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Big Hero 6 birthday party

March 2, 2015~ PARTY

For Ana’s 6th birthday party, I thought it’d be cool to throw a Big Hero 6 birthday party and call it the Big Hero Ana 6 Party instead! I just loved throwing this party. This post has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. As always, all opinions are mine alone. #BigHero6Release #CollectiveBias

my kids love this Baymax toy! It talks and the stomach lights up like a projecter screen. do you like how my girl even made him a little crown for the party? see all the other cute Big Hero 6 toy options at Walmart.

I was able to purchase most of the food, party supplies & the Big Hero 6 DVD/Blu-Ray at Walmart, included with the purchase of the Big Hero 6 Blu-Ray/DVD + Gift is the digital movie on Vudu while supplies last! Simply scan your receipt using the Savings Catcher in the Walmart app. Then look for a message on your phone or email. Now you can watch Big Hero 6 on any device.

My girl Ana told me this party was her favorite birthday party I’ve thrown for her yet! We started the party with watching Big Hero 6 as we waited for all the guests to arrive. We then ate delicious foods such as Aunt Cass’s chicken wings, Honey Lemon drink, Wasabi peas, Baymax cupcakes, and more. After we ate, we learned how to draw Baymax and all the kids did a pretty good job! We then made Honey Lemon’s chemistry concoction, oobleck which is corn starch, water & food coloring. This was the kids’s favorite thing, one kid even yelled out, “Today is the funnest day of my life!” It was a huge hit. We finished the party with eating cheesecake which is Ana’s favorite dessert, then opened presents.

Food labels, Baymax eyes, Baymax banners, cupcake toppers and tons more here
How to draw Baymax printout here
Big Hero 6 science experiments here
Wasabi peas recipe here

Oobleck recipe:

Ingredients:

1 C. water

1 1/2 C. corn starch

food coloring

Instructions:

Mix the water and the corn starch. Add drops of food coloring of your choice, as much as you desire.

OREO Football Party

January 12, 2015~ PARTY

My oldest girl’s favorite sweets is OREOS. She wanted to be an OREO this past Halloween but I didn’t let her, so she settled for an all OREO desserts at her birthday party. She really is a #1 fan so I was so excited to throw this OREO party sponsored by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser! As always, all opinions and writings are my own. #OREOCookieBalls #CollectiveBias

We got the 3 ingredients to make the Cookie Balls at Wal Mart and if you don’t follow my Instagram, you need to see this video. My daughter loves OREOS and every time we go grocery shopping and she sees the OREOS, she screams super loud and runs to the OREOS and grabs one and hugs it tight while asking, “Mommy, can we buy one? Can we buy one pleeeeeease?” It is pretty darn funny and cute. She knew I’d be filming so she got a little shy and wasn’t as dramatic as she usually is when it’s unplanned, if you could believe it. 🙂 So my girls were so excited to invite their best friends over to the OREO football party. They helped me decorate and make the Cookie Balls too.

My girls’ friends came over and after eating OREO football themed foods such as “OREO” grilled cheese(dark rye bread with mozzarella cheese), “OREO” chips & cheese(black bean chips & provolone cheese), fresh cucumbers w/ ranch, sliced apples, OREO football Cookie Balls, fudge dipped OREO cookie, popcorn & milk. After eating, they decorated a football-shaped sugar cookie with chocolate frosting and white chocolate frosting. Then we played various games such as sliding down the stairs with a baby mattress, do you love your neighbor and duck duck goose. Everyone took home some Cookie Balls and the football cookie they decorated. The party turned out great and everyone had a fun time!

Here’s the OREO Cookie Balls recipe if you want to make it, the original recipe only requires 3 ingredients and it is delicious! The Cookie Balls turned out so good and it was the most popular treat at the party! At least 3 kids from the party asked me politely if they could take some home to share with their siblings/family so I made sure they all took several home to share. It’s also the cutest thing seeing them wanting to take it home to share with their siblings, Adi and Ana do that all the time and it’s just so sweet to see them take care of each other and care for each other. Even my husband who doesn’t say something is good very often told me the Cookie Balls were pretty good and ate many. I will for sure make it many times in the future.

OFFICIAL COOKIE BALL RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 pkg (8 oz.) brick cream cheese, softened
36 OREO Cookies, finely crushed (about 3 cups)
4 pkg. (4 oz. each) semi-sweet baking chocolate, melted

Instructions:
1. Mix cream cheese and cookie crumbs until blended.
2. Shape into 48 (1-inch) balls.
3. Freeze 10 min.
3. Dip balls in melted chocolate; place in single layer in shallow waxed paper-lined pan.
4. Regrigerate 1 hour or until firm.
5. Share and enjoy!

*CUSTOMIZE it with your own ingredient additions or decorative skills.
I shaped the cake ball into a football shape before dipping it in chocolate and then with melted white chocolate added the football design to it.REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm.

You can view many more delicious OREO recipes here too.

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Party + holiday recipes

December 9, 2014~ EAT, PARTY

This Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory party is hosted by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are my own. #HolidayMadeSimple #CollectiveBias

Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory Party Ideas

I love throwing parties and entertaining my loved ones. I love the challenge it gives me in being creative and making something look pretty. We used to throw birthday parties for our kids every other year for our two girls where they could invite their friends, and the other years it was just a small family celebration. But last year we decided we would throw them birthday parties every year while they’re at the age where they enjoy it so so much. The girls talk about it all year long and I make sure they do extra chores to earn it, especially on the month of their birthday. They don’t get presents from us for their birthday, but the party is their present since they get many presents from their friends. With my 3rd child, I don’t plan on throwing him a party until he’s at least 4 years old, when he actually knows what’s going on and can invite his own friends instead of me inviting basically my friends. Then I’ll throw him a party every year until he’s about 10 so that evens out to about every other year anyway. I have a budget of $100 for each birthday I throw and almost all the parties I’ve thrown except for one has exceeded the limit.

This Willy Wonka party I threw was a little difficult to plan and execute, because I didn’t realize trying to plan and decorate and cook while tending to a 16 month old would be so difficult! This age is the hardest for me when they don’t really understand or talk or be able to negotiate so he’s ripped the table cloth with his nails, messed up the candy cane chocolate suckers I made, and let’s just say I did all of the party while holding him or having him sit on my lap. But this is also my favorite stage where every new word they say is the cutest thing you’ve ever heard and the way they say pronounce everything just twists my heart around. Yes, it’s so worth being a mother to 16 month olds! And isn’t a party with plethora of candy a every kid’s dream? #HolidayMadeSimple #CollectiveBias

**The invitation to the party: a Wonka bar and a golden ticket to the party!**

#shop #HolidayMadeSimple #CollectiveBias

**holding his favorite things: the candy-cane lollipop, a race car and a lizard.

The party was a huge success and the Carnation famous fudge and the Wonka Sweet Tarts candy canes treats were so easy to make and was the biggest hit at the party. The kids went wild for the lollipops and two of my girlfriends told me the fudge was the best fudge they’ve ever had!

**I purchased the fudge kit and the candy canes at Wal Mart, along with all the other party supply foods, and also grocery foods for my household for the week. I love that I can pretty much get whatever I need at Wal Mart, I even bought some lining for a skirt I’m making!**

**I made the fudge as instructed and before putting it in the refrigerator, I sprinkled sea salt & topped it with a pretzel. Like I mentioned above, two guests told me that it was the best fudge they’ve ever had. The Nestle Carnation Famous Fudge Kit has everything you need to make the fudge including the marshmallows, a little can of evaporated milk, a bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips and sugar. It makes over 1 1/2 lbs. of fudge per batch.**

**These colorful Wonka Sweetarts Candy Canes come in 3 fruity and tangy flavors, including Blue Punch, Green Apple and Cherry. I made this colorful heart-shaped candy cane lollipop by breaking off the ends of the candy cane and placing the two candy canes in a heart shape on a wax paper, then filled the middle with melted semi-sweet chocolate and added sprinkles. Let it harden and then gently lift it off holding the stick slowly. So simple and easy! I got the rainbow popsicle sticks at Wal Mart too. To find out more of the products offered, or more recipes, visit www.walmart.com/nestle and www.flavorfulmoments.net.

I got the golden ticket printable & and the chocolate bar wrapper here, and the caution sign here.

Maleficent birthday party

November 6, 2014~ PARTY

Get some birthday ideas for your party from this Maleficent party with lots of great ideas for food, games and decor.

We watched The Maleficent the opening night and loved the movie. We probably loved it even more because we watched it on the opening night in no better place than on the Disney Cruise! As soon as the movie was over my little girl said to me, “I want a Maleficent birthday party mama!” First of all, when they call me mama with their cute little voice, it’s hard for me to resist. And second of all, I started thinking of all the ideas for the party in my head and got so excited.

So Maleficent party it was for my daughter’s 7th birthday! I used Maleficent & Aurora character invitations from MariusDesigns and it couldn’t be more perfect.

My birthday girl wanted to be Aurora for Halloween so I thought we will have her birthday party the day after Halloween. A terrible idea. Haha, because it was the busiest week of my life preparing for costumes and the birthday party at the same time. But it turned our really well and Aurora couldn’t be happier.

Halloween Costumes:

Maleficent wings: The Pink Poudo

Aurora dress: VanessaHM

Aurora crown: Beautiful Bones BowsBb

adult Maleficent dress: Fristrom

Maleficent horns: Gabby Lucha

Dog fairy wings: DoosOddistuffies

young Maleficent dress: DIY by Jay

Diaval costume: DIY by Jay

baby raven costume: DIY by me

my husband wanted to take a picture copying a photo of Diaval and Maleficent below and from a guy who never ever suggests picture taking? I’ll take it!

Our whole family dressed up for the birthday party and invited the guests to dress up as well. I didn’t want all the focus to be on Maleficent so I made sure many things were of Aurora such as the Aurora silhouette that I just drew and cut from a black cardboard paper and put on a baroque frame I got from Ikea that I spray painted in black, and the Aurora cupcake toppers that matched perfectly with the baroque frame.

I set the backdrop with the black wall tree decal on a white butcher paper and added a finishing touch by adding a black paper chandelier(I plan on using the wall decal, frame and the chandelier for the girls’ room decor after) and a Maleficent cake topper.

I wanted the table setting to match the backdrop of the tree forest so the plates & stands were all made out of wood, including the wooden candles. This was the first party where I didn’t make the food and provided pizza from Sam’s Club on two gold glitter tree stumps, my daughter wanted a Oreo dessert bar since that’s her favorite so we had an Oreo ice-cream cake, and fruit tray, and a veggie tray displayed on 3 wood cake stands, Oreo cookies on wood cupcake stands, and Oreo pudding.

The drink was milk poured in vintage milk bottles. I only needed to make the Oreo pudding and it was so nice! I might just buy food for future birthday parties from now on. 🙂

The table was decorated with a black tablecloth and the center pieces of a Maleficent Letter “M”, Aurora flower crown, and Maleficent horns.

For games we played “Find raven’s rainbow eggs” where some eggs were stuffed with candy. They had to get at least 5 eggs or get an egg with a candy in order to receive a Maleficent prize which consisted of a Maleficent and/or Aurora bottle-cap necklace, a Maleficent mirror, and some candies. They were so excited for this game and they kept asking when we were going egg hunting so this was a big hit with the kids.

Then we had a photo shoot using Maleficent props, and we just scooted the food table to the hallway and used the party backdrop as the backdrop for the photobooth. I told my husband to think of one game we could play for the party(since I did everything else for the party) but the day came and I asked him if he thought of anything and he said no. I told him he had 2 hours to think of a game and when the party started and I asked him again, he said no. So I had planned to play 3 games but we only played 2 games.

Oh, husband. You’re so lucky you’re such a good husband and a father and make it up in so many other areas. 🙂

We finished the party with opening presents and singing happy birthday to the birthday girl and eating the Oreo ice-cream cake. When the parents came to pick up their children, they didn’t want to leave! I think it’s safe to say they had a fun time at the party.

Credits to these amazing shops:

Maleficent & Aurora invitations by MariusDesigns

Aurora cupcake toppers by DarlingPartyz

black wall tree decal by OnWallStudio

black paper chandelier by PaperMuses

Maleficent cake topper by DollyDollz

wooden candles by Marys4everFlowers

3 wood cake stands by RoxyHeartVintage

wood cupcake stands by LakeTahoeDream

gold glitter tree stumps by Dappsy

vintage milk bottles by BabyCakeKisses

Maleficent Letter “M” by TancysCreations

Aurora flower crown by Cocomont

Maleficent horns by GustavosGoods

Maleficent and/or Aurora bottle-cap necklace by PPPartyFavors

Maleficent mirror by MayoBass

Maleficent props by WeddingPhotoBooth

*A big thank you to all these amazing Etsy shops for making this party all come together!

Disney Frozen birthday party

April 9, 2014~ PARTY

yes, I matched my dress to the event, especially the snowflake backdrop. For real, I really did! 😉

What little girl doesn’t love Frozen? But my daughter Ana loves it even more because she has the same name as the Princess! I let my children pick out the theme every time and this year for her 5th birthday, Ana chose the theme Frozen.

Everyone received a simple invitation{free printable here}, and when the party started and the guests were arriving, a table was set with a plethora of Frozen coloring pages for them to color. I printed out a ton of variety of all the characters from the movie, probably 20 different kinds to accommodate the boys as well{click here, here, and here to get the free coloring pages}. After the kids were done coloring, we made snowmen using regular sized and mini marshmallows, mini m&m’s, skewers and toothpicks, rolos and mini oreos, and chocolate frosting{adapted the hat idea from here}. Then they got to eat it and afterwards we played pin the Olaf’s nose. I purchased a white poster paper and drew Olaf with a black permanent marker and Ana helped me color it. I cut out carrot shaped nose for each guest and put double sided tape on the back. Each guest was blind folded and spun 10 times before being set free to pin Olaf’s nose. One pinned the brick wall instead, one went inside the house and pinned the nose on the table, and one guest pinned the nose on my butt! Everyone thought that was so hilarious and the kids couldn’t stop laughing! We then had treats of snowmen treats{free printables here}, powdered donuts representing the body of the snowman, mini m&m’s for the buttons and the eyes, pretzel sticks representing the arms, and baby carrots representing the nose, and melted snowman water bottle(free printable here}, hot chocolate bar with homemade whipped cream, candy cane sticks, and variety of chocolate dipped spoons(you melt chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 sec. increments, and when it’s smooth and melted, dip the plastic spoon in the bowl and top it with toppings such as marshmallows, crushed candy cane, chocolate chips. do the same for caramel dipped spoons). After the guests ate, we did one last activity of crystal painting{mix equal amounts of epsom salt and hot water, dip the painbrush in it and use it like paint! when it dries it will crystallize. It’s mess-free and the kids loved it!}. We finished the party with the birthday cake{ordered from Macey’s grocery store} and opening the presents.

The cost of the birthday party:

-Printables: $2.34 (free printable, then used Sam’s club to print out 18 prints of 4×6 photo at 13 cents each)

-Birthday cake: $23 (from Macey’s grocery store)

-Table setting: $4 (2 table covers, one from the dollar store, one from Party City)

-Snow flakes back drop: $3 (used the snowflakes I already had from the dollar store, white paper, and silver wrapping paper)

-Hot chocolate bar: $13

-Building snowman with candy activity: $15

-Epsom salt painting activity: $10

-Pin the Olaf activity: $3

-Treats: $16

-Photography: free(I took all the photos)

TOTAL: $89.34

I set a budget of $100 for all of my kids’ birthday parties, and while I went a little bit over last year for my daughter’s Power Ranger birthday party, I was under the budget this year by $10. We had 18 of Ana’s friends over, so this was a party for 20 kids for under $90!