Hot Chocolate/Tea Bar & Sweets!

Happy Sunday! I am truly sorry that I have neglected to post, but as you the know the Christmas season was here, and I did not anticipate how busy and tired I would be! But truly, I am sorry and I do want to work at consistently posting on a regular basis!

Anywho, I really wanted to post the hot chocolate bar that I did for a Christmas dinner party a couple of weeks ago! It was a fun time with friends and family!

Cost breakdown

Hot Cocoa Cupcakes:

Cupcake mix ($2.29) Christmas Tree Shop

Red Cupcake Liner ($1.99) Michael's

Icing- ($2.00)

Marshmallows ($1.00) Dollar Tree

Mini Candy Cane ($1.00) Dollar Tree

Total: $8.28

Cookies:

Cookie Mix ($4)

Biscotti ($3.29) Christmas Tree Shop

Total: $7.29

Tea/ Hot Chocolate Bar:

Hot Chocolate (Sister bought it!)

Tea ($3.00)

Marshmallows (Already bought)

Crushed Peppermint (Already Bought)

Brown Sugar (Already had)

Garlic Bread ($1.99)

Cinnamon Sticks (Already had)

Total: $4.99

Grand Total: $20.56

Lovely indeed!

Hope you enjoy the pictures! They were taken by Slimbonez Photography!

Blessings,

Sara

Hot Cocoa Bar Sneak Peak!

I can't wait for tonight's festivities!

Hot cocoa cupcakes!

Hot Chocolate Stirrers!

Many more to come!!!!

Blessings,

Sara

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Wednesday everyone!  Last night, I had dinner with my ladies! Every Tuesday night is prayer night, but since its Thanksgiving week we decided to have our own thanksgiving dinner!

It was held at my place last night, and in the last couple of hours before dinner, I decided to do some decorating for the table setting.

I wanted to spend nothing. So I did. I may have told you how I love the Elli blog. Most of the projects and tutorials are made from paper! I love paper projects. So when I saw the post she made for thanksgiving, I thought perfect!

I literally just took what I already had, and created this table setting! I had candles that I bought for my apartment a few months back. I believe I purchased them from the Christmas Tree Shop. I loved it because first, I didn't spend a dime and second, it was a nice touch to a table that could have been very bland... I hope you like!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! 

Blessings,

Sara

A Parisian Shower: Finale!

The journey is complete! Thank you for following my process to a wonderful Parisian shower! This was my first time coordinating and planning an event, and I knew I had fallen in love! It was so satisfying to see everything come together and alive before my eyes! I loved that it was specifically for them as a couple and how it represented them! I also loved how I spent only at the most a Total of $53 for all the decorations! I hope you enjoy the pictures! The fabulous Amanda Elizabeth Pullen, photographed for us!

Picture from my phone

Some of the MANY awesome helpers!

Vendors

Invitation: Etsy

Venue: Bethesda Baptist Church, Hyde Park MA

Caterer: Heather Sullivan

Cupcakes: CjCuppycakes

Cake: Yani's Cakes

Photography: Amanda Elizabeth Photography

A Parisian Shower: Signs/Banners!

Hi everyone! Today, I wanted to finish off the projects I did with the Parisian Shower with signs! Signs or banners are very important to me. I don't really know why, but I believe they bring a sense of stability in decorations and easy eye access to where things should be. This may not make sense to you, but I really couldn't go on without making any banners for this shower!

What made me excited was that I literally did not spend a dime to make them! (cheesy smile). Technically I did buy the materials from other projects that I decided not to trash. So, though I didn't spend anything for this project I will definitely show you the estimated cost.

The reality, to me, is that signs are really easy to make. In my experience you either stencil or you just print. I decided to print away all the letters I needed. I made three signs in total. A friend of the bride actually purchased the template from Etsy (love this site), and I printed it out. It was a banner for the entrance of the room. It came from Frosting and Ink, the French Collection.

 

She sent me the pdf to print, and I took a picture for her in my living room. Loved the banner and actually wanted one for myself!

It came out so well! The banner said Cafe de Altidor...their future last name! Too cute! On the day of the shower, while I was putting it up, people told me that it wasn't grammatically correct...bummer...but I still put it up. (Those haitians were probably shaking their heads at my attempt)

Any who, I also downloaded templates from the Martha Stewart site. It was for the gift table. The banner template that I used was the circular template, and I had silver doilies from a past event that were saved. I cut the template out and taped them against the doilies. Lastly, I weaved the pink ribbon through the holes of the doily to hang! Fini!

The bottom sign says cadeaux. It means gifts!

Lastly, I had a frame that I purchased from the Dollar Store and I printed out in Word: La Petite Boulangerie. It was where we had a bread and cheese station!

You see that crack? Had to hide it with a paper flower...

Entrance banner:

Frosting and Ink, the French Collection: $15
Total: $0 {Estimated Cost: $15}

Gift Table Banner:

6-10 Silver Doilies: $0 {Local Craft Store:1 pk: $3-4}

Pink printing paper: $0 {$2-3/ pk of 50-100}

Tape
Pink Ribbon: $0 {Dollar tree: $1)
Total: $0 {Estimated Cost: $6-8}

La Petite Boulangerie Sign:

Picture frame: $0 {Dollar Tree: $1}

Printing paper: $0 {Local Craft Store: $2-3/pk 50-100}
Total: 0 {Estmated Cost: $3-4}

* Please Note: Assuming you already have printing paper, this will not cost you anything. However, I gave the estimated cost of the paper unless you do not have them on hand! They should last you several projects!

VERY excited about the next post! It will be the reveal of the Parisian Shower and how my projects all came together! Au revoir!

Blessings,

Sara

A Parisian Shower: Centerpieces: City of Light!

Feeling very accomplished with the flowers that were made, I still felt the decor was lacking something. I wanted it to say Paris: romance in spring. I thought about Paris and how it is also called the City of Light. Therefore, candles definitely came into play. I wanted candles as centerpieces and lights all around the room.

First, I called upon the bridal party and family members to see if they had any white christmas lights. They definitely came through! We had more than enough to go around the whole room! That was easy!

The centerpieces were another matter. Fortunately, I had low floating glass bowl vases that I had from my wedding. I myself had one in my possession, other friends and families had the others. I did want some kind of height for the centerpieces, and thought large martini vases would do nicely. I would fill the vases with water and add floating candles to bring romantic light to each table.

I found the martini vase at A.C Moore. I am a member, so I continuously look for coupons. There was one particular week where I had a 55% off any one regular priced item. I needed 4. So each day I printed out the coupon and bought a vase. They cost $7.14 ea, therefore I spent $28.56 on 4 martini vases.

{via}

Next were floating candles, and a pack of fifty came out to be $2.59. We sprinkled some fake flower petals and viola! Centerpieces were finished!

Here is another sneak peek!

It felt very romantic to me! They came out so cute!

Centerpieces

4 Martini vase: $28.56 {A.C. Moore}

4 Floating Glass Bowl: $0 {A.C. Moore/Walmart: $2-3}

Floating candles: $2.59 {Micheals}

Flower petals: $1 {Dollar Tree}

Total:  $32.15 {Estimated Cost: $32-$37}

White Christmas Tree lights: $0 {Estimated Cost: $3-4/ea}

Next post... signs!

Blessings,

Sara

A Parisian Shower: Patisserie/Streamer Display

Dessert display tables are all the rage right now and I knew that I had to make one for this Parisian theme. Here were a few that I liked and found on Pinterest.

I don't draw. It is not a talent of mine. However, when I saw this picture on Pinterest I knew I HAD to have it. But I also had to draw it....

And so I went to my local craft store and bought a large sheet of paper. Of course, I had a coupon, so instead of paying $8.99, it was a measly $4.50! The rest of the materials needed were pencils and markers that I already possessed. 

I cannot say that this was my best drawing. In fact I know I could have done better, but my lazy behind started drawing the morning of the shower, so... in that case... it was best! :)

I wonder if you see my mistake...

With the drawing done, I realized the rest of the wall would be blank. That would not do. Again looking for a cheap way to decorate the walls I found steamers decorations...like this:

Perfection! I bought the streamers from The Dollar Tree in pink, white and black. $3. (I also acquired my tape from there as well...) 

Here is a sneak peak of the shower, and how the display and streamers came together! LOVED it!

(Sorry about how dark the pics are...taken from my phone)

This was one of my FAVORITE displays. With the colorful entree and desserts that we had, everything came together beautifully! It was a nice spread! The bride loved it!

(My sister suggested an awesome idea of providing an estimated price point of what items may cost if you have not already acquired them. So from now on I will be showing you not only what I spent, but ultimately what it could cost, with all the materials needed. Please note: most of the items I buy with a coupon, and those prices will reflect that as well!)

Patisserie Display

Large Sheet of paper: $4.50

Markers, Pencils: $0 {Dollar Tree: $1-$2}

Total: $4.50 {Estimated Cost: $5.50-$6.50}

Streamer Display

Pink, black & white streamers: $3

Tape: $1

Total: $4

Absolutely cannot wait to show you the entirety of how everything came together! But first I will show you how I did some signage and how it became the City of Lights! Real easy! Hope you keep reading! Comment if you like!

Blessings,

Sara