My Garden Party

I love to give parties, especially in the summer when the weather is warm and my yard is inviting.  I planned this last soiree around the schedule of my two adult daughters so they both could be part of the fun.   There were no upcoming holidays or events to celebrate, so I decided that a "garden party", to honor a mid-summer's afternoon, would be the perfect occasion.  The planning was easy since flowers were the theme.  When one of my friends asked "What does one do at a garden party?", I decided to include flower related crafts to the afternoon agenda.  With instructions in hand from my daughters for flower crowns,  I ventured up to the San Francisco Flower Market a few days before the party.

 The selection was fabulous and I was able to purchase everything in one place for the flower related projects.   I also spent a couple of afternoons scouring the local thrift stores to find $1-$2 vases that could be used for arrangements that would be additional "party favor" options.

The menu was simple and light since the party occurred around afternoon tea time.   The offerings included homemade "American macaroni salad", a bountiful fruit platter, elegant cheeses with affordable gourmet crackers, hummus and homemade "toasted pita triangles".   I bought a very reasonably priced drink dispenser, using a coupon of course, and added sliced lemons, ice and water for a refreshing and visually pleasing thirst quencher.  In addition, I put out fun bottles of ice tea, sparkling water, French lemonade and Prosecco in a tub of ice.  All the options were perfect for a warm afternoon and the frozen raspberries that could be dolloped into each glass were refreshing additions.

Of course we had to have a special order cake from Susie Cakes Bakery since it is the best bakery around- hands down!   We also used our creative talents to decorate daisy-shaped sugar cookies in keeping with the flowery theme.

 I bought a few paper goods to add a pop of color and provide some ease for the clean up after the party, but for the most part,  I just did some sleuthing around my house for things that I already owned that fit the theme of flowers and garden.  I was amazed by how many fun items I had that worked and I enjoyed the process of using them to create an atmosphere that would be inviting and festive for my guests.

This was one of the most relaxing parties I have given.  My vision for the afternoon took shape and the atmosphere was festive and delightful.  The food was set out and the drinks ready to serve when everyone arrived, so all I had to do was enjoy the unfolding of fun that occurred.  I loved seeing my friends and family enjoy themselves while they visited, ate, and created beautiful flower inspired favors to take home.   Since I made most of the food myself and used repurposed items to decorate, this party ranked high in success but low on cost.

"Cupcakes and Cashmere" fashion even made an appearance at the Garden Partyhttp://shop.nordstrom.com/s/cupcakes-and-cashmere-el-rey-floral-print-romper/4098864?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=2147

Miss Penny Saver Tip: Celebrating friends, family, food and flowers in a casual atmosphere is the best way to give a memorable party!

Follow Me On Instagram, Twitter, etc.: Ways to Save

In the October 12, 2010 post, I mentioned email as a way to keep up with sales, reduced prices, special promotions,etc. Well, fast forward to 2014 and there are even more options. Recently my daughter sent me this Anthropologie ad from Instagram. Following a favorite store on Instagram or Twitter is another way to get real time updates and notices of sales. When I noticed a 40% off sale at Nordstrom, I was able to call and get a price adjustment right over the phone! Now that is what I call convenient and cost effective all at the same time. Miss Penny Saver TIP: Use technology to your financial advantage!

KACHOW!!!

During my most recent visit to #Disneyland, I wanted to find the perfect souvenir gift for my two grand-boys. They are huge CARS and PLANES fans, but have already gotten many of the items promoted by Disney either from the store or online. I just happened to be standing behind a young man who was counting out his hard earned dollars to purchase the last of his gifts to take home to friends, when I noticed he had a replica of Lightning McQueen with interesting handles on it. When I asked him about it, he said "Oh this is what your lunch comes in when you order food at Flo's Dinner in CARS LAND". I was so excited about the prospect of finding something that came as a perk, that I made a "fast pass" to Flo's. Sure enough, there they were, the CAR'S MEALS ready to purchase. My two daughters did the honors of ordering, so that the two boys would each have a Lightning to call their own. The best part, we got a lunch and a fun souvenir for the total cost of $12! Miss Penny Saver TIP: Pay attention and ask questions….you may make a new friend and find that one of a kind gift!

Play A Game

Recently we were on a fun family vacation and two of the best activities were free or practically free. We played BINGO one night for the fee of $1.00 per card. I purchased 10 boards and distributed them among the family, challenging the younger participants to manage 3 BINGO cards at a time, which added to the adventure. The game night lasted for over an hour with a variety of BINGO versions played. Even though no one in our family won any of the rounds, we had a blast trying. All for $10; couldn't be beat. On another occasion we went to the game room that was part of the resort we were staying at. A quick round of SCRABBLE was embarked upon. The best part of this free activity was that I won! I have to give credit, however, to my son-in-law who pointed out how I could use my "Z" and make a 69 point word!!! Miss Penny Saver TIP: Have "zeal" for board games…they are fun, free and bring families together.

The Golden Birthday

Today would have been our youngest child's "golden" birthday. Jack Reed would have turned 24 today on the 24th of August, 2014. Even though Jack only celebrated one birthday with us, it is important to take note of the many blessings that have come from his short life. Today, so many years later, his older brother texted everyone in the family as a reminder that it was ,in fact, Jack's "golden" birthday. This special birthday was also celebrated recently by my two eldest children who turned 28 and 30 respectively on those dates in May. We also enjoyed our grandson's first birthday which was a "golden" as he turned one on August 1st. The touching part of all this was, that my daughter, who just turned 28, was the one to have noticed that there was such a thing as a "golden" birthday in the first place, and now her older brother was embracing and celebrating the idea as well. This all warmed my mother's heart, since I could see connections being made over seemingly simple things that would not be mentioned at all, unless we were family and cared deeply for one another. So this Miss Penny Saver entry is an obvious one; the most valuable things in life are those that cannot be bought. TIP: Take note of those things in life that are of immeasurable worth and appreciate them!

It Never Hurts to Ask...

I recently convinced my husband to stop at the outlet center that was on the way home from our last summer get away. While he ate chicken wings and watched pre-season football at the conveniently located Applebees, I was able to power shop through some of my favorite stores finishing up some school shopping.  I had been using my teacher discount at JCrew for years, but I noticed a lot of other "teacher types" in Banana Republic and they seemed to be showing the cashier something on their phones. When I got to the front of the line, I dubiously asked if they gave a teacher discount…to my surprise and pleasure the young man replied "why yes we do, we just started giving that a month ago!" Everything in the store was already on sale, so with the additional discount, I couldn't believe my good fortune. I was so happy with the total of my bill, that I just had to brave the line once more and buy that additional cardi I had been eyeing. Miss Penny Saver Tip: Always have a budget of what to spend, but when the price unexpectedly goes down…all bets are off!

Pup Power

I made these two little pups for my grandsons. I saw the kit on one of my favorite craft blogs, The Purl Bee, but the fabric was a bit pricey. I decided to research buying my own wool material and bought it when it went on sale.   So, instead of paying $62 for one canine, I was able to order the pattern for $12 and buy enough fabric for 2 puppies for just under $25. I also repurposed fabric for the ears and the top of the head from some vintage hats that belonged to my dad. I loved how they turned out and so did my two grandboys! Miss Penny Saver Tip : Be sure to consider all possibilities, do some cost analysis, be creative, and you might just end up with a family heirloom!