{ Featured Party } Cake Decorating Party

I just adore this sweet and fun cake decorating party from Strawberry Chic! Created for her little sister's birthday, it featured pre made mini cakes ready to be decorated and some always fab shabby chic decor. The girls were given a few decorating tips such as the popular ruffle technique, then went to work on their little masterpieces. Don't you just love the mini "cake" pops?!! To read all the details and tips on hosting your own cake decorating party visit the Strawberry Chic here.

Beach Birthday Party

This fun in the sun beach bash was created by LeAna from A Small Snippet for her son's 7th birthday. Besides a great color scheme and the cutest board shorts banner, I love that LeAna designed the printables herself. You can check out the printable details on her blog here and LeAna's full post on the bash here.

One of the activities was for the guest to find sharks teeth on the beach. So fun!! The areas were flagged by these cute red flags with one of LeAna's printables attached.

S'mores Stuffed Brownies

We just got back from camping last week and my kids are still obsessing over s'mores. Can't blame them, they are delicious!! I was looking for s'mores recipes and came across these bites of heaven on Food Snots. The recipe is simple and they sound YUMMY!! Stop by Food Snots and check out all the other fab recipes.

Ingredients
1 box of your favorite brownie mix
4 1/2 full Graham Crackers
3 1/2 full size Hershey's Bars
16 large marshmallows (I substituted half of a bag of mini marshmallows cause that what I had)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare brownie mix according to package directions. Line foil into a 8x8 inch baking pan and spray generously with cooking spray. Pour half the brownie batter into lined pan. Layer graham crackers over brownies following Hershey Bars and marshmallows. Pour remaining brownie batter over marshmallows (I found it useful to spray a spatula with cooking spray and use it to smooth the batter over any exposed marshmallows). Bake for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick comes mostly clean from center. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Carefully remove foil and brownies from pan. Peel any foil from away from edges and cut into squares.

Camping Party Ideas

Camping Party Roundup

Since it is almost time for our annual family camping trip, I thought I would share links to some fabulous camping parties. We have been going to the same lake every summer since I was a little girl, and I have such fond memories of our camping trips. I have not had the pleasure of hosting a camping party yet, but it is a theme I definitely want to tackle someday. Be sure and check out full party details by clicking the links below the photos.


Birthday Girl




Pizzazzerie

Kara's Party Ideas

Kara's Party Ideas

HWTM

Kara's Party Ideas

Kara's Party Ideas

Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Ice cream cakes are hands down my favorite cakes and semi-homemade recipes are also a favorite of mine. This ice cream sandwich cake from Kraft is like a dream come true! They also offer a video here for those of us that are visual learners. Don't you think it's a perfect summer dessert?!








What You Need1/2 cup hot fudge ice cream topping, warmed
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided
1 pkg. (3.9 oz.) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding
8 OREO Cookies, chopped (about 1 cup)
12 vanilla ice cream sandwiches
Make It
POUR fudge topping into medium bowl. Whisk in 1 cup COOL WHIP. Add dry pudding mix; stir 2 min. Stir in chopped cookies.

ARRANGE 4 ice cream sandwiches, side-by-side, on 24-inch-long sheet of foil; top with half the COOL WHIP mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining sandwiches. Frost top and sides with remaining COOL WHIP. Bring up foil sides; double fold top and ends to loosely seal packet.

FREEZE 4 hours or until firm.
Kraft Kitchens TipsNoteThe consistency of fudge topping can vary depending on what brand you purchase. If the fudge topping mixture is too thick to spread easily, stir in 1/4 cup milk.

{ Featured Party } Circus Party

This adorable circus party is from Lydia of The Party Wagon. From the circus tent invitations to the tulle topped ticket booth, Lydia did a fantastic job styling this party. Circus/carnival themed parties are definitely a favorite of mine. They lend themselves to many creative opportunities and kids LOVE them!! Be sure and stop by The Party Wagon and see all of the great party inspiration they offer up.

Orange Crush Cupcakes

This fun recipe is from Nothing but Country, a sweet blog dedicated to cooking, crafting, and country life. Definitely a unique cupcake recipe to try, and orange creamsicles are my favorite popsicle, so I'm sure I'll love them!!

Orange Crush Soda Cupcakes
350 degrees
13 – 15 minutes (convection oven)



CUPCAKE

1 cup butter
2 cup sugar
4 eggs
4 cup sifted all-purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 bottle of Orange Crush Soda (12 oz)
1 TBS fresh orange zest

•Butter is best at room temperature. Cream together your butter and sugar.
•One at a time, add in your eggs and beat for a minute more.
•Add in your sifted flour and baking soda, and alternate 1 cup of flour and some of your soda. Till you have added and blended it all together well.
•Mix in your orange zest and vanilla last.
•Pour into your cupcake liners. We use an icecream scoop that scrapes the icecream out. One hefty scoop per cupcake filled it 3/4 of the way.
•Bake for 13-15 minutes (convection oven) And 19-23 minutes regular oven. But watch them. They will not need to get golden brown. Just till toothpick inserted and removed is clean.
•Cool completely before you add your frosting/icing.
FROSTING

1 cup butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1/8 cup fresh orange juice
1 TBS orange zest
1 tsp vanilla
(Approx) 1/8 cup Orange Crush Soda
Gummy Orange Slices

•Butter at room temperature beat your butter till nicely whipped.
•Add in slowly your 4 cups of powder sugar alternating with your 1/8 cup of fresh orange juice.
•Add in your orange zest and Vanilla.
•If your frosting is too thick, I added approx. 1/8 cup of Orange Crush Soda to the frosting. Adding a little at a time till I got the consistency I wanted.
•Pipe frosting on your cooled cupcakes.
•Garnish with orange slice candy.

DIY Fourth of July Decorations

Happy Fourth of July weekend! Here are some last minute, super easy DIY decorations from BHG. I love that these can all be created with basic supplies, some that you probably already have hanging around your house. Have a fantastic holiday weekend!!


Simply hand cut or use a crafting tool such as cricut to make a banner

Use red sand or small red beads to add a pop of color to small votive or hurricane vases

Slip colored lanterns over a glass for an instant vase

Star candy pieces attached to a plain white plate or tray with FROSTING

Pinwheels in rustic cans

Glue ribbon or raffia to paper lanterns

Grass, baseballs, and colored croquet balls help create this all American centerpiece

4th of July colored candies displayed in various containers

For more ideas and details head here.