March Madness Gender Reveal

13th March 2017

My sister-in-law wanted to do a gender reveal for her last baby and what better theme for college basketball fans than March Madness! This is a house divided between a die-hard UK fan and a die-hard U of L fan. whose teams of course just happen to be rivals! For the party, U of L red stood for girl and UK blue for boy! Everyone who came was asked to wear their favorite team apparel. It was simple, low stress, and fun!

Enjoy the details, you crazy animals!

Photo Credit: Joel Ham Photography

Address removed…..clearly…..

Concession stand food was served for this midday reveal. This cotton candy is from Fluffy Puff Gourmet, a local gal and old friend who spins up some delicious stuff!

If there was all the money in the land, we would’ve gotten foam fingers for everyone because…hey…that is so fun.

Confetti cannons are as boomtastic as they sound. They shoot 10 feet up in the air with a pop. I liken it to confetti fireworks! It wasn’t the original idea but my sister-in-law wanted something less messy since we would likely be indoors. Bonus: it’s like the confetti at the end of the championship game during March Madness so 4 cheers for being theme appropriate!

We brought out a karaoke machine and had my husband take on the role of arena announcer. He announced the family of honor, one member at a time like players while they ran out to the Bulls entrance theme song.

3, 2,1…twist and BOOOOOOMMMMMM! The ceiling fan swirled this cloud of pink around and around as it floated around. It was a really neat effect!

PARTY AT A GLANCE:

Huge 4 by 5 March Madness bracket used as a guest list and/or bracket for guest’s gender guesses
Invitations that looked like final four tickets
Concession style foods for snacks
Guests in favortie sports team apparrel
Announced family of honor to Bulls theme song as they ran out to do the reveal
Confetti Cannons to reveal the gender, just like end of championship game confetti
“One Shining Moment” playing on a speaker after the cannons went off
Basketball theme decor: foam fingers, MVP he or she cake, Spalding balloons, pom poms, and cheerleader horn things (Haha…What are those called, anyway?)

Pin, Share, Enjoy! Follow me on social media for original party and creative ideas! Thanks!

Food Fight Birthday Party by Her Party Pants

28th February 2017

All photo credits to Joel Ham Photography

Before I found out I was even pregnant, much-less with a BOY, I told my good friend and photographer for lots of stuff on my site, that I had the most fun party idea! Being a mom of 3 girls, I had never really dreamed in boy for parties, but the idea of a food fight party came to me and really got me pumped! We decided to do it for my friend’s son’s birthday and it was the perfect, affordable summer, boy-approved theme to date. All you need to achieve this is a water hose, clothes you can ruin, goggles, and some cheap throwing food!

I have a friend who can get perfectly good shirts for free that were considered slightly defective by the manufacturer, so I headed to him to get colorful over-size t-shirts that would be perfect for….destroying. Goggles are a necessity for a party like this to protect the eyes from flying who knows what. Each shirt was wrapped in, yes, dollar store goggles. Perfect to wear for the fight and perfect to toss when it’s done!

Hit up Aldi or any food discount store for cheap food fight weaponry. Boxed spaghetti, dry cereal, whipped cream, ketchup, mustard, rice, flour, chocolate sauce…the list goes on and on. A little goes a long way and you can get these things for next to nothing.

Before

Line them up on the hose line, set 2 table food stations on each side for each team, count em’ down and let them go!

You really can’t help but smile when you are launching spaghetti at your friend’s heads….

Birthday boy for the win!!!!!!

They had a blast and they were quite the food tossers.

Have every guest bring a change of clothes, line them up, hose them off, and toss the goggles and shirts. So simple. Believe it or not, they got really really clean from the hose off.

The messiest of them all won the 1st Place Mess Bucket full of silly string, slime, water bombs, water balloons, and candy because….kids love it. Here I used a paper popcorn bowl from the dollar store that I spray painted gold and embellished. All of the items inside the bucket are from the dollar store as well. Easy peasy and cheap!

I was going to make a crazy cake for this party but 2 things happened: I was 37 weeks pregnant with crippling insomina in one of the hottest summers of my life and 2: I saw this hamburger cake at Meijer for 12 stinkin’ dollars!!!! What is better than a hamburger cake for a food fight party? Unique AND cute! Just stop it already…. If you have a Meijer in your town, this is cake they have that you can order year round, even if it isn’t in the display case or cake book.

Other fun party details were a taco pinata and napkins that looked like pepperoni pizza. The tablecloths and plates were yellows and reds to match the hamburger cake. Let’s break for a cell phone picture from Target. Either pinata is cute, but I used the taco one since the cake was a burger. 15 bucks doesn’t get much cuter!

You can use any hodge-podge of food looking products for a food fight party! I had a few party details that didn’t get done for this one because of the aforementioned about to give birth and not sleeping. Another party, another time… Lacking from this post are invites and the container idea I had to package the candy from the taco pinata. Just pretend like you saw it and it was everything you had hoped for.

If you have a little grass, a good hose, a small budget, and an adventurous boy…or girl…. I highly recommend recreating this food fight party! Please pin, share and enjoy!!

DIY Baby Rapper Halloween Costume

3rd November 2016

When your awesome idea falls through for a baby costume the day before Halloween, you use another idea and score this doozie for 9 bucks. Thank you, beloved dollar store. This is what my 11 week old wore in the cool 86 degree “fall” weather (har har) and this is what I did.

Comfortable for him to wear, unique for a baby, easy and cheap! You DO NOT need to be crafty to nail this one! I will save my other and much more unique idea for next year so….stand by….or don’t…because it’s a year away. But boy if it weren’t, the suspense would be killing you by now!

Check out past years with my stay at home mom toddler costume, DIY Playdoh, pizza slice, and claw machine costumes in the Holiday/Halloween. I’m on my phone, but I will embed those direct links shortly!

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Easiest Way to Make Your Outdoor Rug Look New With No Scrubbing (Even The White Parts)

5th July 2016

Okay so, this isn’t a party…but I do have a before and after category and it’s for home stuff, mainly decor. You MUST accept this because I HAD to share it. With just a pressure washer, I took this outdoor rug that stayed out exposed from last summer, through winter and spring, until this summer back to new! I have a deep love for pressure washing and it’s instant, no scrub needed results. I couldn’t help but to run it over my precious white detail on my last season Target rug and it. was. CRAZY! Check out the 15 second video and be amazed and feel the waves of instant gratification! You are welcome, patios everywhere.

Look at this 15 second video! This is the easiest and simplest way to restore your outdoor rug and I did this WITHOUT any cleaners applied first! Just water and a pressure washer doing it’s magnificent job! Whoa.

Awesome Food Theme Parties For Kids

13th June 2016

Food parties are the best because you can get as quirky as you want! I dream of the day that my child wants a sushi party or peanut butter and jelly party…. Anything your child just LOVES, can turn into a party and food is no exception. Here are some cute food theme parties to get your wheels turning and don’t be afraid to diverge into weird or random foods! That’s where creativity starts! If you need help, ask me!!

Strawberry Theme Party

Cookie Party

Watermelon Theme

Taco Party

Pancakes

Pizza Party

Fruit Theme ( Two-tti Fruity Birthday Party….I DIE!)

Pizzazzerie

Doughnut Party

Hostess With The Mostess

S’mores Party

Laura March Banks

Farmer’s Market Theme (This is, “Are you kiddin’ me?” Cute!)

Catch My Party

Waffle Theme

The Sweet Lulu Bug

Perfect Summer Party Favor For Kids

6th June 2016

If you are having a beach/pool/water party and more, try on this super easy, cheap and colorful party favor!

I got these cute buckets/shovel combos at the Dollar Store for..well…one dollar! Then I got an 80 count box of Pop-Ice Popsicles for 3 dollars! I filled the pails as a cute take-home and freeze summery pool treat! It was perfect for my 2 year old’s pool party and could easily be done a hundred fun ways for tons of themes!

Pin, share, enjoy!

Birthday Gifts for Kids that aren’t Toys

25th May 2016

You know ALL those toys your kids have that they have played with once? They get gobs of exciting toys at their party and play with them for a short time and then they’re yours to store. Good luck. You have two options: have a big house or know how to get rid of clutter. When I go to birthday parties, my kids brings non-toy gifts about 95 percent of the time. It’s something much more practical to do, fun for the child, and something a parent can really appreciate. Here are some ideas and some of the gifts that we like to give.

1. Gift card to self-serve yogurt shop. A small gift card gives several visits which can all be used for the child, their siblings, and maybe the whole family. It’s a special treat, a fun trip, and they will love getting to build their ice cream/yogurt and pick all their toppings. This can be packaged in really cute ways.

2. A balloon filled with a dollar for each year of their life that they have to pop. Even young children know that cash money means you get what you want!

3. For a toddler, buy a bunch of carousel tokens from the mall and package them by wrapping the coins in a tiny box and using them as a balloon weight to a bundle of birthday balloons.

4. For a little girl, get a gift card to a spa that offers children’s chairs and pedi/manis. She can take a friend along or do it as something special with a mom or sister. She will remember this forever, unlike a toy.

5. Passes to a zoo or children’s museum. If you know the parent’s well and live within an hour of one of these locations, this is a gift that many won’t mind driving for if there aren’t zoos or museums in their hometown. It’s active, stirs the imagination, and gets the whole family going.

6. Gift card to a painting place. Again, they can do this with friends or family and use their imagination picking and painting their own pottery.

7. Gift certificate for bowling, putt-putt, ice skating, go karting, or roller skating. Get them out of the house and active, doing something they only do maybe once or twice a year at best.

8. Do your research on your hometown and see what’s offered locally. Where I live you can go on cave tours, boat cave tours, butterfly gardens, zip lining (offers a course for children), and horseback riding which is offered in most towns. Buy them a gift certificate to do some of what makes your city special. Let a little one get to know what’s neat about their town and get them experiencing new things!

9. If you are going to a summer party, buy a pass to a local or near by water park or amusement park if it’s offered near your town. Have your child give the gift and package it with flip flops or sunglasses in a confetti filled cellophane bag with a tag that says “A day at the water park with me!”

10. If you can’t attend a party for a toddler or young child but want to do something special for them, go to Baskin Robbins and get one of their classic clown ice cream cones made up with their favorite ice cream. Grad a balloon or two and stop by their house with their clown cone. They will be excited for the unexpected surprise and yummy, personalized treat!

11. Give a gift card to a play place where they can run, jump, and slide no matter the time of year or weather!

12. I bought two one dollar stinkin’ cute pails from the one spot aisle at Target and filled it with tokens to Chuckie Cheese. The party was for two kids so I bought 150 coins and split 75 in each pail which is 75 games and or rides/kids! Whoa. This means they will get more than one trip from the gift. The coins were tucked inside in a Chuckie Cheese coin cup that I put down in a clear bag tied with decorative ribbon.

Fun to receive, fun to get gifts that require activity, encourage family fun, and ones you will NEVER have to store….except in your memory box in your head. All the moms will think you are one smart cookie and the kids will have something as unique as them and something tailored to what they already like or a chance to try something new!

Follow me on Pinterest by clicking the button in the right hand column. Happy giving!

Dia-versary: “Giving It Our Best Shot” 2 Years Of Fighting Type 1 Diabetes Party

22nd May 2016

Any diagnosis is hard so I am happy to add to this category of “You Had A Party For What” a celebration of surviving, being brave, and working the heck out of the hand you’ve been dealt! This has endless applications and possibilities for any diagnosis and any milestone within that. This party has all of my heartstrings!

My little girl was diagnosed with the autoimmune disease Type 1 diabetes (not to be confused with the much more prevalent and different Type 2 diabetes) a few weeks after she turned 4 and she takes it all in stride! Here’s a party to show her our support and to commend her tough girl bravery! I hope this party blesses someone and encourages like parties for those in your life who have been given an unexpected hand to play.

I had my good friend at Red Haven Letters on Etsy create a custom tag for me for “Giving it our best shot”, don’t you love the play on words?! I pretty much got so excited I peed when I thought of it. I knew I wanted to do something with syringes because unless you pump, that is the type 1 life! Megan is super talented and did these for me wayyy last minute. Like, 48 hours before the party last minute! You can order these cute tags and signs from her there if you like this party. They aren’t listed in her shop, but you can tell her you saw this party and she will have the file!

What’s more positive than good vibes napkins at a diagnosis anniversary? Oh, I know…these awesome printed plates to go with the cute good vibes napkins! I got them both from Target and they are the Cheeky design brand. They donate meals for every purchase of their paper goods!

Listen, in my past life aka before kids, I decorated cakes for people. I thought, “Oh, I’ll try sugar cookies decorating for this party for my daughter.” It’s safe to say, I prefer cakes. I super-tron hated the experience so these were my first and last lazy attempt at making and decorating sugar cookies. My little girl was pleased and the favors looked how I had hoped as a package deal so we all win…

Okay, so the shot tags are even cuter when paired with the shot cookies and band aids!

These pens were 6 for 3 dollars from the Target Halloween favor aisle. Yes, I’ve been hoarding them since Halloween…. You can still find them on line in many places, including Amazon.

I made this shirt for my girl on Zazzle, where you can literally customize anything you want! The back wasn’t supposed to print out in black or with the word butt so she could wear it to school…or really…it wasn’t supposed to say anything at all but it was funny and she looked cute. If there ever were a shirt I wanted my 6 year old to wear that said butt, it’d be this one!

My sweet sister-in-law gave my child this sweet necklace that says as you turn it, “Be Brave & Keep Going”. The perfect thoughtful gift for a night like this! She has a matching one she wears so it was even sweeter!

The 2 on this cute little cake comes in to play because it’s her 2nd anniversary of her Type 1 diagnosis. She’s not the world’s biggest 2 year old. Didn’t want any of you confused.

If this isn’t the most funny and relate-able Type 1 thing to write on a cake, I don’t know what is!!!

Photography Credit: Shelly Griffin Photography

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Dollar Gumball Machines: Easy, Cute & Cheap Party Favor

1st May 2016

Whether you are fancy pants or not, whether you know it or not…the dollar store has been and will forever be your best friend when you are party planning. Even swanky parties can slip in dollar store items all the time.

For my girls double birthday party this weekend, I went with gumball machines and bagged baker’s twine tied baggies of multi-colored gumballs.

The machines came from the Dollar Tree for 1 dollar a piece. The gumballs I got in the candy aisle at Walmart and I got just over 6 pounds for 15 dollars after tax.

28 machines= 28 dollars

6 pounds of gumballs= 15 dollars

Total: 44 dollars

Price per favor: $1.57

It’s substantial, unique and the kids LOVE them! It’s hard to do favors for that good of a price that isn’t a random bag of nick-knack throw away toys. I think it’s a win!!!

Plus, if your child brings one home, don’t throw them away! Fill them up with jelly beans, M & Ms, or any small candy and use them as reward jars for good behavior, good school work, or whatever the going rate is for a jelly bean in your house!

Love the idea and want to do it? You can pre-order and do site-to-store and assure the number of items you want for your party. Nice little tip there…. That way you can avoid being there the day of the party praying they unloaded the truck with gumball machines on them. That sounds very familiar.

Pin, share, enjoy and follow me on Pinterest and Instagram!

Fun Gift For The Coffee Drinker Or Cookie Lover

25th April 2016

I love unique. I love fun. I love practical. Meet these guys below: Face Mugs for your favorite drink and mouth holes for your favorite drink topping or drink compliment. These are from uncommon goods and I have owned these for a few years. My kids LOVE them for milk and cookies and they are loads of fun to pull out for guests because most people haven’t seen them.

If you want just one, you can buy a single white face mug for under 20. If you prefer the color, they come in a mixed pack of 2 for 35. They are big, heavy, quality and did I say fun?

Don’t you love them?!!? I think they are a fun teacher gift, too. You win, face mugs! You always do….

Source: Uncommon Goods and you can buy at the direct link embeded there!