Graduation Time is Near!

Everyone wants to show their graduate just how proud they are of their accomplishment by throwing a party they’ll never forget. Let The Party Goddess! show you how to glam up your graduation party without breaking the bank. Photo by mostlymellen.blogspot.com

TIPS:   

* Watermelon Pops!  On a hot summer’s day, especially after sitting out at a graduation ceremony, guests are going to want cool, light treats.  Cut watermelon into triangles and serve on a popsicle stick! This less of a mess snack is super refreshing.

 

* Let the world and the tables revolve around the graduate!  For the centerpieces, use items that were important to the graduate during school.  Did they play varsity soccer? Write for the school newspaper? Place a soccer ball and the most recent issue of the school paper in the middle of the tables.  This will make him or her feel like the center of attention.

 

* Places You’ll Go!  As guests enter the party have them write their well wishes for the new graduate! The perfect guest book, “Oh The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss.

 

* Cheers!  The morning of the graduation begin to prep the best sangria ever! The longer it marinates the yummier! Oranges, lemons, apples, peaches and limes mixed with simple syrup, 7Up and red wine with brandy. This colorful drink can work double-duty as a delicious cocktail and  nice eye candy too.

 

* Cookie Bar!  The graduate must be one smart cookie! Jars filled with all kinds of cookies are a great dessert for your guests. Don’t forget the milk or “Adult Chocolate Milk.”

FACTS & FIGURES: 

* Graduation robes are modeled after clerical robes, the traditional garb of students and professors when universities began forming in the 13th century

* In the late 1800’s colors were assigned to signify certain areas of study at undergraduate and graduate levels of study

* The official name of the graduation march is “Pomp and Circumstance Military Marches,” and it was written in 1901

* Money is the most popular graduation gift.

Looking for Happiness?

I think the one common bond that most people share is the desire to be happy. We forget sometimes that we put up our own road blocks. I ran across this list from purposefairy.com and just HAD to share!

Here is a list of 15 things from purposefairy.com which, if you give up on them, will make your life a lot easier and much, much happier. We hold on to so many things that cause us a great deal of pain, stress and suffering – and instead of letting them all go, instead of allowing ourselves to be stress free and happy – we cling on to them. Not anymore. Starting today we will give up on all those things that no longer serve us, and we will embrace change. Ready? Here we go:

1. Give up your need to always be right

 There are so many of us who can’t stand the idea of being wrong – wanting to always be right – even at the risk of ending great relationships or causing a great deal of stress and pain, for us and for others. It’s just not worth it. Whenever you feel the ‘urgent’ need to jump into a fight over who is right and who is wrong, ask yourself this question: “Would I rather be right, or would I rather be kind?” Wayne Dyer. What difference will that make? Is your ego really that big?

2. Give up your need for control

Be willing to give up your need to always control everything that happens to you and around you – situations, events, people, etc. Whether they are loved ones, coworkers, or just strangers you meet on the street – just allow them to be. Allow everything and everyone to be just as they are and you will see how much better will that make you feel.

“By letting it go it all gets done. The world is won by those who let it go. But when you try and try. The world is beyond winning.” Lao Tzu

3. Give up on blame

 Give up on your need to blame others for what you have or don’t have, for what you feel or don’t feel. Stop giving your powers away and start taking responsibility for your life.

4. Give up your self-defeating self-talk

 Oh my. How many people are hurting themselves because of their negative, polluted and repetitive self-defeating mindset? Don’t believe everything that your mind is telling you – especially if it’s negative and self-defeating. You are better than that.

“The mind is a superb instrument if used rightly. Used wrongly, however, it becomes very destructive.” Eckhart Tolle

5. Give up your limiting beliefs

about what you can or cannot do, about what is possible or impossible. From now on, you are no longer going to allow your limiting beliefs to keep you stuck in the wrong place. Spread your wings and fly!

“A belief is not an idea held by the mind, it is an idea that holds the mind” Elly Roselle

6. Give up complaining

 Give up your constant need to complain about those many, many, maaany things – people, situations, events that make you unhappy, sad and depressed. Nobody can make you unhappy, no situation can make you sad or miserable unless you allow it to. It’s not the situation that triggers those feelings in you, but how you choose to look at it. Never underestimate the power of positive thinking.

7. Give up the luxury of criticism

Give up your need to criticize things, events or people that are different than you. We are all different, yet we are all the same. We all want to be happy, we all want to love and be loved and we all want to be understood. We all want something, and something is wished by us all.

8. Give up your need to impress others

Stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not just to make others like you. It doesn’t work this way. The moment you stop trying so hard to be something that you’re not, the moment you take off all your masks, the moment you accept and embrace the real you, you will find people will be drawn to you, effortlessly.

9. Give up your resistance to change

 Change is good. Change will help you move from A to B. Change will help you make improvements in your life and also the lives of those around you. Follow your bliss, embrace change – don’t resist it.
“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls” 
Joseph Campbell

10. Give up labels

 Stop labeling those things, people or events that you don’t understand as being weird or different and try opening your mind, little by little. Minds only work when open. “The highest form of ignorance is when you reject something you don’t know anything about.” Wayne Dyer

11. Give up on your fears

Fear is just an illusion, it doesn’t exist – you created it. It’s all in your mind. Correct the inside and the outside will fall into place.
“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.”
 Franklin D. Roosevelt

12. Give up your excuses

Send them packing and tell them they’re fired. You no longer need them. A lot of times we limit ourselves because of the many excuses we use. Instead of growing and working on improving ourselves and our lives, we get stuck, lying to ourselves, using all kind of excuses – excuses that 99.9% of the time are not even real.

13. Give up the past

I know, I know. It’s hard. Especially when the past looks so much better than the present and the future looks so frightening, but you have to take into consideration the fact that the present moment is all you have and all you will ever have. The past you are now longing for – the past that you are now dreaming about – was ignored by you when it was present. Stop deluding yourself. Be present in everything you do and enjoy life. After all life is a journey not a destination. Have a clear vision for the future, prepare yourself, but always be present in the now.

14. Give up attachment

This is a concept that, for most of us is so hard to grasp and I have to tell you that it was for me too, (it still is) but it’s not something impossible. You get better and better at with time and practice. The moment you detach yourself from all things, (and that doesn’t mean you give up your love for them – because love and attachment have nothing to do with one another,  attachment comes from a place of fear, while love… well, real love is pure, kind, and self less, where there is love there can’t be fear, and because of that, attachment and love cannot coexist) you become so peaceful, so tolerant, so kind, and so serene. You will get to a place where you will be able to understand all things without even trying. A state beyond words.

15. Give up living your life to other people’s expectations

Way too many people are living a life that is not theirs to live. They live their lives according to what others think is best for them, they live their lives according to what their parents think is best for them, to what their friends, their enemies and their teachers, their government and the media think is best for them. They ignore their inner voice, that inner calling. They are so busy with pleasing everybody, with living up to other people’s expectations, that they lose control over their lives. They forget what makes them happy, what they want, what they need….and eventually they forget about themselves.  You have one life – this one right now – you must live it, own it, and especially don’t let other people’s opinions distract you from your path.

Vintage Pearl Love

We just LOVE thevintagepearl.com here at The Party Goddess! Here’s a picture of me wearing a beautiful, one-of-a-kind creation of theirs.

No machines are used to make their jewelry…everything is so unique and personal. The perfect gift!

We were lucky enough to have The Vintage Pearl involved in our recent celebrity event with Kelly Preston, Jenna Elfman, and Laila Ali. This jewelry was a hit!

Here’s what they have to say about their fabulous pieces:
“The Vintage Pearl creates unique and meaningful handstamped jewelry and keepsakes. Each piece is handcrafted from start to finish with care in our studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We use raw sterling silver, freshwater pearls and birthstone crystals in our creations.
Each letter is individually stamped by hand, we do not use a machine, making every piece a true one-of-a-kind!

Our jewelry is customized with any names, dates or words of inspiration, and we have several fonts and charm shapes to choose from. We want your piece to be meaningful to you.
We have many unique designs and come out with new designs often. You can also “design your own” handstamped necklace by picking your favorite shapes and fonts with our eclectic necklace and our dainty eclectic necklace!
We create handstamped necklaces, bracelets, keychains, leather cuffs, earrings, dog tags, baby spoons and more- the perfect gift for everyone!”

 

Succulent Heaven

What a lovely way to dress up an empty wall or fence in the backyard! When I saw this on countryliving.com I knew what my weekend project was going to be.

Honestly, it’s a lot easier than you think. Not too expensive either. Here are the instructions and all of the information you’ll need in order to have a beauty like this of your own.

How Trays Work: Similar to nursery flats, these rectangular, plastic trays are divided into planting cells — all slanted at a 30-degree angle, with bottom holes that promote drainage and aeration. Each tray comes with a bracket for mounting, though you’ll need to add a wood frame to achieve the “wall art” look above. (Trays, from $39.95; verticalgardeningsystems.com)

Plant Them With: Succulents like these, which have shallow root systems, are well-suited for trays with 2″ x 2″ cells. Opt for the larger 4″ x 4″ cells when planting small annuals, perennials, and edibles (such as lettuce).

A New Discovery

How exciting is it when you make a new discovery? Recently, we stumbled upon an amazing shop called bellesnest.com with a great concept. Who better to tell you about it than the ladies themselves?

“Belle’s Nest began as a vision of two sisters/artists.  After years of making our own art and finding outlets to show and perhaps sell our work, we decided a retail store was the best venue not only for our items but also for the creative work of other local artists.

We envisioned the store as sort of a live version of our Etsy stores.

 

Once the vision took root, nothing could be done but to make it happen.  Finding the perfect spot in the quaint downtown section of Sierra Madre, CA  we now offer a venue for handmade items and place to nurture the creative spirit.

Each month a different local artist is featured and the inventory of the store is constantly changing; giving the shop a living feel.  As artist we share a love and passion for art, fine crafts, works that are handmade, and most importantly; the creative spirit.

What about the name?  Well that’s simple really, we love birds and one of our daughters is named Isabella so it just sort of came about that Belle’s Nest was the perfect name to symbolize a sanctuary for all things loved.

Visit our store and discover your own inner artist or simply pamper your creative muse.  We look forward to seeing you.”