Polar Express Party

I was a bad parent last summer when I had told my 5-year old daughter that I would plan a birthday party for her and I never got it done. So when I came across the idea of a polar express party, I realized I had found a way to redeem myself!

I have to admit, I probably had just as much fun planning this party as Summer and her friends had at the party. First order of business was creating the train tickets to send in the invite. If you ask Sean, I probably spent way too much time trying to make them perfect, but I think it was worth it! I found a template online, printed them on card stock and then sprayed them with a gold metallic spray. 

The night of the party, the kids were welcomed with luminaries lining the sidewalk. We found them on sale at Party City and I couldn't resist. They probably would've looked better if I had remembered to turn the front porch light off :)

And fun snowflake decorations all over!

We ate pizza once everyone had arrived. Then we had craft time and made snowflake ornaments. Once finishing those up, we gathered everyone in the living room to start watching "The Polar Express" movie.

Summer with her friends (minus a couple that couldn't make it)

While they started viewing that, I was busy in the kitchen getting the hot chocolate bar ready. 

All the goodies on the bar! Hot chocolate, marshmallows,
candy canes, M&Ms, cookie sticks and more!

Cupcakes

Christmas cookies

Popcorn is always a must with movies.

Peppermint Oreo Pops (I found these on Pinterest and couldn't
resist making them. They were super quick and easy to make.
You can find directions here.)

Once the kids had their fill from the bar, we went back to finish the rest of the movie. While on our "train ride", I punched their initials in their golden train tickets. When we got to the part where Santa gave the boy a bell for his gift, I handed bells out to the kids so they could have their own. They loved it!

Our evening was filled with crazy excitement! I only wish I had room in my house to have her whole class here. Maybe I'll have to figure something out for next year :)

Pinterest Party

We all know how consuming Pinterest can be, right? I tend to pin a ton of things and then never get to creating, baking or cooking most of the things I'd like to. Well, a friend of mine planned a Pinterest party so some of us ladies could have a night out and be able to create a craft together. It was so much fun. She found the craft and the rest of us were to bring an appetizer or dessert that we found on Pinterest to share.

Below is the counter full of goodies we shared!

 I brought my homemade caramels in this cute 31 carry-all caddy I have.

Since my caramels weren't a "pinterest" item, I found a really cute and easy cheese tray to put together. You buy multiple cheese flavors and just do rows of cheese, thyme sprigs and grape tomatoes. I used a tree tray for the form, but it can be done on a cutting board as well.

I missed getting a picture of the beverage bar, but Kris had it stocked with wine, beer and an amaretto slush she made :) You're jealous, aren't you?!

And to prove to everyone that the night wasn't just full of food and drinks, I've attached a picture of us with our final products: Santa Tulle Wreaths!

Thanks to Kris for organizing and hosting this for us! It was such a great night!