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parties

19 In food/ parties

Root Beer Float Bar

Root beer float bar

This root beer float bar is perfect for your summer family fun nights or BBQs.

When I think of some of my favorite childhood summer memories I think of nights at the drive-in, ice cream for dinner, swimming in the pool and catching fireflies. I long to get back to those simple times and give my kids those summers that I had. Scroll down to see my root beer float bar and more vintage summer ideas from some of my friends. Every Friday night we have our Friday night pizza nights followed by a movie. In the summer if it’s a nice night we will set up an outdoor movie on the deck. I made this root beer float bar for a special treat during our movie. It reminded me of being at the drive-ins!

Root Beer Float Bar Fixings

Some other fun and different root beer float variations:

  • Make a boozy peanut butter float peanut butter cup ice cream and with peanut butter flavored whiskey.
  • For the coffee lover use coffee flavored ice cream!
  • For a healthier option if you like bananas, freeze some bananas then blend with a little bit of milk of your choice until an ice cream consistency and use for your float.

  Root Beer Float Bar

I added some decor I had around the house just to make it feel a little more fancy, like my chalkboard and cake stand.

root beer float bar decor

root beer float bar

Root Beer Float Bar

Some tips-

  • If not making and enjoying right away, you may want to have a galvanized bucket of ice and keep the root beer and ice cream on ice.
  • Use small bowls for things like sprinkles, nuts, marshmallows and chocolate chips.
  • For the sauces, whipped cream and cherries, just put out in their original containers or jars.

Root Beer Float Bar 

Enjoy!!!!

I love to see if you make any of my recipes. Be sure to tag me in your photos on Instagram @ourtiny_nest

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How to make a root beer float bar

 

For more summer inspiration, check out my friends ideas below

More Old Fashioned Summer Inspiration

Grandma's Peach Pie

The Tattered Pew | Eleanor Rose Home | Midwest Life and Style | Green Valley Gable | Our Tiny Nest Blog | White & Wood Grain

 

For another fun snack click here to check out my Banana Split Apple Nachos!

And click here for my summer bucket list

 

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0 In Birthday/ Events/ parties

Maxwell’s 3rd birthday on the farm

fall themed farm birthday

Somehow this little boy turned 3 years old last week. (I swear it feels like just last year we were planning his first birthday!) To celebrate him, we threw him a birthday party with all of his friends at a local apple orchard and farm. Scroll on down to see all the details from Maxwell’s 3rd birthday on the farm.

When I found out that my due date with Maxwell was Halloween, I was so excited and hoped that he would inherit my love of all fall things.  And it turns out, he did. For those of you who are local to the Capital District, Indian Ladder Farms in Voorheesville is our favorite place to be in the fall. Not only do they have great apples, but they also have an amazing biergarten for the adults! So it only seemed fitting to have Maxwell’s third birthday party there. (BTW this post isn’t sponsored by ILF we just love it there that much!) From feeding the farm animals to a hayride and painting pumpkins, the kids had a perfect fall festive morning.

 

farm birthday party invitations

I made these invitations on the Canva app

 

When we first got there, the kids all played in the sandbox while we waited for everyone to arrive. Then we were off to see all the animals. They provided us with little buckets of fresh fruits and veggies for each child to feed the animals.

Fall themed farm birthday party

Next we took a hayride around the farm and then went back to the party tent for some pumpkins, donuts and cider.

Fall themed farm birthday party painting pumpkins

I had gotten some little pumpkins for each kid to paint and take home. Trader Joe’s is a great spot for pumpkins (I found these little paint palettes, paint brushes and washable paint all on Amazon).

 

Fall themed farm birthday party painting pumpkins

And it wouldn’t be a fall themed birthday without a giant donut cake and some apple cider. (We skipped out on singing “Happy Birthday” to the Dude though because he doesn’t like all the attention).

apple cider donut cake

 

Fall themed farm birthday party

 

The timing was from 10-12, which I think is perfect for a toddler birthday party. The fresh air tired all the kids out and Dude napped real good afterwards 🙂

Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated my favorite little pumpkin!

Linking some party supplies below!

birthday party supplies balloon pump

farm birthday party balloons

And for more party planning posts check out:

How to throw a “Wild One” themed birthday

How to throw the best 30th birthday party

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fall themed birthday on the party

1 In Birthday/ DIY/ Events/ parties

How to throw the best 30th birthday party

Thirty AF Birthday Party

My middle sister Michelle just turned 30. She is the biggest party girl I know and is always there to celebrate all of her family and friends no matter what the occasion. So we knew we had to throw her a surprise 30th birthday party to remember. I’m sharing all the details on how to throw an epic 30th birthday party. (And I’ve included links throughout so that you can shop some of my essentials to recreate the look yourself!)

Theme

How to make balloon garland

With any party, you have to first choose a theme. We wanted the feel to be a very intimate gathering, relaxed but yet a little upscale. And it had to be special because you only turn 30 once! My mom and sister got the great idea to have a private chef come in and cook dinner for our guests. If any of you guys are local to the Capital Region, you have to check out Ryan O’Shea from Suburban Kitchen. Not only did he prepare a delicious meal from farm to table, but he handles everything from bringing all the ingredients to even doing all the dishes afterwards so that you can truly just relax and mingle with your guests. (Side Note – Ryan did not pay me for this plug, I just highly recommend him!)

How to throw the best 30th birthday party private chef

Decor

Table setting

Since it was a dinner party, the table was going to be the focal point of our evening. We did a very simple yet tasteful table setting with white linens and greenery. Trader Joe’s is a great spot for fresh, seasonal stems. Or if you want to go the faux route, I love Joann’s or Michael’s.

simple white table setting with greenery

Balloon Garland

How fun is this balloon garland? We had it set up right behind where our party girl would be sitting. And it made a great prop for photos!

How to make a balloon garland

To make a balloon garland, you will need:

You’re going to want to have a few different colored balloons to add variety to your garland and make it stand out. Our color scheme was white, greens and gold.  You can get the exact ones here if you want to duplicate – clear with gold confetti // sage green.

Start by blowing up about 30-40 balloons. Use your balloon pump (I like this one on Amazon) to inflate them as much as you can (you want them big here) as this will be the base of your garland. Next you’re going to take your balloon tape and you will notice that it has holes, some larger than others.  One at a time, insert the balloon into the large holes, leaving a few empty holes in between.

Hang the balloon garland wherever you plan to have it displayed.

Next finish blowing up the rest of your balloons in varying sizes, from medium to small. Using the sticky glue dots included in your balloon kit, attach the balloons to fill in the gaps and give your garland the dimension you desire.

To really make it pop, we added this rose gold “THIRTY AF” Balloon banner underneath.

 

The Food/Drinks

Charcuterie Board

I once heard a saying “I’ve never met a charcuterie board I didn’t like” and honestly I’ve never agreed with something so much in my life. I personally love cheese and I’d rather pick on a bunch of little bites than have a big meal. They’re also great for entertaining and fun to assemble. You can include whatever you want. (Tip – assembling charcuterie boards can be expensive. Aldi’s is a great place to pick out affordable yet signature cheeses, meats and crackers.)

how to make a charcuterie board

Here’s what I like to include on mine:

  • Cheeses – something hard (cheddar), various soft and spreadable cheeses (goat, brie, herbed cheeses).
  • Meats – Salami, Prosciutto and Sopressata are the ones I like to add.
  • Crackers
  • Fruit – I like to do grapes, berries, and dried apricots
  • Nuts – For a nice combo of sweet and salty try pistachios, cashews and candied pecans.
  • Olives
  • Chocolate – little bites of chocolate with sea salt or dark chocolate covered almonds are a great pick.
  • Jams/Spreads – My personal faves are fig jam and pepper jelly.

Signature Cocktail

Having a special signature drink on display is a festive and personal way to celebrate your guest of honor. We deemed this one the “Minerv Swerve” named after her signature dance moves.

Signature Cocktail for 30th birthday party

My decorative beverage dispenser was a gift to me at my bridal shower and is unavailable but here’s another one I like on Amazon.

The Cake

These gorgeous number cakes have been floating around my Pinterest feed. My talented mama created this one by making two large sheet cakes and using a cardboard to trace and cut the cake in the number you want. Layer the cakes with dollops of frosting in between and top with color fruit, macaroons, meringues and flowers.

how to make a number cake for birthday

We were able to pull it off and needless to say, my sister was shocked when she walked in and saw her family and friends there to celebrate her.

Surprise birthday party

 

sassy since 1989

Click for both her Skirt and Top

For more party ideas check out

This Book Exchange Brunch

WILD ONE first birthday party

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how to throw the best 30th birthday party