* THE COUNTRY CHIC COTTAGE (DIY, Home Decor, Crafts, Farmhouse): parties

Showing posts with label parties. Show all posts

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Bonfire Football Party #hometailgate @aptguide

9:44 AM Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage 1 comment

Remember when I did my post on planning my home tailgate bonfire? Well with all of the homemade gifts, etc this month, I never got around to updating y'all. We had a fabulous time! I thought I would give y'all a peek into the party. We started with a bonfire with hot dogs, hot chocolate, and smores. Here I am having a great time -- and yes that is proper attire for a bonfire in November. :)

We had the neighborhood over to visit, eat, and watch a little football. Once the game started, we had even more food and fun in the house. I snapped a few pics as I was setting up the food...

I bought a tan tablecloth. Then hunted down this vintage goodness at an antique store. You know I had to do a touch of vintage for the party...

I just used small pumpkins and gourds for decor...

One of my fave things was what I did on the eating tables. I spread out brown kraft paper with a paper garland down the center. A few faux pumpkins and gourds for the centerpiece. Then I laid out tons of markers...

The perfect activity for the kids that were not at all interested in the football game...

It kept them occupied plus I got to look at the fabulous artwork...

Plus of couse the kids got into the football theme also...free decor for our party!

I hosted this party with the help of the Apartment Guide. Yes you can use the Apartment Guide to find an apartment but you can also use their resources to get decor and entertaining ideas. Stay updated by following Apartment Guide on twitter and facebook.

Many thanks to the Apartment Guide for sponsoring this post and helping me to throw my home tailgate bash!
Linking up my kid's tablescape to Centsational Girl.

~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

Party Planning -- Home Tailgate Party #hometailgating

2:14 PM Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage 2 comments

I had some time last night so I started my party planning for the home tailgating party! If you missed my post, the Apartment Guide asked me to blog about tailgating at home by having a tailgate party at my home. Also, if you missed it there is a $100 American Express gift card giveaway from the Apartment Guide for YOU! Low entries so add your comment!

Now onto the planning! I started on the Apartment Guide...they have a great blog where you can find information about living in your space...any space. For instance, I found a great article with tips for hosting your own game day bash. Perfect information for my home tailgate bash! Plus the Apartment Guide had even more tips to keep your guests happy and comfortable in your home. I always want to keep my guests comfortable and keeping this in mind when planning a party is a great idea. I then looked into the menu tips. They even included how to calculate how much meat you will need per person -- gotta love that! I never want to run out of food at one of my parties! Heck the Apartment Guide even had fall decorating ideas perfect for whether you are throwing a party or not.

What was my next step in planning?? Off to Pinterest of course. I created a Home Tailgate Party Pinterest inspiration board...go on over and check it out...

After compiling the board, I have decided on a bonfire with possibly a hayride. The theme will be football with a fall decor touch. Some of my favorite items found on pinterest include these invitations...

from The Party Dress

These cupcakes are absolutely amazing...

from The Baker Chick

I think this seating for a bonfire would be amazing!!

from Intimate Weddings

Food inspiration via Pinterest...even how to display the food....

from Better Homes and Gardens

Of all the tables I pinned, I think this one is my fave...

from Good Housekeeping

So now all that is left is to put my plans into action! I will keep y'all posted! In the meantime, check out Apartment Guide on twitter and facebook.

Apartment Guide is owned by Consumer Source, Inc. Apartment Guide partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Tailgating at Home” Blogger Challenge. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used for the “Tailgating at Home” Blogger Challenge. Apartment Guide and Consumer Source believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

The Country Chic Cottage

Tailgating at Home with $100 Gift Card Giveaway!! #hometailgate

7:23 PM Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage 93 comments

I am participating in the Apartment Guide's Tailgating at Home Blogger Challenge! That means fun for me and YOU! So get your typing fingers ready cause there is a super giveaway at the end of this post!

Do you know what the Apartment Guide is??

Whether you are living, looking, or moving, Apartment Guide will point you in the right direction! They have tips on decorating and maximizing your home no matter where you live! Large space or small you will find something you like on the Apartment Guide! Looking for an apartment? You can find photos, floor plans, tips, plus search for available apartments. Looking for decorating or party ideas? Yep the Apartment Guide has those too! An excellent resource and website for everyone!

So back to the fun -- the Apartment Guide has asked me to host a tailgating event at my home. You don't have to go to a game or event to tailgate -- your own home will work! I will be using the resources at the Apartment Guide to help me with my party! Yes the Apartment Guide has decor ideas and entertaining guides for any occasion! We are big football fans at my house so I am thinking a fall football party. Maybe tailgating in the backyard with a bonfire. Hmmm...a bonfire does scream fall huh?? I am off to the Apartment Guide to hunt for some ideas and inspiration...more on that in a further post. I have some planning to do! And you have some entering to do!!

So are you ready to enter a great giveaway?? The Apartment Guide is giving one lucky reader a $100 AmEx gift card!! It is good for use either online or in-store!

The rules:

1) Open to US residents only.

2) Open from now until Tuesday October 25th at 11:59 CST.

3) After the winner is announced, you will have 72 hours to contact me before I pick another winner.

Entry methods:

1) MANDATORY: Leave a comment on this post telling me what type of tailgating party YOU would throw this fall at your home.

2) Follow the Apartment Guide on Twitter. Leave me a comment below telling me you do.

Twitter tip: Looking for a new place? Use the #OfficeHours hashtag on Twitter and Apartment Guide can help you narrow down your apartment search.

3) Like the Apartment Guide on Facebook. Leave me a comment below telling me you do.

Facebook tip: Search for available apartments right within Apartment Guide’s Facebook page on the Search AG tab, and search for apartments with your Facebook friends by using the Search with Friends application on ApartmentGuide.com.

That's it!! Up to 3 entries per person!! Good Luck!!

Apartment Guide is owned by Consumer Source, Inc. Apartment Guide partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Tailgating at Home”Blogger Challenge. As part of that program, I received compensation. They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used for the “Tailgating at Home” Blogger Challenge. Apartment Guide and Consumer Source believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. Consumer Source’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

~Good Luck!~

~Angie~

Kids Birthday Party Ideas -- for my Tween!

7:53 PM Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage 4 comments

We had the preteen birthday bash this past weekend! Thought I would give y'all a peek! Maybe you can get some kids birthday party ideas from this! We kept our decorations simple -- tweens are too old for themed decor -- or mine is! So we went with colors as our theme!

I just used styrofoam balls and tissue paper to make up these large pom poms!! Love the two hanging from the light!! Then I added two more on either side of the window!

Our colors were pink, green, orange, and touches of blue! They all worked together really well! The colors came off of some polka dotted plates I found at the store...she loved em...I loved em...that is a win win!

We took crepe paper streamers and cut them into squares. I then strung the squares on fishing line!!

You need an entire movie to watch while you do this...but it looks AMAZING!! This is definitely an idea to get away from plain, boring crepe paper streamers!!

We found very little blue at the store in the shade she wanted so this large pom pom will have to do! :)

I always use the treat bags as part of the decor. Let's face it...if they are not out where I can see them I will forget to give em out! :)

For the centers of the tables I dressed up my milk glass!! Using smaller styrofoam balls and different colors of tissue paper, I made pom poms.

I actually used a drop or two of hot glue to make sure they stayed on the vases...

Okay I like the presents to match the decor...I am crazy like that...

I always make our cakes. The napkins can be seen on the left...the cake was made to look like those and the plates.

Overall we had a blast!! And got to blow out 11 candles!! :)

Posted at Show and Tell on Romantic Home.

Posted at Frugal Friday on Shabby Nest.

Linking to Catch as Catch Can on My Repurposed Life.

Posted at friday fun finds on kojo designs.

Posted at Frugalicious Friday on Finding Fabulous.

Posted at Friday Favs on Naptime Crafters.
Posted at Feature Yourself Friday on Fingerprints on the Fridge.

~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

How to Make Skull and Crossbones Pirate Birthday Party Hats DIY Tutorial

6:19 PM Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage 1 comment

Are you ready to make your own pirate hats?? They are easy and fun!

I used this hat we had in our dress up play box as my pattern...

I think the original is made from felt. I had this courdory in my stash. But I had to use a TON of lint roller sheets...grins...so you might want to buy felt! :)

I traced my hat on the fold we chalk. So you can do to half circles on the fold and it will be perfect! (Check out that lint would ya???)

Then cut it out...don't cut your fold! :)

Turn wrong side out and sew all the way around your big circle. Turn right side out and sew biased tape on the small circle...

Now for the skull and crossbones. I used my silouette to cut out a stencil. Using tape to secure my middle pieces...

It took two coats of paint to get them to look like this. I put a piece of card stock under my piece to prevent any bleed through...

Another couple of coats would have made them appear whiter. I convinced myself they looked scarier like this! :) After 8 or so you will convince yourself of the same thing...

I bought the matching eye patches at the store....

Aarrggghhh..what a great time! :) If you missed my pirate party head on over there now and check out all the pirate goodies! :) Now if you are tired of pirate posts, I promise this is the last one!

Posted at Show and Tell on Blue Cricket Design.

Posted at Whatever Goes Wednesday on Someday Crafts.
Posted at What I Whipped Up Wednesday on Sugar and Dots.
Posted at Good Life Wednesdays on A Beach Cottage.
Posted at the boy party on 733.
~Thanks for stopping by!~

~Angie~

Skull and Crossbones Pirate Birthday Party

7:11 PM Angie @ The Country Chic Cottage 6 comments

Skull and crossbones pirate party time! We had a boy turning 6 that is infatuated with skulls and crossbones. Bring on the pirate fun!!

We had to have a treasure chest centerpieces surrounded by pirate goodie bags...

And yes there is gold treasure in that chest...

I found napkins, plates, etc on line. However I could not find somethings. So I made them! Plain white table cloths became pirate themed with a stamp and some ink...