parties and events
Princess Tea Party {5th Birthday Party}
Despite my initial reluctance, Princess’ birthday tea party was actually a lot of fun to put together. And while it looked very luxe, the final cost came in well under $100 for everything, thanks to clearance deals, an abundant stockpile, & creative use of Groupons! The highlights: The cupcakes, from So Sweet Cupcake Bakery, were a lucky last-minute Groupon find. Because I had a little Groupon credit to burn, they ended up costing nothing out of pocket. Even so, I was feeling a little guilty about not baking them myself. That is, until I walked into the gorgeous little shop and saw the cupcakes! The flavors choices were to-die for ... read more
006 Spy Party {A Boy Birthday Party Idea}
I am a mom of girls. The older they get, the more I am beginning to realize that girly stuff is all I know. We live in a world of pink & purple, of princesses & tea parties, of Barbie & Dora & dress-up. Every once in a while I will get an email from a reader asking for some fun BOY party ideas, and I always feel woefully inadequate. It’s not that I don’t want to help, it’s that I don’t even know where to begin. My friend Bonnie is in the opposite boat! She has two little boys, almost the exact same ages as Princess & Trouble. This ... read more
Party DiY: Flower Centerpieces
Have you ever felt like your creativity was just tapped out? I am still having the hardest time mustering up any Princess Tea Party enthusiasm and frankly it is making me feel like a very bad mommy. Princess’ birthday is less than 2 weeks away and I haven’t even sent out the invitations yet! Thankfully, all hope is not lost. Several months ago I ordered some very cute Princess Party Kits from my friend Crystal at Stampin’ Up. I’m not normally one for pre-packaged party kits, but they were only $1.95 each, marked down from $15.95. It was a deal I just couldn’t resist, especially knowing my daughter! Last ... read more
Party Inspiration: Princess Tea Party
***UPDATE: See the actual Princess Tea Party photos here*** Princess is a girl who knows what she wants. She has been asking for a princess-themed birthday party pretty much since the moment her Crafty Pool Party ended last year. I have to admit, I have had a hard time mustering up a lot of enthusiasm for this theme. I’m. Just. Sooooooooo. Sick. Of. Princesses. Here in GirlWorld, otherwise known as the Soukup household, we are glued to the the APATT (All Princesses All The Time) network 24 hours a day, with the occasional commercial interruption for fairies and mermaids (though rest assured, they are usually fairy and mermaid princesses.) If ... read more
Sweet Soda Shop Party {Trouble’s 2nd Birthday}
I think Trouble’s Sweet Shop may have been my very favorite of all the parties I’ve ever thrown. It is hard not to feel happy when surrounded by candy. And surprisingly, 24 children ages 6 and under at a sweets-themed party wasn’t as out-of-control as it might sound. Of course it did help that the guests waited until they were leaving to fill their goodie bags. Party Details Our budget for 50 guests was $200, or $4.00 per person. Sweets {$75} The candy was pretty crucial to the theme and I needed a LOT of it to fill those jars (which were borrowed from a friend.) I ended up ordering ... read more
Party DiY: Giant Glitter Lollipops & Decorative Pinwheels
I’ve always loved throwing parties but I have to admit that I haven’t always been so budget conscious about them. It wasn’t that I would purposely go spend as much as possible, I just didn’t give it much thought. The cost was often the means to the end goal, which was throwing a fabulous bash. In this new thrifty life of mine, cost is a factor, and yet I can’t help but think that being budget conscious has actually made my parties better. Yes, the preparation is probably more work, but the end result is so much more fun and creative. It never ceases to amaze me that some of ... read more
Party DiY: Ruffled Crepe Paper Streamers
Last week Princess wanted to create an under-the-sea-world, which in her 4-year-old mind involved making a bunch of jellyfish out of disposable bowls and crepe paper streamers. She is one of those kids that once an idea gets planted in her head, there is no letting it go. I finally, after listening to days of pleading, took her to the dollar store for some supplies. She made her jelly fish, I hung them from the ceiling, and she spent a few happy days pretending to be “under the sea.” The point of my little story is that her project left me with several rolls of pink & white crepe paper ... read more
Party DiY: Hand Stamped Invitations
I’m going to start this post with fair warning: stamping is strangely addictive. I first discovered the joy of stamping last November when I did this 30 Days of Holiday Cheer giveaway from my friend Crystal. A few months later I ordered some Valentine’s Day stamps so Princess and I could make pretty little cookie packages to give to her preschool class. We had a blast making them, and although both Christmas and V-day have long since passed, we still pull out the snowflake and heart shaped stamps quite frequently. Even Trouble has fun! (A word to the wise: we only use washable stamp pads!) I was practically dying for ... read more
Party DiY: How to Make a Paper Party Hat
I think I might be addicted to scrapbook paper. I’ve never made a single scrapbook but that pretty paper is just so darn useful. I want to use it for everything. I don’t think I could throw a party without it. Last August I made these paper party hats for Princess’ Crafty Pool Party, (along with about a billion other craft projects, mostly made from scrapbook paper.) The hats turned out super cute and since then, I have had lots of people ask me how to make them. So today, since I decided to make some new ones for Trouble’s upcoming Sweet Shop Party, I thought I’d do a little paper ... read more
Sweet Soda Shop Party Inspiration
Trouble is almost 2. Can you believe it? No, I can’t either. My baby is not a baby anymore! But while I am feeling a little sad that she’s growing up so fast, I can’t help but get excited about the prospect of planning a birthday party. It is, after all, my very favorite thing to do! A few weeks ago I ordered a few things for the girls from my favorite kid’s store, Gymboree. Everything–including sale items–was an additional 30% off AND I had a coupon for 20% off my entire order. It made me a little giddy & I couldn’t resist taking a peek at the birthday ... read more
Party DiY: How to Make a Fabric Table Runner
Maybe it’s because my birthday is in March that I’ve got parties on the brain. Last week I shared how to make paper garlands, a DiY project I did for my dear friend’s daisy-themed 40th birthday party. This week I am going to show you how to make the fabric table runners we used to decorate the tables. This is a very easy project but you will need a sewing machine, as well as thread, iron & ironing board (starch helps too), and a length of fabric at least 20 inches longer than the length of the table you want to make the runner for. What I love about this ... read more
Party DiY: How to Make a Paper Garland
Last week I shared this daisy-themed 40th birthday party. In order to keep the party budget in check, I did a lot of DiY projects. The great thing about DiY party decor is that it often turns out looking so much better than something you just pick up at the party store. To be fair, there is slightly more effort involved, but there is something so satisfying about making things yourself. I love how these paper garlands turned out. Not only do they add the perfect pop of party cheer, they were super easy, took only about 15 minutes each to make, are available in colors and patterns to match ... read more
40 & Fabulous: A Happy Daisy Surprise Party
Good people deserve great parties. LeeAnn is one of the best people I know, so naturally her surprise 40th birthday party was tres fabulous. It was a reflection of the wonderful person she is. Any guesses as to her favorite flower? The dessert table: cannoli cake & a variety of fresh-baked cookies (LA’s favorites!) Shock and awe. The party co-hosts and the birthday girl. A look back at the past 40 years. Happy Birthday, LeeAnn! In order to stay within budget, we did a lot of DiY projects for the decorations, many of which I will be sharing with you over the next couple of weeks. Here are a few other ... read more
Valentine’s Day Brunch
A Sunday brunch just might be my very favorite type of party to throw. The mood is relaxed, the food is divine, and it is a great time to just sit and catch up with friends over a cup of coffee, mimosa, or bloody mary. Our little gathering was slightly impromptu–invitations were emailed only a few days ahead of time–but that didn’t mean it couldn’t be pretty (and budget-friendly, of course.) The Menu: Baked Pecan Streusel French Toast Breakfast Potatoes with Onions Blueberry Bran Refrigerator Muffins Minted Fruit Salad Omelets to Order Fresh Fruit & Vegetables Bloody Mary & Mimosa Bar Coffee Between the 5 families, there were 13 kids ... read more
Mom’s Night In
There comes a point in every woman’s life where you officially realize you have gotten “old.” My moment came several weeks ago when I was excitedly telling my husband about the evening I had planned for my mom’s group: “Let me get this straight: You are having ten women over for a ‘party’ and you’re going to do a craft?” “Sure, what’s wrong with that?” “Honey,” he said, “you’re old.” This coming from a guy who graduated high school the year before I was born. Okay, so maybe I’m not as young and hip as I used to be, and maybe my idea of a rockin’ good time has shifted ... read more
