End of Summer Party Tips

End of Summer Party Tips 

As seen on Afternoon Live 

Ok, I KNOW the photos aren't the best and all perfect looking.  That's what happens when you take the pics in the back prep area of a t.v. station.  That's right, this party set up was featured on Afternoon Live.  You should totally go watch.  I give some serious end of summer party tips you'll want to snag.   

So this pic is totally washed out.  BUT,  what I want to point out here is the paper lanterns.  They're great for summer parties.  They are inexpensive and light and perfect for hanging from tree's or  pergolas. Many come with lights that are battery operated so you can extend the party after the sun has gone down. 

Bright candies can add some fun to your end of summer parties.   Be sure the candy sticks with the theme of your party.  I chose a tropical themed end of summer party so I went with bright tropical colourful candy.   If it's going to be a hot day when you host your party be sure to set up the candy table indoors.  Candy and hot sun don't mix.  If you set up your candy bar outdoors on a hot day you'll have a big sticky mess.  

 When setting up a candy bar be sure to have a variety on hand. Pick a variety of colours, flavors and textures.  Cupcakes are always good to have on your dessert table.   If you pick up store bought ones dress them up with candy sprinkles and picks matching your theme.

 It's easy to add handmade details to your party like this flamingo banner I created.  Look for a template of something that matches your theme, trace it out onto card stock and attach to ribbon or clear line with tape.  No one is going to see the back and tape is quick and easy. I added a little glitter to the flamingo beak for some fun.

 No summer party is complete without some fun photo booth props that match your theme.  Everyone loves to take fun photo's that will remind them of all the summer fun with friends when winter hits and it's too cold or wet to host a party outdoors.

Photo props don't have to be expensive.  Pick up some fun glasses at dollar shops and party them up by adding glitter.  

For more ideas and to see WAY better images, watch the video.

  

Flamingo's for Halloween

Flamingo Party Dessert Table 

** Product was given to me by Oriental Trading in exchange for styling a party. I've been ordering from this company long before I was a blogger. Just so you know ;) **

Welcome back! Let's take a closer look at this dessert table shall we.  Oh, you missed the first post? Pop over here and get more tips on hosting your own flamingo/spider Halloween party.  

The weather was actually nice enough for me to host this outside. You just never know with October in Oregon.  You could have a beautiful day or it could be rain all day. Of course there's also those days that start out really nice so you set up everything outside and then the clouds come rolling in and it rains just as your friends arrive for the party so you have to move everything indoors. Yep, that was this party. I just finished photographing everything and the rains came. Had to tear it all down and rush it inside. 

When thinking of a topper for your cake try something different like I did with this spider.  Since the spider isn't made to be a cake topper I placed something under his body so he wouldn't get frosting all over his fur and be ruined. 

Little details can really tie a party theme together.  Flamingo's on the straws and the pink poms keep the flamingo theme no matter where your guests carry their drink to. While the black glasses and Halloween straw flags remind those flamingo's this is Halloween season, summers over.  

I like to keep my parties as stress free as I can. So if I don't have time to bake cupcakes I don't worry about it. I just pick some up from the store. These were s'more cupcakes from the bakery and I just took the marshmallow off the top and replaced it with a bright pink gumball.  Then I put the cupcakes in pink wrappers to keep the theme going. 

Being Halloween I wanted to display the cookies in something other than a tray like I usually do.  This year I went with coffins.  I picked up some plain wood coffins at the craft store, spray painted them black, added a little leftover fabric I had around the house and attached a sticker to the lid. 

Did you spot the little detail in this picture?  
Hint- it's crawling on the fork. 

Are you inspired to add flamingo's to your Halloween party this year? 

Now let's shop this party so you can throw a fun fabulous Halloween party:
Wood flamingo's, flamingo balloon, hot pink table fringe, pink plates, pink forks, Happy Halloween banner, black balloons  and black glasses- Oriental Trading 

Spider web cupcake stand, cake stand, black table linen- Joann's

Spooky sign- Target 

Coffin box, pumpkins- Michaels

Pink tulle poms- Fizzy Party 

Flamingo Cookies- Gingerhead cookies 

Cake- Confection Deception 

Related: Flamingo Halloween Party 

Flamingo Halloween Party

Flamingo Halloween Party Inspiration 

**Product was given to me by Oriental Trading in exchange for styling a party. I've been ordering from this company long before I was a blogger. Just so you know ;) **

Fizzy Friends, I decided to go a little different this Halloween and keep the summer flamingo fun going. The inspiration for this party came from an Instagram post I saw on Cake and Confetti's feed.  I emailed her and told her I was inspired by the picture she posted and would she mind if I ran with a party idea based on it.  She was awesome and said, go for it!

I know this is totally small and needs to be MUCH bigger. It was my first attempt at a Pinterest pin. Leave a comment and let me know what you think of it, besides the size. I know it needs to be bigger. 

For Halloween I like to throw theme based parties.  It makes planning out all the décor so much easier.  It also allows me to pick up items on sale when I see them and keeps the stress level of throwing parties down. Throwing parties for me is a passion so I rarely stress over them but I know it's not every one's passion and for a lot of people throwing together a mini party is a lot of work. That's why I bring you inspiration and ideas and if you leave comments with party questions I'll always answer them. 

I like to keep my parties mini. Only inviting over 6-8 friends. This allows me to really connect with my friends while they're at the party and bonus, it keeps costs down. You don't need to buy as much food, plates, cups, utensils etc. 

The inspiration for this Halloween theme was a flamingo cookie on a spider web paper cut out.  Being Halloween I have to have tombstones.  I picked these up at a dollar type store.  The flamingo's are meant for a table top display but I took them out of their stand and stuck them in the ground.  I couldn't find any pink pumpkins so I picked up some faux orange ones, on sale at a craft store, spray painted them pink and sprinkled them with a little black glitter. 

When it comes to serving cupcakes at your party you don't have to bake your own. Unless you like baking then by all means, bake away.  But if you really don't like baking or don't have the time, don't stress yourself out. Whip into your local bakery or grocery store and buy some. The key to my parties is to keep the stress down so you can enjoy your friends during the party.  I picked these cupcakes up at the store, plopped them into some party themed liners and added a pink bubble gum candy to the top. This took me very little time, matches the party theme and my friends didn't care that I didn't make the cupcakes myself. 

I love to add details to a party that tie the theme together.  The black glasses and straw flags pull in the spider element while the flamingo printed straws and pink tulle poms pull in the flamingo element. When hosting a party think of ways you can incorporate little details into your party. 

For the dessert table I like to have a variety available. I always end up with extras and always send my friends home with desserts but I love desserts and I just like the way a variety looks. I'll be bringing you more tips and close ups of this dessert station in another post so be sure to come back. 

So.. what did you think of this party? Should flamingo's stay in their own season, summer? 

Now let's shop this party! 

Wood flamingo's, flamingo balloon, hot pink table fringe, Happy Halloween banner, black balloons  and black glasses- Oriental Trading 

Spider web cupcake stand, cake stand, black table linen- Joann's

Spooky sign- Target 

Coffin box, pumpkins- Michaels

Pink tulle poms- Fizzy Party 

Flamingo Cookies- Gingerhead cookies 

Cake- Confection Deception