Home | Catch My Party

I don't know about you, but I'm starting to like Google+. I have both a G+ Catch My Party page and a G+ personal page. They are similar to my business page and personal page on Facebook, and I share different content on each one.

I think Google+ is the new social network. It does help with SEO (getting found in Google searches), plus you won't miss people's updates (and they won't miss yours) like what happens on Facebook.

Please follow me on both of my pages to keep up to date on what we're up to and I'll happily follow you back!

Here's my  G+ Catch My Party page.

And here's my G+ personal page:

I thought I'd do a roundup of some of the coolest, newest party supplies because a friend of mine was recently trying to do a search online for baker's twine, but didn't know what it was called and had a hard time finding it. So here's are some of the newest party supplies -- what they look like, what they're called, and where you can buy them.

Baker's Twine -- Of course I had to start with baker's twine, which is so popular these days. It comes in a variety of colors, perfect for wrapping favors and gifts, and perfect for adding pizzazz to all your creative party decorations. I love the old-school feel and I love all the colors!

Japanese Washi Tape -- This is Japanese masking tape that comes in a ton of colors and patterns. I use it for wrapping gifts and for decorating anything that needs a pop of color. I've used it on birthday cards, to decorate vases, to give style to pencils, and even to make a colorful lampshade.

Paper Straws -- What I love about paper straws is they are such a quick and easy way to add a little style to your party. They come in a variety of colors and patterns. I see them at parties all over our site ,and I keep a bunch of colors on hand for quick entertaining. Plus, they make great cake pop sticks!

Mason Jars with Daisy Lids -- What a fun, vintage-y way to serve drinks at your party. Just stick a paper straw in the daisy lid and you're set to go -- more environment than paper or plastic cups and much much cuter!

Tissue Paper Pom Poms -- Another quick way to add dimensionality to your party space with soft textures. I especially love pom poms at girl birthdays, baby showers, and bridal showers!

 Paper Candy Cups -- I'm seeing these all over our site right now. They're great for serving individual snacks to little guests!

Circle Punch (2 inch) - We offer over 150 sets of free printable party decorations. To pop out some printable party circles to use as cupcake toppers, labels, and tags, a circle punch is a necessity. It makes everything look more polished and also makes the job of decorating much easier

Paper Treat Bags -- I love sending my guests home with something fun at the end of the party (my favorite being an edible treat), and using these paper treat bags that come in a variety of colors and patterns (polka dot, stripes, chevron, etc.) wraps them up perfectly.

I'll be back soon with more party decoration ideas. If you have a party supply idea you think I need to include, please email me at jillian(at)catchmyparty(dot)com. I'd love suggestions!

 Molly at CakeFYI is back with another insane dessert... chocolate peanut butter cookie dough cupcakes!! I'm dying because this is so up my alley!!!

In my household, the combination of chocolate and peanut butter is an absolute dessert staple. If you love it too, then you’ll definitely want to try these cupcakes!

This unique recipe starts with a simple chocolate cupcake batter, but by adding edible raw peanut butter cookie dough to the center, as well as more to the batter, you get something totally transformed. Plus I top them with peanut butter cookie dough frosting for just a tad more decadence!

Edible Raw Peanut Butter Cookie Dough

Ingredients

• 1/4 C Butter
• 1/4 C White Sugar
• 1/2 C Brown Sugar
• 2/3 C Flour
• 1/4 C Peanut Butter

Cream the butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in flour and peanut butter until well mixed. Set aside.

Chocolate Cupcakes

• 1/4 C White Sugar
• 1/2 C Brown Sugar
• 3/4 C + 2 TBSP Flour
• 1/4 C +2 TBSP Cocoa Powder
• 3/4 Tsp Baking Powder
• 3/4 Tsp Baking Soda
• 1/4 Tsp Salt
• 1 Egg
• 1/2 C Milk
• 1/4 C Saffola Oil
• 1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Cup Water, Boiling

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

Mix all dry ingredients together.

Add egg, milk, oil, and vanilla and beat well.

Pour in boiling water, and stir the batter until combined.

Grease or line a cupcake pan. Fill each cupcake well halfway with batter, then add a teaspoon sized ball of cookie dough in the middle. Top with additional batter.

Bake for 20-22 minutes. Let cool completely.

Once cooled, top with Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Icing and sprinkles.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Icing

• 1/2 C Butter
• Remaining Cookie Dough
• 2 1/2-3 C Powdered Sugar
• 1 Tbsp Milk
• 1/2 C Peanut Butter, or more to taste

Cream the butter and remaining peanut butter cookie dough.

Then add half of the powdered sugar. Add the milk and continue to beat. Continue to add powdered sugar until you reach your desired consistency. Beat in the peanut butter.

Molly, once again you've blown me away with what you create, thank you!!!

To learn more about Molly check her out at CakeFYI.

Happy Father's Day! My daughter surprised my husband this morning with a play she wrote about him. It was very cute and I think he was touched!

Here are some awesome parties from our site this week: a sweet pink lemonade birthday, a July 4th tailgater, a superhero party that celebrates some super kids, and a cool pink and purple rockstar bash!

Clockwise (from top left):

• Melody F's Mia’s Sweet Pink Lemonade
• Amy C's Fireworks Tailgate
• Marlene L's Sam's "You're Super!" Party
• Ashley K's Halle's Rockstar Party

Here are some fun posts I did for Spoonful this week...

Simple and pretty paper bag party favors...

A tutorial for a welcoming Pink Paris tulle wreath...

Easy to make "Pink Poodle in Paris" cookies with lots of variations!

For more party planning inspiration, check out all my posts on Spoonful!

If you want to do something special to celebrate Father's Day on Sunday, we've got 8 sets of awesome and free Father's Day printables for you to have fun with!!

Plus, for more ideas, check out these amazing Father's Day parties on our site!

My daughter, Lainey, started camp this week, so summer is definitely in full swing! To help you get ready for your upcoming July 4th parties, we're giving away this collection of FREE "Let Freedom Ring" July 4th printables from Melanie at Designs by Serendipity.

The collection includes: cupcake toppers, cupcake wrappers, party signs, food cards, pennant flags (large and small), water bottle labels, straw flags, tags, and a "Happy 4th of July" banner.

DOWNLOAD THE HIGH RESOLUTION FILES FOR PRINTING HERE!

Here are the individual files...

Thank you, Melanie! I love all the patriotic patterns you used!

To learn more about Melanie and see all of her designs, visit her Designs by Serendipity Etsy shop and check her out on Facebook and Twitter.

And for more inspiration, take a look at these incredible July 4th parties on our site!

One of my favorite themes for boy 1st birthdays and baby showers is Sock Monkey parties. They have a built in retro feel and you can decorate them so easily with sock monkey toys (and other vintage toys), sock monkey cake pops, cookies, and printables!

To see more of these adorable parties, click on the link or the photo...

LOUISE S' Sock Monkey Birthday Party

AUTUMN G's Sock Monkey Reed Turns One!!

JENIFER H's Up & Away Sock Monkey 1st Birthda

ILA G's Miles 1st Birthday

JILLIAN B's Sock Monkey 1st Birthday

MARIAH L's Sock Monkey Baby Shower

ANA P's Sock Monkey Shower

AMIE K's Hudson's First Birthday

For further inspiration, check out all the Sock Monkey parties on our site!

Molly from CakeFYI has been busy dreaming up some more delicious treats for us! Check out her newest recipe!

To me, soft pretzels are a dream come true. They’re kind of tough on the outside, but they’re so fluffy on the inside. They’re the perfect snack at any age, but let me tell you, those simple pretzels can get so much better.

It’s sort of a timely process to make pretzel bites, but it’s incredibly fun and pretty darn simple. I dunked these in a homemade salted caramel sauce and sprinkled them with sea salt to give them an extra kick of flavor. I don’t think you need any more convincing.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 C Warm Water
• 1 Tbsp Sugar
• 1 Pkg Active Dry Yeast
• 4 1/2 C Flour
• 2 Tbsp Butter, melted
• 6 Cups Water, for boiling
• 1/4 C Baking Soda, for boiling
• 1 Large Egg Yolk

First, add your water and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer. Then sprinkle in the yeast.

Give the mixture a little stir, and let it sit for 5 minutes.

After about 5 minutes, the yeast mixture will begin to bubble and foam. Then, gradually begin to add half of the flour, mixing on low as you go.

After adding half of the flour, gradually add the melted butter. Then, continue to add the remaining flour.

Once you’ve added all of the flour, and the dough begins to pull away from the sides of the bowl, it’s ready to knead. Put your mixer on medium-high, and let it knead the dough for 5-7 minutes.

Next, brush the sides of a large bowl with oil, or spray it with cooking spray. Roll the dough around in the bowl to coat it in oil. Let the dough sit to rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour, until it has doubled in size. Once the dough has risen, we’re ready to form the pretzel bites!

Fill a large pot with water and add the baking soda before you turn the stove on high. Let it come to a rolling boil. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees.

Meanwhile, divide the dough into 8 equal portions. Working with 1 dough portion at a time, roll out fat ropes of dough, about 10 inches long and 1 inch wide. Cut each dough rope into 8 small pieces, and set them on a greased baking sheet.

Once your water begins to boil, carefully drop 6-8 pretzel bites into the pot. Let them boil for about 30 seconds, and then place them back on the greased baking sheet. I like to use a slotted spoon or a spatula to get them out. That way, there isn’t too much water on the baking sheet. They’re going to look a bit lumpy at this point, but don’t worry about it. They will take shape once they’re baked.

Whisk 1 large egg yolk with a splash of water. Brush the pretzel bites with this mixture to give it an egg wash.

Bake the pretzel bites for 7-8 minutes until golden. Immediately transfer them to wire racks to cool.

Now, what about that Salted Caramel Sauce I mentioned?

Salted Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:

• 4 Tbsp Butter
• 3/4 Brown Sugar
• 1/3 C Milk
• 1 Tsp Pure Vanilla Extract
• 3 Tsp Salt

In a small saucepan, melt the butter. Once melted, add the brown sugar, milk, and vanilla and whisk well. Let the sauce boil over medium heat for 5 minutes. Do not stir it!

Once boiled, remove it from the heat and whisk well. Pour it into a jar or bowl immediately, and place it in the fridge for 5 minutes to slightly thicken.

Grab a cookie sheet, and place it under the wire rack. Dunk the top of each pretzel bite in the caramel sauce. Swirl it around to get the excess off. Top them with a sprinkle of salt, and let them set to dry for 1 hour.

And voila!!! Bite size deliciousness... bet you can't eat just one!

Thanks Molly, for the yummy recipe! To learn more about Molly check her out at CakeFYI.

Race Car Father's Day printables... how cool! Check out this new set we're giving away from Rachel at Creative Little Stars! If your husband or father loves cars, you must download these! The collection includes: gift tags, water bottle labels, Father's Day cards, printed paper, and banner flags. DOWNLOAD THE HIGH RESOLUTION FILES FOR PRINTING HERE! Here the whole collections... And see them in action here... Thank you, Rachel! What a fun set! To learn more about Rachel and Creative Little Stars, please visit the Creative Little Stars Etsy shop, website, and Facebook page.