Lorax Party

 I am in love with this Lorax party designed by Gwynn Wasson Designs. 

 This is perfect for a child's birthday party or an Earth Day celebration.

 The message of the book and film is to  conserve and recycle. Wonderful lessons for everyone!

Some of the activities are planting seeds and a recycling sorting relay. The cakepops she used are amazing, too. Don't forget to check out her blog for more pictures and to celebrate Dr. Seuss's birthday tomorrow, March 2. 

And the winner is...

Every year, I plop myself down on my couch for about 8 hours to watch the Academy Awards. I love the red carpet, the interviews, and the show itself. I even love the speeches from the Foreign film winners.
On Thursday, hubby and I had a date night and saw The Descendants. George Clooney was wonderful! He has my vote for Best Actor. But all of my other votes are going to The Help. Every performance was amazing and the film has such an great message.
To help you with your own Oscar par-tay, check out this great blog. It has food and drink ideas as well as some fun printables.

Winner!

The winner of the beautiful Shabby Apple dress is...#3 Marianne! Your dress is on it's way, Marianne! Hope you enjoy it. Thanks to all who entered and don't forget to use your 10% off discount to the Shabby Apple until Mar.14th. Code:partywishes10off

Hunger Game Printables

Amy Locurto is a genius! My family and I can't wait to see the Hunger Games! Now we will have a party before we go to cheer on Katniss and Peeta. Here is the link for the printables.

Sharing the Love...

 with a GIVEAWAY!

 I'm so sorry I have not been posting in blogland for a while. I caught the Pinterest bug and I'm trying to control myself. To make it up to you, I'm having a giveaway of a beautiful dress from Shabby Apple. I love their new Mad Hatter line (pictured above).

 Shabby Apple has beautiful vintage-inspired women's dresses, swim suits and little girl dresses.

 How about wearing this adorable dress to an Oscar party?

Shabby Apple is offering one of my lucky readers this beautiful Azure Coast dress (above). Beautiful color for Spring and Summer and it's wrap style is perfect for any figure!

To enter, please do both of the following:

"Like" Shabby Apple on Facebook

AND

Visit Shabby Apple website and leave a comment about your favorite item

Also, Shabby Apple is offering 10% off on your order just by mentioning

"partywishes10off" when you checkout.

Hurry, offer ends March 14th!

Don't forget to tell them Donna Collins from Party Wishes sent you!

This giveaway ends February 21, winner announced on February 22. 



Vintage Style Door

 For years, I have been drooling over these vintage style doors for my back door. I ran into a few problems- my current door opens to the outside, I live in Los Angeles and I don't need a storm door and we use our air conditioning in the summer (it averages 105 degrees in July and August) so I wouldn't use the screen and this door's starting cost is $400.

 I was browsing Cricut cartridges on ebay and found an Ornamental Iron 2 cartridge that had lovely scroll patterns. I thought it would be brilliant to cut them out of vinyl and stick them on my back door window!

 First, I cut out several styles and in different sizes. I used cardstock from WalMart and taped them to the window.

 After I lived with the patterns for a few days, I decided on one. The beauty about vinyl is that it is inexpensive and you can change it out if you don't like it. With a wood door, you could make a very expensive mistake.

 I made 4 cut outs and placed them in the corners.

 Next, I made a wreath for the door as well. I got a styrofoam wreath from WalMart, ripped strips of muslin and used my ruffler attachment to make a giant ruffle. I wrapped the ruffle around the wreath and then made little rosettes out of scrap fabric.

Next, I will be making curtains for my kitchen. The windows have been naked for a year and a half and I am desperate to get something on them. For the patio table, I will give it a fresh coat of white paint and put some new oilcloth on top. Of course, I need to make cushions for the red iron chairs that I got at Cost Plus last summer. I better get busy!
Do you have Spring Fever yet? Are you dreaming up any home improvements?

A Look Back

My business, Party Wishes, and myself had a lot of first this year. In February, I hosted a beautiful Tinkerbell and Captain Hook party outside in the Hollywood Hills overlooking the Valley and Hollywood sign. 10 minutes before guests were to arrive, it started hailing and I had to move the decorated tables to a covered outdoor patio area. Of course, as soon as I moved the tables, the hail stopped and the sun came out!

                                    It was also the first time I did a Tinkerbell dessert table.

 In March, I hosted a puppy party for some repeat clients who just moved to their new home in Bel Air.

 It was the first time we offered glitter tattoos with the party and they were a big hit!

 In April, I hosted a Royal Wedding tea for my girlfriends. When I was 15, I woke up very early to watch Lady Di become Princess Diana and have been smitten with the Royal family ever since.

 I have also been on Ancestry.com this year and found that my hubby and I have Royal roots in England, as well. So now I can say it was a family celebration LOL!

 In May, I hosted a Mommy and Me Princess party for a preschool with 80 guests. We did the girls hair and make up, made crowns and had a scavenger hunt that ended at a candy buffet.

 There were also some beautiful princesses that came to sing and entertain the guests.

 In June, my son turned 13 so I had a surprise paintball party for him.

 It was also the first time I used these adorable push pop containers for the mini cupcakes.

 Also in June, I introduced my new Star Wars themed party. I was so happy to debut it with my wonderful repeat client, Dr. Robert Rey and his family.

 The kids played pin the light saber on the Jedi, paint Star Wars rocks (a BIG hit!), play Jedi bingo and have Jedi training to battle Darth Vader.

 For Halloween, I hosted a Edgar Allen Poe/Raven inspired tea for my girlfriends.

 In November, I had a dream come true and got to host my Mad Hatter party at the Disneyland Hotel! It was held in the Sleeping Beauty Pavillion for 250 pharmacists and volunteers.

 I created a photo booth so guests could

put on some silly hats and take pictures.

 I created 20 hats myself for the table centerpieces as well as

painting all of the tea cups and decorating the yard flamingoes.

 Also in November, my daughter turned 11 and we celebrated with a Little Miss Homemaker party. This was my first attempt at making a ruffle cake, cake banner, cupcake liner garland and homemade party hats.

 The girls had a great time learning how to make their own hair band rosettes and making cherry and apple pies. I even taught them how to make a lattice crust!

 In December, it was the first time I hosted a class party for Sheridan's 5th grade class. They made gingerbread houses and had a hot chocolate bar.

 I had different syrups for them to add as well as

4 different kinds of marshmallows and whipped cream.

 Another first was having my Halloween decorated front porch

featured on Houzz.com and the HGTV blog...such an honor!

I feel so truly blessed to be able to use my creativity and share it with others. I hope that in 2012, I will be able to share with more of you and I want to thank all of you who inspire me on a daily basis. I love being a party planner and touching the lives of children so that they can have happy childhood memories. You are a child for such a short amount of time and I am lucky to play such a small part in a child's life.

Thanks for including me in 2011

and have a wonderful 2012!