Simple and Cheep Cheep: Fun Easter Party Ideas for the Kids

Planning a visit from the big bunny for the kids in your life? We had a ball with our kid's Easter egg hunt party and since it was a rainy day, we had to have the party indoors. No matter--- we still had a great time. With loads of crafts, games and fun snacks, you'll create memories with the kids to last a lifetime. Hopping bunny races, balloon carrot racers, and creative ideas for egg decorating kept the kids busy. Pre-dye all of the eggs and let the kids decorate them with glitter, felt, construction paper, flowers or pretty ribbons. View the entire egg hunt slideshow and read the how-to article for tips on the food, fun, crafts and games. Photos: Arden Photography

Weekend Update: Fun at The Cooking and Entertaining Show in Palm Beach with Paula Deen, Bobby Flay and Me!

Blogging from the Panera Bread in sunny Wellington, FL--- I am enjoying a huge, frothy cup of latte and a bagel before I head over to Palm Beach to stick a toe in the Atlantic and have lunch with friends by the pool at the Breakers Hotel, but wanted to post a few pictures from the event this weekend before the day got away. We had a blast talking to all of the lovely people who attended my seminar at the Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show in West Palm Beach! So many nice, nice people stopped by to chat and ask questions! I had a ball and I think everyone learned something new. Here are a few pics-- will post more when I get back to the office tomorrow. Paula had a huge crowd of followers and fans who came over after she was done--- so we had a standing room only crowd for our last workshop. Thanks to everyone I met this weekend--- you guys made it so much fun and I learned a lot from all of you!See, I really did make the cucumber cups and gazpacho from my hotel room at the Hilton!  If you can, try to make it to the show in Atlanta. Here's a link to the Atlanta show detailsand I have a coupon code for discounted tickets if anyone wants it! Tyler Florence will be there along with Paula, The Neely's and the fantastic Guy Fieri!

Bridal Shower Ideas: Host a Honeymoon Travel Shower

There are tons of parties in the works right for summer brides-to-be! If you have to plan a bridal shower and need a unique party idea--- something a little more original than the standard get-a-gift-from-the-registry variety--- why not plan a honeymoon travel shower? Plan the party around food and beverages from the couple's honeymoon destination. If they're going anywhere in Mexico, Italy or Paris, your job is really easy. Jamaica or the Islands are also super easy  to plan around; jerk chicken,coconut shrimp, rum drinks and Red Stripe beer will take you straight to Jamaica, mon.

Party decorations for a honeymoon shower can start with the colors of the flag from the country the couple will visit. (You can find these on a CIA website!) Old suitcases and travel stickers are easy decorations for a travel shower; use them for invitations, placecards,napkins or tablecloths. Luggage tags and bags of peanuts are perfect party favors. 

Since our friends were going to the beach in Los Cabos, Mexico for their honeymoon, we had a beach theme and the Mexican theme to work with for their bridal shower. Sombreros, serapes, maracas and jalapeno peppers are easy to find---especially right now with Cinco de May a little more than a month away. Head straight to the dollar store for supplies. If you want an elegant approach, use the beach theme instead of playing up the Mexican theme. Sand, shells, fish and cool colors like aqua and white are all you need. Most destinations are very easy to build a party around but I think we should opt for a tool and gadget bridal shower for my friends who are going to Prague for their honeymoon!

Easy Easter Party Ideas: Make a Peeps Cake!

Photo: Arden PhotographyI walked through my favorite Target yesterday and the Peeps were there! No, not my "peeps"--- THE Peeps--- the little marshmallow birdies you can only find around Easter. And I could not believe all of the new Peeps items and colors available this year. With Easter just weeks away, it's time to start planning the big bunny's visit. This Peeps cake will easily be the hit of the party and it makes a great centerpiece, too.

There are several ways to do this cake. You can start with an iced cake and cover it with the Peeps. I thought it would be fun to stack the Peeps as high as I could and use skewers to keep them from toppling over. You can use icing to "glue" the Peeps together instead of skewers. This one is also fun for the kids to create. (Refrain from the "one for you, two for me" system of stacking like I used-- it's a real diet killer.) Have fun with this one and be creative. I used a ribbon to top our cake but you can use bubble gum tape, licorice whips or anything else you like.

See more Easter egg hunt decorating and party ideas in my Easter Egg Hunt slideshow. You'll find ideas for your Easter egg hunt, even if weather forces you inside. Find tips for a kid-friendly Easter egg hunt party buffet that include healthy choices that even the kids will love. A craft table is always a good idea to keep the kids occupied and busy between party activities. We had a bunny race with some of those wind-up bunnies that hop. Very fun. Hop on over to my Indoor Easter Egg Hunt article for more Easter party ideas.

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Cheap is the New Chic: DIY Buffet Bars for Your Next Party

So many of you are planning weddings, birthday parties (I have my Dad's 80th next week) anniversary parties, bridal showers and graduation parties right now, I am getting daily emails asking for help and ideas.  

One easy and affordable idea for parties of any kind are DIY food stations. Caterers have used build-it-yourself food and beverage bars for a long time. These DIY bars are affordable, fun and interactive, too! Coffee and dessert bars have been popular forever but now we're seeing everything from mashed potato bars to cupcake bars. Guests love to customize their dish. That's why ice cream shops with all of those mix-ins are so popular; people can get exactly what they want. Here are some ideas for your own DIY Buffet Bar:DIY is easy wtih all of these toppings and mix-ins at a kid's party. Photo: Arden Photography

• Pizza Bar   
• Pasta Bar
• Risotto Bar
• Soup Bar
• Ice Cream Bar
• Bloody Mary Bar
• Gumbo Bar
• Baked Potato Bar
• Candy Bar
• Martini Bar
• Hot Chocolate Bar
• Hot Fudge Sundae Bar

Start with your base. Add containers of your favorite toppings or mix-ins. Guests can add what they like to create their dish their way! Tell us your own ideas for a DIY buffet bar!