New Years Day Party

New Years Day Cozy Snacking 

** This post was made possible by products given to me by Oriental Trading in exchange for styling a party.  I only work with companies I already purchase products from. **

New Years Day is all about being lazy for us.  Sleeping in, lounging around in fleece pants and snacking all day.  While the outside is not frightful, it's actually quite pleasant for January, I'm still feeling the cozy plaid feeling.  So when I set up this mini snack table I used my plaid table linen from my Christmas tree farm party.  And since we didn't get any snow this year I brought the snow feeling in by using a furry table runner and wintery cups and platter from Oriental Trading. 

These ceramic sweater mugs bring that winter cozy feel to your hot chocolate.  Top your cocoa with whipped cream, marshmallows and a peppermint stick, throw on a movie and get comfy on the couch.  Sounds like a perfect way to spend New Years day to me. 

 If you're like a lot of people and stay up until midnight on New Years Eve you probably want to sleep in on New Years day.   To help make a mini party easier on you take some short cuts by buying store bought cupcakes and dressing them up with wrappers and toppers.  Wrappers and toppers can make such a difference to the look of store bought cupcakes for very little money and effort.

Always be on the look out for deals on versatile party items.  While grocery shopping a few weeks back I saw these candles on a 50% off sale.  I knew the silver glitter candles would be perfect for multiple parties.  Winter, Christmas, New Years, birthday, weddings, disco and more.  I like how they add a touch of sparkle to these lanterns. 

Powdered sugar donuts make the perfect display treat for winter parties.  They're inexpensive, you can stack them to look like a donut mountain covered in snow and they're great for dipping in hot cocoa or coffee. All I'm missing is little skier's swooshing down donut mountain. 

How did you spend your New Years Day?  Nice and lazy and cozy like me or did you get a jump on your resolutions and were super productive?

Shop this party!

Styling and photography by Fizzy Party 

Sweater mug, snowflake platter, plaid cupcake liners, lanterns and plaid chalk board- Oriental Trading 

Sled- Michael's 

Plaid table linen- Joann's

Fur table runner- TJ Maxx

Red cake stand- Cost Plus World Market

Candles and cupcakes - Fred Meyer

Donuts- Hostess 

Surrounded by Plaid Among the Trees

Welcome back to part two of Embracing the plaid trend this holiday season.  I took the Christmas party outdoors this year and instead of having a Christmas Open House  party we went and hunted for the perfect tree.

 Plaid is SO hot during the holiday season and can be found every where right now.  And it looks fabulous among all the trees at the tree farm.  Whether you cut down a tree or go faux a hot chocolate bar is a must and so easy to do.

Since we were out at a tree farm and there was just a small group of us I kept the hot cocoa bar simple.

I was blown away by the cookies Creating Awesomenessity  made.  When I placed my order I sent her my Pinterest inspiration board and this is what she created.  Aren't they just the cutest!!

Hot cocoa and donuts just go together and fueled us before the hunt.  Even with a little rain, these mini donuts were still delicious.

Party tip: Save yourself some time and stress and buy store bought or bakery cupcakes.   Liners that match your theme, sprinkles and cupcake toppers dress up store bought cupcakes and give them the wow factor.

Dress up your hot cocoa with fun sprinkles and mini donuts and prepare for the hunt.

Load up your thermos with hot cocoa to keep you warm as you walk the tree farm looking for the perfect tree.

Have a little fun at the tree farm by bringing props to help your friends know that you've found the one.

Walking around a tree farm to find the perfect tree can work up a thirst. Depending on how long it takes you to find the perfect tree.  Some people can pull up to a tree farm and pick out their tree within 5 minutes. Others need to take their time and walk all over the farm to be sure they don't leave the perfect one behind.

Not all people like root beer but I do and thought it would be fun to create some tags to match the party theme. Root Deer anyone?  :) hee hee

Are you inspired?  I hope so!! If you are, shop this party here ⇩⇩

Styling, concept, and photography by Fizzy Party
Plaid pillow: Shutterfly 
Location: Sleighbells Gift Shop and Tree Farm 
Graphics: Small Moments 
White fur table runner: TJ Maxx
Plaid table linen: Joann Fabric and Craft 
Gold glitter box, truck with trees, glitter deer and black straws: Michaels
Buffalo check cups, mini wood trees, little trees and fur pillow: Target 
Tree and truck paper and felt banner: Inkberry 
Red cake plate: World Market 
Retro thermos: Suddenly Surrounded by Taxidermy
Cookies: Creating Awesomenessity 
Cupcake toppers: Fancy and Fold
Mini donuts: Green Mountain Mini Baked 
Green sugar, Mini candy cane sprinkles, holly sprinkles: Wilton 

Fall Trends- Plaid and Deer

Fall calls for fun times with friends. A chance to get together before all the holiday busyness begins. The last few years I've had a pumpkin carving party. Not this year. I saw this invitation and a party idea formed. Who knew I would be so on trend. I had my party the first weekend of October and now BAM!  I'm seeing plaid and deer everywhere. 

Guests were greeted at  the door by an easy diy sign.  Small Moments  created the graphic. I took an artists canvas, wrapped it in faux bois contact paper, attached the graphic and added a feather. 

A splash of colour at the front door from the fall mums, buffalo check fabric and antlers on the pumpkin hinted of the party theme inside.  If you're on Instagram check out the hashtag for more photo's of the party. 

Hay bail from Michael's. Faux pumpkin glittered up with an antler template I made.

When we bought our house I knew this red wall was perfect for parties. You would think a cream wall would be better but this red goes great for Valentine's, Cinco De Mayo, fall, Christmas...

Red being my fav colour I just love the look of this fall spread. It makes me think of a cozy cabin in the woods. 

Fancy & Fold 's cupcake toppers fit the theme perfectly and added that rustic touch to my mini pumpkin cakes. These cakes are great for breakfast too.  

Yep, the table linen isn't smooth for a reason. I wanted it to look like a picnic blanket tossed onto a lawn for a fall picnic. 

Antlers borrowed from Bella Grey Designs.

The little fox place card holder I picked up at Khol's a few years ago. I knew it would be perfect for a party someday. 

If you want mini donuts for your party,Green Mountain Mini Baked  is who you need to order from. I had a hard time not eating all of these before my guests arrived. They make great party favors too.

The show stopper. Caramel Apple Snickers Cake. I followed the recipe from Half Baked Harvest. Does it look as pretty as her's? No. But here's the thing. My guests didn't care, they didn't know what it was suppose to look like and it tasted amazing! 

It's not a fall party without apple cider. 

After loading up on tasty treats my friends and I retired to the living room to catch up on everyone's summer activities and fall plans. I kept the comfy cabin feeling going with natural elements, buffalo check, candles and a great banner by Fancy & Fold. 

I can't help myself with the details. Sure the label on the wine bottle would have been fine. But look how great the label Small Moments created looks with everything. It blends seamlessly. 

Auntie Beas  acorn cookies mimic the acorns in the napkin rings and the glittered acorns from the table. Gratitude cards from Small Moments helped steer the conversation away from work.  Work dominates enough of our life and it's stressful enough. This party was all about fun and relaxation. No work stress allowed.  

Guests were sent home with homemade pumpkin scrubs.  They make your shower smell just like fall and your skin so soft. 

I hope you enjoyed this fall party. I'd love to hear your thoughts and if you use any of these ideas let me know. 

Vendors:
Fizzy Party: Concept, Styling, Photography, Crafting
Small Moments: Graphics
Green Mountain Mini Baked: Pumpkin Pie mini donuts
Auntie Beas Bakery: Cookies
Fancy & Fold: Banner on fireplace, cupcake toppers
Tiny Prints : Invitations, pillows, thank you cards, gift tags.
Hoopla Events: Straws

Fall Holiday Party

This year I had the pleasure of being part of the A Blissful Nest Holiday Team. I created this party as my contribution.  Grab a Moscow Mule, curl up on the couch and enjoy. 

The beginning of fall means leaves changing colors, crisp cool air and my friends looking forward to an invitation in the mail from me for a fall get together.  A chance for us to catch up after all the summer fun spent with family.  My fall party is always a casual get together with good treats, some good wine and minimal party decor. The emphasis is on time with friends. 

Plaid is so on trend for fall so for this party I combined plaid, natural elements and of course, a little glitter. Using a lot of elements I already had around the house. 

 Often times when friends get together conversations can turn to work. To prevent that this year I had Small Moments create gratitude cards to spur meaningful conversations and to keep the conversation flowing away from work. 

 To create the glitter pumpkins I picked up some small white ones at the store, painted mod podge on them and sprinkled glitter all over the areas covered in mod podge. For the glittered acorns, I collected the acorns from a local park, painted the tops in Elmer's white glue and sprinkled glitter over the glue covered areas. 

 Along with fall treats we enjoyed a glass of wine. To continue the plaid trend I bought some fabric and draped it over our ottomans.  I don't have a serving tray so I used a cookie sheet that I covered with wood themed paper from the craft store.

 I ordered custom sugar cookies for the party because this party was all about being casual and relaxed.  Ordering cookies instead of making my own saved me time and stress so I could focus on my friends.

Although this was a casual relaxed party I can't help myself when it comes to the details. Besides the custom sugar cookies to match the party I also had labels for the wine created. For the napkin rings I tied twine around the napkins, cut out fall leaves and acorns from paper and attached them to the twine. 

Parties don't have to be big over the top productions all the time. By using items you already have around your house and adding a few custom elements you can create a great looking party your friends will be impressed by.  No need to tell them how easy it was to put together. Just sit back and enjoy the compliments. 

Vendors: 
Concept, styling and photography by Fizzy Party 
Graphics by Small Moments
Cookies by Auntie Beas Bakery