My family and I have been trying hard over the last year or so to make a point to have small groups of friends in as often as we can! Everyone is so busy these days it’s practically impossible to see all the people we love to spend time with…and while the timing doesn’t always work for everyone, we’re going to keep right on trying until we’ve gotten to everyone! So during a week when my husband was traveling I decided to open the doors again…but for girls only this time! Not only did it provide me with a perfect opportunity to see some of my pals for some girl-time but also allowed me to decorate the patio with a color I don’t get to use often…PINK! Living in a house full of boys isn’t conducive to decorating with girly colors…even though I find ways to sneak some in from time to time! But an all out Pepto Bismol fest just doesn’t happen around here…until recently! So, needless to say, I had a little fun. Have a peek at my summer inspired, pink and girly gathering!
when the rooster’s away the hens will play!
you know me by now…when i find party supplies that are adorable AND affordable, i snatch them up and plan later…and that’s exactly what i did! i’d picked up the inspiration for this gathering weeks ago when i found these adorable paper straws!
and how fitting for a pink flamingo to stand in for the hen at a “hen party!”
then i just had to wait for the perfect opportunity to use them! and knowing i WOULD eventually use them…i kept my eyes open for other economical flamingos to add to the party. this way i was ready to pull this thing together quickly when the perfect time came around! these cute plastic “vases” are actually sippy-straw cups from the dollar store!
and this decoupage DIY votive holder was made from a dollar store vase & a package of flamingo tissues…
these three little things were the inspiration for the entire evening. i just added a couple globes & tassels and i had a whimsical display of PINK!
my old dresser looked so festive with pink cake & candy…
the angel food cake was perfectly girly with all of it’s ruffles made from whipped icing…a fun find at the grocery store bakery! i just stuck in some DIY cake toppers to carry through the theme!
inexpensive paper goods are such an easy way to carry through a color theme…AND easy clean up!
i think water always looks fancier with added flavor…it tastes great, looks so festive, and is perfect for summer!
i set some simple munchies right on the table…easy access for nibbling! one of my girlfriends brought me the fresh picked berries which ended up making a perfect topper for the mini cakes!
i had pink on my brain so i searched out some beverages perfect for the occasion…
and was shocked at how many pink drinks were offered! i went a little crazy…may need to have several more gatherings to drink ’em up! but what a great excuse to do it again!
these flamingo straws were another exciting find in the bargain bins at Michael’s stores!
and one last, fun addition…a mini s’mores station! since the weather was on the drizzly side that evening, i decided that a fire in the pit might be risky. so i hauled out the mini grill which was just right for the tabletop where we stayed dry under the patio roof! by removing the grate this little grill made a perfect miniature fire pit! before you ask, ’cause all the girls did, this sweet thing came back from Morocco with my husband’s family years ago…but i bet camping stores would offer small grills that may be similar or you could use a sterno can in a cute, fireproof container! if you do use a grill like this, make sure it’s on a surface that won’t catch fire, like this slab of stone…
i decided to use an assortment of cookies as a nice alternative to graham crackers…
and it was a coincidence that i had these yummy strawberry marshmallows…so cute AND pink!
so as much fun as i had with the decorations…it really consisted of simple things that when grouped together turned out to be something special! just like the people who gathered here…
can’t wait to see more friendly faces at the next…