I’m Back!

Well holy smokes, I almost forgot how to blog over that extended vacay. Thank you all so much for sticking with me as I left you in radio silence. I honestly intended to take just a wee week off, but life got in the way. However, my little break has made me rethink a few things.
First, I realized that there is no need for me to reinvent the wheel when there are SOOOOOOOO many great blogs, websites, and party resources out there for your enjoyment. I also realized that these party peeps run a heck of a lot better show than I do here at Cakes Likes A Party. (Truly! They are phenomenal bloggers and I honestly do NOT know how they do it all!) Soooooo, I’ve decided to stop trying to be as fabulous as them, and just focus on being the funky, dorky, party-loving me that I already am.
What does this mean?
Well, when I first started this blog, I just intended to have it be a place to showcase & store the parties I throw and the invitations I make. I had no idea it would do what it has done. I didn’t know I would be trying to find something to write about every day. I don’t know that I was really ready to be a “Party Expert” because I don’t feel like I am.
I really just “like a party.”
Any party.
The name says it all. And I honestly love those over-the-top-people-on-stilts-college-band-playing-gospel-choir-singing-dessert-table parties (yes, I’ve been to a party JUST like that!), just as much as I love a backyard BBQ that manifests itself by chatting with your neighbors in the street and ends with a barefoot dance party. That being said, I think I am going back to my original intentions and will just be posting about parties I had something to do with, parties around town that I have been to (since I know SOOO many insanely creative party throwers in their own right), invitations I design, and anything else that strikes my party fancy.
This means I will not be posting every day. One day I hope to be, but with two (insanely active) boys 3 and under, I’m deciding to take a step back, focus on them and my husband and post when I feel really excited about something. I got asked a bunch when I was in full blog-mode “How DO you DO it all?” Um…. the answer ended up being an embarrassing, “Not well.” I was staying up way too late, I was keeping my crazy boys cooped up so I could be pecking at the ‘puter, and I sometimes I even forgot I had a husband. Not a really stellar way to live and it really wasn’t fair to my 3 men. So if you want to be the first to know when I post, either subscribe to this blog or “like” it on facebook. I’ll keep you posted.
Sound good? Good.
Another change to discuss:
If you’ve followed along from the get-go, you’ll know that really any party I throw really has the touch of a party-loving Silver Fox in it… my mom, AKA Crafty Jan. She does not know that I am making her an ‘official’ editor (hee hee!) of this blog and she might have my head for putting up this (downright adorable) photo of her, but I really think this blog thing ended up being hers just as much as it was mine. She’s the most creative person I know, has the funkiest ideas you could imagine, and there is not a person on the planet who loves a party more than her. I come by it naturally.
She’s also more on top of the idea & craft side of the party-sphere, while I tend to like installations and graphics. We’re a match made in party heaven. Though we always fight over who gets to be Lucy when we come up with wacky ideas, I’m so excited to have her officially on board… even if I have to be Ethel.
So welcome back friends! I’m aiming to post once a week or twice a month, but we’ll see how it goes. My boys come first but parties are just a close second!
xxoo
Annika

Yay You :: Thanks For Pinning!

There’s a relatively new thing going on in the wild world of internetting called Pinterest. (Beware! It’s addiciting!) Basically, people “pin” things they like and you can search away with like-minded folks! Well, I just noticed that a few of you LOVELY people have pinned this site! I am THRILLED! Thank you so much for the love! Pin away! You made my day!

Yay You! :: Favor Bags From A Reader

I have to say how excited I am that (a) you lovelies are actually reading this blog, and (b) that I’m getting feedback like this! Amy, a darling blog reader, made these favor bags based on this tutorial. (Okay. Full disclosure. I am trying to sound important and like I have massive amounts of ‘readers’ but Amy is actually my sister’s friend and sent this to her – not me. But still! I was sooooo pumped to see it and so excited to have followers! Yay and thank you!)
Amy had the brilliant idea of prettyfying sunflower seeds – so nice because the bag is already ready to go! Just add the favor label and you’re set. Genius, right? It’s adorable! She did such a great job that I posted this even though I’m a Bruin at heart. Too cute not to, right? Thanks for reading and sharing, Amy!