Contest & Dr. Seuss Party Ideas & Inspiration

Contest Announcement: Did you know I am guest judging over at Maddycakes Muse?!? (love her!) She's hosting an Easter or Spring party contest - You can submit any Easter or Spring theme inspired party (flowers, bees, bugs, birds, butterflies, frogs, ladybugs, chicks, tea parties, etc...you get it right??) for a chance at 3 prizes totally over $400!!! Head over there now!


...on to parties! Dr. Seuss's bday is March 2 so here is some inspiration you can use to party with or even just add a little frosting to your family's meal!

How stinkin' clever is this sign?!? I'm loving it! Can't draw? find an image on the internet and print! Source
















Green eggs and ham is such a fun theme - the kids always love to eat green eggs! A great tip from this pic is to use books on a cookbook stand as decoration! Source

Use pics from the book as toppers for your food! I am so craving deviled eggs now! Take one book and rip out the pages, put in $1 frames and place around, too! Source

 Use pre-made sugar cookie dough - push into shapes of these eggs, bake, then add royal icing and a green peanut M&M or rolled fondant for these "green egg" cookies! Source

Make these fun Seuss hat cupcakes! use red frosting and marshmallows to create! Source found via gordon gossip blog

{Real Parties} An Adorable Art Party

Today I am sharing an adorable art party with you, hosted by Emily Welch of Magnolia Creative! Magnolia Creative is a sponsor of P is for Party and be sure to check back soon to learn more about her great business!

Emily was a little stumped on what theme to choose for her daughter's 3rd birthday and sweet Audrey did not have any idea either. It finally occurred to Emily to base the party around something she and her family are around daily - ceramics (see her designs at Magnolia Creative)! Emily went to Hobby Lobby and found a bright stripe fabric which served as the color inspiration and invitation design.

The tables were covered with brown butcher paper to lend to the art them. Each little guest could chose between a cat, dog or horse to paint and then Emily had each piece glazed and fired and then sent to Audrey's school for her friends to pick up.

Emily put together a cupcake station equipped with assorted sprinkles. She also custom designed water bottle labels, drink flags and other coordinating products which will be available soon in her shop!

Do you remember seeing the amazing balloon wreath tutorial on How Does She?! Well, Emily gave it a whirl and ended up designing her version...balloon topiaries! Tutorial coming soon!

Since Audrey is severely allergic to eggs, Emily needed to bake her daughter's cake and even gave fondant a try! The ceramic birthday plate was also made by Emily and is available in her shop!

Custom coloring sheets with an illustration of the birthday girl...how special is that?!

Another personal touch at the party was the handmade tissue garland by Emily. The garland was hung on aqua twine from The Twinery.

Glittery party circles matched the glitter on the invitations...

The birthday girl painting her ceramic figurine.

Audrey's custom birthday shirt came from BowDacius Baby.

The fun favors included crayons, mini drawing pads, bubbles and suckers and of course a cello topper to match the other paper goodies!

Thank you again Emily for sharing this creative art party with us!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes {Recipe}

Chocolate and peanut butter... a marriage made in heaven!

I recently found some cute tiny sized Reese's peanut butter cups at the store and thought they would look perfect on cupcakes.  I mean how could topping a cupcake with pieces of candy ever be a bad idea?  I used my favorite Chocolate cupcake recipe and topped it with about the most delicious frosting ever!  If you don't like chocolate and peanut butter together, I can't help you... but if you do, make sure you have a big glass of milk on hand and go make these!

Chocolate Cupcakes

(makes 24-27 standard sized cupcakes)

2 cups sugar
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa (best quality available)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (best quality available)
1 cup boiling water

Directions-
1.  Line muffin tin with paper liners. Heat oven to 350*F.
2.  In a large mixing bowl, stir together sugar, flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
3.  Add eggs, milk, oil and vanilla. Beat on medium speed for one minute.
4.  Stir in boiling water (the batter will be thin, don't worry, this is right).
5.  Fill liners 2/3 full with batter. (I usually put the batter into a large measuring cup with a pour spout, and     then pour the batter into the liners.)
6.  Bake cupcakes for approximately 22-24 minutes.
7.  Cool completely on wire rack before frosting.

Peanut Butter Frosting

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 cup smooth peanut butter (chose a peanut butter with no added sugar)

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon heavy cream (or milk)

Beat the butter until smooth.  Add the cream cheese, and continue to beat until smooth and fully combined with the butter.  Add the peanut butter and beat until well combined. Slowly add the powdered sugar and continue to mix until the frosting is smooth. Add in the cream, and beat another 30 seconds.  Frost cupcakes.

Frosting Recipe by Glorious Treats
Cupcakes Recipe Adapted from Hershey's

Enjoy!

Maybach Top Foundation Maybach

maybach review

maybach landaulet

maybach hot car

maybach interior view

maybach exelero maybach

A one-off custom-built Maybach was unveiled in May 2005 at the Tempodrom in Berlin. Commissioned by tyre company Fulda, the Exelero is a chopped-down two-seater coupe, though it's more than just a show car - in tests at the Nardo high-speed oval, the prototype reached a speed of 218.38mph, despite weighing over 2.66 tonnes. It is capable of acceleration from 0-60mph in 4.4 seconds.

The car's design was the result of a competition amongst students at the Pforzheim Polytechnic Department of Transport Design, which has worked on show vehicles for Fulda in the past. The design of 24-year-old Fredrik Burchhardt was chosen, and his work was co-ordinated with that of the Maybach design centre in Sindelfingen. The project, based on the Maybach 57 limousine, required a certain amount of re-engineering; the A-pillar and doors had to be shifted rearwards, and the steering column, pedals and gearshift all re-located. The standard 550bhp V12 engine was bored out to 5.9 litres, and tuned for 700bhp and over 738lb ft of torque. With final dimensions of 5890mm long, 2140mm wide and just 1390mm high, the car was kitted out with a full-spec interior, including leather, neoprene, aluminium and carbonfibre finishes.

Maybach says the car, built by Stola in Turin, is "a one-off vehicle created to showcase the new ultra-high performance Exelero tyre range from leading tyre manufacturer Fulda"; it's not the first time the two companies have teamed up, as back in 1938 Fulda demonstrated its tyres on a Maybach SW 38 limousine. There are, however, "no plans to produce the model in series", though it has been certified for on-road use.

2010 Ford Explorer

2010 Ford Explorer

The 2010 Ford Explorer lineup is largely unchanged for what is likely its final model year in its current design. This midsize SUV uses traditional, truck-type construction. It offers rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive that can be left engaged on dry pavement and has a low-range gear for off-roading. Trim levels include XLT, Eddie Bauer, and Limited. All have a 210-horsepower 4.0-liter V6 engine. Optional on Eddie Bauer and Limited is a 292-horsepower 4.6-liter V8. V6 models have a 5-speed automatic transmission; V8s have a 6-speed automatic. Maximum towing capacity is 5,375 pounds for the V6 and 7,285 pounds for the V8. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, and front-side airbags. Offered on all is a 3rd-row seat for 7-passenger capacity; it's available with a power-folding feature. Explorer's capless fueling system allows owners to fill their fuel tanks without having to remove a gas cap. Ford's Sync voice-activated cell phone and MP3 player control system is available. The available navigation system includes real-time traffic alerts, weather, gas prices, sports, and movie information. Ford re-trims the Explorer for sale as the Mercury Mountaineer.

COMPETITION

Consumer Guide Automotive places each vehicle into one of 18 classes based on size, price, and market position. Larger than Compact SUVs, Midsize SUVs offer a mix of car- and truck-type construction, V6 and V8 power, and up to 8-passenger seating. This class also includes crossover vehicles.

2009 Ford Explorer Review

2009 Ford Explorer
2009 Ford Explorer


For many years, the Ford Explorer has been one of the best-selling SUVs in the market. A capable tow vehicle and off-roader, the Explorer also offers the generous interior space, comfort features and safety technologies necessary for day-to-day tasks.

The Explorer is available in rear-wheel, four-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations, each with a choice of three trim levels: XLT, Eddie Bauer or Limited. All trims can be equipped with either a 210-hp 4.0-liter V6 engine and five-speed automatic transmission, or a 292-hp 4.6-liter V8 engine and six-speed automatic transmission. Limited trims are outfitted with a power-folding third row seat for 2009 (previously manual fold-flat); on XLT and Eddie Bauer trims, three-row seating is optional, increasing capacity to seven passengers. Standard safety features on every Explorer include AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control, anti-lock disc brakes and a tire pressure monitoring system, as well as dual front, front side-impact and side-curtain airbags.

For 2009, the Ford Explorer carries over with minor adjustments to standard equipment and restructured option groups, including a new XLT Sport Package. Satellite radio is now standard on Eddie Bauer and Limited trims, while a new Trailer Sway Control feature is incorporated into the stability control system on all trims. Additionally, all-wheel drive Explorer models now get the XLT trim level.

2006 Ford Explorer

More V8 power, revised interiors and exteriors, and more safety features are 2006 updates for America's best-selling SUV. Explorer has a truck-type design and offers rear-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive that can be left engaged on dry pavement and has low-range gearing. Two engines are available: a 210-hp V6 and a 292-hp V8. The V8 gains 53 hp for '06. Both use automatic transmission; the V6 retains a 5-speed, the V8 trades its 5-speed for a 6-speed. The model line ascends through XLS, XLT, Eddie Bauer, and Limited trim. Offered on all but XLS is a 3rd-row seat for seven-passenger capacity; it's available for '06 with a power-folding feature. Front side airbags are newly standard. Again optional are curtain side airbags that cover the 1st and 2nd seating rows and include rollover deployment. Antilock 4-wheel disc brakes are standard, as is traction/antiskid control with rollover sensors. Also available are 2nd-row bucket seats, DVD entertainment, sunroof, rear obstacle detection, and power-adjustable pedals. A navigation system is newly optional. Ford retrims the Explorer for sale as the Mercury Mountaineer.

2006 Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer New Cars Desighn

Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer suspension

2012 Ford Explorer

1999 Ford Explorer

I'm BACK!!! ...with Shopping Saturday!

Missed all of you guys!!! if you didn't see the posts yesterday - me and Pam from Party Starters are launching an online party magazine in March! WOOT! If you would like to promote your products or blog we have $10 & $5 options - just email me! (kim.partyfrosting@gmail.com)

Back to party posting!!! Here are my local finds at national stores to help you stock up for your next event!

Superman stuff is everywhere now!

Found: Target
Section: Dollar bins
Price: $1

Stock up on Sport's themed stuff - use throw carpets on the table under dishes - no rules people!

Found: Target
Section: Near $ bins
Price: $1-$2.50

Having a bug, garden, ladybug or bee themed event? Grab up these!

Found: Target
Section: Dollar bins
Price: $1

Stand these mini birdhouses in styrofoam in a box for instant dramatic backdrop to your bird or garden themed tablescape!

Found: Target
Section: Dollar bins
Price: $1

Pack these away for your little lamb themed baby shower...

Found: Pier 1
Section: Easter
Price: $6.95

mini birdies! Add to your baby bird baby shower decorations...

Found: Pier 1
Section: Easter
Price: $1.95

Planning an ice cream social? This adorable setup would be perfect for toppings or single servings!

Found: Boscov's
Section: Dinnerware
Price: $25.19

Weird time of year... but pumpkin soup server or 4 soup bowls - stash them for Thanksgiving!

Found: Boscov's
Section: Servingware
Price: $12.99

Use these ceramic planters at your next Tiki party or Luau. Perfect for decorations, serving containers or ice buckets!

Found: Big Lots
Section: Garden
Price: $10.99-15.99