Travel Memory Map DIY

This Travel Memory Map is a gift I’ve been wanting to give to Paul to keep track of our travels. I grew up in a house with a giant map on the wall of our den and love having a map around to show my kids where everything is. It’s really easy to personalize and celebrate all the places you’ve been together. I used push pins to attach mini photos of every location our family has visited around the world.  And, the best part is – we can keep adding to it and tracking our travel memories for years to come.

Materials: Spray Adhesive, Push Pins, Scissors, World Map, Large Piece of Foamcore, Printed Mini Travel Photos (Including Location Name & Date)

Step 1: Cut foamcore down so that it’s the same dimensions as your map.
Step 2: Spray the foamcore with adhesive.
Step 3: Carefully lay the map onto the foamcore. Use your hands to smooth it out so there are no wrinkles.
Step 4: Cut out the mini travel photos you’ve printed.
Step 5: Use push pins to attach the travel photos to the corresponding location on the map.
Step 6: Give to your loved one!

Photography by Sarah Hebenstreit of Modern Kids Photography for Oh Happy Day
Art Direction by Jordan Ferney
Styling by Milan Shimono Lee
Crafting by Caitlin Barker

Favorite Party Ideas This Week

1. San Francisco may not get the warmest summer weather, but that didn’t stop SFGirlByBay from hosting an awesome indoor picnic!
2. The House That Lars Built shows that flowers don’t always make the prettiest boutonnieres.
3. I love all the creative drink stick ideas from A Beautiful Mess.
4. Design*Sponge is making party decorations from things they already own.
5.  The cutest way to ask a friend to be your bridesmaid (via Ruffled.)

Donut Hole Croquembouche DIY

For the donut party we wanted to make a croquembouche inspired donut hole tower. It was so easy! (ps: This croquembouche is the most beautiful I’ve seen and has been on my mind.)  We attached donut holes with toothpicks to a cone. Then we made a few flowers out of crepe paper and wax paper to attach as decorations. The final product was the perfect centerpiece to our Fancy Donut Party. We even celebrated the festivities with a few sparklers! See full instructions below.

(more…)

5 Tips for a Quick Party Clean Up

My favorite feeling is at the end of a really great party where there is still good food around, the house is decorated and besides a few dirty dishes the house still feels really clean from the pre-party scour. I’ve also felt the opposite feeling, where I’m tired and there is Mount Kiliman-dishes piled high in my kitchen! Here are my basic tips for having a quick party clean up. (I’d love to hear what you do for a quick party clean up in the comments.)

1. Start with a Sparkly Clean House

This might seem a little obvious but it’s easier said than done. It takes some planning to prep the main dishes the day before so that the day of the party you’re starting with a clean kitchen. I even have one friend who schedules a cleaning lady to show up a few hours before her party starts so that everything is sparkly clean.

2. Rent Dishes

Most people don’t realize that renting out dishes is surprisingly affordable. Besides having enough “real” plates to serve your guests, the best part of renting dishes is you can return the dishes dirty. Seriously, you just drop them off, leftover-shrimp-tails-and-all and don’t have to lift a finger. Seems almost too good to be true.

3. Use Disposable Plates

Disposable plates used to automatically mean you were going for a casual vibe. But the last few years have brought a lot more dare-I-say “classy” options in the compostable/biodegradable plates and cups category. My favorites are Bambu Plates and Susty Party.

4. Keep the Waste Baskets in Sight

Right before a party starts I make a mental checklist of the basics: bathrooms, coats, garbage, and water to make sure I’m not forgetting anything crucial. By putting the waste baskets out your guests will know where to place their cocktail napkins etc and will cut down your clean up time. Help them, help you!

5. Send leftovers home with guests.

Have the tin foil ready or if you want to be really fancy keep these on hand for special leftover boxes.

I love working with Glad as a sponsor because their Forceflex trash bags are my favorite. (I’m not being paid to say this!) They are doing a Trim Your Waste program where readers can enter to win big.  Check it out!

This post is sponsored by Glad®. Take small steps to reduce waste and earn a chance to win big. Sign up for Glad’s Trim Your Waste program here.

photo credits: Heather Zweig / Paul Ferney for Oh Happy Day

How to throw a Fancy Donut Party

Move over cupcakes, donuts are here and it’s hard for anyone to compete with warm sugary fried bread. (I mean, have you ever put a donut in a microwave?) These delicious treats are so good they need a party all their own. Enter: a fancy donut party. This spread was very easy to put together and I like things that are easy but have a big effect. A donut bar would work great as a dessert table at a wedding or even a shower. Here is the DIY for the donut hole croquembouche. (Or for a more casual party don’t forget the Donut Tree.)

(more…)