Lemonade for Japan

I received an email late last week from Missy, of Sweet Funky Vintage Boutique, with the most amazing story. Using our Lemonade Stand printables, she and her girls put together a fundraiser, selling - what else - Lemonade. I was also touched when she mentioned that her husband is currently on the USS Ronald Reagan, off the coast of Japan, assisting with relief efforts. Sher wrote about her experience, here is what she had to say...

After the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, I sat down with my girls and we watched a few minutes of the news coverage and talked about how sad it was. I was very proud of my girls for wanting to do something to help. They are always begging to hold lemonade stands and I try not to let them hustle our neighbors for money too often!;) I usually only let them if they can think of a charity or a good cause to donate the money too. The last lemonade stand they held, they donated the money to a neighbor who was saving to travel to the East Coast on her 8th grade trip (Washington DC and New York - woo hoo!). So, we discussed having a lemonade stand and donating all of the money to the American Red Cross for Japanese disaster relief. I asked a few neighbors is their children would like to participate, and everyone jumped at the chance to join in. I am sure we all feel a little bit helpless when faced with a tragedy so huge. I mean, with the economy the way it is, we all feel a little cash-strapped from time to time. But, in comparison to the HUGE need in Japan, we kind of feel like "what can I really do?". But, just imagine, if we all held a lemonade stand and donated the proceeds? We could really make a difference! (jumping off soapbox now...)

The girls and I baked TONS of chocolate chip cookies (2 big tubs of cookie dough from Costco. I heart Costco. But, that's another post). Our friends brought brownies and lemon cookies, and we, of course, served lemonade.

Wouldn't you know that it was cold and overcast. In San Diego. Where it is warm and sunny practically 365 days a year. Not the day of our lemonade stand. No sirree. But, the kids had enthusiasm to spare! No grey clouds were going to rain out their parade! Just look at the pictures!

I purchased the printable decoration set from a fabulous party supply designer, Paper and Cake, and made the banner, paper chain, signs, and straw circles that we used.

We held our lemonade stand for 2 hours and sold cups of lemonade for $.25, and 2 cookies for $.50. Our grand total was.... $181.37.

Thanks, Neighbors! Now, just think, if we all organized a car wash, bake sale, lemonade stand or something similar, we could really make a difference! What could you and your kids do to help?

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Thanks for inspiring us Missy!

If you are interested in putting together your own printable Lemonade Stand fundraiser, our collection is now on sale for 

50% off today through April 8th. Let's make a difference!

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P&C Real Life Party: Lemonade Dinner Party

I was actually a little surprised when Amber at A Little Bit Biased threw this FABULOUS dinner party. How did she find the time, what with all quilting she does? Here is what she had to say...

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Labor Day Festivities

Yesterday we had a lemonade stand at my house. Well, actually, it was a dinner with a lemonade stand theme. My mom loves to entertain and really wanted to try out this theme by Paper & Cake Printable Partyware. We first saw it over at karaspartyideas.blogspot.com and if you have not poked around on either of these two blogs then you are in for a treat.  Stop by (and be prepared to be amazed ~ the creative minds featured on there are high class!)

Anyways, my mom got the printable party kit online and went to town!

This was our dessert table, minus the lemonade ice-cream cones. The lemonade ice-cream I like to make is so simple!!! It's just one container of vanilla ice-cream (softened) and one container of thawed lemonade concentrate. Refreeze in (two) graham cracker crusts or back in the ice-cream container for cones. You can't see the delicious Carmel brownies that my brother & sister-in law brought or the darling containers that held the lemon zest popcorn very well, but trust me when I say that we had quite the assortment of goodies.

Dinner was great too, but somehow we got side-tracked and forgot to take pictures of the food (it's easy how that happens huh?)

On the menu was:

Spiced Chicken & Grape Skewers,

Fried Smashed Potatoes with Lemons,

Asparagus,

Watermelon,

(and unfortunately, we omitted our tweaked version of the  

Nordstrom Cafe Carmelized Walnut and Pear Salad

due to time, but everything was delicious!)

We had a great time playing Kooky Croquet and just being together as a family...

(Gigi and Grandpa)

(The three little munchkins...)

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P&C Real Life Party: End of Summer Party

Did you see this one? Heather from Party Tinkers shares her End of Summer party using our Printable Lemonade collection. The details are fabulous! The only thing missing? My invitation! Here is what she had to say...

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In honor of my of my oldest daughter starting kindergarten (snif snif) in a week, I decided to throw an End of the Summer Party for her and some of her girlfriends from school. I ordered all of these adorable Lemonade themed customizable printables from Paper and Cake. Here are some photos detailing the guest goody table!

Since black was incorporated into the printable design, I was able to use 
some of the items that I had from Catherine's Ladybug Party.

I had seen several other party blogs where mason jars 
were used as cups and decided to steal the idea!!

 

Now, what to do for my next party!!!

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