Harry Potter Party Candy Buffet

This handsome "Harry Potter" turned 7 years old! 

So naturally we had a Harry Potter birthday party complete with "Honeydukes" like candy buffet. Harry Potter fans will be familiar with the candy choices...

Bite - size Basilisks - sour gummy worms

Golden Snitches - Ferraro Rocher chocolates

Licorice Wands - Twizzlers

Free Dumbledore Quote Prints found here -

Harry Potter Quote Printables

Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans - Jelly Beans from Sam's Club

Chocolate Frogs - melted chocolate in a frog mold

Dementor Defense Chocolate - Hershey's nuggets

The frog mold I used for the chocolate frogs can be purchased here - 

Chocolate Frog Mold

Hogwarts Banner can be purchased here -

Hogwarts Banner

A Fall Bridal Shower

 I have always wanted to put together a floral arrangement inside of a pumpkin and my friend Jenni's bridal shower was the perfect excuse to finally create one! We kept the decor and colors simple, using pumpkins and candlelight to create great ambience - along with a few engagement pictures of the happy couple. Brunch food was served - including sausage balls, mini quiche, fruit and vegetables, mini orange muffins, and a few other delectable dishes.

We're so happy for you Jenni!

A Princess Party

The Dessert Table

Cute pictures of the birthday girl by B.E. Photography!

Subway Art Printable courtesy of eighteen25 can be found here.

Pink marshmallows, frosted animal crackers, white Hostess donuts, and pink wafer cookies dipped in white chocolate were the desserts offered (in addition to the White Chocolate Raspberry cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes).

Table centerpieces

Princess Fruit Wands :) 

This party was a Ladies Luncheon, so for lunch we had:

Chicken Caesar Sandwiches

Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches for the littles

Fruit Wands (seen above)

Chips

Strawberry yogurt

Pink Lemonade

A Backyard Wedding Reception

I served Strawberry Lemonade, Water, and Lime Slush (partial picture in the left corner). 

The Lime Slush was the favorite beverage and went fast! 

Fruit Salad - 

Watermelon, strawberries, grapes, pineapple, blueberries, blackberries

Vegetable Tray with Lighthouse Ranch Dip

Santa Fe Tortilla Wraps with Salsa

Creamy Jalapeño Dip with chips 

(recipe provided by the bride's mother)

Bacon Jalapeño Cheeseball with crackers

I made a homemade popcorn bar (a favorite treat for the bride and groom) as a treat or take-home favor for the reception guests. I was in love with the quote by Charles Schultz, "Love is sharing your popcorn." I served 3 different kinds of popcorn: Cinnamon Bun Popcorn, Kettle Corn (sugar was dyed pink to add some color), and Herb Parmesan Popcorn (not pictured).

I provided small cellophane bags with clothespins for guests to package up their popcorn. 

(seen on the right of the Kettle Corn jar)

A Bow Tie Baby Boy Shower

The theme for my sister's baby boy shower was bow ties with turquoise and gray colors. This "How to Tie a Bow Tie: A Gentleman's Guide" sign was perfect for our shower favor table. 

The menu included: 

Stuffed mushrooms (a request of the mommy-to-be)

Asian Spinach Chicken Salad

Hot Jalapeño Popper Dip

Mini pumpkin pies

assorted cookie and brownie treats (brought by my sister's best friend)

apples and caramel dip

Chili's chips and salsa (a Shumway family party staple!)

The adorable bow tie cookies my sister's best friend brought!

The Lime Slush punch decorated with a big bow tie

Mini homemade pumpkin pies (my Grandmother's pie recipe). 

My sister had pie at her wedding instead of wedding cake, 

so it was appropriate that we had pie, instead of cake, at her baby shower too!

Cute fabric bow ties made by my other sister, Natalie.

The giant tissue bow ties hanging from the chandelier were SO easy to make and made such an impact! They are made similar to tissue pom poms but you just don't fluff them as much. 

The favor table - we made Chocolate Chex Caramel Crunch Mix (a huge favorite!) and packaged in cellophane bags with satin ribbon. The tassel garlands were made by my sister's best friend. 

My Sister's Wedding Reception

My sister's wedding reception was held outside, in a friend's backyard, in the middle of July. This created some challenges with keeping food cold and free from flies! The colors of the wedding reception were orange/coral with small accents of turquoise.

Strawberry Lemonade, Lemon -Limeade, Ice Water

Lemon Brownies

Roasted Potato Bites

Antipasto Skewers

Warm Italiano Dip - cream cheese covered in pesto, chopped tomatoes, and parmesan cheese and then warmed in the oven. Served with crackers and french bread slices for dipping.

Fruit Salad

Plates, forks, napkins kept in an open decorative trunk to keep them from blowing away in the West Texas wind!

* One dish we served is not pictured here - Marinated and grilled chicken skewers with cilantro - peanut dipping sauce. It was the last dish to be placed on the food buffet and was not photographed.

My sister chose to have wedding pie instead of wedding cake!

Small Family Wedding Reception

Flower centerpiece with lemons  - arranged by Nicole Davis

Buffalo Wild Wings selection of the couples favorite wings

The wedding cake table