It's NOT Goodbye....

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This weekend we had a few people over for a going away dinner for two dear friends and their husbands (who are also dear). Since Katie and I have had more than one girl's night involving mexican food and margaritas, it was only fitting to host a fiesta de bye bye.

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Mexican crepe paper flowers in bold colors were the decor of the day. I mixed it in with black and white to match the adorable placemats from Michaels that served as the inspiration for the fiesta.

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The table was kept relatively simple as space was needed to serve the food familia-style! Just a couple of cylinder vases with colored-water and floating candles and a "floral" centerpiece made with crepe paper flowers attached to one of these wire stem and leaf decor items I picked up a couple of years ago at World Market. Definitely one of those "now what can I do with this" moments!

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Hello, chandelier. You just got pimped Fiesta style.

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I hadn't pulled out the paper lanterns in awhile, so I decorated the window above the bar with coordinating lanterns. Hard to see here, but Michael's $1 section has these adorable felt floral keychains that I attached to the bottom of every other one.

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Fun French Bull ring pattern napkins in a plastic container from The Container Store were placed on the bar with the appetizers and drinks. Need an instant decor addition? Type up a menu and frame it. This one was placed atop an extra placemat cut to size and adorned with a theme of the night sticker: "It's not goodbye. It's Hasta Luego."

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The dessert was so simple but a hit because of the presentation. White small plates dishes from World Market were used with crystal dessert dishes to hold vanilla bean ice cream with a cinnamon crisp, warm caramel sauce and homemade sauteed cinnamon apples. How easy is that dessert? Further proof...presentation is everything!

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Chairs got the mexican flower treatment to give them new life. I printed little cards for the napkins and slipped some ribbon through them and embellished with floral stickers from Michaels. The font is Vila Morena and is free from dafont.com by the way. Love it!

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Corona box as welcome decor by front door? Check!

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Party favors for the girls were initial journals (again...Michael's) and little treat bags of cookies for the boys (not shown..oopsy). I also framed a photo collage of the pictures of the four of us girls at the party from over the years and gave those to my two friends who are moving in the yellow and green gift bags.

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A few more pictures can be seen on our Facebook page. Don't forget to become a fan. A Facebook fan only giveaway is coming soon!
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The biggest party success? I managed to not cry. Those that know me know this is amazing. I make no promises when I go see Katie Saturday for the last time for awhile.