Shopping Saturday!

Today is Dollar Tree heavy - but DANG I love me some dollar store! heehee...

Today's local finds (at national chains) that may help you stock up for your next event!

Planning a Monster or Dinosaur theme? Hurry up and catch these on Easter clearance!!!

Found: WalMart
Section: Easter Clearance
Price: ?!

For a Luau or Tiki party pick these up - not just for drinks - glue plastic serving plate on top (minus the lids), use a vases, put flame-less lights in for cute lighting...

Found: Dollar Tree
Section: Seasonal
Price: $1.00

...Same with these guys! These you could carefully drill holes thru top, string and put the flame-less candles in! If you are really brave, drill a huge hole in the bottom and slide up and over your table legs for a unique touch!

Found: Dollar Tree
Section: Seasonal
Price: $1.00

Too scared to drill!? Adorable Luau, Tiki or Alice in Wonderland (pink flamingo) lanterns were there too!

Found: Dollar Tree
Section: Seasonal
Price: $1.00

I am not usually big on kitschy... but these were too dang cute not to share for your Tropical, Luau, Tiki or Monkey themed parties!

Found: Dollar Tree
Section: Seasonal
Price: $1.00

If you planning an Alice in Wonderland party, stock up on pink flamingos during Luau season!

Found: Dollar Tree
Section: Seasonal
Price: $1.00

You know how I love matching food! Gummies for you Under the Sea or Safari parties! For the under the sea ones, throw in blue jello when you make it, serve in a clear bowl!

Found: Dollar Tree
Section: Seasonal
Price: $1.00

We all love the little boxes of animal crackers... but for a Farm/Barn themed party, these adorable boxes are SO much cooler! Carefully open and you could use them to stuff even more favors in!

Found: Dollar Tree
Section: Food
Price: $1.00

Having a Cars party? 9 pack of cars on clearance!

Found: Target
Section: Toy Clearance
Price: $14.98

Having a Sock Monkey theme? pick up these cute little guys! (I know you'll be loving these, Hillary Jo!)

Found: Target
Section: Toys
Price: $5.99?

Harry Potter party planning? Silly bands make great favors! On clearance... run!

Found: Target
Section: Toy clearance
Price: $0.49

Planning a Bird themed party or baby shower? Adorable sizes in purples!

Found: Target
Section: Housewares
Price: $10-15

Bug theme party ideas/inspiration!

We are planning a full weekend outside to get the yard all ready for a season of food and fun! I think we'll beat the full wave of bugs right now... but we all know they are coming!

Here are some ideas so Frost your Bug themed party! (my stepson would SO vote for this theme!)

THE perfect invite!!! I love the bite marks!!! Source

Make sure you put "bugs" everywhere! you could even do a bug bingo where the kids have to run around and find each kind on their sheet! Source and tutorial

Decorate you drink containers and serve up some yummy bug juice (ewwww ;o)  Source

Label all your food containers with fun bug inspired labels too... Source

Very Hungry Caterpillar ideas/inspiration

Book inspired parties are always a great idea - especially for the little ones before they have a strong interest in any one theme.  Very Hungry Caterpillar is such a great example of this! Here are a few ideas to help Frost your Hungry Caterpillar theme! And don't forget about this older (but still fresh!) Hungry Caterpillar frosting (here)

LOVE LOVE this setup! I love when people use up vertical space and not just with a fabric background! So cute! Source

Make signs that represent the parts throughout the book... Source

These are adorable favor bags! Look closely... pom pom caterpillars with a little hole "eaten" - so genius! Source found via funfavorsbydulce blog

Top cupcakes with fruit shapes with a bitten "hole"... if you are scared of fondant - try fruit rollups/fruit bars with mini cookie cutters! Source

Camping party theme ideas/inspiration

There have been a lot of camping posts around lately! Every summer my fiance' and his son camp out back - I love it! Maybe we'll do a camping theme night with some of these ideas... p.s. here is some older (but still fresh!) Frosting for a camping theme (here)

Super adorable setup! I love the hanging lanterns, the "tent", and all the other fun details - like smores on sticks and woodland desserts! Source

You have to click on this one to really appreciate all the details! The backpack, paper bags, campfire pops.. filled with great inspiration! Source

Use tin cans, wood slices and pine cones to set the mood! I love the wood looking placecards too!
Source

Super cute (and inexpensive!) way to do a favor would be to wrap up some treats in a bandanna and tie is up like a runaway stick! heehee... you could also stash a little s'mores kit in each! Source

Rubber ducky baby shower ideas/inspiration

Hope everyone had a great holiday! ...Ran into a pregnant friend today and OMG she looked so adorable!She's due in just a few weeks so I am in the mood to do a baby shower post!

Ideas to Frost your rubber ducky themed baby shower! Check out the older (but still fresh!) frosting ideas for rubber ducky parties here

I heart this simple setup! Cake is fantastic! And the colors are just perfect! Notice the little duck on the glass "bubble"? so cute! Source

Add some super fun ducky punch! Might have to tell the guests it's ok to drink! lol  Source and recipe

How adorable are these tennis ball duckies?!? Source and tutorial

The perfect favor... duck foot prints! You could even use edible markers to write the baby's name or birth date on them! Source

Shopping Saturday!

Can't wait for Easter to pass so that the stores can turn over their stock! snooze fest right now! lol... But here are a few finds I managed to peep out at local stores, but national chains.  Hope it helps you stash away for your next event!

Don't feel like hole punching out a million flowers? Grab these! Perfect to do a boutonniere pin thru to create flower balls!

Found: Michael's Crafts
Section: Wedding
Price: $4.99

Having a travel or airplane theme? Buy luggage tags in bulk for favors or buffet cards in the wedding section! For an extra touch, embellish the backside with rhinestones or paint!

Found: Michael's Crafts
Section: Wedding
Price: $19.99

Having a garden theme? Use these benches as cupcake stands! Some on the bench and the rest around - so cute!

Found: Michael's Craft
Section: Seasonal
Price: $7.99

Perfect for little lunches or serving containers or for a shopping themed party - spray paint with plastic outdoor paint if you want them to be a different color!

Found: Michael's Craft
Section: $1 bins
Price: $1

Warmer weather means icecream! These adorable flower bowls would work for an icecream social or garden theme party.

Found: Macy's
Section: Kitchenware
Price: $12.49/4

Scobby or Hello Kitty party? Snag up these cuties!

Found: Old Navy
Section: Near Registers
Price: $6-8











What I bought.... can you tell I love to bake?! heehee... gonna do a great gift basket with some fresh baked goodies for the neighbors :o)

 

 I so want to make cannoli! I ordered these forms... I'll keep you posted!

ordered here: cannoli forms

Picked up some horn molds to make those cute carrots (here) and then at Thanksgiving some cornucopias! and whatever I can dream up!

ordered here: horn forms

I should give up carbs... but BOY do I love me some bread! Gonna try and make some artisan bread tomorrow out of this book - I have done bread machine bread, but not oven, wish me luck!

ordered here: bread book

Army theme ideas/inspiration

I come from a family of Army men and my fiance' too! I think any little boy would love an Army themed party!

Love these invites! Great way to kick off the theme! Source

Camo and army accessories make for an authentic table setup. Source

For favors make dog tags and snacks marked as "MRE"s - so clever! Source

Use burlap to create "sand bags" and add green army men around your party area. Source and tutorial

...and the perfect dessert... camouflage cupcakes! Source and tutorial