Making Birthdays Special

Who doesn't love celebrating a birthday? Especially with a little kid. I'm finding that kids really don't need big, fancy, over-the-top parties, expensive gifts, or an impressive cake that no one wants to cut into because it's too pretty (As much as the party planner in me wants these elaborate things for my own children.). All that extra fluff is really just for the adults! This year as my little boy turned 4, I have discovered that with just some simple and inexpensive touches a child can have an amazing birthday.

As my son's birthday approached I wanted to give him a memorable birthday but was feeling a little overwhelmed with my life as a mother of 2 children. I contemplated planning a big party with all his new friends from preschool but I just didn't have the energy or the time to pull it off this year. I decided to SIMPLIFY, but still keep things SPECIAL.

I thought about the highlights of my birthdays as a child. I don't consider my family the best at celebrating birthdays, at least not to the extent that I want for my own children, but there are two things that stand out. For some of my earlier birthdays, I got to search for my birthday presents using clues in treasure hunt fashion. As I got older, I got to go out to lunch, at the restaurant of my choice, and do a little birthday shopping with my mom - just the two of us.

So using my past birthday experience, here are some of the special yet inexpensive things that we did for my son's birthday this year:

Using a $1 bag of balloons from the dollar store, Jeremy and I filled Spencer's room with balloons while he was sleeping the night before his birthday. Now this is not for the light sleeping child! You wouldn't think it at first, but balloons are loud! Not just when you accidentally pop one on a toy with a sharp edge, but also just trying to carry multiple balloons at a time. They rub together and are very loud when trying not to wake a sleeping child. But I will tell you - it was worth the effort! Spencer thought it was the coolest thing ever, to wake up on his birthday with a room full of balloons. Add in a special party hat and balloon wand from the dollar store and you have one happy boy - all for $3!

For the 2nd year in a row, I made a treasure hunt for Spencer to find his presents. Here are the clues for Spencer's treasure hunt. He has been watching Blue's Clues recently and was really excited about the blue paw print I free handed with a blue crayon on note cards. 4 clues for birthday number 4. It was such a small and simple touch but really took the treasure hunt over the top!

Look at that excitement at finding a present! If you haven't tried a treasure hunt for birthday presents with your kids I highly recommend it. Such a simple idea that brings such joy!

Another special touch: I ordered this personalized birthday banner using a tip from my favorite money saving blog, Hip 2 Save, for only $7.95! You can see the details of this deal HERE. They run this special occasionally for Hip 2 Save readers and it came at just the right time for me to order in time for Spencer's birthday. It is a nice, heavy-duty, vinyl banner that I personalized with Spencer's name. I can reuse this banner every year, so for $7.95 I felt that was quite the catch! Spencer thought it was fabulous that the banner had his name on it...

The simple, homemade cake. You can see some of Spencer's past cakes HERE, HERE, and HERE. In the past, I have always tried to be an over achiever in the birthday cake department. I am not a cake decorator so that would usually leave me feeling disappointed by my lack of skill. However, I have come to discover that I prefer a homemade cake to a store bought one - they are cheaper and taste better in my opinion. Spencer said he wanted a Toy Story cake this year and I was really intimidated. If you search for Toy Story cakes online you will find some amazing and very detailed cakes. I was definitely not in the mood to slave over a cake this year. As I questioned Spencer more about his cake desires he said he wanted a chocolate cake with Toy Story toys on top...wait...what? Toy story toys on top? Wow! That is super easy! I can do that! The end result: I put some small Toy Story figurines on the top of a homemade chocolate bundt cake and Spencer thought it was the best cake ever. It was pretty darn good cake too. I'll share the recipe soon in case you're interested.

Another tip: invest in a special plate exclusively for birthdays that you can serve the birthday cake on or the birthday boy/girl can use for their special birthday dinner/cake eating. Spencer's birthday cake was served on our special plate. I bought it from The Pampered Chef since I am a consultant and sell their products, but I have seen special plates at places like Hobby Lobby and TJ Maxx that don't cost much. It's such a simple thing but children will think it is so special.

Thanks for taking the time to read my long-winded post. I hope you have found something useful or at least found some inspiration. It really doesn't take a lot of time or money to make someone feel special on their special day!

Are you ready for some football? Food that is...

Here is the spread from our Texas Tech vs. A&M football game party.
Tech lost, but the food was definitely a winner!

Table centerpiece:
The Football Subway Art can be found HERE and is available in other colors too.
Dollar Tree hurricanes adding some red candy color to the table

I was so excited to find Texas Tech plates and napkins in the clearance bin at the grocery store for 50 cents a package!

I picked up these cute red and black pom pom toothpicks in the dollar spot at Target.
They make my sausage balls look really festive!

Here's a rundown of the menu:
A big crockpot of chili
chips and queso/salsa
sausage balls
apples picked from the apple orchard with caramel dip
"Elizabeth's 1st prize at the fair" cookie bars (recipe coming soon!)
spinach artichoke dip - courtesy of Joanna
red velvet brownies - courtesy of Roxanne
bread bowl dip - courtesy of my mom
(I will share the recipe for this soon! It is always a winner!)
chocolate chip cookies - courtesy of Shanna
Puppy chow - courtesy of Roxanne
veggie tray - courtesy of the Cluff family
tamales - courtesy of my mother-in-law

As you can tell, we had a TON of food! But it was oh so delicious!
What food do you like to eat for football watchin' / tailgating?

Wire Pumpkins...courtesy of Dollar Tree!

I'm joining the "Under $10 and Under 1 Hour" party over at 320 Sycamore with these easy-peasy wire pumpkins using wire from Dollar Tree.
The inspiration comes from Jessica @ Mad in Crafts.

They are so quick and easy to put together...

Using this floral wire from Dollar Tree (comes in several different colors), wrap it around a cylinder shape of your choice - a toilet paper roll, a prescription bottle, a hairspray bottle, etc. Whatever you have on hand.
The smaller the cylinder, the smaller yet more full your pumpkin will be.
I used a can of air freshener for the larger pumpkin and a prescription bottle for the smaller pumpkin.
Remove the coil from the cylinder and using a twist tie (reuse the twist ties that come with the wire!), tie the middle of the coil together.
Leave some excess wire out to make the twisty stem of the pumpkin.
Then pull the wire around to round out the pumpkin shape.
You can get a picture tutorial of this process over at Mad in Crafts.

Aren't they so cute?
(please excuse the dusty shelf...)

$1 for each pumpkin.
Maybe 5 minutes to put together.
Definitely Under $10 and Under 1 Hour!
Thanks for the inspiration Jessica!

I think I'll go dust that shelf now...

A fall mantel with my new wreath

Ahhh how I love this. Doesn't my new wreath look great over the mantel? I usually go for more of a Halloween mantel this time of year but my wreath needed a home...and I loved all the amazing fall mantel decorating going on in blog land right now. I decorated with items I already had, with the exception of the cute ceramic owl. Owls are quite popular this year for fall decorating and though I originally was not a fan, this little guy has grown on me.

I used popcorn kernels in the hurricane to fill the space around the orange candle.
I love the touch of gold color it adds.
The white pumpkin came from Dollar Tree
and the gold leaf plate I found for $1 on clearance at TJ Max a couple years ago.

More beaded pumpkins, leftover from my wreath decorating, stacked in a Dollar Tree Hurricane.

Isn't he cute? I love that wide-eyed look!
(I found him at World Market.)

I love how the wreath looks layered over the mirror.
Displaying a wreath over a mirror is one of my favorite ways to showcase it.

My love for all things fall continues...

I am linking up to The Lettered Cottage's Fall Mantel Link Party.

Recreating a Fall Wreath...on a budget

Isn't this wreath gorgeous? It's from Williams Sonoma (discovered via Pinterest) and will cost you $99.95. Wow. I love it, but I don't $99.95 love it.

How about this beauty? I fell in love. But for $75 on Etsy (discovered via Pinterest) I decided there had to be a better and cheaper way to get some of this autumn goodness.

Here is my handmade version for MUCH cheaper. * sigh * I love it.

I haven't decided if I like it better with the jute ribbon or the chocolate brown satin ribbon for the bow.
(The brown ribbon needs to be trimmed, I know. The ends need to be the same length...its making me twitch...something about not being symmetrical.)
What do you think?
Let me know in the comments.
I thought I liked the brown ribbon best but as I look at these pictures, I lean towards the jute ribbon.

Here is my cost breakdown:
Styrofoam wreath form from Hobby Lobby - $4 (on sale 1/2 price)
4 bags of reindeer moss from Dollar Tree - $4
Beaded pumpkins from Walmart - $5
Jute ribbon from Walmart - $2
Total - $15

Assembly was easy. Hot glue the reindeer moss all over the wreath form. Hot glue pumpkins. Tie a ribbon bow at the top and you have yourself a thrifty and beautiful wreath. I just love fall!

I linked up to Rhoda's Door Decor Fall Linky Party
and
Lemon Tree Creations Pinterest Link Up!

P.S. The wreath inspiration was originally discovered on Pinterest. Yes, I have become a Pinterest addict. You can follow my boards HERE.

Summer Fun Kit

Since Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, I thought I would put together some easy summer fun kits. I always think of things I should have brought with us when we take an impromptu trip to the park and I thought it would be nice to have it all together in one place. I assembled two kits - one for the car and one to be kept near the front door. I mainly used items I found at Dollar Tree or in the dollar spot at Target.

The Car Kit

I put a frisbee, some sand pails and shovels, a bubble wand, sand/dirt digging tools, a bucket of sidewalk chalk and some sunblock together in a red basket from Dollar Tree. Now that I have this stowed in the back of my car, I am ready for any summer outdoor adventure with Spencer.

The possibilities are endless!
You can completely customize this to your family's needs.

Here's a smaller version I put together to be used at home, stored near the front door. It always seems that Spencer asks me for the same things when he is playing outside: sidewalk chalk, bubbles, and something to water the flowers with. Now I don't have to go searching all over the house and the whole basket can be brought outside. I also added a container of sunblock too as a reminder to put some on when playing outside! This is great for when mom isn't home and dad is entertaining the kiddos oustide.

Finish it off with some ribbon and you are ready for some summer fun!

What items would you put in your summer fun basket?

Adding Some Christmas Pizzaz to the Picture Wall

Do you remember the picture wall I put together for my in-laws? You can see more details HERE. I decided it needed a little touch of Christmas so here it is looking a little more Christmasy:

It was so easy - I just wrapped a few of the picture frames with Christmas wrapping paper (I'm a polka-dots kinda girl) and added a bow. It doesn't take much wrapping paper and if you are like me, you shop the after Christmas sales and get wrapping paper cheap! So easy, fast, and thrifty and it gives just a little touch of Christmas cheer to this wall. I also tied another glittery reindeer ornament, like the one I used HERE from the Dollar Tree, onto the big 'D' with a red ribbon.

Add a sparkly "Merry" ornament and your finished...

Just the right touch of cheer and whimsy for the holidays!

The Dollar Tree Hurricanes make their Christmas debut...

The Dollar Tree hurricanes are back and dressed for a Christmas party!
They served as the centerpiece for the party my parents hosted at their home this past Friday night. I continue to be amazed at how versatile they are... add a few Christmas fillers and they simply glow!

My favorite fillers were the 69 cent fat, candy cane sticks from Dollar Tree and the glittery reindeer ornament (also from Dollar Tree) and 99 cent green glitter tree from Walgreen's nestled in some fake snow.
*sigh*
I love them.
Festive and beautiful, yet simple and cheap.
Have you made your Dollar Tree hurricanes yet?

A Peter Pan/Pirate Birthday Party

For my son's 3rd birthday he requested a Peter Pan party. Well if you have tried throwing a Peter Pan party lately you know it is nearly impossible to find Peter Pan party stuff anywhere! Tinker Bell, yes. Peter Pan, no. I guess Peter Pan is not the "in" thing right now. So we combined Peter Pan with a Pirate party in honor of Captain Hook and his gang of pirates. Here's a look at some of the party details:


Spencer requested strawberry cake for his birthday cake. Strawberry cake is pink and in an effort to make it more boyish/pirateish I tinted it with red food coloring, baked it in pirate cupcake papers and garnished them with these cute toothpick signs that say "Pirate's Life For Me."

The candy buffet table. For those of you who know me really well you know I love me a good candy buffet! (To see some of my past candy buffets: http://thetxdavisthree.blogspot.com/2010/02/natalies-baby-shower.html and http://thetxdavisthree.blogspot.com/2010/06/mocktails-good-food-roxannes-graduation.html)

You can click on the picture above to see things in better detail. I gave each candy a name based on pirate life or Peter Pan. I borrowed a decorative trunk from my parents' to serve as a treasure chest for the pirate loot and nestled in several glass jars and vases along with some Dollar Tree hurricanes to hold the candy.

Buried Treasure: Rolos

Pirate Loot: Fruit Cream Candies in pirate wrappers

"Second Star to the Right" Bursts: Starbursts (Remember? Neverland was the second star to the right.)

Cod Fish: Swedish Fish (Peter Pan calls Captain Hook a Cod Fish alot in the movie)

Cannonballs: Whoppers

Pixie Dust: Pixie Sticks

Don't be afraid to think outside the box (or inside the box as the case may be!) for different candy buffet ideas.

* Most of the pirate party goods I found at Dollar Tree or Hobby Lobby, two of my favorite stores!

"Tis now the very witching time of night"...the makings of a Halloween Dinner Party

Last night we had our annual Davis Halloween party - and I must say it was my favorite one yet! Here's a look at the details and decorations:

The theme for the decorations: Black and White
The costume theme: Classic Horror Films (to see pictures of the costumes, check out my family blog at thetxdavisthree.blogspot.com)
Dinner theme: Italian, multi-course, sit down dinner for 16 people. The food was all SO delicous!
Course 1: Appetizers and drinks = bruschetta and 3 mocktail choices
Course 2: Salad = Fabulous salad with strawberris, feta, and candied pecans
Course 3: Soup = "Kidney Soup" (Minestrone)
Course 4: Main Dish = Manicotti with garlic bread
Course 5: Dessert = pumpkin cheesecake or triple chocolate cheesecake

Enjoy some pictures of the decorations! I had so much fun putting it all together! I couldn't have done it without my fellow Halloween lover, Elizabeth, who provided a good portion of the serving pieces. If you would like more specific details, please leave me a comment and I would be happy to give you more specifics. I will say that "Dollar Tree" was definitely my go-to source for this party... (click on each photo to enlarge for more detail)

Dinner Table 1

The place settings - courtesy of Elizabeth

Dinner Table 2

The appetizer buffet with mocktail menu

The front porch

I love mason jars with votives to create some magic on the front porch...

It was certainly a night to remember!

Thanks to everyone who came and helped make the night special!

Inspiration not Intimidation...and shower details

Oh how I love to plan a good party! It gives me something to think about, search the internet about, shop for, decorate for, make food for, etc. Planning a party covers alot of my personal interests. There is just something about a good party. The way it makes people feel. The appreciation. The memories. The enjoyment. The little details that make people smile. I can't quite explain it. I love to be a part of it. It gives me deep satisfaction. Of course I have those moments of stress where I think "Why do I do this to myself? Why do I set my expectations so high?" but when all is said and done, I am usually very grateful for the opportunity and very pleased with the results. This past weekend was no different.

I started planning this shower back in June. I do not say that to make anyone feel like they can't have a beautiful event if they do not plan months in advance! Sometimes I feel like I intimidate people with the way I host a party. That people won't invite me to their event for fear I may judge their efforts. That people won't let me help them plan events because of the big way I do things. Yes, I have high expectations for MYSELF. Yes, I like to plan BIG. Yes, I want only my BEST work and effort to be put out there with my name on it. But I do not judge, or stick up my nose, or criticize other people's efforts the way I do my own. I hold myself to a very high personal standard. It can be exhausting to entertain the way I do and it is a choice that I make for myself, but understand it is not always a choice that is right for others. I always hope that my efforts inspire, not intimidate :).

With all that being said (Thanks for bearing with me - I needed to get that off my chest!) here are some of the details that went into the Jungle Safari Baby Shower I hosted this past weekend. Katelyn, it was truly a pleasure! Thanks for letting me be a part of your memories!

The cookie buffet was my favorite part of the whole shower. I found the original idea for the buffet HERE including the names I gave each cookie.

The mosquito net: After pricing mosquito nets online, I decided to make my own mosquito net to add to the jungle feel. I used 9 yards of white tulle and an embroidery hoop. I purchased the tulle at Hobby Lobby using a 40% off coupon you can print online. It was super easy and you can find directions to make your own HERE. This would also make a cute bed canopy over a crib or little girl's bed.

The big glass jars: Since I started planning this shower several months in advance, I was able to find all but one of the jars at garage sales over the summer for between 75 cents and $2 a piece. That is quite an improvement from the $7 to $12 price tags you will find in stores!

Ribbon: I am in love with ribbon! Ribbon adds such a special touch to everything and makes it look like a million bucks! Shop Hobby Lobby's 50% off sale, use Michael's coupons, or check out the dollar stores selection of ribbon for ribbon on a budget. And I don't throw away the strips of ribbon I use to decorate things. I have a big jar full of different lengths of ribbon that I reuse for other projects.

The giant palm leaves: I found these on clearance for 74 cents a piece at Target's end of summer sale. I wasn't sure how I was going to use them at the time, but knew they would be great with the jungle theme. I love the impact they make.

It just wouldn't be a party without an appearance from my Dollar Tree hurricanes! I have gotten so much use out of this $2 investment. If you haven't made any yet I highly recommend them. They are so versatile. For a tutorial on how to make them click HERE. I added a fake fern (from Dollar Tree) around the inner candle to carry on the jungle theme. Candlelight sets a beautiful tone for any event and make everything seem magical!

Underneath the hurricanes on the table, I added a sheet of "lace" cardstock to jazz it up a bit. I love the texture and interest it adds and I found them for 40% off in the scrapbook section at Michael's.

I love food labels. I think every buffet table should have food labels. I don't always do food labels but I often find myself wishing that I had. It makes it so much easier for hosts and guests to know what they are being served. I simply found different wooden animals from both Dollar Tree (in a pack of 3 pictured below) and Hobby Lobby, glued them to animal print notecards I found in the $1 bin at Michael's, and typed out the name of the dish on the computer. SO SO easy!

Pack of 8 notecards for $1 I found at Michael's

The milk jugs. I am in love with them. I have had so many people asking me where I found them. I got them at Ross for cheap and I love the simple statement they make. And they are plastic not glass... It's those small details that make a difference.

These removable wall stickers came from Dollar Tree for $1. I wasn't sure how I was going to use them at first, but the morning of the shower I had a thought...

Put them on the entry way mirror to carry on the jungle theme for guests to see as they come in! Small, simple, inexpensive details. They are what make everything just a little bit more special.

So what do you think? I would love some feedback so don't hesitate to leave a comment! Got questions? Leave me a comment and I will be sure to answer them. You can check out all the baby shower pictures HERE if you missed them previously.