Beach Party Birthday

I've been very busy with finals week coming up, birthday's galore. So fun my friend had a mad hatter tea birthday party (I'll have to get photos from her.) I am also helping a friend plan a party for her 10 year old daughter. The theme California Girls Beach Party (not the Katie Perry version.) I've been getting some inspiration not only from Pinterest but also from an awesome party theme on Paisley Petal Events and her Beach Barbie Party which is full of amazing ideas. However I have a lot stricter budget constraints and so I am doing many DIY decor, favors and food. Good to note these are not the actual party photos.

Something I really loved and wanted to incorporate was the surfboards but I don't have the tools to make wooden ones, at least accessible to me at the moment (if you recall all my stuff is in storage until May 21st). So I improvised. Using cardboard cut outs and paper mache and some paint I'm making full size surf boards. However in ever sunny Colorado I decided to rain this week and I have to get these done by Saturday (yes I have a week). In addition I'm going to use butcher paper and paint a board walk mural with iconic California surfer memorabilia like VW buses and surfboards on cars, should be fun.

Also to incorporate that boardwalk I bought bulk candy and put them in glass wear to give that old fashion feel. For each girl I got fun colored nail polish and the classic cola flavored lip balm. I used hand painted mini surfboards to label a personalized goodie bag for each girl. With all that we have plastic wine and martini glasses the girls can decorate and take home as well as flip flops. I'm also going to make a small bag of fudge for each girl. I know I must sound crazy but really its not so bad, there is no chance I'm standing over a hot stove to make candy (not until Christmas that is.)

I'm going to use a recipe my friend taught me last Christmas. We call it five minute fudge:

One can sweetened condensed milk
4 cups of chocolate chips

Line a 9"x13" baking dish with aluminum foil leave 3-4 inches on either side. This allows the fudge to come out of your pan so you can divide it and serve it.
Combine ingredients in a glass microwave safe bowl (please don't microwave plastic)
Microwave mixture on one minute intervals. Mix every minute until chocolate melts. Takes about 2-3 minutes
Pour mixture into pan
Put in fridge or freezer until solid. Takes about 30min in the freezer. It can also be covered and left out over night the cold helps quicken the process.
Pull out the aluminum foil the fudge will come with. Remove the foil and cut the fudge. You will look like an expert its really delicious and rich.

The thing about this fudge though is that you can change it. Use butterscotch, peanut butter, white chocolate, mint, anything that comes in a chip form and melt it down and combine. My favorite is butterscotch and chocolate (I use half and half). And add other things like marshmallows, nuts, whatever fits your fancy. The other day I made butterscotch chocolate fudge with slivered almonds it was fantastic and gone already otherwise.