I love October! You still have some lingering warm weather, you have football tailgating and you can find just about anything in pink this month. October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in support many companies show their support by holding fundraising events and making special products in pink. So with the pink out month I always seem to acquire a few new pink clothes and products. Not that I ever need a reason to go pink!
For today's Tuesday Ten I have put together 10 great events that you can attend, places you can shop to show your support of the cause this month.
1. Donate Online. The easiest way to giveback to the cause is through donating. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation is one of the leading foundations in having their donations going towards research and awareness programs.
2. Sign up for a Race. Find a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event to attend near you that raises money and awareness for breast health.
3. Run Pink. Even if you can't find a race where you live you can still support the cause with a pair of these pink running shoes from Asics. 4. Local Fundraiser. Find a local organization that hosts an event that supports the cause like Martha's Market, the event I attended this past weekend, where you can shop to raise money to help those in your area.
5. Attend a Fashion Show. There are a lot of fashion shows that are hosted during the month of October in support of breast cancer services. There was one this past Saturday that Lauren Conrad hosted in LA.
6. Pink Out. If you school or alma mater doesn't already have one help organize a game where all the fans and athletes pink out. Even the NFL is pinking out for the month of October. 7. Host a Party. If there is not an event near you grab all your friends and host a Think Pink party. The blog, Blowout Party, has some great printables that you can use for your think pink party.
8. Eat Pink. Every year at Panera you can buy a pink ribbon bagel with a portion of the proceeds benefiting breast cancer charities.
9.Pink Drink Night. Coordinate a happy hour at your local bar. Work with the bar owner to create a signature pink drink that when bought all the proceeds will be donated for the evening.
10. Shop Pink. So many of your favorite companies offer a signature pink product this month that you can buy with all or a portion of the sale being donated to the cause. Tres Dope provides a great list of must-have items from your favorite brands. I love being able to support the Go Pink cause in October and there are so many ways that you can! What is your favorite way that you like to go pink for the cause?
xoxo
Megan
Happy Friday to you all! Yesterday was a super busy day for me at an event so today I just decided to combine the two and make one big pumpkin party post for you today. Most parties that you will attend this month will have a little pumpkin theme thrown in for the Halloween holiday. It seems that everywhere I go recently I have been seeing pumpkins everywhere. So today I have some great ideas on how you can take some of those pumpkins and use them at your next party in a creative way.
Pumpkin Bowling. When it comes to fun and games at a party you can’t go wrong with pumpkin bowling. This cute idea is from Giggles Galore. Pumpkin Carving or Painting. You can purchase a number of smaller pumpkins for all your guests to either carve, decorate or paint with fun faces and designs. This provides a great activity for all your guests and it can be their favor that they take home with them at the end of the party.
And you can’t have a pumpkin party without a sweet pumpkin party favor treat. These pumpkin candy pouches were too adorable to pass up sharing with you for today’s pumpkin party post.
Halloween is coming soon. Are you hosting a Halloween party with fun pumpkin party ideas a treats? Share your favorite pumpkin inspired party ideas below and don’t forget you can keep up The Preppy Planner through Twitter @PreppyPlanner and on Pinterest @PreppyPlanner. Have a happy weekend!!!
xoxo
Megan
When it comes to a fall wedding you can’t go wrong with using orange as one of your wedding colors. Between the fall foliage and the Halloween holiday you can find orange everywhere. One of the easiest ways to incorporate orange into your wedding is through the use of pumpkins or pumpkin themed items.
One cute idea that you can do for your wedding is to use pumpkins to line your wedding aisle or the walkway to the reception. This is an easy way to add color to your venue and also incorporates the fall décor. After your wedding you can even send your guests home with a pumpkin so you don’t have to worry about what to do with them afterwards.
Another easy way to use pumpkins is to carve them with your new monogram or a cute wedding saying. You can display these carved pumpkins on your entrance table, your cake table or at the bride and groom’s table for the evening.
And you can’t forget about pumpkin themed desserts. From the wedding cake, to cake pop favors to cookies you can just go a little pumpkin crazy.
When it comes to having a fall themed wedding you can’t go wrong with any of your pumpkin themed ideas. How would you incorporate pumpkins into your wedding day?
xoxo
Megan
For more pumpkin event ideas check out yesterday’s 10 Pumpkin Party Ideas post.
When I think of October one of the first things that I think of are pumpkins. So, for this week everything is going to be all about pumpkins. From food to the decor you can use pumpkins in every aspect of your event. Today I have put together ten creative ways that you can use a pumpkin at your next party.
1. Dip Bowl. For a fun and festive veggie dip bowl scoop out the insides of a pumpkin and pour in your dip. This is a great way to add some pumpkin cheer to your veggie tray.
2. Vase. Add some extra color to your flower display by putting the whole arrangement in a pumpkin instead of a vase. This flower arrangement is from the blog Party Resources. 3. Drink Cooler. For a little October cheer fill a pumpkin base with ice and drinks for all your guests to enjoy. The festive party cooler if from Martha Stewart. 4. Chip Bowl. When it comes to serving up your food at a party this month just use a pumpkin bowl with a cloth liner for some chips or a fall party mix. This chip bowl idea is from Better Homes and Gardens. 5. Place Cards. For a fall wedding or a festive party take mini pumpkins and turn them into your place cards. They can also be great favors too! This pumpkin place card is from the blog Becoming the Mrs. 6. Candy Display. Instead of putting a bowl of candy out for your guests turn a pumpkin into a Halloween candy display holder. This great candy display holder idea is from Martha Stewart. 7. Aisle Runner. Use pumpkins as lanterns when lighting a path for your guests. This pumpkin aisle runner idea is from Better Homes and Gardens. 8. Centerpiece. Any easy way to create a pumpkin centerpiece is to decorate them and display them on various stands. One way to decorate them is to glitter them like these from Martha Stewart. 9. Punch Bowl. When serving a fall punch what better way to serve it than from a punch bowl. Just scoop out the insides, place a plastic bowl inside and pour in your drink. You are ready to serve! This punch bowl idea is from Better Homes and Gardens. 10. Event Lighting. Instead of standard votive candle holders use mini pumpkins. You can display them on the table or create a hanging chandelier like this one from Martha Stewart. There are so many great ideas on how to use a pumpkin in your fall party decor. How would you incorporate a pumpkin into your fall event? The more creative the better! You can find all these ideas and more on my Pinterest page @PreppyPlanner.
xoxo
Megan
Happy Monday! So this past weekend was filled with activities. First I went to the Phil Vassar concert on Friday, JMU game on Saturday and then planned a fun mother/daughter day on Sunday. Here are some pictures from the JMU game and Phil Vassar concert. It's always a fun time when you get a picture with the school mascot.
For the mother/daughter day of fun my mom, my BFF Emily and her mom all met in Charlottesville for brunch and apple picking at Carter Mountain Orchard. All four of us had so much fun at the orchard and it was the perfect time to go as it wasn't too crowded and the weather was perfect for apple picking. We each came away with so many apples, some amazing apple cider donuts and some delicious apple cider to drink.
Even though another weekend has pasted I had so much fun with everyone. I even got to check off 2 more items on my list of must attend fall events. Now all I have to figure out is what to do with all these apples I picked yesterday. So far I have added some apples to chicken salad and made apple bread. I think I may need an apple themed event menu so that I can use up all these apples! Any suggestions on what to do with all these apples that I currently have sitting in my kitchen? Send any recipes that include apples in them my way!! What did you do this past weekend?
xoxo
Megan
When it comes to fall events, you can’t go wrong with a fall party mix. Party mixes are a great addition to any party planner’s menu as it is so easy to customize to your event. To get more in the fall spirit this party mix has a great fall theme by using fall flavors and colors.
To make this fall party mix you will need (makes about 20 cups):
- 4 cups Quaker Oatmeal Cereal Squares (I like the brown sugar ones)
- 4 cups Miniature Pretzels
- 1 bag Candy Corn with Pumpkins
- 2 cups Halloween or Fall Colored M&M’s
- 3 1/2 cups of Cracker Jacks Caramel Corn
- 2 cups of Planter’s Honey Roasted Peanuts
- 2 cups raisins (for an extra treat I like the yogurt covered ones)
To make your party mix all you need to do is throw all the ingredients into a bowl, stir it up and serve.
For an extra touch you can put the mix into some cute season themed bags or display it in a fun fall themed bowl. This mix would be great to bring to a tailgate, a birthday party or any Halloween party that you may be attending or hosting this month. Enjoy!!
What is your favorite party mix recipe that you love to make?
xoxo
Megan
When browsing through all the new fall party ideas out there I came across an amazing DIY craft idea that will turn all those fall leaves into a gorgeous floral centerpiece. So next time you are outside start gathering those red, yellow and orange leaves so that you can make your own fall centerpiece to enjoy during any occasion.
To make this leaf floral bouquet you will need:
- leaves
- floral tape
- scissors
- twigs
- vase to display your finished arrangement
Now to create your flowers follow this step-by-step tutorial below. Before you start here is a helpful tip: I found that the fresher the leaves were (aka not crunchy) the easier they were to work with. To start your flower take the leaf and fold the middle section down. Then take the right side, fold it down and then from the side roll it towards the center vein. Repeat with the left side. Take your second leaf and fold down the middle as before. Place the first leaf in the center then take the right and left sides, fold them down and roll like the first leaf. Repeat until you get the size flower that you want. After you finished creating your flower, take a small piece of floral tape and secure the steps of the leaves together. Finally select your twig and attach your flower to its stem. And voila! You have your first flower of your autumn bouquet!
This DIY craft will save you a bundle compared to the price of flowers and with all the scented oils out there you can make your leave arrangement have a wonderful autumn smell. Just add a few drops of your favorite fall scent to the arrangement and the bouquet will smell amazing! What is your favorite fall aroma?
xoxo
Megan
Every season brings about new ideas for events. Since fall is now officially here (I have been trying to hold onto summer just a week or two longer!) I have put together a list of 10 amazing opportunities that the season has brought and reasons for a fall event. All of these ideas could be tied into a wedding, party or any kind of get together you may be hosting. After making this list I have come to like fall just that much more!
1. Enjoy the Outdoors. You can now host outdoor events without worrying about bugs or it being too hot.
2. Fire Pits. Now is the perfect time of the year to light the fire and enjoy its warmth. Invite a few friends over for a fun get together around the fire pit.
3. Outdoor Lighting. You can finally use those outdoor lights that you have to decorate and not have to wait until after 9 or 10 like in the summer. Hold an impromptu after work drinks or dinner party and enjoy the evening outdoors under your starry night.
4. Leaves. They already serve as a great backdrop for any outdoor event with their changing colors, but you can also use them in your decorations, for crafts or the old fashion leave pile to jump into.
5. Pumpkin Flavored Everything. Need I say anymore?
6. Hot Beverages. Now is the perfect time that you can sit back, relax and enjoy a hot cup of your favorite beverage without having to wait for it to cool off. Create a hot beverages bar at your next party so your guests can add a little extra splash of “fun” into your drinks. My favorite is hot chocolate and kahlua.
7. Warm Foods. This is the perfect season for soup, chili and stew. Host a party and have this be your main dish and everyone else can bring sides or desserts. Easy to put together and everyone loves a potluck!
8. Fall Colors. The reds, oranges, and yellows of fall create such a warm environment for any outdoor or indoor setting. Take advantage of the colors of the season when choosing your event color palette.
9. No Decorations Needed. With the leaves changing and an abundance of apples, pumpkins, and leaves you don’t need other decorations than these for your event. Decorations are done!
10. Fall Festivals. Between fall farmer’s markets, Oktoberfest, state fairs, and fall festivals going on there is an endless number of events that are put on that the whole family can enjoy.
Even though summer is over there are still an abundance of events to take part in and host during the fall. What is your favorite event to attend or host during the fall?
xoxo
Megan
Just as each family has their own traditions, so does each school. This past weekend I attended my very first tailgate and football game at the University of Virginia (and got to check off another one of my 10 fall must attend events in Charlottesville ). My uncle attended UVA for school and is a religious attendee of UVA home games and invited me to go with him this past weekend.
Being the experienced tailgater that I am, my first thought was of what do I need to bring? So, as a little thank you and to contribute some UVA school spirit I made so great tailgate accessories that my uncle can use for his next tailgate. I made these adorable cups and platter all decked out in UVA colors using vinyl decals that I ordered from etsy shop We Speak Vinyl and ribbon. Customizing anything with vinyl decals, like the platter and cups, can turn anything into a wonderful thank you present for any event host. After the tailgate we wandered into the stadium to watch the game. I have been hearing about the pregame “Cav Man” ritual and couldn’t wait to find out what that was. Each week before the game starts UVA Video Services puts together a cartoon episode that is shown on their video board. It shows Cav Man up against the other team’s mascot in some fun scenario with Cav Man winning and then ridding to the stadium. At the end of the clip it has him riding up to the stadium and then a real Cav Man come galloping in on his horse into the football stadium leading the team out onto the field.
I love being able to watch what each team’s home traditions are for football games, and UVA is not one to disappoint. What kind of pre-game tradition does your school have?
xoxo
Megan
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