{Real Parties} Summer Fiesta

Over the weekend, I hosted a party of my own, which is a rare treat these days.

 

This was a 'summer fiesta' theme for our neighborhood Mom's club.

Entry refreshment station: I love to start the party at the
door, whether it's by placing a big wreath on the door
or placing some lanterns outside the door. It makes your
guests feel like the party has begun

A friend of mine recently started a business making these great signs. I gave her the theme,
colors of the part, sign wording & the size of the board and she worked her magic!
Email me for info if you are interested in one of these signs

 

 

 

Cactus cupcake favors:

Oddly, one of my favorite party decorations

are the favors. I use them as a big part

of the décor. Groupings always make a

statement so why not use them?

 

 

ADIOS!

 

Cactus Cupcakes

Last night was another one of our Chase Ladies Nights.  My neighbor Danielle hosted with a Mexican theme, complete with not one, but 2 pinatas!  It was a first at one of our monthly functions and it was a huge hit!  Danielle filled the pinatas with lots of fun grown up chocolates and she added some special 'bling'.  I was one of the lucky ones that got an adorable Jessica Simpson bracelet that happened to match my dress perfectly. Thanks Danielle!

Each person was to bring an appetizer or dessert to share (I wish I had taken a picture of  the margarita cookies that my neighbor Shannon made, beautiful and yummy).  So I thought I would get creative and make cupcakes made to look like cacti. Well, I have to be honest...they look much cuter than they tasted!  I used my usual chocolate cupcake recipe but added some cinnamon to try to create a Mexican chocolate.  Bad idea, for some reason the cinnamon made it really bitter, but I still wanted to share the pics with you. 

Mexican chocolate cupcakes with Swiss meringue buttercream frosting

This was my first attempt at decorating the cactus. After using tweezers to apply each sprinkle to resemble a cactus needle, I quickly decided that the others would be needle less...

Back to the drawing board on the 'Mexican chocolate'

Anyone have a good recipe for 'Mexican' cupcakes?