TGIF 90's Themed Slumber Party

Thank God it's Friday, amirite guys?! Fridays have always been one of my favorite days of the week, but I think they were better back in the 90's. You know, back when you were in school and Fridays meant you didn't have to come home and immediately do homework so you felt like a real kid? And what was the best part of Fridays? Watching TGIF and having sleepovers! I remember disliking any Friday evening plans that interfered with watching my favorite shows on TGIF. Didn't these people understand that I had to know if Sabrina discovered the Spellman Family Secret?! 

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To recreate some of the magic (hah, see what I did there?) I decided to throw a 90's TGIF themed slumber party. This party is chock-full of the fun stuff you were obsessed with as a 90's tween, therefore generating the maximum amount of nostalgia. 

Sleepovers are more fun with friends, but if you want to do it alone and binge watch Boy Meets World while eating Cosmic brownies and guzzling kool-aid, I won't judge you. I'll probably be doing the same thing! 

Since sleepovers mean staying awake until the sun comes up, you have to make some sleep masks to be able to get some beauty rest. They're super easy to do with this tutorial by Aww, Sam.

Another thing we loved to do at slumber parties was talk about boys. Since we were way too shy to actually talk to the boys we liked, MASH was extremely helpful in discovering which one was destined to become our husband. There was nothing better than laughing with friends as we predicted the future together- even if it meant that we would live in a shack with that guy in class that picked his nose. 

I loved taking quizzes to find out which tv character I was most like. I was also intrigued by these cootie catcher fortune things, so I combined them into one SUPER handy apparatus. Because how can you consider your slumber party a success unless you know if you are more like Feeny or Topanga? 

I've also created this handy shopping list so that you'll be sure to have the full TGIF menu.

And this handy dandy banner to spice up your life. To make the pompom garland, all you need is a needle and some embroidery floss. Easy peasy!

I also HAD to make this Dunkaroos recipe from Eat Yourself Skinny!

Every slumber party needs a goodie bag! How amazing are these pouches from Target's dollar section?! They're so very 90's. What goes in these beauty pouches? Bonne Belle chapstick, roll-on glitter, a mani-pedi kit, stationary, and ring pops, duh.

Want to up the ante? Try some of these awesome tutorials! 

90’s Pun Valentines because we always LOVED cutting things out of magazines and making collages.

Barbie Pushpins and Pink Corkboard so your desk can be awesome too!

Spice Girls Rainbow Spa Slumber Party so you can pamper yourself AND spice up your life in the process!

Polly Pocket Iron On Tee which comes with FREE printables! Just have everyone bring a t-shirt.

Don't forget your inflatable chair!

Looking for more party ideas? Check out my party inspiration Pinterest board!

What was your favorite part of sleepovers? I've gotta know! Is it crafting, makeovers, movies, eating!? Let me know in the comments below.

Party Supplies Haul- Michael's

Can I be honest? Sometimes I just don't have the time or desire to go to every single store in search of the perfect party supplies. There- I said it! To prove that you don't have to go all around town shopping, I've created a new series where I'll be showcasing my favorite party finds with one-stop shopping. And the best part? It doesn't even necessarily have to be a party supplies store to provide you with a complete set of adorable party supplies!

Party Supplies Haul

First up in this series is Michaels. For all intents and purposes, Michaels is a craft store. You'd usually go there for craft supplies, seasonal decor, and baking/cake making supplies. Lately, however, they've been branching out and offering much more home decor, party supplies, and even gifts! The bonus of shopping at Michael's is that you can find some easy DIY projects to go along with your theme. 

Scope Out:

Dollar section by the register
Party supplies section
Clearance aisle
Seasonal decor (often has sales!)
Featured collections

The Loot:

Drink napkins
Appetizer plates
Paper fans
Decorative straws
Fancy disposable utensils
Banners
Straw balls
Snow cone cups
Wrapping paper

Dream up a Theme: 

Hawaiian Luau
Ladies' Happy Hour
Tropical Oasis
Mexican Fiesta
Sunny Palm Springs
Tropical Rainforest

Level Up:

Tropical Pineapple Margarita by Whole and Heavenly Oven
Pineapple Boat with Sorbet by The House That Lars Built
Pineapple Honeycombs
Flamingo Pinata 
Pineapple Cups

Psst! Hosing a Mexican Fiesta? Check out my Pinterest Board for more ideas!

Be sure to follow my Party Inspiration Pinterest Board for TONS of fun party ideas!

So, what do you think? What's your favorite place for party supplies?

Fourth of July on a Budget

I am so excited that it's officially summer! The hot weather, longer days, and endless BBQ's are making me a happy gal! Now that we (finally) have a yard, I have been doing a lot of hosting. This can get super expensive, especially when you factor in all the decorations and food. I decided to do 4th of July on a budget so I could avoid a red white and boohoo, if you know what I mean!

You can still have a lot of style without spending big bucks! Almost everything here came from the Dollar Tree and Target's dollar section.

This table runner is actually a scarf from the dollar section! I added a sequin table runner underneath for a little extra sparkle.

I purchased the chevron jar from Target as well ($3) and filled it with paper straws (8 for $1). The glittery star picks are from A.C. Moore.

I purchased my striped plates and star napkins from Target's dollar section, and the blue foil star napkins are from the Christmas Tree Shop. I gave each place setting a fun pen, which was only a dollar each!

These foil star plates came 8 for $1- a great deal! And how cute are those octopus beer mugs?! They're from the Christmas Tree Shop and only cost a couple of dollars.

For snacks, I got Mike and Ike candies in red, white and blue for only $1. I added nautical cupcake picks I got from the Christmas tree shop ($3 for 24) and put them in these cute shooter glasses (4 for $1)

These red, white and blue cupcakes from Target are so cute and tasty! They're perfectly patriotic.

These pail votive holders from the Dollar Tree made adorable vases.  Just put a small cup of water inside so your flowers don't wilt in the heat.

I got these paper fans from the dollar tree as well, 2 for $1! 

All in all, this July 4th tablescape cost about $50. Not too shabby!

Breakdown:
Sweets & Treats: $15
Flowers/Decor: $20
Tableware: $15

Want more ideas? Check out my Fourth of July Pinterest board!

My Sugar Sweet 27th Birthday Party

A month ago I celebrated my 27th birthday with a super fun Sugar Sweet Birthday Party. Armed with my pinterest board and list of tutorials, I created a DIY party that would satisfy any sweet tooth! I unfortunately had a really bad cold that day, which turned out to be sinusitis (and left me in bed for a week!) but I had SO MUCH fun planning this party and celebrating!

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I bought some pink balloons and made them into donuts using this tutorial. I painted the sprinkles on instead of using tissue paper to save some time. The balloons were a huge hit. Everyone loved them and was amazed by the shape, and that I made them myself!

We have some hooks in our living room that the previous homeowners had left, so I hung up some lanterns and a disco ball. The party never transitioned into a dance party like I had hoped, but since I was super sick, I didn't really mind that.

Over the fireplace, I hung a DIY tassle garland. It was super easy to make and added a fun touch.

And what's a Sugar Sweet party without a candy bar?! I kept mine small since there weren't any kids, and I knew my friends wouldn't be eating too much candy. I still have a lot left! To create your own dollar store candy bar, check out my tutorial.

I loved making this donut platter.  It was a super fun and easy tutorial, and the tray can be used again and again.

We rimmed some champagne glasses with sprinkles and added some cotton candy for a cute and a tasty beverage! Just pour some champagne over the cotton candy and enjoy.

I made the festive 27 using sprinkles, mod podge, and cardboard numbers from the craft store. Everyone thought they were edible cookies!

For some fun, we played drinking games using these donut playing cards. How stinking cute are these?!

To add some color to the walls, I hung up paper fans all around the house. We don't really have much artwork up yet, so this helped make the room more festive. It also ended up being a great photobooth backdrop!

I also got these inflatable ice cream cones that served as decor and photobooth props. They were inexpensive and well worth it! To set up the photobooth, I propped up my camera on my tripod and we hit the timer button.  I really wish my clicker had arrived in time!

I had a really great birthday, despite being so so sick. I just love planning parties! 

Be sure to follow my Sugar Sweet Party Pinterest board for more great ideas!

5 Easy Steps for Party Setup

This is part three of my party planning series.  Be sure to check out part one and two!

The day has come- it's party time! Hopefully you've checked out my other articles, and are fully prepared for the party that's about to happen ;) Before everyone comes over, here are a few tips to get your party started on the right foot!

 Photo Sources: Find the items here

Budget your time. Plan out how long you think it will take you to set up, and add an hour. It always takes me so much longer to set up than I think! Save yourself the stress, and budget at least an extra hour for your prep time. This way you won't have to be getting dressed or doing your hair as your guests arrive.

Label all your food. Unless you want to spend the entire party listing out each item on your table, I recommend creating simple labels to let your guests know what's being served. You can find lots of printables online, or use items related to your theme. For example, I used heart shaped doilies to label the food at my Valentine's Day Party. This prevented me from having to explain and looked much cuter than keeping everything in its jar. If someone has a food allergy or dietary restrictions, it can be helpful to label that as well. Make small toothpick flags that say "gluten free", "vegetarian", or "nut safe" and place them in the appropriate dishes.

Prep your plates. Clear off all your surfaces and put on your tablecloths and table runners. Place all platters onto your table and take some time to arrange them in a way that is visually appealing. It's better to do this before the food comes because you can play around with the layout and decide what looks best where. Then, you can grab each plate and put the food items on it- bonus points if your labels are placed next to each plate beforehand as well!

Start early. If possible, start decorating the night before. Put up wall hangings and lanterns, set up the photo booth, or string up the lights. The less you have to do on the day of the event, the better! You never know if something will come up and leave you scrambling at the last minute.

Be helpful to those helping you. If you're lucky enough to have assistance prepping for your party, take a little time to plan out what exactly you'll need them to do. Are they heating up the food? Make a list of the items in the order they need to be cooked, and at which temperature.  Are they doing decor? Draw a quick diagram of how you want things to go and where basic supplies are located. This way, you don't spend the whole time delegating tasks and can instead focus on what you need to finish up!

What if you didn't plan ahead and don't have enough time- now what?! The first step is to relax. Even though you're out of time, take a minute to take some deep breaths. Make your exhales longer than your inhales. If you haven't showered, do that. It will give you some time to relax and make a game plan. Then, start to eliminate unnecessary tasks. Maybe you don't need to make that super complicated drink you were planning. Or, only do the things you can't do after guests arrive, like cleaning the house or decorating. If your food won't be ready in time, put out some simple appetizers and encourage conversations between guests so you can focus on finishing. Accept help if someone offers, but avoid putting everyone to work- you want them feeling like a guest, not restaurant staff.

Be sure to follow my Party Inspiration Pinterest Board for TONS of fun party ideas!