Fancy Halloween Soiree

I just finished helping with my church's annual Halloween Party.  It is such a big undertaking - but so much fun!!!!  The theme was "Frightfully Fancy".  Here are the invitations - I printed them on burlap colored paper:

This is the finished cultural hall - it turned out amazing especially considering we didn't really have a decorations budget!!

This is a little vignette by the front entrenace

Groups of paper bats guiding people down the hall - spooky!!

A spooky collection of old art and vintage frames.

(A little before picture of putting up all the lights)

My friends and I emptied our houses and pulled all our decor accents together.  It was a little shocking to see all we had - this is just a sampling!

One morning my friend and I were at an estate sale and the estate's owner had an intense doll-making hobby.  They were selling all her doll-head molds.  They wanted $10 a mold, then they said $8, then said $5 if we bought a bunch of them.  When we went to leave I offered $3 a head and they took it!  I am now the proud owner of 10 spooky doll-head molds.  They were absolutely perfect accents to the centerpieces on the tables!

Each table was decorated differently - vases, candle sticks, crows, birdcages, owls, clocks, vintage pictures, black pumpkins, etc.  Then we put a spider web treatment on it all and it looked amazing!  Everyone kept asking where we got all the decorations!  It was a little embarrassing admitting that we owned it all!!  You should see my garage!!

During dinner we had all the piano students play halloween piano pieces for the background music. 

This is the long serving table where we served the food.

And the food was AMAZING!!!  This guy spent the entire day smoking ribs in a smoker he built just for the party.  He also made his famous BBQ chicken.

Best ribs EVER!!!!

We had a photo booth where families could get their pictures taken.  We also had 6 different carnival-type games, a cake walk, and trunk-or-treat!

Our annual pie contest:

My daughter made this key lime pie and won an award!

Then we had a spook alley - and not just any spook alley.  Our Young Men age 12-18 arrived at the church at 8am with lumber and tools and began constructing walls for the spook alley.  They stayed and worked the entire day - best spook alley ever!

 They framed walls then attached black plastic.  There was an outer maze for older kids and an inside maze that was less scary for the younger kids.

I think the boys had a little too much fun!  It was too hard to photograph when it was finished because it was pretty dark!

 It was ALOT of work but so worth it.  Everyone had such a great time!!!  

Halloween Murder Mystery Dinner Party

This weekend we were invited to a Murder Mystery Party.  My friend hosts one every year in October and it is so much fun!  We received an email with a synopses of our characters and what we were supposed to wear - this is us - yes, funny!!

I purchased this dress at a garage sale only hours before the party for $2.  (Who has a garage sale at 6pm at night?)

 The party began with appetizers and clues.  Then it moved to dinner with more questions and clues.  Then to dessert and accusations!  It was so much fun!  Everyone looked great and we had a few people with really cleaver accents.  

 Here you can see we are deep in conversation and deep into character!  If you want to host your own party, go to Host-Party.com.

Fishy Fourteen Birthday Party

This weekend I threw a surprise party for my daughter - we totally got her and she was totally surprised!!!!  It was worth all the stress and planning for sure!  She LOVES fish so the party had a fish theme.

 I ordered all these funny blow up fish to float in the pool.  My dear friend let us use her back yard for the party - it was perfect!  It feels like a resort!

The fountains and the pool lights change colors!

We had a nacho bar for dinner.

 And our FAVORITE "Nothing Bundt Cake" for the cake.

For the party favors, I sewed 15 of these little fishy zipper pouches.

I filled the zipper pouches with Swedish Fish, Aqua Blossoms B&BW hand sanitizer, a piece of fish jewelry, a fish keychain, and a blue elastic ponytail holder.

I think all the girls liked them.  It was a fun party!!

Totally 80's Costume Party

 I totally miss the 80's!!!  This was so much fun!  We had a totally awesome time reminiscing and talking about all those totally rad styles! 

  

 Love this intense "mod" look!

 

 Tough girl & preppy guy!

 Oh yea :)

 We had to break out the neon spray paint!

  
 The dinner was 80's food - which is code for junk food: pizza, nachos, chips, onion dip, Kool Aid, Tang, and boy am I glad they brought back the Hostess Twinkies & Cup Cakes!!

  
 If you know me at all, you know that I can't have a party without dancing!  I love this picture of the guys - they are singing Depeche Mode's "Somebody".  Ahhhhhhhh

We had a little "name that tune" throw down

 Then just lots and lots of dancing and singing!!