Hitchcock's "The Birds" Themed Dinner Party

I live in a pretty small apartment. For the last 2+ years I've lived here, I've had this notion that my place is just too small for a party. Well. I've had a change of heart. It's not THAT small. And as long as I don't try to host 20 people, I can most definitely have a little party.

Since this is a very recent discovery, Halloween seemed like a perfect reason to host my first little party! If you know me, I love a good theme. I was perusing Pinterest and saw a cool horror film pin. That got the wheels turning and soon I landed on a Hitchcock's "The Birds" themed party. I figured it wasn't too terribly scary (I really don't like scary movies. At all.), it was a fun theme, and something I could do on a budget!

Budget was actually the driving force in this theme. I really didn't have room in my budget to go crazy on decorations. Everything I decorated with I either already owned or was purchased this year at the Dollar Tree and the Dollar Spot at Target. All the fake crows? Dollar Tree! They were the perfect touch for my The Birds themed dinner.

A very easy and free way to make a big impact for a theme is with free printables!. Search Pinterest and other places online and you can find free printables for nearly any occasion. If you look closely, you'll see Hitchcock pictures in the frames and spooky labels on jars. All free, all made a big impact.

To make my guests feel like they were really involved in the theme, I ordered black crow nail decals and applied them while everyone was sipping on cocktails.

Speaking of cocktails, it's not a party without a custom drink! I used this one, The Raven, based on the name, and it was actually quite delicious!

During dinner, we turned on the movie. Tippy Hedron is a total bombshell! We ended up mostly chatting over the movie and then tuning in for some of the more exciting scenes. Perhaps it's not a great idea to watch scary movies whilst eating. I'll keep that in mind for the next party I throw!

Overall, it was a fun, budget friendly evening together with girlfriends! I can't wait to throw another little gathering at my place!

If you're wondering if I wore a homemade bird nest on my head and a Hitchcock T-shirt, the answer is: Duh, of course I did.

How to be a Garage Sale Ninja

Oh, garage sales.

They’re so fun to visit, so not fun to plan and execute. First off, I will give credit to my wonderful Mother, who is the Queen of Garage Sales. Anything I put forth in this post is wisdom from my mom. 

And so, How to be a Garage Sale Ninja:

National Watermelon Day

Obscure "holidays" are the best reason to send a care package, in my opinion. It's totally unexpected and such a fun surprise for the receiver. Plus, you, as the gifter, look super clever and thoughtful, and who doesn't want that!?

Tokens of Encouragement

My friend, Lauren, has been facing some hard things lately. She's had some seemingly unsolvable health problems, and a little heartache as well. She and I are both big fans of the singer Sara Bareilles, and were both moved and inspired by the lyrics of the song "Brave". We started sending each other texts daily about being brave and working through the hard things in life. BRAVE started to become a theme for us.

Mother's Day Gifts: Care Package for Mom

With Mother's Day coming up, I couldn't wait to put together a little care package for my own mom. My mom is the queen of care packages and gift baskets. That woman can pull together the most amazing gifts that just start with one little idea. Someday I hope to be as creative as she is.

I like to start care packages with a theme, and I started off with chocolate for this one. All moms like chocolate, right? I found some chocolate bars and chocolate tea at Cost Plus World Market and paired those with my mom's favorite shortbread cookies. "It's Okay, It's Organic" is a great excuse for any indulgence! A cute mug that says "Good Morning" is the perfect accessory.

I found a perfect chocolate soap from Rose City Soap to go along with the edible chocolate. It smells divine. I'm not usually a fan of "smelly" soaps, but this is different. It smells great and I know my mom will love it. Rose City Soap is a local Portland company that sells soaps and candles, and everything I've tried is wonderful.

One thing that so great about my mom is that she's ALWAYS willing to listen to my problems. We talk on the phone at least 5 times a day and she knows the ins and outs of all of my drama. My mom also loves gossip magazines! I included a new magazine so she can catch up on drama other than mine.

And the quintessential gift for any mom? A picture of her favorite person! That's you! Bonus points if you throw a grandchild into the picture!