Easter Blog Hop Evite Challenge

Let's get the legal stuff out of the way and then get down to the fun!  

I am part of the Evite Influencer Program and have been compensated for this post. All opinions are my own. 

Now for the FUN!  Evite contacted me and asked if I wanted to join their $35 Easter Blog Hop Challenge.  Um yes!  You know I'm all about inspiring you to throw more parties.  I also know throwing parties can be stressful for some people.  You think you have to spend a fortune to throw one. Sooo not true!  You and your friends can have a great time on a small budget. Let's see how.

Yep, if you know me you're not surprised at all that I chose this invitation.  I'm all about the Peeps at Easter. 

For the $35 challenge I threw a mini brunch for three of my friends.  I saved money by not putting a table linen down and kept the centerpiece and place settings simple. The focus of the party was time with friends.

To keep the party affordable I served croissants which were only $2.50 for a pack of four and cantaloupe which was on sale for $2.50.  Buying whole fruit is so much cheaper then buying 

pre-cut. 

I splurged on the drinks and served Fentimans Rose Lemondae soda.  Less expensive than champagne, still has that bubbly effect and tastes delicious.  Of course I had to add a Peep to the glass to tie into the invitation and HELLO, it's Easter! Easter calls for Peeps.

I love sending my guests home with party favors and this brunch was no exception.  I filled an Easter egg with a lip balm in pink to match the invitation.

For the centerpiece I picked some daffodils from my yard, tied them together with a spare piece of ribbon I had in the house and placed them in a drinking glass. I surrounded the glass with Peeps and placed the whole centerpiece on a wood round I had. If you don't have a wood round you could use a pretty tray, platter, dish, or nothing. 

Dessert was delicious Lindor eggs.   

I know you all couldn't attend the party but I have a party favor for you too!  Evite gave me a promo code for their premium invitations for up to 15 guests. This promo code is good through March 26, 2016.  Just click here  and enter promo code easterhop15 at check out.

Before you hop over to Positively Stacey  lets look at the numbers:

Paper plates: $2.00
Napkins: $1.00
Fentiman's Rose Lemonade: $7.96 for 4
Croissants: $2.50, package of 4
Cantaloupe: $2.50 for a whole one
Peeps: $1.00
Easter eggs: $1.00
Lindor eggs: $3.96 for 4
Lip Balm: $8.37 for 3
Flowers: from the yard
Glass plates: already owned but you can pick up at dollar stores
Wood round: already owned
Champagne glasses: already owned but you can pick them up at dollar stores
Total: $30.29
Cha-ching! a savings of $4.71

I am part of the Evite Influencer Program and have been compensated for this post.

Easter Dinner

I know I'm disappointing my friend with this post. I sort of told her I would be posting about my Circus Animal cookie cupcakes today but... I changed my mind :) I'm bringing you a virtual Easter get-together instead.  Circus Animal cookie cupcakes to be posted on Monday.

This Sunday is Easter and I'll be celebrating on Saturday while my family is in town from Wisconsin.  They fly out on Easter. If I would have been planning WAY ahead like a good party diva does, I'd be having my step-kids over on Sunday for a dinner. However, I let Easter sneak up on me.

Peeps being my favorite Easter candy, the kids would be greeted at the door by a Peeps wreath. Tutorial found on Our Best Bites.

Everyone would have to wash up before dinner with the chocolate bunny soap. No calories :) Found on Bonbonbathhouse. 

I adore this place setting from StoneGable  The elegance of the table is not usually my style. I'm more of a casual place setter. But there's a part of me who longs to be an elegant table setter.

If only I had the talent to make amazing cookies like these found on Ali Bee's Bake Shop . I'm swooning over the cuteness of that bunny in the basket.

Do you have family in town for Easter? Having an egg hunt? Serving dinner?
I'd love to hear all about your Easter. So leave me a comment and tell me all about it.

Christmas Party Time

 First Christmas party this season.  I would have loved to have thrown a big one myself because well, I LOVE Christmas and throwing parties.  However, attending them is a lot of fun too.  This party was kid centered.  So the punch I brought had to be kid friendly.  Thank you to my aunt for letting me borrow her punch bowl.  Party tip: If there's a party item you don't have, check around with family and friends to see what you can borrow. You'll save money on an item you may only use once and you won't have to find a place to store it.

Rudolph's Tipsy Spritzer  this version was non-tipsy. I suggest doubling this recipe as well.  It's tasty and the amount that's called for in the recipe doesn't make enough for a large group.

My friend served Papa Murphy pizza . Easy, quick, inexpensive and what kid doesn't love pizza.

For dessert:

Peanut Butter and Jelly bars. I wasn't so sure about these because they sound kind of gross to me. I never mix jelly with my peanut butter. But these are quite tasty and disappeared fast! My friend told us it's a box mix. I searched the internet for it but couldn't find it so here's a recipe for them.

Pumpkin cookies with chocolate chips. Another BIG hit with the kids.

And no Christmas party would be complete without PEEPS! My personal fav :)

 There were no cute labels, no Christmasy backdrop, no table set up all Christmas party photo op ready like you see on many party blogs.  But none of the kids would have even noticed and the adults had a great time visiting without all of that too.  I think people feel like they have to go OVER the top in order to throw a party because that's what they see on the blogs. It isn't necessary though. Getting friends together and having a good time is what it's all about.  Over the top is just in us party diva's DNA ;)