Bridesmaid Gift Idea - Shoes they can dance in and wear after the wedding

Me Too Shoes are the perfect gift for any bridesmaid! There will be no excuse for them to not get on the dance floor with these comfy shoes. They are stylish, chic, and most important - comfortable! And, don't feel bad buying a pair for you because by all means - this is your day and your comfort is MOST important as the bride standing on your feet all day long.

You can purchase these shoes at Nordstroms, Zappos.com, Shoebuy.com, and Solestruck.com.

Your feet will thank you and consider this a wise investment in getting the dance floor rocking! There is nothing worse than an empty dance floor.

Fret Knot and Be Happy!

Michelle

The Wedding Party of 2009 - What are they up to now?

Kevin Heinz and Jill Peterson became overnight YouTube sensation with their wedding party dancing video to Chris Brown's "Forever". Even The Office mocked the wedding party when Pam and Jim got married. So, after the 15 minutes of fame is up, how is the married life treating them? TODAY gives us a glimpse into the newlywed's lives together.

I challenge all brides to come up with something during their wedding that is original, unique, and unforgettable. Who says you can't put on a show for your guests. It's all about fun right? I can't guarantee every wedding party I work with will end up on the Today Show or Oprah, but we can sure have fun trying.

Fret Knot and Be Happy,

Michelle

Red Hot Holiday - Inspiration Board Collection

Red Hot Holiday

Top Left: Gift Favors from The Knot
Middle Center: Raspberry Champagne from Luis Bruno Catering
Top Right: Sprinkles Cupcakes
Bottom Left: Christian Louboutin Rosaziissmo Bergdorf shoes
Floral Left: Martha Stewart Collection
Gingerbread Centerpiece: Martha Stewart Collection
Bottom Right: Better Homes and Garden

Fret Knot and Be Happy,

Michelle

Super Saturday - Brenda's Graduation/Mom's Birthday/Santa's Pancake Breakfast

Saturday, December 19th - A Day in the Life of Me

6 am - Alarm goes off, I really want to hit snooze, but I can't - Today is full of planning and celebration. Just because it's a bit slow on the wedding front, does not mean it's slow on the event planning side. I have Santa's Pancake Breakfast at the Addison Athletic Club (my other full time job as a Children's Recreation Coordinator), Brenda's Graduation in Denton at 1 PM, and her post-graduation party at The Colony at 6 PM. Oh, and also my Mom's birthday! Whew!

7:30 am - Arrive in Addison to start setting up for the Santa's Pancake Breakfast with all my wonderful co-workers. Last year 150 people attended, so there is lots of pancakes and sausage to be cooked.

Kids could write letters to Santa and place in the mailbox below. We also had The Grinch playing in the background and the kids loved to eat the pancakes and watch it. I think they like The Grinch more than they liked Santa!

We were running on a low budget, so the talented Keila created the Fireplace scene. She is awesome and can create backgrounds for any occasions!

10:30 am - Tear down and rush to get ready for the Graduation Ceremony at UNT. Of course, I was going the speed limit :)


1 PM - 3 PM - Graduation Ceremony is over and we are so PROUD of Brenda. She has really worked her tail off and I am so happy for her. It brought me back to my graduation and then made me feel old! ha

Chad, Brenda the Graduate, and Myself

The Family

4 PM - Set up the house for a Graduation Party for 25 of close family and friends. I went with On The Border as the Caterer because my sister is obsessed with Mexican food and they were offering a 10% catering special. She started eating hot sauce with she was 2 years old. M&M Rentals provided the linens, table and chairs for the party. I highly recommend them. They have great customer service! Ask for Angela, she is a sweetheart!

As the centerpieces, I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased fake flowers (I know, but I am on a budget here... Hello? Christmas is in the same month!) They were having a 50% off sale on flowers and picture frames. ROCK ON!

To add a personal touch, I framed pictures from Brenda's life that helped mold her into the beautiful person she is today: Driven, Creative, and above all a great person: Her dancing classes, her first car, prom pictures and even some pictures with some relatives that could not make it because they passed on.

Guests had fun going from one table to another recalling Brenda's memories.
Lots of laughs and tears!

6 PM - Guests arrive promptly and ready to celebrate Brenda's Graduation, Mom's Birthday, and mainly The Dallas Cowboy game!

The Ladies

Cha - Ching - The joys of Graduation

Eating the Yummy Food

Happy Birthday Mom!


Anita, Mom, and Judy

10:30 PM - Cowboys win! Great for them, and great for the party. We had two tv's playing. It was funny because Brenda and Mom were opening gifts and people were celebrating the Cowboy game and then later saying they were cheering for Brenda and Mom - Yeah Right! ha

10:35 PM - Broke out the Nintendo Wii and we had a bowling tournament. This game is fun for everyone no matter your age!

1 AM - After cleaning the house, I finally got to bed and counted my blessings. I have a wonderful life and I love bringing joy to people's lives and their celebrations. I was happy to bring all my family and friends together to celebrate accomplishments. It's definitely a night I will cherish. Congrats to Brenda and Happy Birthday Mom!

Fret Knot and Be Happy,

Michelle

Not Your Ordinary Christmas Exchange - Unique Theme Ideas

It's not to late to throw an impromptu Holiday party for your friends. Try to make it less stressful for your guests by picking a theme for the party that makes it easier to narrow down the gift list.
Here are a few fun and creative party ideas that will have your friends and family begging for an invite.

"As Sign on TV" Gift Exchange

Thanks to the Snuggie, everyone can appreciate a "As Seen on TV" gift. It will also have your guests waiting in suspense to open all the random gifts. A lot of people are embarrassed to buy these types of gifts. This eliminates that feeling completely. There is a store at Stonebriar Mall in Frisco that solely sells these items. Another tip is to collect the Bed Bath and Beyond 20% coupon and buy them there. They have a small section of TV gifts.

Added Bonus: Have your guests wear Snuggies to gain access to your party. They make customized Snuggies for dogs, children and adults. I saw a Dallas Cowboy Snuggie at Dick's Sporting Goods last week for $20.


Wine – O Holiday Celebration

Have everyone bring a bottle of wine that describes their personality. For example – A Sparkling Wine may be for someone who is bubbly or Riesling may be a sweet person. Have them place their name on the bottom of the wine, so no one can see it. Whomever guesses it correctly goes home with that bottle of wine.

Spice it up by having everyone taste the wine and then guess. The truth may come out more with this one!

As the host, make your girlfriends feel special by making customized place seating. Purchase scrapbook pages and glue pictures or memorabilia from your friendship. Take it to Office Depot and laminate it. They can take home as party favors!

Toy Drive and Christmas Light Tour for The Family
First make it a family outing and have your children pick out a gift for the less fortunate kids. Explain to them that Christmas is about giving and not all about receiving. Sometimes kids can be consumed with all the gifts they can get and forget about the true meaning of the holidays.

Next, get all your friends together and pitch in for a van/bus. Drop off your toys to a toy drive. Some are listed below:

WFAA Toy Drive

DFW Toys for Tots

Then, have your bus take you and the kids on a Christmas Light Tour. Don't miss what this one Frisco House has to offer. The family built the display to go with music which can be played on your radio. They also have a huge display located at Frisco Town Hall near the Pizza Hut Park. Check out their website:

Frisco Christmas

Deerfield Plano Christmas Lights
DFW Limo Christmas Light Tours

Re-gift and Forget

Start 2010 off by laughing at everyone’s 2nd hand gifts, but make sure the person who originally gave it to you is not invited to the party! After the gift exchange, have all your friends write what their resolution for 2010 is going to be. Save them and mail them to them mid-year to remind them what their goal was.

Let me know your creative and out-of-the box events. I would love to host one. I am always up for any event that is different and unforgetable.

Fret Knot,

Michelle Holland

Drink and Be Merry - Drink Recipes for the Holidays

December Tea - Fruity, Sweet Punch (Makes 10 Servings)

What you will need: Heatproof punch glasses and a large saucepan or stockpot

Ingredients:

• 1 cup honey
• 1 qt hot black tea
• 1 1/4 cup orange flavor liqueur
• Juice of two lemons and two oranges
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup whipcream

Dissolve honey and tea, stirring all the time. Add the orange liqueur, lemon and orange slices, and cinnamon. Heat the punch, stirring all the time, but do not let it boil. Divide the punch among the glasses and top each glass with whip cream.

(Source: The Bartenders Guide, Peter Bohrmann)

North Pole - Tangy, spicy drink for the evening

What you need: Cocktail glass and shaker

Ingredients:

• 1 oz. vodka.
• 2 tsp. Drambuie
• 2 tsp. Campari

Shake all the ingredients together, with ice, in the mixing glass and strain into the cocktail glass

(Source: The Bartenders Guide, Peter Bohrmann)

Holiday Punch

• 2-48 oz. (1.36 L) cans pineapple juice
• 1-40 oz. (1.14 L) bottle cranberry juice
• 2-750 mL bottles soda water
• 1 litre strawberry, raspberry or lime sherbet

Optional
1½ oz. Vodka
(for an individual cocktail)

Directions
In a punch bowl, mix juices. Pour in soda water. Top with scoops of sherbet.

Makes about 16 1-cup (250 mL) servings.

For an individual cocktail, add 1½ oz. of vodka.
(Source: http://www.whattodrink.com/)

Rum Eggnog - A filling, after dinner drink

What you need: Large Rocks Glass and Shaker

Ingredients:

• 3 1/2 ounces of milk or light cream
• 1 1/2 ounces dark rum
• 2 tsp sugar syrum
• 1 egg yolk
• Grated nutmeg

Shake the ingredients together firmly, with the ice, in the shaker and strain into the glass. Sprinkle a little grated nutmeg on top.
(Source: The Bartenders Guide, Peter Bohrmann)

The Classic Shirley Timple - Non-Alcoholic Drink
(Side note: We served this for a friend that was prego at the time of our Christmas Party. This made her feel like she was part of the party without the alcohol.)

• 1 1/2 oz cherry juice
• 3/4 oz lemon juice
• Ginger ale for topping up
• Garnish: 1 slice of lemon and 2 maraschino cherries

Pour the juices into the glass over ice cubes. Stir, top up with Ginger Ale, and stir again. Perch the slice on lemon on the rim of the glass and fasten the cherries to it with a toothpick.
(Source: The Bartenders Guide, Peter Bohrmann)

Please don't drink and drive this holiday season. Get a designated driver. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Share some of your favorite drink recipes!

DIY Kids Christmas Party - Polar Express Pajama Party

It's that time of year to spread the Christmas cheer. For me, Christmas always reminds me of my childhood and it throws me back into my reading class when the librarian would always read The Polar Express. Every year, I hoped that I would get the bell, but unfortunately I never did! ha

If you are looking for a fun and easy way to keep your kids and their friends entertained then The Polar Express Pajama Party is the way to go! I had 21 kids entertained for 3 hours. Don't let me lie here - I never sat down and was constantly going until I was told it was the end of the party. I heard rave reviews about how much fun the kids had and how they want to do it again and that is what it is all about - Having fun! Read below to find out how you can throw your own

1. First go to this link to download the complete party kit. This includes coloring pages, wordsearch, recipes, train tickets, etc. Wonderful resource.

2. Set up the room to look like a train in a few rows. I bought a train whistle to sound like the train was boarding. The kids loved this. It was also my way to have them listen when they needed to be quiet.

3. Set up different stations - Letters to Santa, Arts and Crafts, Cookie decorating, coloring, etc.

4. Wear your pjs and encourage everyone attending to wear them too. Read the book to the kids and ask them questions throughout.

5. Rent the movie as well, but be careful, sometimes the kids get scared on some moments.

6. Station Time!

7. Serve hot cocoa

8. Have a snowball fight with marshmallows! They love this and it does not hurt! They can also play The Conductor says instead of Simon Says.

9. Give them bells at the end of the party simliar to the bell that the boy gets in the book. They love them.

10. Have fun! You are not having fun then why should the kids?

See some photos from the event. Raw images.

All Aboard The Polar Express!

We gave them yellow tickets and hole punched them like Tom Hanks did in the movie. They loved that!

Group Shoot of The Polar Express Pajama Group

Cookie Decorating Station

Letters to Santa Station

Arts and Crafts for the young kids
Oriental Trading

Rudolf The Red Nose Reindeer

(How to's in the Party Kit mentioned above)