You are my Sunshine Baby Shower

My cousin welcomed her little Man into the world earlier this week.  And in like fashion this week I'll be sharing the details behind her baby shower.  We threw her a 'you are my sunshine' themed baby shower this past December.  I love the theme as it's perfectly gender neutral.  And it's the perfect warm and cheery contrast to chilly December weather.  I'll be sharing the details behind the shower next week.  In the meantime here's the inspiration behind the soiree! 



{Photo Credits:  1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7}



Soiree :: Ciao Chitown

Our friends just moved to California last week.  And although we will miss them, we had a blast sending them on their way.  We served some of their favorite Chicago foods & fun desserts, which included truffle cake pops, Sprinkle cupcakes, and a fruit pizza, in the shape of California.  To tie everything together, we created cute signage with the ORD to LAX theme, that included longitude and latitudes of Chicago & Huntington Beach.  And because they'll always be Midwesterner's at heart, we gifted them HOME T-shirts, and this Chicago skyline print for their new home.  Here's the inspiration behind their Ciao Chitown themed party.  And if you're looking for the signs used here you can find them over at our Etsy store.

Farewell Party Inspiration

Our friends are moving to California.  And although we’re so sad to see them go, we’re excited for them to finally be living their ‘California dreaming’.  We wanted to throw them a little farewell party before the left.  Here’s the inspiration behind their Ciao Chi Town party.



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I love the airport codes as a back drop or as a banner.  Other options could include the a map of the USA with a heart in Chicago and a heart in California, connected by a dotted line. 

Every party needs a little glitter, try a fun Bon Voyage banner or go the DIY route by stringing paper airplanes together.

Chalk accents are so popular right now.  I love the I heart Texas chalkboard photo booth props.  And how appropriate is a chalkboard globe guest book. 

Re-purposing boxes as a backdrop is so genius, this would also work great for a housewarming party, and a great use for those empty boxes.   I love those moving box wine dispensers, and such a cute play off of ‘house wines'. 

You can’t have a going away party without an invite.  Love this one’s play off of childhood sayings.

And if you're looking for a more traditional or international travel decor, these Bon Voyage cupcake toppers would be perfect, with their blue and red boarder.  And finally cookies or hard candy in a ‘goodbyes suck’ bag make great favors.

DIY :: Letter Pinata

Today's DIY post is the pinata I made for our friend's fiesta this past weekend.  Stay tuned, we will be sharing the fiesta details tomorrow on rivernorthLove.  I have a confession, I've never been to a party with a pinata, even as a kid none of my friends had pinatas at their party, so I decided this would be a great opportunity to make one.  Loved this project it was easy, a little time consuming, so rewarding, and picking out the candy was so much fun.  Note you could use this same method with numbers or other shapes.

You will need:
Cardboard boxes (I was able to use just one)
Ruler, Pencil for straight lines
Exacto Knife or Scissors
Tape
Tissue
Candy
Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks

Step 1. Draw out your shape, I used the letter P.  Using the ruler I was able to measure out and draw straight lines.  My letter P was about 2 feet tall.

Step 2. Cut out your letter.  I had some strong kitchen sheers that I used.  Ideally you'd cut both sides of your shape out together using an Exacto knife, I had some trimming to do using the kitchen sheers method.

Step 3. Cut strips of cardboard for your edging.  Mine were 2' thick.  Make sure to roll and bend your edging as it'll make it easier to conform to the curves of your shape.

Step 4.  I cheated a little and didn't completely fill out the curve of my 'P' as I was not going to place the candy in there, thus it was only one sheet of cardboard. 

Step 5. Tape your shape and the edging together. Leaving the lid unsealed so that you can add your candy.

Step 6.  Decorating the pinata is much more time consuming than assembling it.  I cut tissue paper into 4" strips and  then added slits/fringe in the strips.  You could measure out your slits so that they are evenly spread, but I decided to guesstimate.

Step 7.  Starting at the bottom of your shape put down a layer of glue and add a strip of fringe.  Keep alternating colors and repeating this process till you're at the top of your letter.  For the curved part of my 'P', I wrapped the fringe all the way around creating the illusion of a complete curve, even though there was only one piece of cardboard.

Step 8. Fill with candy, add the lid and seal it with tape, add more fringe to cover up the lid. 

Step 9. Take it to your friends fiesta and smile as everyone ohhs and ahhhs over your lovely masterpiece.

Step 10. Watch as your masterpiece is destroyed with a stick or bat.  But relish the fact that when you wake up in the morning there will be candy in your purse!

Holiday Playlist

It's officially December, which translates to the start of holiday music at the office and at home.  Here's some of our favorites tunes to get us in the holiday spirit!

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1. Judy Garland: Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
2. The Temptations: Silent Night
3. Bing Crosby: White Christmas
4. Glee: Merry Christmas Darling
5. Maria Carey: All I Want for Christmas is You
6. Brenda Lee: Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

7. The Chipmunks: The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)
8. Jackson 5: Santa Clause Is Coming to Town
7. Ella Fitzgerald: Baby It’s Cold Outside
8. The Muppets: We Need A Little Christmas
9. Elvis Presley: Blue Christmas
10. Michael Bouble: Christmas

11. Wham!: Last Christmas
12. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: Merry Christmas Baby
13. Madonna: Santa Baby
14. She & Him: The Christmas Waltz 

15. Harry Connick Jr: Please Come Home for Christmas
16. Barbara Streisand: Jingle Bells
17. Nat King Cole:  The Christmas Song
18. Straight No Chaser: 12 Days of Christmas
19. Your’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch: Thurl Ravenscroft
20. Robert Downey Jr: River
21. Frank Sinatra: I'll Be Home for Christmas
23. Trans-Siberian Orchestra: Carrol of the Bells
24. A Charlie Brown Christmas (Vince Guaraldi Trio): Christmas Time Is Here
25. 98 Degrees: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
26. Kelly Clarkson: The Trouble With Love Is
27. John Lennon: Happy Christmas (War is Over)
28. Celine Dion: O Holly Night
29. Clay Aiken: Silver Bells
30. Sarah McLachlan: Christmas Time is Here

Halloween Costume Ideas

Even though the Mister and I will be in Hawaii for Halloween, I still want to dress up.  Odds are I'll have to try and find something that works with a bikini.  Some cute couple Halloween Costume Ideas:

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Something I can't wait to do with the girls:

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Something that could work with a bikini: Black Swan Mask

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Black & White Attire

We'll be at a black and white cocktail party tonight for my bestie's engagement party.  The dress code: black & white.  I heart dressing up it makes me feel uber glamorous.  Here's to a weekend full of engagement parties, both tonight and tomorrow night, for friends we adore.  Have a fabulous weekend!

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Little Black Dress

My bestie is throwing a black & white cocktail party in honor of her engagement, see the inspiration here.  And I need to find something to wear.  What I really want is a mullet dress (short in the front, long in the back), sadly I haven't found any to my liking.  Some other options I've been contemplating... (yes, I know they're all black; yes, black is my favorite color). 


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{Michael Kors Fall 2012 Runway}

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Under the Big Top

Victoria Beckham gave birth to a healthy baby girl this weekend (Harper Seven), and I couldn't help but think this would be the perfect baby shower for a girl!  A pink, circus themed shower featured on Hostess.  I'm loving all the details from the tented tables, to sweet pink roses, the pom pom mobile and cake stand trimming, and chalkboard signs.  And of course all the yummy treats, what a fun and girly shower!

{photos via Hostess Blog}

Have a happy 4th

{photo via 17 and baking}

Happy Friday!  In the infamous words of K. Perry  "There's a stranger in my bed, there's a pounding my head, Glitter all over the room, Pink flamingos in the pool, I smell like a minibar, DJ's passed out in the yard, Barbie's on the barbeque"  Hope everyone has a fabulous long weekend.  I'm loving this festive cake, and the kicker it was made/designed by a teenager, get the recipe here.  And if you need some 4th of July party inspiration, check out rnL's inspiration board.

Oscar Bingo

Head over to rivernorthLove to get your copy of Oscar Bingo for this Sunday's 83rd Annual Academy Awards.