Heading Out for Operation Shower

Tomorrow morning I will be heading to Norfolk, VA bright and early to help out an AMAZING organization called Operation Shower this weekend. If you have followed me for awhile, you may remember that I was fortunate enough to be able to be a small part of another Operation Shower event last October in Washington, DC. Being able to help out with that event was such a positive experience, so I am thrilled to have the opportunity to come back and help out this time around.

For those of you that aren't familiar with Operation Shower:

"Operation Shower is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides joyful baby showers for military families to ease the burden of deployment.

For military families who are expecting a new baby and are experiencing or have recently experienced deployment, we accomplish our mission through:

• hosting amazing baby showers
• delivering high-quality products
• creating a shared experience
• partnering with organizations to provide value-added services, such as health-related information

Operation Shower was founded specifically because we know that moms in a military family who hold it all together at home — moms who go through a pregnancy without their spouse by their side, deployed to a another part of the world, proudly serving our country, but wishing they could do more for those at home — these moms deserve our support, our thanks, our love and of course, they deserve a party!".

Here are a few pictures from a shower that Operation Shower held back in April at Camp LeJeune, NC. Pretty amazing!

I am looking so forward to this weekend and can't wait to share details and pictures with you later next week. In the meantime, you can learn more about Operation Shower and how you can help out this amazing organization over at their website or on facebook.

Pretty Printable Place Cards

Pretty Printable Place cards....now say that 3 times fast!

Amy of Delightful Distractions created these sweet printable placecards/gift tags/ note cards that you can download for FREE and put to use in so many different ways. Don't you love them!

So many fun ideas for how to use these come to my mind. Most involve celebrating something special with my little girl... they remind me of her.  You can download you own set of these printables, here. And, don't forget to stop by Delightful Distractions, here, to follow Amy and see more of her wonderful creations. Thank you for sharing these, Amy!

{DIY} Party with Paper Rosettes!

Have you noticed one of the newest party paper decor trends? Time to move over tissue paper pom poms... Paper Rosettes are taking over the party scene!

Image: KayLice Events

Image: Martha Stewart

Image: Source

Image: Frog Prince Paperie

While I loved the tissue paper pom poms, paper rosettes are quickly winning me over. They are extremely versatile and in my opinion, easier to make than the pom poms. Paper Source offers a great tutorial for a basic paper rosette and Martha Stewart offers one for a paper rosette with more of a flower-like feel. You can also make mini versions for accessorizing just about anything that your heart desires (favor bags, party hats, banners, tables...).

Any other fun ideas for the paper rosette?

Enjoy, and happy crafting!

{Crafty Ideas} A Colorful Pencil Necklace

I came across this fun, colorful craft project a few weeks ago and thought that this would be a perfect time to share it with the start of school and the need for a little sunshine in our neck of the woods. It has been raining almost non-stop for an entire week here! We need some rainbows and bright skies!

Kate of Mini-eco created this fun pencil necklace using a junior hacksaw, tiny drill bit, sandpaper and some string. Each pencil-bead is 0.6mm in length.

To create, hold pencil firmly and cut a .6mm length section using a junior hacksaw. Once pieces are cut, lightly sand each end of each piece smooth. Drill a small hole through each pencil piece and string with your thread/string. While you will have to do the "heavy" crafting work, little ones will enjoy helping you create the pattern and stringing them as you go.

These would be a cute craft or favor for a rainbow or art themed party, don't you think? I hope that you enjoy!

And, just as I am wrapping this post up, sunny skies are trying to peak through. Hooray!

Carnival Mini Edible Designs

I am excited to announce that the Sheek Shindigs Etsy Shop is in the process of adding some great new products to help make your next Shindig one to remember! One of my favorite new products are these Carnival Mini Edible Designs. These edible decorations are flat-printed edible designs that can be applied to many food items (cakes, cookies, cupcakes, ice cream cakes) for a finished, professional look. They are prepared with edible food colors and absorb moisture from food products, becoming soft and melding with the food item that it is being applied to. They DO NOT contain: wheat, milk, eggs, fish, shell-fish (crustaceans) peanuts and/or tree nuts, are gluten free, and Kosher Certified.

So, what can you do with these fun, edible designs? Here is a suggestion: Upgrade your favorite small cookie!

White Chocolate Carnival Mini Cookies

1. Prepare your favorite cookies or use pre-made. TIP: make sure the cookies are no larger than 1.5” in diameter to fit into a chocolate or candy mold with 2” cavities.

2. Place Carnival Mini designs face down in the cavities of your candy mold.

3. Fill a parchment triangle with a melted chocolate to fill the mold. TIP: don’t use a metal tip in the bag, as its coolness will stiffen the chocolate too quickly.

4. Press cookies into the chocolate before it sets up; top off with melted chocolate if necessary. TIP: tap the entire mold on a counter top to level the chocolate.

5. Let set, and then remove coated cookies from the mold.

The final result is sure to impress!

Visit the Sheek Shindigs Etsy shop, here, to view this product and others, here. And don't forget to check back...more are coming soon!

Banana Split Mini Bites

What a fun little twist on a classic ice cream dessert! These Banana Split Mini Bites created by Naomi of Bakers Royale are not only super adorable, but they allow your little ones to have a special sweet treat without completely overloading on sugar.

Image: Bakers Royale

Here are Naomi's simple instructions:

Use firm bananas and cut into 1 inch sections. Leave the peel on for easy handling, and with a melon baller, dig a well in the middle of each banana section.

Melt chocolate in the microwave and dip the bottom portion of the banana in chocolate and then dip it once again in either non-pareils or chopped peanuts. To quickly harden the chocolate, place dipped bananas in the freezer for five minutes.

Fill each well with ice cream (I filled mine with vanilla chocolate chip) and top with whip cream and a maraschino cherry.

What a fun, kid-friendly dessert idea. I hope that you enjoy. Stop by Bakers Royale for other great recipes and ideas, here.

{Real Parties} A Picnic Party

Today I am sharing a party submission from Jozen of Lola's Girl. Jozen recently celebrated her daughter's 6th birthday by incorporating one of her favorite summertime activites and throwing her a Picnic Party! 

Guests were asked to bring their own picnic blankets or lawn chairs and were treated to quite a picnic spread for the birthday celebration.The menu included hot dogs, hamburgers, traditional Filipino barbecue on sticks, salad, and fresh fruit.

A diy lemonade stand provided guests the opportunity to create their own picnic beverage....I love this idea and I would image that it was a hit with the kids as well!

Jozen put together a mini dessert table which featured mini cupcakes, donut holes, brownie bites, oreos, and mini cinnamon buns. So cute and sooo yummy!

Every birthday girls needs a cake! This cake was extra special because the birthday girl's aunt baked it for her. Isn't it beautiful!

The birthday celebration ended with a movie under the stars for all of the guests to enjoy. What a great way to finish off a special day and a wonderful celebration!

Jozen, thank you for sharing your daughter's party with Sheek Shindigs. You did a wonderful job. You can see more of the details from this party at Lola's Girl, here.