Pinterest Saturday: Parties!

This upcoming week - on the 21st - I will celebrate my 30th birthday. There is a lot of emotion that comes from this big birthday, but for now, all I can think is CELEBRATION! So this weeks Pinterest Saturday is all about Parties!

Enjoy the inspiration!

And as always, if you'd like to follow along with me, you can do so at pinterest.com/mrsmandi. Or if you'd like an invite to see what all the buzz is about, just message me and I'll send you an invitation!

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See those amazing streamers overhead? They are $1 tablecloths from the Dollar Store. What a big statement for so little money!

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A Smore Bar! We had one of these at our wedding. Our wasn't nearly as fancy though. Oh Pinterest, why weren't you around five years ago?

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A pretty, rustic set up.

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Cute Birthday Subway Art available on Etsy.

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A Tween Pamper Party!

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A Book Exchange Party

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My sister-n-law LOVES the Princess in the Pea. This party theme is right up her ally!

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A Favorite Things Party. I so want to do this with my friends!

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Pretty cake pop place cards.

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Night Owl Pajama Party. How cute!

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Such fun invitations!!

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A Glamping Birthday Party

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Aloha Party

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One of the cutest Pirate Birthday Cakes I ever did see!

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A cute way to display plastic silverware.

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Genius way to create ice cubes for the punch!

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Birthday Traditions

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Birthday Card Keeper

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Hello cute cake! Yum!

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A Pink Crab Party! This is one of my most favorite themes!!


I have three boards dedicated to Parties - my Parties board, Cupcake Birthday Party board and my First Birthday Bash board. For more inspiration, also check out my board dedicated to Tablescapes so you can always have a fantastic looking get-together. And when you need a few pictures to spark your creativity with cute confections, take a peek at my Cupcakes and Cakes board. Plus I have a board dedicated to Invitations and Paper Pretties. You cannot believe some of the cute things that people have done! Love it!!

Splish Splash

I've mentioned before that Friday night is Craft Night with my friend, Christine. This girl needs to start a blog. Seriously, you'd flip for what she creates and decorates. She's amazing.

A scene from Craft Night - Paints, Art Supplies, Tulle, My Laptop, Beverages, Snacks and the Baby Monitor. We're all set! 

So, a couple of weeks ago, I decided to personalize this little bucket that I snagged for Aubrey at the Target Dollar Spot when we were in Pennsylvania for Christmas. It was only 50 cents and I wish I had bought quiet a few more!

I decided to use it to put in Aubrey's bathtub toys. She love playing in the tub but because we aren't living at home, I can't quiet keep all her toys in the bathroom like it would make sense to do.  So, instead, every night I bring them back and forth from her room to the bathroom. This little bucket just makes that process cuter.

I cut the vinyl using my Cricut Expression and adhered the words "Splish Splash". I think it turned out pretty cute!

Here is a picture of Aubrey because I just can't get enough of her!


And yes, I am one obsessive momma because I dry each and every toy before putting it in the bucket so that they won't mildew or have stinky water collecting in the bottom of the bucket. I am that mom - always have been, probably always will be. :)

Weight Watchers Mini Cheesecakes

Weight Watchers Mini Cheesecake Recipe (3 P+)

These little beauties were my treat that I brought to our Play Group on Valentine's Day. There are about six  mommies who get together and three of us happen to be on Weight Watchers. So, I decided to bring this Weight Watcher version of mini cherry cheesecakes. They were delish and at just 3 P+, they were easy on the our waistlines too. Here is the recipe if you'd like to make them too!






First, crush graham crackers until you make crumbs. You need 3/4 of a cup. Add 2 Tablespoons of melted light butter (or margarine). I mixed it all in the bag so that it would be easy clean up - just throw away the bag!

Spoon 1 Tablespoon of graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of a lined muffin tin. These are NOT mini-muffin tins but rather regular sized muffin tins. Press crumbs into the bottom of the liners. 

Separate two eggs and set aside the egg whites. (Yes, you are counting three egg yolks. I goofed but caught myself before actually adding the extra egg white to my recipe.)

Beat 2/3 cup of light cream cheese with 6 Tablespoons of fat free cream cheese until fluffy. Add in egg whites, 3 Tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 1/2 cup of sugar and 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla. Blend until smooth.

Pour equal amounts of filling onto graham cracker crusts. I used 1/8 measuring cup and what was left over was portioned equally into the cups. 

Bake at 375 F for 15 minutes and then let cool.

Top with 1 Tablespoon of light cherry pie filling. Eat and enjoy! One cheesecake is 3 Points Plus! Yum!!

And just for fun, here is a picture of me in my Valentine's Day get up. Any excuse for an at-home mommy to get dressed up is a win in my book! ;) 


*Complete recipe at the bottom of the post. 

Mini Cherry Cheesecakes


2 Tablespoons Light Butter
3/4 Cup Graham Cracker Crumbs
2/3 Cup of Light Cream Cheese
6 Tablespoons of Fat Free Cream Cheese
2 Egg Whites
3 Tablespoons of Fresh Lemon Juice
1 1/2 Teaspoons Vanilla 
1/2 Cup Sugar
3/4 Cup Light Fruit Pie Filling, Cherry

• Place 12 cupcake liners in a cupcake pan. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  
• In a small bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and butter; mix well. Spoon 1 tablespoon of crumb mixture into bottom of each liner and press down gently; refrigerate until ready to use.
  
• In a medium bowl, using an electric mixer, beat both types of cream cheese until fluffy. Add lemon juice, egg whites, vanilla extract and sugar; beat until smooth.
  
• Spoon cream cheese mixture evenly into muffin liners; bake until set, about 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool.
  
• Top each cheesecake with 1 tablespoon cherry pie filling. Yields 1 cheesecake per serving.

Aubrey's Play Yard

While we live at my inlaws home while ours is being renovated, we've had to come up with some creative solutions for our ever growing little girl. For most of her life (until she was 9 months old), she shared a room with her Daddy and I. Then my sister-n-law moved out and Aubrey was moved into her old room. But, it was still not a space for her to daily play. Grandma long before had become creative and used a kiddie pool to contain Aubrey's toys...and Aubrey! It worked wonderfully until Aubrey started standing up and then the pool became unsafe for her.

We then graduated to a play yard. This worked so great for a few months but again, Aubrey was growing bigger and was practicing her walking skills.

The set up in the middle of the living room. We later cut the mats down around the play yard and filled the gaps inside the play space.

Last week we added more panels to the play yard, some new mats, and created a nice, big space for Aubrey to play in. It's WONDERFUL. She just plays and plays and plays. She truly loves it in there.


Here are some photos of her current play yard and a little personalization project I did to help make the space more "her." (I apologize for the lighting and quality. They were taken with my iPhone at night. Unfortunately, there was no way to photograph the play yard in the day light without it looking a wreck. :) )

I purchased these buckets at the dollar store. There were only two white ones though so I'm on the lookout for one more to complete the set.

I set up my Cricut Expression and began cutting out some vinyl letters for Aubrey's buckets. I used the font "Pharmacy".

This bucket says "Aubrey" with butterfly's before and after her name. Unfortunately it was really hard to get a shot of the entire name. 

"Toys" with stars before and after the word. 

Aubrey's Play Yard Set Up. We moved the couch and love seat to accommodate they play yard. It now takes up the back half of the living room. It's in a perfect nook! And yes, her grandparents are amazing for suggesting we create this space for Aubrey and for giving up so much of the living room for her.

If you happen to purchase these panels, the instructions will tell you that you cannot set up a square/rectagnle with them as having the panels not on an angle will make it much more wobbly. And while we found this to be the case, the play yard is supported on each side by walls, side tables, a couch and a love seat. My welder Father-in-Law is also in the process of fashioning stability bars to also add strength. Aubrey hasn't had any issues and she generally never hangs on the walls anyways, but we certainly want this to be a safe place for her.

Hooray for having a place that my kiddo can have a blast in so mommy can get a few things done during the day!