IT WAS A YEAR OF PARTIES!

I thought it would be fun to join in the party that Cindy over at Romantic Homes is hosting. She has asked us to go through our photos and posts and do a review of 2009.

In doing so, I noticed 2009 was filled with parties, parties and more parties.

So, my review is going to be of all the fun parties I've thrown this year.


The first party of 2009 was Trinity's birthday party. Every year it's a different theme.

For her 8th birthday it was all about horses!

We went to a local petting zoo and had a BBQ, played games, opened presents and rode on the train. The high light was when all the kids got to ride on a horse.

For some, it was the first time they had been on a horse before.

It was a fun time and, per Trinity, "a birthday she will never forget".

It's almost time for her birthday party this year. Wow! She is almost 9 years old. Growing up so fast. The theme this year is going to be MAGIC!


The next party was a baby shower for a friend. The theme was "Welcome to the Nest Little One".

Of course that meant birds and nests were the main theme of the decor.

Since she was having a little boy (her 4th boy) the color was blue and brown.

My favorite thing of the whole shower was the cupcakes! Little bird nests with baby birds popping up. You can see them here.


Then came the darling Alice in Wonderland birthday party for my sister, Patty.

This was a surprise party. She didn't have a clue what we were up to. It was just our family as she made me promise not to have a big party for her.

However, the decorations were so cute. Thanks to Donna at Party Wishes. This is one of her parties you can rent. If you have not been to her blog you must go see it. She has the best parties in town!


Summer time was a great reason to throw a FUN IN THE SUN party for Trinity and a few of her girlfriends.

They ate, played water games, jumped on the trampoline as they squirted the hose and had a fun time.

We decided to have more of these smaller parties with just three or so friends over so she can have some quality time with her friends.

Our next girlfriend party is going to be a Barbie theme.


The annual Halloween party, I throw for Trinity, was a big hit this year. It was all about Pirates!

We had food, games, crafts, tattoos and so much fun! All the kids said they loved going to Trinity's parties because they have such a good time.

I'm already in the planning mode for this years Halloween party.


After all the fun with the kids on Halloween, I wanted to have a little party for adults. So I had a Witches Lunch.

It was nice to sit down and enjoy some time with my sisters and friend and it was decided we all want to do this every year.

The year closed up with a Christmas Cookie party for Trinity and a few of her friends.

Each girl got to make and decorate their own cookies to take home.

We had dinner, baked cookies and the girls all won awards for their cookies.

Next Christmas we are going to make Gingerbread Houses.

So that's about how my life is, if I'm not throwing a party, I'm planning one.

I have several in the works right now. Of course there is Trinity's Birthday party coming up in Jan. Then I am having a small Valentine's Day lunch for my friends and sisters, maybe a St. Patrick's Day tea party, an Academy Award party, a New York theme birthday party for my sister, Maureen, a Barbie party, a flip flop summer party, the annual Halloween party, a Witches lunch and a Gingerbread House party.

Oh my! I'm tired already.

The year 2009 was a good year. I hope 2010 is even better.

Now be sure to go to Romantic Homes and see everyone's end of the year reviews.

Happy New Year!

THE WITCH LUNCHEON

Come on in my pretties! Sit a spell. You are invited to join us...if you dare.

These are the invitations that were sent out to a Witch Luncheon I was having.

They are from the Martha Stewart line and while they photographed as almost a red they are really a deep orange.



The table was set the night before. Just waiting for everyone to come by the next afternoon.

I had so much fun going on the hunt to gather cute witch table settings.

It all started when I went to Salem and in the Witches Museum I found these darling little Witch broom pens. I knew then I wanted to have a Witches Tea or Luncheon so I bought them and brought them home with me.

I found these darling place card holders on Etsy. I can't remember who I bought them from but if you know, please tell me. I would love to buy another set for next year.

As always, TJ Maxx came through with having several cute different kinds of dishes I could use.

I love the square black and white polka dot plates. While they are not really Halloween plates they fit right in and I can use them with other tablescapes as well.

The salad plate had a pumpkin with a black silhouette of a witch and was trimmed in orange with the black silhouettes of bats and cats. I forgot to take a picture of it alone so you could see it.

The bowls had witches and were actually part of a three piece set. I just used the smaller bowls as I was serving Pumpkin soup and needed bowls.

The table cloth also came from TJ Max.

I got the napkins and napkin rings for 75% off at Kohl's. The napkin rings were little spiders with witch hats on. They also had glitter so of course I had to get them.

The salad was served in a witch's cauldron and sandwiches were cut to look like witch hats. I also made "witch purses" out of brie cheese wrapped in filo dough. YUM!

The soup was Pumpkin soup and the salad also had pumpkin seeds. I Had to keep with the Halloween theme.

Everyone had to wear a witch hat. After all, it was a Witch Luncheon!

The Witch Sisters!

One of the "witches" brought me this darling apron. It says Witchy Woman on it. Don't you just love this! I sure do!

These witches were watching over the goodie bags everyone got to take home. Inside was a sweet little dish towel that had a witch on it and black and orange beads hanging off it, a candy bar with a great vintage Witch Halloween wrapper and tissues with witches on them.

Everyone also got to take home their witches broom pen and the Happy Haunting wrapped candy at their place setting.

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We all had so much fun and agreed this is going to be a new Halloween Tradition. So, there you have it. This is how traditions begin.