Feb 02 2017

Back to School Party

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: 1 Comment

It’s a new year with new resolutions. Two of my main resolutions are to celebrate more (living a life full of gratitude regardless of my circumstances) and to blog more often too. That said, I thought a great way to start the year would be with a ‘Back to School’ party. As happy as I am to be back in the school routine, and having more time to myself, these weren’t our main reasons for celebrating. We were thankful for our summer holiday and that we have the privilege of good education here in New Zealand. We invited a bunch of friends and their kids over for a BBQ style dinner (I say ‘BBQ style’ cause we don’t actually own a BBQ) To my surprise nearly all of them came. Around 15 Adults and 20 children in total – never have we had that many children in our house at once. But we were prepared. We set up a few stations with various types of toys, had a movie playing and a craft table were the kids made tags for their school bags.

Then just to make it a little extra special I set up a drinks and dessert station. We simply used things that we already had in our house, and guests contributed salads and drinks so this was a very low cost party.

Back to School Party

The Drinks & Dessert Station

Back to School Globe

Back to School Apple and Globe

Back to School - Pencils

Back to School - Infused water

Back to School Cupcakes

Back to School - Party Favours

Back to School - Smarties

Back to School - Mini Bunting

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© 2017 As You Wish Events Ltd.  Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz.  As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.

Nov 27 2016

Chalkboard Christmas Baubles

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 12
chalkboard-baubles

With all the chalkboard ideas amongst our 2016 collection it only seemed natural that we brought this look to the Christmas tree as well. A very simple little D.I.Y project to do, all you need are some unwanted Christmas tree baubles, gold paint, chalkboard paint, a chalkboard pen and some time for the paint to dry. I began by carefully removing the top piece, from which the bauble hangs and then painted that gold. I then painted the main part of the bauble with chalkboard paint. Making sure I allowed plenty of drying time between each coat, each piece received two coats of paint.Once they had fully dried I carefully put the two pieces back together. I then used the chalkboard pen to decorate them.

baubles-2

Overall, a very simple project – unless you get carried away with your chalkboard pen design. If you love this look, but don’t have the time or inkling to make your own, don’t fret we currently have these on sale in our Etsy store – check out our store for these and our other handcrafted items or contact us directly.

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© 2016 As You Wish Events Ltd.  Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz.  As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.

Nov 26 2016

Chalkboard Wrapping Paper

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 11
Black, Gold and White Christmas Tree

Nothing says ‘Christmas’ more than a pile of stylishly-wrapped gifts carefully stacked under the Christmas tree. I love being able to take something that we would tend to take for granted, like wrapping paper, and turn it into a decorative feature. I also love wrapping paper that has a little more substance to it, so that you can actually use it without the fear that it will rip as soon as you touch it. Boxes are another strong favourite, especially for housing those awkwardly shaped gifts and thus making them easier to wrap.

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Nov 25 2016

Strawberry Lemon Water

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 10
drink

Healthy and refreshing

Ingredients:
  • 1 Litre of Filtered Water or Sparkling Water
  • 1/2 Lemon Sliced
  • 4-6 Strawberries Sliced
  • 1-2 Sprigs of Basil
  • Additional: Strawberries & Basil for garnishing.
  • Optional: Vital Zing Raspberry Water Drops for added sweetness.
Method:

Step 1: Add the Strawberries and Lemon slices along with the Basil sprigs to the water.If you are using sparkling water just add it to the bottle.

Step 2: Place in the fridge for a couple of hours to allow the flavours to infuse the water.

Step 3: Serve in tall glasses and garnish with remaining Strawberries and Basil.

Notes: If you would like your drink to be a little sweeter then add 5-6 drops per glass of Vital Zing Raspberry Water Drops. Also I recommend drinking it all on the day it was made – otherwise the fruit and basil go a bit soggy if kept for longer.

 

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© 2016 As You Wish Events Ltd.  Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz.  As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.

Nov 24 2016

Guilt-Free Christmas Cookies

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 9

This year I decided to make some big changes to the way I eat in an effort to improve my health. For me this basically meant saying goodbye to refined sugar and reducing the amount of wheat based products that I consumed. While I can’t say I’ve been 100% successful all of the time I have seen some amazing improvements. With Christmas just around the corner I wanted to be prepared for continuing along this healthy path without missing out on the yummy treats that come with the festive season, so I set about creating some tasty recipes. These cookies are refined sugar free, gluten free and dairy free. I hope you enjoy them as much I do.

cookies

Guilt-Free Christmas cookies – with Pecans, Cranberries and Chocolate Chips.

 

Ingredients:
  • 2 cups Almond Flour
  • 1/4 cup Coconut Flour
  • 1 Egg
  • 1/2 cup Rice Malt Syrup
  • 1/4 cup Chocolate Chips (70% Cocoa or higher)
  • 1/2 cup Cranberries
  • 1/4 cup Pecans, chopped
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 2 pinches of Salt
  • 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract
  • 6 Tbsp of Coconut Oil, melted

 

Method:

Step 1: Pre-heat the oven to 180 °C.

Step 2: Add all the ingredients to a mixing bowl, making sure the coconut oil goes in last (if it is hot from being melted it can cook the egg). Mix together until well combined.

Step 3: The mixture will be a bit sloppy so set it aside for 5-10 minutes to give the coconut flour time to absorb some of the moisture. While you wait line a baking tray with baking paper.

Step 4: With wet hands roll the cookie dough into balls, no larger than a golf ball. It will still be rather sticky. Flatten each cookie slightly.

Step 5: Bake for 10-15mins. Cool on the tray for a few minutes then transfer to a rack and allow to cool completely.

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Credits:

 

© 2016 As You Wish Events Ltd.  Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz.  As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.

 

 

Nov 23 2016

Christmas Table Setting – Rustic Elegance

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 8

As another Christmas comes around, I again have had the pleasure of creating a holiday table setting. The inspiration for this year’s Christmas ideas was largely influenced by two very different styles, the rustic farmhouse look and classic elegance. I wanted to blend the two styles together to create something classic yet festive. The key elements in achieving this look were the careful use of the black and white gingham along with the white ceramic reindeer antlers.I had a great deal of fun putting this look together with big thanks to the following collaborators:

 

Nov 22 2016

Christmas Card Design – 2016

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 7
card-design-lead-image

This Christmas season I decided to have a go at designing a set of Christmas cards. These were created with the help of Susan Wong, using Stampin’ Up products which can be purchased through her online store (the full list of products used can be found at the bottom of this article).

Here is a step-by-step guide on how to make your own ‘Joy to the World’ card:

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Nov 21 2016

No Mantle Stocking Hangers

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 6

hanger

I have this picture in my mind of Christmas Stockings hanging from the mantle piece as a cosy fire burns gently below. Sadly that is not something that happens in our house because we don’t have a fireplace. The best we have been able to manage until now is to hang them from a drawing pin in the Lounge wall. Not the best solution from someone who loves to decorate. As I thought about this Christmas Idea I realised that, in New Zealand at least, fire places with mantle pieces are becoming more and more rare. New houses don’t tend to have them put in and old houses are taking them out in favour of heat pumps. Which, don’t get me wrong, is good for the environment and all but it does make the romantic in me a little sad. So, inspired by the many ideas out there for stocking hangers, and my need to save our walls from being attacked by drawing pins once again, I set out to make these very simple Chalkboard Stocking Hangers out of photo frames.

hanger-2

All you need to make one of these cute Chalkboard Stocking Hangers is:

  • a sturdy wooden photo frame, with wooden back board, that can take the weight of a stocking,
  • some chalkboard paint,
  • a screw in hook
  • some chalk or a chalk pen.
hanger-3

Remove the glass and back board from the frame. Paint the back board with the chalkboard paint. Once it’s dried, reassemble the frame. Use the chalk or chalk pen to decorate the chalkboard with your family’s names or other festive words. Then lastly screw the hook into the centre front of the frame. All that is left to do is position them on a bookshelf, cabinet or bench and hang the stockings.

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© 2016 As You Wish Events Ltd.  Want to use this article in your E-newsletter, blog, or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement: Auckland, New Zealand – Event Planner & Designer Nadine Crozier publishes the ‘As You Wish Events’ blog filled with secrets, tips and how-tos for planning your fabulous event. Get your exclusive inspiration, tips and tricks at http://www.asyouwish.co.nz.  As You Wish Events is an event planning and design company based in Auckland, serving the Auckland region and certain areas of Northland.

Nov 20 2016

The White Stocking

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 5
the-white-stocking

Each year as part of our ’12 Days of Christmas Ideas’ I like to include either a party plan or a Christmas tradition. I like the idea of starting my own family traditions, and since my son was born we have made more of an effort to do just that.  There’s nothing wrong with having traditions. For us traditions don’t eliminate spontaneity, but are simply another way of helping us celebrate. For me, it’s kind of like having a weekly routine – less stress is involved because you know what to do, how to do it and when to do it. The tradition of The White Stocking has been around for a number of years, and stems from an adaptation by a lady named Carolyn Cox of the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’  – which you can see here. I love this idea because it encourages us to take our eyes off ourselves and what we will get, so we can focus on others and what we can give.

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Nov 19 2016

Crocheted Christmas Stockings

Author: Nadine Crozier • Discussion: No Comments
12 Days of Christmas Ideas 2016 – Day 4

crocheted-stockings

My inspiration for this year’s Christmas ideas were largely influenced by a couple of styles that may normally be considered as opposites. The rustic farmhouse style mixed with the elegance of black, white and bling was also coupled with some old school craft ideas that had a modern twist. To me crochet is definitely one of these old school crafts. I liked the idea of crocheted Christmas stockings but it wasn’t until I met Ann Marie and saw her rather unique style of crochet that I knew we just had to make it one of this year’s Christmas ideas. This particular style of crochet is called broomstick crochet or broomstick lace because it is traditionally made on an actual broomstick. Using this style Ann Marie and I developed these heirloom-looking Christmas stockings completing the look with a solid band and decorative pom-pom.

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