My Sugar Sweet 27th Birthday Party

A month ago I celebrated my 27th birthday with a super fun Sugar Sweet Birthday Party. Armed with my pinterest board and list of tutorials, I created a DIY party that would satisfy any sweet tooth! I unfortunately had a really bad cold that day, which turned out to be sinusitis (and left me in bed for a week!) but I had SO MUCH fun planning this party and celebrating!

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I bought some pink balloons and made them into donuts using this tutorial. I painted the sprinkles on instead of using tissue paper to save some time. The balloons were a huge hit. Everyone loved them and was amazed by the shape, and that I made them myself!

We have some hooks in our living room that the previous homeowners had left, so I hung up some lanterns and a disco ball. The party never transitioned into a dance party like I had hoped, but since I was super sick, I didn't really mind that.

Over the fireplace, I hung a DIY tassle garland. It was super easy to make and added a fun touch.

And what's a Sugar Sweet party without a candy bar?! I kept mine small since there weren't any kids, and I knew my friends wouldn't be eating too much candy. I still have a lot left! To create your own dollar store candy bar, check out my tutorial.

I loved making this donut platter.  It was a super fun and easy tutorial, and the tray can be used again and again.

We rimmed some champagne glasses with sprinkles and added some cotton candy for a cute and a tasty beverage! Just pour some champagne over the cotton candy and enjoy.

I made the festive 27 using sprinkles, mod podge, and cardboard numbers from the craft store. Everyone thought they were edible cookies!

For some fun, we played drinking games using these donut playing cards. How stinking cute are these?!

To add some color to the walls, I hung up paper fans all around the house. We don't really have much artwork up yet, so this helped make the room more festive. It also ended up being a great photobooth backdrop!

I also got these inflatable ice cream cones that served as decor and photobooth props. They were inexpensive and well worth it! To set up the photobooth, I propped up my camera on my tripod and we hit the timer button.  I really wish my clicker had arrived in time!

I had a really great birthday, despite being so so sick. I just love planning parties! 

Be sure to follow my Sugar Sweet Party Pinterest board for more great ideas!

How NOT to Tell People You're Engaged

Welcome to Wedding Wednesdays! I figured I'd do something a little different this week and talk about our engagement story. This weekend marks my 5th anniversary with John, so it’s a good time to share the story, don'tcha think? Even though I had been politely asking (nagging) him for quite some time, I honestly had NO idea it was coming! Here's how it went down.

My foxy fiance, John, and I went to Chicago in October for Blythecon. The night before we left, we had the inspection for the house we put an offer on and eventually purchased. We were super excited about this next stage of home ownership, so that was all we could talk about. 

Once we arrived in Chicago, we planned to meet up with some friends before Blythecon. I was gathering up all my stuff to bring, and there was a lot (my camera, a jacket, 7 dolls!). Since I'm weak, I figured it would make sense to split the stuff I was bringing and have John carry half in his backpack. I picked up his bag and before I could even open the zipper, John came over. He was super defensive about his backpack, and insisted that I carry my stuff in my own bag, which I could then pass to him once I "really couldn't carry it anymore". Mhm, ok jerk... Turns out, the ring was in his backpack and he didn't want me to see it!

Me and John with the dolls he got me.

The next day was Blythecon, which was a super long day at the gorgeous Bridgeport Art Center. We were wandering around at all the sales tables, and I found a doll I liked. John asked if I wanted her, and I wasn't sure between her and another doll. For those that don't know, Blythe dolls, especially at the convention, aren't cheap. These aren't $20 Barbie dolls! So when John offered to buy me both, I was over the moon. He really doesn't buy me doll items, so when he does, I cherish them. As we walked away from the table, he told me I better like it because he wasn't going to ever buy me anything again. I told him I was super happy and that if he wanted to, he could just propose to me with the doll instead of buying a ring. He chuckled and said something like, "yea, right" and we went back to our table. Up until this point he was going with the whole "I'm not ready for marriage" lie.

John having oh-so much fun at Blythecon.

After a long day at Blythecon, we headed back to the hotel to drop off our stuff. John was trying to find a nice restaurant for us, but I'm a super picky eater. None of the nice restaurants had anything I liked, so he suggested Fridays and I got a little too excited. We went to Fridays and watched the Mets game, then headed back before it ended. Dinner went quickly, but I figured we were just tired.

Back at the hotel, we were sitting on the bed watching the end of the Mets game, and John started his speech. I can't remember exactly what he said but it was something like this.
John: "You know I love you, right?"
Me: "Yea."
J: "And you know I can't imagine my life without you, right?"
Me: (Semi-apathetically because he says that a lot) "Yea, where are you going with this?"
J: Chuckles nervously and reaches for the nightstand.
Me, in my head: What is he reaching for?? Is he going to ask me? Am I going crazy? Oh, he's not reaching for the nightstand, he's reaching for the remote. Well that's embarrassing. STOP BEING CRAZY CATHY!

At this point, he turns off the TV (huge deal, because it was the playoffs game for the World Series) and then opens the nightstand. He pulls out a little box and goes down on one knee and I am in complete shock. He asked me to marry him and I couldn't utter a word. Nothing was in my head, except racing thoughts that I had to say something, anything. All that I could squeak out was "Are you serious?" and he replied with a smile "No, it's just an elaborate joke." After staring at him for what seemed like an eternity (with my mind reminding me I needed to speak!), I finally said yes.

Selfie sticks for the win!

I thought I would cry when I got engaged, but I couldn't because I was in complete shock. My body was on fire and I was shaking. John seriously thought I was going to pass out. I really wanted to call my parents and tell them, but John said that in an effort to keep it a total surprise, he didn't tell anyone about his plans. So, for a few days, it was our little secret. 

When we got back to NY, we went to dinner with my parents and I decided the way I wanted to tell them was to give them the whole long elaborate story before sneaking in the news to surprise them. Take my advice... that is not the best way to do it! When I finally got to that part, it seemed so nonchalant that they didn't believe me for a minute.  They kept asking if I was joking and after we insisted we weren't, it finally sunk in. My mom was so excited about it, but my dad and sister were still in shock until the next day. When we told John's mom, she was super excited and kept saying "I knew it!"

The bed in the hotel room where we got engaged!

It's now been over 7 months that John and I have been engaged, and we are just starting to make headway on our wedding planning. We can get this wedding thing done in only a year, right?! After spending about 2 months disagreeing about where we should get married, we finally seem to be on the same page about geographical location. Now we just need to pick a venue and set a date! I know our guests are probably anxious to find out.

Was your engagement a surprise, or did you see it coming? I want to know! 

How to Organize on a Dime

Let's be honest- organizing can be expensive! All those pretty organizers can add up, especially when you've got a lot of ground to cover. Fortunately, there are a lot of affordable solutions to help get your home organized without having to dip into your kids' tuition money. Best of all- it's simple!

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1. Check out the thrift store. I've stumbled across some awesome storage solutions at the thrift store. I bought this drawer organizer from the Thrift store for just a few dollars. Keep an open mind, and try to think of alternative uses for items.

2. Go dumpster diving. Sometimes I go to throw something away, but I almost feel guilty to do so. I have a clear zippered pouch from a sheet set I use for holding fabric that I rescued from the landfills.  I also collect small boxes from shipments that I use to organize my drawers, as well as shoe boxes.  You can turn a pasta jar into crafts storage and a cereal box into a magazine holder. The possibilities are endless!

3. Check out the sales. When you're at a store and see a great sale, this is the perfect time to grab a few containers for a rainy day. This can save you money, but it can also give you a head start when you randomly decide to start organizing one day and need a place to put things.

4. Visit the dollar store. The dollar store has lots of great stuff you can use for organizing. Very often, they'll have similar items to what you can find at another store but at a cheaper price. Don't worry if things are in a kooky color- you can spray paint anything these days!  Check out this tutorial for some advice.  And, check out this post for 100 dollar store organization finds!

5. Check Pinterest- but be specific.  A simple search can have all the answers you need, if you know what to look for.  Be specific- "how to organize fabric" will lead you to exactly what you need, whereas "Craft Storage" may lead to falling down the rabbit hole and spending the next 3 hours on Pinterest.  Whether it be a DIY project or a link to an affordable product on Amazon, Pinterest almost always has the answer.

6. Use what you have. The easiest way to save money is to not spend any at all.  Take a look around the house.  There's a good chance you're using two containers where you could be using one.  It's not organization if you're hoarding clutter, so always go through your things once a year to make sure you're not holding onto (and storing) junk.

Want more great tips? Be sure to follow my organization board on Pinterest!

What are your favorite ways to save money on organizing your home or office?

Fight Laziness Maximus... 10 Easy Ways to Get Motivated!

As a person who suffers from Laziness Maximus (that's a real thing, right?!), I've had to learn a few work-arounds to get myself to either start working on a project or to finally get it finished. It can be really difficult to find motivation when you've already got a bunch of things you're working on, or if all you want to do is relax and watch some tv. Alas, things have to get done! Here are my top tips to getting yourself pumped up and ready to tackle your tasks.

1. Start small- If you're having trouble getting started on a project, think about one step you can do right away. For example, if you need to clean the kitchen but really don't want to, start by just tossing out the mail on the counter. Just this one small step may end up getting you in the mood to clean.

2.  Get moving/play some inspiring music- Sometimes playing your favorite song and singing along can get you in a better mindset to get things done. You're much more likely to do something on your to-do list if you feel happy than if you're grumpy.

3. Write it down- For me, seeing tasks on a list and physically crossing them off when they're done feels really good! Try using a colored marker or a cute paper for the list. This (might) make it feel like less of a chore.

4. ...But don't write too many things down- I used to write really long To-Do lists because I was afraid of forgetting something. Now, I have 2 lists- the "do it now" list and the "do it later" list. This helps keep me focused and prevents me from getting overwhelmed.

5. Take a short break- this is a little bit counter-intuitive, but sometimes you just need a quick break before starting something big. Take a quick walk around the block, grab a coffee, or do some yoga to feel refreshed. Just make sure you don't end up getting even more distracted than you were before!

6. Read something inspiring- There are plenty of times that I look around my house and see clutter and think "ugh, I don't want to even think about cleaning this!" However, if I go on Pinterest and look at my organization board, I find that I start to get really excited about the idea of organizing things. Sometimes a jump-start of fresh ideas can help get those creative juices flowing.

7. Have a snack- I'm not sure about you guys, but I know that when I don't eat, I get really sluggish... and hangry! Sometimes, you lack the drive because your body lacks the fuel. Grab a quick and healthy snack, like a peanut butter and banana sandwich, a power bar, or a smoothie, and then get back to work!

8. Use your imagination- Take a second and imagine yourself having completed this project. How does it feel? Sometimes when I think about how good it'll feel when the task at hand is finally over with, I can get the quick jolt of energy to just get it done. I keep thinking of the relief I'll feel when I finally get to cross it off my to-do list!

9. Think and reflect- If there's a project I really can't get myself to do, I take a minute to think about why. Am I unsure where to start? Am I stressed out about the steps involved? Am I scared? Sometimes figuring out why you haven't done something is the best way to start.

10. Cut yourself some slack- Sometimes today is just not the day. If you find yourself struggling to begin something, it might be best to put it away for now and get something else done. Perhaps when you complete another task, you'll get the motivation to complete this task!

Looking for some more inspiration? Check out my Quotes board on Pinterest!

What do you do to get motivated? I'd love to know! 

Related: How to Organize... When you Weren't Planning To!

Easy DIY Dollar Store Candy Bar

Remember when you were a kid and you used to go in a candy store? The old-timey ones, with jars lined up along the walls of all different types of candies, sold by the pound. Your parents would hand you a bag and tell you "ok, get what you want. But not too much!" Or maybe your parents didn't trust you, so they'd ask you what you wanted and put tiny scoopfuls into the bag. Then for the next 10 hours, you were on a sugar high as you feasted on pretty much all the candy in one sitting. I loved this experience, so for my Sugar Sweet 27th birthday party, I had to have a candy bar! I wanted to do it on a budget so I could spend money elsewhere, especially since my party was all adults that don't have a big sweet tooth. I hit up my local dollar tree to find some supplies. P.S., there is some great glassware there for only a dollar!  Are you ready to make a candy bar for your next party?

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You'll need:

Candy Jars with lids (similar)
Vases or Fishbowls (similar vase and fishbowl)
Candlesticks (similar)
E6000 Glue (here)
Timer/Clock
Candy (and lots of it!) (similar here and here)
*Note: I purchased all my glass items from the Dollar Tree for only $1, but the Amazon links are for similar items

How to:

1. First off, wash and thoroughly dry your supplies. I let mine dry overnight to be safe, but a good wipe and waiting a few minutes should work just as well.

2. Using the E6000 glue, rim the perimeter of the candlestick. E6000 tends to ooze (a lot) so stop squeezing near the end of your perimeter, and store it tip-up between uses.

3. Let the glue set for 2 minutes before attaching. This is so it gets tacky and sticks well.

4. Hover the candy bowl over the candlestick and try to find the center. Place the bowl down and hold it for a few seconds so it can adhere.

5. Wait 24-48 hours for the glue to fully cure. Then, pour in your candy and enjoy!

I found that the lids for the candy bowls fit well with the vase and fishbowls, even though they were not airtight. 

Candy Tips:

-If you can, use name brand candy or something you've tried before. You don't want to get bags and bags of something that ends up tasting terrible!

-Get a mix of smaller and larger candies to create a visually appealing display.

-Pick a color scheme and stick to it. If you want to get all types of candies, then "rainbow" can be your theme. Just try not to have one candy/color that sticks out like a sore thumb.

-You'll probably need a lot more candy than you think. For most of my candies I bought 3 bags/boxes and it only fully filled one container. This wasn't a big deal to me because I had adults and figured they wouldn't be eating much candy anyway.

-Dollar store bags may be smaller than the bags from other stores, so grab the circulars and see if the candy might be cheaper elsewhere. Sometimes holiday candies go on sale, which can be great for a holiday themed party!

Do you have any tips for a candy bar on a budget? What's your favorite type of candy to put in the jars? Which is the most bang for your buck? Let me know!