Dalmatian Day: Christmas Card Edition

Every year my family and I produce a themed Christmas card which serves as our annual family photo. Thus far we have done Alice in Wonderland, Game of Thrones, A Willy Wonka Candyland Fantasy and this year our version of 101 Dalmatians

This year my daughter has been begging for a puppy .... for the entire year. I was not ready for a puppy and was teased about having some Cruella deVille moment's. Also anyone who know me knows how I adore a Disney Villain. Because of our children range in ages, and being parents of a child with exceptional needs we sometimes feel that there are 101 and not really just 4  in the house and the theme started to take shape. It seemed like a natural theme for this year.

STYLE:

  My husband has a male Cruella and dotted dalmation hybrid look. Creamy faux leather jacket (Forever 21 several seasons ago) and dalmation tee. Shop the dalmation wrap my step-daughter is wearing. the girls matching gowns are no longer available. Kaleigh wore dlamation ear headband that came in a set of headband/ears, bow tie and tail. She wore the ears and I incorporated the bow tie and tail into the set.

 Cruella Vibes: White hair extensions, Kat Von D Eyeshadow & MAC VIVA Glam I Lip

Vintage Jewles, SJP Collection FAWN 70MM in Poison (now soild out in this color), Red Opera Gloves. (Dress - Plain black wrap / Coat Forever 21)

I even had my own shoe wranger ....

(Shop Blake's dalmation tie)

SET:

I constructed and desgined the set in my Evolution Vintage showroom space. A red, black, white with a hint of creame color scape. I used photography backdrop frames and draped them with layered sheets, decked out a christmas tree complete with lace Minnie Mouse Ear toppers, and of couse 101 balloons ... 50 white, 50 black and one red.

Antique photo frames were used on either side of the set along with two antique chairs and a vintage steamer trunbk draped in black satin. 

 I even had a Cruella-esque stunt cigarette holder on set with a sparklet "flame" ornameltal piece up-cycled from a discarded  Chriustmas decoration.

 I used petticoats in black/white/red under the christmas tree to add volume and a costume dalmation tail in the tree as if a puppy had just dove in, can you see it? I live for details like this. A large, life size stuffed dalmation on loan from my friend Brenda Sue, from Brenda Sues consignment in Morro Bay and another stuffed pooch from the Disney dalmation film rounded out the crew.

We had a blast this year ... wishing everyone an amazing 2017! 

until next year .....

Frozen Party Time

My daughter's 9th birthday is quickly approaching and I realized I didn't share her party from last year, a Frozen adventure in the middle of Central California in February. I create the invitations, prep costumes, food and all the DIY details.

We are crazy for costumes here and every theme party both hostess and guest are required to turn it out! Kaleigh chose the Frozen Fever Elsa! Every open branch or hook in the yard we hung a sparkly snowflake.

I opted for the traditional Anna from the original film and my step-daughter dressed in coronation Elsa attire.

Anna Shoe Game (SJP Collection DAME)

even the guests brought the frozen attire and shoe game

SJP Collection LOUISE

 DECOR:

All of the decor was outside (with the exception of the food), The ICING on top of this frozen cake was the theatrical "snow" machine. The machine was a full size theatrical snow machine that dispensed snow like soap suds. I borrowed the machine and purchased the solution online here. I also learned that we could have had REAL snow trucked in ... for a price larger than our backyard budget! The guests LOVED the snow effects!

big daddy snow flake in da house!

I added cotton "fake now" to cover the pavement as well.

We ALWAYS have our large Birthday Balloon! Blake was in charge of this piece of the decor.

Table centerpiece was a photo, light up snow globe! I used a silver plate charger and white ornamental "sand" for the snow effect. I used her most recent school photo!

 I had snowflake decor that I use for decoration at Christmas and I printed her name in the "Frozen font"

FOOD & SNACKS 

 Old school sno-Cones were a MUST at this frozen fete! 

No FROZEN party is compete without an ICE CREAM CAKE! I created the "snow globe" with Else and Olaf. This is the first time I have ever purchased a cake. I got this mint chocolate chip cake from a local cafe, Mojo's in Cambria. I always plate my cakes with fruit. 

all of the snacks were also themed; Cheese Sticks, Pop corn, Frozen Jelly Belly. I didn't photograph the healthy, non- themed nosh.

 FUN STUFF:

Elsa is famous for her fabulous french braid! The gorgeous Miss Heather was on hand and in costume braiding all of the guests hair!

An inflatable Olaf was an amazing prop for photos and the girls had a lot of fun with it.

 I also had an Elsa and an Anna wigs available for use for fun photo op's

We also had some FROZEN "Let it Go" moments on the Mic!

Our guests always enjoy an equally themed "goodie Bag"  - this year was a FROZEN re-usable bag full of word search, pencils, erasers, candies, hair accessories and more.

The party was another themed success that my daughter and her guests will remember for years to come. Mostly because I took hundreds of photos and won't let them. Excited to plan 2017's PAWty. I promise not to wait a year to share the details!

XO

Other Theme Parties:

PRINCESS / BE OUR GUEST

MONSTER HIGH

UNDER THE SEA