Monday, July 25, 2011

Light up the Dark Party

 




OK.



I'm throwing out another idea for a quick party theme to use in the summaTime.  Finding unique touches that don't take a lot of preparation are the BEST ideas to tuck away into your pockets.  This party takes a few supplies and a tiny bit of time, then you're ready to host some summer fun.

 My Dad just blew out another year this July.  We celebrated by visiting a classic auto museum during the day and by a bright color in the night sky party that evening.



Showing the boys how to really work those stilts....


For simple celebrations, a good idea is to bring out the celebrated one's favorite snacks!  My Dad is a Pringle Chip lover.  So a row of Pringles were ready to down while everyone waited for dinner. 



He is also a Dr. Pepper lover.  I bought the mini cans to bump up the visual appeal (because everything is cuter tiny-sized).


After the party, I bagged up the rest for him to take home.  The mini cans worked perfectly as a fun extra gift to him.


I told you I was going to be layering drinks all.the.time. from now on.  I wasn't kidding.  Neon layered colors in yellow, blue, and green scream party.



I will be sharing the dinner in an upcoming blog post.

If you ever have an uncontrollable craving for chocolate, grab a slice of chocolate cake.  I can't think of anything else that satisfies better.  I made a super, really, very, extra, extremely rich chocolate cake with a whipped mousse center and ganache spread over the top for my Dad's birthday. 



I used chalk ink to write his name on the cake stand for something different.


Topped with ganache and m&ms...



 Filled with whipped chocolate mousse...

 




I used a lot of bright colors for this party against the black night.  The PopChips were the perfect colors to add.


I bought a mini collection of fun brightly colored party stuff:  

-glowsticks

-birthday candles with the FLAMES that light up the SAME color as the candle (waaay cool!)

-colored sky lanterns. 

Glowsticks are so inexpensive and lots of fun.  Everyone wore them in dimmed lights while we partied like rOcKstARs.  



I learned a cool trick recently: Glowstick lanterns! These have been all over Pinterest!  Cut open a glowstick and shake it into an empty bottle.  Whirl and swirl it around for fun glow in the dark colors.  You can also add some water or oil to the jar to give it bigger and a more even color. 


All serious eyes on the glow bottles...

 


BRIGHT ON BLACK!



These candles were AWESOME! You can find them at Michael's Craft store.  In the box is an assortment of bold colored candles.  The flames light up the exact same color as the candle! Very fascinating and of course, super cool. 


To finish the party, we let colored sky lanterns off into the night sky.  It was windy out.  Ummm, don't let balls of fire float into the air on a windy night.  We let one go, freaked out, and waited until a still night to let the others go.  They are memorizing to watch on a calm summer night!  We love, loved it!

 


Pick your color sky lantern....

Make a secret wish....

Shhh, don't whisper it to anyone....

Watch your lantern move high into the dark as it takes your secret wish along...

When the lantern is a bright dot, the size of a star and suddenly disappears....

....your wish has been delivered.  


Titus told me that he made a really big wish,
that he thought should be counted as two.  
But I couldn't ask him what it was...that's the mystique of it all.  
{wink}






Summer birthdays are exciting!  Happy Birthday to a man who has lived his days with adrenaline and excitement, and who taught me to live life fully.  Cheers to YOU Dad. 



Don't forget! You can click on over to easily enter the giveaway I have for a BUILD A DREAM PLAYHOUSE
 
This post is linked to: Under the Table & Dreamin, It's a Blog Party, Think Pink Sundays LambAround, DIY ShowoffSeasonal SundaysMet Monday, Making the World Cuter, A2Z Tips & Tutorials, Lettered Cottage How To, Tasty Tuesday, Tempt My Tummy, Tip Junkie, Get Your Craft On, Home Decor & Organizing, Outdoor Wednesday, Works for Me Wednesday, Blue Cricket Design, Whatever Goes Wednesday, Transformation Thursday, House of H, Tablescape Thursday, Show off Your Stuff, Strut Your Stuff, 36th Avenue Show and Share Day, Foodie Friday, Frugal Friday, I'm Lovin It, Tickled Pink, Friday Flair, Design Dazzle, T.G.I.F.,  Be Different Act Normal, Funky Junk Interiors, Weekend Wrap Up

35 comments:

  1. Those "glow in the dark" bottles are so cool! I just told MacDaddy that we needed to have a party so I could use this idea...of course, he rolled his eyes and said "surprise, surprise".

    Well...we did miss my birthday around here...
    Thanks for sharing your daddy's big day with us...
    Hugs,
    Jane

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  2. You continually amaze me with your creativity! Seriously I am blown away! Love the light up the dark idea and the glow stick bottles are amazing. And will you pretty please with sugar on top share the cake recipe? =) I promise to wear cute shoes if you do!

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  3. I love those bottles! I will have to try it sometime this summer!

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  4. Your posts always make me smile. You are so good at planning and throwing parties and your ideas are so unique. I learn so much from you, truly! Those light up bottles are such a neat idea. Your photos and presentation and how you share a story is fabulous.
    Thanks for sharing! XO ~LIZ

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  5. That is soo neat! You did awesome. Very, very cute!

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  6. What a lot of fantastic ideas. You could be a party planner!! Love those bottles!

    XO,
    Janie

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  7. Cute and colorful!

    Judy@cutest-little-things.blogspot.com

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  8. Looks like an awesome party! I love the glow in the dark bottles. We recently made some glow-in-the-dark drinks that were a huge hit. By layering two cups, the beverage glowed, but was still drink-able!

    http://cometogetherkids.blogspot.com/2011/06/glow-in-dark-drinks.html

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  9. Lisa
    Wow another fab party that you knocked out of the park!! You sure have the gift to say the least. I really just simply love your attention to each and every detail
    Have a wonderful week

    xoxo
    Kate

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  10. Oh my gosh, I just went low carb and then I come here and that cake is reaching right off the screen begging me to make it! lol
    I intend to resist...I always intend to resist.
    It looks like such a great party, Happy Birthday to your dad:>)

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  11. I love this blog post. The cake looks amazing and I love al of the thoughtful things that you did to make a great party....wonderful ideas!

    Christa

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  12. What a fun party to honor your Dad...so sweet! And so creative. Love all the glow in the dark touches!

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  13. How do you do it? Seriously...How do you come up with all these amazing party ideas??

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  14. Love the glow bottles! We can't send up any lanterns (burn ban), but we can totally have a glow party outside. Awesome!

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  15. What a fun! Lovely post! Enjoyed:)
    Thanks for sharing!
    Hope to see you on my blog:)

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  16. loved the glow bottles. What a fun party I never have seen glow bag it loked like they were on fire.

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  17. cute party, love the bottle idea and so craving a slab of your cake...

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  18. What a great party! love the details :)

    www.whatyoumakeit-coley.blogspot.com

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  19. I think I gained ten pounds just LOOKING at that cake. Oh my goodness! The bottle lanterns are too cute--my kids will LOVE it.
    Great ideas you shared!

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  20. Sky lanterns....my husband and I saw those for the first time this past Independence Day. Had NO idea what they were. Spooked us out of our minds!!! :-) I'm sure your Dad (and everybody else at the party!) had a great time! You put a lot of thought into this on his behalf!

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  21. Those glow in the dark bottles are fantastic! I'm planning my annual murder mystery dinner and I think I might do something like that. I found you through Organize and Decorate's link party-I would love it if you came and linked this to my weekly link party Tutorial Tuesday. I think my readers would love it as well!

    Kari
    Newlyweds on a Budget

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  22. Wow! That's a pretty amazing party! Did the glow lanterns stay glowing all night?

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  23. Those are the coolest lit up bottles. I will have to pick me up some of those candles. I love all your frosting on your cake! I would love to have a spoonful of it right now!! You should come and enter my cookbook giveaway! http://eatcakefordinner.blogspot.com/2011/07/30-minute-rolls-and-giveaway.html

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  24. Hi Lisa! I love your glow bottles and all your other greatparty ideas. THanks for linking to the party. I'm featuring this today.

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  25. Wow! What an amazing party!!!

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  26. Looks like an awesome party. I especially love the glow in the dark bottles. I would love it if you would stop by and link up this post with the craft party I have recently started at Lines Across My Face.
    :) Rachel
    http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com/2011/07/craft-link-party-2-cure-for-common.html

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  27. What a fun party! I love the use of glow sticks and how food and details are so personal to your dad. That's what makes a great party.

    I had to share this, expecially the glow lanterns on Shout Out Sunday this week! Thanks so much for such a fun idea.

    http://kimskandykreations.blogspot.com/2011/07/shout-out-sunday_31.html

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  28. What a cool party! I love those glowstick lanterns - my son will love that when summer comes - thanks for sharing all your fantastic ideas and photos!

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  29. What is the name of the candles you purchased at Michaels? I would love to try them.

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  30. What a party!!! I love those glow stick bottles...why can't I think of stuff like that!? Great job! I'm linking your post to Take Six's FB page!!! THANKS!!!

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  31. What a fun night!!!

    - The Tablescaper

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  32. I love your bottle lamps so much that I featured it on my monthly round-up of cool things on the web. Thank you for sharing!

    (you can find the link here if you're interested:)
    http://charlottelaughs.blogspot.com/2011/09/round-up-september-edition-maybe-last.html

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  33. I'm here from Tip Junkie and I love how you used the bottles. It almost makes me want to host another party just to use glow in the dark bottles!

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