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 13^th 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.

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.

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!

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.

“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.”

This one is clever and true. I love the “develop from the negatives” part. How often we forget that sometimes you need a rough patch in order to reach that next level of growth.

Need I say more about this one?? “Comparison is the thief of joy”. Truer words have never been spoken. Follow your own path ladies. There is so much power in living this statement.

What are some of your favorite quotes? I could go on for days!

I haven’t heard of a more genius concept in my life!

This picture is from ohjoy.blogs.com and I believe that this “cupcake dance” perfectly illustrates the feelings of joy that I experienced when I first heard of this.

Though I haven’t been there yet, the old 90210 is just a hop, skip, and a jump away. I’ll be sure to give you the deets as soon as I go!

Tips for Planning an Educational Birthday Party from lifetimemoms.com:

Choose a Theme: A theme “highlights the interests of the birthday child and brings a focus,” explains Ashley Renee Jefferson, an early childhood enthusiast and play time expert, who runs My Play with Ashley. A favorite book, animal, or activity makes a great theme. Jefferson adds, “Trust me, it makes it easier on you! Choosing between a princess party or circus party does not matter. They can all be educational so long as it is executed well.”
Invite Learning: Set the tone from the beginning with an invitation that ties into the theme and gets young guests thinking. “Send your toddler guests an invite made out of eco-friendly jumbo puzzle pieces,” suggests Marley Majcher, The Party Goddess!, who has celebrity clients including Britney Spears, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Pierce Brosnan, Katherine Heigl, and Snoop Dogg.

Short and Sweet: “Short people need short activities for their short attention spans!” advises Dylan Glanzer, founder of Parties by Dylan & Company, who also holds an M.A. in early childhood education. “Successful parties for ages one through six involve short, hands-on activities that include creative props and music.”

Feed Me: “Feed children before they do any entertainment,” warns Glanzer,  “Hungry children don’t like to play anything!” Provide some healthy options, like fruit, for a brain-friendly snack. Getting kids involved in the refreshments is another way to spice up an educational party. Make your own pizzas or decorate your own cupcakes encourages creativity.

Man Your Stations: Take a tip from classroom teachers and break kids up into groups of three to five to rotate them around stations for some of the activities.

Get Physical: Children, especially young kids, need to be up and moving. Provide a good mix of sit-down crafts and activities that get everyone dancing, racing, and jumping. You can tie these physical activities into the theme. For example, try a freeze dance with everyone moving like their favorite animals. Obstacle courses and scavenger hunts work with most themes and will encourage kids to get up and explore.

Play to the Crowd: Modify existing popular games and activities to fit your theme. Melissa Taylor of Imagination Soup created a Greek Gods-themed “Go Fish” game for her kid’s Percy Jackson party.

Think Outside the Goody Bag: If you are looking for an alternative to candy or toys, “coupons to visit local attractions are ways to provide children with cultural and educational opportunities — memories that will carry them throughout life,” says Greg Jenkins of Bravo Productions.

While it is important to be organized, leave plenty of room for open-ended fun. Ashley Renee Jefferson notes,”Many of the party companies that I’ve seen come and perform, but with the work that I do I show up to facilitate. There’s a difference. I bring the goods and more but my job is to set up a platform for children to play together and explore without giving an overwhelming amount of direction.”

The watermelon mojito here is the perfect way to cool down on a hot day.

Here’s a 5 star recipe from Sunny Anderson at www.foodnetwork.com

Here’s what you need in order to whip up this amazing cocktail:

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 to 3 pounds watermelon flesh, pits removed
• 1/2 cup fresh lime juice
• 1/4 cup packed mint leaves, plus more for garnish
• 2 1/2 cups white rum
• 1/4 cup agave syrup

Directions

This particular tent was featured in a Bahamas wedding photographed by www.styleartlife.com.

Although I absolutely love this look, I realize that most brides usually prefer to stay on the classic side. That way, thirty years from now you’ll still love your wedding photos.

I can’t help but imagine this for  a sassy summer soiree!

Choose one bright pop of color to infuse with the bold print and…voila! Gorgeous, modern, and bright. It would be quite a spectacle, don’t ya think?