A simpler blackboard guest book

Effing Martha Stewart.  Why does she have to make everything look so easy?  Of course her magazines showcase all the other amazingly talented crafty people in the world.  I already know that I am craft challenged.  But I can't give up hope.  I just know that one day, when I'm planning a party, and I decide to attempt one of her amazing party ideas it will work.  I will burst in to tears and my knees will buckle and I will fall in to a triumphant heap on the floor.  But until then, I will try as hard as I can to figure out easier ways to achieve end results similar to hers.  Take the blackboard guest book featured in Martha Stewart Weddings for instance.  Seems pretty easy right?  Well, these types of standing blackboards are expensive.  I thought that instead we could use blackboard paint and make our own.  But all my wood working helpers told me it wouldn't work.  Why didn't you try to make it yourself you ask?  Because I am even worse with home improvements then with crafts.  Just as I was about to give up on the idea A came through with the perfect blackboard we could borrow.  Yeah!!!!  But alas, the board had to be set up indoors so with unnatural lighting and camera flash, this idea was doomed. 
Above is the best shot that I got.  Our intention had been to make these in to a digital photobook for the guest of honor.  As hard as we tried to get everyone to write a message, we missed more then half of the guests at the party.  If there had been one entry point, this would have worked a bit better.  Or if we could have had it in a more prominent place at the party, people would have seen it and been a bit more playful.  I could see this working.  But next time I would certainly do it differently.  To start, I don't think you need the big chalkboard.  Recently I have seen two alternatives that I feel would work great.  
Paper Source has these Wallies that adhere to the wall.  The pack comes with four so you can either use just one, or do some sort of creative layout.  These are sold for $19.95 and say they are removable.  
There are also options available from One Step Ahead.  They sell a 2 pack of 9" x 12" panels for $9.95.  It comes in slate or schoolhouse green.  They also have an option for a 25" x 38" panel for $24.95.  I would certainly give this idea a try again in the future.  Once I fail a second time, though, I write it off as an impossible task.  So far on this list is surfing, being in the cold and giving myself a pedicure.  Has anyone else used this guest book idea?  I am curious about the results...

S-

Inspiration photo via Martha Stewart Weddings

Photo of world's most adorable boy by me

Wallies photo via Paper Source

Letter chalkboard panel photo via One Step Ahead

BTW - this week is moving week.  This will probably be my last post.  Check back next week!!!!!

   

Recipes by Busy Dad

It really is a small blogging world. I didn't know until after 

we stopped working together that my friend Lisa's husband

is a blogger also.  Turns out he's HUGE! And there is a 

reason he has a large and loyal following. He is a dad, 

fiercely funny and a brilliant writer. I'm totally in awe of 

his skills. You have to check out his blog,

The Busy Dad Blog. But it doesn't stop there. Turns out

he also cooks. He sounds too good to be true doesn't he?  

He is participating in a Tastemaker Challenge - you can 

read more about the challenge here - and needs your vote

to win.  All you have to do is watch the video, sign in to 

Youtube and click on the stars to rate it.) How the heck 

did this get on a party planning blog I hear you asking...

Duh, you could totally use these recipes at your next party.

Well...probably not for most children's parties as most of 

the kids I know shun seafood like tissues (sorry, I'm going

through a nose picking thing right now...). And maybe not 

for a baby shower on account of the vomit factor, but I'm 

sure they would work for a lot of other parties. I don't know

what the prize is if he wins, but he is representing for all the dad's out 

there as the only guy in the competition and legitimately deserves 

to win. He has my vote. Does he have yours? And while you are

logged in to Youtube, search 'briansharon' to watch some funny 

videos my husband has made of our family (minus the newest 

baby because apparently my husband has also been a busy 

dad). And as seems to happen when I blog in the middle of the

day, I have lost one of the kids. Rest assured, there are no weather

balloons around...ok, less then two weeks until our move. I better

get back to packing.

S-

-you may notice that the spacing is all wonky. I thought about fixing it and

it's the thought that counts right...

How do they do it? Taryn's Birthday Dinner

This past weekend we held a very fun birthday dinner for my good friend Taryn.  I have mentioned the always amazing, Eve -The French Canadian Caterer, before and I was super excited to get to use her again.  Taryn and I had always talked about having Eve over to do a small cooking class with us so I set it up that Eve would teach Taryn a few things while we were setting up for the party.  So not only did Taryn get to learn how to make some amazing treats (the above photo is them filling cream puffs that they made from scratch) but also make dinner for the 14 close friends attending the party.  To make sure that Taryn didn't work too hard, I asked our good friend, Genette, to come early too to provide extra hands.  While Erika and I set up the dinner table, Genette was able to fill in with whoever needed help.  When it was time for Taryn to get ready, Erika finished up on the place settings and Genette and I worked with Eve to finish the meal.  We wanted to keep it casual so I just emailed out an invitation (found on IDIY).
The fabrics used on the cheese table are by Amy Butler and were the color inspiration for the whole party. 
I didn't get too many photos of the food but, as always, Eve did an amazing job with an awesome herb crusted salmon, scalloped potatoes, steamed asparagus and a wilted salad with bacon and honey mustard vinaigrette.  While fish is something that not everyone usually enjoys, this was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in attendance.  I'll see if I can persuade Eve to let me pass on this recipe to you...
Dessert was two large creme brulees and the cream puffs that Taryn and Eve made earlier in the day.  The creme brulees were served family style and was delightfully decadent.  The cream puffs were topped with a chocolate ganache and I wanted to eat all of them.  
We rented two long tables, chairs and linens from our local rental supply house, Baker Party Rental and used simple scrapbooking papers from Two Peas in a Bucket and tons of candles to provide a casual, yet elegant table setting.  Erika folded all the napkins in to these pouches and I thought they added just the right touch.  In my preparty planning visions I saw lots of candles so I gathered as many as I could.  While I was able to find a bunch, I bought even more at Big Lots (okay, side note about Big Lots, I'm totally smitten right now.  I saw on their website that they had 12 packs of votive candles and holders for $6 each which breaks down to 50 cents per candle and glass holder which I didn't think was too bad, so I bought five sets.  And whilst browsing, I came to find out that they sell some Martha Stewart craft sets and scrapbooking supplies as well as some of her boxed invitations etc., they also had Izze soda by the case and in four packs.  I don't remember the exact cost but it was cheaper then anywhere else.  Okay, I just needed to share because I have always been kinda snobby about that store, but I'll tell you what, I am certainly going back for xmas gifts...yes, I actually wrote that).  Now where was I?
I had Erika grab some fresh flowers and make a couple of arrangements.  We used vases that I had bought for my wedding (these things keep showing up at my parties and have long since paid for themselves).  
We set the tables up end to end in the courtyard at Taryn's house and turned on the outdoor speakers with some fun music.  There were more candles around the courtyard on the ground and it was a lovely evening (okay, who is jealous?  This is October in California for you.  The hot day turned in to a warm evening and only after dinner and dessert were well over did it start to get chilly).
Here is a group shot of everyone.  A huge thank you to Ed, T's husband, for footing the bill, Erika for co-hosting with me, Genette for doing whatever needed to be done (including way too many dishes) and for your designer skills to pull off a classy table (you guys she is a super talented handbag designer for Lockheart - look in to them - awesome!) and Kara for cleaning up after the party.  
These are the favors that I made for the party.  Really, I made them for me because I seem to get a hangover after two glasses of wine, but I thought it would be a cute idea.  The design is the same from the invitation I used and I just modified it to fit the favor.   
All the items in the bag were from the travel section at Target and didn't cost very much at all.  The party turned out awesome and I was so excited to celebrate Taryn's birthday with her and some close friends.  Dangit.  seeing these pictures really makes me want to start planning again.  It's a sickness.  Will it ever end?  

S-

(I know these usually run on Fridays, but who knows what will happen this weeks, so be lucky I am blogging at all...)

-Photos by myself or Ryan Sasser (the good ones are his...:)

Halloween Block Party on HGTV

Here I go again with a Halloween post!!!  Tell me that you have all seen Halloween Block Party on HGTV?!!  I didn't see any previews for it and randomly caught it yesterday afternoon.  I taped it and just watched it a minute ago and while I can tell you that I am 99 % sure I will never host a Halloween party, there were tons of cool party tips!!!!  You have to set your DVRs! Here is the link to the HGTV page for the show.  It looks like it will be on again on Oct. 24 and 30.  Featuring Eddie Ross (that guy from Top Design who was a Martha Stewart Living Editor - who didn't love him?!?), Kelly Moore (entertaining and lifestyle expert), and Michael Russo (creative director of Roses N Lollipops design).  Every time I see a show like that it makes me want to plan a party.  Since I just hosted one this past Saturday (I will have pics up soon, it turned out amazing!!!) I should probably give it a rest...But my son is turning one a few days after Christmas...so, let the planning begin!!!!!! By the way, some of the pumpkin carving templates used on the show are available online.  And check out the rest of their Halloween party ideas!  

S-