Celebrations | She Plans Parties

DIY Tropical Party Decoration Centerpiece

February 16, 2012 By Linette Leave a Comment

If you’re planning a winter luau party, or you’re getting ready for a pool side gathering next summer, I have an easy tropical party decoration or centerpiece to share with you today. All you need is some fruit, palm or fern leaves, and some glass jars and you can make a spectacular tropical center piece for your next party or event. Check it out.

This would work great for weddings, prom, a birthday party, or even a baby or bridal shower. I can see this outside on a table by the pool in the summer. Here are the simple instructions to make your own.

Flowers and Citrus Vases

Simply place oranges, limes, or lemons in rectangle, or round clear glass vases. Fill the vase almost to the top with whole fruits, then add fresh water to surround the fruits. Add a few large colorful tropical blooms to the mix for a very bold and beautiful tropical centerpiece or table decoration.

Pineapple Palm Trees

Cut the bottoms out of, or completely core 5 pineapples, then stack them one on top of the other. Insert large palm or fern leaves into the top pineapple to make them look like palm trees.

Have fun!

Filed Under: Decorating Tagged With: luau, party decorations, pool party, Tropical party

Cinco De Mayo Tequila Cocktail Recipes

May 2, 2011 By Linette Leave a Comment

I can’t believe it’s May already, and just a couple days away from Cinco De Mayo! The year has flown by so fast! If you’re still planning your Cinco De Mayo party, I have some yummy Cinco De Mayo tequila cocktail recipes to share with you today courtesy of Camarena Tequila. Enjoy!

Camarena Margarita

1 oz Familia Camarena Reposado Tequila
2 oz fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon agave nectar

In a cocktail shaker combine all of the ingredients and add ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Silver Paloma

2 oz Familia Camarena Silver Tequila
3 oz fresh grapefruit juice
½ oz fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon agave nectar
Splash of soda water

In a cocktail shaker combine all of the ingredients, except for the soda water, and add ice. Shake vigorously and strain into a high ball glass over ice. Top with soda water and garnish with a lime wheel.

Corazón de Camarena

2 oz Familia Camarena Reposado Tequila
½ cup strawberry simple syrup (*see recipe below)
2 oz fresh lime juice
1 teaspoon agave nectar
2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped roughly
Sliced strawberries

Place the basil in the bottom of a cocktail shaker, pour in the tequila. Use the back of a spoon (or muddler) to mash the basil leaves into the tequila. Fill the shaker with ice and add strawberry simple syrup, lime juice and agave nectar. Fill with ice, shake and strain into a high ball glass over ice. Garnish with sliced strawberries on the rim and ribbons of basil mixed in the drink.

*Strawberry Simple Syrup Recipe: Combine 1 cup sugar, 1 cup water and 5 sliced strawberries in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Cool the syrup, then strain the liquid through a sieve, pressing the strawberries to extract all liquid.

Camarena Santa Maria

1 ½ oz Familia Camarena Reposado Tequila
1 oz white Port
½ oz Velvet Falernum
½ oz simple syrup
1 oz fresh lemon juice
½ oz ginger beer

In a cocktail shaker, combine all ingredients except ginger beer. Fill with ice, shake and strain into a high ball glass over ice, adding ginger beer as you pour. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

For more Cinco De Mayo and Mexican tequila cocktail inspiration and recipes beyond the margarita, visit www.tequilacamarena.com.

Filed Under: Celebrations, Cocktail Recipes Tagged With: Cinco De Mayo, Cocktail Recipes, tequila cocktail

Fun Summer Garden Party Recipes and Ideas

April 12, 2011 By Linette Leave a Comment

A few years ago a friend of mine planned a wonderful summer garden party. She set up tables in her apple orchard, between some beautiful flower gardens. It was a fabulous setting for a super fun party.

She had everyone bring their favorite garden dish, with a copy of the recipe to share with everyone else. The hostess also served herbal teas, and beverages. It was so much fun to sit out among her beautiful flowers, sip tea, and talk about gardens and food. I came away with some great recipes, and some wonderful memories shared with friends.

We did several fun things during the party. One of my favorites was the garden hat contest. She had everyone decorate a garden hat to wear to the party. When everyone was seated we voted on our favorites. The hostess put together prizes of potted plants, and she used flower pots to hold an assortment of gardening gifts.

If you planned a party in the spring or fall you could also include a plant, or seed swap in the festivities. Or plan to tour several local gardens during the party.

The best part was the food, so I’ve gathered some links with some great ideas, and finger foods to add to your garden tea party:

If you plan a summer garden party, we’d love to hear about it. Please feel free to share your ideas below!

Image: sxc.hu

Filed Under: Celebrations Tagged With: garden party, summer party, summer party ideas, summer recipes

Low Cost Party Planning and Decorating Ideas

January 4, 2011 By Linette 2 Comments

If you’re like me, you’ve been watching your nickels and dimes a little closer lately. Even if you don’t have a big budget, you can still have a great party, you just have to do more yourself, and start planning early so you can watch for bargains.

If you have a birthday party, shower, graduation, or holiday party coming up, but you don’t want to spend a fortune here are a few tips.

Check out the local dollar store, or the dollar section of stores like Target. You can often find tons of really cute party favor ideas, favor bags, and supplies to make centerpieces and decorations for a fraction of the cost of supermarkets.
Keep it simple. If you’re planning a themed party like Justin Bieber, everything at the party doesn’t have to be that theme, with licensed merchandise. Use another sub-theme, like music (decorate with cardboard cutout music notes, or decorate cardboard cutout guitars), or use stars and glitter decorations. You can use a solid col color for your plates and napkins, since they’ll be disposed of after using. Better yet, use plates that can be reused or recycled. The children will still get the idea, and your party will cost less.
Make your own decorations and centerpieces for the party. You can usually purchase the things you need for way less than you can purchase pre-made table decorations. Even if you’re not crafty you can make some simple decorations and table centerpieces for your party.
Check out eBay, it’s one of my favorite resources for unique party items that don’t cost a fortune.

If you planned a party recently on a budget, please feel free to share how you cut costs and still planned a great celebration.

Filed Under: Decorating, Planning Tagged With: budget party, low cost parties, low cost party decorations

Snack Mix For Your Fall Harvest Party

October 21, 2010 By Linette Leave a Comment

It’s super fun to incorporate some of your favorite fall flavors into a quick and easy snack mix for your fall or Halloween party. Just throw this easy snack mix together into a large bowl, and set it out for your guests to enjoy. Here’s the recipe I like to use for a simple harvest or Halloween party snack mix.

Fall Harvest Snack Mix

Mix together:

5 cups of Chocolate Chex(tm) Cereal
1 bag Brachs(tm) Autumn Mix
2 cups of lightly salted peanuts

You can also spread this mixture out on a cookie sheet, or waxed paper, and drizzle it with melted chocolate, or white chocolate. Let it cool, then break it apart.

Yum, I love sweet and salty snack mixes.

Check out more kid’s: Halloween Party Ideas

Filed Under: Decorating, Halloween, Kid's Parties, Party Recipes Tagged With: fall harvest party, fall recipes, halloween party ideas, Halloween recipes

Using Gourds For Fall Party Decorating

October 20, 2010 By Linette 3 Comments

Today I have some fun ideas for you using one of my favorite (and low cost) fall decorating materials~ gourds. I love using gourds to decorate in the fall, and they make fabulous party decorations and centerpieces. You can use gourds several ways, either by themselves with other fall favorites.

Gourds are inexpensive, and come in a large variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. I think that’s why they’re so versatile for fall decorating.

Here are some ideas you can use to make simple party decorations featuring gourds:

Scatter them around the center of your tables, with a few miniature pumpkins and colorful fall leaves.
Put them in a basket together.
Paint faces on them, and make them fun for a kid’s party.
Place them around the base of potted mums.
Add them to a cornucopia.
Dry them and cut them out to use as serving bowls.
Mix fall flowers in with them for even more color and variety.

Gourds are so versatile, and since they’re also very affordable, especially if you grow your own.

Filed Under: Decorating, Featured, Halloween Tagged With: fall decorating, fall harvest party

Painted Pumpkins For Fall and Halloween Party Decorations

September 24, 2010 By Linette Leave a Comment

Decorating a pumpkin doesn’t have to involve a sharp knife. We haven’t carved a pumpkin for several years at our house. We paint them! Painted pumpkins will last longer than carved pumpkins do, and you can get very creative with paint. Here are some cute and fun painted pumpkins for inspiration.

You can use any acrylic paint, and top it with a coat of polyurethane to give the pumpkin a shiny finish.

Image via flickr

Dress them up like your favorite character, better yet make a pumpkin look alike for everyone in your family.

Here are some painted and carved pumpkins.

Image via boliyou flickr

Any of these would make wonderful Halloween party decorations, or a wonderful addition to your fall outdoor decorations.

Filed Under: Decorating, Halloween Tagged With: fall decorating, fall harvest party, halloween party ideas

When Do You Open The Gifts?

May 12, 2010 By Linette Leave a Comment

When do you open the birthday presents? The trend today is to not open birthday gifts until later, after the party is over, or to wait until the end of the party.

Opening gifts used to be part of the entertainment at a birthday party or wedding or shower, but more and more people are opting to wait until after the party to open the gifts.

There are several reasons why there’s a trend to not open gifts until later, here are just a few:

1. Saves Aunt Bessie, and Aunt Jean embarrassment if they both purchased the exact same gift.

2. Leaves more time for other party activities, like food, games, and just socializing and hanging out.

3. Gifts can’t be compared to each other, smaller gifts may be just as special as grander gifts.

4. It’s a hectic time for the birthday child, or guest of honor. They don’t have as much time to enjoy each gift as they open it, without pressure to get the gift opening done so party goers can move on to something else.

If you don’t plan to open your gifts at the party, state that on the invitation so party guests won’t be disappointed, or ask them to omit gifts completely.

Don’t forget to send out those thank you cards!

Filed Under: Featured, Kid's Parties, Planning, Weddings Tagged With: gift etiquette, gifts, party etiquette, party trends

Cucumber Sandwiches

May 2, 2010 By Linette 1 Comment

I have an easy Summer party appetizer or finger food recipe to share with you today. Cucumbers are a cool refreshing taste of summer.

Cucumber sandwiches are super simple to make. They’re great for bridal or baby showers, graduations, a summer garden tea, or backyard cookout.

Cucumber Sandwiches

Mini pumpernickel bread (in the Deli section at most supermarkets)
1-2 cucumbers~ sliced
Dill weed
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1~ 8oz cream cheese (at room temperature)

Mix the Mayonnaise and cream cheese together with a blender until smooth. Spread the cream cheese Mayonnaise mixture on the pumpernickel slices, then top each one with a cucumber and sprinkle with dill on top for garnish and flavor.

Filed Under: Party Recipes, Showers, Summer Entertaining, Uncategorized Tagged With: cucumber sandwiches, recipes, summer party, summer recipes

Cut Some Fresh Flowers For Your Summer Party Decorations

April 30, 2010 By Linette Leave a Comment

Fresh spring an summer flowers make fabulous table centerpieces, and decorations for your outdoor or indoor party. Just walk out in your garden and clip a handful of your favorite blooms, and arrange them in a vase.

A couple more quick flower arranging tips:

1. Use the freshest flowers possible.

2. Clip your flowers early in the morning, late in the evening, or just after a light rain. The flowers will be holding more moisture at these times. The extra moisture will keep them fresh longer.

3. Carry a pitcher of warm water with you as you clip, and put your flowers in it as soon as you cut them. This helps keep the stems open, and helps the plant continue to take up moisture.

4. You can use almost any flower in your arrangements. If you’ve got enough flowers, you might want to do a practice run ahead of time to make sure the flowers you pick will hold up, and to check out what looks good together.

5. Even tiny flowers can be used in small vases, or glass jars to make a cute table display.

You can’t go wrong with cut flowers for a summer party centerpiece. It’s really hard to make a floral arrangement look bad if you include an assortment of different flowers, and plenty of greenery! Just have fun with it!