Instead of giving a gift to your guests at the end of the night, how about giving to strangers? That’s right, strangers! Specifically, giving back. In these rough economic times, almost every industry is taking a hit, including non-profits. In 2009, charitable contributions fell 3.6%, the first decline since 1987. And while this statistic isn’t designed to send you running for your checkbook, it does present an opportunity for a creative wedding favor: a charitable donation.

Organizations like JustGive.org make it easier than ever to give back. JustGive boasts a database of 1.5 million charities, all able to accept donations through the JustGive website. Is there a specific cause that’s important to you? The Make A Wish Foundation? The Muscular Dystrophy Association? Or how about Ox-Fam? All of these popular charities along with thousands of smaller, local organizations are all accessible through JustGive.org.

Example of charitable donation cards/favors

JustGive.org also features a unique wedding registry. Instead of being bogged down with small kitchen appliances and countless silverware sets, engaged couples can register for charitible donations!

Whether your getting married, holding a corporate event or even a birthday party, JustGive.org makes it easy to give back. Be sure to visit the website for more information, charity donation gift cards and a search engine devoted to finding the perfect charity to support.

Paula Allen and Angie Sims, dubbed by loved ones as “The Queens, have been best friends since 1980. Over the years, the two have shared incredible memories such as competing together in the Special Olympics, swimming, bowling and even participating in a dance troupe. Since both ladies have their birthdays in the summer, Paula’s family decided to throw them both a royal celebration. In typical Queen-like fashion, the ladies stole the show and rocked these awesome feather boas.

Kick off your own regal soiree with these adorable Princess Tiara Invitations from San Lori. Perfect for royalty of all ages, these adorable invitations are a great way to introduce the party theme to your guests.

We love the pink and green balloon centerpieces used for Paula and Angie’s bash. Balloons are a fun, money saving way, to create eye-catching centerpieces. Paula and Angie are all about staying young-at-heart and these table settings reflect their fun-loving personality.

Paula’s sister, Cheryl, created this AMAZING cake for the party. We LOVE the zebra print detail and the silver crowns on the side with Angie and Paula’s names. Such a sweet personal touch that “takes the cake” to a whole ‘nother level!

A big thanks to Cheryl for sharing Paula and Angie’s Queens Jubilee with us! We’d also like to wish a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO PAULA & ANGIE! Keep rockin’ those tiaras and feather boas, ladies.

INGREDIENTS
1 (750 milliliter) bottle dry white wine
3/4 cup peach flavored vodka
6 tablespoons frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/4 cup white sugar
1 pound white peaches, pitted and sliced
3/4 cup seedless red grapes, halved
3/4 cup seedless green grapes, halved

DIRECTIONS
In a large pitcher, combine dry white wine, peach vodka, lemonade concentrate and sugar. Stir until sugar is dissolved. Add sliced peaches, red and green grapes.

Refrigerate sangria until well chilled, at least 2 hours, or overnight to blend flavors. (OPTIONAL)

Serve over ice, and use a slotted spoon to include sliced peaches and grapes with each serving.

Serves 6. Recipe courtesy of AllRecipes.com.

INVITATIONS
Bring flower power to the kitchen with these adorable Floral Apron Kitchen Shower Invitations by San Lori. I love the pink, orange and green accents which matched the decor of the party space. For Natalie’s shower, we wanted to help her build a recipe collection so we enclosed a recipe card and encouraged guests to write down their favorite recipe and bring it to the shower for Natalie. It was a great way for Natalie to acquire new recipes and swap food stories with her guests.

THE FOOD
Since Natalie is a gourmet cook, much planning was put into the menu. Guests dined on bite-sized appetizers that were served buffet style. Everything from Vegetable Pizza to Chicken Salad Croissants were designed to be enjoyed in small portions, allowing the guests to try many different items. I turned to Epicurious.com (who features a full Mod-Themed Bridal Shower Guide) for even more menu ideas and knew their Mac-N-Cheese Cupcakes would be a huge hit with both Natalie and her guests. And they were! These delectable mini-portions of Mac-N-Cheese were delicious and added a perfect kitschy accent to the plate.

CUPCAKE CRAZY
While cupcakes tend to be the go-to dessert for showers, they also happen to be one of Natalie’s favorite. I wanted the cupcakes themselves to reflect the theme, however I knew that decorating them myself not be a good idea! (Give me a piping bag and you’re likely to have an accidental ode to Jackson Pollack all over the counter). In need of a rescue, I turned to Etsy and found TwoSugarBabies. Charynn, the sugar artist, has a bevy of fondant cupcake toppers available on her Etsy store and accepts custom orders. I was somewhat worried about how the fondant would hold up in a cross-country transit but the toppers arrived just in time and totally intact. Charynn’s cupcake toppers are an affordable way to give your cupcakes the designer touch without all the work. They also were a huge hit at the shower!

THE NEARLY-NEWLYWED GAME
Of course, no fun-filled bridal shower would be complete without a game. For Natalie’s shower, we played a version of the Newlywed Game. Much like the TV show of yesteryear, Natalie and her fiance, Joe (who had sent his answers along before the shower), were asked the same series of questions. During the festivities, we put Natalie in the hot seat and both she and the guests had plenty of laughs as we compared answers on everything from celebrity crushes to relationship milestones. For ideas and inspiration on this fun game, head to The Knot.

TAKING THE GUESS WORK OUT OF GIFTS
Pre-party preparation can save a lot of headaches during a bridal shower, especially when opening gifts. Often it’s hard to keep track of all the guests and the gifts each person brought. For Natalie’s shower, I prepared a typed list of invited guests ahead of time , with space to write the gifts blow. It helped the person recording the gifts take notes without ever missing a beat.

Natalie’s bridal shower was a huge success! I’m so lucky to be her sister and can’t wait to stand next to her at the altar when she finally ties the knot in November.

HOP IT FORWARD
Teach children the spirit of giving with an Easter egg hunt geared toward raising money for your favorite charity. Encourage neighbor kids to empty their piggy banks, contribute a dollar or two and then hide the money raised inside of Easter eggs. At the end of the Easter egg hunt, have prizes for the kids who raised money for charity by collecting the most eggs. You can also get parents in on the fun by having them match (or increase) their child’s donation.

EASTER EGG SCAVENGER HUNT
Set up various points around the house (or party space) with baskets full of Easter eggs. Inside each egg, have a clue or riddle leading kids to the next basket. Have prizes for the kid who collects an egg from each basket first.

DIY EASTER EGG HUNT
Got a creative bunch of kids? Fill plastic eggs with stickers, stick-on earrings and other decorative items. Let the kids search for the eggs within the party space and then use the collected items to decorate eggs that have been pre-dyed for the party.

EGG-HEAD HUNT
Don’t relish the idea of kids running around? Host a quieter, more intellectual, version of an Easter egg hunt with a game of trivia. Reward kids for each correct answer with an plastic egg. At the end of the game, have a prize for the Egg head with the most points (or in this case, eggs).

EASTER EGG RELAY
Remember the relay games where you balance an egg on a spoon and hope it doesn’t fall, break and leave a yellow mess on your shoes? Have all the fun, minus the mess with an Easter Egg relay. Substitute plastic eggs for the real thing. Divide the party guests into two teams and then send them on a TIMED Easter egg hunt within the party space. Then allow each team to use the plastic eggs they have collected in a relay. Once an egg is dropped, it is taken out of play. Give prizes to the team that can get the most eggs across a finish line, without running out.

We hope these ideas inspire you to get creative with your own Easter egg hunt. Feel free to submit your own ideas by commenting on this entry.

My wonderful, beautiful mother took me on a trip last week….to LAS VEGAS! We had such a great time sightseeing, shopping, and eating our way through this spectacular city. I have been to Vegas a few times, and though I’m not much of a gambler whatsoever, I always have the time of my life. We stayed at the Wynn, which I would recommend to anyone! The lobby and rooms are beautiful and the service is fantastic!

If you know my mom and I, you’re probably well aware of our slight obsession with food. We never make many plans before heading out on a vacation, but we usually have a pretty good idea of where we will eat. The first night we ate a delicious stone crab dinner at Joe’s in Caesar’s Palace. If anyone watches ‘The Best Thing I Ever Ate’ on the Food Network, this place might sound familiar. Bobby Flay named their stone crabs as one of his food obsessions! The crabs were light and decadent…perfect for a late-night meal.

On Sunday we feasted on the Bellagio’s brunch buffet which was surprisingly reasonable for the amount and quality of food that was presented. Wood fired pizza, fresh sushi, turkey and pot roast carving stations, pasta, eggs, pancakes and waffles…you name it, they had it! Our final meal was at the Hash House A Go-Go at the Imperial Palace, and it was probably my favorite meal of the trip. The portions are HUGE and very reasonably priced. We had a unique take on eggs benedict, which contained fried chicken, mashed potatoes, fluffy biscuits, and bacon. YUMM! They also have a location in San Diego. If you’ve never been, you must go!

Although we spent most of the trip eating, we did manage to squeeze in some shopping at the Fashion Show Mall and sightseeing at all the grand hotels.

The Mirage Hotel

The Strip at Night

Treasure Island Hotel

Although a trip to Vegas is pretty much a guaranteed good time, you don’t necessarily need to make the trip to experience some excitement! A Vegas-themed party is great way to celebrate birthdays, graduations, retirements, and most things in between. To start off, this invitation is perfect to set the tone of the evening.

San Lori Poker Chip Invitation

Decorate with plates, napkins, and cups that have casino and card graphics. The website Party411.com has some great casino themed decorations and games. I also love these poker chips for a personalized touch!

Photo Poker Chips

There are lots of casino games out there that can be purchased, but I especially love this all-in-one casino game night tin from GameDaze.com

Complete Casino Night Game Tin

And finally, for the adult crowd, serve this pretty, festive Lady Luck drink with two parts gin, one part blue curacao, and a splash of orange juice! Look how lovely!

'Lady Luck' cocktail

Also, and I know this is totally off-topic, my wonderful fiance picked up our new kitten Marco from the local animal shelter while I was in Vegas. He is adorable and we love him!

My new kitty Marco

I love Super Bowl Sunday for two reasons:

1. Football

2. Food

Depending on the teams playing, the order of those two things can vary greatly. As I mentioned before, my beloved Cowboys did not make the Super Bowl this year. Neither did the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, or New York Giants. With all of my favorite teams out (although I am pulling for the Colts a little more than the Saints…), I must say that I’m looking forward to the food just a little more than the football this year. I can’t think of a better excuse to get in the kitchen and whip up a ton of my favorite comfort foods than Super Bowl Sunday. Big parties, big guys with big appetites, lots of beer, and of course, football. Sounds like a food-filled occasion to me! Today I am giving you my top ten favorite “Super Bowl” foods. They are sure to please everyone at your party, or can easily be packed up and brought along with you were ever you go this Sunday!

1. Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos

Photo Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks

For those of you are not yet aware of my love for The Pioneer Woman, don’t worry…just keep reading and it will soon become obvious! I have tried countless of her recipes, and have not yet been disappointed. Her blog The Pioneer Woman Cooks contains some of my all-time favorite recipes, including this one. These delicious jalapeno bites will disappear faster than you can imagine. If you serve nothing else this Super Bowl Sunday, serve these. You won’t be sorry!

2. Buffalo Wings

Photo Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks

Buffalo Wings are a classic football food, and this recipe from the Pioneer Woman is one of the best I’ve had! Just spicy enough, they have a yummy tang that makes them slightly addicting. Serve them with your favorite ranch or bleu cheese dressing and some celery to cut the spice. And be sure you have plenty of wet wipes on hand!

3. Stuffed Mushrooms

Photo Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks

One last recipe from the Pioneer Woman, these mushrooms are absolutely scrumptious. Stuffed with gooey cheese and spicy sausage, they are sure to be a hit!

4. Guacamole

Guacamole makes me happy. Beautifully ripe avocados combined with garlic, plump Roma tomatoes, and tangy lime juice just spells out perfection to me. This is my very favorite guacamole recipe, courtesy of Mr. Alton Brown. Serve this on a big platter with your favorite salsa and chile con queso and a big pile of tortilla chips for a triple Mexican hit!

5. Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Photo Courtesy of Our Best Bites

These yummy, creamy chicken taquitos are brought to you courtesy of Our Best Bites, one of my favorite food blogs! They are delicious served hot with Alton’s guacamole, salsa, or sour cream.

6. Pizza Pops

Photo Courtesy of ArtisanBreadinFive.com

Pizza is probably the most common football food. These pizza pops are equal parts cute, fun, and delicious and will be a topic of conversation among your guests! Kids will love them just as much as the adults, and they can be made with all your favorite pizza toppings!

7. Cheese and Spinach Puff Pastry Pockets

I first made these cheese and spinach puff pastry pockets for a party about 4 years ago, and have been making them ever since! This appetizer comes from one of my favorite celebrity chefs – Giada de Laurentiis, and is a perfect choice for both vegetarians and carnivores alike.

8. Ham & Cheese Pretzel Bites

Photo Courtesy of Pennies on a Platter

Ham. Cheese. Pretzels. Served with honey mustard dipping sauce. Just make them…you can’t go wrong.

9. Baked Chicken Meatballs

Photo Courtesy of Smitten Kitchen

This recipe is from Deb at Smitten Kitchen, another one of my favorite food blogs! These meatballs are one of my most favorite dinners to make with spaghetti and marinara sauce, and they can easily be made into mini versions of themselves. Serve them on toothpicks with your favorite marinara sauce for sure-fire, crowd-pleasing dish!

10. Mini Chocolate Football Cakes

Photo Courtesy of Baking Bites

We can’t forget dessert, and how fun are these?! Chocolate cakes in the shape of footballs are delicious and a perfect way to top off the party!

And that’s it! You now have the perfect recipes for a perfect Super Bowl party. You have 3 days until the big event….it’s time to get cooking! Be safe, have fun, and Bon Appetit!

So today is the start of Wedding Wednesdays! Every Wednesday I will be doing a wedding-themed post with pictures, décor ideas, and everything in between that has to do with weddings! And I can’t think of a better couple to do my first post on than my friend Amy and her fiancé Kyle. Amy and I went to high school together at The Woodlands High School, and she is one of the sweetest people ever. Not only has gladly agreed to help me with my first post, she has also given me tons on vendor information for me to use in planning my own wedding! I owe her….seriously!

First of all, how CUTE are they??

Photo Courtesy of Kreative Angle

And look at this set-up that Kyle arranged for the proposal…SO sweet! And that ring! Beautiful. I’m quite impressed, I must say. (If there are any single men out there reading this…TAKE NOTES!)

Here is the interview I had with Amy about her wedding:

Me: How long have you and your fiance known each other?

Amy: 7 years

Me: How and when did he propose?

Amy: July 25th at New Trails Park after dinner at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

Me: When is your wedding date and where will it take place?

Amy: May 22nd at Hilton Houston North

Me: What are your wedding colors?

Me: Teal

Me: What is the general tone or theme of your wedding?

Amy: Formal… but a dance party!

The Donatello Room at the Hilton Houston North where Amy and Kyle’s wedding will be held is absolutely beautiful! I know they’re special day will be spectacular. Stay tuned for pictures from Amy & Kyle’s wedding in a few months…

Photo Courtesy of Kreative Angle

THANK YOU Amy & Kyle for all your help, and good luck with the rest of the planning!

Raise your hand if you want to see the CUTEST idea for baby shower favors EVER?!

Anyone? Anyone?……

Wait for it….

Wait for it….

Photo Courtesy of bakeat350.blogspot.com

TA-DA!! It’s COOKIE of a BUN in an OVEN! Get it?? A bun in the oven! I just love it so much.

Wrapped in cello bags and tied with a ribbon, these would make fabulous baby shower favors.

Photo Courtesy of bakeat350.blogspot.com

Or you could just serve them on a platter during the shower. They are sure to get plenty of “ooo’s” and “ahhh’s”.

Thanks to Bridget at bakeat350.blogspot.com for this ingenious idea! Bridget’s blog is one of my very favorite baking blogs. She makes some of the most creative and beautiful sugar cookies I’ve ever seen, so hop on over to her site for more amazing cookie and baking ideas. Bridget provides step-by-step instructions on her site on how to make these cookies, or you can contact her directly through her blog to have them made for you.

And, to continue the “bun in the oven” theme, you can pick up this fun bun in the oven game for your guests.

Photo Courtesy of candlesandfavors.com

Each guest pins a personalized dress on their shirt at the beginning of the shower. When you ready to reveal the winner, the guests remove their dress, and whoever has the mini cinnamon bun underneath is the winner! How fun.

]]> http://site.papersyoulove.com/blog/2010/01/23/bun-in-the-oven/feed/ http://site.papersyoulove.com/blog/2010/01/22/are-you-ready-for-some-football/ http://site.papersyoulove.com/blog/2010/01/22/are-you-ready-for-some-football/#comments Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:23:03 +0000 Natalie http://site.papersyoulove.com/blog/?p=403

For those of you who keep up with football, you probably know that the final two play-off games that will decide the two teams going to the Super Bowl will be played this Sunday! Sadly, my beloved Cowboys did not make the play-offs this year. That leaves me now pulling for the Indianapolis Colts (who face the New York Jets) and the New Orleans Saints (who face the Minnesota Vikings). They should both be great games!

No matter what team you root for, you probably have at least some idea of what you’ll be doing for Super Bowl Sunday on February 7th. Hosting a party at your place? It’s time to get out those invitations! You have just over two weeks until the big event. Here is one of my favorite super bowl invitations.

San Lori Football Stadium Invitation

Or maybe you’re going to a friend’s house? Be a pal and bring something scrumptious to eat! Next week I will do a huge post with creative ideas for delicious Super Bowl food. Until then, here is my recipe for Buffalo Chicken Dip, one of my all-time favorite party foods!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 2 pounds), boiled and shredded

1 (12 oz.) bottle Frank’s Hot Sauce

2 (8 oz.) packages regular cream cheese

1 (16 0z.) bottle Ranch dressing

1/2 cup chopped celery

8 oz. shredded Monterey Jack/Cheddar cheese combo

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 13 x 9 x 2 inch pan, combine shredded chicken and entire bottle of Frank’s hot sauce, spreading into an even layer. In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine cream cheese with entire bottle of ranch dressing, stirring until smooth and hot. Pour this mixture evenly over the chicken mixture to form a second layer. Sprinkle celery over the top. Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, then sprinkle the cheese over the top and bake uncovered for an additional 15 to 20 minutes until hot and bubbly, but not browned. Let stand 10 minutes before serving with tortilla chips.

Good luck to all four teams and happy football-watching!