{sneak peek} Calling all Party Animals!

I'm so excited!  I'm producing a sweet birthday party for a little boy!  As a mom of 3 little girls, I plan a lot of children's parties - princesses, dress up, build-a-bear and currently, pixies and pirates, which is almost a boy theme, kind of like the Star Wars Glam party back in March - but this is my first all-boy party and I'm excited!

The party will be held at our local zoo next month.  My client selected this adorable "Party Animals" invitation from Tiny Prints.

To enhance the party experience, I've been thinking about festive ideas like:

 Balloon animal table centerpieces from a sweet Barnyard-themed 1st birthday party I produced two years ago.

Zoo animal fondant cupcake toppers from Two Sugar Babies!

Animal Cracker recycled crayons as party favors from Ivy Lane Designs.

So, who's ready party?!  Do you have a party animal suggestion to share?  Please leave me a comment!

{in season} Blueberry Sangria Lemonade

I have a new summer cocktail that I must share!  It's Blueberry Sangria Lemonade.  It tastes so good, is very easy to make and is really refreshing (3 very important criteria for any recipe, correct?)!

I made a batch over the weekend for a "cool" themed birthday party ... and then I made another batch because I knew guests were going to love this drink (and I was right)!

Below is the recipe ... and a sneak peek of the party!

Blueberry Sangria Lemonade

via Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade

Makes: 8 drinks

1 bottle (750-milliliter) white wine, Sterling Vineyards® Chardonnay

3 cups lemon-lime soda®

11⁄2 cups frozen blueberries

1 can (12-ounce) pink lemonade frozen concentrate, thawed

1⁄2 cup cognac, Hennessey®

Ice cubes

In a large pitcher, combine wine, soda, blueberries, lemonade concentrate, and cognac. Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour. Pour into tall glasses. Add ice.

So, did this post make you thirsty?! 

Let's Chill by the Grill

Hosting the company picnic or casual gathering of family and friends and need a theme?  Invite your guests to 'Chill by the Grill'!

This theme is so versatile!  You could:

• Fire up hamburgers and hot dogs while guests relax
• Grill chicken and veggie kabobs and serve refreshingly cold, flavored smoothies
• Sear 'surf and turf' while guests 'chill' with personal neck massages or ice sculpture competitions

Each option is increasingly more complex and accordingly, more expensive.  The best option depends on your guests, budget and reason for celebrating!

So, which option appeals to you?  Or do you have other suggestions to bring the 'Chill by the Grill" theme to life?!  Leave a comment and let me know; I love to exchange clever ideas!

{event showcase} 75th Birthday Party Fit for a Queen

Have you ever experienced the challenge of planning an adult birthday party that includes young children?  It's really difficult!  Selecting the right venue, food and beverage, and entertainment that satisfies guests on both ends of the age spectrum is challenging.

My sister and I experienced this challenge when planning our mom's 75th birthday party last month.  We wanted to host a small party that included my 3 little girls.  Knowing that entertainment is the key to the success of children's parties, we brainstormed entertainment options.  Within seconds, my sister suggested the Odyssey Sunday Brunch Cruise.  The cruise offers a wide variety of food plus a water tour of the Washington DC monuments, jazz music and dancing ... and we had never been before.

Below are the event highlights of our 'Party Fit for a Queen'.

Here ye, here ye ... the royal invitation.  Tiara hand-stamped on Paper Source stationary and embellished with pink gems and tiny pearls.

We are family

If the tiara fits, wear it!

Happy birthday to our mom, the 'Queen Mum'!  We enhanced the Sunday Brunch Cruise with a silver QUEEN tiara, bouquet of cupcake roses and corsage of roses.  Additionally, the Odyssey staff delivered birthday cake, announced my mom's birthday and everyone sang "Happy Birthday".  Needless to say, everyone enjoyed my mom's birthday, especially my mom and my girls!

Special thanks to Christy Humston of Entertainment Cruises and Chrissy Cunningham of We Take the Cupcake for making my mom's birthday special!

Has this event showcase helped you with planning your adult birthday party?  If so, please leave me a comment and let me know!