Topo Chico, so I sub that for the club soda. Yum! They are a perfect refreshing summer drink, but we also served them with our Italian antipasto spread at Christmas and they were equally delicious in the cold.
Lime Sorbet Margaritas: OMG! To be honest, I'm usually a craft beer type of gal and I don't drink a lot of liquor, but I cannot resist a good margarita. This one is especially amazing because it requires no mixing or measuring, just scoop the sorbet and top with your favorite tequila. Grown ups deserve an ice cream treat, too!
Pear Mimosas: We love love love bubbly, and this drink is a perfect festive treat for a brunch celebration, a bridal shower, or anytime you feel like a glass of bubbles! Swap the champagne for ginger ale to make a kid-friendly version.
Watermelon Lime Cooler: As far as mocktails go, you can't go wrong with a watermelon drink. Can you think of anything more delicious? Perfect for a pool party, a watermelon themed party, or even as a brunch punch. With only three ingredients: watermelon, lime, and ginger ale; it's simple and perfect.
Arnold Palmer: If you make me choose my favorite all time drink, this is it. Maybe it's that I'm Southern, but maybe it's because it's just a perfect drink. Half lemonade and half iced tea makes it tasty, refreshing, and slightly caffeinated. So, yes, it's perfect. For your party guests who want a little something extra, set a bottle of Iced Tea Vodka on the table and let them mix it just how they like it!
Don't forget cute straws and straw toppers to keep it festive. Drink up and party on, friends!
-Heather
]]>But first, bubbly. Is it even a bridal shower without a glass of bubbles? Setting up a Bubbly Bar is a great way to let your friends customize their drinks without you having to serve as bartender for the day. Buy a few bottles of your favorite bubbles (I like prosecco, personally) and then make some simple fruit purees for mixing. If your favorite fruits aren't in season, grab bags of frozen peaches, blueberries, and raspberries. Thaw them and throw each into a blender with a little simple syrup. Use small pitchers or Mason jars to serve the purees and let your guests create the magic! For guests that can't or don't drink alcohol, grab some bottles of sparkling water.
Drinking cocktails and chatting with friends is fun enough, but if you want to add some games to festivities, here are some easy and fun activities:
Ring Pop Game:
Pass out a Ring Pop to each guest and instruct them not to say the word "bride". If someone hears them break this rule, then they need to hand over their "jewels". Whoever has the most rings at the end of the shower wins.
Bridal Trivia:
Order some trivia cards, or create your own, and have guests fill out their answers. whoever has the most correct answers at the end of the shower wins!
Rom-Com Charades:
I am a bonafide sucker for a rom-com and I've seen them all! Write down the names of your favorite romantic comedies on index cards and divide the party guests into two teams. Each team gets half of the cards. Guests will take turns acting out scenes from the movie on their card and have their teammates guess the name of the movie.
For prizes for your bridal shower games, give indulgent gifts like bath bombs, chocolate truffles, or face masks.
As far as decorations go, I think you can't go wrong with sparkle and shine for a bridal shower. All of our decorations are customizable in just about any color, including lots of shades of glitter! Add some beautiful sparkle with our engagement banner and place jars of flowers in the bride's wedding colors around the house. Make the woman of the hour feel like a queen by decorating her chair with a "Bride to Be" banner. If your bridal buddy is more on the funny side, and less on the fancy side, try our "He Asked and She Said YASSSS" banner. Guests will love taking pictures in front of this hilarious banner. Serving sweets? Of course you are. Top party cupcakes with our "He Asked" and "She Said Yes" toppers, and sprinkle the names of the happy couple around the tables with our engagement confetti.
No need to stress when it comes to hosting a bridal shower. You should enjoy the day as much as your guests. Let us help with the decor, you get the drinks, and the rest is just a walk down the aisle.
-Heather
(My Emma after smashing her cake, with our daisy & ladybug garland in the back)
When I was a kid, we didn't really do themed decorations; just some balloons or maybe some streamers. Now that I make decorations for a living, I go all out! We had banners for the wall and the high chair, garland, cupcake toppers, centerpieces, and confetti. I also made some easy DIY decorations by taping circles of black construction paper onto red balloons and spreading them around the room for the babies to play with. They were a big hit!
We kept the food simple with a brunch themed menu of premade tiny quiche, cheese & crackers, and fruit and veggie platters. As always, I made cupcakes using my favorite cake mix hack and my foolproof buttercream recipe. (Check out our blog post about how to make a box mix taste like a bakery cake!) Emma's birthday is in August, but this theme is so perfect for springtime, or anytime you want to bring a little sunshine to your day.
Here's to birthdays and birthday traditions!
]]>
I work for a custom party decorations company and run a local mom group. When you combine the two, it means I’m a killer mom-friendly party host. Since having my daughters, I’ve had to get creative when hosting moms night in gatherings.
Here’s a few tips I’ve learned along the way:
]]>Here’s a few tips I’ve learned along the way:
Stay at home and working moms alike deserve a get together. Make sure you make it a night to remember!
-Ashley Willet
]]>We needed chip clips for the actual purpose of keeping our chip bags closed, but where they were most useful was giving us a way to hang makeshift curtains in the kid's room. The house we rented had beautiful ocean views, but no curtains in the bedrooms which meant the kids wouldn't go to sleep until well after sundown, and would be waking up with the sun in the early morning. That was not going to work. So, we clipped a couple of spare towels to the top of the blinds with chip clips and, voila! Curtains! They weren't going to win any style awards, but they kept the sun out and that's what mattered. The other way they came in super handy, was to hang all kinds of wet & sandy clothes and towels up to dry. We clipped them to the roof of our pop-up canopy so they would dry in no time under the sun. No one had to face a soggy cold towel when they were ready to dry off, and wet rash guard shirts were dry and ready to wear again. Double bonus: the hanging clothes and towels offered extra sun protection while we were relaxing under the canopy. Two chips clips at the top of your lounge chair will keep your towel in place so you don't have to readjust it every time you get up.
If you're anything like me, somehow you managed to collect about 485 reusable grocery bags. Seriously, why do I have so many? We did a little research on the most efficient way to secure our pop-up canopy in the sand after a very sweaty rage filled session of trying to secure it the old fashioned way a few summers before. As it turns out, reusable grocery bags filled with sand are a super quick and easy way to keep your canopy from blowing away in a gust of wind. Just fill them up with sand (have the kids help), then wrap the handles around the base of each of the "legs" and push the bags up as close to the legs as you can. The weight keeps everything in place and you won't be on your hands and knees digging holes in the sand, securing twine around stakes and hammering them into the ground, filling the holes back in...I'm exhausted just thinking about it. When it's time to pack up, just dump the sand out, collapse the canopy, and you're done! Store them with the canopy and designate them as your "beach bags" so you don't get sand in your groceries!
It may seem illogical to need a pool on the beach when the entire ocean is at your fingertips, but it's a lifesaver to have a place where the kids can splash around and have fun, but you can be a little more relaxed. When my kids want to play in the waves, we have a blast, but I am also on high alert and constantly scooping a kid up when I know the incoming wave is going to knock them off their little feet. Plus, you have to play "1,2,3, Whee!" and lift your kids up over the waves at least 100 times, or did you even have a trip to the ocean? With the kiddie pool, you can take a break from the ocean, let them soak up some fun with pool toys, while you catch your breath on a lounger and watch them play. We brought a small cordless inflator to make life even easier. The kids loved taking their buckets into the ocean, filling them up, and dumping the water into the pool. There was lots of, "Whoa! Look how much water I put in, Mama!" At the end of the day, we dumped the water, and stored it under the house with our beach chairs on top as weights. Easy peasy!
I know there's a lot to pack when you head to the beach with the whole family, but adding these three things to your packing list will save you time and, in some cases, your sanity! Hoping you all have fun filled and sun soaked family vacations and safe travels this summer!
-Heather
]]>Gift Cards
This might seem like a no-brainer, but there are some specifics that are important. If you give a teacher a gift card to a retail spot like Target or Walmart, I can almost guarantee that they won't use the card on themselves and will instead spend it on paper, markers, notebooks, and other supplies for their room the next year. What really spoils a teacher and tells them you appreciate their hard work is a giftcard to somewhere they can indulge in something for themselves like Starbucks, a movie theater, or a spa.
School Supply Cake
So, this might seem more like a beginning of the year gift, and it's perfect for that too, but it's also nice to receive supplies at the end of the year so that there is one less thing to worry about when the new year starts. Every teacher, of every subject, in any grade level desperately needs supplies. I remember my first year of teaching and I was given a 4-pack of dry erase markers, a stapler with one box of refills, and a tape dispenser with one roll of tape. Needless to say, I had some shopping to do! A supply "cake" is a fun and thoughtful way to present your teacher with much needed glue, markers, colored pencils, composition books, etc.
A Letter from Your Child
Sometimes, the best gifts are gifts from the heart. As difficult and thankless as teaching can often be, it means the world to a teacher to know that they have made an impact on a student. Have your child write a letter to their teacher letting them know how much they appreciate them, share a funny memory, or thank them for helping them out with a challenge they faced during the year. Nearly eight years after my last day of teaching, I still have a box with notes and letters I received from my former students and I will cherish them always.
So, from one former teacher to all you parents out there, know that we appreciate all that you do, and it truly means the world to us when you take the time out of your busy schedules to do something thoughtful for us. Happy summer!
-Heather
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