Cinco de Mayo Mother's Day BBQ @ mi casa!!

My Mom called me a few weeks ago and out of nowhere suggested that I have a 'Cino de Mayo' themed 3rd Birthday Party for my twins...random LOL. I love my Mom and that was a first, so I decided to surprise her with her own idea for Mother's Day. Luckily I was able to keep the surprise, and it was great because my husbands family came for the BBQ too so we could spend the day with both of our Mom's.  However...my poor Mom came down with the Flu and missed her party in the end. She felt really bad, so I might just do this again for her next year :)

I made some mexican food for the BBQ of course: a version of pork carnitas, tortillas, chicken fajitas, sour cream rice and corn (sooo good!), nachos, guacamole, salsa and cheese con queso.  For drinks: Jarritos Soda (which I tracked down at Hernadez Variety in the City - the ONLY Mexican variety store I could track down...I waited outside for them to open Saturday morning!), Coronas and margaritas.

I had planned on making Mexican wedding cookies, churros and Mexican chocolate cupcakes until my oven quit as I was gathering my ingredients together. So with "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" in mind...I headed out to Loblaws and  our local Gluten-free/Vegan bakery and picked up an assortment of cupcakes (which my husband, the girls and I also ate for breakfast the next morning..LOL..you only live once!)

I had this "Cupcake Cantina" in mind, from a photo on Pinterest that I came across. I had already picked up the table cloth at Homesense a few weeks ago, and I threw the whole thing together in a half hour or so. It was very cold and windy that day, so it was tricky to keep it all together.  I purchased easel and canvas at the dollar store and painted "Cupcake Cantina" on the front. I had one of my previous students make the fondant sombreros and moustaches for me (thanks Nicole!) they looked adorable. The cupcake flavours were red velvet, lemon drop and caramel (from Loblaws and they were equally delicious to the ones from the bakery),  vanilla bean, strawberry banana and chocolate avocado.  There are also a few mini cheesecakes with glazed strawberries. I would of loved to add some churros with caramel and chocolate dipping sauce...I think I'll take a swing at that recipe in the next few weeks (I'll post photos when I do).

<---- My Man cooking chicken and pork on the BBQ

Jarritos Soda...was definitely a hit with guests

One of the pintas, I also purchased another that looked like a sombero. Loved them! And my kids were totally excited to break the candy out of it of course.

My baby who kept trying to eat the pintata candy no matter how many times she was told NO-NO :)


HERE IS THE LINK TO MY CINCO DE MAYO IDEA BOARD ON PINTEREST! http://pinterest.com/jadorepinot/cinco-de-mayo-mothers-day-party/
YOU'LL FIND RECIPES, DRINKS AND PARTY DECOR
MUCHOS GRACIAS FOR CHECKING OUT MY BLOG XO

Cinco de Mayo Mother's Day Party - Inspiration

Invitation?

 I came up with this idea, well no...I was given this idea by MY Mom..but she thought I should do it for my twins upcoming birthday party! A Cinco de Mayo Party! I hope she will be surprised when she comes for Mother's day this year!

Vegetarian Nachoes

YES - this is going to make great photos :)

So cute, I've already got the mason jars!

Since everything else is laid back - I think I'll order a special cake for all the "Moms" coming - now to choose what cake flavours!

These I could put together: fondant, food colouring, a batch of swiss meringue buttercream and gluten free cupcakes!

Easter Peeps!

{Easter weekend was busy and my family and I made lots of great memories}  

Check out our First Annual Easter Egg Hunt. 

Don't forget to check out the matching invitations from my last post!

The morning of the Easter Egg Hunt I lost some 'steam'. It had been a long week at work and I had every intention of being prepared the night before the egg hunt but alas, I got some rest instead! So the morning of, instead of making cake pops from scratch (minimum 2.5 hours) I bought some tim-bits (doughnut holes), stuck in the candy stick, dipped in white chocolate and topped with sprinkles! (voila - cake pops in 20 minutes!)

A tip with cake pops is to dip your candy stick in chocolate before inserting into the doughnut hole (or handmade cake ball). Also, purchase some styrofoam to stick the end and sturdy the cake pop). 

Favours! I love party favours so much I think half of my pinterest boards are party favour ideas.  Easter peeps on a kabob stick, with cheveron scrapbook paper and a clear cookie bag. Super, super easy but really colourful and fun.

I love chocolate. I'd like to say "who doesn't" but I have shockingly met people who  DONT.  Seriously, unimaginable. These bird nest inspired confections are super easy to make for next Easter. Melted chocolate (I used 2 bags of foiled easter eggs, unwrapped, dropped into a microwavable safe dish, heat and stir until melted), gluten free corn flakes (my daughter is gluten intolerant) topped with mini-mini eggs (I found these at the drugstore in the candy aisle).  

Bunny Bait: mini-coloured marshmallows, Easter Peanut M&M's, white chocolate, sprinkles

To add colour to the egg hunting area - my husband and I tied balloons to golf tees and pushed them into the grass around the backyard. It adds so much colour and reminds me of big colourful Easter eggs.

Something about Easter and blowing bubbles...I think my Mom used to always put bubbles (and new pj's) in my Easter basket. I purchased mini-bubbles for all the kids, something to distract them from eating all their chocolate after the egg hunt was finished!

Thanks for stopping by! M

(Photo credits to my rockstar sister Miranda Armstrong Photography - like her on Facebook)

COMING SOON

Friends,
I haven't posted much in the past few weeks..I've been working on a 'top secret' (yes..I've told almost everyone I speak too) plan to open up my own e-shop "PARTY GIRLS COMPANY". I've been researching web designers, sourcing out vendors, and trying to really focus on my target market (duh..people who love to throw a great party!). In all seriousness though...I hope one day soon to post the link to my new shop for everyone to enjoy access to all the great party supplies there is out there.

That being said...my family is hosting our first Annual Easter Egg Hunt party next weekend and I'm thisclose into full mode party preparation. I will post the favour, menu, colour layout and plans soon! Hope everyone had a great weekend? Leave any messages after the post~ FYI the invitation is from a lovely shop on Etsy, let me know if you'd like there info!

Melissa xo

Party Girls: "Hoppy Easter" Party for Kids!

Party Girls: "Hoppy Easter" Party for Kids!: I'm inspired to throw an Easter Party for my girls and some of their little friends. After doing some searching for invitations, de...

"Hoppy Easter" Party for Kids!

I'm inspired to throw an Easter Party for my girls and some of their little friends. After doing some searching for invitations, decor, food and party ideas I realized I LOVE EASTER!  I love the pastel and punchy pink, yellow, lilac, green and blue shades, the sweetness of little fuzzy pink and white bunnies, and of course...chocolate.

Adorable! And seems pretty easy to pull off!

Sweets and treats - carrots and dip to round it off? :)

I have a small dresser that I will paint to pull this off..what a great idea. Fill up the drawer with Easter grass then place Whoppers or jelly bean eggs on top. I have the perfect sugar cookie recipe from Confetti Cakes to make the cookies. I may even bake off an extra cookie for each kid coming so they can decorate their own. The top I can fill with dishes of sprinkles and little icing bags filled with coloured royal icing.

Easter Egg Decorating: pick up a water proof table cloth, paint brushes, and edible food colouring and place in decorative containers. Use tiny plastic champagne glasses for the food colouring.  About 3 eggs per child should be perfect. I think even some cute jewelled stickers would look great for decorating the eggs.

I found this on the blog "Housewife on Fire". It's tiny cheddar crackers placed in a a triangle baggie, tied with green ribbon and when placed in grass it looks like carrots in the garden. You can find this artificial grass at dollar stores.

I know this banner says Happy Birthday LOL. I like the colours and think I'll make one that says "Easter Fun" or "Happy Easter"

Need to still find a healthier version of a kids' punch recipe

Again, "Housewife on Fire" - no doubt! What an imagination. I LOVE this and I know the twins will too! Plus "B" likes anything with cheese! Coloured plastic Easter eggs filled with healthy and not so healthy treats. I think I'll go with blueberries, strawberries, grapes, cheese, crackers and tiny carrot sticks.

These are metal buckets with crepe paper glued around the outside and Easter silhouettes or pictures glued to the front. I think I'll add custom name tags for each guest and tie coloured ribbons to make them a bit more 'whimsy'.

A good friend of mine just had a pinata at her son's birthday party! How much fun for Easter!  Better make those baskets a little bigger?

Here's the take home favour from the party - a chocolate initial - classic. And, I'll match the decor with some Easter paper inside the plastic bag. On the outside - "Hoppy Easter"
THANKS FOR CHECKING OUT PARTY GIRLS BLOG
MELISSA