{Real Parties} Darth Vader

This party is from July of 2011 and I am just now getting around to posting it.

What I loved about this party is that the birthday boy, Jack, has never seen any of the star wars movies (which is really refreshing) so when his mom and I were discussing party details, we had to work with what he did know.

The party was held at Jumping Jack Sports.  If you live in the northern Virgina area, I highly recommend checking it out for your kids parties or even for summer camps. The staff is very hands on and friendly and they really go out of the way to make sure the kids have a great time!

Darth Vader cake

 

Initially I wanted to make 'death star' cake pops but since

Jack wouldn't really be able to relate to them, we opted for the lightsaber pops.

The pops served as centerpieces as well as favors.

 

the lightsaber napkin--get the printable here

homemade lightsabers--red for the boys and pink for the girls

The adorable birthday boy!

{Real Parties} Ninja Party

I had to share this party with you.  Not just because I participated in making some of the items for the party, but because my neighbor Simran did an amazing job!  As you will see, her attention to detail really shines throughout this party.  It's hard to pinpoint a favorite but... if you twist my arm, I'd say my favorite part of the decor is the happy birthday 'scroll' type banner that Simran hand made using a plastic table cloth, streamers and Japanese style lettering.  So creative!!

Ninja Zee - the birthday boy

Simran with her handmade 'scroll' banner

still in keeping with the theme, Samurai dumplings

pancit noodles... made by my Filipino mom

dessert sushi:

rice krispies wrapped in fruit by the foot, with a Swedish fish center

Ninja balloons

chopstick-marshmallow relay game

Favors

Ninja Cake

Ninja cake pop favors

Happy 5th Birthday Ninja Zee!!

A New Year's Blessing

Happy 2012!

I am looking forward to an exciting year.  Like most of us, I added getting healthy to my list of resolutions but I also resolve to NOT neglect my blog no matter how busy I get.  I was truly blessed with more business than I could have imagined in 2011...the power of prayer!

With that said, I wanted to share a snippet of a new year's blessing that was sent to me that I fell in love with:

May the coming year be one of increased riches of grace - hearing His voice more clearly, knowing His heart more deeply, resting in His love more fully, trusting His care more completely, walking His pathway more peacefully, knowing His presence more intimately, blessed by His goodness more abundantly.

Thank you to all that stood by me and supported me in 2011.  I couldn't have done it without you!

{Real Parties} Lady Bug First Birthday Party

I recently, well, not that recently, had the pleasure of making the cake for a clients lady bug first birthday party.

I absolutely adore the lady bug theme!  I think all the colors in this party are so fun.  This would be an ideal theme for those girls that love girly, but may not want something that's so over the top frou-frou.

Her mom Lisa did an incredible job with all the details of the party.  She ordered most of the party items through etsy, including the lady bug tu-tu and personalized onesie. 

Meet Arabella...

The little lady bug

I had so much fun making this cake... I decided that I want one for my birthday!

Arabella's smash cake

I was very happy with the way everything turned out but if I had to make it again, I would curl the wire for the lady bugs to give them that 'flying' look.

before I put on the 'flying' lady bugs 

cake pop bouquet of daisies with lady bugs on each daisy

Mom, Dad and the birthday girl, Arabella

A big thank you to Lisa for allowing me to participate in this very special day!

I'm Back...

Hello All!  First let me start by apologizing for neglecting my blog... Oh how I've missed it so!

I have been so wrapped up in party planning that I haven't been able to sit down and write or post pictures.  My mother was actually the one that said, "go sit down now while you have a few minutes and update your blog".

I know I've said it before, but I really do have to stress again, how incredibly supportive my parents are!

Thanks Mom and Dad for always being the first ones to step in to help with whatever we need but mostly with John Carl (my 20 month old).  We are truly blessed to have you!

My parents and my youngest son Jack

One of my all time favorite pictures:
My father reading to Jack

{Recipe} Chesapeake Bay Snack Mix

I've received a few emails asking for the Chesapeake Bay snack mix recipe that was featured in the Crab Boil Party, so I want to share it with all of you. It was also served in a large galvanized bucket with a scoop for snacking at the party.  It might also be fun to place a smaller bucket on each table for snacking.

There are a variety of items that you could substitute or add within this recipe to adjust to your liking. I have made it with sesame sticks in place of pretzels and I've added goldfish crackers after the baking process.  My friend Ellen said that there's a cracker called crabbers that would be yummy in it.  We both looked for them but were unsuccessful in finding them so we left it as is.

Chesapeake Bay Snack Mix

Yield: 12 cups

Ingredients:
6 cups crisp corn, rice cereal, such as Crispix or Chex
3 cups thin pretzel sticks
3 cups oyster crackers
2 cups roasted unsalted peanuts
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons hot-pepper sauce, such as Tabasco

Directions:
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In a roasting pan, combine cereal, pretzels, crackers, and peanuts. In a small bowl, mix together melted butter, Worcestershire sauce, Old Bay, lemon juice, and hot-pepper sauce. Pour butter mixture over cereal mixture and stir until ingredients are completely coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Transfer mixture to two rimmed baking sheets to cool completely.

Enjoy!

Pool Party Cake

I love to share in celebrations and in making cakes, I feel I get to share in so many celebrations!

My friend and neighbor Kareena recently asked me to make a cake for her son Krish's pool party. She was kind enough to send me some pictures of her family and the cake that I made and I want to share them with you.

the party was at a local water park with a volcano theme so the cake was made to incorporate the pool and the volcano

Happy 4th Birthday Krish!