Did you have a chance to see our Winter Wonderland<\/a> styled photoshoot we posted in December? \u00a0Well, today I wanted to tell you the entire story behind this collection! \u00a0You may have caught the appetizers I showed in the Ruff Draft<\/a>… giving a glimpse of the Winter Wonderland Surprise 60th Birthday Party I threw for my mom in December. \u00a0Now it’s time to reveal the entire party – step by step, with months of planning and anticipation.<\/p>\n

In September of last year, my siblings, stepdad and I decided we should throw a surprise 60th birthday party for my mom that upcoming December. \u00a0Her birthday was on December 29, so we thought the best way to surprise her was to have it early, on the 22nd. \u00a0My entire family lives in Ohio, so we decided I would come home for Christmas (which I haven’t done since I moved away). \u00a0I would come in 4 days before the party to prepare & execute, and keep it a secret from my mom that I was coming home. \u00a0(She thought she was coming to South Carolina the day after Christmas, just like she has done for the past 3 years).<\/p>\n

In November, I talked with Maureen and asked her if we could create a Winter Wonderland collection for the shop, so she could help me pre-plan the party I was creating in Ohio in December. \u00a0I knew that in order to pull off this once in a lifetime party, I would need Maureen’s assistance even if she couldn’t be with me in Ohio. \u00a0So, together we created the Winter Wonderland Collection and dessert table, and I traveled home with all the designs and props.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, throughout the fall… my sister Laura & I had been creating paper snowflakes. \u00a0I told her, that I wanted the entire party to feel like a true Winter Wonderland, and that we had to have snowflakes EVERYWHERE. \u00a0Do you know the scene from the movie Elf, where he turns the house into a winter wonderland… I wanted it to feel just like that! \u00a0Laura and her family created over 400 snowflakes (my family did around 100), and my other siblings Erin & Brian had another 100 or so… we ended up with over 600 snowflakes to hang!!!!<\/p>\n

One other fun note – we knew we wanted the party to be cocktail attire, so in order to have my mom dressed and ready for a party, we sent her a fake holiday party invitation. \u00a0She thought she was going to a family friend’s party the evening of her surprise party. \u00a0She even ordered personalized stationery<\/a> from the shop, to bring as hostess gifts! She had no clue what was in store for her…LOL!!!<\/p>\n

Once I arrived in Ohio, I moved into my sister Erin’s house (party location) for the week to start preparing and assembling. \u00a0I had to keep a low profile, so I wouldn’t bump into my mom. \u00a0(thank goodness, she still works… it kept her from stopping by my sister’s house). \u00a0My brother Brian, my 2 sisters Laura & Erin, plus Laura’s husband Dave, my husband Matt, Erin’s boyfriend Josh, Brian’s girlfriend Ali, helped me on & off for 4 days straight. \u00a0My stepdad, Ric kept my mom occupied in her spare time – it truly took that many people to make the party happen.<\/p>\n

The day before the party, a real winter storm came through…. it was just the scenery needed for our magical event!<\/p>\n

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Hours before the party – hanging snowflake garland, and food prep!<\/p>\n

————–Now for the actual Winter Wonderland Surprise 60th Birthday Party————<\/p>\n

Thank you to the amazing\u00a0Jennifer Conklin Photography<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>for capturing every detail!<\/p>\n

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\u00a0We strung snowflake garland from wall to wall…. along the fireplace & stairs… we also taped up individual snowflakes along the front door entry and favor table. \u00a0Once the garland was hung in the great room, I recreated the dessert table that Maureen & I had staged earlier in November. \u00a0 I didn’t have the same space, so I condensed the table to incorporate a few treats, and give a similar look. \u00a0Our local Ohio Baker, Misty Conkle from Misty’s Cakery<\/a>, provided the beautiful and delicious vanilla raspberry filled cake. \u00a0Sandy, from\u00a0Firefly Confections<\/a>, <\/strong>shipped the gorgeous cookies to us in Ohio. \u00a0I sat out branches with hanging birds that we had made from our earlier photo shoot, and also recreated the meringue trees in mason jar snow globes. I added a few painted pinecones, and painted number 60 made out of old house numbers for an added touch.<\/p>\n

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I topped off Misty’s<\/a> cake with a printable sign, and hung Sandy’s <\/a>cookies on the tree branches. \u00a0We all strung garland around the dessert table, along with paper snowflakes to enhance the setting.<\/p>\n

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Once the great room and dessert table were set, we worked our way into the garden room, to set up the bar and appetizer tables.<\/p>\n

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First my siblings and I strung more snowflake garland along the ceiling and windows. \u00a0We hung white lights around the window, and snowflake garland in front of the tables. \u00a0Once the tables were in place, I created the bar and appetizer spread. \u00a0On the left side of the bar, I set out glassware for each drink we were serving (wine, martinis and hot cocoa)… I added printable party flags to the stems, and added printable red birds to the hot cocoa mugs. \u00a0To see full printable collection, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I also dipped each martini glass in white chocolate and sugar sprinkles so they were ready to go. \u00a0I put out another container with tree branches, fabric birds, snowflake cookies and paper snowflakes to tie in with the dessert table from the other room. I wrapped each wine bottle – since I didn’t have access to a printer, I created the wrap with copy paper, and then added a printable label to it. \u00a0I also set out water bottles with printable drink wraps. \u00a0On the right side of the bar, I created a hot cocoa station. \u00a0I set out crushed mint, plain mini-marshmallows and chocolate\/mint covered large marshmallows to mix with the hot cocoa.<\/p>\n

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We made hot cocoa sticks (all you have to do is add it to hot milk) which was actually chocolate ganache squares and marshmallow. (My brother-in-law made the ganache for me from this recipe<\/a>) I wrapped them up in cellophane bags from Nashville Wraps<\/a>, and tied with twine from The Twinery<\/a> with a printable label. \u00a0I set out individual mint sticks as well.<\/p>\n

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The snow peaking in from outside the windows, couldn’t have made for a more perfect setting. \u00a0It truly made the room feel like a winter wonderland.<\/p>\n

Once the bar was complete, I moved onto the appetizer table. \u00a0I used white platters and glass stands for the food displays. \u00a0I added paper ruffles with party logos, party flags on toothpicks, and set out more painted wooden windows with paper snowflakes for added details. \u00a0To see all of the appetizers served in details, click\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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I made some chocolate covered pretzels to sit around the rooms, showing off some of the party printables. \u00a0We also made extra hot cocoa sticks and Reindeer food (since Christmas was 3 days away), for guests to take as party favors.<\/p>\n

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We sat out food and last minute details right up until guests arrived. \u00a0I asked my husband Matt, to run the bar while Brian & Dave valeted the guests’ cars. \u00a0My nephew Alec (little guy in the red shirt & vest), greeted guests as they came in to the party.<\/p>\n

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The kids were so excited for the guest of honor to arrive (my mom, aka: Gigi), they could hardly stand it!<\/p>\n

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The guests were served cocktails while mingling, as they patiently awaited for my mom’s arrival.<\/p>\n

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Brynne and Alec watched for my mom, as Laura & I kept everyone quiet.<\/p>\n

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My mom finally arrived, and as she walked in, we all screamed “Happy Birthday”!
\nShe was totally surprised…<\/p>\n

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..especially to see me, Matt and the girls – she had no idea until that moment that we were home for the holidays!<\/p>\n

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I hope I look that good at 60 – doesn’t my mom look fabulous???<\/p>\n

Once things had settled down, we served the hot appetizers and ate from the appetizer table.<\/p>\n

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We took group photos for lasting memories (left side: Mom’s kids, right side: Ric’s kids)<\/p>\n

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Our siblings had a snowflake contest…. we each put up our best snowflakes in the designated four windows, for mom to choose her favorite – indicating the winner. \u00a0We actually put a lot of thought into which snowflake went on the window… hoping to win (for bragging rights). \u00a0Laura had hundreds to choose from, and I truly thought one of her 400+ snowflakes would win. \u00a0Guess again… Brian and girlfriend Ali (who contributed the least amount of snowflakes) had the winning snowflake – go figure!<\/p>\n

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We did a champagne toast, and Brian gave a funny, yet heartfelt speech on behalf of our siblings, and Ric, our stepdad, gave a loving speech as well.<\/p>\n

We played a Family Feud style game broken into two teams – all questions about Mom (somewhat “roast” like questions)… it was hysterical and the winning team received lottery tickets.<\/p>\n

Last, Ric surprised mom with a cruise to the Bahamas during Christmas break, and New Years in Miami!<\/p>\n

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The party was perfect in every way, and it couldn’t have gone any better! \u00a0Mom was truly surprised and totally grateful for all that we did!<\/p>\n

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A special thank you to all those who helped make this party happen – I couldn’t have done it without you!<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/p>\n

VENDOR CREDITS & RESOURCES:<\/h3>\n

\u2013 Concept, Styling and Production:\u00a0Anders Ruff<\/a>\u00a0(plus Adria\u2019s family!)<\/strong>
\n\u2013Professional Photography:\u00a0Jennifer Conklin Photography<\/a>
\n<\/strong>\u2013 Printable Graphics:\u00a0Anders Ruff Shop
\n<\/a><\/strong>\u2013 Sugar Cookies:\u00a0Firefly Confections
\n<\/a><\/strong>\u2013 Cake:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Misty\u2019s Cakery<\/a>
\n<\/strong>\u2013 Twine: \u00a0The Twinery<\/a>
\n\u2013 Cello Bags:\u00a0\u00a0Nashville Wraps<\/a><\/p>\n

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