Pink Ribbon Parties for Breast Cancer Awareness and Survivor Celebrations

In Indiana, our Race for the Cure is held in the spring. The Indianapolis event is huge and growing. October is the month for Breast Cancer Awareness, but regardless of the season we can always take the time to honor the survivors in our lives (who among us has not been touched in some way by this disease?). Perhaps you'll consider putting together your own event this fall to honor a sister, friend, or mother. Last spring during the race, I ate at a restaurant owned by a breast cancer survivor. The entire pub was bedecked in pink to honor her fight. It was amazing!

These nesting bowls (above) help raise funds for breast cancer, and would make a fabulous door prize at your event, and the pink ribbon fondue pot will be a welcome sight in any crowd of ladies -- bring on the chocolate!

Above, how about customized pink bowling shirts?!? If you and your girls are on a Race for the Cure team, these would be a fantastic show of support!

If your pink party involves pampering, this invitation (below) from tiny*prints can be reworded to be appropriate for your event:

If your pink party is in honor of a woman you and your guests love, what better way to express well-wishes than with this platter! Usually used at weddings, this would be an awesome way to show support while doubling as a guest book/keepsake!

These glass vases can be personalized with a message (other than "Daddy's Little Girl") and would make beautiful centerpieces if you have more than one table for your Pink Ribbon party. You can raffle them off to raise funds, and fill them with your favorite pink flowers!

I use these individual tea sachets all the time. They're really cool, and the tea is nice. They'll look super cute at your place-settings! A luxe touch for your luncheon.

Beer Pong Party: I'm thinking Hubb's Birthday

     Not only do I park on the driveway to accomodate Hubb's ping pong arena, but I actually had to be home the day his World Championship table tennis table was specially drop-shipped from China. A few years ago, he and his friends began attending Beer Pong tournaments, enjoying themselves thoroughly. Because our home table is his baby (might as well be for as much as he has invested in it & the requisite high tech paddles), he would never dream of hosting beer pong here at the house. Now I know what to get him for his next birthday, and how to theme the party: Beer Pongpalloza! He'll be so stoked!

Alice in Wonderland Party Part 2

     There is so much in the way of Alice-esque stuff. Recently, I was perusing Urban Outfitters and I saw some crazy Wonderland glassware. Naturally, I ordered it. Enjoy this sequel to my first post on a Wonderland party. Hopefully, you'll find some ideas here that will prompt you to bring your next afternoon gathering into the garden for tea!

I can't decide which place card holder I love more: the tiny chairs or the little teapot. At a truly mad tea party, I suppose I could use them both! And then I saw this wacky little set, looking rather Hatter indeed:

I've posted these favor bags already (see Hippy Chic), but if your party is more brightly colored (a la the Disney version), these would be perfect - so much nicer than cellophane or plastic. A Wonderland party is great for little girls who like stories but aren't into the whole princess thing!

Alice had a locket, and so should your guest(s) of honor! At under $37, this sterling silver locket is a perfect, memorable party gift that will be even more special if you have it inscribed. It even holds 2 pictures (I'm not ashamed to admit I have my two beloved Bostons inside my favorite locket). Below, more of a splurge version (just under $3000) of a Victorian locket:

If your party is only inspired by Alice, and your brainstorms morph into an afternoon garden tea, the card below is subtle, feminine and timelessly classic.

I love huge teacups. They lend a surreal bit of kookiness to your tea party!

I am NOT a collector of figurines, but how cute would this be on top of your little Alice's cake?

*Just wanted to add, after I put this post together, I clicked on one of the cakes in my original post's collage. It took me to this blog, specifically devoted to Alice in Wonderland weddings. she's got some beautiful pictures of Mad Hatter cakes. What Wonderland soiree is complete without petit fours and fancy cookies proclaiming, "Eat Me!"

Alice in Wonderland Party

Go Ask Kitty by kittymagazine featuring Gucci bags

*please note, this is only the first Alice post; please browse Aug and Sept. 09 posts for more coverage of this very popular topic!*

Alice in Wonderland is the first book I ever remember reading. A child of the 70s, I was naturally acquainted with the psychedelic Disney version of the classic Victorian Age tome. I became intimately more enchanted with the film much later, in college, ahem... but my favorite rendition to this day remains the stage production I saw sometime before 1980 in some Chicago theatre (possibly THE Chicago theatre).

Alice has inspired so many things I've created, from derivative skits, to my own wedding, and even a collection of ornaments and porcelain doodads and such. She shows up in my dreams, on my Christmas tree, and on my pages. She has certainly made many appearances at parties! It is her absurd and fanciful journey through the looking glass that fuels my love of Victorian gardens, red heart motifs, and tea parties. Herewith, I present you with inspiration for your own Wonderland. Click on my rad Polyvore collage above, or peruse the party favors below!

First, I'll delineate several icons of Alice's world that can serve as inspirational jumping points to get you brainstorming. Think gardens. English gardens: topiaries and formalities such as roses. Daisies, yes, but mainly red and white roses ("We're painting the roses red/Who's been painting my roses red"). This setting lends itself to girly tea parties, showers, rush parties, and that sort of thing. Croquet and crumpets, perhaps a nice ladylike game of cards.

Now red hearts and black spades for the Pack of Cards that tends the Queen's garden. There are wonderful illustrations in the free domain since this story is so old. A simple Google will pull up Victorian Mad Hatters, frantic rabbits, and menacing caterpillars you can use as clip art or whatever. Sub-icons may include doors & keyholes, pocket watches, and mushrooms. Bottles labeled, "Drink Me" and cookies proclaiming, "Eat me."

Although an Alice in Wonderland birthday tea party (or Un-birthday party) would be beautiful in the garden for a little girl, I know this isn't a theme tangible or beloved by all. Of course with Tim Burton's version coming out in 2010, I'm sure a whole new generation of dreamers and daydreamers will get hip to this classic tale.