Save on your cake!

When I was planning my wedding, I saw this beautiful cake. I knew it was the one I wanted – it would look beautiful after it got blinged out! I did a tasting and obtained a few quotes – the asking price was $600.00. Goodness, that’s a whole lot of money! Time for plan B. So I went to the local grocery store and gave them a picture of my inspiration. I ordered a cake from the grocery store for 80 people, even though we had 100 guests. This cut the price down by almost $300.00! I went to Costco, and bought a sheet cake for $20.00 to feed the rest of our guests. The local grocery store cake was just as tasty and my guests had no clue. For your next event, consult with your local grocery store baker; you would be surprised at how much you can save.

Tips on planning your next Event

When ever I am planning a event I love to plan ahead. I love to get my self organized so I can figure out all the details when it comes to the decor and yummy food.

Here's a time line I like to follow:

2 weeks

• Figure out my guest list and confirm
• Decide what type of menu
• Decide your decor and colors
• Make a to do shopping list

1 week

• Finalize shopping list
• Try a mock up (set up your table and see if it looks how you imagined)

Few Days Before

• Compete food shopping

Day before

• Set up table and decor
• Prep your foods

Few hours before dinner

• 
  
  Check table setting
• 
  
  Prepare finger foods 

45 mins to 30 mins

• 
  
  Reheat appetizers
• 
  
  light any candles
• 
  
  Serve drinks and appetizers as guest arrive
• 
  
  Reheat main meal

This easy time line helps me every time, it keeps me on task and allows me to enjoy my guest. I hope it can help you as well.

ALL BLACK B DAY BASH/EVERYTHING BELLA LAUNCH PARTY

Go Genae it's your birthday!! OK so I just had my B Day Party/ Launch Party!! It was Fabulous! The theme was a strict dress code ALL BLACK. Of course me being the Diva I am had to stand out, so I chose to wear RED. As for the decor I wanted a club feel so I used black linen, variety of red center pieces I made. I kept thinking to myself I needed a WOW factor, then it hit me, up lights in red!! The party looked just how I had imagined it but even better. For your next party make it a theme, all black, white, red, yellow, what ever your favorite color maybe.

Pink & Black Dinner Party

Recently I had an intimate dinner party for close friends and family. I decided to go with a pink, black & white theme.
For dinner I cooked:

• Shrimp Linguini
• Chicken Linguini
• Bread Sticks
• Cesar Salad
• Shrimp, Tomato, Red Onion Vinaigrette Salad
• Home made Pink Strawberry Lemonade
• Finger Cheese Cake
  

I asked my guest to bring their favorite bottle of wine, it was a hit!

DIY Cocktail Napkins

You will need:

• Smarty Had A Party 2 Ply Cocktail Napkins
• Rubber Stamp
• Brilliance Archival Pigment Ink

 The rubber stamp and ink can be found at your local hobby or craft store, you also can find these products on-line.  If ordered on-line you can have the stamp custom design to fit your wedding or party theme. The archival ink dries fast and does not stain or smear.
I suggest buying 2x2 size stamp for cocktail napkins, if you get dinner napkins I would suggest you get it bigger.
Tip:
When purchasing your napkins always buy extra. Out of 300 napkins only 275 made it. It takes a few tries to get the stamp just right.

Trial & Error

When it comes to planning your next event don't be afraid to try a mock up. As I planned my wedding I learned by trial and error. The best way to figure out if your decor or table setting is going to look like the vision you had in your head is to do a mock up. After three trial runs my inspiration came to life.

I used:

• Smarty Had A Party 10.25" Masterpiece White & silver Plates
• Smarty Had A Party Silver Chargers
• Smarty Had A Party 3 PLY Silver Paper Dinner Napkins/Guest Towels
• Smarty Had A Party Artificial Rose Pedals
  
• Tea Light Candles
• Round Center Piece Mirror
• Artificial Flowers
• Floating Candle
• Round Tall Vase

You can also use real flowers, rocks or color the water to your theme and add a floating candle. This look is very budget friendly for any event.

 

Bling Bling Baby!

I recently did a baby shower for my step mother's friend. She was having a girl so we decided on a pink & bling theme shower. This shower was done on a budget for under $100.00.