Party Trend: Dessert Bar & Candy Buffet- Budget Friendly Ideas

Most of you have probably heard of the amazing Amy Atlas. 

Her dessert tables are famous for being absolutely stunning! Here's just a few favorites....

Now i'm guessing her budget is a weee bit more than mine or yours... but she is perfect inspiration!

 If you want some concrete tips for creating looks like hers for less check this out.......

$40 Grocery Store Dessert Bar

this amazing designer shares her budget friendly DIY dessert bar on her blog...

and i LOVE how it turned out!

(Photo credits: Bride Scouts)

Her Grocery List

1 bag of large marshmallows

2 bags of heart shaped chocolates (on sale!)

2 boxes of sugared doughnuts (on sale!)

2 boxes of Oreo Cakesters (my immitation whoopie pies)

popsicle sticks

some mini yogurt pretzels (aka yotzels!)

Mini marshmallows

6 dollar store jars (favors)

Pink Mints

Mini cupcake mix with frosting and cherries (FYI: my boyfriend made the cupcakes)

Mini Merengues

Heart shaped Cookies

Some Sparkling Water

Total Cost: $40.00

And for some more inspiration here are some real life dessert bars & candy buffet tables..
click title for the details!

{1.} Vintage Wedding Sweets

{2.} Yellow and Grey Dessert Table

{3.} Sweet Pink Shower

{4.} DIY Candy Buffet Lollipop Display

Here's some basic tips and tricks from RealSimple.com to create a Candy Buffet:

"To help create a full look to your buffet when you're on a tight budget, use other decorative "filler" items on the table around the candy jars. Paper lanterns, flowers, flower petals, and picture frames are great "filler" elements. You can even sneak in some jars of inexpensive, coordinating cookies to help fill space and create a decadent, abundant look to the buffet.

Use a variety of types of candies - individually wrapped, unwrapped with a hard candy shell (i.e. m&m's, skittles), hard candies, gummy candies, lollipops, old-fashioned candy sticks, etc.

Purchase candy at bulk candy stores - either local or online (see Resources below). If it's possible for you to buy bulk candy locally, bring your containers into the store with you to make sure you purchase the correct amount.

If you're ordering candy online, be sure to place your order well in advance so that you have time to stage the buffet at home before the party and order more candy if necessary. You also want to avoid rush shipping fees, as bulk candy can be very heavy!

Consider your environment. For example, if you're having an outdoor wedding in the summer, you may want to avoid chocolate, yogurt-covered malt balls, and other types of candy that can melt in the heat.

To narrow down the wide selection of candies available, which can be overwhelming when you're deciding on the candy "menu", focus on creating a buffet that matches your party colors and/or theme.

Use different shapes, sizes, and heights of containers, and make sure their mouths are wide enough for guests to scoop candy from. Cylinder vases and apothecary jars are widely available in home/craft stores (Target, IKEA, Michael's, etc.) and online, and it's also great to check discount stores like Home Goods, TJ Maxx, Ross, and Marshalls.

Embellish containers with ribbon, custom labels, and other decorative embellishments."

via realsimple

even if you don't have an event to plan right now... it's still fun to look at all the yummy prettiness!

But If you are planning a dessert bar/candy buffet and need help with labels shoot me an e-mail and visit my etsy shop, Pretty Paperie, for personalized printables to help create the look you want! menu cards..cupcake toppers..water bottle labels..all of these would make your table lovely and personalized!

Every Sweet Shoppe needs it's own Village- Fun Party Detail in the works!

So as i attempt to distract myself from my contractions i decided to build a village... haha. if this doesn't break my water i don't know what will! ;)  i'm now 70% effaced, 2cm dilated. the doctor said that with this progression the baby will probably come fast once my water breaks or strong labor contractions kick in. fabulous! i just hope i make it to the hospital.

but my neighbor/friend over at imaniamama offered a book on giving birth at home just in case. haha. thanks girl!

I spent the past couple days going to local stores seeing if i could take boxes off their hands... most of them said they were automatically smashed up and recycled. but....imanimama's husband, sean, knew i was on the lookout for boxes and sent me a text saying their trash compactor broke and i could come over and have my pick! the selection was huge! it was awesome. haha. so THANK YOU SEAN FROM HOME DEPOT. you are amazing. 

I had planned on just doing a sweet shoppe/bakery..but then i was inspired after seeing this image over at  howdoesshe.com. 

(she threw an amazing party for her girls!) 

She got some incredible sugar cookies from sweetopia and the name got me thinking!

Sophia made me sooo happy when she first walked into one of the houses and squealed.. "my house my house! i wuv my house!" haha. love it. makes the craziness of building a village out of boxes totally worth it. 

I can't wait to share with you guys how this all comes together! I have this vision in my head..trying to make it come to life! I still need to paint/decorate the houses..and I had fun coming up with some cute shop signs last night. 

This is just the village.. i can't wait to show you her sweet shoppe! i love projects. :)

A little cuteness for this post......

Ben "Practicing swaddling" again. 

Sophia was happy to be the test baby. So funny. 

Hope you are having a great day!

I'm lining up to these parties for Thursday.. Link up ladies!

Still Pregnant + Sophia's 2nd Birthday Party Sneak Peek!

So i'm still pregnant! haha. 38 weeks and been told for the past few weeks it could be any day! Trying to stay busy through these contractions. the other day i went into the hospital because they were every 5 minutes for over an hour. but i guess they weren't doing "enough".. so.. false alarm. 
i'm ready to pop! baby sienna we want to meet you! come soon!
sophia: "i wanna give baby smoochies!"

I've been swamped with etsy orders lately! Feeling like a true mama-preneur! i've been doing everything from egg carton/jam jar labels... to water bottle labels for a "mustache bash"!! a lot of them have offered to send photos of how they use my graphics at their events and i can't wait to share them!

Here's a peek into what i'm creating for sophia's 2nd birthday party... It's a Sweet Shoppe/Bakery Theme. 

This is "her logo." I'll post more about the party planning in upcoming posts! soo many fun details! Right now i'm in the middle of collecting oversized boxes to build her bakery for the kids to play in! complete with a modern kitchen and play felt-food. ;) Oh and the favors are so funnn! but i'm going to zip it and share the details later. hehe. I'm definitely getting my nesting urge before labor! i need a project! ;)

here's an image that's been giving me inspiration on her party!

Cupcakes + Cupcake toppers = Cuteness Overload!

Sophia was eager to help me sample the cupcakes. i bought some from the store because i knew if i baked them myself i would end up eating the whole batch...i'm a hormonal hungry pregnant lady. haha. Sophia calls the cupcakes happy cake....i guess she gets it from happy birthday....birthday cake....her own little language. haha. 

Check out my etsy shop for other fun party details! If you have an event coming up just shoot me an e-mail and we can come up with something custom for you! I'm also working on some fun cupcake wrappers! 

Have a great weekend girls!

My Top Mama Picks: Pregnancy #2 - MY Favorite Item VideoBlog!

My Top Mama Picks:

VIDEO BLOG

ignore the dirty hair..it's the best it's gonna get right now haha.
 and the half empty house. (we're moving.)
everyone needs to post a semi-embarrassing video of themselves.. 
for their humility. hehe. 


I am loving my blanqi! check them out.


website: blanqi.com

blog: blanqi.com/blog

What has been your favorite item from your past/current pregnancy?? we girls need to share the wisdom. hehe. i'm sooo close to having this baby. last night in bed i was telling ben that i'm just ready to do this! haha. the suspense the last month is always one of the hardest parts. but my checklist is totally done. i'm packed..ben's packed..sophia's packed. sheets are on the beds and towels are washed and ready for company. now we are just waiting for our baby girl to make her debut. ;)

baby names... right now we are thinking Sienna. what do you think?!

DIY Kitchen Play Set: Photo Inspiration & Links + Giveaway Winner!

Sophia's most recent fascination is all things kitchen... 

if i even walk into the kitchen she goes "whatcha cookin??

 (with her own little accent that we aren't sure where it came from..haha)

So for her birthday coming up i want to 
buy or build her a play kitchen set!

Here's some great images i found for inspiration if i end up having it be a DIY Project!

 
I love the paint color and fabric choice! adorable.
click here for details and visit her blog!
 
One of my favorites...i love how crisp and clean it is.. 
why not have your child's toys fit in with your decor?! i love it.
click here for details. and be sure to check out her blog!

i love the out of the box thinking with this kitchen!! so clever.
click here for details.

A kitchen wouldn't be complete without some play food! I am in LOVE with these little creations this mama made up for her daughter. For sure planning on doing something like this! so inspired!

How adorable? I have discovered an online world of felt play food and i am totally in love! Can't wait to create some sweet little play food for my girls. :)
click here for the details and to check out her awesome blog!

I'm still working on Sophia's 2nd birthday party theme but it might have something to do with the kitchen...maybe a bakery theme?? or a sweet shoppe?? hmm.. i'll keep you posted on the planning. 

I'm determined to throw her a party even with the newborn! stay tuned with how that goes..haha.

on a side note i've had sales in my etsy shop and it's been so exciting! it's so fun. if you haven't checked it out already please do! if you have any party planning coming up i would love to help you out with the fun personalized details! lots of fun customized pretty printables for 7 bucks or less!


The winner of the giveaway is..:::drumroll::: 
Linda G. from sweetsophiaannsblog.blogspot.com!! 
Congrats and thanks to all who entered!
I'll be in touch Linda!

Car Birthday Party Theme

Jack and Izzy is one of my favorite blogs.. and i love the theme she chose for her son's 2nd birthday party! Check out all of these fun details!

how precious are those car cut outs??

 

i love this activity that she had the kids do that turned into the favor! adorable.

be sure to visit her blog for all the details!! i'm in a party planning mode..and can't get enough of all of these fun themes i'm coming across!! 

If you need a car cake see my previous post for a great link to fabulous tutorials!